All four major college programs are in a slump as we head into the final month of the college football season. Notre Dame has the week off before facing a Utah team that may be one of the last four unbeatens in the country. Both Purdue and Indiana have difficult home games against ranked opponents this week, while Ball State gets to host possibly the worst team in Division 1-A.
It is looking more and more like this will be the second straight season that no team from the state of Indiana goes to a bowl game. Ball State is already eliminated from bowl contention, while Notre Dame needs two wins in three games to reach that number. The winner of the Indiana-Purdue game will get at least one more victory, but it is hard to see either of those teams getting a second win needed for a bowl.
#16 Iowa (6-2, 3-1) at Indiana (4-4, 0-4) Noon, Big Ten Network
Indiana had undefeated Iowa on the ropes last year before a questionable call negated a touchdown catch. The Hoosiers then melted down in the second half in a 42-24 loss. They were unable to take advantage of five interceptions thrown by Ricky Stanzi, as Ben Chappell threw three picks of his own and the Hawkeye scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
The Hawkeyes now find themselves in the thick of a tight Big Ten race with Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan State. They won't be overlooking the Hoosiers this weekend, and the Hoosiers offense is struggling to manufacture points against even modest defenses. Indiana's own defense played better last week in the 20-17 loss to Northwestern, but that trend must continue for Indiana to have a chance against Iowa.
#9 Wiconsin (7-1, 3-1) at Purdue (4-4, 2-2) Noon, Big Ten Network
In Purdue's the first half of four losses this season the Boilermakers have scored only three points total. Another slow start this week would likely doom the Boilermakers, as Sean Robinson is expected to get his first start. The true freshman has played extensively at quarterback the last two weeks due to Rob Henry's finger injury, but this is still a stout defense.
Purdue's offense is struggling to pass the ball, something almost unheard of in West Lafayette. Robert Marve continues to lead the team in passing despite missing the last four games, and both Marve and Henry's season passing totals look like a pretty good day for Drew Brees, Curtis Painter, and Kyle Orton from their time in West Lafayette. Purdue must get its passing game going despite a rash of injuries that has now claimed freshman wide receiver O.J. Ross. Only Antavian Edison remains from the group that began the season as starting receivers.
This game will also showcase two of the best defensive ends in the country with Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt. Both players are All-Big Ten and All-America candidates that excel at causing havoc in the backfield.
Louisville (4-4, 1-2) at Syracuse (6-2, 3-1) Noon
The Orange come in as one of the surprise teams in the nation having won five of their last six games. This is behind a greatly improved defense that only allows 17.5 points per game, making for a difficult challenge in the Carrier Dome for Louisville. The Louisville defense has been up and down over the last two weeks. It recorded shutouts of Memphis and UConn, but gave up 20 points to Pittsburgh and 35 to Cincinnati.
Louisville is also in the middle of a quarterback controversy, as starter Adam Froman may be replaced by Kyle Kuric. Card Chronicle remains confident that Louisville can still pull off the road victory, however.
Akron (0-9, 0-5) at Ball State (2-7, 1-4) 1pm
Both teams have made ESPN's infamous Bottom 10 list this week, as a long season is winding down. With a win, the Cardinals can surpass last season's win total, but they must hold on to the football to do so. Ball State has turned the ball over 23 times in nine games, second worst in the country.
Akron comes in ranked 119th in the country, barely scoring more than 13 points per game. That is even buoyed by a 38-37 overtime loss to 1-AA Gardner-Webb. They also give up nearly 40 points per game and have been outscored 86-10 in the last two weeks.
1-AA games:
Northern Iowa (5-3, 4-1) at Indiana State (5-3, 3-2)
It's unlikely, but a victory this week against perennial power Northern Iowa would not only put the Sycamores in first place in the Missouri Valley Conference, it could potentially score them a berth in the 1-AA playoffs. Indiana State finishes with the worst two teams in the MVC in Southern Illinois and Youngstown State. They currently own the tiebreaker over Missouri State, while Western Illinois, who has already beaten ISU 40-7 this year, still must play Northern Iowa. If Indiana State wins out and Western Illinois loses once, the Trees would win the automatic bid from the MVC to the 1-AA playoffs. It would be their first such berth since 1984. They won their only conference title in 1964, which was the now defunct Indiana Collegiate Conference.
Jacksonville (8-1, 6-0) at Butler (4-5, 2-4)
After defeating Valparaiso 48-0 last week the Bulldogs host Pioneer leader Jacksonville on Senior Day in the Butler Bowl. Jacksonville's high powered offense has been unstoppable of late, scoring as many as 86 points three weeks ago against the Crusaders.
Valparaiso (0-9, 0-6) at Campbell (2-6, 1-4)
The nation's worst Division I team has two games left to grab a win, but Campbell boasts a 27-10 win over Butler, who defeated Valpo 46-0 last week. Few things have gone right for the Crusaders this season, who have just one loss by less than 20 points.
