• Penn State will open conference play at Rutgers on September 13th.  This will be the first ever Big 10 game for the Scarlet Knights.  The 9/13 date is actually the date originally scheduled for the PSU-Rutgers non-conference match.  Rather than starting from scratch, the game was just converted to a Big 10 date.  PSU will return to non-conference play the following week vs. UMass at home.
• The Lions get their first look at old eastern rival/new divisional rival Maryland in Beaver Stadium on November 1st.  This will be the first time the two schools have met since 1993, when PSU hammered the Terps in College Park 70-7.
• Ohio State returns to Beaver Stadium on October 25th.  I’ll just get this out of the way now: It will be a night game, and you will be wearing white.
• PSU returns to Michigan Stadium for the first time since 2009 on October 11th.  The Lions and Wolverines meet for the first time since 2010 this coming fall in Happy Valley.
• THE LAND GRANT TROPHY IS BACK! PSU and Michigan State will renew the battle for this in the regular season finale in Beaver Stadium on November 29th.
• The Lions will also face Northwestern at home, along with trips to Indiana and Illinois.
• Expect the 2015 schedule to include these same teams, with home field flipped.  The conference is still working out specific dates for games.  The 2015 season will be the final Big 10 season with only 8 games, as the schedule expands to 9 in 2016.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Jabrill visited Penn State back in February with two teammates from Paramus Catholic. At the time, he indicated that he would definitely be returning to PSU, but he had also not said much about the Nittany Lions since that visit a few months back.  Now that he has cut his list down to a top 4, expect him to be on campus in the coming weeks, as he is hoping to make his decision early this summer in an effort to focus on his senior season.

It goes without saying that adding one of the top players in the class of 2014 would be quite the coup for PSU.  It’s hard to get much of a read on just where the Lions fall on his top 4, but it has been widely speculated that Brady Hoke and Michigan are the school to beat.  But, getting a player of his talent and reputation onto campus should not be overlooked, nor should we be sleeping on O’Brien and a staff that has continued to surprise on the recruiting trail post-sanctions.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Here are some highlights:

• Penn State will play their first Big 10 games in the new Pegula Ice Arena on January 12 and 13 of 2014 against Minnesota.  The Golden Gophers are coming off a season that saw them earn the 2nd overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, only to fall to the eventual national champion Yale Bulldogs. That will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
• Traditional power Michigan comes to Happy Valley on February 7th and 8th, in what will be the first ever meetings between the two schools.  The Lions return the favor at one of the great college rinks, Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, two weeks later.
• Ohio State makes their first ever visit to Penn State on March 14-15 (PSU visits Columbus January 31-February 1).  The Lions picked up a huge 5-4 win over the Buckeyes in Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center at the Three Rivers Holiday Classic consolation game.
• The first ever Big 10 Tournament takes place from March 20-22 in St. Paul, Minnesota at the home of the Minnesota Wild, the Xcel Energy Center.  All 6 programs will take part.

Our friends at ThankYouTerry.com have a ton more info on the schedule as well.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Penn State vs. Miami – September 1, 2001

The game did not of course go how many Nittany Lion fans had hoped, when the top ranked Hurricanes came calling to christen the most recent expansion to Beaver Stadium. Personally, this one will always stand out for two reasons. One, it was my first time attending a game at Penn State, and I got to do it on the field with the Blue Band. Quite a way to get inducted! Second, well, I’ll let this video speak for itself:

The intensity in that stadium when I came out of the tunnel was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and the raw emotion when Adam ran onto that field. If the Lions had found a way to stay in the game, I can only wonder how much louder that crowd could have been.

This will be Penn State’s first meeting with Michigan since the 2010 season, and of course the first time Bill O’Brien and Brady Hoke will face each other.  The Lions have won 3 straight (regardless of what his Emmertness says) against the Wolverines.  With the new East-West divisions set to become reality in 2014, this season’s game will be the first in what will now be an annual meeting of two of college football’s most tradition rich programs. While there will be no official word until further along this summer, it would stand to reason that we could see a stadium wide White Out as well.

The 2008 game versus Michigan also served as PSU’s homecoming game, and kicked off at 4:30 (on October 18th), and after a slow start in the first half, the Lions would pull away as the sun set in Happy Valley for a dominating 46-17 win.  In case you’re curious, sunset in State College on October 12th will come about 6:37.

