The big national game is #1 Florida and likely Tim Tebow traveling to LSU to face the #4 Tigers. However, the big game to me is Thursday night's Nebraska at Missouri Big 12 North battle. The Huskers get a second opportunity to win a tough road game against a ranked team. Notre Dame has the weekend off, as they get two weeks to prepare for USC.
Top 25
#1 Florida (4-0, 2-0) at #4 LSU (5-0, 3-0)
The winner of this game the last three years has gone on to win the National Championship. That is about all you need to know to understand the importance of this game. The biggest storyline is will Florida QB Tim Tebow play after suffering a concussion two weeks ago. With him already doing some practice I expect him to play, but I don't think he will play particularly well. I don't think LSU is that great a team but the stars seem to be aligning for them in this one. A night game at home against a shaky Tebow will equal upset.
Prediction: LSU 27, Florida 23
Colorado (1-3, 0-0) at #2 Texas (4-0, 1-0)
I think if Texas blows out Colorado they will vault to number one in the polls with a Florida loss. However, if they aren't impressive, I could definitely see the voters vaulting LSU or Alabama above them. I think the Longhorns impress.
Prediction: Texas 45, Colorado 27
#3 Alabama (5-0, 2-0) at #20 Mississippi (3-1, 1-1)
Another big SEC game is this one. Some people are starting to believe that the Crimson Tide, not the Gators, are the best team in the SEC. The Rebels were exposed as frauds at South Carolina a couple weeks ago, and a loss here will further cement that status.
Prediction: Alabama 34, Mississippi 21
Boston College (4-1, 2-1) at #5 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0)
Tech struggled more than they should have with Duke and now host a pretty hot Boston College team. Despite good numbers Eagles QB Dave Shinskie is no Matt Ryan, so the Hokies will take this one.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 24, Boston College 16
Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0) at #9 Ohio State (4-1, 2-0)
Despite the Badgers being 5-0 they aren't ranked, which gives you an idea of how crappy the Big 10 is considered to be. Ohio State has looked really impressive since the loss to USC and I think they hold off a game Wisconsin team.
Prediction: Ohio State 38, Wisconsin 24
#10 TCU (4-0, 0-0) at Air Force (3-2, 2-0)
TCU is quietly undefeated while Air Force goes back to conference play where they seem to be most comfortable. The Frogs defense will continue to play well.
Prediction: TCU 24, Air Force 10
Florida A & M (4-0) at #11 Miami (3-1)
Look at the kind of crap Miami plays.
Prediction: Miami 42, Florida A & M 21
Michigan (4-1, 1-1) at #12 Iowa (5-0, 1-0)
Iowa showed their fraud selves by barely beating Arkansas State at home. Michigan QB Tate Forcier has one road game under his belt now, the scene won't seem so big to him this weekend.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Iowa 20
#13 Oregon (4-1, 2-0) at UCLA (3-1, 0-1)
Oregon has stormed back ever since being embarrassed on opening night by Boise State. Winning at UCLA will be tough but I think the Ducks have grown a lot in the last month.
Prediction: Oregon 32, UCLA 24
Eastern Illinois (4-1) at #14 Penn State (4-1)
Bobby Bowden should take some notes from Joe Paterno. If you want to keep coaching until you die you need to schedule teams like these.
Prediction: Penn State 34, Eastern Illinois 10
#15 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-0) at Texas A & M (3-1. 0-0)
I know that the Aggies just got destroyed by Arkansas but the Cowboys seem completely overrated to me, and the type of team that would lose a conference road opener, no matter the opponent.
Prediction: Texas A & M 35, Oklahoma State 31
Iowa State (3-2, 0-1) at #16 Kansas (4-0, 0-0)
We are going to be 5 games in and Kansas still wouldn't have played a good team. Nebraska will have played 2. See you November 14th.
Prediction: Kansas 28, Iowa State 13
#17 Auburn (5-0, 2-0) at Arkansas (2-2, 0-2)
This is a real tough game for me to pick. I worry about Auburn reading too many press clippings this week, now that the public has finally noticed that they are 5-0. Arkansas has a pretty potent offense and will be at home. I will go out on a limb.
Prediction: Arkansas 28, Auburn 27
#18 BYU (4-1, 1-0) at UNLV (2-3, 0-1)
I got nothing.
