By Guest Blogger Tyler Fenwick:

The Big-12 faces off against the Big-10 in a key bowl game for conference bragging rights. For a while, it was very unclear who would be playing in this game, but it was made official that Iowa is to play Missouri.

Missouri is a heavy favorite through the eyes of the nation, as they are going up against a recently cold Hawkeyes team.

Iowa finished their season with three straight losses that knocked them right out the rankings. But, despite the recent mishaps on both sides of the ball, Iowa is one of those teams who has the talent to really flip the switch heading into the post-season.

Meanwhile, Missouri really couldn’t ask for much more momentum heading into this one. Despite back-to-back losses in the middle of the season, the Tigers finished storing with three straight wins to close out the season. And the of course there was the upset over Alabama late in October.

In my mind, the only way Iowa really has a shot at this one is to put the ball in the hands of Ricky Stanzi.

He’s one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the Big Ten, completing 64% of his passes. Plus, he may be the most improved, going from interceptions in 2009 to only four so far this year.

Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to see some production from that secondary. Don’t get me wrong. Iowa has one of the best defenses in the nation, but Blaine Gabbert is a very productive quarterback for the Tigers.

Sticking with Blaine Gabbert, he doesn’t necissarily need to have an all-star game.

If he could find even the slightest rhythem, that could open up room for runningbacks De’Vion Moore and Henry Josey.

Together, they have only combined for 900 yards. Production from the backs though is going to be key. You can’t let a defense like Iowa’s know what you’re doing 80% of the time.

What can we expect? Expect to see a good fight in this one. This will be a classic case to prove that the only rankings that matter, come bowl time, are #1 and #2. The rest can pretty much be forgotten.

Stanzi should have a great outing, and I think they might find some occasional success running the ball with Robinson.

But even all of that may not be enough if the Tigers can find 100-125 yards on the ground. It would be just enough to keep the defense honost, allowing a nice, balanced attack.

If Iowa is able to pull the upst, it will have to be because of defense. Shutting down Gabbert would be huge.

Keep in mind, Iowa carries an advantage in one category with having really nothing to lose. They can only gain from this situation, while the Tigers are trying to lock down an 11 win season.

A Slicks Picks Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Matt Cerimele:

OK – now that i have built some ‘street cred’ on correctly predicting the UNDER with WVU/UCONN game, and even suggested OT could decide the game, i figured another post was warranted, especially if you arent sure which BIG games to pull the trigger on tomorrow.  Listen UP!

First, time to get off of the SPARTY bandwagon.  IOWA finally ends the madness and not even a triple sow cow will save Mich State this week.  IOWA is in charge from start to finish.  Defense way too strong and Mich State is ultimately exposed, like we all knew they evetually would be.  Take the hawkeyes, lay the 6.5 pts.  IOWA 30, MICH ST 13.

Ok, lets move on.  MIZZOU.  oh, MIZZOU.  nice win last week – home game, at night, #1 oklahoma coming in…and miserable loss this week.  the old black shirts do the same thing to MIZZOU that iowa does to michst.  NEBRASKA is simply better.  and believe me, vegas knows it.  lay the 7.5 points, and take the huskers at home in a battle of two very good big 12 teams (or big ten, whatever).  NEBRASKA 36, MIZZOU 27.

You want more PRIMETIME games – fine.  SLICK SAYS, bet USC.  colin cowherd said USC will win outright.  i love the herd.  i also love HOME teams, and i really LOVE home teams named USC, getting points.  USCs defense has had plenty of time to get ready for this one, and although they arent going to stop oregon, they will contain them, and USC can flat out score, just like oregon.  chip kelly said it, they have more 4 and 5 star players than anyone, and tomorrow, they will prove it.  Take USC in a high scoring affair, take the points (i htink youre getting at least 6.5 so take it before it comes down further).  USC 38, OREGON 35.

And, why not, ive gone against every other undefeated team, so lets get the tigers too.  AUBURN comes in with the highest expectations this week.  After a huge win last week in which Cam Newton simply took over the college football world, it just doesnt get any easier, and OLE MISS is waiting to put an end to his media frenzy.  wait, but auburn is lights out a better team and didnt ole miss lose to jacksonville state, at home, and vandy, at home!?  call me crazy, but im taking the HOME team again.  OLE MISS and 7 points is enough for me.  AUBURN wins, but not by enough.  AUBURN 31, OLE MISS 27.

Let me close with a few more interesting lines, that drew my attention.

