Week 6: For Iowa it's a Bye Week and for others it is Business as Usual

Tuesday night football: Troy (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) is @ Middle Tennessee (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) on ESPN2 in a huge Sun Belt showdown. The #14 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) have a bye week in Week 6, before heading up to Ann Arbor for a showdown with Michigan (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Big Ten play. Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) will play @ Michigan in Week 6.


Clayborn Earns Big Ten Defensive Honor - U of Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa - - University of Iowa senior defensive end Adrian Clayborn has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following Iowa's 24-3 win over Penn State last Saturday. The announcement came Monday from the Big Ten office ...

Iowa Football Has Break from Action this Weekend - U of Iowa
10/5/2010 - Iowa has an open week after defeating Penn State 24-3 in Kinnick Stadium to begin Big Ten Conference play. The Hawkeyes are 4-1, with home wins over Eastern Illinois, Iowa State, Ball State and Penn State and a loss at Arizona ...

A popular question on Iowa message boards, such as Rivals.com HawkeyeReport, is where would Iowa be ranked right now, if they had not been upset at the University of Arizona in Week 3? ESPN radio guy, Colin Cowherd on Monday called Iowa a Top 10 program, despite the loss in Tucson.

peace

Upset Alert for Week 6: Does Oregon State continue to get #13 Arizona's number in Football?

It's 9 of 11 for Oregon State over Arizona isn't it? Oregon State enjoyed a win the last time in Tucson in 2008, with a 19-17 win, kicking a 24 yard FG as time expired.

Will it be three's a charm for the Oregon State offense? They have already faced the #1 and #3 defenses in College Football. #2 is next!

Our #13 ranked Arizona Wildcats team is ranked #2 in team defense. WR James Rogers for Oregon State should be back per ESPN, after the injury he sustained in Week 4 @ #3 Boise State.

James Rodgers should play at Arizona - ESPN (Blog)

Oregon State was able to beat Arizona State at home without James Rodgers. Will his return from a concussion be enough for the Beavers to record an upset at No. 9 Arizona on Saturday ...

Arizona did beat Oregon State last season on the road, in junior QB Nick Foles, first start in the Mike Stoops era. Foles hit 25-34 for 254 yards and 3 TDs.

peace

Week 5 in in the Books: Here's a look at the Top 25 and the Top 3 conferences: SEC, Big Ten and Pac Ten

The 2010 College Football season is off to an interesting start, as Week 5 concludes, after the first weekend in October. Conference Standings for 2010.

• Alabama remains on top of the College Football world, after a solid win in the SEC inter-division play over Florida ...


• Ohio State opens sluggishly in Big Ten play on the road @ Illinois ...


• Oregon remains the top program in the Pac 10, but where is the defense in the conference, again?


• Oklahoma beat Texas to win the Red River Rivalry for the first time, since the 2006 season!


• TCU and Utah are the Top 2 programs in the MWC, as Horned Frogs open conference play in Week 5 ...


• Boise State opens WAC play with a blowout on the road ...


• 4-1 is the best an ACC program can show for thus far, while 3-1 is the best a Big East program can show for through Week 5


• No teams are undefeated as Independents or as members of the C-USA, MAC or Sun Belt conferences through Week 5.

Our CIDsports Top 25 after Week 5 ...

1. Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC West) 1 - The Crimson Tide roll over former #6 Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC East) 31-6 to remain unbeaten. Next: the defending BCS national champions will travel to #16 South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 SEC East), who are coming off a bye week, after Gamecocks first loss, for a key SEC inter-division match up in Week 6. Last loss: vs. Utah in '08 season in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, 17-31.


2. Ohio State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) 2 - The Buckeyes didn't appear real excited in the Big Ten opener and first road game of the season in a 24-13 win @ Illinois (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten). Next: vs. Indiana (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten), who blew another game, losing 17Th straight, with a 35-42 loss vs. then #25 Michigan at home. Last loss: @ Purdue in game 7 in '09, 18-26.


