We've heard all the conference realignment chatter, but Saturday we see the first fruits.
Nebraska is travelling to Madison, Wisconsin to play its very first Big Ten game. Nebraska vs. Wisconsin should quickly become one of the Big Ten's best rivalries because THEY ARE THE SAME TEAM. When Badgers coach Brett Beilema greets Huskers coach Bo Pellini before the game, he's sure to tell him "there ain't room enough in this confernce fer the bothuvus."
They're both cornfed. They both pound the ground game. They both wear red and white. They both have surprisingly rabid fan bases. This is like spy vs. spy, except instead of spy it's a pasty white, 325 pound 19-year-old named Tyler.
Besides the Corn Husker's inaugural Big Ten game, there are a number of great match ups to sink our teeth into this weekend.
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Game of the Week
No. 8 Nebraska (4-0) at No. 7 Wisconsin (4-0), 8 p.m., ABC
If it weren't for conference play, these teams would win 65-0 every week against the crappiest teams they could possibly find. Wisconsin has quietly become the nation's worst offenders at scheduling cream puffs and then unapologetically running up the score. The Badgers have outscored opponents 194-34. Nebraska has played only a slightly tougher schedule, but has given up a whopping 88 points this season.
Nebraska was a preseason Big Ten favorite, with Ohio State having internal issues (cheatin' an' lyin'), Penn St. not looking too scary, and Michigan trying to recover from and forget about the three-year mistake it just endured. But the Huskers defense has been shockingly vulnerable, and this week it'll have its hands full with the Badgers shiny new duel-threat QB Russel Wilson, who previously played baseball in the Colorado Rockies' farm system, and football at North Carolina St.
Nebraska's own duel-threat QB, Taylor Martinez, has run for 421 yards already, but hasn't been nearly so good as a passer. Martinez wil have to throw the ball with more efficiency (just a 50% completion percentage so far) to keep the Badgers from loading up to stop the Huskers' running game.
Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Nebraska 24
No. 13 Clemson at No. 11 Virginia Tech, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers are riding high after back-to-back wins over Auburn and Florida St. If they can beat the Hokies, they'll position themselves as a dark-horse nation title contender, since they won't have another tough game until they close the season against South Carolina. The last time the Tigers went to Blacksburg, they were 6-0 and ranked No. 10 in the country, but that didn't stop them from getting smacked in the mouth and slouching back onto the bus 24-7 losers.
But Quarterback Tahj Boyd has the Clemson offense flying this season, and Clemson is playing with a lot of confidence under Swinney. Virginia Tech has its first test this week after facing four cream puffs. Virginia Tech has a defense that should stack up well against anyone in the country, but once again, they haven't played anyone yet. But likewise for Clemson, this will be the best team they've played this year. Auburn is in a bit of a rebuild this year, and Clemson caught Florida St. when the Seminoles were a little beat up. It's gonna be fun to see what this new-attitude Clemson team does on the road against a very good team.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 21, Clemson 20
No. 2 Alabama at No. 13 Florida, 8 p.m., CBS
I've got to include this game, since it's Alabama on the road against a ranked team. But don't think this is gonna be a close game. Alabama is going to CRUSH Florida. Why? Because Alabama is light years ahead of Florida, no matter what the rankings say at this point in time.
Alabama is without a doubt one of the three best teams in the country, and they very well may be the best. Florida is still trying to find itself. Doesn't matter that this one is in the Swamp. Florida couldn't beat Alabama if they were playing the game in Will Muschamp's living room.
Prediction: Alabama 38, Florida 16
No. 14 Texas A&M at No. 18 Arkansas, 12 p.m., ESPN
Here's two teams seeking redemption after disappointing losses last week. A&M got stung at home by Oklahoma St., while Arkansas got its ass kicked by Alabama. This should be a more favorable matchup for both teams.
Texas A&M's defense got humbled by a talented OK St. offense last week, but perhaps the more disturbing issue for the Aggies was their inability to get an effective running game established. Texas A&M will look to get back to its grind-it-out ways this week in Arkansas.
The Razorbacks, meanwhile, took a whoopin' against Alabama last week -- but Arkansas won't be the last good team to suffer that fate this season. Alabama ran all over Arkansas last week, and Texas A&M will want to do the same this week, though Aggies quarterback Ryan Tannehill has proven himself as a more than capable passer. Arkansas' first-year starting quarterback Tyler Wilson has been living up to his talent this season, but will face a nasty pass rush from the Aggies this week.
Prediction: Texas A&M 28, Arkansas 27
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