Prediction: BYU 35, UNLV 21
Baylor (3-1, 0-0) at #19 Oklahoma (2-2, 0-0)
All Choklahoma has left to play for is the Big 12 championship, as their national title hopes died last Saturday. QB Sam Bradford might return for this one, doesn't really matter.
Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Baylor 20
#21 Nebraska (3-1, 0-0) at #24 Missouri (4-0, 0-0)
I was surprised to see that Vegas has the Huskers as favorites in this one. It also worries me because home underdogs have killed on Thursday nights. However, I like the Huskers to win this one. Missouri may be 4-0 but they haven't played anyone good. Their QB Blaine Gabbert has 11 TDs to 0 INTs, but he hasn't faced a tough defense like Nebraska will throw at him. The Huskers will have to get pressure on him, much more pressure than they got on Tyrod Taylor. The Huskers will also need their QB Zac Lee to be much more accurate than he was in Blacksburg. Missouri's defense has played well to start the season, but again, I am waiting to see how they do against a good team. The atmosphere will be very tough but the Huskers looked more than ready at Virginia Tech, so I think they can handle it. This is a must win for Nebraska, not just for the season, but for the program. A loss, especially if that loss ends up being embarrassing will be demoralizing.
Prediction: Nebraska 24, Missouri 20
#22 Georgia Tech (4-1, 2-1) at Florida State (2-3, 0-2)
All of the talk this week has centered around Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden and whether he should retire in peace or be forced out. The Seminoles are pretty bad but have shown they can play well at times. I think they are motivated after all the talk this week, plus the ACC home teams usually win.
Prediction: Florida State 27, Georgia Tech 19
Kentucky (2-2, 0-2) at #25 South Carolina (4-1, 1-1)
The Gamecocks have to avoid looking ahead to their game at Alabama next weekend. Kentucky will put up some fight but the Cocks will rise to the occasion.
Prediction: South Carolina 20, Kentucky 13
Last Week: 13-6
Overall: 84-23
9 comments:
cbh, thanks for keeping the faith with the Hogs. one of these days they will make you look like a mad-genius for picking them, hopefully it's this week.
Ark is they go to 0-3 in SEC play, will people get restless? I just am curious to know what exactly expectations are this year.
im totally on board with your LSU upset pick. i think the smart move would've been to just say tebow is out and give brantley all the practice reps...cuz he's gonna need em playing in tiger stadium at night.
i think osu has a chance to get upset this week. wisky is pretty good and even tho the buckeyes have looked good, their offense needs to put points on the board. they're making strides, but it's still a pretty weak unit.
I don't think so, not yet at least. the only thing people bitch about it the defense, and the anger towards that is directed towards willie robinson (the D coord.) and not Petrino. I think people expected a little more, but also people seem to be a bit more rational (believe it or not) about expectations for this yers team, considering the schedule and the young players we got.
but after this game there are two road games against the tebow's and ole piss, so this is a must win as far as the conference goes.
I hope you are right about Oregon. I'm nervous being that it is their first road game since boise st, and we are starting our backup qb who has played all of 3 quarters or so in his career and has had 3 knee surgeries.
Bbryan, Chip Kelly is an offensive genius though right? Shouldn't matter who is at QB?
/Kinda kidding
//For my picks sake I hope its true
He obviously is a very good offensive coach, but the history has been 2 or 3 bad games once a new QB is inserted into the lineup.
'07: Dixon goes down, suck for 3 games before thrashing South Floida in the Sun Bowl
'08: Roper goes down, takes Masoli 3-4 games to figure it out before thrashing Oregon State and Oklahoma State
'09: Even with Masoli it still took 3 games before we started rolling on offense.
At least Costa has been in the program for 5 years or so. And for my sanities sake, I hope your picks are right.
I agree that Auburn might be drinking too much of their own kool-aid.
I'm looking forward to tonights game. But I don't know who to root for. I was originally thinking missouri because Neb had the easier schedule of the North contenders. Now that Dez Bryant is out though, I think missouri can now go to Stillwater and win thus creating more of a clusterfuck.
I agree that KU hasn't played anyone and that Nebraska will have played 2 after tonight. But if they lose then it didn't do you a lot of good. And if you take VT off that non-con schedule, it's one of the worst in the nation.
It is remarkable, very useful piece
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