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It was quite a start for Penn State in the opening half, however.  Trey Burke hit a 3 off of the opening tip, but that would be it for quite awhile.  The Lions responded with a 14-0 run, opening up an 11 point lead just over 5 minutes into the game.  Given the energy of each team at that point, you couldn’t help but wonder if PSU could knock off Michigan for the 2nd time in a little over 2 weeks. That would all stop pretty quickly after the Wolverines would rattle off 11 straight to tie the game, and then 5 of the next 7 to ultimately take a lead.

Mar 14, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Patrick Chambers reacts in the first half during the first round of the Big Ten tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

If you were looking for the reason for such a huge momentum swing, you didn’t have to look hard.  Michigan’s freshman center Mitch McGary entered off the bench for Jordan Morgan, and his energy level, and aggressive play, seemed to finally wake up the Wolverines.  He finished the half with 10 points and 10 rebounds, including several big offensive rebounds.  Despite shooting just 35%, Michigan would lead 35-33 at the break, thanks in large part to 17 second chance points.  PSU was very good on the offensive end, shooting over 50%, but the failure to control the defensive glass had them behind.  Ross Travis, who was key in the upset win at the Jordan Center, did his part with 9 first half rebounds, but they never found an answer for McGary.

PSU was not bad to start the second half either, but the warning signs were there, as they struggled to contain Michigan’s potent offense.  They trailed just 48-45 at the first media timeout, but by the next, it was 10, and then 16 at the under-8, and the Lions never seemed capable of putting a run together to make it interesting.

Senior Sasa Borovnjak was strong again in his final game for Penn State, scoring 15 points, but just 2 rebounds is indicative of the trouble PSU had on the glass.  Newbill lead PSU with 20 points, while Ross Travis finished with his 5th double-double of the season (3 of which came against Michigan) with 12 and 11.  Jermaine Marshall was largely invisible with just 8 points on 3 of 13 shooting.  Michigan put 5 players in double figures, 2 of whom came off the bench.  [Redacted] lead the way with 21.

Penn State caps the season with just a 10-21 record, but was much better down the stretch, gathering 2 wins in their final 4 games, and looking much better in 6 of the final 8.  Attention can now turn towards Tim Frazier’s return next fall, in what could be the most dynamic backcourts in the country.  Colella and Borovnjak are the known departures, and one more is a certainty to ensure PSU is at the 15 scholarship limit.  4 new freshman will also join the fold next year, giving Chambers the type of depth he has not had in 2 seasons.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for all the latest news on Penn State

So what can you expect over the next 4 days in Chicago?  I’m glad you asked.  Here are a few things to watch for over the weekend!

THE LAST TIME OUT

PSU dropped a heartbreaker on Sunday to Wisconsin, 63-60, on a Traevon Jackson 25 foot desperation shot at the buzzer.  It was a back and forth second half, with the lead changing multiple times, and each side getting big shots, and defensive stops, when they needed it.  With just over 5 seconds left, D.J. Newbill took advantage of a second chance, draining a 15 foot jumper to tie the game at 60.  Just a few moments earlier, a similar shot fell short, before the rebound kicked to Nick Colella, who fed Newbill for the tying bucket.  Colella nearly stole the ensuing inbound play, which instead resulted in a held ball, favoring the Badgers, and Jackson’s heroics.  Jermaine Marshall lead all scorers with 23 points, while Newbill added 22, and 5 assists.  The Lions held on to the ball, turning it over just 6 times, after committing 15 in Madison in the first meeting of the year.

Feb 27, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach John Beilein reacts during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

Michigan comes off their own heartbreak, missing a tip in at the horn vs. Big 10 champion Indiana on Sunday afternoon.  A win would have given the Wolverines a share of their 2nd straight conference title, instead, they find themselves playing on Thursday in Chicago.  Newly minted Big 10 Player of the Year [redacted] lead Michigan, again, with 20 points, but could not convert a driving layup at the end, prior to Jordan Morgan’s failed tip in.  After an impressive start to the year, that saw Michigan rise to the top spot in the national rankings, they are just 5-5 in their last 10.  It’s hard to identify one specific area, but they have not been able to make plays down the stretch in close games with much consistency, on either end of the floor.  That will need to change if they want to put together a run in March.

