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.

[LisaMalia]

Miracles do happen though.....

All the pundits said the Buckeye defense was our "weak link". I hope this game, and others before this one, show why we DESERVE to be ranked NUMBER ONE!...and the BCS rankings should follow suit.

Congrats to Iowa for a hard fought ballgame. Hopefully, we will finally be taken seriously, and also the Big Ten as a conference. GO BUCKS!!!!!!

[MikefromOhio]

yeah I don't know....

they must have a different rule book

[MikefromOhio]

yeah...

they are very opportunistic.

They give up a bit too much on the ground for my taste, but they get the job done.

[aft_lizard]

I don't know, if we go into ISU next week like we played tonight we will get beat.

[MikefromOhio]

Ok a quick recap

Auburn, Ohio State, USC and and Michigan won to keep them in the hunt for the National Championship.

Georgia and Mississippi are playing the game where offense goes to die.

Nebraska won by the skin of their teeth against Kansas. They can look decent to good against better opponents, but they seem to play down sometimes to their lesser opponents.

Florida won a close game by a deceptively large margin against Alabama. The Alabama defense kept them in the game, but their offense just could not get it going.

The upset of the day, assuming that Georgia doesn't go down, was completed by Georgia Tech against Virginia Tech. GT was able to get plays from their playmakers, and VT just couldn't respond in time.

[LisaMalia]

Gosh, for a Buckeye fan, you seem kinda critical?

Are you sure you bleed scarlet and gray?...:)

[Perdogg]

When Iowa become the Iowa Steelers?

[MikefromOhio]

I have to be realistic.

They won didn't they?

:)

Honestly they could've put up 40 on Iowa.

[MikefromOhio]

When Iowa become the Iowa Steelers?

??

[Perdogg]

The uniforms. Iowa used to black and zest yellow, now they are black and pro gold (like the gold in the steelers and chargers).

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

The Noles looked quite impressive today.

[MikefromOhio]

They've been that way for a while...

guess you don't see many Iowa games :)

They've been pure gold for at least 8 years that I can think of....

[catholicfreeper]

USC looked again overrated a tad to me for the second week in a role. However Booty does do a good job of game management

[MikefromOhio]

yeah I think they beat the spread LOL

[MikefromOhio]

yeah....

All you can worry about is that your team takes care of business.

While I don't think there's a debate about #1 or #4 for that matter, 2 and 3 are very debatable and honestly both polls will continue to be split.

I'm kinda relieved that I was more or less right about both, although the Wazzu game was a bit closer than I expected.

I wonder what the game would have looked like if USC had their best WR....oh well...

[LisaMalia]

Honestly they could've put up 40 on Iowa. They won didn't they?

THEY?.....any Ohio State fan would have said "we"..lol

Tressell doesn't work that way. That's why I have so much respect for him. He may just quietly slip in another NC for us this year.

So, Mike, who is your favorite college football team?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Has there been any update on the player for Kansas sent to the hospital?

[Perdogg]

I haven't seen too many Iowa games, but I do remember at one time it being more of a maize gold.

[catholicfreeper]

Ole Miss Aint going away. THis one is going to come down to the wire

[BookmanTheJanitor]

USC looked again overrated a tad to me for the second week in a role. However Booty does do a good job of game management

I agree. They do not look like a top 5 team to me. The injuries are really starting to add up. Couple that with too many inexperienced players and I just don't see them remaining undefeated for long. Believe me, I take no joy in saying this.