If you are a Buckeye fan, you are probably still coming down from the high of Ohio State defeating Penn State on Saturday.
If you're still on that high, stick around for this week's Stock Up/Stock Down, because I have one last bit of praise to give the Buckeyes before we move on to Week 10 of the college football season, which is shaping up to be the best yet.
Stock Up
Ohio State's Defensive Line
We all knew coming into the season that Ohio State's defensive line was one of if not the best front four in the country. For whatever reason, though, we had yet to see Larry Johnson's unit completely take over a game. That changed against Penn State.
The Ohio State defensive line accounted for two sacks and played a huge role in limiting Heisman candidate Saquon Barkley to just 44 yards rushing in the biggest game of the season. In addition, quarterback Trace McSorley was constantly knocked down, forcing errant throws late in the game.
With nothing but pocket passers left on Ohio State's schedule, I fully expect this group to take over games for the rest of the regular season. Opposing teams will have to get the ball out quick in the passing game, much like Indiana did, or else it will be a long day for whomever the Buckeyes play.
Northwestern Football
Don't look now, but the Wildcats have a very good chance at winning out and finishing the season with a 9-3 regular season.
After a subpar start to the season, Northwestern is sitting at 5-3 with Nebraska, Purdue, Minnesota and Illinois left on the regular season schedule. The opportunity to win out and get to nine wins is definitely attainable, with the toughest game remaining this week with a road contest against the Cornhuskers.
Clayton Thorson continues to be a difference maker at quarterback when his supporting cast plays well, and while the Wildcats aren't going to catch Wisconsin for the Big Ten West crown, a 9-3 regular season is nothing to sneeze at. I think the Wildcats will win out, and that is why I am buying stock in Pat Fitzgerald's club.
Week 10 College Football Schedule
Forget about Saturday's schedule. #MACTION starts tonight! That alone is enough to get me excited. Starting tonight, there is a college football game for every night of the week. I don't care what the level of competition is. I'm watching.
I am that guy who will watch two D3 teams playing JV walk-ons run into each other during bowl season. Just give me college football every day while I stuff my face with whatever I am ordering in that night.
In all seriousness, though, this weekend's slate is phenomenal. There are six top-25 matchups on Saturday, including Bedlam and LSU traveling to take on No. 1 Alabama. If there was a week to lock yourself in the man-cave and throw away the key, this is the one. Outside of rivalry week, you might not get a better full slate of games than you will this weekend. Take advantage.
Stock Down
Indiana Football
Hoosiers, what happened? I thought Indiana was poised for a solid season. Perhaps even a 7-5 type season in the Big Ten. Heck, after watching how the Hoosiers played against the Buckeyes, I thought 7-5 was a lock.
Here we sit though in Week 10, and the Hoosiers are 3-5 and winless in the Big Ten after losing a heartbreaker to Maryland. Peyton Ramsey, who had supplanted Richard Lagow as the starting quarterback, was knocked out of the game on a pair of occasions against the Terps, and the Hoosiers are now just trying to piece together wins as they limp to the finish line.
Indiana still has an outside chance to make a bowl game, but with Wisconsin coming to town this week, chances are slim. The Hoosiers will have to put together three straight wins against Illinois, Rutgers and Purdue to become bowl-eligible, which isn't impossible, but difficult with Rutgers playing better and the Boilermakers improved.
Michigan State Football
For weeks, I failed to believe that the Spartans were for real. Even after the win against Michigan I wasn't convinced. But after gritty wins against Minnesota and Indiana, a little voice in the back of my head told me to buy into the MSU hype. On cue, the Spartans lost a triple-overtime contest to Northwestern.
Mark Dantonio is a good coach. He has proven that over the years. But Northwestern is a game you just have to win. Think about it. Michigan State was a win over the Wildcats away from controlling its own destiny in the Big Ten East. While it was unlikely the Spartans were going to beat Penn State and Ohio State in back-to-back weeks, the opportunity would have been there.
Now, it looks more likely that Michigan State will drop a pair of games against the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes before closing the season with Maryland and Rutgers, two games the Spartans should win. Either way, I am sure the Spartan faithful will be more than pleased with an 8-4 season after last year's 3-9 disaster.
Southeastern Conference
Don't let the Alabama glasses fool you, the SEC is a hot mess right now.
While the Crimson Tide remain college football's best team, there is no denying that Nick Saban's team has yet to play a worthy opponent. Their Week 1 win over Florida State has lost all of its clout and Alabama hasn't played a ranked opponent since. In addition, Alabama gets LSU at home before road games against Mississippi State and Auburn sandwich a matchup against FCS opponent Mercer (I mean, really?).
The Crimson Tide won't be tested until the SEC Title game when they will almost surely matchup against Georgia for the right to get to the playoff. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Alabama could still make the playoff with a close loss to the Bulldogs, but the more likely scenario is that Alabama beats Georgia and the Bulldogs get an at-large big to a NY6 bowl.
To further my point that the SEC is overrated, there are three (!!) conference teams, all in the same division (!!!!) that have yet to win a league game. This league is a dumpster fire right now, and only Alabama or maybe Georgia can save it.
