1. Double, double toil and trouble; Mountaineers win and burst Frogs' bubble
West Virginia is winless in conference play so far, after dropping three straight contests. But recent games between these two programs have been close, with the road team getting the win every time since both joined the Big 12 in 2012 (they only played once before then). TCU's defense has been nonexistent at times this year, and I think it finally bites them. Things get spooky for the Horned Frogs as the Mountaineers leave Fort Worth with the big upset win, 40 - 37.
2. Something wicked this way comes; Georgia knocks and Florida drops
This is another series where strange things have happened as of late. The stats, odds, and eye-test all favor the Gators, but in this rivalry game things don't always go as expected. The Bulldogs will be eager to avenge last year's loss to Florida and I think they play loose and that gives them an edge. Georgia knocks the Gators out of the playoff conversation with a 28 - 20 win.
3. Once upon a midnight dreary, Wolverines lose, all weak and weary
Ohio State is on bye this week, so the #3 spot which is usually occupied by my Buckeye bold prediction will instead feature every OSU fan's second favorite team: whoever is playing that team up north, which in this case is Minnesota. Jerry Kill stepped down as the Gophers' head coach this week, due to health concerns, so focus may be an issue for the players. Or, they may play their hearts out and give it all they've got for their former coach. Meanwhile, Michigan has had two weeks to ponder what went wrong against Michigan State. Whoever is more motivated will win this game. My money is on Minnesota to give coach Kill a final parting gift, as they beat Michigan by an eerily similar score of 27 - 23.
4. Undefeated for all season, Cowboys boast the better score. Quoth the Raiders, “Nevermore.”
Oklahoma State has looked susceptible in road games this year. Scratch that - they've looked susceptible anywhere when playing Power 5 teams not named "Kansas". Things even looked a little dicey against Central Michigan in week 1. Texas Tech has already lost a few, but they have shown that they are good for an upset at home every once in a while. Things get weird and wild in Lubbock, as the Red Raiders hand Oklahoma State their first loss, 45 - 38.
5. The CFP Committee does the mash, they do the rankings mash
Last year, the committee's inaugural rankings differed quite a bit from the AP poll from the same week. Only six of the top 25 matched exactly between the two. I think the committee mixes it up even more this year, with five or less coinciding with the AP. Scary!
1. Five or more ranked teams lose to unranked opponents
There were a couple of big upsets Saturday night, but it was not enough to salvage this prediction. Two top-ten, undefeated teams went down, as Georgia Tech upset Florida State and USC obliterated Utah. But other than those two, the only other ranked team to fall to an unranked foe was Cal, who was taken down by UCLA on Thursday night.
2. Baylor tops season-high score with 71 points or more against Iowa State
The Bears were on track for another high-scoring performance, up 35 - 7 at halftime. But rain and improved performance by the Cyclones' defense in the second half put a damper on this prediction, as Baylor finished with what was actually their lowest offensive output of the year, but still won 45 - 27. However, the bigger news coming out of Waco is that Baylor's starting quarterback, Seth Russell, sustained a broken bone in his neck towards the end of the game, and will miss the remainder of the season. True freshman Jarrett Stidham will take over for Russell as the Bears enter the meat of their schedule.
3. Ohio State punts two or fewer times against Rutgers
The Buckeyes only punted once against the Scarlet Knights, as the offense efficiently moved the ball all night. The defense and special teams also turned in stellar performances, as Ohio State put together their most complete game of the season so far, easily handling Rutgers, 49 - 7. Another notable stat was that OSU avoided any penalties, which has been a problem area for much of the season. The lone error was an early fumble by J.T. Barrett. But make no mistake, J.T. is the guy going forward.
4. Michigan State suffers letdown loss to Indiana at home
Don't let the final score fool you, this was a close game, but Sparty eventually prevailed at home. The Hoosiers were only down 5 points late in the game, but 3 touchdowns in the last five minutes sealed this one for Michigan State, who won 52 - 26, and spoiled this prediction as a result.
5. Brady Hoke explains he would've tried to score more points, make less mistakes against Spartans, if still coach at Michigan
He might not have said it publicly, but we all know he was at least thinking it.
Week 8 record: 1 - 4
Overall record: 10 - 30
Other headlines from week 8:
Miami fires Al Golden
Another head coach got the boot this week, as the Hurricanes dumped Golden after suffering their worst loss in school history. Clemson demoralized Miami, 58 - 0, but anyone keeping an eye on this situation knew Golden's time was drawing near, regardless of the outcome of this game. And to think, some people put Clemson on upset alert.