THE MATCH UP

In both games, PSU shot very well from the outside, making up for a defense that gave up 79 and 78 points in those games.  Given Michigan’s multiple offensive weapons, it would seem likely they will continue to find ways to score against an improved, but still vulnerable, Penn State defense.  The Lions must keep Newbill and Marshall on the floor (something that did not happen in the road loss to Michigan), and they both need to provide their usual scoring.  Another player or 2 will need to step up from there for PSU to pull a second upset this season.  In the victory at PSU, it was Ross Travis (15 points, 12 rebounds, and extraordinary defense) and Nick Colella, who had 9 big points.  Look for Travis to be key again if PSU is to move on, as well as Sasa Borovnjak.  Sasa had 17 points in Ann Arbor.  On defense, PSU needs to find a way to slow down Michigan just enough, as they did in the final 10 minutes in the BJC.  On that night, a 1-2-2 press slowed down the Wolverines just enough, and helped to force 15 turnovers, including 6 by….that guy.

I expect another hard fought game, but while PSU has their season to play for, it’s now or never for Michigan.  They’re in the tournament, of course, but they need to get some momentum going if they want to make a run.  I expect Tim Hardaway and Jordan Morgan, Michigan’s two key upperclassmen, to lead the way, in a close Michigan win.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Feb 27, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players celebrate during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

From the opening tip, both teams played intense basketball. The Wolverines, B1G conference’s youngest team, rode high flying Glenn Robinson III and big three point shots from Tim Hardaway, Jr and Trey Burke to an early 17-10 lead. Brandon Taylor was huge for the Nittany Lions early, though most of his efforts didn’t show in his final line (7 pts, 1 rebound). Taylor had a put back to close the margin to three, and then hit a three pointer to tie the game with 3:30 left in the first half.

Penn State used a combination of 3/4 and full court pressure to keep the game close until D.J. Newbill (17 points, 5 assists) hit two free throws to give the Lions a 34-32 lead. From that point on, it looked like Penn State was going to waste another good start and end up with a loss on Senior Night. After ending the first half with two turnovers, they allowed Michigan to open the second half on an 8-0 run. With 10:18 left in the game, Penn State trailed by 15.

Jermaine Marshall (25 points, 6-10 3pt FGs) took over from there, scoring 9 of the next 15 points. Marshall and Newbill are 2nd in the Big Ten in scoring backcourts (30.8 PPG), behind only Burke and Hardaway (34 PPG). When it mattered most, Marshall and Newbill put the Lions on their back. Marshall hit a three pointer to get them within seven, and the Newbill’s three got Penn State within five. Marshall capped a 23-8 run to tie the game at 74-74 with less than five minutes left. Trey Burke then had a costly turnover with 4:23 left; the country’s leader in turnover to assist ratio (4:1) ended up with six giveaways.

Feb 27, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach John Beilein reacts during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Michigan 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Marshall then benefited from a generous blocking call, hitting two free throws to give Penn State the lead. With the Bryce Jordan Center rocking at its loudest since GoGo Gadget, Penn State relied on free throws and an acrobatic layup by Marshall to close it out. Senior Sasa Borovnjak was responsible for three of the team’s last four made FTs and had nine points and five boards on the night. Penn State, who shot only 242 free throws in B1G play compared to 418 by its opponents, made 20-27 free throws (Michigan was 13-20).

Michigan, who has lost their last four road games in the B1G schedule, will try to rebound against top ten ranked Michigan State. Penn State travels to Minnesota, who just upset #1 Indiana, on March 2nd. They will travel to Minneapolis as underdogs once again but nobody will doubt their ability to pull off the upset after Wednesday night’s game. The Nittany Lions, a team who has been credited all season for playing hard while win after win escaped them, have finally gotten their first W of 2013.