Week 10 College Football Preview
All four major college programs are in a slump as we head into the final month of the college football season. Notre Dame has the week off before facing a Utah team that may be one of the last four unbeatens in the country. Both Purdue and Indiana have difficult home games against ranked opponents this week, while Ball State gets to host possibly the worst team in Division 1-A.
It is looking more and more like this will be the second straight season that no team from the state of Indiana goes to a bowl game. Ball State is already eliminated from bowl contention, while Notre Dame needs two wins in three games to reach that number. The winner of the Indiana-Purdue game will get at least one more victory, but it is hard to see either of those teams getting a second win needed for a bowl.
#16 Iowa (6-2, 3-1) at Indiana (4-4, 0-4) Noon, Big Ten Network
Indiana had undefeated Iowa on the ropes last year before a questionable call negated a touchdown catch. The Hoosiers then melted down in the second half in a 42-24 loss. They were unable to take advantage of five interceptions thrown by Ricky Stanzi, as Ben Chappell threw three picks of his own and the Hawkeye scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
The Hawkeyes now find themselves in the thick of a tight Big Ten race with Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan State. They won't be overlooking the Hoosiers this weekend, and the Hoosiers offense is struggling to manufacture points against even modest defenses. Indiana's own defense played better last week in the 20-17 loss to Northwestern, but that trend must continue for Indiana to have a chance against Iowa.
#9 Wiconsin (7-1, 3-1) at Purdue (4-4, 2-2) Noon, Big Ten Network
In Purdue's the first half of four losses this season the Boilermakers have scored only three points total. Another slow start this week would likely doom the Boilermakers, as Sean Robinson is expected to get his first start. The true freshman has played extensively at quarterback the last two weeks due to Rob Henry's finger injury, but this is still a stout defense.
Purdue's offense is struggling to pass the ball, something almost unheard of in West Lafayette. Robert Marve continues to lead the team in passing despite missing the last four games, and both Marve and Henry's season passing totals look like a pretty good day for Drew Brees, Curtis Painter, and Kyle Orton from their time in West Lafayette. Purdue must get its passing game going despite a rash of injuries that has now claimed freshman wide receiver O.J. Ross. Only Antavian Edison remains from the group that began the season as starting receivers.
This game will also showcase two of the best defensive ends in the country with Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt. Both players are All-Big Ten and All-America candidates that excel at causing havoc in the backfield.
Louisville (4-4, 1-2) at Syracuse (6-2, 3-1) Noon
The Orange come in as one of the surprise teams in the nation having won five of their last six games. This is behind a greatly improved defense that only allows 17.5 points per game, making for a difficult challenge in the Carrier Dome for Louisville. The Louisville defense has been up and down over the last two weeks. It recorded shutouts of Memphis and UConn, but gave up 20 points to Pittsburgh and 35 to Cincinnati.
Louisville is also in the middle of a quarterback controversy, as starter Adam Froman may be replaced by Kyle Kuric. Card Chronicle remains confident that Louisville can still pull off the road victory, however.
Akron (0-9, 0-5) at Ball State (2-7, 1-4) 1pm
Both teams have made ESPN's infamous Bottom 10 list this week, as a long season is winding down. With a win, the Cardinals can surpass last season's win total, but they must hold on to the football to do so. Ball State has turned the ball over 23 times in nine games, second worst in the country.
Akron comes in ranked 119th in the country, barely scoring more than 13 points per game. That is even buoyed by a 38-37 overtime loss to 1-AA Gardner-Webb. They also give up nearly 40 points per game and have been outscored 86-10 in the last two weeks.
1-AA games:
Northern Iowa (5-3, 4-1) at Indiana State (5-3, 3-2)
It's unlikely, but a victory this week against perennial power Northern Iowa would not only put the Sycamores in first place in the Missouri Valley Conference, it could potentially score them a berth in the 1-AA playoffs. Indiana State finishes with the worst two teams in the MVC in Southern Illinois and Youngstown State. They currently own the tiebreaker over Missouri State, while Western Illinois, who has already beaten ISU 40-7 this year, still must play Northern Iowa. If Indiana State wins out and Western Illinois loses once, the Trees would win the automatic bid from the MVC to the 1-AA playoffs. It would be their first such berth since 1984. They won their only conference title in 1964, which was the now defunct Indiana Collegiate Conference.
Jacksonville (8-1, 6-0) at Butler (4-5, 2-4)
After defeating Valparaiso 48-0 last week the Bulldogs host Pioneer leader Jacksonville on Senior Day in the Butler Bowl. Jacksonville's high powered offense has been unstoppable of late, scoring as many as 86 points three weeks ago against the Crusaders.
Valparaiso (0-9, 0-6) at Campbell (2-6, 1-4)
The nation's worst Division I team has two games left to grab a win, but Campbell boasts a 27-10 win over Butler, who defeated Valpo 46-0 last week. Few things have gone right for the Crusaders this season, who have just one loss by less than 20 points.
Nov 04 2:08p by Travis Miller - 0 comments