3. Boise State (4-0, 1-0 WAC) 3 - The Broncos open WAC play on the road, with a 59-0 win @ New Mexico State (0-4, 0-1). Next: vs. Toledo (3-2, 2-0 MAC West), in the final OOC game of the season against one the better MAC teams. Will the MAC gain some respect here? Last loss: vs. TCU in '08 season in the 2008 in the 2008 Poinsettia, 16-17.


4. TCU (5-0, 1-0 MWC) 4 - The Horned Frogs open MWC play with a solid 27-0 road win @ Colorado State (1-4, 0-1). Next: vs. Wyoming (2-3, 0-1 MWC) in the conference home opener for the Horned Frogs. Last loss: vs. Boise State in the '09 season in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, 10-17.


5. Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Pac 10) 5 - The Ducks roll on offense in a 52-31 win over then #12 Stanford (4-1, 1-1 Pac 10). Next: @ Washington State (1-4, 0-2 Pac 10), who is coming off a 28-48 loss @ UCLA (3-2, 1-1 Pac 10). Last loss: vs. Ohio State in the '09 season in the 2010 Rose Bowl, 17-26.


6. Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0 Big 12 South) 7 - The Sooners win the Red River Rivalry over then #18 Texas (3-2, 1-1 Big 12 South) 28-20 in Dallas. Next: Bye week, before another Big 12 game vs. Iowa State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12 South), who took care of Texas Tech (2-2, 0-1 Big 12 South) 52-38 at home in Jack Trice Stadium. Last loss: @ Texas Tech in the '09 season in game 11, 13-41.


7. Utah (4-0, 2-0 MWC) 8 - The Utes are the second MWC program in the Top 10 in our book. Are they capable of becoming the sleeper among the top non-BCS programs in '10? Next: coming off a bye week and a 56-3 win over San Jose State in Week 4, the Utes continue OOC play @ Iowa State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12 South), in a series that will be one and done, since ISU canceled this past week the game scheduled in 2011 at Utah. Last loss: OT loss @ BYU in the final regular season game in '09, 23-26.


8. LSU (5-0, 3-0 SEC West) 11 - The Tigers are taking care of business and pull out an exciting 16-14 win over Tennessee (2-3, 0-2 SEC East) in SEC inter-division play. Next: @ #15 Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC East) in another key SEC inter-division match up. Last loss:


9. Auburn (5-0, 2-0 SEC West) 13 - The Tigers pick up a 52-3 OOC win over Louisiana-Monroe (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt). Next: @ Kentucky (3-2, 0-2 SEC East) in a SEC inter-division game. Last loss: vs. Alabama in the final regular season game of '09, 21-26.


10. Nebraska (4-0) - Sorry Cornhusker fans... bye week in Week 5 and 17-3 win over FBS South Dakota State (0-4, 0-2 MVfC) in Week 4; who lost 14-24 to Northern Iowa (2-2, 2-0 MVfC) in Week 5, costs the Cornhuskers a place in the Top 10, along with a loss by former #10 Wisconsin. Next: a Thursday night Big 12 opener @ division leading Kansas State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12 North), who also enjoyed a bye week in Week 5. Last loss: vs. Texas in the '09 in the 2009 Big 12 title game, 12-13.


11. Miami (FL) (3-1, 1-0 ACC Coastal) 14 - The Hurricane win ACC opener on the road 30-21 @ Clemson (2-2, 0-1 ACC Atlantic). Next: vs. #18 Florida State (4-1, 2-0 ACC Atlantic) in a huge conference opener in ACC inter-division play. Last loss: @ #2 Ohio State in Week 2 by the score of 24-36.


12. Arkansas (3-1, 1-1 SEC West) 15 - The Razorbacks are coming off a bye week, after the Week 4 home loss vs. #1 Alabama 20-24. Next: @ Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 Big 12 South), who are coming off a tough 35-38 loss @ Oklahoma State in Big 12 opener. Last loss: vs. #1 Alabama in Week 4.


