The College View 2006 WK 10

Illinois has had four different coaches since the last time the Illini defeated Ohio State at Memorial Stadium in 1991. Ohio State is 31-12 against Illinois in Champaign. Kickoff for the game between the No. 1 ranked Buckeyes (9-0) and the Fighting Illini (2-7) is at 3:30.

The History
The Buckeyes lead the series 59-29-4 and are 7-3 in the last ten games against the Fighting Illini. The first game was a 0-0 tie in 1902. Since 1925 the winner of this game receives a wooden turtle called the IlliBuck trophy.

The Players
Isiah “Juice” Williams is Illinois' most exciting player. The freshman quarterback has amassed over 1,600 yards and has nine touchdown passes. Senior Pierre Thomas splits time with sophomore Rashard Mendenhall at tailback. Kyle Hudson leads the team with 25 receptions.

Linebacker J Leman is arguably the best player on the team. Leman leads the Big Ten with 98 tackles and is third in tackles for loss. Defensive lineman Derek Walker leads the team with 4.5 sacks.

Ted Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez and Brian Robiskie have combined for 70 percent of Ohio State's receiving yards and 65 percent of the team's receptions. The trio is also responsible for 17 of Ohio State's 23 receiving touchdowns. By gaining 106 yards against the Illini, Antonio Pittman will be over 1,000 yards for the season.

Even though Quinn Pitcock did not play against Indiana he is still ranked second in the Big Ten with seven sacks. With his fourth interception last week Malcolm Jenkins tied James Laurinaitis for the team lead. Vernon Gholston leads the team with 10.5 tackles for loss.

The Stats
The Illini's rushing offense is averaging just under 182 yards a game and the defense is ranked third in the Big Ten against the pass. However, Illinois is last in the Big Ten in sacks allowed (25) and turnover margin (-1.22). The offense is tenth in the conference in passing and scoring offense.

In nine games Ohio State has only allowed two opponents to score in double digits. The Buckeyes are ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring offense (323 points), scoring defense (66 points), tackles for loss (72), sacks allowed (9) and passing efficiency (173.27). Ohio State is ranked seventh in the nation in turnover margin (+1.22) and sacks (30).

The View
Juice Williams may be exciting to watch and have a cannon for an arm, but he makes too many mistakes. Juice has thrown eight interceptions this year and is ranked 94th in passing efficiency. The Buckeyes’ defense is going to put the squeeze on Williams and make him feel how juice is made.

At the beginning of Ron Zook’s first season at Illinois (2005) he told his players they would be contenders in the Big Ten in two years. Under Zook’s command the Illini are currently 1-12 against Big Ten schools. His first win was in late September against Michigan State after losing his first nine conference games.

Ohio State- 38, Illinois- 9


No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 21 Texas A&M (plus 3)
Kickoff: 8:00
TV: ABC

The History
Oklahoma (6-2) defeated Texas A&M (8-1) the first time they played each other back in 1903. Oklahoma leads the series 15-9 and is 7-3 in the last ten games. Texas A&M is 8-1 when this game is played in Texas.

The Players
Patrick Allen replaced the injured Adrian Peterson in Oklahoma’s backfield and has rushed for 272 yards in two games. Quarterback Paul Thompson has played better than expected this season throwing for over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sophomore Malcolm Kelly leads the Sooners with 564 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Texas A&M’s Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson have combined for 1,042 rushing yards. Lane is second in the country with 17 rushing touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Stephen McGee has thrown for 1,753 yards, rushed for 454 yards and has thrown 13 touchdowns to one interception.

The Stats
This year Oklahoma is all about defense. The Sooners lead the Big 12 in pass efficiency, scoring and total defense. However, Oklahoma's defense is ranked 101st in sacks.

Texas A&M's strength is the running game. The Aggies have racked up 1,923 yards on the ground this season. A&M is averaging just under 423 yards of offense and are ranked first in the country in kickoff returns.

The View
This should be a great game. Both teams are still playing for possible New Year’s Day bowl games. Texas A&M leans on its running attack to win games while Oklahoma has relied on its defense to shut down the opposition. The triple threat of Goodson, Lane and McGee should make the Aggies 9-1 against the Sooners in the state of Texas.

Texas A&M- 30, Oklahoma- 28


Oklahoma State at No. 4 Texas (minus 17)
Kickoff: 7:00
TV: TBS

The History
Texas (7-1) leads the series 17-2 and is 13-0 when hosting Oklahoma State (5-3). The first game played was in 1916 and Texas won with a disputed score of 14-7.

The Players
Oklahoma State’s Adarius Bowman caught a whopping 14 receptions for 300 yards and four touchdowns against Kansas three weeks ago. Bowman is ranked third in the country by averaging just under 110 yards receiving per game. Bobby Reid made up for his 39 yard performance against Texas A&M by throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over Nebraska.

Oklahoma State’s running back Dantrell Savage rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back weeks for the first time in his career when he gained 117 yards against the Cornhuskers. Defensive lineman Victor DeGrate leads the team in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (9.5).

Colt McCoy is third in the country with 24 passing touchdowns. McCoy is behind Hawaii’s Colton Brennan (33) and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell (28). Receiver Limas Sweed has caught a touchdown pass in eight of nine games this season. The Buckeyes are the only team to keep him out of the end zone.

The Stats
Oklahoma State is averaging over 431 yards of total offense. 211 of those yards are by ground. The Cowboys’ defense leads the Big 12 in sacks (30) and tackles for loss (68).

