College Football Conference Championship Predictions

Georgia needs a huge game out of their quarterback Aaron Murray if they are going to upset Alabama. (Sam Greenwood)

5. Conference USA Football Championship Game - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN2/ESPN 3D
Prediction: Tulsa 27 UCF 24

4. Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game - 8:00 PM EST, ESPN/WatchESPN
Prediction: Florida State 24 Georgia Tech 10

3. Big Ten Conference Championship Game - 8:17 PM EST, FOX
Prediction: Nebraska 23 Wisconsin 21

2. Big 12 Conference Championship Game - 8:00 PM EST, ABC
Prediction: Kansas State 31 Texas 17

1. Southeastern Conference Championship Game - 4:00 PM EST, CBS
Prediction: Alabama 17 Georgia 13

College Football Week 5 Preview and Predictions

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller will have to be at his best in East Lansing to knock off Michigan State. (AP Photo)

Conference play is getting under way around the nation. Since it is late at night, I have brief previews and predictions for my top five games of the weekend. Feel free to comment if you have any questions or things you would add.

5. #18 Oregon State @ Arizona - 10:00 PM EST, Pac-12 Network

While the Pac-12 conference has had its ups and downs, Oregon State has emerged as the surprise team. They began the season with two upsets of ranked opponents to become ranked themselves. The Beavers look to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2002. Quarterback back Sean Mannion has led the offense to great success so far this season. His counterpart, Matt Scott, has been very important in order for Arizona to play well. The Wildcats were looking to pull an upset last week, but instead was throttled by Oregon 49-0. They will need to bounce back quickly at home.

Prediction: Arizona 34 Oregon State 27

4. Tennessee @ #5 Georgia - 3:30 PM EST, CBS

Upstart Tennessee has another shot at upsetting a ranked opponent this Saturday. Their first opportunity came up short against Florida. While the Volunteers passing game usually gets all the flashy news coverage, the team will need a huge game out of running back Rajion Neal as well. Georgia might be looking ahead to what is potentially ahead, but they must be careful not to lose sight of the task set before them. Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray will look to continue to lead his team to further success.

Prediction: Georgia 27 Tennessee 17

3. Wisconsin @ #22 Nebraska - 8:00 PM EST, ABC

Wisconsin has struggled greatly to begin the season. They were ranked until they got upset by Oregon State. Even the Badgers three wins over the likes of Northern Iowa, Utah State, and UTEP, were all much closer contests than expected. Nebraska was upset by a Pac-12 team as well in UCLA. Since then, the Cornhuskers have bounced back and their offense is running on all cylinders. Quarterback Taylor Martinez has a plethora of weapons at his disposal from which he can choose.

Prediction: Nebraska 31 Wisconsin 14

2. #25 Baylor @ #9 West Virginia - 12:00 PM EST, FX

West Virginia hosts Baylor in its first ever Big 12 game. This one has shootout written all over it. Both teams dominated decently difficult non-conference schedules to the tune of a combined 98 points per game. Bears quarterback Nick Florence and Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith are the top two in the nation in total offense respectively. Neither team's defense has looked particularly impressive in any way. Whichever one is able to step up and make a stop, could prove to be the difference for their team.

Prediction: West Virginia 52 Baylor 48

1. #14 Ohio State @ #20 Michigan State - 3:30 PM EST, ABC

If you simply look at the rankings and records of these two teams, you would assume that they have dominated their competition. On the contrary, both are fortunate to be ranked that high and to have they record they do have. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller has helped to make the difference on offense, especially since the health of running back Carlos Hyde is still up in the air. Michigan State has been led by running back Le'Veon Bell, who has been an absolute workhorse for the Spartans.

Prediction: Michigan State 17 Ohio State 16

Rookie Russell Wilson Named Seahawks Starting Quarterback

Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson played so well in the preseason that he won the starting quarterback job. (Jamie Squire)

The Seattle Seahawks were excited when they were able to get former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. They thought they got great value considering where the pick was made. Despite leading the Badgers to the Rose Bowl in his senior year, Wilson's draft stock fell because he was thought as too undersized to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. When the Seahawks went out and signed free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, it appeared that Wilson would be forced to battle out the backup job with incumbent Tavaris Jackson. However, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll made it clear that all three quarterbacks would get an equal shot at the starting job.