13. Arizona (4-0, 1-0 Pac 10) 16 - The Wildcats are coming off a bye week, after a Week 4 Pac 10 opening home win 10-9 vs. California (2-2, 0-1 Pac 10). Does defense win championships in the Pac 10? Next: vs. Oregon State (2-2, 1-0 Pac 10), who won 31-28 in Pac 10 opener at home vs. Arizona State (2-3, 0-2 Pac 10). Last loss: vs. Nebraska in '09 in the 2009 Holiday Bowl, 0-33.


14. Iowa (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) 17 - The Hawkeyes beat then #21 Penn State on Homecoming 24-3 to win third straight in series and 8 of 10 for coach Kirk Ferentz during his 12 years as head coach. Next: bye week to get healthy, then @ Michigan (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Week 7. Last loss: @ #13 Arizona in Week 3, 27-34, after a poor first half of play for Iowa on the road.


15. Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC East) 6 - The Gators lost @ #1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC West) 6-31 to fall for the first time in '10, after losing to Alabama 13-32 in the 2009 SEC title game. Next: vs. #8 LSU (5-0, 3-0 SEC West), in a huge SEC inter-division match up. Last loss: @ #1 Alabama in Week 5.


16. South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 SEC East) 20 - The Gamecocks are coming off a big bye week. Next: vs. #1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC West) in a huge SEC inter-division match up. Last loss: @ #9 Auburn (5-0, 2-0 SEC West) in Week 4, 27-35.


17. Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) 22 - The Spartans open Big Ten play with a solid 34-24 win over then #10 Wisconsin (4-1, 0-1 Big Ten), despite coach Mark Dantonio's absence. Dantonio was hospitalized for a blood clot, following a recent mild attack. Next: @ #21 Michigan (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten), in a huge Big Ten match up. Last loss: vs. Texas Tech in the 2009 Alamo, 31-41.


18. Florida State (4-1, 2-0 ACC Atlantic) 23 - The Seminoles won @ Virginia (2-2, 0-1 ACC Coastal) 34-14 to take lead in their ACC division. Next: @ #11 Miami (FL) (3-1, 1-0 Coastal), in a series where there have been five straight upsets, with visitor winning four straight. Last loss: @ #6 Oklahoma in Week 2.


19. Stanford (4-1, 1-1 Pac 10) 12 - The Cardinal lost 31-52 @ #5 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Pac 10) to fall back in the Pac 10 race for the Rose Bowl. Next: vs. USC (4-1, 1-1 Pac 10), in a series where the home team has lost four straight. Stanford won 55-21 last year @ USC. Last loss: @ #5 Oregon in Week 5.


20. Wisconsin (4-1, 0-1 Big Ten) 10 - The Badgers fall 24-34 @ then #22 Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten). Next: vs. Minnesota (1-4, 0-1 Big Ten), as the Badgers look to rebound in the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Last loss: @ #17 Michigan State in Week 5.


21. Michigan (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) 25 - The Wolverines win the 17Th straight game vs. the Hoosiers in a 42-35 win @ Indiana (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) to open conference play. Next: vs. #17 Michigan State (5-0, 1-0 Big 12), as coach Rich Rodriguez looks to win first game in the MSU series, after a 21-35 loss in '08 and 20-26 OT loss on road in '09. Last loss: @ Ohio State to close out '09 regular season, 10-21.


22. Nevada (5-0) NR - The Wolf Pack win the battle for Nevada with a 44-26 OOC win over UNLV (1-4, 0-1 MWC). Next: vs. San Jose State (1-4) to open WAC play for '10. Last loss: vs. SMU in '09 in the 2009 Hawaii, 10-45.


23. Oklahoma State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12 South) NR - The Cowboys won 38-35 over Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1 Big 12 South) at home to open Big 12 play in the South. Next: @ Louisiana-Lafayette (2-2, 2-1 Sun Belt), for the first road game of the year for the Cowboys.


24. Air Force (4-1, 2-0 MWC) NR - The Falcons end a seven game losing streak in the series with a 14-6 win vs. Navy (2-2). Next: vs. Colorado State (1-4, 0-1 MWC), as the Falcons return to MWC play. Last loss: @ #6 Oklahoma in Week 3.