4OT thrillers in ACC, SEC
It's quite rare for games to go to past double-overtime, and yet, we had two games this week go to four OT periods. Duke survived against Virginia Tech 45 - 43 and Arkansas took down Auburn 54 - 46, with both games going to 4OT. At that point, it's about depth, especially on defense, and just who can make one more play to finally stop the other guy.
Kick-six, part two
Most college football fans remember the famous ending to the 2013 Iron Bowl, in which Auburn returned an Alabama field goal attempt to score the game-winning touchdown as time expired. We were again reminded of it after the crazy ending to the Michigan-Michigan State game a week earlier. And this week we have a near carbon-copy of the Kick-six, as Georgia Tech returned a blocked Florida State field goal to end the game and stun the Seminoles, handing them their first loss of the season. "What a time to be alive!"
When we get to Piscataway, we will make our presence known. We will roar and they will know the Buckeyes have arrived. We live in prime-time because it's our time. The nation will be watching and most people will be waiting for us to fail. They will be hoping to see us fall. We won't.
Rule the field.
From start to finish. From the first kick-off until the last whistle. We will own Piscataway. New Jersey is ours for 3+ hours. Don't relinquish it until we leave with the victory. Don't give them an inch.
Rule Saturday.
From Sunday to Friday, we grind. We push and sweat and bleed for that next win before anybody sees a thing. We work hard to earn everything on the football field before we even reach the field. During the week, we grind. On Saturday, we shine.
Rule the Big Ten.
There are no bad teams in this conference. There are only bad performances, and every team has them from time to time. The difference between good teams and great teams is that great teams find ways to win regardless. Rutgers is a good team that almost beat Michigan State. They rallied back from a 25-point second-half deficit against Indiana to beat the Hoosiers in their house. We already know that everybody will bring their best against us; Rutgers will too.
Rule the Knights.
Give them credit. Give them respect. Give them our undivided attention on Saturday night. Give them nothing else.
Week 7 went poorly. Let's see if my luck can turn around in week 8.
1. Five or more ranked teams lose to unranked opponents
There wasn't much chaos in week 7, so why not week 8? There's only one game on the schedule featuring a match-up of ranked teams, which means a lot of teams will be taking on foes they should probably beat. But it's never quite that straightforward in college football. Teams that should be on upset alert: #4 Utah at USC, #6 Clemson at Miami, #7 Michigan State vs Indiana (more on this game below), #9 Florida State at Georgia Tech, #10 Stanford vs Washington, #17 Oklahoma vs Texas Tech, #20 Cal at UCLA, #22 Temple at East Carolina, #23 Duke at Virginia Tech, and #25 Pittsburgh at Syracuse.
2. Baylor tops season-high score with 71 points or more against Iowa State
The Bears are averaging a ridiculous 63.8 points per game, with their lowest offensive output of 56 points coming against SMU in week 1. Their highest scoring performance was 70 points against Rice in week 4, but I think they exceed that against an Iowa State team that just allowed a combined 111 points in consecutive weeks to Texas Tech and TCU. It will be interesting when Baylor faces a team with a halfway decent defense, which might not be until the college football playoffs, but until then they will continue to put up video game numbers. 72 - 21, Bears.
3. Ohio State punts two or fewer times against Rutgers
The punter isn't the most glamorous position on a football team, but he can be a valuable asset or a liability (just ask Michigan). Cameron Johnston has been a weapon for the Buckeyes this season, with his best performance coming last week against Penn State. He flipped the field position early in the first quarter with a 56-yard punt and kept it in OSU's favor the rest of the night, artfully dropping each of his remaining 4 punts inside the Nittany Lions' 10 yard line. Ohio State has relied on Johnston all year, as they have averaged almost 5 punts per game, but I don't think they will need him much against Rutgers. The offense is clicking with J.T. Barrett at QB and the offensive line is playing their best since last year's playoff run. Barrett will be able to scramble to convert possible third-and-long situations, or at least turn them into manageable fourth-and-shorts. Either way, I don't see the Buckeyes punting much en route to another blowout victory, 52 - 17.
