College Football Games of the Week – Week 6

This week is chock-full of games.  I wasn’t able to whittle the list down to my usual Top five, so here’s a quick look at all the games you should be invested in this week.

Navy at Air Force, 11:30am CBS

I love watching the service academy games because it’s not about statistics or 40-times or signing bonuses…it’s about pride. Both teams run an offense based on the option (Navy utilizes the triple option and Air Force runs more from the pistol and the spread) and are fun to watch when they’re clicking. The defenses are mediocre (ranked 62nd and 76th respectively, against unspectacular teams) and should allow plenty of lanes to run through.  Four of the last five have been one possession games, and I expect that to continue.  Navy 19, Air Force 14

UConn at #22 Rutgers, 12:00pm ESPNU

 A bit of a homer pick since I will be at the game, but this is the type of game Rutgers usually loses once per year and I’m hoping their defense can hold it together (ranked 10th overall in the FBS). Keep an eye on Rutgers’ RB Jawan Jamison; he’s only scored two TDs but has 491 yards and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Jamison has drawn some comparisons to Ray Rice (although he’s not a threat as a pass catcher) and has made a name for himself in the Big East.  Rutgers 16, UConn 14

#4 LSU at #10 Florida, 3:30pm CBS

Is any explanation necessary? Not really. You should be watching this game above all else at 3:30. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have much impact on the SEC race since it’s a cross-division matchup, but it is still important. The LSU passing game has taken a step back with QB Zach Mettenberger, but that is okay because their rushers lead the charge. The Tigers have four backs with at least 30 carries through the first five games: Kenny Hilliard (366 yards, six TDs), Alfred Blue (270 yards, two TDs), Michael Ford (224 yards, two TDs) and Spencer Ware (164 yards). The Gators’ passing game is equally pedestrian, but are led by dynamic RB Mike Gillislee (402 yards, five TDs, 5.8 yards per carry).  Both defenses are allowing less than 13 points per game on average, so it will come down to field position and time of possession.  LSU 13, Florida 10

#5 Georgia at #6 South Carolina, 7:00pm ESPN

 The Gamecocks defense has been dominant so far this season and they have actually played one of the tougher early schedules I’ve seen (Vandy, East Carolina, UAB, Missouri, Kentucky). Georgia has also played Vandy and Missouri. Both teams beat Missouri by 21 points, however Georgia handily beat Vanderbilt by 45, while SC struggled in the opener (17-13). I don’t necessarily buy the common-opponent angle since each game is an isolated event, and South Carolina QB Connor Shaw is one of the hottest players in the Nation right now (35-39, 397 yards, four TDs, no interceptions in the last two games versus Missouri and Kentucky).  South Carolina 31, Georgia 11

#8 West Virginia at #11 Texas, 7:00pm FOX

Geno, Geno, Geno. The Texas defense is mediocre, even against teams like Wyoming (17 points) and Ole Miss (31), so expect Dana Holgorsen to let QB Geno Smith loose again. I don’t think we will ever see a game like last week’s again, but can you rule it out? Probably not. Smith completed 45 passes for 656 yards and eight TDs against Baylor. Those are not mistakes. Neither was West Virginia joining the Big 12.  West Virginia 41, Texas 28

Miami (Fl) at #9 Notre Dame, 7:30pm NBC

 NBC is billing this one as a renewal of an epic rivalry. I wasn’t a sports fan yet when they last played in 1990, but I’m not buying the hype as a rivalry game. I’m older than every one of their players, so there is no way they care about the mid-80s heyday of this matchup. Notre Dame, at the moment, is the better team but I still don’t trust them. As a Michigan fan, I’m supposed to hate Notre Dame, and I do, but I LOVE Manti Te’o. Watch him on every single play when Miami has the ball. He will be playing for somebody in the NFL shortly. Te’o has 38 tackles and three picks so far this season and impacts every play.  Notre Dame 21, Miami (Fl) 17

#21 Nebraska at #12 Ohio State, 8:00pm ABC

Despite the high rankings, this game feels empty. Ohio State can’t play in a bowl game despite their finish and Nebraska hasn’t lived up to the hype since joining the Big 10. The reason the game makes the list this week is the QB matchup. Braxton Miller and Taylor Martinez are dual-threat players who have the potential to explode. We’ve talked about Miller previously, so let’s take a look at Martinez’s numbers: 1059 passing yards, 11 TDs, one interception, 298 yards rushing and three TDs. Between the two, Martinez is the better passer, so I will lean towards the Huskers, barely.  Nebraska 21, Ohio State 20

#23 Washington at #2 Oregon, 10:30pm ESPN

I have no stat to back this up, but it seems that Oregon has had more weeks at #2 in the top 25 than any other team for the past five seasons.  Unfortunately for the Ducks, Alabama has been perched in the top spot for the better part of that span and there is no sign of them losing any time soon. While Oregon bides its time until the Pac-12 championship, and hopefully the BCS Championship, they need to watch out for trap games like this one against Washington. Washington hoped to play spoiler against #3 LSU, but came up short. Last week, however, they surprised the #8 Stanford Cardinal and won 17-13. Washington’s defense is significantly better than anything else Oregon has seen thus far, but it shouldn’t slow them for the full four quarters.  Keep an eye on the RB-WR hybrid of De’Anthony Thomas; he has 495 yards of total offense and eight TDs on only 50 touches (9.7 yards per carry; 10.2 yards per catch).  Oregon 42, Washington 28