Follow VBR Staff Writer Ryne Crabb on Twitter

THE LAST TIME OUT

It was a different story, with the same results for Penn State last Thursday evening in snowy Champaign.  The Lions played aggressive defense, made more shots than they had, but still came up 5 points short in a hard fought game against the Illini, falling 64-59.  This time it was turnovers (15 of them, 7 by acting point guard D.J. Newbill), 56% free throw shooting, and 36 trips to the free throw line for the home team.  All told, Illinois would outscore PSU 23-9 from the charity stripe, in what would be the difference in the game.  The good news for the Lions was a third straight impressive performance by the graduating Borovnjak (17 points, 6 rebounds), coupled with Jermaine Marshall’s 20 and Newbill’s 13.  That marked the third straight game with 3 players in double figures, something not done in the previous 11 contests.

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

February 17, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Glenn Robinson III (1) dunks the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the first half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Didn’t we just do this like…10 days ago?  When we last saw John Beilein’s crew, they were smarting from a 2 game losing streak, including a waxing at the hands of arch rival Michigan State.  It looked like it would be an easy win going in for Michigan against PSU, but the Lions lead for much of the first half, until [redacted] hit a ridiculous floater to tie it at the break.  All told, that guy had 29 points to lead his team to a hard fought home win against Penn State.  In that game, Glenn Robinson III scored 21 and grabbed 10 rebounds, while fellow freshman Nik Stauskas had 18.  Those 2 performances made up for a 3/11, 8 point performance from second leading scorer Tim Hardaway Jr.  Michigan played on Sunday, pulling away from Illinois in the second half for a 71-58 win.  This is a game Michigan must have, especially after Indiana’s upset loss to Minnesota last night.  They find themselves just 1 game back of the Hoosiers in the loss column, and end the regular season with them at Crisler Center.

THE MATCHUP

Penn State probably caught Michigan a little off guard a week and a half ago.  That’s hardly surprising, given where each team found itself.  Don’t count on that happening again, however.  Penn State will need to continue their improved shooting, while finding a way to hang onto the ball.  On the defensive end, they did a decent job of challenging Michigan’s prolific outside shooters, especially early on, and will need to match that, as Michigan shoots 40% from three.  I expect the Lions to play an inspired game, on both ends, but they just don’t have the talent to match up with a team as talented as Michigan.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

February 17, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) shoots the ball over Michigan Wolverines guard Matt Vogrich (13) in the second half at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

On paper, this game looked the very definition of mismatch.  The Michigan Wolverines came in having spent the entire season as a top 5 club with a potent offense, lead by arguably the top backcourt in the country.  Penn State is winless in the Big 10, has struggled practically all season to score, and is missing their All American point guard.  However, as the saying goes, that is why they play the games.

The Lions got off to a fast start, using an 12-1 run to open up a 17-8 lead early in the first half. They would hold that lead until the final minute, when Trey Burke (yes, that guy) hit a running floater to tie the game up at 32 going to the half.  The first half effort from PSU was made even more impressive with leading scorers D.J. Newbill and Jermaine Marshall limited with foul trouble.  Marshall had a quick start that lead to 9 first half points, but it was Ross Travis and Sasa Borovnjak that paced the Lions attack with 7 points each.  All told, PSU shot nearly 46% from the field, while holding Michigan to 36%, and just 20% from three, forcing the Wolverines into several tough shots.

Michigan came out of halftime and scored the first 6 points of the half, but PSU would rally to score the next 6 to tie things back up.  In fact, over much of the second half, the Wolverines would appear to be finally pulling away, only to have PSU answer back to close things back up.  The Lions would never take the lead, but would also never trail by more than 9 points.  Ultimately, timely shooting, and several thunderous ally oop dunks by Glenn Robinson III were just too much for the Lions, not to mention a season high 29 points by he who shall remain nameless. The freshman Robinson ended the game with 21 points and 10 boards, and Nick Stauskas added 18.

PSU got a second straight productive game from Borovnjak with 17 points.  Marshall added 17 more, while grabbing 7 rebounds.  Ross Travis ended with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Newbill had 11 of his own, plus 5 assists.  Nick Colella played big minutes as well, scoring 9 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, and just 1 turnovers, while running the point for long stretches in the 1st half.

