B1G predictions: Week 3

Michigan 38, Eastern Michigan 13: The Wolverines will avoid a letdown against an awful team from the MAC.  Michigan will get off to a sloppy start, committing penalties, and allowing an early EMU score before taking control for good.

Penn State 20, Temple 17: The Nittany Lions will squeak by the Owls in Philadelphia, and be relieved to do so.  I suspect that a lot of people will pick Temple to win outright, but I think Silas Redd and Robert Bolden will prove to be a little too much for the Owls to handle on the ground.  Penn State will rush for 250 yards and use a ball control offense in the win.  The Penn State passing game will still look rough, but it won't matter in this game.

Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 23: Marcus Coker will rush for over 150 yards and avoid fumblitis - at least for this week and the Hawkeyes will turn in a complete performance over Pitt at home.

Purdue 44, Southeast Missouri State 20: Caleb TerBush will put together a solid 4 quarters, throwing for over 300 yards in a Boilermaker romp.

Indiana 51, South Carolina State 17: We will see the Kevin Wilson offense explode this week against South Carolina State.  This game will give us a glimpse of what to expect when Gunner Kiel arrives in Bloomington in 2012.

Notre Dame 38, Michigan State 34: The Irish offense won't commit any turnovers and Tommy Rees will have another big passing day, torching the Spartans secondary for almost 400 yards and 4 TDs.  Cousins and the Spartans offense will keep pace in a seesaw game that will finally go the way of the Irish.

Nebraska 28, Washington 27:  I am really tempted to pick the Huskies in this one, but I can't quite pull the trigger.  I am going with the Cornhuskers in a revenge game.  The Huskers have a chip on their shoulders after the way last season ended and will avenge their bowl loss to the Huskies from UW.  Nebraska will have trouble with Washington quarterback Keith Price, but will shut him down in the all important 4th quarter.

Army 23, Northwestern 21:  The Cats always drop a game unexpectedly in the non-conference season and this will be the game in 2011.  Army is good enough to beat a Northwestern team that is far from a finished product.  Kain Kolter will commit a few turnovers and Army will use a ball control offense to eat up clock and finish off the Cats.

Wisconsin 31, Northern Illinois 21: Current Northern Illinois Head Coach and former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren will give his former team their biggest test of the season to this point.  NIU quarterback Chandler Harnish will put up 300 yards of total offense in a losing cause for the Huskies.

Arizona State 30, Illinois 28: This is the ultimate litmus test for the Illini.  I still don't believe in them, but I welcome them to prove me wrong.  I just have a tough time trusting an Illinois program that hasn't put together back to back winning seasons in 20 years and a coach that is looked at as a week link.  Zook and the Illini are likeable enough, but are wildly inconsistent and unpredictable.  They have looked good so far; however it's been against Arkansas State and South Dakota State.  Look for Brock Osweiler to throw for over 300 yards against an Illinois defense that is still trying to find itself after losing Corey Liuget and Martez Wilson this offseason.  Nathan Scheelhaase will continue to impress in a losing cause.

Ohio State 23, Miami (FL) 16: I can't in good consciousness pick the Hurricanes, they are an absolute mess!  I like Al Golden but good lord they are an absolute grease fire.  The Buckeyes issues seem like a parking ticket compared to the Hurricanes problems.  The Buckeye running backs are the difference in this ugly game.

LOCK OF THE WEEK
Minnesota 24, Miami Ohio 21: Maybe I've had too many Stellas tonight (I have had three), but I just can't see Minnesota losing this week after the catastrophe that took place last week @ TCF Bank Stadium.  The Gophers lost to one of the worst programs in FCS and their coach suffered a 5 minute seizure on the sideline towards the end of the game.  The Gophers will be fired up to play for Coach Kill and won't allow themselves to lose.  I don't have any rational explanation for this being the lock of the week other than a team playing with raw emotion and will for their head coach.  This prediction defies all logic, but I'm going with it anyway...  Miami doesn't have a great passing offense, which will also help the Gophers.  There is zero chance the Gophers lose this game.

Last week: 10-2, Overall: 21-3 (.875)