The View From The Roof: Week 6

Last week: 14-8
Season: 63-22

This was supposed to be the week where a lot of the ranked teams finally fell with a slate featuring seven matchups (including Thursday night’s game) between ranked opponents.  Apparently no one got that message last week as seven of the Top 13 teams in the country all lost sending the college football world into chaos.  So what do we have now?  A Top 10 that no one could have dreamed up before the season as South Florida sits at No. 6 with Kentucky right there as well at No. 9.  To top it off, USC who was the No. 1 team in the country won and still dropped a spot as LSU overtook the Trojans by two points in the AP poll.  We can only hope that all of the great matchups taking place this week can live up to all of the excitement and uncertainty that accompanied a crazy day of football last Saturday. 

#9 Florida Gators vs. #1 LSU Tigers
This is still probably the most anticipated matchup of the season even with the Gators falling to Auburn last week and there is added emphasis as well with the Tigers jumping to No. 1 in the AP poll.  As is the case with every Gator game, the nation’s eyes will be on QB Tim Tebow as he faces off with LSU’s All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.  Tebow took a pounding against Auburn running the ball 19 times to give him team-highs with 89 carries and 433 yards on the season.  How much more of a pounding can this guy take before he doesn’t get up from a hit?  LSU’s three-headed monster in the backfield – Jacob Hester, Trindon Holliday and Keiland Williams – will challenge a Gators defense that over the last two games has looked very much like the inexperienced bunch that they are.  QB Matt Flynn’s favorite target, Earley Doucet, will return after missing the last three games with injury to add another weapon to the Tigers arsenal.  
Prediction:
The game is in Baton Rouge and at night.  Enough said.
LSU 31
Florida 17

#4 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. #23 Purdue Boilermakers
Ohio State has not faced a team as explosive on offense or as experienced as this Purdue team.  However, I wonder how being under the bright lights for the first time in awhile will affect the Boilermakers who are looking to take a South Florida type leap with a win over the Buckeyes.  Purdue QB Curtis Painter (18 TDs, only 3 INTs) and receiver Dorien Bryant (40 receptions, 4 TDs) is the best QB-WR tandem that no one knows, but that could change if they can somehow expose an Ohio State defense that is giving up 7.2 points per game.  The Buckeyes stout defense was a given at the beginning of the year with the big question being how they would replace all of the offensive firepower – Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez and Antonio Pittman – that left.  QB Todd Boeckman has stepped right in and done a terrific job of controlling the offense and even throwing 12 touchdowns on the year, six to his favorite receiver Brian Robiskie.
Prediction:
I like this Purdue squad and with that offense they can compete with anyone.  However, I just don’t think they belong in the upper echelon of the Big 10 just yet.  I look for OSU running back Chris “Beanie” Wells to control the game with his power running and then expect some big plays between Boeckman and Robiskie through the air as the receiver is averaging over 21 yards a catch.  The Buckeyes defense, as good as it is, won’t be able shut down the Boilermakers offense but I think they will be able to contain them and force some turnovers then in the red zone.
Ohio State 41
Purdue 20 

#5 Wisconsin Badgers at Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois is riding high after their big win over Penn State, the first time in six years that the Illini beat a ranked opponent.  Wisconsin comes off of another nail-biter in which the Badgers gave up 564 yards of offense in a 37-34 win over Michigan State.  Illinois QB Juice Williams and RB Rashard Mendenhall will hope to continue the Badgers downward spiral on defense with their spread offense that’s geared more towards the run, an area in which the Badgers struggle.  While RB P.J. Hill remains the focus of the Badgers offense, Wisconsin incorporates more of a passing game than the Illini with QB Tyler Donovan and his two go-to-guys, receiver Luke Swan and tight end Travis Beckum.  The Illini defense only gives up 95 yards a game on the ground so with their eyes on Hill in the Badgers backfield, this trio will have to step up if Wisconsin’s wants their 15th straight win.   
Prediction:
Illinois has finally turned the corner and started to win games that in previous years they would have found a way to lose.  Wisconsin has been teetering on the edge the past few weeks and barely escaped to continue their current 14 game winning streak.  This is the week that they finally fall off that cliff as Williams and Mendenhall will be able to run the ball and I look for true freshman Arrelious Benn to assert himself on the national scene as the next great wide receiver in college football.
Illinois 30
Wisconsin 24