The Lions return to action Thursday night at Illinois at 8:15 on BTN.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

THE LAST TIME OUT

PSU’s first Big 10 conference win of the season seeemed to be within reach, as the Lions put together their best offensive performance in a month. Penn State got 26 points from D.J. Newbill, 14 from Sasa Borovnjak, and 14 more (plus 10 assists) from Jermaine Marshall, and matched their conference high mark of 72 points.  But defense, rebounding, and some ill-timed free throw misses (and a make) from Marshall ultimately did them, falling to the Hawkeyes 74-72.  PSU missed 2 chances to tie or take the lead late, but a Newbill 3 was just long, and Marshall’s driving layup attempt was blocked.  The night was not a total loss, as Patrick Chambers honored his pledge of donating $10 to THON for every student in attendance, delivering a check for $14,200 to event organizers on Friday afternoon, prior to his teams departure to Michigan.

ABOUT THE WOLVERINES

February 5, 2013; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Trey Burke (3) moves the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan has been among the nations elite all season, opening the year at #5, and rising to the top spot in the AP Poll for one week in late January.  They have also hit their first rough patch of the season, riding a 2 game losing streak into Sunday’s contest.  A desperation 3 at the end of regulation sent them to OT in Madison last weekend, a game they ultimately lost 65-62, before getting run out of the Breslin Center by Tom Izzo’s fast charging Spartans 75-52 on Tuesday night.  On paper, it would appear a home date with an 0-12 Nittany Lions squad is just what the doctor ordered.  The Wolverines are lead by perhaps the top guard duo in the country, sophomore point guard Trey Burke (no, we’re not going there), and junior Tim Hardaway, Jr.  Burke could be the favorite for player of the year, averaging over 18 points and 7 assists per game.  Hardaway adds 15 points.  Freshmen Nick Stauskas and Glen Robinson III both average double figures, with Stauskas shooting nearly 50% from three.  As a team, Michigan shoots over 40% from downtown.  Another of Coach Beilein’s talented freshmen, Mitch McGary, has emerged in recent games, taking advantage of more playing time due to Jordan Morgan’s ankle injury.

THE MATCHUP

It’s hard to see how Penn State can keep this close.  Michigan has been amongst the most prolific offensive clubs in the country, and Penn State quite simply does not have the athletes to hang with them on the defensive end.  Combine that with Michigan’s 2 game losing streak, and especially their humiliation against the rival Spartans on Tuesday, it does not exactly look promising for PSU.  The Lions, most notably D.J. Newbill, need to shoot at least as well as they did on Thursday against Iowa, while at the same time controlling the tempo, and keeping Michigan from making this a track meet.  I don’t think either of those happen, and the home team runs away with this one, quickly.

Follow VBR Lead Editor Matt de Bear on Twitter for the latest on Penn State

Sep 24, 2011; Laramie, WY, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers cheerleaders warm up before the game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Wyoming Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Happy New Year!  Penn State may be home for New Year’s Day for the first time in five years, but there is plenty of football action to keep us satisfied all day.  For better or worse, 5 of today’s 6 games feature Big 10 teams, three of which pit our conference brethren against the SEC.  Buckle up, indeed.  Two of the premier early games take place in Florida, with Michigan taking on South Carolina in Tampa at the Outback Bowl, and Nebraska returning to Orlando and the Capital One Bowl for the second straight season, this time against the Bulldogs from Georgia.

OUTBACK BOWL

A year removed from a BCS win in the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech, Michigan took a step back this year, wrapping up an 8-4 (6-2 Big 10) campaign with a trip to Tampa, Florida and the Outback Bowl.  Their reward?  One time top #3 South Carolina (10-2, 6-2 SEC), and one of the nation’s top defenses.  Denard Robinson will wrap up a record setting career with the Wolverines against 2013 Heisman favorite, all everything defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

How They Got Here

Sep 1, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines cheerleader on the sidelines before the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan

Michigan opened the season in Cowbows Stadium against #1 Alabama, and, well, it didn’t go well.  Alabama cruised to a 41-14 win.  3 weeks later, Michigan would travel to South Bend and fall to then #11 Notre Dame in 13-6 defensive struggle.  While the 2-2 record after non-conference play was not where Big Blue expected to be, both of their losses wound up being to national title game participants.  Michigan went 6-2 in Big 10 play, falling to Nebraska and Ohio State on the road.  The former came after Robinson missed much of the game with a nerve injury in his elbow, the latter in Columbus against 12-0 Ohio State.  The Wolverines were carried by their defense, which ranked 16th nationally in scoring.  Devin Gardner has replaced Robinson at quarterback, and provides a better passing option, but Robinson will still see plenty of the ball.

