Week 6 Predictions

It's week 6 and as of this writing Brady Hoke is still the Head Coach of Michigan football, but while Michigan football is still playing, their house seems to be burning...

Sadly, Kansas told everyone's favorite fat coach, Charlie Weis, to...

There goes the Jayhawks schematic advantage.

Weis was 6-22 in his tenure in Lawrence.  His contract was a 5 year deal worth $2.5 Million per year.  Let's see, that works out to... $2.5 Million X 5 years = $12.5 Million / 6 wins = $2.08 Million per win.

No, unfortuantely I am not.  On top of that, Kansas still owes him for the final 2 years of his contract!  Is there any other profession that gets paid so much for doing so little?

We don't even have to recruit!  

Alright, let's talk some football...

Top 25 Action 

Wake Forest @ #1 Florida State - FSU found themselves down 24-7 after the first quarter last week against NC State.  The Wolfpack couldn't hold that 17 point lead though.  By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Wolfpack D was gassed and gave up 56 points.  Sure, NC State scored 41, and may have shown FSU is vulnerable on D, but it's still a loss.

QB Jameis Winston, back from his one game suspension, threw for 365 yards with 4 TD's and 2 INT's. The 'Noles are currently on a 20 game winning streak and won't play another team that is currently ranked other than #9 Notre Dame on Oct 18th.  That game will be played in Tallahassee.

The longest modern era winning streak belongs to Miami (FL), who won 34 straight from 2000-2002. Some questions remain,, such as will FSU suffer an upset along the way?  Or will Winston lead them to back to back titles?  Does FSU have the hottest fans in college football?

Wake Forest is... Tim Duncan's alma mater.  That's literally the nicest thing I can say about them.

56-3 Florida State

Arizona @ #2 Oregon - The Wildcats are 4-0 thanks to a last play Hail Mary from QB Anu Solomon that was hauled in by WR Austin Hill in between 3 Cal defenders.

Arizona scored 36 points in the 4th quarter!

You heard me.  Cal for some inexplicable reason completely forgot how to play defense for the entire fourth quarter.  QB Anu Solomon finished with 520 yards passing, 5 TD's, 2 INT's and 46 yards rushing.  This kid is a future Heisman candidate in Rich Rod's offense. If yo u like offense, this is a can't miss game.

56-49 Arizona

UPDATE: Despite being WAY off on the score, Arizona did in fact pull off the upset in Eugene 31-24.

#3 Alabama @ #11 Ole Miss - One of the traditions of college football is the tailgating, and there are not many better than The Grove at Ole Miss.

Hiiiiiii!! 

Ole Miss Finally has a good team to go along with great tailgating. 

The Rebels are only giving up 8.5 points per game, good for 3rd in the nation. But the competition thus far has been less than stellar. QB Bo Wallace has 1200+ yards passing and 11 TD's and will look for his #1 WR, true sophomore Laquon Treadwell early and often against the Crimson Tide.

Despite being the Mecca of college football since Nick Saban took over, Alabama's tailgating leaves something to be desired...

Ask me where the elephant's trunk is. 

... or undesired.

Bama crushed the Gators 42-21 in Gainesville.  Bama's D held Florida to just 200 total yards, including only 93 passing. The offense was led by QB Blake Sims and WR Amari Cooper, one of the best in the nation.

Granted, Florida's offense sucks, but Bama's D has shown it's solid.  However, they're losses under Saban have typically come against teams that employ a spread attack with elite athletes, and that's just what Ole Miss is equipped with.

Ole Miss will need to spread out the Bama D and avoid turnovers, if they can do that, they'll have a shot at handing Saban his first home loss since 2012.  But Bama hasn't lost to Ole Miss since 2003, and despite what I foresee as a close game, well, ...

Y'all seen some folk walkin round with 2 red sleeves?  

33-27 Roll Tide

#4 Oklahoma @ #25 TCU - The Sooners are one of only a handful of teams outside the SEC with a shot at the playoffs.  OU has had a balanced offense this season, ranking 41st in passing and 34th in rushing while averaging 44.8 points per game.

Freshman RB Samaje Perine has emerged as the lead back for the Sooners.  Perine ran through the Mountaineers D to the tune of 242 yards and 4 TD's on 34 carries last week, helping OU to a 45-33 victory in Morganville and sparing dozens of couches from going up in flames in the process.

