Predictions: Week 11 Plus Nebraska/Michigan

Nathaniel: All the good games to watch this week are on Thursday instead of Saturday.

Husker Mike: Not according to Vegas.  All the Thursday games have double digit spreads.

Nathaniel: They will still be more watchable than most of the Saturday games.

Husker Mike: Most college football fans hope you are wrong on that one!

James: I can’t believe Nebraska @ Michigan is an ABC National game. Rough Saturday. Though between that and LSU and Bama, should be a reasonable enough afternoon for the discerning-one-game-at-a-time type of Husker fan.

Brian: So, Nebrasketball on Friday at the PBA, then a Pink concert? I wonder which one will have more people there?

Andy: Is it too late to pick the OU/BU & Oregon/Stanford games? I’ve got a really good feeling about both.

Cobby: THANK GOD FOR LSU/ALABAMA! THAT HILLBILLY VOMIT-FEST WILL BE BETTER THAN THE REST OF THAT POODLE SHIT BELOW. MY SPELL CHECK IS TOO CLEAN. TRYING TO CHANGE "SHIT" ON ME. ADD TO DICTIONARY, BITCH, ADD TO DICTIONARY...

Illinois (+9.5) at Indiana

Husker Mike: Losses last weekend make bowl games unlikely for both schools...though the winner still has a mathematical chance to get a bid.  Just need to upset Ohio State.  Neither school plays much defense, but we know that the Hoosiers have a decent offense.   Hoosiers 45, Illinoize 27

Mister Mike: This might be the B1G "meh" game of the week.  Neither squad plays much defense, although if they both try really hard like the Little Engine that Could, they might reach Minnesota level one day.  At least there should be plenty of scoring in this one which should help to make an otherwise bland game more...spicy?  Indiana covers easily.

James: I like Indiana to win this by a couple touchdowns and cover the spread. Should be a fun shootout. Who said the B1G doesn’t score points?

Ty: Indiana 28-24.  That is all.

Brian: This is a game only the families will love. Indiana loves being at home, and I think is playing better right now. Hoosiers in one last gasp before no one in the town cares cause of Basketball season starting.

Cobby: THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH CALLED CHAMPAIGN EVEN IF THE SILLY BASTARDS CAN’T SPELL IT RIGHT. HELL, I DON’T KNOW IF I DID. ILLINOIS COVERS. WHOSE EARS 37 ILLINI 30

Andy: There’s a real good chance this won’t be the game I watch. 8 straight losses between them and early hopes have been crushed like Lou Holtz’ ability to communicate without spraying onlookers like a silly snake. Indiana’s still been able to put points on teams with heartbeats so let’s say Hoosiers 47 Illini 27

Penn State (+2) at Minnesota

Aaron: I like this Minnesota team at home against Penn State. The Lions have not been good on the road this year, and probably should have lost to Illinois at home last weekend. Lack of depth due to scholarship reductions is showing and Minnesota dominates this weekend. Gophers 28, Penn State 10.

Husker Mike: Depth has become an issue for Penn State, and Minnesota is more than ready to grind it out and pound the Nittany Lions.  Goofs 35,  We Are! Out of Gas! 17

Mister Mike: If this one was in Happy Valley, I think I’d give the edge to the Lions.  But it’s like...not.  At home.  For them.  Plus Minnesota is having one of the more successful seasons in recent memory and that wave of momentum they’re riding has got them feeling pretty good.  They’re already bowl eligible, they’re just trying to play for a spot in a better bowl.  Florida sounds much better than Shreveport.  Minny by a TD.

James: For as many points as Indiana and Illinois will score, this game will make up for it. Low scoring. Teams shutting down the run. "Classic" B1G football with neither team being able to run much, and punters getting a lot of show time. Go with the surging Gophers at Home.

Ty: Minnesota.  Penn State’s been on a bit of a slide of late, and Minnesota’s been playing really well.  Give me the Gophers at home 31-14.  Yeah, I think they make a statement.

Brian: Interesting game here, in that you wonder when the high for Minny is going to come down after all these games. It almost happened last week vs. Indiana, but BOB seems to gameplan pretty well, players be damned. I agree with HM, as I think the Gophers can grind it out. Ski U Mah here.

