Big Ten: Joe Tiller is coaching his final game as the Boilermakers head coach tomorrow as Purdue hosts Indiana. For both teams this year was not the follow up that either had planned for the 2008 season. Purdue, with Curtis Painter at QB, was looking to improve on last year after winning the Motor City bowl against Central Michigan in a thriller that almost went into overtime. And the Hoosiers were looking to expand on last season's miracle run giving the Hoosiers their first bowl game in over a decade and give Billy Lynch, in his first season as head coach something to build on. Now both teams are looking to not just win the Old Oaken Bucket, on Saturday, but also to not finish in last place in the Big Ten. The top match-up this weekend is (8) Penn State against (15) Michigan State, not the traditional Michigan/Ohio State match-up. The Buckeyes, No. 10 in the BCS, are locked to win the match and give the Wolverines their record ninth loss of the season, which puts pressure on Penn State to defeat Michigan State and earn a spot in the Rose Bowl. Look for the other intriguing match-up to be Northwestern vs. Illinois, a win the Illini gives them six wins and makes them bowl eligible.
ACC: Last night showed me once again, that new ACC teams to the polls, don't stay in the polls for too long. Georgia Tech defeated (23) Miami (FL) 41-23. The Yellow Jackets have finished their ACC schedule at 5-3 and now need North Carolina and Virginia Tech to lose one of their remaining two games to clinch the Coastal Division. The top match-up on Saturday will be Florida State at (25) Maryland. The Terrapins have one constant, they can win at home. If that happens Maryland, will have a solid advantage in the Atlantic Division.
MWC and WAC: The one match-up this week that most of the country won't be able to see is (14) BYU vs. (7) Utah. A Utah win will give the Utes a perfect season and a very good chance that Utah will be in one of the BCS games. A BYU win will put (9) Boise State in a BCS game, provided the Broncos can win their final two games of the season at Nevada, on Saturday, and home against Fresno State, next week.
Now to my picks for the weekend:
(10) Ohio State wins easily against Michigan (Noon kickoff on ABC)
(22) North Carolina defeats the Wolf Pack of N.C. State (Noon kickoff on ESPN +)
(4) Florida gets an easy win over Citadel before facing Florida State next week (1:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN +)
(8) Penn State wins a tight one at home over (15) Michigan State (3:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC)*
(16) TCU wins their season finale over Air Force (3:30 p.m. kickoff on Versus)
(18) LSU edges out Ole Miss (3:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS)
(9) Boise State cruises past Nevada (4 p.m. kickoff on ESPN 2)
(7) Utah clinches the MWC title over (14) BYU (6 p.m. kickoff on The Mtn.)
Upset Special: Arizona defeats (21) Oregon State (7 p.m. kickoff on Versus)
(19) Cincinnati survives a close encounter with (20) Pittsburgh (7:15 p.m. kickoff on ESPN 2)
(25) Maryland continues their consistency at home by defeating Florida State (7:45 p.m. kickoff on ESPN)
And finally, (5) Oklahoma wins by less than 7 over (2) Texas Tech (8 p.m. kickoff on ABC)
* - check local listings for the game in your area.
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