Week 5 College Preview

This is a decent weekend for college football. There are 2 really big games that will either help clear up the national picture or will make it worse.

Once again I am going to pick 10 games. So far in two weeks I am 15-5.

Let's get it started:

Purdue at Notre Dame
3:30 Saturday NBC

This is a big game for Purdue. They are 2-1 now with PSU coming next week and then they go to OSU the following week. I wouldn't classify it as a trap game though due to the rivalry at play here.

Notre Dame doesn't need this as bad as Purdue but if they win they could be looking at 7 or 8 wins this year.

Purdue has one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten and their offense is very questionable. Fortunately for them though Notre Dame's offense isn't very good either.

I think being at Notre Dame and with a poor defense that Purdue struggles here. I will be rooting for Purdue but I have to take Notre Dame here.

Irish 24-17


Virginia Tech at Nebraska
8:00 Saturday ABC

VT has a very one dimensional offense which isn't really a good thing here. 10 years ago this would have been two great run offenses going against each other but now it isn't.

The past few years I would easily take VaTech here but now it is a harder decision. Nebraska hasn't played anyone yet but they have beaten who they played.

Virginia Tech runs the ball well but so does Nebraska. But the problem for VaTech is that they don't stop the run very well. They are allowing 4 yards a carry while Nebraska is getting 5.4 yards a carry.

I think Nebraska runs it right at VaTech and kinda runs away with it.

Huskers 31-17


22 Illinois at 12 Penn State
8:00 Saturday ABC

This is obviously the first real test for PSU and luckily they get it at home. After this they have 4 of the next 5 away from Happy Valley. Which really equates this to a must win for the Lions.

Illinois is a good team but I think they might actually be over rated at #22 in the country.

These teams are the top 2 scoring offenses in the Big Ten with PSU averaging 52.8 and Illinois getting 36.3. And in yardage they are top 2. So is it going to be a shootout?

Well.....

Illinois is also 1 of the WORST defenses in the conference. They are last in points per game allowed with 30 and second to last in yardage with 371.3. But the key stat....they give up 4.5 yards per carry. And PSU averages 6.5 yards a rush.

Royster and Green combine for around 250 yards Saturday night and the Lions roll!

PSU 45-17 *homer pick*


8 Alabama at 3 Georgia
7:45 Saturday ESPN

I really wish this game was on earlier so that I could see most of it. But I will obviously be watching the other game most of the time.

Alabama loves to run the ball. In fact they average 5.9 yards per carry and they only pass for 150.8 yards per game.

Which is unfortunate because Georgia only gives up 2 yards per carry but can't really stop the pass.

Georgia gets a bye week next week and then plays 4 straight against tough competition. If Alabama wins this game they are the favorite to win the SEC West instead of LSU.

Neither team can stop the pass and both teams stop the run really well. The key here is that Alabama CAN'T pass but Georgia can.

Dawgs 31 Tide 20


A few more to call your bookie about:

Colorado at FSU - FSU looked TERRIBLE last week. And Colorado got a big win against WVU at home. But I don't think Colorado is as good as Wake so I will take the Noles again.

24 TCU at 2 Oklahoma - TCU is good but OU is great. If this game were at TCU I think I would have to take a harder look but being in Norman makes it easy. Sooners all the way.

Navy at 16 Wake Forest - Either FSU has a great defense or Wakes offense is BAD. I think it is a little of both. And I actually like Navy this year again. I take the Midshipmen in an upset this weekend.

Tennessee at Auburn - Tennessee's loss to UCLA looks worse and worse every week that UCLA gets destroyed. And Auburn's offense showed that it can move the ball last week. So the obvious pick here is Auburn. Go ahead take the Tigers.

North Carolina at Miami - This is tough to pick. UNC was good and then they lost to VT last week. Miami is unknown to me. They looked bad against Florida a couple weeks ago and other than that they haven't shown me anything. But I got burned last week by UNC so I take the Canes at home.

Maryland at 20 Clemson - For Clemson this is a slight trap game since they have Wake coming in next week. And Maryland is a confident group right now. And they have won 2 of their last 3 at Clemson. I think they make it 3 of 4 here. Take the Terps over the over ranked Tigers.


Recap:

ND over Purdue
Nebraska over VaTech
PSU over Illinois
UGa over Bama

FSU over Colorado
OU over TCU
Navy over Wake
Auburn over Tenn
Miami over UNC
Maryland over Clemson