As training camp got underway, Wilson was able to pick up the Seahawks offensive playbook more quickly than expected. He clearly benefited from playing in a West Coast offensive system in college. Wilson spent his first three years at North Carolina State before transferring for his senior year to Wisconsin. In his final year, he was named first-team, all-Big Ten quarterback.

Wilson's maturity was evident to the Seahawks coaching staff right away. Carroll told reporters, "He is so prepared. He doesn't seem like a first-year player. He seems like he's been around. He gets it, he understands, and he is a tremendous leader in that way. He doesn't do anything but the right thing in all of his work and his preparation and his competitiveness has been demonstrated again."

Flynn got the starts in the first two weeks of the preseason against the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He had his share of ups and downs in both games. Wilson came in during the second half of both games. He played quite well, but he was playing against backups in that stage of the game. Wilson's real test came when he was given the start last Friday night at the Kansas City Chiefs. All he did was complete 13 of 19 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson's quarterback rating on the night was an impressive 134.8. He also rushed for 58 yards as well. Flynn did not play against the Chiefs due to a sore elbow.

When one looks at Wilson's preseason numbers as a whole, one cannot help but be impressed by his performances. He went 35 of 52 (63.7%) for 464 yards and five touchdowns. Wilson's 119.4 quarterback rating led the league among eligible qualifiers. His only blatant mistake of the preseason was an interception in the end zone against the Titans. Other than that, Wilson had an impressive preseason from start to finish.

Therefore, it came as no surprise that Carroll named Wilson the Seahawks starting quarterback for the season opener at the Arizona Cardinals on September 9. Flynn will surely be disappointed to be relegated to yet another backup role, but he did not earn the starting job, and his injury certainly didn't help the situation in any way. The Seahawks traded Jackson to the Buffalo Bills for an undisclosed draft pick. I am excited to see how Russell Wilson does as the Seahawks starter this season. You can't help but root for a guy that almost everyone seemed to say couldn't make it as a starter in the NFL.

BCS Bowls Burst on the Scene Among a Full Slate of Monday Matchups

There are six big bowl games being played on Monday, January 2, 2012. Here are some previews and predictions. Games are listed in order in which they will take place chronologically.

TicketCity Bowl - #19 Houston (12-1) vs. #22 Penn State (9-3) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPNU

This bowl game isn't where either of these teams hoped they would end up. As a result, motivation might be a struggle for both teams. The Houston Cougars were 12-0 entering the Conference USA Championship Game. All they needed was to win the game, and they would get the berth to a BCS bowl. However, Southern Miss pulled the upset, so the Cougars have to settle for this bowl. Normally, a nine win season for a Big Ten team would earn them one of the conference's more desired bowl games. Unfortunately for Penn State, many bowl committees passed them up because of the scandal that devastated the program. Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Nittany Lions, they did. The team has ruled out starting quarterback Matt McGloin, with a concussion from a fight with a teammate in their locker room. Houston is of course known by their record-setting quarterback Case Keenum. He will have a tough matchup against a Penn State defense that ranks #5 in the nation against the pass. Prediction: Houston 27 Penn State 16

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl - Ohio State (6-6) vs. Florida (6-6) - 1:00 PM EST, ESPN2

In most seasons, this matchup would most likely be a regular season headliner or BCS bowl, but this year isn't a typical year for either team as both finished a disappointing 6-6. Ohio State lost their last three games of the season. In fact, the Buckeyes finished with a losing record in Big Ten play for the first time since 1999. Florida lost six of their last eight. The storyline of this game is that it pits coach Urban Meyer's former team against his future team. While he will have no actual role in the game, most of the talk surrounding the game will be about him, rather than the mediocre football being played on the field. Prediction: Florida 27 Ohio State 24

Outback Bowl - #17 Michigan State (10-3) vs. #16 Georgia (10-3) - 1:00 PM EST, ABC