TCU faces OU and Baylor in back to back weeks, so we'll find out quickly if their 3-0 start means anything.

38-17 Oklahoma

#15 LSU @ #5 Auburn - LSU vented their frustration coming off a loss at home to Mississippi State and crushed New Mexico State 63-7.  There's a lot to like about the Tigers...

Whoa! Where did these come from? 

... as the Tigers two headed monster of a ground game can burn the clock against an Auburn offense that likes to play as fast as possible. RB's Leonard Fournette and Kenny Hilliard have 56 and 57 carries respectively, and both average over 5 yards per carry. When the Tigers take to the air, their main threat is WR Travin Dural, who's averaging a ridiculous 25.4 yards per catch.

Auburn's offense was held in check by K State on the road.  Even though the Tigers won, they were held to just 20 points. The Tigers ground game is paced by RB Cameron Artis-Payne.  The Senior is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has 5 TD's on the year.  The Tigers D has also been solid thus far but has not seen a team with the talent that LSU has.  This has all the makings of two SEC teams that would probably win the Big Ten easily beating up on each in conference.

31-27 LSU

#6 Texas A&M @ #12 Mississippi State - Texas A&M looked like ass...

... for 3 quarters before rallying from 14 down in the 4th quarter against the Razorbacks last week to force OT. A&M then scored a TD on their first play from scrimmage and stuffed the Razorbacks on 4th & 1 to get the W 35-28.  A&M looked anything but the #6 team in the country as they struggled at home against an Arkansas program that has now lost 14 consecutive SEC games.

Bulldogs dual threat QB Dak Prescott is the best QB you've never heard of in college football.

He's also the second most famous person to be named Dak...

Hey Luke, great job getting our speeder shot down.  You can levitate a spaceship but can't stop me from getting crushed by an Imperial walker? But you made sure you got your damn lightsabre! Great use of "the force" you dick. Effin Jedi. 

Prescott has 11 TD's to 4 INT's this season and 964 yards passing, but he's also added 378 yards and 3 TD's on the ground.  The Bulldogs already won at LSU for the first time since 1991, and they face current #5 Auburn next week.  The Aggies are vulnerable and MSU is looking to get it's name into the playoff picture.  If HC Dan Mullen and his squad pull off the upset this and finish with the hat trick against top 10 teams next week they'll be in great position heading into November.

37-31 Mississippi State

#7 Baylor @ Texas - New Longhorns HC Charlie Strong has dismissed his 9th player from the team since taking over.  He's trying to change the culture of Texas football, which is like trying to change the gun culture in Texas...

Longhorns pep rally.  Governor Perry is a big fan, he arrived in that NASCAR in the background.'Murica!!!

... against teams with a pulse, the 'Horns offense has been putrid.  They lost to UCLA's backup QB a few weeks ago in Austin, but managed to hold the Charlie Weiss-less Jayhawks scoreless last week.  Their O only managed 23 points though.  Like the Texas border fence...

Nobody will be able to find their way around this fence! Yee haw!!! 

... it's a work in progress.

As usual, the Bears offense is racking up points in droves on offense. Despite the prolific offensive numbers, Texas is actually the best team they'll have faced this season.  Which is disturbing...

I find Baylor's schedule disturbing. 

... Baylor's D has been vulnerable despite the lack of offensive firepower they've faced this season.  I don't think Texas' offense will be able to keep pace with the Bears offense even if they can put points on the board.

56-31 Baylor

Utah @ #8 UCLA - Utah was up 21-0 at one point against Wazzu last week but couldn't hold back HC Mike Leach's infamous Air Raid offense in the second half.  The Utes lost a close one 28-27.  Despite the loss, the Utes are a pretty good football team Their offense begins and ends with RB Devontae Booker. The Junior is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and is literally carrying the Utes offense this season as their passing attack has sputtered.

I'm not sure anyone outside of Westwood believes UCLA really is the #8 team in the country.  The Bruins may also be looking ahead to their game against Oregon next week, that all of a sudden is not as big now that the Ducks lost to Arizona.

This game is prime for an upset if the Utes can avoid turnovers.

24-20 Utah

#14 Stanford @ #9 Notre Dame - The big game of the week! The Irish take on the Cardinal in South Bend.  Brian Kelly is 41-15 since taking over in South Bend and has greatly improved the talent in South Bend...