Texas has only allowed ten sacks this season. The Longhorns are averaging just under 40 points a game. The defense is only giving up 41 yards and 16 points a contest.

The View
Oklahoma State is coming off of a huge 41-29 victory over Nebraska last week. Texas Tech might have shown that Texas’ weakness is pass defense. Oklahoma State might want to try that theory this week. However, Texas is going to prove Newton’s law of gravity correct by showing the Cowboys that what they put up, must come down in the Longhorns’ hands.

Texas- 35, Oklahoma State- 24


No. 8 Arkansas at South Carolina (plus 2)
Kickoff: 7:45
TV: ESPN

The History
This series is tied 5-5 over the last ten games. Since joining the SEC in 1992 South Carolina (5-3) is 6-8 against Arkansas (7-1). Of the seven games played in Columbia, the Gamecocks have won four.

The Players
Arkansas is powered by running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. McFadden leads the SEC averaging 102 yards rushing a game. Jones is fourth in the conference with his 82 yard average. Wide receiver Marcus Monk is true freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain's favorite target. Defensive lineman Antwain Robinson leads the SEC with 11 tackles for loss and is second in sacks.

South Carolina wins or loses with the play of quarterback Syvelle Newton. Sidney Rice is a pro receiver playing in college. Running back Cory Boyd has rushed for 579 yards this season.


The Stats
The Razorbacks are first in the SEC in rushing offense (1,883 yards) and sacks allowed (6). Arkansas is outscoring its opponents by an average score of 31-15. Only Southern California has held Arkansas under 20 points this season.

South Carolina is ranked tenth in the SEC in scoring offense (23 ppg) and ninth in rush defense.

The View
Since losing the first game of the season to USC the Razorbacks have won seven straight games. South Carolina, the other USC, will be the second team to defeat Arkansas.

South Carolina- 27, Arkansas- 24


No. 13 LSU at No. 8 Tennessee (plus 3)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: CBS

The History
Tennessee (7-1) is 18-4-2 against LSU (6-2). The Volunteers hold an impressive 11-1-1 home field advantage over the Tigers.

The Players
LSU's JaMarcus Russell is second in the SEC in total offense. Wide receivers Craig Davis and Dwayne Bowe lead the team in receptions. Tyler Jackson is third in the SEC with six sacks.

Erik Ainge's 2,165 yards of offense is best in the SEC. Ainge is only behind JaMarcus Russell for the SEC's lead in passing efficiency as well. Robert Meachem is fourth in the country and leads the SEC by averaging 108 receiving yards each game. Arian Foster has not rushed for over 35 in a game since replacing the injured LaMarcus Coker.

The Stats
The Tigers' defense is No. 1 in the country in total defense and just behind Ohio State in scoring defense. LSU leads the SEC in total offense, scoring offense, pass defense and sacks.

Tennessee has the best passing offense in the SEC and is second in total and scoring offense. The Vols have only allowed their quarterback to be sacked six times this season. Tennessee's rushing game is tenth in the SEC and the defense has only recorded 14 sacks.

The View
After halftime of the Ohio State game you might want to switch to this game on CBS. Tennessee and LSU are ranked first or second in 16 different statistical categories in the SEC. 1988 was the first and only time LSU defeated Tennessee in Neyland Stadium. Saturday the Tigers will get their second win.

LSU- 18, Tennessee- 17


Ohio at Eastern Michigan (plus 6.5)
Kickoff: 2:00
TV: Fox Sports Ohio

The History
Ohio (6-3) is 5-5 in the last ten games against Eastern Michigan (1-7). The Eagles are 8-5 against the Bobcats at home. Ohio leads the series 13-11-1. The first game played between these schools was when Eastern joined the MAC in 1976.

The Players
Linebackers Michael Richardson (74) and Daniel Holtzclaw (73) lead the team in tackles. Defensive Lineman Jason Jones is fourth in the country averaging two tackles for loss a game.

Eastern Michigan’s freshman quarterback, Andy Schmitt, was knocked out of last week’s game after being hit in the head. When he left in the fourth quarter the Eagles were beating Western Michigan 15-3. Without Schmitt Eastern Michigan lost the game 15-18.

Kalvin McRae rushed for his fourth straight 100 yard game in the pivotal game against Kent State last week. McRae needs to average 106 yards a game to break 1,000 yards in the regular season. Senior wide receiver Scott Mayle leads the team in receiving yards, but he has not scored this season. Freshman Chris Garrett continues to lead the country in punt returns with 304 yards on 15 attempts.

The Stats
Ohio is leading the MAC in scoring defense and punt returns. The Bobcats are second in the conference in kickoff returns, pass defense and sacks allowed. OU's weaknesses are passing offense (last) and total offense (11th).

Eastern Michigan is ranked 7th in the country in net punting (39.22). That is their only positive stat. The Eagles are ranked 96th in total offense and 94th in total defense. It gets worse. Eastern is averaging 16 points a game (104th) and are 105th defending against the run.

The View
This is only the second time Ohio and Eastern Michigan have played since 1999. OU won the last contest 55-27 back in 2002. If the Bobcats don’t play down to their competition they should be one step closer to a MAC East championship and bowl game.

Ohio- 24, Eastern Michigan- 13


The View's Record
Last Week: 6-2, 5-3 against the spread
Season: 33-14, 25-22 against the spread

(Matt Gutridge is a freelance writer for the Eagle-Gazette. Contact him by e-mail at TheCollegeView@hotmail.com.)