College Football Poker With Kickers Wild

Seems like yesterday we were all talking about opening college football day and it was never going to get here.  Now opening conference play within the Big Ten play has descended upon us. Saturday's gridiron contests could arguable see one of the biggest games in the Big Ten this Year.  Of course, this early in the season it could be any one of the games being played.  The Iowa vs. Penn State has a number of overtures with it and it certainly is drawing national attention with it.  ESPN's game day seems to think it's a worthy contest for picking it's location to televise from Saturday.  With the game being deemed a grudge contest it seems that there are many different opinions as to what is going to happen in this game. 

With the many different scenarios that have been written of this bruising battle all over the map, the real answer will lay within the foot.  It seems reasonable to expect that this is going to be somewhat of a poker night for Joe Paterno and Kirk Ferentz.  Expect both coaches to play the hand they are dealt and there won't be a lot of bluffing or high stakes gambles. 

Both team's strength are the defense.  Not just good defenses, but perhaps the best two defensive squads in the big ten, and they could both arguably be among the nation's elite.  Offensively, the Nittney Lions would tip the scales in their favor as far as having an edge.  Especially this coming weekend as the Hawkeyes most likely will be without three potential all Big Ten Performers.

Easy enough, because with the better offensive unit that will give Penn State the edge.  The Lions will beat the Hawkeyes, enough said let quit trying to predict this thing and go home.  Well, it's just not that simple.  Remember, we talked about how elite these defensive squads are.  Neither team has enough offense to consistently move the ball up and down the field Saturday night.  Neither team is going to run the ball and that statement comes with an exclamation point behind it.  To air the ball out will require time to throw the ball, which neither quarterback will have, or open receivers which neither team will have.  No doubt there will be a sizable play here or there, but for the most part this will be a boring defensive slugfest.

Kickers will be wild Saturday Night in Happy Valley.  The real question is Donahue or Murray the wild card that gives Kirk the winning hand or will Boone or Wagner produce the jackpot for Joe Pa.  The stakes are in the special teams on this night.  Who suffers more on field position, and who can out-perform kicking field goals.  In this Saturday night primetime gridiron poker classic, kicker will be wild.