Cobby: I’M ALL OUT OF SANDUSKY JOKES. AT LEAST THE ONES THAT AREN’T IN HORRIBLE TASTE AND WOULD BE DELETED OUT. THE LAST STAND FOR FAT SWEDES TO HAVE SOME FUN OUTSIDE BEFORE BEING SNOWED INDOORS WITH LIQUOR & GUNS AND HAVING A WINTER TO EXPLAIN AWAY "ACCIDENTS" THAT ROUTINELY OCCUR UNDER THAT COMBO. MINNY 35 NINNIES 19

Andy: Minnesota might actually be for 8-4 real. Twin City sales of "Football for Dummies" are at an all-time high as fans prepare to fill the stadium and try like hell not to to scream "OFFSIDES, YOU STOOPID BAS-TURD!!" everytime Penn St. makes a 1st down. Goofers 30 Nittany Dicks 23

Brigham Young (+7.5) at Wisconsin

Husker Mike: Ooooh! A meaningful non-conference game in November! I suspect that the Badgers really missed Chris Borland last week. He’s back, and so are the Badgers.  This Mormon mission isn’t going to go very well, I suspect.  Bucky 35, Cougars 20

Mister Mike: BYU is a dangerous team to be sure, and will run no huddle most of the game and will try and tire Wiscy out, but I just don’t think they’ll have enough to beat Bucky at home.  Hill is nimble and mobile as shit and can just straight burn people with his legs, but he isn’t much of a passer yet.  I think Wiscy attacks and keeps him contained pretty well and forces him to read coverages, make decisions he doesn’t want to make, and complete several passes in a row to keep drives going.  Give me Bucky at home to cover.

James: This is actually going to be a fun game, and I’m looking forward to having it second screened during the Nebraska game. In fact, I’ll probably enjoy it more than the Nebraska game. A lot of running here, tons of great running backs. Wisconsin wins and grinds it out, pulling away in the fourth quarter.

Ty: BYU is one of those always dangerous teams.  It seems like even when they’re having a bad year, they manage to beat a team or two that they shouldn’t.  However, I think Wisconsins got too much to prove this year as they streak toward their inevitable runner-up in the Leaders (Sigh) division.  Badgers by ten.

Brian: I always wonder how much teams with non-con games like this take it seriously if they aren’t in the National Championship picture. Wisky really gains nothing if they win this game, yet you want to keep up the win total for a decent B1G bowl, as if there’s a dichotomy in the Florida bowls. I think BYU is better than people think, but away from Provo, they don’t seem to do well (losses at Virginia and Utah, 1 point win vs Houston). Badgers here.

COBBY: PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE STRONGLY & DEVOUTLY IN CREEPY, BATSHIT WEIRDNESS ARE NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH. THIS IS A LESSON WISCONSIN MAY LEARN THE HARD WAY. MORMON FREAKS PULL THE UPSET & ESPN ANNOUNCES THE END OF THE BIG 10. BYU 34 WISCY 27

Andy: I watched this game in my head already. It was 1958 and I could only see them in black & white. Forward passes will be a 5 yard penalty & loss of down. Wiscy 31 BYU 28

Arizona (+1.5) at UCLA

Husker Mike: After surviving the back to back storm of having to play Stanford then Oregon, I think UCLA is ready to make somebody pay.  And I think a game against a RichRod squad is the perfect opportunity.  UCLA 38, ‘Zona 17

Mister Mike: This is going to be a better game than some think.  The spread indicates that Vegas believes this game is virtually a toss-up so that should tell you something.  Arizona has Ka’Deem Carey and UCLA has Brett Hundley.  Should be a good one.  UCLA in a close one.

James: This feels like the classic Arizona letdown spot. It’s at home for UCLA too. I look forward to watching this, but I think this is UCLA’s big bounceback and another moment where you wonder why people thought it’d be close.

Ty: They are coming through the gauntlet right now, these Bruins, but after playing the top two teams in their conference, I’ll take them to run the Wildcats 31-10.

Brian: What does Vegas know that we don’t about this game here? I don’t know, but I do know Brett Hundley is going to go wild on these guys. 8 Clap all the live long day.

Cobby: SCREW A PLACE WHERE YOUR HOBBY WOULD HAVE ME POPPING LIKE A TRAY OF ORVILLE REDDENBACHER’S FINEST. TANNING SUCKS. UCLA 35 ZONA 25

Andy: UCLA 27 Arizona 22 I just don’t care. Can I say that?

LSU (+12) at Alabama

Aaron: I have no reason to think that Bama won’t continue to roll. Alabama 42, LSU 21

Husker Mike:  I suspect that CBS was thinking LSU would be a little better than this when they moved this game to prime time.  Roll Tide.  ‘Bama 38, Bayou Bengals 23

Mister Mike:  Despite much better play at the QB position by Mettenberger, LSU’s defense isn’t what it has been the last few years.  Tide rolls in this one.  Bama 34 LSU 20.

James: I think we already got our top 10 upset of the week, and Bama’s defense is doing to do dirty things to Mettenberger. Really hard to pick against the Tide at home. They win and cover.

Ty: I really, REALLY want to pick LSU because I like to see the BCS go into panic mode, but I can’t.  Alabama has quietly gotten the job done all year.  I say quietly because they play great, solid football on both sides of the ball, but aren’t flashy like Jameis Winston and the ‘Noles, Oregon, or Baylor.  They play the kind of football that keeps winning.  I think, however, that Death Valley will get to them a little, so it’ll be close.  Tide 34, LSU 27

Brian: No chance Alabama doesn’t cover here. Zack Mettenberger is terrible when under pressure, and the LSU D isn’t as good as it was last year when they should have shocked the Tide in Baton Rouge. RMFT y’all.

