Week 5 was a rough one. Everything that I thought I knew got tossed out the window and I must humbly ask that you take last week and return the favor by tossing it out of your respective window. Now, let’s get back to our regularly scheduled program of only missing (2) games per week.
Last week’s results:
• 3/7 correct
• 27/42 for the year
• Surprise: Auburn had Georgia on the ropes for most of the game, until Brock Bowers decided to show them why he’s the best player in the country. Auburn showed fight, but they didn’t do enough to wake the sleepwalking giants yet.
• Best game: LSU and Ole Miss had some of the most firepower we may see all season. Ole Miss bounced back,and Jaxson Dart lead the Rebels to a comeback victory over the Bayou Bengals.
• Disappointment: Duke – not their gameplay, but the unfortunate circumstance with Riley Leonard getting hurt during their last possession. Duke shocked a lot of people on Saturday – hopefully Leonard isn’t out for long and can keep the Blue Devils on track for a big season.
Now to this week’s slate.
(23) LSU at (21) Missouri
LSU has struggled this year in the big games, losing both of their ranked matchups (Florida St. and Ole Miss), but don’t get it twisted, they are a talented team. The biggest disappointment with the Bayou Bengals isn’t their head coaches fake southern accent nor their two September losses – it’s their defense. The strength of this team was supposed to be Harold Perkins and company and they have yet to leave their mark on a big game. Missouri is having a great start to their season, going 5-0 for the first time since 2013. They shouldn’t apologize for being 5-0, but this game should be their first real test. I think this game is close, but Jayden Daniels will prove to be too much. Tigers win…
LSU 42 Missouri 35
Maryland at (4) Ohio St.
Maryland’s season is almost a carbon copy of Missouri’s season as this is the first time they are 5-0 since 2001…where were you then? Also like Missouri, this is Maryland’s first real test of the season. This is where things get different. Ohio St. has handled business this year and they are coming off of a bye week. Taulia Tagovailoa will put some stress on Ohio St.’s defense that they haven’t had yet, but it won’t be enough. The tortoise losses this race.
Ohio St. 38 Maryland 17
(12) Oklahoma vs (3) Texas *in Dallas, TX
The Red River Rivalry is back to being respectable. Last year was an abysmal showing by the Sooners, but Brent Venables seems to have his team back on track, but a different track than what we’re used to, boasting the 30th ranked total defense to pair with their 9th ranked offense in the country. Now don’t hear what I’m not saying – I’m all about not apologizing for winning and it’s tough to be undefeated, BUT and I’m talking Texas sized BUT, Oklahoma has played the following opponents: Arkansas St., SMU, Tulsa, Cincinnati, and Iowa St. Not a schedule to write home about. This Texas team their facing on Saturday is a complete, playoff caliber roster and I think the Bevo runs the Sooners out of the Texas State Fair with their first loss of the season.
Texas 35 Oklahoma 24
(20) Kentucky at (1) Georgia
Georgia saw their Somnologist and have been diagnosed with sleep walking. However, they’re going to need to wake up quickly as this is not your father’s Kentucky Wildcats who are 5-0 for the first time since 2007. Georgia and their fanbase may have been scared, had it not been for the alien on their roster – yes I’m talking about Brock Bowers (who should be in the Heisman race, but that’s a conversation for a different day). Dogs beat Cats, we all know that.
Georgia 31 Kentucky 21
(2) Michigan at Minnesota
Michigan has not played a single snap inside of their 10-yardline on defense…think about that for a second. Now this is the toughest matchup to date for the Wolverines, but this team is playing inspired, and they’ve got their coach back – who was suspended by the NCAA who then retracted their suspension and was then followed by the university suspending him for 4 games. PJ Fleck will be pulling out all his motivational stops this week, but Michigan will prove to be too much for the Gophers.
Michigan 27 Minnesota 10
(10) Notre Dame at (25) Louisville
One of these teams doesn’t look like the other, one of these teams just don’t belong. Louisville is undefeated and like I previously stated DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR WINNING. Notre Dame was finally able to count past 10 and play great defense in crunch time. Louisville is a good team, not great – we will see that on full display Saturday night. Keep an eye on Notre Dame’s WR health as an already thin group was out of their two biggest weapons against Duke last week, if these guys are healthy, Notre Dame runs away with this one.
Notre Dame 45 Louisville 17
Arizona at (9) USC
This October we have a classic film being released, “How Alex Grinch Stole a Paycheck,” a thrilling sequel to the Grinch movies that we all know and love. This defense’s heart has not grown 3 sizes this year, but thankfully Caleb Williams and this offense can almost score at will. Arizona is no slouch on offense either as they come to LA with the nations 30th best offense. Look for this to be a shootout and for USC to steal one late.
USC 52 Arizona 49