4. Michigan State suffers letdown loss to Indiana at home
Michigan State's miraculous win in Ann Arbor shocked the sports world. The Spartans are beat up and emotionally drained after a physical contest with the Wolverines that ended in spectacular fashion. On paper, they should get an easy win with the Hoosiers coming to town. But upon closer examination, I think MSU could have their hands full. They've struggled against lesser opponents before, with narrow victories over Purdue and Rutgers earlier in the season. And Indiana has lost 3 straight after starting the year 4-0, so they'll be desperate for a win. With all the attention on last week's game against Michigan, I wonder if the focus will be there for this week's game. I think Indiana comes away with the upset, 31 - 27.
5. Brady Hoke explains he would've tried to score more points, make less mistakes against Spartans, if still coach at Michigan
Since the Wolverines' inexplicable last second loss to Michigan State, just about everybody has been weighing in on that final play and whether or not Harbaugh made the right decision to punt, including former Michigan coach, Brady Hoke. Hoke reasoned that he would not have punted in that situation, and would have instead put the defense to the test. The Wolverines are off this week, but I don't think that will stop the ex-coach from going one step further. "See, the problem," he will say, "is that they didn't score enough points. Michigan State scored more points and that's why they won. I know hindsight is 20-20, and all that, but if I were still the coach at Michigan, I would have tried to score more points. And make less mistakes. I definitely would have told our guys not to fumble the ball with 10 seconds left in the game." One can only hope that Michigan will listen to this voice of reason and attempt to get Hoke back to Ann Arbor to save this program, just like he did in his first year there.
1. At least half of remaining undefeated teams fall
While there were a few upsets in week 7, it was not the chaos-filled weekend I had predicted. Ironically, two of those upsets were in games where the underdog was the undefeated team (Michigan State over Michigan, and Memphis over Ole Miss), which ultimately hurt this prediction's chances. And besides Alabama beating Texas A&M (another game where the imperfect team was the favorite) the only other undefeated team to fall was Florida against also undefeated LSU. So this one was a big miss.
2. Trojans knock Irish out of playoff contention
USC held their own in this game, and even had a 7 point lead going into the fourth. But a huge final quarter for Notre Dame ruined the Trojans' upset bid and this prediction, as the Irish won, 41 - 31.
3. Elliott scores 3 or more touchdowns against Penn State
Zeke had a big day against the Nittany Lions, rushing for 153 yards, but only reached the end zone once. The rest of the Buckeyes' touchdowns were delivered by Barrett's arm and legs, as he took over as full-time QB after Jones struggled to get the offense moving. And as a result, Meyer announced on Tuesday that J.T. Barrett would be the starter going forward, which I believe is the right call at this time. Jones has a ton of potential, but the offense has just seemed out of sync too often with him behind center. Barrett provided a spark to this team, as OSU notched a 38 - 10 victory over Penn State. The Buckeyes will look to build on that impressive performance as they travel to Rutgers for the first time ever on Saturday.
4. Michigan holds Michigan State to 14 points or less
This prediction was still looking good until midway through the fourth quarter, when LJ Scott scored on a 1-yard run. But Michigan still had a 2 point lead until the very end, with their victory seeming more and more imminent. It all came down to the final 10 seconds, when all the Wolverines had to do was punt and defend the length of the field for one or two plays at most. But the punter fumbled the snap and it was scooped up by Michigan State's Jalen Watts-Jackson and returned 38 yards for a touchdown as time expired, giving the Spartans the win in unbelievable fashion. Some fallout from that crazy ending: Michigan is almost definitely out of the playoff picture. Michigan State is most definitely still in the playoff picture. Spartan hero Watts-Jackson injured his hip on the play and will miss the rest of the season. A fan in attendance for the game suffered a heart attack. Michigan punter Blake O'Neill was inundated with hate-filled messages and death threats on social media. The UM AD issued a public letter condemning such idiocy. President Obama even offered his condolences to the Wolverines on the tough loss.
5. Jim Harbaugh shows emotions during game against Spartans
So many emotions! The most noticeable display of emotion by the Wolverines' head coach was seen following the ejection of Michigan linebacker Joe Bolden, which was a highly questionable call. But for Michigan State and Ohio State fans, this emotion at the end of the game probably takes the cake.
Week 7 record: 1 - 4
Overall record: 9 - 26
Other headlines from week 7:
Can anyone challenge Iowa in B1G West race?
The Hawkeyes are 7-0 and have the head-to-head win over the Badgers as a tie-breaker if they need it. That means unless they lose two or more games from here on out, they've just about wrapped up a division title and a spot in the Big Ten championship. And keep in mind that they avoid Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, and Penn State in the regular season, meaning a 12 - 0 record is not out of the question. But whether or not they will be able to compete with the winner of it the East division is another question. We will likely learn that answer on Dec 5th, barring a meltdown in Iowa City.