Both of these teams look to bounce back from disappointing losses in their respective conference championship games. Michigan State lost a hard fought battle against Wisconsin 42-39. Georgia, which entered their game with #1 LSU on a ten game winning streak, saw their streak snapped as they were manhandled by a far superior Tigers team, 42-10. The quarterback matchup should be a good one. The Spartans' Kirk Cousins finished his senior season strong, throwing 13 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions during a five game span. The Bulldogs' sophomore quarterback, Aaron Murray, had a strong season as well, but struggled against LSU's stringent defense to end the season. While both of these offenses are capable of putting points on the scoreboard, I expect this game to be a lower scoring one because of the dominance of both of these defenses. Both finished in the top five in of the FBS in total defense. Prediction: Georgia 20 Michigan State 10

Capital One Bowl - #20 Nebraska (9-3) vs. #9 South Carolina (10-2) - 1:00 PM EST, ESPN

South Carolina is one win away from its winningest season in school history. In order to achieve that, they are going to have to overcome a few things. One would be their own history in bowl games, having lost their last three. They are also going to have to slow down Nebraska's challenging offense, led by dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead. The Huskers' offense won't have an easy task themselves either as they match up against a Gamecocks defense that ranks #4 in the FBS in total defense and is led by first-team All-American defensive end Melvin Ingram. Nebraska has to be a little disappointed on not making it to a BCS bowl in their first year in the Big Ten, but overall it was a solid year for the team. They would love to cap it off with a bowl win. Prediction: South Carolina 20 Nebraska 17

Rose Bowl - #10 Wisconsin (11-2) vs. #5 Oregon (11-2) - 5:00 PM EST, ESPN

Both these teams are familiar to BCS games in recent years, but both are looking for their first win. Wisconsin was in the Rose Bowl last year, but lost to an undefeated TCU team. Oregon is making their third straight BCS bowl game appearance. The Ducks lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl two years ago and to Auburn in the BCS title game last season. This year's matchup might result in the highest scoring Rose Bowl ever. Both offenses rank in the top five in total offense in the nation and neither have scored less than 27 points in a game all season. Both offenses feature standout quarterbacks and running backs. Wisconsin's quarterback Russell Wilson is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, completing 72.5% of his passes while throwing 31 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. The Badgers' running back Montee Bell finished the season as a Heisman finalist with a total of 1759 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. Oregon's quarterback Darron Thomas finished with 2493 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns. The Ducks' explosive running back LaMichael James averaged 7.4 yards per carry, while rushing for 1646 yards and 17 touchdowns. This one seems set to be a shootout. Prediction: Wisconsin 38 Oregon 35

Tostitos Bowl - #4 Stanford (11-1) vs. #3 Oklahoma State (11-1) - 8:30 PM EST, ESPN

The Tostitos Bowl this year is all about teams trying to prove a point. Stanford wants to showcase quarterback Andrew Luck and let everyone know that they have a complete football team. Luck is being hailed as the greatest quarterback prospect since John Elway. Oklahoma State wants the NCAA and viewers to realize that the BCS is a screwed up system and that they should be playing in the national championship game. This game obviously features two prolific, high scoring offenses. The Cardinal offense revolves around Luck, who threw for 35 touchdown passes during the season, and tight end Coby Fleener, who is the most productive tight end in the nation. The Cowboys offense features quarterback Brandon Weeden, who threw for 34 touchdown passes, and wide receiver Justin Blackmon, who caught 113 passes for 1336 yards and 15 touchdowns. If you thought that wasn't enough offense, Cowboys running back Joseph Randle also ran for 1193 yards and 23 touchdowns. You thought the Rose Bowl was going to be high scoring, but this one might be even higher scoring. It might me a shootout between the bowls to see who can score the most combined points. Prediction: Oklahoma State 48 Stanford 31

College Football Week 14 Preview & Predictions

This is conference championship weekend. These games will help decide who plays in the BCS bowls. Here are my previews and predictions for my Top Five:

5. #24 Southern Miss @ #6 Houston - 12:00 PM EST, ABC

The University of Houston's football team has convincingly kept doing one thing all season. That is winning football games. The Cougars are looking for their thirteenth win and a perfect regular season. They get to play Southern Miss at home in the Conference USA Championship. After finishing a disappointing 5-7 last season, Houston is one win away from their first ever BCS bowl game bid and would become the first ever Conference USA team to play in the Bowl Championship Series. The Cougars' potent offense is led at quarterback by Heisman candidate Case Keenum. The Cougars' defense has also steadily improved throughout the season. The Southern Miss offense is led by quarterback Austin Davis and running back Jamal Woodyard. The Golden Eagles are going to need to get these two guys to play stellar games in order to have a shot at the upset win. Prediction: Houston 52 Southern Miss 31

