Five College Football Games to Watch: Week 6
by Nico2.0 on Oct 8, 2009 9:01 AM CDT
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PrintThursday, October 8th - 8:00 pm - ESPN
Thursday nights are back on the list this week after an off week last week. Here we have a Big XII North showdown between two ranked teams. This game will have serious implications for who gets decapitated later in the year by Texas in the Big XII Championship Game. It's the first conference game for either squad. Nebraska comes in at 3-1, and is only narrowly not 4-0 thanks to a long bomb from Tyrod Taylor that set up a score for VT to steal the game late. The Cornhuskers' wins have come over Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic and Louisiana-Lafayette. Missouri is one of the remaining undefeateds in the land with wins over Illinois, Bowling Green, Furman and Nevada. Missouri decimated Nebraska in their last meeting 52-17.
AUBURN (17) at ARKANSAS
Saturday, October 10th - 11:00 am - ESPN
Auburn aims to continue their undefeated season against schizo Arkansas. After a two game skid that included losing a shootout with Georgia and getting pummeled by us two weeks ago, Arky bounced back last weekend to soundly whip Texas A&M 47-19. Mallett threw for 271 yards and 4 TDs against the Aggies, but who knows what he'll do against Auburn? My guess is probably not much. Auburn continued their rolling up a massive amount of yardage last week when they visited Tennessee. The Tigers posted 459 yards of total offense on the Vols (roughly split 50/50 between passing and rushing.) Oddly enough though, the Tigers gave up 400+ yards to the anemic Tennessee offense and carries the distinction of giving up more yardage to Tennessee than anyone not called Western Kentucky. It could be a shootout, or it could be an Auburn track meet if Arkansas can't get anything going on offense.
WISCONSIN at OHIO STATE (9)
Saturday, October 10th - 2:30 pm - ABC/ESPN
So much for my saying no more Big 10 games would appear on the list. That didn't even last a week. This game doesn't really do anything for me, but I defy you to find something more compelling on this list (at least trying to be objective about the national picture and/or conference race shaping games and not just being an SEC homer.) The Buckeyes are at least ranked in the Top 10 and Wisconsin comes in at #26 if you extend out the "others receiving votes" list (they are #25 in the USA Today poll.) So, there you go, an almost Top 25 match up.
FLORIDA (1) at LSU (4)
Saturday, October 10th - 7:00 pm - CBS
Needless to say, this is the game of the week. Also needless to say, there's tons of speculation swirling about whether or not Tim Tebow will play. As of right now, Gators coach Urban Meyer said it'll be a game time descision. I can only hope the right decision regarding Tebow's health and safety will be taken and hopefully we'll not have anyone (Tebow included) being short sighted because this is a big game. Anyway, with this game, one of the remaining undefeateds will fall. I just assume that be LSU since no one in the East looks capable of knocking off Florida. Might as well cheer for our road to Atlanta to be easier. LSU has squeaked by in a couple of close contests this year, some of them less than stellar competition (Mississippi State.) The Tigers will have to be firing on all cylinders to win this one whether Tebow is on the field or not.
MICHIGAN at IOWA (12)
Saturday, October 10th - 7:00 pm - ABC
So...yeah...
Not only did I not make it a week without a Big 10 game since I said what I said, but I included TWO Big 10 games this week for those of you that can't get enough of narcotic free insomnia cures (if we're lucky we'll be treated to a list of Big 10 teams that have beaten SEC teams in bowl games recently in the comments.) Much like the Wisconsin vs. Ohio State game, this match up features a ranked team and an almost(ish) ranked team (Michigan comes in at #31 when you extend out the "others receiving votes" category.) It doesn't do a lot for me personally, but Iowa is undefeated and knocking on the door of the Top 10. A Michigan win gets them back in the Top 25. Kyle has a hilarious take on this game and Big 10 rivalries here.
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I really
feel AU’s run will end this weekend. Their D is really not that good. As long as weather doesn’t play a factor, Arky should be able to put up a lot of points on the board…I for one will be pulling for the Razorbacks this weekend.
Scoring against Alabama will be like birthing a child: rare, painful, and messy. - The Ghost of Jay Cutler
Ditto Bammer
And, ooh ooh ooh, Iowa beat So. Carolina. Do they count?
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 8, 2009 10:27 AM CDT reply actions
We can all agree to pretend
that Mich St-Georgia didn’t happen last year, right?
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 8, 2009 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Since Georgia hasn't lost to a Big Ten team since 1957 . . .
. . . what’s one more Bulldog bowl win over a Midwestern opponent for the Big Ten faithful to ignore?
Go 'Dawgs!
That's a pretty impressive statistic..
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 8, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions
The great thing about the Florida LSU game...
is Bama will have to beat both of these teams to get to the big dance. I expect LSU to play their best game yet and it should allow Coach Saban and his staff a chance to see the strengths and weaknesses of both these teams…Should be a great game for film study….I think these two teams playing each other before we face either one of them is huge…could just be my thinking though…Roll Tide!
