The Tip Sheet: The Bye Week Cometh

I would like to apologize for last week and my failure to produce a Tip Sheet for the first time maybe ever, but probably not. I was just too taken by the beautiful countryscape on the drive to freaking Nebraska.

But with a bye week for the Buckeyes this week, there is no travel, and thus there is no excuse. Believe me, I tried to come up with something, but I am just not a creative thinker.

So here I am, trapped by my duties like an elephant keeper just waiting to clean up the next mess.

But seriously, I do love the Tip Sheet, especially when it carries the kind of importance it is going to have the rest of this season.

Even though the Buckeyes are off, there are still some very significant games in Ohio State’s world this weekend, and we are going to cover them with the kind of depth that you would normally find literally anywhere else.

Saturday October 21

Teams: Maryland (3-3, 1-2) at #5 Wisconsin (6-0, 3-0)
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (FOX)
Interest: 3.5
Cheer For: Wisconsin

Don’t expect a Texas-sized performance from Maryland this weekend, as the Terp offense has cratered under quarterback Max Bortenschlager. Wisconsin, meanwhile, eats craters for dinner. I don’t know what that means, but I know it won’t mean anything good for Maryland this weekend. Running back Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 200+ yards each of the last two weeks. This will be three weeks in a row if Paul Chryst wants it to be.
Wisconsin 31 – Maryland 7

Teams: #10 Oklahoma State (5-1, 2-1) at Texas (3-3, 2-1)
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ABC)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Texas

This is where things start to mean stuff to you. You are a Longhorn fan here because you want the Pokes to get a second loss. Then when they host and beat Oklahoma later in the season, both teams will have two losses and you no longer have to worry about Oklahoma keeping the Buckeyes out of the playoffs. Oklahoma State is favored by a touchdown, and I think the radio told me this morning that Tom Herman has never failed to cover as an underdog. He’s lost some, but they’re always close.
Texas 38 – Oklahoma State 37

Teams: Iowa (4-2, 1-2) at Northwestern (3-3, 1-2)
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPN2)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Iowa

This game really doesn’t mean anything anymore because both teams are pretty much out of the picture in the west. Sure, Iowa could go into Madison and come away with a win, and my mail-order CD business Columbia House 2 will finally get off the ground. I don’t even want to pick a winner here, but you should be cheering for Iowa because it will look better for the Buckeyes.
Iowa 20 – Northwestern 17

Teams: Purdue (3-3, 1-2) at Rutgers (2-4, 1-2)
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (BTN)
Interest: 1
Cheer For: Rutgers

The only reason this game is interesting is to see if Rutgers can beat somebody that isn’t Illinois. This is also an opportunity for a road win for Purdue, which they might need if they are going to go bowling. I feel like I’ve already talked too much about this game. Purdue is favored by 10 points. Now I’ve really talked too much about it.
Purdue 27 – Rutgers 26

Teams: Louisville (4-3, 1-3) at Florida State (2-3, 2-2)
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 1
Cheer For: Louisville

Remember when Louisville and Florida State were good? Man, those were some crazy times. We were so young and carefree. One year later and here were are — old and miserable. I kind of blame Louisville and Florida State. Don’t feel an obligation to watch this game unless you have made a blood oath with somebody. And even then, how much blood?
Louisville 33 – Florida State 26

Teams: Iowa State (4-2, 2-1) at Texas Tech (4-2, 1-2)
Time (TV): 12:00 pm (FS1)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Texas Tech

You are cheering for Texas Tech here because you want Oklahoma’s loss to Iowa State to look progressively worse as the season goes on. Future Ohio State head coach Matt Campbell has ISU playing well, but right now you need to be rooting against him.
Texas Tech 38 – Iowa State 27

Teams: Tennessee (3-3, 0-3) at #1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0)
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (CBS)
Interest: 2
Cheer For: Tennessee

Alabama is favored by 36 points in this one, but that isn’t going to keep you from rooting for Tennessee with all of your might. Like every other Tennessee fan this weekend, you’re going to watch as much of this game as you can tolerate, and then with about nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, you’ll look at the rest of the slate of 3:30 games and decide to take a nap. During that nap you will dream that Tennessee has taken the lead in the fourth quarter, only to wake up somewhere in the third quarter to the news that the Vols are trailing 49-0 and that Butch Jones was fired at halftime.
Alabama 29 – Tennessee 7

Teams: Syracuse (4-3, 2-1) at #8 Miami (5-0, 3-0)
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (ESPN)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Syracuse

Miami is #FakeGood this year, so they will eventually lose. And even if they don’t, having a game that was canceled hurts them. Syracuse is riding high off of last week’s win over Clemson, which will make this game a classic letdown for the Orange. Tickets can be had for this one from the rabid Miami fan base for five dollars. That does not include the $7.50 for the gold chain that you will also have to purchase, but it’s still kind of a good deal. Remember to wear your StabGard brand Canes attire, of course.
Miami 31 – Syracuse 19