South Carolina

Oct 1, 2011; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks cheerleader during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Tigers won 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

The Gamecocks raced out to a 6-0 record, including a dominant 35-7 win over SEC runner-up Georgia, and a #3 ranking nationally.  Life in the SEC caught up to Steve Spurrier.  First came a trip to Death Valley under the lights against #9 LSU, which ended in a 23-31 loss.  There was no break as a visit to The Swamp and #2 Florida followed, with a 44-11 beating.  USCe would rebound the following week with a tough 38-35 win over Tennessee in Columbia, but they lost All American runningback Marcus Lattimore to one massive leg/knee injury.  The Gamecocks would win their final 3 games as well, including a big W over in-state rival Clemson, to earn their trip to Tampa.

Key Matchups

Jadeveon Clowney vs. Taylor Lewan

October 20, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) warms up prior to the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

You’ve probably heard of the former, but not the latter.  Clowney has been a star since his arrival in Columbia, and has been downright dominant at his defensive end position.  If he was eligible for the draft, he would be a lock to go #1.  Taylor Lewan has anchored Michigan’s offensive line from his left tackle position, and has quietly played his way into a bona fine top 15 pick.  They may not go head-to-head every play, as Clowney will come off both the left and right end, but when they do, it will be interesting to see how one of the best pass protectors handles a guy that no one has had answer for in two seasons.

Devin Gardner vs. South Carolina Secondary

November 24, 2012; Columbus, OH, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner (12) looks for an open receiver as running back Vincent Smith (2) looks to block against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 26-21. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Gardner took over for Michigan in their 35-13 win over Minnesota, which followed Robinson’s elbow injury in Nebraska, and Russell Bellomy’s….less than stellar efforts in Lincoln.  All Gardner did was throw for just over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns in Michigan’s final 4 games, posting a 3-1 record.  Gardner did struggle to some degree in Columbus against the best defense he faced, but the Wolverines never really figured out how to utilize both Garder and Robinson.  Devin gets the start again at QB, and he will need to contend with one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, and a secondary that has picked off 14 passes this season.

Prediction

Neither team fields what you would call a potent offense.  South Carolina ran the ball over 150 times more than they went to the air this year, and only threw for 2,700 yards.  Michigan’s strength on defense has been in stopping the run, and that becomes even more pronounced with starting CB J.T. Floyd suspended for the game.  Michigan will need to find a way to get the ball to Robinson and allow him to use his speed and athleticism.  Expect tailback Fitz Toussaint to get a heavy workload too.  However, I think South Carolina’s superior athleticism on both sides of the ball will prove to be too much for Michigan.  It will be close on the scoreboard, but the Gamecocks will win comfortably.

Michigan 10

South Carolina 16

Michigan (+4) at Ohio State

Jim Delany’s favorite game of the year and this year should be good. Part of me wants to see Ohio State remain undefeated and waste a perfect season, but the other part, which is me most of the time, wants to see them lose. Denard Robinson’s career comes to a close, but with injuries, his role has changed. I am not sure it will be enough as Meyer gets his 1st and last undefeated season.

Ohio State 29 Michigan 21

Florida (+7) at Florida State

I have seen a few projections that have FLA possibly sneaking into the mythical National Championship (MNC) game. I think FSU will end those dream scenarios for FLA and then be looking from the outside in as a 1 loss not in the MNC game.

Florida State 27 Florida 22

Notre Dame (-6) at USC

My goodness, this is terrible. One 1 hand, the thought of Notre Dame in the MNC game is nauseating. On the other hand, Kiffin losing 5 games is such a great thought. Barkley is out, but the benefit is that Kiffin may not have damaged the QB yet with his stupidity.

Notre Dame 17  USC 0 points, 0 class

Stanford (+1) at UCLA

I respect these teams for beating USC. Stanford lost that game to Notre Dame because they went in a shell and that is inexcusable. Therefore, my logic tells me they will lose this game.

UCLA 26 Stanford 24

Oklahoma State (+9) at Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s defense took last week off vs that terribly coached West Virginia team. I cannot envision a scenario where Okie State wins on the road. Medium-Sized game Bob runs away with one here.