25. Northwestern (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) NR - The Wildcats pull off a 29-28 win @ Minnesota (1-4, 0-1 Big Ten) to open conference play. The Wildcats have three wins on the road in '10. Next: vs. Purdue (2-2), who is coming off a bye week. Last loss: vs. Auburn in '09 in the 2010 Outback, 35-38 in OT.

Out of the Top 25 after Week 5: Former #18 Texas (3-2, 1-1 Big 12 South), lost 20-28 in Red River Rivalry to Oklahoma in Dallas; former #19 USC (4-1, 1-1 Pac 10), lost 31-32 vs. Washington (2-2, 1-0 Pac 10); former #21 Penn State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten), lost 3-24 @ then # 17 Iowa; former #24 North Carolina State (4-1, 1-1 ACC Atlantic), lost 30-41 vs. Virginia Tech (3-2, 2-0 ACC Coastal).

Big East - Conference play begins in Week 6 with a couple of conference match ups: Syracuse (3-1) @ South Florida (3-1), while UConn (3-2) @ Rutgers (2-2). Others are still playing out of confence for one more week. Pittsburgh (2-2) @ Notre Dame (2-3) in Week 6. West Virginia (3-1), Louisville (2-2) and Cincinnati (1-3) all play non-BCS opponents in Week 6.

Independents - Does BYU (1-4, 0-1 MWC) really want to join this group? They would be dead last, if they were currently an Independent, with Army (3-2), Navy (2-2) and Notre Dame (2-3). Army lost vs. Temple (4-1, 1-0 MAC East) 35-42 in Week 5. Navy lost vs. Air Force (4-1, 2-0 MWC) 6-14 in Week 5, while Notre Dame won on the road 31-13 @ Boston College (2-2, 0-1 ACC Atlantic).

C-USA - East Carolina (2-2) is 2-0 in the East Division to lead, but was hammered 17-42 in Week 5 @ North Carolina (2-2, 0-1 ACC Coastal). Next: @ Southern Miss (4-1, 1-0 C-USA East) in a division showdown. Houston (3-1) and SMU (3-2) lead West Division at 2-0. Next: Houston vs. Mississippi State (3-2, 1-2 SEC West) in OOC play, while SMU vs. Tulsa (3-2, 1-1 SEC West) in a division showdown.

MAC - Miami (OH) (3-2) leads the MAC East at 2-0 after Week 5, with 27-21 win over Kent State (1-3, 0-1 MAC East). Next: Miami (OH) @ Cincinnati (1-3), in OOC play. In the MAC West, Toledo (3-2) leads the division at 2-0, but lost 15-20 vs. Wyoming (2-3, 0-1 MWC). Next: @ #3 Boise State (5-0, 1-0 WAC), as they hope to pull off the major upset in non-BCS football in '10.

Sun Belt - Middle Tennessee (2-2) and Troy (2-2) are in the lead at 1-0. Next: On Tuesday, for an ESPN2 game at 7 p.m., Central Time, Troy @ Middle Tennessee for the lead in the Sun Belt Conference.

Early Games for Week 6

Tuesday, October 5Th

• Troy at Middle Tennessee
  7:00 p.m.
  ESPN2 (HD)

Wednesday, October 6Th

• UAB at Central Florida
  7:00 p.m.
  ESPN (HD)

Thursday, October 7Th

• #10 Nebraska at Kansas State
  6:30 p.m.
  ESPN (HD)
  
  Friday, October 8Th
  
• Connecticut at Rutgers
  6:30 p.m.
  ESPN (HD)


• #23 Oklahoma State at Louisiana-Lafayette
  8:00 p.m.
  ESPN2 (HD)

peace

Iowa Hawkeyes beat Penn State 24-3 on Homecoming; while State of Iowa Division I teams go 3-0 in Week 5

The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) open Big Ten play with a solid 24-3 win over Penn State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) on Homecoming on Saturday night. Like the 2002 season, Iowa heads into Big Ten season at 3-1, and like 2002, Iowa opened with a solid win over Penn State. Unlike 2002, which was an offensive dominated game, defense shined on Saturday night this year.

