Time to review the Week 5 picks
September 29, 2008
Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg
I feel a bit like a head coach who can’t get his offense and defense to play well at the same time. The record (3-3) wasn’t good for Week 5, but scores were. Last week, a 7-1 record was a bit diluted by several not-in-the-ballpark score predictions. Either way, things will get a lot tougher from here on out as the Big Ten appears to be a league with one potentially great team (Penn State), some solid teams and no clear-cut bottom-feeder.
Here’s a look back at the picks:
- My pick: Michigan State 30, Indiana 21
- Game result: Michigan State 42, Indiana 29
- 20-20 hindsight: Javon Ringer had another big day (career-high 44 carries, 198 rush yards), and quarterback Brian Hoyer stepped up in an important game after a shaky start to the season. Hoyer took advantage of a Hoosiers secondary missing three starters and tossed two touchdowns. This one got a little wilder than originally forecasted, as Indiana’s creative offense moved the ball well against a Spartans defense that shut down Notre Dame in Week 4.
MINNESOTA-OHIO STATE
- My pick: Ohio State 35, Minnesota 17
- Game result: Ohio State 34, Minnesota 21
- 20-20 hindsight: Running back Chris “Beanie” Wells provided the lift Ohio State needed on offense, and this one played out pretty much as expected. Minnesota didn’t show much of a pulse on offense until mop-up time, and three turnovers are a concern after such a disciplined start. But the timing was off for a Gophers’ upset, while Ohio State has some momentum heading to Madison.
NORTHWESTERN-IOWA
- My pick: Iowa 20, Northwestern 17
- Game result: Northwestern 22, Iowa 17
- 20-20 hindsight: If only I’d switched the teams. Oh, well. This one was going to be close, and Northwestern’s opportunistic play paid off. Iowa found its quarterback in Ricky Stanzi and continued to see great things from running back Shonn Greene, but five turnovers always gets you beat. Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher and his receivers regained confidence and head into a bye week with some momentum.
- My pick: Wisconsin 27, Michigan 17
- Game result: Michigan 27, Wisconsin 25
- 20-20 hindsight: At halftime, I was worried that Michigan wouldn’t get anywhere near 17 points and the score prediction would be way off. But the Wolverines ignited behind a stingy defense and quarterback Steven Threet, who established a rhythm in the third quarter after finishing with minus-7 pass yards in the first half. Few saw this one coming, and at halftime, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was among them.
- My pick: Purdue 27, Notre Dame 24
- Game result: Notre Dame 38, Purdue 21
- 20-20 hindsight: The worst prediction of the week overestimated Purdue’s defensive upgrade and underrated a Notre Dame run game that had really showed no signs of getting better. The Boilermakers really need speedy linebacker Jason Werner in the mix again after allowing Armando Allen to run wild (134 yards). Curtis Painter’s second trip to Notre Dame Stadium resembled his first, as he put up big numbers (359 pass yards) but not enough points.
- My pick: Penn State 38, Illinois 24
- Game result: Penn State 38, Illinois 24
- 20-20 hindsight: Saved the best for last here as the Nittany Lions and Fighting Illini made me look smarter than I am. Illinois provided the early adversity Penn State needed to face, but senior wideout/return man Derrick Williams came through with a big night. Arrelious Benn answered coach Ron Zook’s challenge and stepped up for Illinois, but the Illini didn’t have enough to keep up with the Big Ten’s best team.
Byes: None
Season record: 38-7
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