>The following with be a bunch of previews, altho shorter than they usually are. Nobody wants to read ridiculously long posts. Learned that this summer.
Friday
Louisville vs. UConn
UConn might have turned the corner late in the season with their win against Georgetown. The Huskies will try to get revenge against Louisville, who beat UConn in a crazy double overtime win at the end of January. Kemba Walker has been playing ridiculously, going for 31 pts and 10 assists against the Hoyas. Since that win against Georgetown, Louisville has struggled going 3-3 in their last six games, including a four point win against DePaul. Preston Knowles (15 ppg) and Peyton Siva (10 ppg and 5 apg) lead the Cardinals. Prediction: UConn 80-75
Saturday
Utah State at St. Mary’s
This is by far the highlight of the BracketBusters matchups this weekend. It is between the 23rd and 24th ranked teams in the country. Utah State is 24-3, but has won 19 of its last 20 games. Tai Wesley (14 ppg, 7 rpg), Brian Wilson (11 ppg) and Brockeith Payne (11 ppg) lead the Aggies. St. Mary’s is coming off of an upset loss to San Diego on Wednesday, one that might knock them out of the rankings. The Gaels are led by four players who score in double figures: Mickey McConnell (17 ppg, 7 apg), Rob Jones (14 ppg, 8 rpg), Matthew Dellavedova (13 ppg, 5 apg) and Mitchell Young (10 ppg, 5 rpg). Prediction: Utah State wins on the road, 86-80
Illinois at Michigan State
This game is HUGE for the Spartans. At 14-11, they might have to win out and win two games in the conference tournament to get into the NCAA’s. What will help MSU is the four more teams in, as well as college basketball being down as a whole. The Spartans have been uncharacteristically shaky at home, already losing four times, but will need Kalin Lucas and his 16 ppg to win. The Illini are in the midst of possibly their hardest stretch of games this season and have a trip to Ohio State looming after this one. Prediction: Michigan State wins a needed game, 76-72
Michigan at Iowa
Wednesday’s loss to Illinois might have been bad for the Wolverines, who are fighting for an NCAA berth. Three of their next four games are winnable, but if they lose here, that might be a killer, one that sends the team to the NIT. Iowa, on the other hand, is just looking for the season to be over, while also looking to place spoiler to teams like Michigan. Prediction: Michigan 80-67
Northwestern at Indiana
Like Michigan and Michigan State, a win here is crucial for the slim chance the Wildcats have at a spot in the NCAA. A win over Iowa put them at 15-10, but they will have to win their last four conference games to go .500 in conference play. Indiana is not an easy place to play, however, as both Minnesota and Illinois, who were both ranked at the time, lost in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are 11-5 at home. Prediction: Northwestern pulls out a win they wish could have come easier, 76-73
>What once seemed like such a promising season for the Wildcats has turned to be the complete opposite. By losing five of their last six games, they have more than likely played their way out of an NCAA bid. They have allowed at least 49 percent shooting against in their last six games. They are getting out rebounded by almost eight in Big Ten Games. They allow conference opponents to shoot 50 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent on three-point attempts.
I know it seems as if nothing can go right for the ‘Cats, but that is far from the truth. John Shurna, Drew Crawford and Michael Thompson are still the leaders of this team and when the shots are falling, NU is hard to beat. Four of the next five games (Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Penn State) are winnable and if the Cats can get close to that .500 mark and win a game in the conference tourney, that streak of never making it into the NCAA’s might end. But they will need Shurna (17 ppg), Thompson (14 ppg) and Crawford (12 ppg) to do what they do best: score.
>Northwestern vs. Texas Tech
Northwestern has lost all seven bowl games it has played since winning its first one — the 1949 Rose Bowl. The Wildcats (7-5) are making their third consecutive postseason appearance despite losing five of seven games after starting 5-0 for the second time in three years.
The Wildcats will be without All-Big Ten quarterback Dan Persa after he suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury in a victory over Iowa. So redshirt freshman Evan Watkins, who has started the two games since Persa went down, will be starting what is probably the biggest game of his young career. Watkins has thrown for 258 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions in those two games.
While Watkins will likely target Jeremy Ebert, who led the Big Ten with 919 receiving yards, Northwestern could be without its top three rushers. Leader Mike Trumpy may sit out due to a wrist injury suffered in the Illinois loss, and the Wildcats definitely won’t have Persa or Arby Fields, who led the team in rushing in 2009 but recently decided to transfer. But if Trumpy has to sit, Northwestern can rely on senior Stephen Simmons, junior Jacob Schmidt and true freshman Adonis Smith. Unfortunately the three have combined for only 419 yards and four touchdowns. Schmidt has all the touchdowns.