Iowa for the past couple years has been compared to Alabama by Phil Steele, the noted college football magazine. Call Iowa a version of Alabama lite. Like the #1 Alabama program, both programs own a 24-3 win at home over the Nittany Lions this season.

Iowa's base 4-3 defense held ground and kept the Nittany Lions out of the end zone again. Other than a first minute TD on the first drive at Happy Valley last year, the Hawkeyes have kept the Nittany Lions out of the end zone for the past 119 minutes, as a happy coach Kirk Ferentz responded to Gary Dolphin on the Hawkeye Sports Network, after Saturday's game. As Gary Dolphin noted, the Hawkeyes have held the Nittany Lions without a touchdown for seven straight quarters now.

Iowa's defense was outstanding during last year's Penn State game in Happy Valley. This year, with two key newcomers in the linebacker corp, Iowa played solid football again. Senior Jeremiha Hunter, from York, PA, was the only returning starter, but junior Tyler Nielsen and true freshman James Morris were solid, as well. Morris entered the game in the second quarter, with Iowa ahead 10-0, after seniors Jeff Tapinian and Troy Johnson went out with injuries. Iowa has already lost junior Bruce Davis with an ACL injury at the MLB position.

It all started, as it has in the past three wins over Penn State, with the defensive line. Iowa has five outstanding lineman, with DE Adrian Clayborn, DT/DE Christain Ballard, DT Karl Klug, DT Mike Daniels and DE Broderick Binns. Ballard, pictured to right, was outstanding on Saturday night. He was considered by most the player of the game. Klug pulled off a couple tackles equal to his 2008 performance. Clayborn continues to garner the attention of most offensive coordinators and OL coaches.

Further, junior cornerback Shaun Prater had an outstanding game, including a 33 yard INT and a TD saving open field tackle at the tail end of the first half. Senior safety Brett Greenwood made some key open field tackles, as well.

Senior QB Ricky Stani, sophomore LT Riley Rieff, sophomore RB Adam Robinson, senior FB Brent Morse, senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulanos, who missed last year's game, junior WR Malvin McNutt and senior TE Allen Reisner were all key performers on offense. The special teams units were solid, though Penn State took our return squads completely out of the game. Senior punter Ryan Donahue continues to show why he is one of the nation's best. True freshman place kicker Mike Meyers was perfect on the day.

Iowa will get a bye week next week, then head to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 1-0) on Homecoming for the Wolverines faithful, in Week 7. The Iowa-Michigan series, since 1981 has been one of the better rivalries in the Big Ten. The 1981 game, which was a 9-7 win in coach J. Hayden Fry's third season. It brought an end of the Ohio State-Michigan dominance in the Big Ten. Wasn't the 1981 game in Ann Arbor a Homecoming game for Michigan, as well?

Iowa is now 12-11 in the PSU series. Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is now 8-2 head to head, as a head coach vs. all-time great Joe Paterno. Ferentz has the oldest tenure among Big Ten coaches, with the exception of Joe Pa, who is in his 45Th season as head coach and 61St overall on the sidelines for the historic Penn State program.

Iowa will open Big Ten play in 2011, in the new-improved Big Ten, at Penn State in Happy Valley. Will Joe Paterno be on the sidelines again in Iowa City in 2012?

For now, the quest for the Rose Bowl has started in 2010. Iowa is 1-0, with Ohio State, Michigan State, Northwestern and Michigan, after opening Big Ten play in the first weekend in October. It should be another exciting season of Big Ten football, as the 2010 College Football season heads into Week 6.

*** *** ***

Since the 7-35 loss at Iowa in Week 2, Iowa State (3-2, 1-1 Big 12 North) has been playing competitive football, as they returned to Big 12 play on Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State beat Texas Tech (2-2, 0-2 Big 12 South) 52-38, after taking a 24-0 lead early. ISU coach Paul Rhoads beat his old boss, first year coach Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech. Rhoads was a defensive coordinator at Auburn for Tuberville, ahead of becoming the ISU head coach in '09.

