Week 6 Predictions

If you thought last week was fun....you haven't seen anything yet. After a few weeks of just a handful of high profile games, this weekend we are slammed full of ranked teams squaring off. It is a strong possibility that come Sunday morning the polls might be shaken up quite a bit. It all gets started Thursday when Arizona travels to Eugene and try to make it two straight over the Ducks after taking them behind the woodshed last season. Then on Saturday....grab you some food, beverages and a comfortable couch cause we have some good football coming your way. After Florida State flirted with disaster last weekend in Raleigh they direct their attention to a visit from Wake Fores while Clemson looks to climb back into the polls as they face North Carolina State at home. Over in the SEC, there are three pretty big games going down as #3 Alabama travels to take on #11 Ole Miss in a game that screams upset in my opinion (spoiler pick alert), in a battle of Tigers, #5 Auburn faces #15 LSU, #6 Texas A&M is on the road at #12 Mississippi State and South Carolina heads to Kentucky. The fun doesn't stop there though as #4 Oklahoma takes on #25 TCU on the road and lastly in a top 20 showdown #10 Michigan State takes on #19 Nebraska. Without further delay...lets make some predictions!


#1 Florida State vs Wake Forest 

For much of their game last week against North Carolina State it appeared that the demons of Raleigh were again going to take down the Seminoles but FSU rallied and put up 35 second half points to shut down the party in Carter-Finley Stadium. Now the Noles are back at home and have to take on the Demon Deacons in a game in which they are favored by nearly 40 points. Its not every day you see a spread that big and if I was a betting man I would say there is no way they cover. Wake Forest is bad but 40 points?! They win easily but that seems a little absurd especially considering their performance last week.

The Pick: Florida State 



#2 Oregon vs Arizona 

I remember turning on the TV last year and having to do a double take when I saw the score between Oregon and Arizona. The Wildcats had their way with the Ducks last season and left no doubt that they were the better team that night winning 42-16. I expect there to be a different story this time around and while the Wildcats are 4-0 they have yet to be tested by a quality opponent and going on the road to face Oregon is a tall task for anyone in the country. Anu Solomon is a solid QB for the Wildcats and will keep them in it for a while but Oregon's Marcus Mariota, who has thrown for 13 touchdowns so far this year, is even better. I think payback is in store and Oregon gets it done at home.

The Pick: Oregon


#3 Alabama @ #11 Ole Miss  

As much as I do not like Lane Kiffin...he has the Bama offense rolling (no pun intended...actually that's a a lie...the words just worked together too perfectly). The Tide are averaging 42 points per game while giving up only 14. They struggled a bit in their last game at home against Florida before pulling a way in the second half and looked far from perfect in week one against West Virginia. BUT....in both contest they did what they had to do in order to win. And that my friends is the important thing. Things get interesting this week though as they head to Ole Miss...that's a top 15 ranked Ole Miss. College Gameday will be on site at The Grove and you can guarantee it will be a rowdy and um...."lively" crowd that will try to make it as hard as possible for Alabama's Blake Sims and the Bama offense. All eyes will be on the Rebels Saturday night and they have a HUGE, HUGE opportunity to show the world that they are the real deal (or not). The one thing that worries me about Wallace is the 6 interceptions he has thrown compared to only the 11 touchdowns. Against an Alabama defense that always has future NFL talent all over the field...that should be a concern. Turnovers are always key but in a game that could be decided late in the fourth quarter, that could be the difference.  I think Alabama is headed straight into a hornets nest this weekend at The Grove and not only do I think the Rebels put together a great game, they pull the upset in Oxford.

The Pick: Ole Miss


#4 Oklahoma @ #25 TCU  

Not really sure how this one is even a match up of ranked teams....TCU has played nothing but scrimmages up to this point and have yet to even be remotely tested. All of that ends Saturday in a major way. TCU ranks second in the nation in points given up on defense but that stat is very misleading once you examine that they've only played Samford, Minnesota and SMU. Oklahoma continues to climb its way back to the top of the college football world. This is also the the first ranked team that the Sooners will play this season but West Virginia and Tennessee are much more respectable football programs and opponents. I'm one of those guys that strongly believe that home field advantage matters and can be the difference in ball games. That being said, you still have to win the game on the field and nothing makes me believe that TCU has what it takes to pull the upset. But hey, that's why we play the game.