AIR FORCE +7 V UTAH. did i mention i LOVE home teams, especially in big games.  i also LOVE flyovers.  air force is tested, and coming off of a defeating loss to TCU, air force will have an easier time finding the end zone.  take AIR FORCE, take the points.  AIR FORCE 30, UTAH 28.

MICHIGAN -3 @ PENNT ST. What?!  how is michigan favored against anyone?  Ok SIN CITY, ill take the maize and blue.  MICHIGAN 30, PENN STATE 24, take that.

TEMPLE -29.5 V AKRON. ok, i know akron is awful, but when were the owls favored by almost 30 points against anyone, in football?  is john chaney coaching this owl team?  i dont care who is coaching, ill lay em all, give me TEMPLE.  TEMPLE 44, AKRON 10.

and finally, i also enjoy totals.  i noticed two…

TAKE the OVER in NOTRE DAME V TULSA. 63 points!  wow , thats a lot.  not so fast my friend, both teams will score at will, and ND runs away late.  i see at least 80 points in this one.

TAKE the UNDER in BOSTON COLLEGE V CLEMSON. only 41!?  really, you mean 24-21 still isnt good enough.  yes, thats what i mean.  SLICK says, follow your gut, and although clemson will probably win this game by a score or two, my gut says 23-13 is about all youll see.

SLICK SAYS: Can we PLEASE put BOISE in the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME already!!??

By contributing Fanspeak writer Geoff Nelowet

(10) Iowa at (11) Ohio State

The tenth-ranked Hawkeyes took their first loss of the season last week, which nearly destroyed any national championship hopes Iowa once had. Should they win at Ohio State this weekend, the BCS rankings will be very interesting.

Ohio State, on the other hand, is coming off their best win of the season, and it had major Big 10 implication, as they broke the two-way tie for second in the conference against Penn State, and now they have an opportunity to take down the first-place Hawkeyes, and earn a BCS bid.

Ohio State is a superior team in talent. Iowa has no offensive threat equal to Terrelle Pryor. Iowa is a sound football team that makes few mistakes. They have had a great run this season, but it seems unlikely that they will pick where they left off without their starting quarterback – Ricky Stanzi. Iowa will be starting redshirt freshman James Vandenberg on what could not be a bigger stage: at the Horseshoe – the third biggest college football stadium in the country – vying for a Big 10 title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Iowa is a major underdog in this came, and rightfully so. Vandenberg will have to step in and play the game of his life, and Ohio State will have to make a few mistakes. This is where Pryor comes in. Pryor is electrifying, and he seems to either win or lose the game for the Buckeyes. Unfortunately for Iowa, though, it seems that both Pryor and Ohio State are finally hitting their stride.

Ohio State will take down Iowa, and they will do so convincingly. At the end of the season, Ohio State will be surprisingly high in the BCS rankings after what seemed like a down season. Final Score: Ohio State 34 Iowa 17.

Notre Dame at (12) Pittsburgh

Notre Dame is coming off their worst loss of the season to a Navy team that should not have been able to keep the game close, let alone win it. Not only did they lose, but Charlie Weis’ is now ostensibly on the hot seat. Notre Dame will respond in one of two ways: they will come out motivated and fired up to salvage their season and their coach’s job, or they will pack it in because they have nothing left to play for, as they are officially out of the BCS hunt.

Unfortunately for the Irish, they are going up against a Pittsburgh team that hasn’t loss since September 26^th. This could very well be Weis’ last season in South Bend.

Pittsburgh is beatable, though, and their schedule reflects that, as they do not have a win against a ranked opponent on their resume – and Notre Dame doesn’t either. These are too evenly matched teams, but at this point in the season, they have greatly differing incentives to win football games, and that could ultimately decide this game.

Pittsburgh has relied on their balanced offensive attack this season, which is lead by senior quarterback Bill Stull and freshman running back Dion Lewis. Lewis has been one of the top rushers in the nation this season, and Stull has complemented the run game with a steady, effective air attack. The Panthers are hard to stop on offense because they can beat a team in a number of ways.

Notre Dame, similarly, is also an offensive-minded program, and junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen was considered a Heisman hopeful earlier this season. Notre Dame is a pass-first offense, and Clausen has thrown the ball almost 100 times more than Stull this season, which may be a disadvantage because it shows that Notre Dame is a bit more one-dimensional.

Pittsburgh is better than Notre Dame at this juncture of the season, and they will be more intense than the Fighting Irish. Both teams will score points, but Pittsburgh will be more focused and more determined. Final score: Pitt 37 Notre Dame 28