Andy: Alabama’s D has only given up two TD’s since Johnny Football screwed their girlfriends and pissed on their begonias. LSU’s sort of been dicking around. I’d love to see mad Les stick another one up the gnome’s pooper, but it’s not happening. Bama 31 LSU 10

Cobby: I’M GOING NOWHERE NEAR THIS CAVALCADE OF PERVERTS & BEAST RAPERS. TIDE 26 TIGGERS 9

Nebraska (+7) at Michigan

Aaron: Game of the week. The spread seems fair. I think Nebraska’s only shot is if Michigan shoots themselves in the foot and Nebraska can capitalize. I’ll give Michigan credit and say they play conservative this weekend to get the win. UM 24, UNL 10

Husker Mike: Michigan struggles to run the ball effectively, ranking 11th in the B1G in yards per attempt. And they don’t spread the field to throw it.  So where will Nebraska get Devin Gardner?  In the backfield, with Randy Gregory, Avery Moss, and a blitzing Ciante Evans?  Or 20 yards downfield with Corey Cooper or Le Roy Alexander?  I’m taking the optimistic route.  Huskers 27, Weasels 21

Mister Mike: Both teams are but a mere shadow of their former selves right now, but Michigan won’t be rotating in two different QBs during the game either.  Their OL hasn’t played great lately, but they do have Lewan at LT and our DL isn’t exactly the Atlantic Wall.  More like the Maginot Line, even with Gregory and Moss.  While our DL was able to get consistent pressure last week, Michigan’s OL is better, even at the level they’re playing at now.  Michigan’s run defense is much better than nearly every team we’ve played so far as well, so they’re going to stack the box, bring pressure and make TA2 and RK3 throw to win.  Gardner, for all his faults, is still enough of a runner to make us pay, so I expect Pelini is going to play him conservatively by trying to keep him in the pocket.  We’ll see how that works out.  All told, I expect Michigan to win this one pretty handily.  UM 38, Huskers 20.

Ty: The Huskers are playing for their coaches’ jobs if the media’s to be believed.  That being said, the D stepped up against (an admittedly bad) Northwestern.  With Michigan’s battered O-line and the fact that Gardner’s gotta be anxious in the pocket, this might work.  Frankly, if you take out the Hail Mary last week, RK3 does little for us, and I think we’re better off with just Tommy Armstrong in their.  I think the Huskers win this, restore a bit of faith before it comes crashing down.  Big Red 35, Michigan 24

James: Brady Hoke is 19-0 in Ann Arbor. This Nebraska team, with a freshman back-up QB, a ragtag OL, with back-up receivers, and really no back-up RB, isn’t going to be the team to give him his first loss. Meanwhile, the dreaded mobile QB rears his ugly head, and unlike Northwestern, Michigan actually has running backs.  If Nebraska blitzes Devin Gardner frequently on first and second down and can set up winnable situations, they maybe have a chance. Still, I don’t see it. Michigan wins big, and this is the beginning of the end of the Pelini era in Lincoln with the Spartan defense coming to town next week.

Brian: Where can you point to me since the NW game last year that, having a team equal to Nebraska’s level, that the Huskers can play with them? Playing Tommy Armstrong Jr and Ron Kellogg III in West Lafayette with 60-70% of the crowd pro Huskers against the worst team in the B1G is one thing, but in front of 109k of folks that aren’t wearing Red, along with the pressure of needing the next 2 to basically keep yourself in the division race, isn’t going to help.

I wish I could have faith that Nebraska will have success rushing the ball to help out either QB, but the fact that Michigan’s run D ain’t nothing to laugh at, makes me think that Armstrong/Kellogg is going to have to throw it to win it. Nebraska’s D won’t do great, but they won’t do bad. Funchess will be able to get his catches, along with the fact that Gardner and Toussant will get yards. But, in the end, the combo of the schizophrenic playcalling of Tim Beck along with injuries to the OL and Kenny Bell and such, and I’m not liking Nebraska’s odds here. The Huskers’ three wins in B1G play have come against schools that haven’t won a single conference game yet. Michigan wins this game, and I hope I’m wrong.

Andy: There’s no logical reason to think the Huskers have a chance in this one. And that’s exactly why it’s going to happen. Michigan is soft and Ol’ Fat ,n, Folksy is about to drop to 19-1 at home. Huskers 24 Weasels 21

Cobby:I AM MARCHING ON THE BIG HOUSE BOYS!! I WILL DRINK THE TRUST FUNDERS INTO THE GUTTER AND SHAVE THE LEGS & ARMPITS OF YOUR FOUL, PROTESTING WOMYN WITH A GARDEN RAKE!! OH YEAH, AND SOMETHING BIG IS GONNA CATCH FIRE TOO!! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! HUSKERS 47 WOLVENSOMETHINGS 3