Bub Takes A Gander At Week 4

It's Thursday, and I think that ESPN does not have a cute name for this weeks games as this is much more a meat and potato's week, and not filled with glamour match-ups. Conference play starts for most of the country this week, and the thing to watch for is how do teams that are expected to contend for second or third place in the major conferences play. We know the elite, and we know the bad. It's time to create the above-average. Anyway, five games for your pleasure. The boys talked about them in the podcast. I went 4-3 last week, I need to improve. Wisconsin-Michigan- After berating the Wolverines last week, they played their best game since the '98 Rose Bowl and clinching the National Co-Championship. Now, they are back at home against an always troubling Wisconsin team. It's the Big 10 opener for both teams, and for the Badgers, it's the biggest game so far this season. I must admit, I have yet to see Wisconsin yet this year. I have, however, seen Michigan twice and if I'm the Badgers, I must make Chad Henne beat me. I know that Michael Hart can along with the wide receivers, but I'm not convinced that Henne can on his own. Michigan is playing well, they win, but Wisconsin keeps it a game. Alabama-Arkansas- SEC West clash for third here. Alabama should be better, but like most of the conference, it's a defensive shootout. 10-7, anybody? Anyway, first to 17 wins and that should be 'Bama. Penn State-Ohio State- Our esteemed editor and creator, Dr. Sak, has been down on PSU all season. To me, they have played alright, but like a very young team. I keep hearing that they aren't game planning well either, hopefully they won't be running the option this week. Did we mention that Ohio State is the number one team in the country? Penn State must control the tempo of the game if they are to have any chance here on the road. Ohio State beat Texas on the road. And, let's not bring up Penn State's last road game. It's hard to beat a team that boasts two Heisman candidates on your best day, and by all accounts, we have yet to see Penn State's best day. OSU, (big). Notre Dame-Michigan State- That wasn't kool-aid they told me, it was raw spinach juice, and Irish fans across the country are just sick over getting pasted by Michigan. Add the fact that the ND defense couldn't stop a parked car in a driveway last week and the pall of averageness hanging over South Bend is palpable. Michigan State returns quarterback Drew Stanton from last year. He is very capable of carving up bad defenses. Like Notre Dame's last year. Oh, isn't there still a green flag on the 50 in South Bend? Like against Penn State, Notre Dame, and Brady Quinn, need to make a statement game. Trouble is, Michigan State is not only at home, but came from behind to beat Pitt last week on the road. Quinn '06 ends here as the qb is easily rattled and MSU should blitz him early and often. For Brady, more than his Heisman hopes are on the line here, another shaky game starts to send his draft status downward taking money out of his pocket. P-tooey, I got spinach stuck between my teeth. MSU, by 10. Arizona State-Cal- So the Golden Bears are all puffed out because they won their last two and think they are on the road to BCS'ville. Arizona State actually can play defense, something Cal should pay attention too. ASU can score as well, and add that Rudy Campbell is playing well certainly puts things in ASU's favor. This is Cal's season. ASU is the biggest game on their schedule, not USC, not Stanford, not Oregon. If they lose to ASU, they are done, no Rose Bowl, no BCS. They looked horrible playing against the speedy Volunteer defense and if they take the Sun Devils lightly, they are toast. Cal's press clippings have been a bit arrogant this week. Really, this is for third place in the Pac-10. Who wants it more? ASU, by 6.