What a week of college football! Just as I thought Lamar Jackson's Heisman campaign was over, with just one throw he sealed it. Clemson ended its woes in Tallahassee against the Seminoles, with a fourth quarter performance which has become the trademark of this team. BYOG! Tennessee's "dream season" has come to a crashing stop as a loss to South Carolina and a transfer request from Jalen Hurd brought that about. It will be another 15 years before Tennessee is ranked in the preseason polls and their fans are screaming for a national championship. LOL. Anyways I went 5-0 last week so let's get to my predictions for this week!
Last Week 5-0 Overall: 17-7
5. #18 Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State
Oklahoma State is coming off a huge victory, as I predicted, over the Mountaineers in Stillwater. Now they travel to Manhattan, Kansas where they will face the well-disciplined Wildcats coached by the legend Bill Snyder. This Kansas State team likes to run the ball, and they are physical on both sides of the line of scrimmage. After watching Oklahoma State stop the run last week, I still don't think they will match the physicality of Kansas State, allowing the Wildcats to run like crazy. Oklahoma State is also on cloud nine after their upset victory so expect Kansas State to humble them in this Big 12 shootout.
Final Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Kansas State 35
4. #11 Florida vs. Arkansas
I'm struggling here to pick against the Razorbacks, but I'm going to have to take the Gators in this match-up. Florida's defense is probably the second best defense in the nation behind Alabama, and I expect them to make Austin Allen's day a living hell. Arkansas has struggled to protect the passer all year, and I look for Brantley and Davis to get after Allen and force him to make poor decisions leading to a Tabor' interception. Also, Luke Del Rio is managing this slightly above offense well, and I expect them to have success putting points on the board against an Arkansas defense that just got embarrassed by Auburn.
Final Prediction: Florida 24, Arkansas 10
3. #8 Wisconsin vs. Northwestern
This is a sneaky game for the Badgers as they travel to play Northwestern. Northwestern is playing good football and is a week removed from almost beating Ohio State in the horseshoe. Also, Northwestern is at home where they have a huge advantage playing on their home field where they keep the length of the grass about the same length as a pasture filled with cows. Aside from all that, Wisconsin is still a top ten team with a top five defense and I look for them to squeak out of this one with a hard-fought victory.
Final Prediction: Wisconsin 17, Northwestern 13
2. #10 Nebraska vs. #6 Ohio State
Ohio State is in need of a dominating win over a solid opponent just for the sake of the committee's opinion and I think this is the game for that. Nebraska is coming off a tough loss against Wisconsin and I expect their morale to be low coming into this game. After barely beating Northwestern Saturday, I expect the Buckeyes to come out of the gates hot and beat Nebraska handily, just for the entertainment of the committee. With a handful of one-loss teams vying for a playoff spot, Ohio State needs to show up and show out and I expect Barrett and Samuel to put some points up on this Cornhusker' defense.
Final Prediction: Nebraska 17, Ohio State 45
1. #1 Alabama vs. #13 LSU
This game has become one of the biggest rivalries during my 2 years of living and I'm expecting a good one in Death Valley Saturday night. Ed Orgeron has led an LSU resurgence and they now control their own destiny in the SEC West. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though... Alabama is great and should win this football game. Even though LSU's passing game has improved and Leonard Fournette has started running like the man we first got to know, I still doubt that this offense has the firepower to move the ball against the Tide. On the other side, Jalen Hurts is playing phenomenal and giving this offense a dynamic its really never had before... Sorry Blake Sims. You know what's scarier than a Nick Saban coached Alabama team? A Nick Saban coached Alabama team with a dual threat quarterback. It continues to amaze me how Alabama continues to win with first-year starting quarterbacks year after year. Look for Alabama's defense to shut down LSU and for Hurts to make plays with his legs as the Tide roll and LSU's quest of being better than Alabama continues for another season.
Final Prediction: Alabama 31, LSU 13
