No. 2 (Jon Malavolti) and No. 18 (Jon Styf) are trying to figure out where MSU will play a bowl game this winter. It could be anywhere —well, not the Rose Bowl. So, as they get ready to set their travel plans, they provide you with the final edition of regular-season prognostications. But first, a look at last week.
Both prognosticators, along with MSU's secondary, got burned by Lee Evans and Wisconsin. But No. 2 (30-23) was perfect in picking the remaining four games, while No. 18's (38-15) upset special fell through, as Michigan felled Northwestern.
Penn State vs. MSU
No. 18 - I will no longer pick MSU to win football games. I have picked the past four games incorrectly, and I cannot take it any more.
John L. Smith and his team have talked all week about how good Penn State is, comparing them to Ohio State and Michigan. So, this week, I'll choose to believe them, because if they are as good as the Buckeyes and Wolverines, despite their 1-6 Big Ten record, they are bound to win.
Penn State 29, MSU 24
No. 2 - Speaking of not taking it, Penn State can't - to the house that is. The Nittany Lions have the worst offense in the Big Ten. Conference USA's South Florida, which has played two fewer games than Joe Pa's boys and are the twinkle in No. 18's eyes, has scored more touchdowns.
We invited this school to join the Big Ten after already having 10 teams in the conference. Penn State should go back to being an independent with those other losers who have tradition and nothing else (Notre Dame).
MSU 30, PSU 17
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Michigan
No. 18 - Jim Tressel always saves his Sunday best for the Michigan game, and this year will be no different. Joe Guillen and all the Wolverines faithful can talk all they want, but Michigan will lose.
They have the talent, but they also have John Navarre. Chris Perry is the second coming of Anthony Thomas (not that good of a thing) and will remain inconsistent.
Craig Krenzel might not be the best quarterback, but he can always find a way to win. Ohio State 32, Michigan 20
No. 2 - Both Michigan and Ohio State have looked like conference champs at certain points this season but haven't been able to roll over opponents every game.
In the end, Jim Tressel will remain undefeated against the maize-and-blue while his defense steals the show, limiting Chris Perry and John Navarre's effectiveness.
Ohio State 20, Michigan 17 (OT)
No. 3 LSU vs. No. 15 Mississippi
No. 18 - Senior quarterback Eli Manning is not as good as planned. And because Nick Saban is looking to earn the position of Chicago Bears head coach, he must win this game to make his dream a reality.
The coach left MSU for the warmer, less competitive recruiting weather of Louisiana, and he is ready to move back.
LSU 34, Ole Miss 10
No. 2 - The winner here heads to the SEC championship game, so, to plainly put it, this game is huge. No one expected the Rebels to play this well, except for maybe Eli Manning, who has put up Heisman-like numbers for the third straight year.
Unfortunately for Manning, the Tigers will give him more than enough attention this weekend.
LSU 26, Ole Miss 21
Clemson vs. South Carolina
No. 2 - Not only is Lou Holtz still alive (I know, this comes as a shocker to many of you), but he still is winning sometimes. Riding a three-game losing streak, Holtz will need the support of all the kids who bought a Gamecocks hat five years ago to beat Clemson, which defeated Florida State, and become bowl-eligible.
Clemson 24, South Carolina 10
No. 18 - It's the battle of the Palmetto State, and Holtz is ready for another win after the Gamecocks' three-game losing streak.
Holtz just received a new contract, and the Tigers won't have "Radio" to help them pull this win out.
Carolina freshman running back Demetris Summers likely will be back this weekend after a scary injury two weeks ago at Arkansas.
South Carolina 26, Clemson 21
Alabama vs. Auburn
No. 2 - Whoo-wee. This game is hands-down the biggest rivalry south of the Mason-Dixon line not counting a pile of sand-bags vs. El Niño. 'Bama is out of bowl-game contention, but don't feel too bad, they pulled a Michigan and set themselves up with a season finale in Hawaii on Nov. 29.
Auburn, at one game above .500, needs a win to avoid playing in an embarrassing bowl game (see Motor or Music City).
Auburn 28, Alabama 14
No. 18 - This is a good game, but it isn't anything like the days of Bo Jackson, Rudi Johnson or Shaun Alexander.
Yeah, they have the Cadillac, but the offense just isn't there for these clubs. The most feared linebacker in football, Karlos Dansby, is the type of player that can shine in this game, a defensive battle.
Auburn 20, Alabama 12