#10 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #19 Texas Longhorns
The Sooners looked unstoppable until they completely shut down in the second half and lost to Colorado.  Texas has struggled all year and it finally caught up with them as they allowed three non-offensive touchdowns in their blowout loss to Kansas State.  Because of this, the Red River Shootout has lost some of its luster.  Let’s be honest, though, this game will still decide who is going to win the Big 12.  Sooner QB Sam Bradford had his first bad performance against the Buffs last week, so it will be interesting to see how the freshman responds in such a big game.  On the other side, Texas QB Colt McCoy now has more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (8) after throwing four INTs last week.  To make matters worse, McCoy suffered a concussion in the game so who knows how that will affect him in this week’s game.
Prediction:
I just don’t like how the Texas offense has looked this season.  Colt McCoy has been very erratic and against an extremely experienced Sooners secondary, I don’t see things changing.  I still think Oklahoma is one of the best teams in the country, they just decided to take a half of football off last week and it cost them.  Allen Patrick, DeMarco Murray and the stellar Sooner offensive line will dominate this game and Bradford should rebound with a very solid effort.
Oklahoma 34
Texas 17

#15 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. #22 Clemson Tigers
The Hokie offense has continued to look unimpressive under freshman QB Tyrod Taylor who has only thrown one touchdown in three and a half games, a screen to RB Branden Ore who did most of the work.  Ore and the running game haven’t exactly been up to par either as they have now gone 10 straight games without a 100-yard rusher.  However, the last time was against Clemson as Ore ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-7 win that sent the Tigers on a downward spiral the rest of the season.  Clemson comes off a disappointing 13-3 loss to Georgia Tech in which nothing seemed to work.  The Tigers offense produced only 228 yards; the defense gave up 189 rushing yards; worst of all, though, were the special teams as they had a punt blocked and then their field goal kicker Mark Buchholz missed four field goals. 
Prediction:
Both teams will look to establish the running game early forcing the defenses to bring up a safety.  So it should come down to a quarterback battle.  Cullen Harper has looked great for the Tigers this year throwing 12 touchdowns to just one interception.  Taylor has the weapons on the outside to make it happen for the Hokies as well.  When it’s all said and done, though, I think the home crowd will elevate the Tigers and the speed of C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford will be too much for the Hokies to slow down.
Clemson 24
Virginia Tech 13 

#25 Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. #17 Missouri Tigers
This one will go a long way in determining who will lose to Oklahoma (my big 12 South winner) in the Big 12 Championship.  Quarterbacks headline this game as Nebraska’s Sam Keller and Missouri’s Chase Daniel spearhead passing games that both rank in the nation’s top 15.  Daniel and the Tigers will pose a big test for the Cornhuskers defense with their no-huddle spread offense that is averaging 200 yards rushing and 350 yards passing.  Keller and the Cornhuskers run a more conventional offense that relies a little more on the north-south running game of Marlon Lucky.  After two mediocre performances, Lucky has re-emerged as a go-to-back with 100 yards in his last two games; something he will need to do again if Nebraska hopes to get the win. 
Prediction:
Missouri RB Tony Temple will play a huge part in this game as the Nebraska defense is giving up an average of 217 yards on the ground in their last four games.  Throw in the mobility of Daniel at QB and this will be another long day for the Nebraska defense which was on the field for 102 plays last week.
Missouri 36
Nebraska 24