Teams: Indiana (3-3, 0-3) at #18 Michigan State (5-1, 3-0)
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (ABC)
Interest: 2.5
Cheer For: Michigan State

The Spartans are only favored by 6.5 points, which seems kind of low for an outfit that is picking up steam right now. Of course, none of their three B1G wins have been by more than seven points yet, so maybe Vegas knows a little bit more about sports things than me. I would have to do a study on the truthfulness of that statement, however, and right now I don’t have the time. Let’s just call it a push for now. If Indiana is going bowling, they’ll need this win. The Hoosiers are coming off of a tough loss to Michigan last week, so they’ll be in letdown mode.
Michigan State 24 – Indiana 13

Teams: Illinois (2-4, 0-3) at Minnesota (3-3, 0-3)
Time (TV): 3:30 pm (BTN)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Illinois

In a battle of two winless teams in conference, the home winless team is favored by nearly two touchdowns over the road winless teams. I’m actually afraid to speak their names out loud because I don’t want them coming to life.
Home Winless Team 30 – Road Winless Team 16

Teams: #9 Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1) at Kansas State (3-3, 1-2)
Time (TV): 4:00 pm (FOX)
Interest: 4
Cheer For: Kansas State

I know you might have your hopes up for this one, but I’ve been told by the radio that Kansas State’s offense is so pitiful that next year it will be coaching Minnesota’s offensive line. The Wildcats managed just 216 total yards last week in a 26-6 loss at home to TCU. The Sooners have already shown they are vulnerable this season, so maybe something can happen here, just don’t expect it.
Oklahoma 37 – Kansas State 20

Teams: Kentucky (5-1, 2-1) at Mississippi State (4-2, 1-2)
Time (TV): 4:00 pm (SECN)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Kentucky

I don’t know why you’re rooting for Kentucky, other than the fact that having the Wildcats represent the SEC East would be pretty hilarious. It’s not going to happen, so it doesn’t matter. Kentucky is 5-1 and has yet to look good in any single game this year. They have a seven-point win over Southern Miss, an 11-point win over Eastern Kentucky, a four-point win over Eastern Michigan, and a couple of other wins over nobody of any importance. Mississippi State has been blown out by Georgia and Auburn in their last two SEC games, but Kentucky can’t blow teams out, so they’re safe for at least one more week.
Mississippi State 37 – Kentucky 23

Teams: #19 Michigan (5-1, 2-1) at #2 Penn State (6-0, 3-0)
Time (TV): 7:30 pm (ABC)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: Penn State

I know it goes against every bitter fiber of your being, but you’re going to have to root against Michigan this week. Just like the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer, you want Penn State coming into Ohio Stadium undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the nation. Hell, if Tennessee can pull off the upset against Alabama, maybe the Nittany Lions can come in ranked No. 1. But it’s probably best to just assume they’ll be ranked second. Michigan doesn’t have the offense to keep up with a Penn State offense that might be clicking, but PSU’s offense hasn’t been clicking all that much. They failed to rush for 100 yards against both Indiana and Northwestern the last two games, and three times this season they have been held under 400 yards of total offense. Twenty points may win this game, but the conditions look pretty ideal. I think John O’Korn plays well enough to keep this one interesting, but in the end the outside game of Saquon Barkley will be too much for Michigan to handle.
Penn State 21 – Michigan 17

Teams: #11 USC (6-1) at #13 Notre Dame (5-1)
Time (TV): 7:30 pm (NBC)
Interest: 5
Cheer For: USC

I’m pretty torn on this one. On the one hand, you should root for USC to eliminate Notre Dame from the playoff picture. On the other hand, the Irish still have games against NC State, at Miami, and at Stanford, so they may eliminate themselves all on their own. The Pac 12 has sort of already been written off with last week’s losses, but a USC win here could get them back in the conversation. I don’t think anybody is putting them in over a one-loss Ohio State Big Ten champion, though. You’re cheering for USC regardless of what I tell you, so I may as well just go along with the crowd because I’m nothing if not a follower.
Notre Dame 33 – USC 28

Teams: Kansas (1-5, 0-3) at #4 TCU (6-0, 3-0)
Time (TV): 8:00 pm (FOX)
Interest: 1.5
Cheer For: Kansas

I feel like somebody made a terrible error here because for some reason this is the prime time game on FOX. They must have lost a bet or an intern hit the wrong button or something. It probably would have been Oklahoma at Kansas State, but Bill Snyder can’t coach a game in a nightcap from bed. Putting Kansas on in prime time on a major television network is right up there with hiring a babysitter with a pet monkey. Yeah, it might sound funny, but people could be seriously hurt. Nobody should be put in a situation where they accidentally flip over to see Kansas football.
TCU 63 – Kansas 7