4. #15 Wisconsin vs. #13 Michigan State - 8:17 PM EST, FOX

If the inaugural Big Ten Championship is anything like the first matchup of these two teams, this game is going to be stellar. On October 22, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins completed a 44-yard Hail Mary pass to Keith Nichol as time expired. Both teams come into tomorrow's game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on a four-game winning streak. Michigan State's offense will center around Cousins once again. You should keep an eye on his favorite target, wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, as well. Wisconsin's dual-threat offense hasn't scored less than 28 points in any game this season. Quarterback Russell Wilson has been extremely efficient on the season, but two of his three interceptions on the season came against the Spartans earlier this season. Running back Montee Ball is playing like a beast. He had four rushing touchdowns against Penn State last week. We also can't forget about these two defenses. The Spartans and Badgers have two of the top six scoring defenses in the country. The winner of this game gets the automatic bid to the Rose Bowl. Prediction: Wisconsin 31 Michigan State 20

3. #5 Virginia Tech vs. #20 Clemson - 8:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

Way back on October 1, Clemson did what few teams do to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. They beat them handily, 23-3. Since that game, these have been two completely different teams. Clemson was in the top ten in the polls with a record of 8-0. Then, they dropped three out of their last four and should have lost the one game they won. Conversely, Virginia Tech has been on a mission. Sophomore quarterback Logan Thomas has improved greatly since the loss. As for the Hokies defense and special teams, they just look like another great version of head coach Frank Beamer's staple crop. Virginia Tech is hungry for revenge. The winner of this game, played in Charlotte, goes to the Orange Bowl. Prediction: Virginia Tech 41 Clemson 6

2. #14 Georgia vs. #1 LSU - 4:00 PM EST, CBS

Many experts say this game is just one more hump for LSU to get over before going to the BCS National Championship game. However, I would caution the Tigers to not take this game lightly. The game is being played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. While this is not officially a home game for the University of Georgia, the Bulldogs well definitely feel comfortable playing there and should have the edge in the crowd. Additionally, the Dawgs come in on a ten game winning streak of their own. After being down 14-0, LSU went on to dismantle then #3 Arkansas 41-17 last week. Everyone talks about the Tigers outstanding defense, but it is also important to consider the improved play of quarterback Jordan Jefferson. For Georgia to have a chance to win this game, the Bulldogs need quarterback Aaron Murray to play effectively and efficiently. Prediction: LSU 31 Georgia 21

1. #10 Oklahoma @ #3 Oklahoma State - 8:00 PM EST, ABC

Oklahoma State needs this win to win their first ever Big 12 Championship and try and prove that they deserve to play in the BCS National Championship Game. Their in-state rival and nemesis, the University of Oklahoma, stands in their way. The Sooners have won the last eight Bedlam matchups against the Cowboys. Oklahoma bounced back from their second loss of the season to Baylor with a win 26-6 over Iowa State. Iowa State is the team that ended Oklahoma State's perfect season 37-31 in 2OT. The Cowboys are coming off a bye last week. Oklahoma State is of course known by their potent offense, featuring their Heisman candidate quarterback Brandon Weeden and explosive wide receiver Justin Blackmon. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones has struggled the past two weeks, failing to throw a passing touchdown in both games. He had thrown at least one in 24 straight games before that. He is expected to get back one of his favorite targets, wide receiver Jaz Reynolds, from injury. The winner will most likely head to the Fiesta Bowl. Prediction: Oklahoma State 45 Oklahoma 41

Ohio State's Dismantling of Duke is Just the Start of What Should Be a Revealing Week

A lot of people, including myself, questioned how good the Ohio State players not named Jared Sullinger were. Last night, they made a statement when they routed Duke by 22. In Columbus, the Buckeyes fans booed when LeBron James and his Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade walked to their courtside seats. After the game tipped off, there was little for them to complain about as their team took an early 11-0 lead and never looked back. Ohio State's offense was led by Sullinger's 21 and senior William Buford's 20. Sophomores Deshaun Thomas and Aaron Craft added 18 and 17, respectively. The Buckeyes defense kept Duke from responding. The Blue Devils made only twenty percent of their three point attempts as they scored a season-low 63 points.