Oklahoma 38 Oklahoma State 21

Upset Special

Rutgers (+2) at Pitt

Rutgers is ranked and Pitt is a sub .500 team, but that is not how it works with these games. Pitt is awful, but favored so this is hardly and upset, but since Rutgers is ranked, it will be.  Rutgers has no business joining the B1G, so they will falter and everyone can add their B1G jokes here.

Pitt 17 Rutgers 16

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Evil Bill O’Brien is in no way affiliated with Penn State University or head football coach Bill O’Brien.

This week I want to tackle (no pun intended!) a more difficult topic and look at individual players across the country that have underperformed or overperformed based on what pre-season hype had indicated.  Certainly this is very subjective and many players will be left off the list in both categories, but I thought it might be fun to see who may or may not have met expectations.

Underachievers:

Nov 8, 2012; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas (3) looks to pass in the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

Logan Thomas – QB Virginia Tech:

The Hokies were supposed to contend for the ACC title and possibly even a national title.  Those hopes went out the window early this season, and the once formidable Hokies are playing for their post-season lives.  Part of the reason they have struggled to win games this year is the lack-luster play of their junior signal caller Logan Thomas.

Thomas was expected to be one the ACC’s leading passers, and while he 7th in the league in passing yards per game, he has been too inconsistent, especially in the bigger games.  Even more shocking is his inability to lead his team back when they are trailing.

On the season Thomas has thrown for 2,407 yards but his completion percentage is a mere 53.6% (171/319).  He has thrown 14 TDs, but he has also thrown for 14 INTs.  A 1:1 TD-to-INT ratio is not going to get it done for a team that should have at least won the ACC’s Coastal Division.

While much of the season has passed, Thomas can still prove that 2012 is not a harbinger of things to come.  His team needs to win its final two games to make it to a bowl.  The games are winnable (Boston College and Virginia), but to do so, Thomas will have to be the leader that head coach Frank Beamer and the rest of the Hokies know that they have in their midst.

Oct 13, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Southern California Trojans tailback Silas Redd (25) carries the ball against the Washington Huskies at CenturyLink Field. USC defeated Washington 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Silas Redd – RB USC:

Many that read this article will assume that I’m placing Redd on this list simply out of spite, seeing he spurned the Nittany Lions after their sanctions to go to the seemingly lavish lifestyle of the USC Trojans and a shot at the national title.  Well, I can tell you that is not the case!

If we compare stats from this year to his stats from last year at Penn State, you will find in most statistical categories his numbers have receded from where they were at one year ago.  In 2011 for Penn State, Redd rushed 244 times for 1,241 yards.  He averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored 7 TDs.  This year for USC, Redd has carries the ball only 135 times for 732 yards.  His average per carry is slightly better at 5.4 ypc, and his number of rushing TDs are modestly up (9).  At neither Penn State nor USC has Redd been used as a pass-catching back.

Some of the disparity in the numbers is the type of offense that Penn State and USC run and the personnel that each teams possesses, but in the end, Redd has not turned out to be the dynamic running back that Lane Kiffin can give the ball to and ride for an entire game.  This year alone Redd has only had two games where he has carried the ball 20 times or more.  in 2011 at Penn State, he had 5 games where he toted the rock 20 times or more.  In fact he carried the ball 30 times against Illinois.

Redd has begun ceding carries to senior Curtis McNeal.  In the Trojans’ last game against Arizona State, Redd was unable to play due to injury.  McNeal rushed 31 times for 163 yards and 2 scores.  Redd is questionable this week against rival UCLA.  What isn’t questionable is Redd’s lack of game-changing bursts.  To be sure, Redd is a fine running back that nearly every team in the country would love to have on their roster.  However, he is not the difference-maker that USC thought they were getting when he agreed to transfer in August.

November 10, 2012; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (28) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats in the third quarter at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 38-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Fitzgerald Toussaint – RB Michigan

Fitzgerald Toussaint was supposed to be the next workhorse back for the Wolverines, taking some of the pressure to run ball from Denard Robinson.  One problem – someone forgot to tell Fitzy that he was supposed to do that.  Toussaint has been virtually invisible in most of Michigan’s games this year.  He has not amassed a 100-yard rushing game in any one of his contests this year, though he was close this past Saturday against Northwestern (95 yards), and he has a little over half of the rushing scores (5) that he had all of last year (9).