... after a 4-0 start, is looking to get the Irish into the playoffs with a shot at a national championship.  After a year long time out to think about what he did wrong, QB Everett Golson is playing better than ever.

He's completing nearly 70% of his passes for 1,142 yards and 11 TD's to only 2 INT's.  For comparison, during the 2012 season when Notre Dame went 12-1 Golson had 12 TD's passes on the entire season.

Stanford has bounced back since their loss to USC with two consecutive wins, including a hard fought contest at Washington last week.  The Cardinal D has stepped up big while the offense continues to try to find it's stride.  Talent wise, Stanford can compete with Notre Dame...

... the difference in this game will be whether the Cardinal offense can avoid mistakes that plagued them in their loss to USC. Expect a low scoring affair.  Whoever wins the turnover battle will win this one.

24-17 Notre Dame

#19 Nebraska @ #10 Michigan State - Nebraska is 5-0 and the toughest team they've faced is a 3-2 Hurricanes squad, whom they beat at home by 10 points.  They also struggled against FCS McNeese State at home.  The Huskers continue to play down to their competition.  If only they could pull themselves together and look good for an entire game.

Sparty might not be the prettiest team to watch, but their D is downright nasty...

Ooooh!  That D tastes NASTY! 

... Over their past two games since their loss at Oregon, Sparty has outscored their opponents an average of 64.5 - 14. If your offense is struggling, 9 out of 10 doctors recommend Eastern Michigan and Wyoming.

*** Surgeon General's Warning: Playing Eastern Michigan may cause your offense to look bigger, better and faster than it really is.  Continued playing of Eastern Michigan can lead to delusions of grandeur. ***

So which of these teams is for real?  I'm going with Sparty.

35-19 Michigan State

Vanderbilt @ #13 Georgia - Vandy has gone from respectable last season to down right atrocious this season...

... things have gotten so bad in Nashville, their fan threw his hat and shirt onto the field in disgust and stormed out of the stadium.  No really, that guy really is a Vanderbilt football fan.

The Commodores will have no answer for RB Todd Gurley and the Bulldog offense.

49-7 Georgia

Arizona State @ #16 USC - The Trojans bounced back from their road loss to Boston College with a 35-10 drubbing of the Beavers.  QB Cody Kessler seems to have found his footing as the starter completing 72% of his passes for 1,107 yards and 10 TD's with zero INT's.  If the Trojans get hot...

... they could run the table in the PAC 12 and have a shot at the playoffs.

The Sun Devils lost their first real test of the season, giving up 62 points to UCLA.  They now face their second of three consecutive games against ranked opponents.  If the Sun Devils get hot...

The luckiest guy on ASU's campus is also their valedictorian. 

... ah forget it.  Now I'm just trying too hard.

34-17 USC

#17 Wisconsin @ Northwestern - Northwestern brought a passing attack ranked in the 120's to Happy Valley last week and of course...

Well that was unexpected.

... completely dominated the PSU secondary!  The Wildcats took control in the second half with a pick six followed by a sack & fumble deep in PSU territory on back to back plays en route to a 29-6 victory. So is the PSU offense that bad or is the Northwestern defense that good?

Wisconsin poses a much different opponent in that they can actually run the football.  PSU's OL might be one of the worst in FBS, however, Wisky will literally dominate you on the ground like Olivia Munn dominates tuna...

Smells like fish in here.

RB Melvin Gordon is averaging a ridiculous 7.8 yards per carry.  Which they'll need to continue because the aerial attack is ranked 115th in the nation.

It's going to be along night for the Wildcats.

35-14 Wisconsin

Utah State @ #18 BYU - The Aggies are coming off a 21-14 OT loss to Arkansas State.  Their offense stinks, their D is below average, and they're facing a BYU squad that put up 28 points in the second half on the road against Virginia last week in a 41-33 win.  This one shouldn't be close, but stranger things have happened in the Mormon state...

John Smith's gold plates said Undie Runs are perfectly fine! 

The Undie Run is a real thing in Utah by the way.

45-13 BYU

#20 Ohio State @ Maryland - Despite giving up 352 yards passing against Cincy last week, the Buckeyes are not interested in recruiting fans to play in the secondary.  However, they are willing to let fans be tackling dummies...

