Is this an easy week, or a hard week? You tell us.
1. PURDUE at MINNESOTA, 12:00 p.m. EST (10/10), ESPN 2
GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts MINNESOTA by 7
I have a vendetta against the Gophers which is slowly being whittled away. I love TCF, I respect the originality of the offense as the OC Fisch is trying new things, and Eric Decker is the best wide receiver in the Midwest. All reasons I should pick the Gophers here against the stumbling Boilers. Buttttt I doubt, I doubt. Purdue has to win a Big Ten game sometime right? Not yet.
LAW BUCKEYE predicts MINNESOTA by 7
I picked Purdue last week, and it bit me in the ass. I also watched Minnesota give away a comeback at home against Wisky. The Boilermakers haven't been able to plug their leaky secondary. I think Mini is the next team to exploit the best 1-4 squad in the FBS. Take comfort Purdue fans, after this week, I'll be confident calling you the best 1-5 team in the history of college football.
2. MICHIGAN STATE at ILLINOIS, 12:00 p.m. EST (10/10), Big Ten Network
GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts MICHIGAN STATE by 14
Oddly enough, Vegas gives the 2-3 Spartans a four point edge here. I would think the news of Eddie McGee starting would give Vegas a bit more confidence in a win for Mark Dantonio's troops. However, McGee is a better thrower than Juice Williams, plus you could feel the pressure of expectations for Juice weighing down the Illini program. MSU needs to be less conservative overall - the Spartans should have won by 20 points over Michigan last week.
LAW BUCKEYE predicts MICHIGAN STATE by 7
The Illini are thankful that they finally have an opponent they can beat. Unfortunately, the Spartans now have a pulse in the wake of their second consecutive triumph over "Big Brother." I say the most efficient quarterback in the Big Ten puts up big quarter returns against a JV Illinois secondary. Even if the Spartans struggle to pass, they'll be able to run against the worst rush D in the conference. Benching Juice Williams is a temporary solution at best. The Spartans pick up a win on the road against a piecemeal home crowd.
3. WISCONSIN at No. 9 OHIO STATE, 3:30 p.m. EST (10/10), ABC
GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts OHIO STATE by 10
Vegas gives the Bucks 14, which seems a bit high. Wisconsin has talented wide receivers and Garrett Graham, plus an effective quarterback in Scott Tolzien. Obviously the oddsmakers have a strong belief in a Buckeye defense that is the best in the Big Ten. Law Buck respects the Badgers for always playing Ohio State tough, but toughness won't be enough to overcome the resurgent Terrelle Pryor and the crazies at Ohio Stadium.
LAW BUCKEYE predicts OHIO STATE by 10
Wisconsin always plays us tough. At 5-0 the Badgers are the only perfect BCS team to be unranked in the AP poll. Then again, they haven't beaten an FBS opponent by more than 8 points. I'm impressed with the run/pass balance Wisky has been able to strike under second-string quarterback turned savior Scott Tolzien. The Badgers are 14th in the country in rushing. The Buckeyes are No. 10 in the country in rushing defense. My biggest concern here is the loss of nosetackle Dexter Larimore. The loss of this chokehold is something bruiser John Clay will strive to exploit. I think Ohio State compensates by stacking the box, forcing Tolzien to beat us through the air. He won't be able to. The Buckeyes hold down the fort with a shotgun centered run-attack, leaving just one undefeated team in the conference.
4. No. 1 FLORIDA at No. 4 LSU, 8:00 p.m. EST (10/10), CBS
GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts FLORIDA by 10
The Tigers are primed to be blown out after two wins that could be best described as "lucky." The offense is uninspiring and not cohesive enough to score 30 on Florida. Whether ManGodChild plays or not, the Gators talent is going to make LSU a Blue Bayou. Ooo here's some Roy Orbison lyrics from his epic, Blue Bayou:
I'm going back someday
Come what may
To Blue Bayou
Where the folks are fine
And the world is mine
On Blue Bayou
Where those fishing boats
With their sails afloat
If I could only see
That familiar sunrise
Through sleepy eyes
How happy I'd be
LAW BUCKEYE predicts FLORIDA by 14
LSU is No. 1 in every computer poll at present. What the machines don't know is how abysmally mediocre they've looked to date. The Tigers should have lost two weeks ago against Mississippi State. The Tigers should have lost last week against Georgia. This week, lady luck runs out when this reptile with lipstick proves it can get by on more than good looks alone. Whether its Tebow or Brantley, the Gators roll on the road -- avenging their 2007 defeat in the valley.
5. MICHIGAN at No. 12 IOWA, 8:05 p.m. EST (10/10), ABC
GRAHAMFILLER10 predicts IOWA by 10
Vegas makes Iowa an 8 point favorite and if we learned anything from last week (MSU-3 over UM), it's that Vegas reads Michigan pretty well. The Tate Forcier zone read run proved ineffective against both Indiana and Michigan State. Those defenses don't hold a candle to Iowa's bullies, so RichRod is going to have to adapt. I can't, in good faith, pick Michigan here. This Wolverine defense has shown no ability to stop the passing offenses of even mediocre Big Ten teams.
LAW BUCKEYE predicts IOWA by 10
What Graham won't tell you is that Michigan is still premature. Their best win is a squeaker over Notre Dame, a team that will be put in its place next week when USC stages another slaughter in South Bend. The biggest blip in this matchup is Tate Forcier's ability to move in space. Scrambling quarterbacks have frustrated the Hawkeyes on more than one occasion this season (see Northern Iowa's Pat Grace and Arkansas State's Corey Leonard). I think Iowa's defense will wear out the little engine that could. Ricky Stanzi lights up the night and the Hawks fly to 10 in a row.