Can anyone stop Leonard Fournette?
The LSU running back has been like a runaway train through the Tigers' first six contests, averaging 200 yards per game and recording 14 touchdowns. But after a visit from Western Kentucky and a bye week, things get tougher for LSU. Their last four games include match-ups against Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. If Fournette can keep up the pace in those contests then he will have a strong argument for the Heisman, not to mention his team will probably be in position to play for an SEC title and possibly more.
Can anyone tell me what this Wyoming fan is wearing and why?
Win for your brothers. Stand with them and fight. Just win.
They will fight with you until the end. They will give everything they have and more. After exhaustion sets in, they will not stop, they will not give in. Return the favor.
Win for the fans. The real fans. Just win.
To listen to some Ohio State fans, you wouldn't know that we just won a national championship. You wouldn't know that we ride a nation's best 19-game win streak. You wouldn't know that Urban Meyer owns the best winning percentage among active college football coaches. Win for the fans who believe.
Win for the seniors. Make this a season to remember. Just win.
Some will make it big in the NFL. Some won't. They've all given years of their life to this program and deserve to go out as champions. Don't let them down today.
Win for the Buckeye legends. The ones who came before you. Just win.
There have been many greats. They left behind a legacy of winning. Honor them by keeping that tradition going.
Win for future Buckeyes. The ones yet to come. Just win.
They will look to us as an example. They will strive for perfection just was we have done and will continue to do. Make them proud to wear the scarlet and grey.
Win for yourselves. Play the way you know you can. Just win.
The time for working out the kinks is over. We know we can be better. We will be better. The only way we can lose is if we beat ourselves.
1. At least half of remaining undefeated teams fall
We're midway through the regular season and only sixteen FBS squads still have a perfect record. Week 6 was a relatively good week for such teams, but I think week 7 has the potential for a lot of chaos. Oklahoma State has a bye, but here are my predictions for the rest of the unbeatens, starting with the survivors: Houston beats up Tulane, 45 - 21; Toledo cruises past Eastern Michigan, 34 - 14; Florida State survives Louisville, 27 - 17; TCU downs Iowa State, 48 - 31; Temple handles UCF, 35 - 13. Now, the teams I think will take that first loss: Iowa loses to Northwestern, 24 - 22; history repeats itself as Baylor falls to West Virginia, 45 - 42; Memphis gets blown away by Ole Miss, 38 - 20; Texas A&M gets exposed by Alabama, 34 - 23; Clemson implodes against Boston College, 14 - 10; Utah caves under pressure against Arizona State, 28 - 24. A loss for either Florida or LSU is guaranteed, as these two SEC foes square off against one another. I will cover score predictions for Ohio State vs Penn State and Michigan vs Michigan State in corresponding predictions below.
2. Trojans knock Irish out of playoff contention
There are certainly a lot of reasons for USC to not show up for this game. Distractions could be a major issue, with their head coach getting the boot earlier this week. But it might actually help, as having an alcoholic for a coach was probably a big distraction in itself, and now he's gone. The Trojans have the talent to compete with Notre Dame, so it's just a question of whether interim coach Clay Helton can keep his players focused heading into this big match-up. If that's the case, I expect USC to compete with the Irish from start to finish. USC wins on the road, 37 - 31, essentially eliminating Notre Dame from the playoff race.
3. Elliott scores 3 or more touchdowns against Penn State
The Nittany Lions are among the best in the country at stopping the run, holding opponents to 117 rushing yards per game and allowing only 7 rushing touchdowns in total on the season. But they haven't faced a runner like Zeke. I think this game stays close for two, maybe two-and-a-half quarters. But a few long touchdown runs courtesy of number 15 in the second half breaks this game wide open. Buckeyes pull away to win, 35 - 17.
4. Michigan holds Michigan State to 14 points or less
The Wolverines boast the nation's top defense, allowing less than 7 points per game on average, after recording 3 straight shut-outs. The Spartan's have not been playing up to expectations, but they will still be without a doubt the best team Michigan has faced since losing to Utah in week 1. I'm not quite ready to jump on the "Michigan in the playoffs" bandwagon, but I do think their defense is legit. The Spartans are averaging 31.3 points per game, but they will struggle to move the ball on Saturday. Michigan wins a physical game against their in-state rival, 24 - 14.
