Week 6: Statement Saturday

The title says it all. This weekend gives us another amazing slate of football to watch with a handful of big match ups between ranked teams. Its about that time to separate the good teams from the great teams and this weekend provides the opportunity for teams to widen, or close the gap. If you can't find a game that grabs your attention this weekend then you simply just aren't looking. I'll know which ones I'll be keeping an eye on and there are quite a few:

2 in a row for Washington? 

Washington pulled the upset on Stanford last Thursday night and cracked the top 25 coming in at #23. Can they pull off another big win this weekend when it plays #2 Oregon? I would love to see it happen but I think the Ducks are too fast and too talented. Add the fact that Washington has to go into Eugene to play the game, I gotta give the advantage to Oregon. They win, and win in convincing fashion.

Prediction: Oregon 47 Washington 30 

Plenty of Intriguing Match Ups This Weekend

#10 Florida (4-0), who is coming off their bye-week welcomes #4 LSU to town Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm. Florida has been impressive thus far with two big wins at Texas A&M and Tennessee already under its belt. LSU struggled with Auburn and didn't exactly blow Towson out of the water as I would have expected last week. This game is in the swamp and the well rested Gators are going to give LSU their absolute best shot. However, I'm not sure it will be enough. LSU wins a close one.

Prediction: LSU 24 Florida 20




In another clash of undefeated teams, #8 West Virginia heads to Austin, Texas to battle the #11 Longhorns at 7pm. Geno Smith is already closing in on 2000 yards passing at 1728 yards through the first five weeks. (600+ coming in last weeks win over Baylor) Both teams are 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play. WVU looks really. really good and I think they get it done on the road.

Prediction: West Virginia 38 Texas 28






#3 FSU faces a potential trap game as it travels to Raleigh to take on the Wolf Pack in prime time action. Glennon is off to a great start tossing for 10 TDs and over 1400 yards so far this year. For the Noles, Thompson has been big on the ground with 430 yards and 5 TD's. As much as I want to see FSU go down, I don't think NCST is the team that can do it, but I pray that I'm wrong. Too much talent on both sides of the ball for me to pick against them this week.

Prediction: Florida State 31 North Carolina State 17 

#12 Ohio St looks to move to 6-0 Saturday when it host #21 Nebraska. Braxton Miller has been cash money this year closing in on 1000 yards through the air and 600 yards on the ground for a combined 15 TDs on the year. Don't look now but the Buckeyes keep winning and they could very well make their way into the BCS title game with some losses promised to a few SEC teams ranked ahead of them.

Prediction: Ohio St. 35 Nebraska 27 

#15 Clemson welcomes a struggling Georgia Tech team that's is 2-3 on the year and coming off back to back losses from Miami and Middle Tennessee St. (Ouch!) They are going to be a frustrated group of yellow jackets. But I can assure you Clemson has not forgot about last year's game in ATL. Sammy Watkins is expected to be back following his sickness with an abdominal virus. Andre Ellington will also be 100% and ready to play this year. The defense will have its work cut out for them stopping the option and giving up the big play...and they will likely give up a lot of yards. Thankfully, the offense should help offset some of that. Look for a high scoring affair with the Tigers pulling away in the second half.

Prediction: Clemson 51 Georgia Tech 38 

#5 UGA travels to Columbia for a showdown with #6 South Carolina. College Game Day. Two undefeated teams. SEC title implications, BCS implications. Bragging rights. This game is what its all about. Last year the Gamecocks outlasted the Dawgs 45-42. I expect another classic this year as well. Marcus Lattimore has had great games against UGA and he could be the difference again this year. Gurley is having a great year on the ground for UGA. Both defenses are extremely talented, both have great QB's and exceptional backfields. Don't expect a high scoring affair like last year though. My heart and the Clemson fan in me says Georgia gets it done, but my gut tells me South Carolina pulls it out. Gotta go with my gut on this one. Another memorable ESPN Game Day experience for Gamecock fans and they roll into Baton Rouge next weekend on a roll.

Prediction: South Carolina 23 Georgia 21

Other Games of Interest 

#9 Notre Dame over Miami (FL)

Texas Tech over #17 Oklahoma 

Auburn over Arkansas 

North Carolina over Virginia Tech

Duke over Virginia (The Blue Devils are 4-1, just FYI) 

Missouri over Vanderbilt 

Texas A&M over Ole Miss