Utah (4-0, 2-0), Top 10 team, will visit Ames this Saturday for the Cyclones final OOC match up for the 2010 season. The Cyclones will work to remain competitive, after a near miss at Arrowhead Stadium over Big 12 North leader, Kansas State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) and back to back wins over UNI and Texas Tech at Jack Trice.

*** *** ***

The University of Northern Iowa is only 2-2, but they have won two big MVfC games to start the 2010 season. On Saturday, UNI beat South Dakota State (0-4, 0-2 MVfC) 24-14 in the UNI-dome. Turnovers have been a heartache for the Panthers much of the 2010 season, but were not a thorn on Saturday. UNI will travel to #13 Southern Illinois (2-3, 1-1 MVfC) on Saturday.

Unlike Week 3, where Iowa fell at Top 25 Arizona (5-0, 1-0 Pac 10) and both Iowa State and UNI fell short to Kansas State and Stephen F. Austin, respectively, the State of Iowa shined on Saturday.

peace

Game Day: #21 Penn State @ #17 Iowa on ESPN, 7 p.m. at Kinnick Stadium

The Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1) have won seven of eight in this series under coach Kirk Ferentz, as Iowa hosts Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-1) in Iowa City tonight for a Homecoming for the Hawkeyes. The all-time series is tied at 11-11. Does Iowa get to +1 vs. the Nittany Lions on Satuday?

The Quarterbacks

• #12 senior Ricky Stanzi for Iowa vs. #1 true freshman Rob Bolden for PSU


• Iowa needs to avoid turnovers, Stanzi has 9 Tds to 1 INT


• PSU's true freshman has 5 INTs to 3 TDs

The Running Backs

• #32 Iowa sophomore Adam Robinson is the #1 gun now for the Hawkeyes


• PSU has #22 senior Evan Royster and #21 junior Stephon Green


• Establishing the run game is always a big priority for either program


• Can Iowa shutdown the Nittany Lions ground attack and force Bolden to make plays?

The Receivers and Tight Ends

• QB Ricky Stanzi and the Iowa attack should be healthier than the '09 game


• #15 senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulanos missed last year's game in Happy Valley and leads Iowa's solid WR/TE squad


• The TE position is often a huge part of the Iowa passing game


• #6 junior WR Derek Moye leads Penn State's receiving crew


• #83 senior Brett Brackett is a large WR at 6-6 242

Offensive Line vs. Defensive Line

• Iowa's defensive line is considered one of the best in the nation


• #94 Iowa senior DE Adrian Clayborn has been a little quiet thus far in '10


• #93 Iowa junior DT Mike Daniels doesn't start, but he is getting national attention


• PSU typically finds d-lineman to complement the Linebacker U motto


• #85 PSU senior Ollie Ogbu is a three year starter for the Nittany Lions

Linebackers

• Penn State is Linebacker U
• Iowa's linebackers were huge in '09
• #42 Iowa senior WLB Jeremiha Hunter is from York, PA and only returning starter for either squad and like last season is #2 in tackles for the Hawkeyes


• #33 Iowa senior MLB Jeff Tarpanian leads the Iowa's LBs in '10


• #48 PSU senior Chris Calasanti leads the 1-2-3 punch at LB U

Secondary

• Iowa's secondary is lead by returning safeties #9 junior Tyler Sash and #30 Brent Greenwood, while #28 junior Shaun Prater is the top corner this year


• #1 PSU junior FS Nick Sukay leads the Nittany Lions in the back 4

Special Teams

• Iowa has won the past two games in the kicking game


• Many would give the edge to Penn State heading into Kinnick Stadium


• Is this Joe Paterno's ace, as he heads into Iowa City?


• How will teams execute on Saturday night?

Coaching

• Joe Paterno - 45 years as head coach for PSU


• Kirk Ferentz - 12 years as head coach for Iowa


• The most seasoned staffs in the Big Ten squaring off


• Iowa will be missing long-time DC Norm Parker, for the third straight game, due to health reasons.

Outlook:

Field position is always important in football. Over the past nine games, there may not be any Big Ten game that field position hasn't turned out to be as huge factor for the winning program.