5. Jim Harbaugh shows emotions during game against Spartans
The Michigan head coach is known for stoically managing games on the sideline, but he has shown an emotion or two since taking over in Ann Arbor. This prediction might be a stretch, but I think this match-up might cause Harbaugh to finally come out of his shell a bit.
1. Cal knocks off Utah to take lead in Pac-12 race
Utah survived this one, 30 - 24, helped out by Cal QB Jared Goff's 5 interceptions. The Utes' earlier win over Oregon lost a bit of its luster, as the Ducks fell to Washington State in double overtime, but nonetheless, Utah takes the lead in the Pac-12 race as the only remaining undefeated squad in that conference.
2. Georgia Tech stuns Clemson in Death Valley
Clemson didn't show any signs of a letdown after their win over Notre Dame, and just plain dominated the Yellow Jackets, 43 - 24. Georgia Tech looked every bit as bad as their last few losses suggested, and now face an uphill battle to even get bowl-eligible after once holding a top-15 ranking.
3. Ohio State wins the turnover battle vs Maryland
The offense finally resembled the championship unit from a year ago, as they piled 49 points on the Terps. The biggest difference? Zero turnovers and 6 for 6 in the red-zone (all touchdowns). The Buckeyes tried something new on offense, with Jones still starting but Barrett coming in for red-zone snaps. It worked well against Maryland, but Penn State's defense will provide a better measuring stick as to whether the approach will work long term. Also worth monitoring is the Silver Bullets' struggles with mobile quarterbacks. They gave up big plays for the second straight week against elusive QBs, though that aspect of the game was probably not a big part of the defensive game-plans coming into either of these match-ups. Regardless, the offense clicked well enough and limited mistakes, resulting in a +2 turnover margin and a 49 - 28 win for Ohio State.
4. Less than four offensive touchdowns scored in battle between Michigan and Northwestern
It wasn't exactly the defensive struggle I anticipated, but I still got this one right as Michigan scored touchdowns on a kick return and pick-six and recorded a third-straight shutout, beating Northwestern 38 - 0. The Wolverines' defense looks legit, but a bigger test will come next week against rival Michigan State. The Spartans have looked sloppy in recent wins and are dealing with a slew of injuries, but should still give Michigan their toughest game since the week 1 loss to Utah. That game will show exactly how far Harbaugh has brought this program in his first year as head coach in Ann Arbor.
5. UConn gets UCF coach to recognize totally real rivalry
UConn may have tapped in to their supposed hatred for UCF, as they delivered a 40 - 13 beat-down in Orlando. But if it was anything more than a bad loss to a conference opponent for the Knights, their coach didn't let on about it. Winless so far this year, maybe UCF could use some made-up rivalries, as it's clear this team needs something to get them fired up. The misery likely continues against Temple next week, especially if they continue to make plays like this.
Week 6 record: 2 - 3
Overall record: 8 - 22
Other headlines from week 6:
Coaching changes across the nation
I've never been a big fan of schools firing coaches in the middle of the season, unless there's a very good reason. There was a very good reason for USC, where stories continue to emerge related to Steve Sarkisian's substance abuse issues. The Trojans parted ways with the head coach, who is now seeking help for his problem. I hope he gets the help he needs. Maryland also fired their coach after a poor start to the 2015 season, a move I thought was a bit premature. There were coaching changes down south as well, as Steve Spurrier announced his resignation as South Carolina's head coach after the team struggled over the course of the last season and a half. Additionally, North Texas dismissed their head coach after getting blown out by Portland State and stumbling to a dismal 0 - 5 record.
Two SEC East contenders lose key players on offense
Georgia and Florida are teams thought to be top competitors for the SEC East title (and maybe more) this year. But both teams' paths to that title got a little tougher this week as they learned that they will have to continue without key pieces of their offense. Georgia running back Nick Chubb was injured on the first play from scrimmage in the Bulldogs' game against Tennessee, and will likely miss the rest of the season. Sony Michel stepped in for the injured Chubb, and recorded a respectable 145 yards on 22 carries, but Georgia still lost to the Volunteers. Florida faces problems as well, after finding out that quarterback Will Grier will be suspended for an entire calendar year for taking an over-the-counter supplement that contained a performance-enhancing substance. It sounds like an honest mistake (though avoidable), but it's one that could cost the Gators dearly. Florida is undefeated but will turn to back-up Treon Harris at QB for possibly the biggest game of the year for the Gators, at 6th ranked LSU.
