College Football - Live Thread - Week Five

ESPN.com Scoreboard ^ | 28 September to 30 September 2006

[MikefromOhio]

Week Five – College Football

wasn’t supposed to be a weekend that gave us great games, yet it gave as many as “Separation Saturday” did. Between the instant classic that was Notre Dame vs. Michigan State(or an epic choke job if you listen to this clip, to the shocking upset of Boston College by NC State, to the near heart attack that Georgia gave it’s fans against Colorado, the weekend was absolutely spectacular. This week features one real marquee matchup. #1 Ohio State visits Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to play #13 Iowa. This should be an excellent game. Other notable games are #24 Georgia Tech at #11 Virginia Tech and Alabama at #5 Florida.

As always, all rankings are from the ESPN.com Scoreboard page. The betting lines (used sorely for the basis of predictions) are from Yahoo.com. I will list any games of interest (FReepmail me if you want your team included and I will include them from here on out) and any other games listed in my Yahoo league. I have a new feature this week. In each game that I do not have any confidence, or any game that I think a team could have an unexpected struggle, I will post a picture of a landmine for illustration.

GAME of the WEEK

Saturday, September 30th, 2006 – 8:00 PM on ABC

(1) Ohio State (-6.5) at (13) Iowa

Ohio State faces easily it’s biggest in conference challenge until the Michigan game in November. This is a tough game with an Iowa team that dominated Ohio State the last time they played (33-7 in 2004) in Iowa City. That was then and these are both very different teams. Iowa, having escaped Syracuse and played two consecutive uninspired games against Iowa State and Illinois, have a chance to make a lot of noise in the Big Ten and nationally. Ohio State has a chance to keep the dream season going. The key of this game comes down to the battle of the Quarterbacks. If Troy Smith throws 2 interceptions like he did against Penn State, Ohio State will struggle to win this game. Same goes for Iowa and QB Drew Tate. If he struggles or gets rattled like what happened last year against Ohio State, then Iowa will struggle to win this game. In the end I think Ohio State’s defense will continue to play well enough to put this team in position to win the game. Iowa will keep it close, but this Ohio State team went into Austin and won. Iowa can win this game, but I think Ohio State will win this game.

Ohio State 29 – Iowa 17

Thursday September 28th, 2006 (ESPN Thursday Night Game)

(2) Auburn (-14) at South Carolina

Carolina as a 2TD underdog at home on a Thursday night ESPN game (when crazy things tend to happen)? No way. Auburn wins, but it will be closer than expected.

Auburn 23 – South Carolina 16

Saturday September 30th 2006 (in ranking order)

(3) USC (-17) at Washington State

USC 28 – Washington St. 17

(4) West Virginia BYE

Alabama at (5) Florida (-16)

Florida 32 – Alabama 10

(6) Michigan (-9.5) at Minnesota

Michigan 35 – Minnesota 18

Sam Houston St. at (7) Texas (NL)

Texas 56 – Sam Houston St 6

(8) Louisville (-14) BYE

Mississippi St. at (9) LSU (-33)

LSU 48 – Tulane 7

(10) UGA (-18) at Mississippi

UGA 20 – Mississippi 10

(24) Georgia Tech at (11) Virginia Tech (-10.5)

Virginia Tech 26 – GT 18

Purdue at (12) Notre Dame (-14)

Purdue 43 – Notre Dame 33

(14) Oregon at Arizona St (-1.5)

Oregon 33 – Arizona St. 24

(15) Tennessee (-13) at Memphis

Tennessee 35 – Memphis 21

(16) Oklahoma BYE

BYU at (17) TCU (-6.5)

No pick – The game started before I got to this point. Judging from the score so far, I don’t think TCU has gotten to the game yet either.

LA Tech at (18) Clemson (-33.5)

Clemson 52 – LA Tech 13

(19) Florida State BYE

(20) Cal (-9.5) at Oregon St

Cal 42 – Oregon St. 16

Kansas at (21) Nebraska (-23)

Nebraska 38 – Kansas 12

(22) Boise State at Utah (-5.5)

Boise St. 28 – Utah 17

(23) Rutgers (-4) at South Florida

Rutgers 24 – South Florida 19

Colorado at (25) Missouri (-16)

Mizzou 32 – Colorado 15

BY REQUEST

New Mexico at Air Force (-13.5)

Air Force is a good enough team to take Tennessee to the limit. Although New Mexico surprised me last week and kicked UTEP off of the field, I don’t think they will do that to this Air Force team.

Air Force 32 - UNM 17

71-12 Straight UP
48-33-2 Against the Spread

My straight up picks are doing ok, but I got annihilated by the spread last week.

[MikefromOhio]

Just consider the source there...

Cowherd thought that Notre Dame would run Ohio STate off of the field at the Fiesta Bowl last year....

I don't think he watches much college football.

[catholicfreeper]

YEah I am getting tired of it. IF Auburn goes undefeated and for the second time is not seriously considered for the NC then its time to clean house at the SEC office and get someone that stands up for our interest

[MikefromOhio]

The problem is that even if you get all of the SEC coaches to vote for you, you still have to deal with the AP poll.

One of the things that will hurt Auburn is it's best out of conference game was Washington State.

Whereas USC has Nebraska and Notre Dame.

I don't think that should matter much, but I'm also NOT a computer....

A playoff is the ONLY way to resolve this issue.

But it's a fun debate too.

[catholicfreeper]

LSU 14 MISSTAKEEE 0 in the first

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

I'm an idiot

I put down this:

LSU 48 – Tulane 7

When I should've changed Tulane to Mississippi St.

I got it right one line above it too :)

[aft_lizard]

Thats good, you will get one half of solid ass-whoopin by Nebraska(KU might stay close the first half), too bad FSN sucks about pulling away from a game for another closer game.

[catholicfreeper]

Lsu 3rd possession of the game they score
LSU 21 Miss State 0 3 40 left in the 1st quarter

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

well it'll be 7 when it comes one, so I won't be watching too much of the game anyway....

[MikefromOhio]

ouch

[aft_lizard]

7? Oh wait you are in the eastern time zone. I tell you one thing this Chase Daniels for Mizzou is very good.

[MikefromOhio]

I could've said the same thing about Arizona...

[MikefromOhio]

yep

Just think if they hadn't been trying to glorify Brad Smith these last couple years....

[catholicfreeper]

4th possession LSU scores again LSU 28 Auburn 0

Oh just tiny four yards against Auburn and LSU would be the talk of the nation. Well no we would be getting screwed somehow. But that is why we watch the game and makes it fun. By the way that Alabama/Florida game I predict it is going to be a great one.

[MikefromOhio]

I don't think Alabama has the offense to keep that game close.

[MikefromOhio]

maybe...

there's a lot that can happen between now and then

[aft_lizard]

In there defense he was all they had for a couple of years.

[catholicfreeper]

I am not sold on USC yet. I usually hate USC but its hard for me not to root for them since a local boy is their quarterback. That being said I think their game tonight is critical. If they handle it well I will become a believer

[MikefromOhio]

yeah but last year was pathetic....

if they had opened it up a bit...they would've been just fine.