MSU has surprised everyone and the humor of ragging on a Spartans team that fell into the 4-8 abyss last season has run dry.
But, in honor of the lack of names on jerseys and the retirement of the No. 1, Jon Styf (31-8), will be giving up his identity and will furthermore be known as No. 18, sharing the digits with Spartans injured punter Jason Daily and walk-on freshman punt returner Dave Lesmeister.
No. 2 (Jon Malavolti), however, can keep his identity, because with a 22-17 record, it somehow seems appropriate.
No. 18's magic number to finish out the season as prognosticating champion is down to 10 with only 19 picks remaining this season. No. 2, much like Michigan in Saturday's game, will need a miracle to pull this victory off.
No. 9 MSU vs. No. 11 U-M
No. 18 - This is it, the game that everyone has been waiting for, and somehow, once again, the Spartans aren't favored. The odds-makers must have listened a little too intently to Wolverines homers Brent Musburger and Gary Danielson's talk of an added second in the Spartans' 26-24 victory in 2001. Well, the Wolverines aren't so perfect themselves, actually putting together their carpet field wrong this season, with it rumored to be at least a foot short on one of the yard lines.
Is a tape measure too difficult to use? Either way, this is a new Spartans team with one of the best special teams in the country. Once again, the turnover battle will swing in MSU's favor, and one blocked punt will be the difference for MSU as they move up in the national picture heading into Columbus, Ohio, next weekend. Greg Taplin is back, and he'll lead the Spartans to a win.
MSU 28, U-M 27.
No. 2 - Unlike No. 1 - or No. 18 - I don't jump onto bandwagons and switch alliances mid-season. Maybe he should change his nickname to "homer." Anyway, this game will shake things up in the Big Ten race regardless of the winner. A Michigan loss means the Wolverines can kiss their chances for the title good-bye, not to mention having to "suffer" through a three-loss season. But an MSU loss would keep the conference championship open, as the Spartans remain the only team undefeated in the Big Ten.
Home field advantage has played a big role in this series the last few seasons, but I see that changing this year. The Wolverines are coming off of a huge win over the Boilermakers and are picking up steam as the season comes to a close. But the Spartans, though fresh, seem to have lost a little drive after having a week off. Unlike last year, this should be a close, hard-fought match that goes down to the wire. Unfortunately fans, I'm not the PR department.
U-M 24, MSU 20
No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State
No. 18 - After losing the past two seasons to the Cowboys, Oklahoma will be pumped for this intrastate battle. Senior receiver Rashaun Woods facing off against Sooner senior cornerback Derrick Strait might be the most intriguing matchup in football this season.
With Jason White at the helm and the Sooner defense as good as ever, they should have little problem shutting down Woods and running back Tatum Bell. With "ESPN GameDay" on hand, that will be enough hype for the Sooners to win big.
Oklahoma 35, Oklahoma State 19.
No. 2 - I learned earlier this season that you can mess with Texas, but not the panhandle state to the north of the Lone Star State, who put a whooping on the Longhorns (my pick). Bob Stoops is a puzzle master, picking up the pieces of a team that lost five players to the pros. The Sooners are an unstoppable machine that will shut down hotshots such as Woods and the Cowboys. Rivalry weekend continues in Oklahoma with a Sooner stomping.
Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 13.
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 10 Virginia Tech
No. 18 - Entering this week, the Hokies' loss last week against West Virginia might have been the best thing for the team. They have little to lose when they face Miami this week, so the team will be pumped up in Blacksburg, Va.
Miami has utilized freshman running back Tyrone Moss, and despite the famous name of starter Jarrett Payton, Moss is likely the key to the Hurricanes' success now and in the future.
The big difference in this game will be Virginia Tech's incredible special teams and the fire that the whole team will play with after last week's loss. Miami will finally lose this game, opening the door for any of many one-loss teams to enter the national title picture.
Va. Tech 29, Miami 27.
No. 2 - The Hurricanes have looked sketchy at times, including their miracle win against West Virginia, a team that beat Virginia Tech. Just like the MSU-U-M game, the result here will shake up things on the title scene, but this one will affect the National Championship.
If the Hokies can rebound from their loss to the Mountaineers and knock the Hurricanes off the undefeated train, the photo-finish race to the Sugar Bowl will be sweet. But if the Hurricanes continue to rain on the Hokie parade, we'll most likely see Miami face off with Oklahoma in New Orleans.
Emotions and offenses will be running wild in this Big East match, but Kellen Winslow Jr. and the 'Canes will produce more than Kevin Jones and the Hokies, all but purchasing their ticket to an early Mardi Gras.
Miami 38, Va Tech 34.
No. 3 USC vs. No. 6 Washington State
No. 2 - Patience pays off, most of the time that is. Washington State head coach Bill Doba was an assistant coach for 26 years, not to mention another 15 on the high school circuit, but his conservative characteristics backfired early, and Notre Dame overcame a 19-point deficit to beat his Cougars in overtime. But since then, Doba and the Cougars have been on a roll, learning from their mistakes, and will demonstrate the hunger they forgot to bring to South Bend, Ind.
The only problem is USC stands in the way of Doba's dreams of the PAC-10 title and a Rose Bowl bid. The Trojans also have missed a beat this season, falling at California 34-31, but what they did at Auburn to open the season, shutting out and shutting down the Tigers 23-0, demonstrates the tenacity they've been playing with all season. As fuzzy-feeling-Cinderella-fairy-tale sounding as it may be, the Cougars will win and continue to prove their worth under Doba, because this isn't about Cinderella, rather the Tortoise.
USC 27, Washington State 17.
No. 18 - It looks like, and it smells like, the best game of the week. But because it takes place in the Pac-10, no one on the East Coast seems to care. ESPN will base themselves in Oklahoma, and all eyes in the Midwest will be focused on East Lansing, but the No. 3 and No. 6 matchup should be a good one.
In the end, Wazzu will miss the graduated Jason Gesser way too much, especially when linebacker Lofa Tatupu, with his 53 tackles, three sacks and an interception, takes the field against the Cougars.
USC 34, Wazzu 21.