Toussaint started off 2012 on suspension from an off-season off the field arrest.  He therefore missed the Alabama game, but he has played in every game since.  His number of rushes should be about the same as they were last year, but his offensive output will be well below what he did last season.  Last year he was a 1,000 yard back, but this year he will likely be lucky to get to 700 yards rushing.  He has done a tad more in the passing game than last year, but the numbers are fairly comparable.

To me it doesn’t look like Toussaint is running downhill as much as he was last year.  Last season he could get to the second level by punishing defensive lineman and linebackers on his way to big gains.  This year, those linemen are able to corral him at or near the line of scrimmage.  His longest run of 2012 was a 50-yard gainer and that was last week.  The explosiveness just doesn’t seem to be there this year, and that has really hurt Michigan.

The Wolverines are still one of the better team in the Big Ten because of Denard Robinson and the much-improved play of their defense, but most teams are not scared of Michigan because they are so one-dimensional.  Michigan will likely step up in class come bowl season and play a team that will be better than they are.  How Michigan can involve Toussaint in the gameplan and his effectiveness will go a long way in determining how Michigan fares.

Let’s take a look at the games and predict who, if anyone, will represent the Big Ten in those bowls.

ROSE BOWL (Big Ten #1):

Nebraska
The Huskers control their own destiny and have two winnable games left in Iowa and Minnesota. They should be favored over Wisconsin.

Potential Opponents: Oregon, USC, Notre Dame

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CAPITAL ONE BOWL (Big Ten #2):

Michigan
Michigan probably won’t play in the conference championship, but they’ll deserve this bid after finishing the season with a likely 8-4 record.

Potential Opponents: LSU, Georgia, Florida

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OUTBACK BOWL (Big Ten #3)

Wisconsin
If the Badgers aren’t careful, Northwestern could find themselves in this game. Should only take one more win for Wisconsin but they have Ohio State and Penn State left on the schedule.

Potential Opponents: Florida, LSU, South Carolina

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GATOR BOWL (Big Ten #4-5)

Northwestern
If they could play worth a damn in the second half of games, they’d be in Rose Bowl contention. Still, it’s hard to see them playing before January 1st.

Potential Opponents: Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, South Carolina

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BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL (Big Ten #4-5)

Michigan State
Sparty still needs a win to become bowl eligible but they should get it against Minnesota in the final week of the season.

Potential Opponents: Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma State

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MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL OF TEXAS (Big Ten #6)

Minnesota
The Gophers are the 5th and final Big Ten team that is currently bowl eligible. They’ll struggle to get another win but are all but guaranteed a bowl due to the circumstances.

Potential Opponents: TCU, West Virginia, Iowa State

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HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Big 10 #7)

Purdue
The Boilermakers have just 4 wins but play Illinois and Indiana in the next two weeks. They have the best shot at becoming bowl eligible.

Potential Opponents: Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia

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LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL (Big 10 #8)

It’s almost impossible for the Big Ten to fill this bowl. Iowa needs to beat Nebraska and Michigan to make it happen. Indiana has a shot, but they’d have to beat Penn State and Purdue. If they do so, Purdue will not be bowl eligible.

Conclusion: The Big Ten may send only 6 teams to bowl games. Due to Ohio State and Penn State’s ineligibility, several of the teams will be slotted above where their talent says they should be. That could be bad news for the conference in bowl games.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Overall Standings:

Matt:- 24-26

Tim: 22-28

Corey: 21-29

Craig: 17-33

Oct 20, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel (3) drops back to pass against Miami Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Florida State (-14) at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has struggle of late but will look to salvage their season with a marquee win at home over the Seminoles. Will the night time crowd of Blacksburg be enough to help the Hokies keep it close?

Matt – Florida State

This might just be my disdain for VT showing though, but I’d take Florida State by 24 in this if I could.  Sure, VT is at home on a Thursday, and 14 is a lot of points, but I just don’t think they’re that good.  FSU is as talented as most teams in the country, and I think that carries them.

Tim – Virginia Tech