We are in the middle of one of the most wide open college football seasons we have seen in a decade. 5 weeks in and I am unsure of the 4 teams that will be playing for a national championship in January. This week will help answer some of those questions as conference play gets into full swing. 5th ranked Iowa will play undefeated Maryland in what should be a pretty good game. BYU continues to climb the rankings and will travel to Utah State to try and keep their streak alive. The best game of the day is a noon match up (yes a top 10 match up is being played at noon- thanks ESPN) in Athens with number 8 Arkansas versus second ranked Georgia. Georgia is a 18.5 point favorite (if you're a gambler- jump on the Hogs). Georgia's defense will give Arkansas' offense their hardest test of the year and we will finally see what Georgia's offense can do against a decent defense. I think the Dawgs will win but not by 18. Michigan faces a Wisconsin team that desperately needs a win after the curb stomp they got from Notre Dame. If the Wolverines can score more than 3 touchdowns, they'll win cause Wisconsin's offense is bad. Very bad. Michigan's defense is better than Wisconsin's offense so I don't see Badgers pulling this out.
Notre Dame has another test against Cincinnati. Personally, I hope Cincinnati wins. Notre Dame has had multiple scares, its time to finish it off and give them the loss they deserve. Another great SEC match up is Ole Miss versus Alabama. Could be another chance for Alabama to be exposed as less than their typical greatness. I don't see Kiffin out coaching Saban but this would be the year for it. Bama wins but it might be closer than the 14.5 point line suggests. Oregon faces Stanford to strengthen their playoff resume further. Oklahoma faces Kansas State. Oklahoma is another team like Notre Dame that keeps getting scares but pulls it out at the end. This may not be the one that does them in but I wouldn't be mad if it did. Ohio States faces Rutgers. Florida goes to Kentucky and will continue to keep fighting for the SEC East top spot. Florida should win but this year is ripe with upsets so we will see. Texas A&M took a tumble through the rankings landing at 15 and will face Miss State to help pad their standings in the West.
There is a big 12 top 25 match up between Baylor and Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State opens as a 3.5 point favorite against the Bears. Baylor's offense is better than OK State so I guess it's ahhhh sic 'em bears on Saturday in Stillwater. Penn State faces Indiana in what should be an easy win. Clemson is ranked 25 and has one last chance to stay relevant against Boston College this weekend. They are 16 point favorites which is insanely high for a team that has not proved worthy of being a 16 point favorite against anyone, much less an undefeated BC team. Auburn faces LSU in Baton Rouge and must hope for a win as they head into their hardest stretch of the season facing Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M after LSU. UCLA faces Arizona State and Fresno State will play Hawaii. Week 5 promises to be just as exciting as weeks 1-4 have been. Get ready, things are about to get even more interesting.
Comments