If Iowa can control field position and the line of scrimmage, Iowa is clearly worthy of the 7 point favorite.

Turnovers, penalties and special teams are likely statistics to keep a good eye on. Penn State has a true freshman at QB. Penn State has been very disciplined in there 3-1 start and have avoided penalties. Special teams could be an area where the Nittany Lions can be successful. Iowa is 3-1 and entered the season in the Top 10 by many. Special teams has been the only negative thus far.

Iowa and Penn State are usually close games. Iowa has played well at home scoring 35 points or more in three ball games. But, Penn State is clearly a better opponent, other than #16 Arizona, who upset Iowa 34-27, in Iowa's only road game in the out of conference. Penn State has already traveled to #1 Alabama, where they lost 3-24. So, a trip to Kinnick Stadium will not likely be as big a hurdle as it may have been had PSU had a traditional four game start at home, like Ohio State, this year.

Prediction:

#17 Iowa Hawkeyes 22

#21 Penn State 15

@ Kinnick Stadium

peace

Week 5: Kick off of the 2010 Big Ten Football Season

It's the first weekend in October and the 2o10 Big Ten Conference football season kicks off on five campus around the conference ...

• On the Big Ten Network: #2 Ohio State (4-0) @ Illinois (2-1) at 11 a.m.
• Northwestern (4-0) @ #22 Minnesota (1-3) on ESPN at 11 a.m.
• #25 Michigan (4-0) @ Indiana (3-0) on ESPNU at 2:30 p.m.
• #10 Wisconsin (4-0) @ #22 Michigan State (4-0) on ABC/ESPN at 2:30 p.m.
• In Prime Time on ESPN, #21 Penn State (3-1) @ #17 Iowa at 7 p.m. for Iowa's Homecoming at Kinnick Stadium, looking to go 8 out of last 9 games vs. the Nittany Lions!

Purdue (2-2) is idle heading into October and Big Ten play!

Ohio State and Illinois appear to be going in opposite directions, but it is always a rivalry game that one can never overlook. Wow, I type this and Lou Holtz makes the same comment, after me. Still, beware on the road in the Big Ten.

Northwestern and Minnesota could be a closer game than expected. After all, it can be difficult to win on the road during conference play.

Indiana nearly beat Michigan last year in Ann Arbor. Can the Hoosiers out score the Wolverines in Bloomington in 2010? While the Hoosiers hope to get it done, the Wolverines likely have more offense, than IU.

The Wisconsin-Michigan State game in East Lansing is one of the better Big Ten games in 2010. The winner should become a Top 3 team in the 2010 Big Ten race. Coach Mark Dantonio, back from a mild heart attack, after the Notre Dame win, may provide an outstanding spark in a huge Big Ten match up. This game should go down to the wire, hopefully, there are no heart attacks at the end.

Iowa goes for eight out of nine on Homecoming Night vs. Penn State. Will this be Joe Pa's final visit to Iowa City as Penn State's head coach. Joe Paterno has lead the Nittany Lions for 45 seasons, while Iowa's coach Kirk Ferentz is second in the Big Ten, in his 12Th Big Ten season at the helm in Iowa City. It should be a great game at Kinnick Stadium tonight in prime time. Iowa has struggled on Homecoming at times. But, the Hawkeyes should win this one. Special teams could be a difference.

Saturday, October 2nd (Central Time)