Bret Bielema (Bert) initiates contact, flops, draws flag, celebrates like cartoon villain
During Saturday's game against Alabama, the Arkansas head coach showed once again why he is the undisputed slimeball of college football. Not only did he come onto the field (for no reason except to get in the face of Alabama OL Cam Robinson), then insert himself between the referee and Alabama player (again, for no apparent reason), but then he fell backward, flailing as if pushed, when it's clear that Robinson didn't touch him. The result was a 15-yard penalty against Alabama on a drive that eventually led to a touchdown score for the Razorbacks. Arkansas ultimately lost the game (because that's what Bert does), but it doesn't make the move by this coach any less disgraceful.
Enough is enough. It's time to play like we know we can.
We didn't come here to be OK or good enough. We came here to be the best. Yes, we're 5-0. But we know we can be better. Because when we face real adversity, we can't rely on pure talent alone. Our ability has gotten us this far. The rest is hard work and it starts now.
Enough is enough. It's time to make it known that this is our turf.
We've had teams come into our house and push us around. We've struggled before finally digging deep to pull out the victory. It's time to make our opponents struggle. It's time to force them to dig deep. But they won't find any victory. They will only find pain and defeat.
Enough is enough. It's time to silence the critics.
Every week the voices grow louder. The doubters continue to gain ammunition. The fake "fans" throw their insults at us. We don't need them. Let them doubt us. It will only make us stronger. It will only make us hungrier. Feed off the hate.
Enough is enough. It's time to break the rock.
We're close. It's time to make that final push. We will not stop until we prove we're the best. Again. One play at a time. One game at a time. We will not give in to pain or fatigue. We will not lose.
Enough is enough. It's time to let loose. It's time to break through. It's time.
1. Cal knocks off Utah to take lead in Pac-12 race
California and Utah enter this game as the last remaining undefeated teams in their conference. They have both been surprises this year, but most people are pegging the Utes as the winner of this match-up after their dismantling of Oregon two weeks ago. But the Golden Bears have some nice victories to their name as well, including a win over a Washington team that just upset USC in the Coliseum. Utah shone bright as the underdog, but how will they fare when the pressure's on, in the spotlight with a number 5 ranking? I think they falter, as Cal leaves Salt Lake City still perfect, with a huge 35 - 34 upset over Utah.
2. Georgia Tech stuns Clemson in Death Valley
The Tigers appear to be on the rise, while the Yellow Jackets have just lost their third straight game. But Georgia Tech was in a similar place last year, after dropping back-to-back games to Duke and North Carolina before ripping off 5 straight wins, including a dominating 28 - 6 victory over Clemson. A lot will depend on how focused the Tigers will be after their big win over Notre Dame. I think history repeats itself, as the Tigers struggle to contain Tech's triple-option attack, falling 24 - 17 to the Yellow Jackets.
3. Ohio State wins the turnover battle vs Maryland
One of the biggest problems plaguing the Buckeyes this year has been turnovers. They are ranked 117th in the nation in the category, with 13 total giveaways, and lost the turnover battle in every game but one (against Hawaii - a team among the worst in the country in turnover margin at -7). But there's hope for OSU on Saturday, as the Terrapins mosey into Columbus with an abysmal 127th ranking in the same category, with 17 total turnovers. And Meyer admitted that he was a "raving lunatic" in practice this week when it came to ball security. The Buckeyes hold on to the ball, and their undefeated season, as they finally look like a championship football team against Maryland, winning 42 - 10.
4. Less than four offensive touchdowns scored in battle between Michigan and Northwestern
Points will be in high demand in Ann Arbor this weekend, as these teams boast the top two scoring defenses in the country. I expect more field goals than touchdowns in a hard fought, physical match-up that should be very close throughout. The Wolverines have the edge, though, in my opinion, despite the Wildcats' perfect 5 - 0 record. Michigan wins this showdown of ranked teams, 19 - 13, to send the Harbaugh hype train full steam ahead.