I
am always interested in watching the SEC (sans MSU vs. Vandy). And I especially like tuning in to see how the enemy is doing. Its fun to be invested in the failure of others.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
Why is your guess that Mallet won’t do much against Auburn? Other than us, he’s had big numbers in all his games and Auburn’s defense has been less than spectacular so far.
Exactly...
That was my line of thinking too. I saw it written somewhere (but have not actually followed up and checked the stats) that Crompton had a career high for passing yards against Auburn last week. I see no reason as to why Mallett would not do far, far better than Crompton’s meager career high totals from last week..
by CrimsonWraith on Oct 8, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Auburn
runs a ‘bend but don’t break’ style of defense. They are betting most teams can’t put together 10-12 play drives without stalling or making a mistake. So yeah, they’ve allowed a ton of yardage but they really haven’t played a team yet that can finish drives consistently. WVU was closest but they also shot themselves in the foot with turnovers. The Arky game will be interesting indeed because they are a competent offense that can finish drives. And since the UGA game, their defense has shown improvement.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
I don't know...
…just a gut feeling. I hope I’m wrong and that Arkansas tears them limb from limb, but for some reason, I don’t think it’s going to happen.
Both SEC games are intriging........
There is still A LOT of unknows when it comes to both tiger teams. Will au defense stop Mallett and how long will the home field advantage last for lsu? What will we learn about upcoming foes this weekend? IMO, these 2 games will hold the key to the West crown, as long as we take care of business.
There are 3 kinds of men. The ones who learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. And the rest have to pee on the electric fence to find out for themselves. Will Rogers
And, there is a lot fail on tap
As UT-UGA play for 60 minutes, with no one really wanting to win.
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 8, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions
FLA - LSU
I think this is a bigger game for LSU. Given the lack of legit competition in the East, the Gators could get beat and will likely still play in the SEC championship game. We all know that it is better than 50/50 chance that the SEC champ plays in the BCS title game. IMO & RTR
by BamaJax on Oct 8, 2009 1:31 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
"...find something more compelling on this list..."
Boston College v. Virginia Tech, and certainly Oregon v. UCLA, are more compelling match-ups from my seat than Badgers v. Buckeyes, but only a little bit. I am dying to know who will look worse in the Michigan v. Iowa show-down.
I’m also a little surprised that near 80% chose the LSU-UF game. We know how badly LSU stinks…but we don’t yet know how good/bad the boogs are, and the Arky game should tell us a lot.
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Oct 8, 2009 2:14 PM CDT reply actions
I was going...
…to choose BC vs. VT, but almost no one that reads this blg is actually going to be able to see that game unless they have Gameplan. Oregon vs. UCLA is another I almost went with, but I think despite being 3-1 right now, UCLA isn’t going to do anything this year. Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin is at least a Top 25 match up according to USA Today.
I hear ya...
…but that OSU/‘Sconsin game should be quite the snooze-fest…maybe I’ll get my nap then.
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Oct 8, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
For what it's worth...
Boston College and Virginia Tech will be on AFN Sports for all of our deployed RBR readers. Though personally, I’ll be more intently focused on the Auburn and Arkansas game.
by CrimsonWraith on Oct 8, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I’m also a little surprised that near 80% chose the LSU-UF game. We know how badly LSU stinks…but we don’t yet know how good/bad the boogs are, and the Arky game should tell us a lot.
This just goes to show how little we respect/ care about the barn….
Scoring against Alabama will be like birthing a child: rare, painful, and messy. - The Ghost of Jay Cutler
Yeah, OK...
…but it may be an opportunity to watch the barn lose, which I’m not ashamed to say I would take interest in watching….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Oct 8, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Me too.
I looked forward prior to this season to epic fail on the part of the barn and so far they’ve let me down. I don’t like them thinking may have a shot against us.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
Michigan is going to make Stanzi look like John Elway
The boogs gain 600 yards of offense, 51 points and still lose.
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 8, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Not to overly jumped on the Mallett bit...
Mallett threw for 271 yards and 4 TDs against the Aggies, but who knows what he’ll do against Auburn? My guess is probably not much.
… but barring injury, there is no way that he does "not much."
If Jonathon Crompton, with his Edward Scissorhands receiving corps, can throw for 259 yards, 0 interceptions, and average 6.0 yards per attempt, a quarterback like Mallett with a receiver corps like Arkansas can absolutely light up the scoreboard.
Don’t get me wrong, I do think Auburn wins this game, but it’s going to be a shootout. I could easily see Mallett throwing for 300+ yards and a few touchdowns. Again, this one is a shootout, the winner will probably need 31+ points to win this thing.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Oct 9, 2009 1:10 AM CDT reply actions
I
actually think Arky’s D is improved since UGA and I am going with them to beat the barn.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
Like I said....
…it’s kind of like an upset pick, except on individual performance….no real reason other than “just a vibe.”
Fair enough...
… if you’ve got a hunch then so be it. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.
I will say this, though, one way or the other, if Auburn can shut down Mallett, that is really bad news for the rest of the conference.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Oct 9, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Like I said, it's totally baseless...
…I’m just thinking he has a bad day or something, not because of Auburn.
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