#20 Cincinnati Bearcats vs. #21 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Under new head coach Brian Kelly and transfer QB Ben Mauk, the Bearcats have gotten off to their best start in over half a century.  Cincinnati is doing it on both sides of the ball scoring 45.6 points per game, seventh in the nation, and only giving up 10.6 points a game on defense.  One problem, though; the Bearcats have played no one so their Saturday night trip to Piscataway will be the first big test of the season.  Speaking of Rutgers, the Knights come off a disappointing home loss to Maryland in which Ray Rice was shut down and their defense was lit up.  QB Mike Teel once again had a magnificent day throwing for over 300 yards and two touchdowns and coach Greg Schiano can’t be happier that the once turnover-prone QB has only thrown two interceptions on the season.
Prediction:
Last year, Rutgers came to Cincinnati sitting at 9-0 and dreaming of a national title.  That all died, though, when the Bearcats took it to the Knights and dominated them 30-11, ending any hopes of a national title.  Revenge will be on the minds of the Knights players in this one as they come out fired up early and take it to a Bearcats team that won’t be ready for such a dynamic shift in their opponent’s talent level.  Ray Rice will get it going and I expect a couple big plays from Rutgers two receivers, Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt.
Rutgers 27
Cincinnati 15

Other Top 25 Teams in Action:

#2 USC Trojans over Stanford Cardinal
Stanford sure picked the wrong week to play the Trojans who dropped in the polls despite winning.  USC will show no mercy in dismantling a Cardinal team that will be missing starting QB T.C. Ostrander. 

#6 South Florida Bulls over Florida Atlantic Owls
South Florida is third in the nation in forcing turnovers with 17, but the Owls are second with 18.  That is probably the only thing Florida Atlantic has on the Bulls who will easily win this one.

#7 Boston College Eagles over Bowling Green Falcons
The Eagles have looked a little sluggish in their last two games, both non-conference affairs with Army and UMass.  QB Matt Ryan is the big name on Boston College’s offense but look for RB Andre Callender and the offensive line to have a big game as they wear down a smaller Falcons front seven. 

#12 Georgia Bulldogs over Tennessee Volunteers
Under Mark Richt, Georgia is 23-3 on the road in the SEC.  Bulldogs QB Matt Stafford continues to evolve as well as the rushing attack featuring senior Thomas Brown and freshman Knowshon Moreno.  That doesn’t bode well for a Tennessee team that gives up 188 rushing yards a game.

#13 West Virginia Mountaineers over Syracuse Orange
Pat White’s status is still up in the air for this one, but it shouldn’t matter who is quarterbacking the Mountaineers as they face a Syracuse team who after beating Louisville laid an apple in their 17-14 loss to Miami (Oh).  One suggestion for West Virginia – get the ball to Noel Devine more than six times a game on offense.  He’s only averaging 10.6 yards a touch. 

#16 Hawaii Warriors over Utah State Aggies
Utah State has lost 11 straight games and is averaging 15 points a game this year.  Colt Brennan threw five interceptions last week.  Can you say rebound performance?  Hawaii wins this one by at least 40.

#18 Arizona State Sun Devils over Washington State Cougars
Washington State loves to pass behind QB Alex Brink.  Arizona State is the best in the Pac-10 at stopping the pass giving up less than 200 yards a game through the air.  It’s always difficult to play in Pullman; just ask USC who barely escaped last year with a six point victory.  The Sun Devils are an experienced bunch, though, and QB Rudy Carpenter will have a field day against a bad Cougars defense.   

#24 Kansas State Wildcats over Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas is averaging 52.5 points a game and has given up 23 points total in getting out to a 4-0 start.  However, the Jayhawks have played absolutely no one.  Meanwhile, Kansas State just shellacked Texas and also played Auburn close earlier in the season.  Wildcat QB Josh Freeman looked to finally get it together last week; add in receiver Jordy Nelson on the outside and James Johnson in the backfield and I think the Wildcats will surpass those 23 points and make it six straight wins over Kansas in Manhattan.