5. UConn gets UCF coach to recognize totally real rivalry
This summer, UConn announced that they have a rivalry with Central Florida, whether the Knights like it (or know about it) or not. And the Huskies are sticking to their word, bringing the trophy for this not-made-up rivalry to the game on Saturday. The history between these two teams goes back all the way to 2013, and the series remains dead even with both teams notching a win. But will UCF coach George O'Leary recognize the Civil Conflict ConFLiCT or see this as just another game? It might depend on how the 0 - 5 Knights do against the Huskies, who have won games this year. Everyone Someone will be watching this epic duel between UConn and UCF (which might not be meaningless in the AAC conference race) and wondering whether or not UCF even cares enough to try to win. I think the Central Florida players will be fueled by their everlasting brand new hatred for UConn and come away with the upset, 22 - 14, as O'Leary proclaims: "WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE GREATEST RIVALRY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN!"
1. Underdogs prove victorious in at least 3 out of 5 clashes between ranked teams
There were a number of upsets in the top 25, including four in the top 10. Three of those qualified for this prediction, as Georgia and Ole Miss were easily handled by Alabama and Florida, respectively, and Clemson held on to beat Notre Dame. Oklahoma and Texas A&M cruised to double-digit wins against their respective lower ranked opponents, but the aforementioned games were enough to get this one right.
2. Eastern Michigan keeps Leonard Fournette under 200 rushing yards
So much for LSU having an easy time with the Eagles. The Tigers were only up by 8 points heading into the fourth quarter, and leaned heavily on Fournette throughout the entirety of the game. The result was 26 carries for 233 yards for the running back, foiling this prediction.
3. Ohio State puts up 50+ points on the Hoosiers
For the second straight week I got half the score prediction exactly right for the weekly OSU prediction, as Indiana scored 27 on the Buckeyes. But for the other half of the score, and the main part of the prediction, I was way off. Ohio State's offensive struggles continued, as they managed only 6 points in the first half. They came away with a victory behind Elliott's huge second half, but it wasn't pretty. There are three major issues plaguing this team right now, in my opinion: turnovers, penalties (on offense and defense), and poor red-zone offense (mostly due to turnovers and penalties). If Meyer gets these problems addressed, the Buckeyes should be fine.
4. Big Ten openers feature blowouts, with average margin of victory exceeding 20 points
This was another one where I was way off. Michigan won big at Maryland, and Northwestern had a surprising blowout win over Minnesota, but the rest of the Big Ten's conference games were all decided by a touchdown or less. Top dogs Ohio State and Michigan State both struggled against teams from Indiana, while Iowa and Illinois notched close upset victories. With so many of these games being closer than expected, the resulting average margin of victory was only 11.7 points.
5. Oregon finally figures out who fielded that punt
I think it's safe to say they now know it was Boobie Hobbs who caught the ball and took it back for a touchdown in Utah's blowout win over the Ducks. But did Oregon know they still had a game to play Saturday against Colorado? The Buffaloes brought the game within 7 points in the 4th quarter before Oregon finally pulled away, closing out the game with 10 unanswered points. The Ducks still have time to salvage their season, but will need flawless play from here on out, and I just don't see that happening after getting embarrassed by Utah.
Week 5 record: 2 - 3
Overall record: 6 - 19
Other headlines from week 5:
Virginia Tech continues free-fall with loss to Pittsburgh
Things haven't been the same for the Hokies since quarterback Michael Brewer got injured in the season opener against Ohio State. They rebounded after the loss to the Buckeyes with wins over Furman and Purdue, but have now dropped back-to-back games to East Carolina and Pittsburgh. To make matters worse, their All-American cornerback, Kendall Fuller, will miss the rest of the season. Brewer might be back in the lineup as early as this week, so things may be looking up for Virginia Tech. But if his return doesn't provide a spark for this team, they may be looking at another 7-6 season... or worse.
Extra points are kind of a big deal at Iowa State
The Cyclones' placeholder gets really excited for every successful PAT. Like, really excited. Good for him - I doubt there's much else to get pumped about at Iowa State.
This is why we can't have nice things, UCLA
Arizona State clinched their victory over the previously unbeaten Bruins on Saturday with a ridiculous touchdown run by Kalen Ballage. UCLA players were obviously trying to strip the ball, rather than tackle the ball carrier, but the play still deserves mention, as Ballage traveled a good 20 yards after contact... backwards.
This is when the real season starts. This is the time to step up. This is Big Ten football.
The first four games are done and over with. We should learn from the mistakes of those imperfect victories but not dwell on the past, good or bad. We have gotten better but the journey is only beginning. The margin for error gets smaller and smaller from here on out.
This is over 100 years of tradition. This is the melding of old and new. This is Big Ten football.
