Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Perfection, at last. The picks have been a struggle this season after a strong 2008 campaign, but I went 5-for-5 last week. A few of the score predictions were off base, but I'll take the end results.
MINNESOTA-OHIO STATE
Week 8 record: 5-0
Season record: 45-17 (.726)
Perfection, at last. The picks have been a struggle this season after a strong 2008 campaign, but I went 5-for-5 last week. A few of the score predictions were off base, but I'll take the end results.
MINNESOTA-OHIO STATE
- The pick: Ohio State 24, Minnesota 7
- Actual score: Ohio State 38, Minnesota 7
- 20-20 hindsight: Terrelle Pryor actually accounted for one more touchdown than I predicted, as he twice found wide receiver DeVier Posey for long scores and ran one in as well. Minnesota nearly got shut out for the second consecutive week and lost star wideout Eric Decker to a foot/ankle injury.
- The pick: Northwestern 27, Indiana 24
- Actual score: Northwestern 29, Indiana 28
- 20-20 hindsight: Both teams actually ran the ball decently, as Indiana's Darius Willis raced 70 yards on the game's opening play and Northwestern's Scott Concannon came up big late. I definitely didn't predict the biggest comeback in Northwestern team history, but the final score was in the ballpark.
- The pick: Purdue 28, Illinois 17
- Actual score: Purdue 24, Illinois 14
- 20-20 hindsight: I correctly predicted that Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott would avoid a turnover, but the Boilers' three touchdowns came via the ground, as Elliott, Ralph Bolden and Jaycen Taylor each ran one into the end zone. Illinois committed only one turnover in the loss.
- The pick: Penn State 23, Michigan 21
- Actual score: Penn State 35, Michigan 10
- 20-20 hindsight: Few outside of Nittany Nation forecasted a blowout in this one, and many analysts picked Michigan. Lions quarterback Daryll Clark didn't need to lead a game-winning drive after tying his career high with four touchdown passes. Tate Forcier and the rest of the Michigan offense really struggled after marching 70 yards on the opening drive.
- The pick: Iowa 19, Michigan State 14
- Actual score: Iowa 15, Michigan State 13
- 20-20 hindsight: Rather than hooking up with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos for a third-quarter touchdown, Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi found Marvin McNutt in the end zone with no time remaining for the most dramatic win in the Big Ten this season. The Hawkeyes didn't force any turnovers, but came through in the clutch to stay unbeaten.
Week 8 record: 5-0
Season record: 45-17 (.726)
Adam Rittenberg | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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