This is just the start of what should be a revealing week. Below is my preview of the best game for each night the rest of this week, starting tonight.

#7 Wisconsin @ #5 UNC - 9:30 PM EST (Wednesday), ESPN

Wisconsin's closest game this season so far is a 17 point win over BYU. The problem is that the Cougars are by far the best team they've played. The Badgers are led by Preseason All-American guard Jordan Taylor. Sophmore Ben Brust is off to a great start to the season as well. UNC is hoping to bounce back from their first loss of the season at UNLV. The Tar Heels are also hoping their Preseason All-American forward Harrison Barnes is able to play well on the ankle he rolled in that loss.

St. John's @ #1 Kentucky - 7:30 PM EST (Thursday), ESPN2

Thanks to UNLV's aforementioned upset of UNC, this year's version of the young Kentucky Wildcats is already ranked #1. Kentucky's starting lineup features three freshmen and two sophomores. The Wildcats have scored 84.4 ppg and won their games by an average of 30.0 points. The big showdown might be Saturday (I'll preview that in a bit.), but this young team can't get caught looking ahead. St. John's brings their own young team to Rupp Arena. The Red Storm might be 4-3, but I watched them played at Madison Square Garden. They are much better than that. This team is figuring out how to play together. Sophmore guard Nurideen Linsey has the looks of an electrifying, budding leader. In addition to Lindsey, D'Angelo Harrison, Moe Harkless, and God'sgift Achiuwa all average at least 11.3 ppg.

#9 Florida @ #3 Syracuse - 7:00 PM EST (Friday), ESPN

The Florida Gators travel to the Carrier Dome to take on the Syracuse Orange. The Gators only loss is by seven points to Ohio State. The Gators offense is being led by guards Kenny Boynton and Bradley Beal. Beal is off to a great start to his freshman season. The Syracuse Orange are 7-0, despite all the chaos surrounding their program. The Barry Fine investigation is ongoing, and head coach Jim Boeheim is getting increasingly frustrated with the media. Boeheim better be careful though because if these accusations turn out to be true, he could experience a similar exit to former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno. On the court, senior point guard Scoop Jardine runs the Orange offense. Senior forward Kris Joseph is the team's leading scorer.

#5 UNC @ #1 Kentucky - 12:00 PM EST (Saturday), CBS

I have already previewed both these teams (if you forgot, look above). This matchup features two of the most storied programs in all of college basketball. The Wildcats offense has been fairly balanced this season. UNC point guard Kendall Marshall is averaging a ridiculous 10.8 apg in leading the Tar Heels attack. The teams seem to matchup fairly equally. This game should be a dandy.

College Football Week 12 Preview & Predictions

5. #16 Nebraska @ #18 Michigan - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN/ESPN3

The Big Ten Legends Division is down to three contenders with one clear favorite. Both Nebraska and Michigan are 8-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play. They sit a game behind Michigan State who is 8-2 as well, but are 5-1 in conference play. The Spartans play Indiana at home (12:00 PM EST, Big Ten Network). If they win, Michigan is out. Therefore, Michigan needs a win over Nebraska and an Indiana win over Michigan State to stay alive in their pursuit of this year's Big Ten Championship. Nebraska needs either a win over Michigan or an Indiana win over Michigan State. To say there is a lot riding on the outcome of this game, is an understatement. This one should be fun. Prediction: Nebraska 20 Michigan 17

4. #17 Wisconsin @ Illinois - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN2/ESPN3

Now, it's time to watch what happens in the Big Ten's other division. In the Leaders Division, Wisconsin is in the same position as Michigan and Nebraska. Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2) sits one game behind Penn State (8-2, 5-1). After two heartbreaking losses, the Badgers responded by beating Purdue and Minnesota by a combined margin of 104-30. Illinois started the season 5-0, but upon examining their schedule, that was more or less just an illusion. The Illini have now lost four in a row. Head coach Ron Zook is back on the hot seat. How will his players respond for him? Prediction: Wisconsin 38 Illinois 13

