Weekend Warriors

Tired tonight, so down to it...

Big game for the Nits tomorrow...first road game, first conference game, first chance to show what kind of team they want to be. A good, solid win may mean a surprising season (8-3??). A bad loss may be the beginning of another 5-6 year. I can't wait until the program is back to a level where this game would be a no-brainer (for the Lions). What scares me is that the Lions are a touchdown favorite. I just don't know if they're that good. I hope they don't believe all of the "surprise team" talk, or Saturday could be a big let down.

Some keys to the game, in my way wrong opinion:

• Turnovers: 9 in the first three games...awful. How about no fumbles this week, MRob? While the D has bailed the offense out following most of the turnovers, they can't be expected to do that continuously versus better teams.
• Pressure: MRob has played in hostile venues (last year at Camp Randall), but his WRs haven't. It will be interesting to see how they handle their first drop...the first time the get cleaned going across the middle...the first time their number is called on a 3rd and 7 in the 4th quarter. I have a feeling these guys will do fine.
• Pressure 2: Hope I don't see it, but how will the team react to being down at halftime..at the start of the 4th quarter? If they press, they lose big. They don't have the confidence of a team that knows what repeated winning tastes like. Down 21-0 to Illinois in Champagne, the 1994 Nits never appeared to lose their cool...these kids may not have that moxy yet.

So, my predictions for the weekend:

LSU 24, Tenn 17
Iowa 23, OSU 21
Purdue 27, Minnesota 24
ND 28, Washington 6
Clemson 30, Boston College 10
USC 57, Oregon 20
Va Tech 42, Ga Tech 14

PENN STATE 33, Wildkittens 17...

For the Glory...