2008 Woodie Awards
Games of the Week
Chandon Ahmad, Bryce Summers
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Big Red Sports
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No. 1 Ohio State's championship hopes depend on game against the Fighting Illini
For those who are hoping to see the Ducks crack the top two, there is only one game that needs to be watched. Some may call it crazy, but No.1 Ohio State has a real chance at losing this weekend at home against Illinois.
The Fighting Illini feature a dual running game lead by Rashard Mendenhall and Juice Williams. The two stars averaging over five yards a carry, which can allow the chains to move consistently keeping the Buckeyes off the field.
The formula to win has been simple all year for Illinois. Illinois must run the ball effectively, as well as play superb defense. If Juice Williams can limit his mistakes and they are able to establish a ground game, it will be for a very interesting fourth quarter.
OSU has yet to be a challenge thus far. With two games left, OSU is looking ahead to their rival, Michigan. The score of this week's game promises to be low, projected AT 21 to 17 in favor of Illinois. If this prediction comes true, look for one of two possibilities: either Kansas may try jumping Oregon for the second spot or Oregon could claim second in the poles with one game remaining. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Now, more than ever, is the time for football fans to watch out.•
Will the Colts rebound against the struggleing Chargers?
The battle of the undefeated teams has finally come and gone, leaving the New England Patriots to emerge the slightly scathed victors. Whether or not the Patriot's storybook season will continue is not, however, the focus for this week.
This week's focus is on the reigning Super Bowl champions, who did just about everything they could to ensure a Patriots win in the fourth quarter of last week's match-up. The Colts embarrassed themselves a bit on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter and walked away frustrated from the loss.
Perennial Pro Bowl Quarterback Peyton Manning fumbled twice in the final five minutes of the game, heavily contributing to the Patriots' final fourteen points. Will they have the same second-half-of-the-season stumble they did last year, when they started nine and zero before dropping four of their final six? Or will this game against the San Diego Chargers be their stepping stone towards another Super Bowl?
The Chargers are at a point in their season where every game counts. After a disappointing 1-3 start, they won their next three games before falling to the Vikings and their absurdly unstoppable running back Adrian Peterson, last week.
Quarterback Philip Rivers will have to regain some ground after one of the worst games of his career; he fumbled three times, though with only one turnover, and threw one interception. LaDainian Tomlinson also will have to be at top form following a lackluster forty-yard performance last week. •
For those who are hoping to see the Ducks crack the top two, there is only one game that needs to be watched. Some may call it crazy, but No.1 Ohio State has a real chance at losing this weekend at home against Illinois.
The Fighting Illini feature a dual running game lead by Rashard Mendenhall and Juice Williams. The two stars averaging over five yards a carry, which can allow the chains to move consistently keeping the Buckeyes off the field.
The formula to win has been simple all year for Illinois. Illinois must run the ball effectively, as well as play superb defense. If Juice Williams can limit his mistakes and they are able to establish a ground game, it will be for a very interesting fourth quarter.
OSU has yet to be a challenge thus far. With two games left, OSU is looking ahead to their rival, Michigan. The score of this week's game promises to be low, projected AT 21 to 17 in favor of Illinois. If this prediction comes true, look for one of two possibilities: either Kansas may try jumping Oregon for the second spot or Oregon could claim second in the poles with one game remaining. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Now, more than ever, is the time for football fans to watch out.•
Will the Colts rebound against the struggleing Chargers?
The battle of the undefeated teams has finally come and gone, leaving the New England Patriots to emerge the slightly scathed victors. Whether or not the Patriot's storybook season will continue is not, however, the focus for this week.
This week's focus is on the reigning Super Bowl champions, who did just about everything they could to ensure a Patriots win in the fourth quarter of last week's match-up. The Colts embarrassed themselves a bit on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter and walked away frustrated from the loss.
Perennial Pro Bowl Quarterback Peyton Manning fumbled twice in the final five minutes of the game, heavily contributing to the Patriots' final fourteen points. Will they have the same second-half-of-the-season stumble they did last year, when they started nine and zero before dropping four of their final six? Or will this game against the San Diego Chargers be their stepping stone towards another Super Bowl?
The Chargers are at a point in their season where every game counts. After a disappointing 1-3 start, they won their next three games before falling to the Vikings and their absurdly unstoppable running back Adrian Peterson, last week.
Quarterback Philip Rivers will have to regain some ground after one of the worst games of his career; he fumbled three times, though with only one turnover, and threw one interception. LaDainian Tomlinson also will have to be at top form following a lackluster forty-yard performance last week. •
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