3. #21 Penn State @ Ohio State - 3:30 PM EST, ABC Regional/ESPN/ESPN3

Penn State and Ohio State were once considered to be the epitome of what a football program should be. When these two teams played last year, the game featured the two winningest active coaches in Division I football. The NCAA is still in the midst of an investigation into Ohio State players trading memorabilia for cash and receiving discounted tattoos. Head coach Jim Tressel became history. Penn State is still shell shocked by the Jerry Sandusky scandal that has disgraced and torn apart a tight-knit community. Head coach Joe Paterno was fired and his legendary career is forever tarnished. Saturday there is football to be played. A game that is very important for both teams. Ohio State is bowl eligible, but might have to play a MAC school if they don't win one of their final two games. Penn State still sits in first place in the Big Ten Leaders Division. They control their own fate in their path to the Big Ten Championship Game. Penn State needs to do something they haven't done very much of in the past, win at the Horseshoe. They've only one once in Columbus since joining the Big Ten. This game should feature heavy running approaches and strong defenses. Prediction: Penn State 14 Ohio State 13

2. #5 Oklahoma @ #22 Baylor - 8:00 PM EST, ABC Regional/ESPN3

Without even playing last week, Oklahoma returned to the BCS National Championship picture. Two previously undefeated teams ahead of the Sooners, Stanford and Boise State, both lost. Now, the Sooners have two of their final three games against ranked opponents. If they win out, they definitely have a case for playing in the BCS National Championship Game. Their first game is against Baylor. The ranked Bears will be pumped for this showdown as they have a great chance to beat their rival Oklahoma for the first time ever. Last week, Baylor rallied and survived an overtime bout with Kansas 31-30. With Robert Griffin III at quarterback, the Bears should be able to score against the Sooners defense, but the question is whether or not their defense will be able to do enough to slow down Sooners quarterback Landry Jones. Prediction: Oklahoma 35 Baylor 31

1. SMU @ #11 Houston - 3:30 PM EST

Thanks in large part to Boise State's loss last week and College Gameday's first visit to campus, the spotlight is fully on Case Keenum and the Houston Cougars. Keenum is the NCAA all-time leader in total offense (18,434 yards), passing yards (17,537), and passing touchdowns (144). This Saturday he looks to add two more accomplishments to his resume. He needs seven completions to become the all-time leader in that category. If he passes for 300 yards or more, he will tie former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang's record of 36 games. Additionally, if Houston wins out they will get the automatic bid to a BCS bowl game that Boise State vacated with their loss. SMU has lost three out of their last four, but won against a ranked TCU team earlier this year. Prediction: Houston 70 SMU 21

If you want to learn more about Houston, watch this video preview of their game this Saturday: http://www.cbs.com/sports/video/?pid=BQ83j5A3rSkGt81qEtipkZubz19w_4Uy&vs=Default&play=true

Things are Becoming Very Interesting in the Big Ten

The Big Ten might not be the best conference in college football, but it might be one of the most interesting and exciting.

Just when everyone thought that Michigan State looked like the cream of the crop in the Legends division, Nebraska's defense said not so fast. After beating Michigan and Wisconsin (in stunning fashion) the past two weeks, Michigan State's offense was stymied. Nebraska pulled off the victory 24-3 in front of an excited home crowd.

Michigan's Toussaint had a career day as his team beat Purdue 36-14. Penn State held on against Illinois for a 10-7 victory to give coach Joe Paterno his record 409th win.

One the main questions going into the week was how would Wisconsin respond from last week's heartbreak. Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson threw a touchdown pass and two point conversion to give the Badges a 29-26 lead with 1:18 left. However, Wisconsin's defense let them down as they allowed inexperienced freshman quarterback Braxton Miller to complete a 40 yard game-winning touchdown pass to give Ohio State the upset win. Perhaps Wisconsin should look into purchasing some Prevacid, as they are suffering some heartburn once again.

So where do we stand now. The Legends Division standings have a 3-way tie at the top with Michigan, Nebraska, and Michigan State all holding a 3-1 conference record. Penn State (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) now holds a commanding lead in the Leaders Division. The next closest teams are Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Purdue, who all have a 2-2 conference record. The Nittany Lions are off next week and control their own fate from here on out.