• Alcorn State at Mississippi State, 11:00 a.m., FSS / SUN / ESPN-GP *2
• #23 Florida State at Virginia, 11:00 a.m., ESPN-GP *2 / ACC Network (cable)
• Kansas at Baylor, 11:00 a.m., FSN (HD)
• Louisiana-Monroe at #13 Auburn, 11:00 a.m., ESPNU (HD)
• #14 Miami (FL) at Clemson, 11:00 a.m., ESPN2 (HD) & ESPN 3D
• Northwestern at Minnesota, 11:00 a.m., ESPN (HD)
• Ohio U at Eastern Michigan, 11:00 a.m., ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable)
• #2 Ohio State at Illinois, 11:00 a.m., BTN (HD)
• Temple at Army, 11:00 a.m., CBSC (HD)
• Vanderbilt at Connecticut, 11:00 a.m., SNY / ESPN-GP / ERTV (cable)
• Kentucky at Ole Miss, 11:21 a.m., SEC Network / ESPN-GP
• Idaho at Western Michigan, 1:00 p.m., ESPN-GP / WAC Sports Network
• TCU at Colorado State, 1:00 p.m., MTN (HD)
• Navy at Air Force, 1:30 p.m., Versus (HD)
• #25 Michigan at Indiana, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU (HD)
• #7 Oklahoma vs. #18 Texas, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN *7 / ESPN-GP *2
• Tennessee at #11 LSU, 2:30 p.m., CBS (HD) / online video
• Virginia Tech at #24 North Carolina State, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN-GP *2
• Washington State at UCLA, 2:30 p.m., FSPT (HD) / FSNW / FCS Pacific (cable)
• #10 Wisconsin at #22 Michigan State, 2:30 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN *7
• UTEP at New Mexico, 5:00 p.m., MTN (HD)
• Arizona State at Oregon State, 5:30 p.m., FSAZ / FSNW / FCS Atlantic (cable)
• Georgia at Colorado, 6:00 p.m., FSN (HD)
• Georgia Tech at Wake Forest, 6:00 p.m., ESPNU
• Texas Tech at Iowa State, 6:00 p.m., DirecTV - 623 / FCS Central (cable)
• Louisiana-Lafayette at North Texas, 6:30 p.m., ESPN-GP *2 / (CSS & CST) (cable)
• #3 Boise State at New Mexico State, 7:00 p.m., ESPN-GP / WAC Sports Network
• #6 Florida at #1 Alabama, 7:00 p.m., CBS (HD) / online video
• Marshall at Southern Miss, 7:00 p.m., CBSC (HD)
• Notre Dame at Boston College, 7:00 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN-GP *2
• #21 Penn State at #7 Iowa, 7:00 p.m., ESPN (HD)
• #12 Stanford at #5 Oregon, 7:00 p.m., ABC *1 / ESPN2 *7
• Washington at #19 USC, 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 *7 / ESPN-GP *2
• Nevada at UNLV (Las Vegas), 9:00 p.m., MTN (HD)

Games not selected for nationally available networks.

• Ball State at Central Michigan, 2:30 p.m.
• Buffalo at Bowling Green, 2:30 p.m.
• Cal Poly at Fresno State, 9:00 p.m.
• Duke at Maryland, 5:00 p.m., espn3.com
• East Carolina at North Carolina, 2:30 p.m., espn3.com / Time Warner (NC)
• Florida Atlantic at South Florida, 6:00 p.m., BHSN / espn3.com
• Florida International at Pittsburgh, 2:30 p.m., espn3.com
• Kent State at Miami (Ohio), 12:00 p.m.
• Louisiana Tech at Hawaii, 10:30 p.m., Oceanic PPV
• Louisville at Arkansas State, 6:00 p.m., espn3.com
• Northern Illinois at Akron, 5:00 p.m.
• SMU at Rice, 6:00 p.m.
• Tulane at Rutgers, 1:00 p.m., espn3.com
• Tulsa at Memphis, 6:00 p.m.
• UC Davis at San Jose State, 7:00 p.m.
• Wyoming at Toledo, 6:00 p.m.

It's October ... let the football continue during the 2010 College Football season.

peace

Funny road to Independence for 1-4 BYU

The Brigham Young football program will become an Independent in 2011. But, after five games in 2010, the final season in the MWC, the Cougars are 1-4. The weakest start for BYU, since 1973.

BYU has lost four straight games, after losing @ Utah State (2-3) 16-31 on Friday night. Utah State won for the first time in 10 games vs. BYU, in this in-state rivalry.

Is becoming an Independent really the right thing BYU? After all, Notre Dame is 1-3 as an Independent heading into Week 5.

A great Week 5 in College Football is coming up on Saturday!

peace