Week 5 Predictions

Week 4 wasn't the most exciting weekend of college football but if you love offense, there was plenty to go around. Teams across the nation put up basketball-scores in route to victory. Clemson avoided the upset in Raleigh Thursday night and knocked off NC State, 26-14. The LSU Tigers sent the Auburn Tigers home with their first loss of the season, North Texas gave UGA all they could handle until the fourth quarter, and Florida defeated Tennessee in the Swamp, but lost starting QB Jeff Driskel for the season with a broken lower leg. Week 5 gives us another Top 10 showdown as LSU travels between the hedges to take on Georgia. In addition, Texas A&M plays Arkansas (who blew a big lead and fell to Rutgers last weekend), Alabama meets Ole Miss at home, South Carolina travels down to Florida to square off against UCF and Clemson is back home in Death Valley as they take on Wake Forest. Lets make some predictions! 


Week 5 Predictions: Take Your Pick


                                                            #1 Alabama vs #21 Ole Miss

Ole Miss will roll into Tuscaloosa undefeated at 3-0 and 1-0 in SEC play. Alabama is starting to look like the team we all expected them to be after a not so impressive showing against Virginia Tech to kick off the season. The Rebels are a much improved team but they aren't quite ready to hang with the big boys of the conference just yet. Nick Saban's squad gets the job done and keeps their #1 ranking for at least another week.

The Pick: Alabama


#12 South Carolina @ UCF

South Carolina hits the road to take on 3-0 UCF Saturday at noon. The Gamecocks are not taking the Knights lightly and are prepared for what will not be a easy victory. The fans are pumped up as this is arguably the biggest game in the school's history. UCF already proved it can pull the upset as they took down Penn State just earlier this season in Happy Valley, 34-31. South Carolina is coming off their bye week and should be well rested, healthy and ready to go full speed ahead. This game has the potential to be very interesting, but at the end of the day I think South Carolina is just the better team and they will make it known.

The Pick: South Carolina


Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech 

A HUGE showdown in the Coastal Division. Georgia Tech has looked solid thus far and took care of business last weekend against North Carolina. VT on the other hand needed 3 Overtimes to finish off Marshall at home last Saturday. Logan Thomas has been, well Logan Thomas and has already thrown 6 interceptions this season. If VT wants to stand a chance at winning the division Thomas has to take better care of the football. I like GT's offense better here and I think the Yellow Jackets get the job done at home against the Hokies.

                                                                                    The Pick: Georgia Tech



#3 Clemson vs Wake Forest

After a bye week and a Thursday night trip to Raleigh last week, Clemson returns home to take on division foe, Wake Forest. The Tigers had some trouble getting things rolling last week but stepped up and made plays when they had to. Its homecoming weekend for the Tigers so it should be a solid home crowd and atmosphere. Clemson proved once again that they aren't the "Same ole Clemson" team and that they are a different, more focused and a more mature team. Bottom line....Clemson has too many weapons on offense and the defense is improving. Too much talent all over the field for the Demon Deacons to match. Tigers win big on Homecoming.

The Pick: Clemson  

*Bonus Pick of the Week*

Presbyterian vs Charlotte 

After coming up short against Furman on the road last weekend, PC is even more focused and ready to get back on the winning side with Charlotte coming to town Saturday afternoon. Blue Hose get the job done and pick up an important win with conference play right around the corner and a trip to rival Wofford coming up next weekend.

The Pick: Presbyterian 



And last but certainly not least......  

Christopher's Game of the Week 

#6 LSU @ #9 Georgia 

Preview:

Another week of college football and another top 10 showdown featuring at least on SEC school. Starting to become quite the popular trend this year. This time, Georgia plays host to LSU who enters the game a perfect 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play. LSU is averaging 43.3 ppg while giving up 19.5. Georgia is averaging 40.3 ppg while giving up 29.7. College Gameday will be in attendance and this one should be another instant classic down between the hedges. 

Players to Watch:

LSU- QB Zach Mettenberger, RB Jeremy Hill, WR Odell Beckham

Georgia- QB Aaron Murray, RB Todd Gurley, RB Keith Marshall 

My Thoughts:

Zach Mettenberger is much improved this year and probably the most improved QB in the nation and has thrown for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns with only 1 interception. Jeremy Hill is one of the most underrated backs in the nation and already has 6 touchdowns and 350 yards rushing to this point. Despite losing most of their team to the NFL, LSU hasn't had much of a drop-off at all from last season. Georgia was tied up with North Texas 21-21 halfway through the 3rd quarter Saturday before pulling away late in the game to secure the win. They will have to execute and much better this week or they could be in serious trouble.


Bottom Line:

The only thing that concerns me to this point is the strength of schedule. LSU's signature win to this point is a 37-27 win over #20 TCU. Outside of that, the Tigers have played UAB, Kent State, and Auburn. Oh and by the way, LSU hasn't played a road game this season. Georgia on the other hand will be playing their 3rd top 10 opponent of the year Saturday night. It could be fair to say the Bulldogs were not fully focused on the task at hand last week and were looking ahead to this game but it almost came back to haunt them. For me, I just have too many questions for LSU and not sure if they are truly a top 10 team based on who they've played to this point. We all know how good Georgia is and the Bulldogs may have the best QB-RB duo in the country in Murray and Gurley/Marshall. If the game was in that other "Death Valley", my pick would be harder but with the Tigers finally playing a quality opponent and having to do it on the road, I'm not sure they can handle it.

The Pick: Georgia