Quarterback Taylor Potts is a big reason Texas Tech is making its 11th consecutive bowl appearance. He’s completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,357 yards with 31 TDs and nine interceptions. The senior has helped Texas Tech rank eighth in the FBS in passing with 314.8 yards per game while averaging 32.1 points, including 99 over its final two games — non-conference victories over Weber State and Houston.
Northwestern also must contend with Potts’ former teammate at Abilene High School, Lyle Leong. The senior has a team-high 808 receiving yards and is second in the FBS with 17 touchdown receptions. But he isn’t the only big-play threat. Detron Lewis has a team-best 79 receptions for 803 yards and six scores. Lewis caught 10 passes for 114 yards and a TD in last season’s bowl win.
While Texas Tech is a pass-first team, this is the 11th straight season it has had a quarterback throw for at least 3,000 yards, it may be running backs Baron Batch and Eric Stephens who are the difference in the game against the Wildcats, who allowed 848 rushing yards and 10 TDs over the last two games.
Prediction: Watkins struggles against the Red Raiders and Potts leads an aerial attack that ambushes the Wildcats. Tech 35-14.
>Wow talk about a lot of awesome games between ranked teams!
Big Ten games
Illinois @ Michigan
Both teams come in at 5-3, so a win earns them bowl eligibility. The road game starts a streak of three away games in the Illinois’ last four contests. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is coming off of a week which saw him be named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week. He completed 16-of-20 passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 118 yards on 21 carries.
After starting the season 5-0, the Wolverines have lost their last three contests, with all being Big Ten games. They’ll be looking to get back on the saddle against the Illini and as always, will look for Denard Robinson to lead them.
Illinois wins if…Scheelhaase plays as well as he has been lately. He seems to be flourishing as he becomes more comfortable in the college game. If they stop Robinson, they have a real chance of leaving with a win.
Michigan wins if…it shuts down the Illinois running game and it goes back to what was working the first five games of the year.
Northwestern @ Penn State
Joe Paterno can join John Gagliardi and Eddie Robinson as the only college football coaches to record 400 career victories, and he can become the first man in Division I-A/FBS history to do so. Who will they choose as their quarterback tho? Rob Bolden is back from a concussion, but Matt McGloin did well in his first start. Rumor is both will play.
Dan Persa, on the other hand, is coming back home. Growing up a Penn State fan and going to games at Beaver Stadium, he had grown up wanting to play for the Nittany Lions, but was passed up in the recruiting game. It will be his first start in State College and it comes at a time where the ‘Cats are looking to get their mojo back.
Penn Stats wins if...it doesn;t let the thought of Paterno’s 400th win get in the way. Choosing a quarterback is vital too. Both are good, but who will take the reigns.
Northwestern wins if…Persa is Persa. He was amazing for most of the Indiana game, but then suffered what seemed like a concussion. If he is over that and the emotions of his homecoming don’t take over, the Wildcats might n Paterno’s quest for 400.
National Games
TCU @ Utah
3 vs. 5. Last time the two will face as Mountain West foes. Undefeated. Chances at a National Title. That’s all that’s at stake in the game between these bitter rivals. It’s the Mountain West’s premier matchup, the first on league history pitting two ranked top-10 teams and one that will go a long way in deciding not only a conference champion but also who will remain a potential BCS buster. TCU has never won in three trips to Salt Lake City, including a 13-10 loss in 2008 that eventually propelled the Utes to a BCS bowl game — knocking off Alabama in the Sugar — and landing the Frogs in the Poinsettia Bowl, where they beat Boise State.
The Frogs are averaging nearly 41 ppg, while the Utes nearly 46. TCU has the top-ranked defense in the nation and is giving up just eight points per game. They’ve given up 16 points total in the last five games. They will have to shut down a Utes team that averages 450 yards per game. Oh yea, their defense is pretty good too.
TCU wins if...it shuts down the dynamic Utah offense. Their defense is tops in the nation, but their offense is just as great. Led by Andy Dalton, the team has been whooping everybody all year.
Utah wins if…it can score. They boast a good defense too and if they can stop the Horned Frogs, they might walk away with a win.
Michael Wojtychiw 