The Pick: Oklahoma 

#5 Auburn vs # 15 LSU

Over in Jordan-Hare stadium this week we have a top 15 SEC showdown and battle of the Tigers as Auburn invites LSU to town for a crucial divisional clash. Auburn is undefeated but the only team they've really played is Kansas State....which ironically enough is the game they probably should have lost but K-State's offense just couldn't get anything accomplished. Nevertheless the Tigers are still perfect on the season and have the chance to maybe inch a little closer towards the top of the college football rankings if they can take care of business Saturday night. I'm interested to see how LSU's defense, which is giving up only 13 points per game performs against Auburn's high paced and explosive offense. I think that is the key in this game and that will be the difference. LSU desperately needs to get back on track after dropping the game to Mississippi State at home but I doubt it happens this weekend. Go Tigers...War Eagle...or whatever they are saying these days.

The Pick: Auburn 


#6 Texas A&M @ #12 Mississippi State  

The Aggies had to come from behind last week to avoid the upset against a much improved Arkansas team in a game played out in Arlington, Texas. And while some may question A&M now, its important to remember that Arkansas's offense (and defense for that matter) is not what it was last year and looks to be getting back on track after a rough 2013 season. But when they needed it most, the Aggies answered the call and scored 21 unanswered points including a 25-yard game winning touchdown from Kenny Hill to Malcome Kennedy in overtime. My point is Texas A&M is a solid football team and for now deserves the respect that comes with a #6 ranking. They have another test in front of them this week though as they travel to take on the 4-0 Mississippi State Bulldogs who are still fired up after taking down LSU on the road in week four. They are coming off a bye week and should be fully rested and ready to go for this high-noon showdown in Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs are actually a 3 point favorite in the match-up but based on rankings I would still consider this one a upset if they can pull it off. I've yet to see the Bulldogs play yet so I have to make this pick based on what I do know and that is that Kenny Hill and the Aggie offense know how to put up some points and do it on the road. (See the season opener in Columbia, SC) I think the Aggies survive another close one and pick up another big SEC road win.

The Pick: Texas A&M

#10 Michigan State vs #19 Nebraska 

I'm trying to look past my dislike for Nebraska and Bo Pelini and make an educated and non-bias assessment here but the fact that I also like Michigan State and their style of play makes it difficult. Nebraska is still undefeated but to be fair they haven't played anyone. I mean ANYONE. Florida Atlantic....McNeese State...Fresno State...Miami (FL). C'mon bro...lets get serious. The Spartans haven't exactly had the toughest schedule so far either outside of Oregon (46-27 loss) but they are the defending Rose Bowl champions for a reason. I think they get it done at home and win in convincing fashion over the Cornhuskers.

The Pick: Michigan State

South Carolina @ Kentucky

One week after taking a verbal beating from their coach after their performance in Nashville against Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks returned home and looked to play better as they took on Missouri. It seemed as though they had survived once again but they would blow a 13 point lead late in the fourth quarter and fall to the Tigers, 21-20. Now they must regroup and get ready for an improved Kentucky squad that had the Gamecocks on the ropes last season in Columbia before falling to South Carolina by a score of 35-28. Believe it or not Kentucky is a play or two away from being undefeated. Yes...I'm still talking about the football team. They gave the Gators all they could handle in the Swamp a few weeks ago and fit the mold of a spoiler team in the SEC this year. This is a game that has become more and more interesting in the last few weeks. Can Kentucky rise to the occasion and take down the Gamecocks in front of what should be a full house under the lights in Commonwealth Stadium? Its been clear the Gamecocks aren't the same team on the road and the defense continues to struggle though they are showing signs of improvement. I think the Wildcats pull the upset and throw another wrinkle into the race to Atlanta in the Eastern division.

The Pick: Kentucky 

Clemson vs North Carolina State  

Deshaun Watson has taken over the Clemson offense at quarterback and provided a spark for the entire team and for what the future holds. In his first start last week we threw for 435 yards and 6 touchdowns setting a new ACC and school record. Clemson's defense struggled in the second half after shutting down UNC's offense early on but came up with enough stops down the stretch to seal the deal. North Carolina State will hit the road to Death Valley and take on the Tigers this week in what should be another high scoring affair. NC State's Jacoby Brissett is the most athletic quarterback the Tigers have faced so far and knows how to stretch out plays and make something out of nothing. Getting pressure on him and trying to rattle him early will go a long way in slowing down the Wolfpack offense that dropped 41 on the Seminoles last weekend. NC State played the Tigers tough last year up in Raleigh but have lost 9 out of the last 10 against Clemson. Expect State to have some success against the Tigers and for Brissett to make some big plays but in the end I don't think they'll be able to keep up. Also worth noting that Clemson has won 20 straight games against unranked opponents and all have been by double digits. The Tigers are a 15 point favorite Saturday and while it may look tight early, they pull away in the fourth quarter and cover the spread...but barely!

The Pick: Clemson