We've played Indiana a total of 87 times. They've won 12 of those games. Their last win was in 1988. How badly do you think they want to beat us? 5 of those games ended in ties, and the other 70 games were Ohio State victories. Let's make it 71.
This is 4-0 vs 4-0. This is win or go home. This is Big Ten football.
1942 was the last year we met as unbeatens. Only one team can leave that stadium still unbeaten. Let's make sure that team is the one wearing Scarlet and Grey.
This is power vs power. This is speed vs speed. This is Big Ten football.
Don't think for a second that they're not as strong us as. Don't doubt their speed or talent. This is a physical team that will hit us in the mouth if we aren't ready. They will blow past us if we don't stay 100% focused. They've almost knocked us off before. This time, we will be ready.
This is Buckeyes vs Hoosiers. This is college football at its finest. This is Big Ten football.
1. Underdogs prove victorious in at least 3 out of 5 clashes between ranked teams
This week, there are five showdowns between ranked teams, and I think the lower ranked guys come out on top in the majority of them. #15 Oklahoma and #23 West Virginia are both undefeated and I could see that one going either way. You certainly can't count out #13 Alabama against #8 Georgia. #25 Florida has its work cut out with #3 Ole Miss coming to the swamp, but I think it's only a matter of time before the Rebels falter - why couldn't it be against the undefeated Gators? I feel the same way about #14 Texas A&M as they get ready to play #21 Mississippi State. And finally, we've got #6 Notre Dame taking on #12 Clemson, another one that I wouldn't be surprised to see go down to the wire. My picks for these games: West Virginia over Oklahoma, 37 - 35; Alabama beats Georgia, 42 - 30; Ole Miss survives Florida, 28 - 20; Texas A&M hangs on against Mississippi State, 31 - 24; Clemson downs Notre Dame in OT, 34 - 31.
2. Eastern Michigan keeps Leonard Fournette under 200 rushing yards
The LSU running back and Heisman front-runner has totaled 631 yards on the ground in just three games this year, and that number could explode this Saturday. The reason? Eastern Michigan ranks 128th (out of 128) in the FBS in terms of rushing yards allowed, giving up an astonishing 1493 yards over the course of four contests. The only chance that I get this prediction right is if the Tigers get a huge lead early and rest their bruising back, which is certainly possible. LSU wins easily either way, something like 48 - 10.
3. Ohio State puts up 50+ points on the Hoosiers
This is the week it finally all comes together on offense. It seemed like the Buckeyes were on the verge of breaking out last week, and with Jones solidifying the starting job I think his confidence and the overall potency of the entire offense skyrockets against Indiana. The Hoosiers aren't exactly known for their defense, either, and the school announced yesterday that DT Darius Latham, the cornerstone of their defensive line, has been suspended indefinitely. On the other side of the ball, IU boasts a dangerous ground attack, spearheaded by UAB transfer Jordan Howard, who leads the nation in rushing yards. Quarterback Nate Sudfeld is also back for his senior year, making this game a potential challenge for Ohio State's defense. But I think the Buckeye offense outperforms all other units (for a change), as Cardale drops a bomb on Indiana in a 52 - 27 victory.
4. Big Ten openers feature blowouts, with average margin of victory exceeding 20 points
The average margin of victory (by week) during the B1G conference slate last year was about 16 points. On only three occasions did that average top 20 points. However, one of those occasions was the first week of conference play. Vegas is predicting closer games; if results match the current lines it would yield only a 12.7 average margin of victory. But I think the disparity between the top and bottom of the Big Ten becomes clearly evident from the start, much like it did last year. Penn State and Rutgers are left out from this prediction, since they opened their conference schedules against each other last week. Rutgers is on bye this week and Penn State faces Army, which amounts to virtually the same thing. I already gave my Ohio State vs Indiana score prediction, but here are my others: Michigan 35, Maryland 13; Michigan State 41, Purdue 17; Northwestern 23, Minnesota 16; Wisconsin 39, Iowa 17; Nebraska 38, Illinois 14.
5. Oregon finally figures out who fielded that punt
Last week, Utah pulled off an amazing fake during a punt return in the third quarter of their 62 - 20 obliteration of the Ducks. The Utes fooled just about everyone, including 9 out of 11 of the Oregon players on the field. It's now been determined that Britain Covey did not in fact catch the punt. Oregon has their top special-teams experts dedicated to figuring out exactly where the ball went, and who may have caught it. I'm confident that they'll find out what happened.