... that is OSU strength coach and former Buckeye linebacker Anthony Schlegel body slamming a fan that wanted to get a bit too close to the action...

... and we bear witness to the best body slam since...

BOOM!  So I predicted the Buckeyes to lose last week and I'll eat my crow this week.  OSU held Cincy to 70 yards rushing and their offense put up 50 points.  QB J.T. Barrett had 330 yards passing and 4 TD's and 76 yards rushing.  The Buckeyes totaled 710 yards of offense, their most since 1986. OSU has not totaled 116 points in their last two games. So it's safe to say Meyer has ironed out the offensive woes that plagued them in their loss to VA Tech.  Their pass defense is another story.

Maryland is off to a 4-1 start in their first year as a member of the Big Ten.  They dismantled Indiana 37-15 last week.  The offense is led by WR Stefon Diggs, one of the best in the country.

The Terrapins gave up 40 points to a WVU team that utilizes a spread much like the Buckeyes.  So is Maryland ready to make some noise in the Big Ten this year, or are they just happy to be here?

I'm happy to be here! 

45-24 Buckeyes

Iowa State @ #21 Oklahoma State - The Cyclones are 1-3, with two of those losses coming to ranked opponents, and the other to FCS North Dakota State.  They're one win?  Against in state rival Iowa, but the Hawkeyes are a Big Ten team so really their losses to ranked opponents are more respectable.  You know what else is not respectable?

The Cyclones team photos.  Are you not intimidated?

The Cowboys might be pretty good.  Their lone loss coming to #1 FSU in the first week.  They should be 5-1 when they take on current #25 TCU.  The path to the playoffs is easier for the Big XII champ as they won't need to play in a conference championship game.  Like their fans...

... the Okie State offense is stacked.  HC Mike Gundy, whom I'd like to remind you is a MAN!

... has the Cowboys aerial attack working and the offense putting up nearly 40 points per game.  They'll  need to tighten up that D if they hope to make it into the playoffs.

42-10 Oklahoma State

SMU @ #22 East Carolina - ECU HC Ruffin McNeill...

...he of the Mike Leach coaching tree, has led his alma mater to a 3-1 start utilizing his mentor's Air Raid offense.  The Pirates are putting up nearly 400 yards per game through the air and are looking to the turn the gridiron into the hardwood by simply outscoring you.  Not many teams can keep pace with the Pirates high octane offense.  Their lone loss was to then #21 South Carolina and their schedule looks extremely favorable for the next month. Barring an upset, the Pirates will be 7-1 heading into a game at Cincy in November.  Despite a weak schedule, ECU may have an outside chance at the playoffs if they can run the table.

SMU has scored 12 points all season.  Their offense during 1987 was better than it is this year.

56-0 East Carolina

Texas Tech @ #23 Kansas State - Texas Tech, the originators of the Air Raid offense, are living up to their history with a passing attack ranked #11 in the nation.  The Red Raiders are also averaging 33.8 points per game.  And just like their history under Mike Leach, the Red Raiders are giving up 38.8 points per game.  The TX Tech D is too football what Baba Booey is to a first pitch...

K State's D isn't great, but it did limit Auburn to 20 points in a losing effort.  They should be able to hold the Red Raiders in check enough to get the W.

38-31 Kansas State

Games of Note 

Michigan @ Rutgers - Ooh boy!  Michigan.
                              
The Wolverines held a rally this week... a rally to FIRE their athletic director Dave Brandon!

When is the last time you heard of a pep rally to fire an AD? They're calling it Concussion-gate and you can view the play in question below...

QB Shane Morris stayed in the game despite needing the support of his OL to stay on his feet.  Then, after coming out of the game, he was put back in when QB Devin Gardner's helmet came off and he was required to sit out a play.

HC Brady Hoke and AD Dave Brandon have issued numerous statements both back tracking and conflicting each other along the way.  The Michigan medical staff refused to be strong armed into backing Dave Brandon apparently. Good for them.  The Wolverines are competing with Penn State for the worst OL in the Big Ten this year, and Rutgers knows what to do against a bad OL.

Rutgers is going to blitz and blitz often.  They'll challenge QB Devin Gardner to make plays under pressure, which is not his forte.  Like a sun burnt ass...

Brady Hoke's seat is starting to burn. 

30-28 Rutgers