Former Foes: Week 10

Syracuse (4-4)

Beat Wake Forest (4-5) 13-0

With 8:58 to play in the third quarter, Orange QB Terrel Hunt scored on a 6-yard run to break a scoreless tie. Freshman defensive end Isaiah Johnson intercepted a Wake pass shortly after, and Syracuse turned it into a 25 yard touchdown pass.  The Orange defense did the rest, shutting out their first league opponent since 1996.  Syracuse held Wake Forest to 198 total yards and only 25 on the ground.

Wake nearly upset No 7 Miami last week, leading the entire game but giving up the go-ahead score in the final minute.  Syracuse was coming off a beat down by the hands of Georgia Tech (56-0) two weeks ago but used the bye week to forget their problems and regrouped, especially on defense.  Syracuse's slim bowl hopes are sill alive with Maryland, Pittsburgh and Boston College still left on the schedule and an expected loss to Florida State in two weeks.

Next up: Maryland (5-3)

Eastern Michigan (1-8)

Lost to Toledo (6-3) 55-16

Another week, another blowout loss for EMU.  It's also the fourth week in a row that the Eagles have given up 50 or more points.  Toledo scored on their first four possessions before Eastern was able to kick a field goal.  Toledo amassed 729 yards of total offense as Rockets quarterback Terrance Owens threw for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead Toledo. The only bright spot for EMU was quarterback Brogan Roback, who threw for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Apparently Eastern now faces a team with similar track-star athletes at wide receiver, because Western Michigan has the same dismal 1-8 record.

Next up: W Michigan (1-8)

UCF (6-1)

Bye

Next Up: Houston (7-1)

Kent State (2-8)

Lost to Akron (3-7) 41-21

The teams traded scores in the first two quarters, but it was Akron's 3 field goals thereafter that made the difference.  Statistically, the teams were almost dead even; Kent had 300 yards and Akron had 304 yards, but the difference was turnovers--Kent had 5.  You don't win many games with 5 turnovers.  In the crucial fourth quarter, KSU quarterback Colin Reardon threw 3 interceptions to halt the last three drives for the Golden Flashes.

Next up: Miami (of the Ohio variety) (0-8)

Indiana (3-5)

Lost to Minnesota (7-2)

Talk about your shoot out--Indiana jumped out to a 13-7 lead early in the 2nd quarter.  Minnesota went on a scoring binge getting four straight unanswered touchdowns to take a 35-13 lead midway through the 3rd quarter.  Indiana answered with a four touchdown scoring spree to take a 39-35 lead with just over 5 minutes to play.  Minnesota got a touchdown with 3 minutes to play and then intercepted Tevin Coleman with 25 seconds to play to seal the victory.

Stats? We've got stats.  The two teams combined for 1069 yards of total offense.  Minnesota quarterback Phillip Nelson threw for 298 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Indiana's Stephen Houston and Tevin Coleman each rushed for over 100 yards, both scored a touchdown, and both averaged 7.7 yards per carry or better.  To say this was a game of big plays and no defense would be a huge understatement.  Penn State may have their hands full with Goldy.

Next up: Illinois (3-5)

Michigan (6-2)

Lost to #22 Michigan State (8-1) (29-6)

What happens when you pressure and beat on an offense for 60 minutes?  They eventually wear down and make mistakes.  Michigan State's defense did just that sacking Michigan 7 times and holding the Wolverines to minus 48 yards rushing.  Sparty's D kept things under control until the offense found a rhythm and they did in the second half.  With the score a close 13-6 at halftime, MSU scored a 3rd quarter field goal and then two touchdowns in the fourth all while holding Michigan out of the endzone.

MSU quarterback Connor Cook was effective enough completing 18 of his 33 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown while throwing 1 pick in the second half.  But even with the ball at Michigan State's 41, the Wolverines were unable to get anything, giving up 3 straight negative plays forcing them to punt after their best opportunity to score. This was total defensive domination.

Michigan State, the little brother of Michigan, has now beaten the Wolverines five of the last six times and this was the most lopsided since 1967.

Next up: Nebraska (6-2)

Ohio State (9-0)

Killed Purdue (1-7) (65-0)

God, this was ugly.  I mean Miley Cyrus riding a wrecking ball naked kind of ugly.  It took Ohio State 11 plays to score 4 touchdowns before the 1st quarter ended.  They returned an interception for a touchdown before a minute had expired, then they scored on drives of 2, 6 and 2 plays.  If Purdue had any delusions of an upset, they were crushed.

Offensively, Braxton Miller completed an efficient 19 of 23 passes for 233 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Carlos Hyde only carried the ball 8 times but managed 111 yards at an average of 13.9 yards per carry.  Defensively, the Buckeyes held Purdue to 10 first downs and only 116 yards of total offense.

Total.

Domination.

Next up: Illinois (3-5)

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