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]

maybe

[MikefromOhio]

nope

[MikefromOhio]

well I was going to go with Texas A&M vs. Army, but this one is a close second to that.

[Richard Kimball]

Good game, though. I was pulling for SC, but Auburn earned it.

[Dog Gone]

Thanks for the channel info. This one is over. Close game.

[scott says]

Done....

[MikefromOhio]

Winning ugly. Every championship team has to win an ugly game or three during the year. TCU was not able to do it, but Auburn was.

The Finals:

BYU 31
TCU 17

Prediction:

Auburn 23 - South Carolina 16

The Final:

Auburn 24
South Carolina 17

1-0 SU
1-0 ATS

[LisaMalia]

Congrats to SC for playing a hard fought game.

Their fans should be proud.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah....

As I just said, teams have to win ugly to win a championship.

Auburn did that tonight.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah I think they are...

[phoenix0468]

Prediction:

Auburn 23 - South Carolina 16

The Final:

Auburn 24 South Carolina 17

Not the rout I suspected it would have been. Good prediction Mike.

[LisaMalia]

So when do we get a chance to post our predictions for this Sat.'s games?...:)

[MikefromOhio]

3 factors

Spurrier

ESPN Thursday night games are sometimes crazy and they hadn't had one yet

and South Carolina isn't that bad a team.

[MikefromOhio]

You can do it whenever you want :)

There is a game tomorrow, so I'll be back online then probably.

[commish]

1) Ohio State (-6.5) at (13) Iowa
Upset Special -- Iowa 17 - Ohio State 14

(2) Auburn (-14) at South Carolina
Auburn 17 – South Carolina 6 (Made Prediction on Other Thread earlier today)

(3) USC (-17) at Washington State
USC 34 – Washington St. 14

Alabama at (5) Florida (-16)
Florida 21 – Alabama 13

(6) Michigan (-9.5) at Minnesota
Michigan 38 – Minnesota 7

Sam Houston St. at (7) Texas (NL)
Texas 63 – Sam Houston St 0

Mississippi St. at (9) LSU (-33)
LSU 45 – Miss St. 0

10) UGA (-18) at Mississippi
UGA 31 – Mississippi 7

(24) Georgia Tech at (11) Virginia Tech (-10.5)
UPSET SPECIAL 2 - GT 27 – VT 24

Purdue at (12) Notre Dame (-14)
NOtre Dame 41 - Purdue 28

(14) Oregon at Arizona St (-1.5)
Oregon 28 – Arizona St. 20

(15) Tennessee (-13) at Memphis
Tennessee 28 – Memphis 17

LA Tech at (18) Clemson (-33.5)
Clemson 56 – LA Tech 7

(20) Cal (-9.5) at Oregon St
Cal 38 – Oregon St. 13

Kansas at (21) Nebraska (-23)
Nebraska 31 – Kansas 14

(22) Boise State at Utah (-5.5)
UTAH 27 - Boise St. 24

(23) Rutgers (-4) at South Florida
Rutgers 28 – South Florida 24

Colorado at (25) Missouri (-16)
Mizzou 21 – Colorado 20

New Mexico at Air Force (-13.5)
Air Force 27 - UNM 21

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Well I certainly hope you are a man of your word!

[mainepatsfan]

South Carolina hung in there longer than I thought they would.

[bwteim]

Good prediction, Mike.

Here was mine from Monday night
"Auburn will take them, but it won't be easy. The Gamecocks will have a good home crowd. Figure maybe 27 - 21 from AU scoring 3 TDs and two field goals, and SC scrapping for 3 TDs (no field goals, not Spurrier's style."

79 posted on 09/25/2006 9:43:33 PM EDT by bwteim
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1708203/posts?page=79#79

[lepton]

The betting lines (used sorely

Only if you actually place bets...

[dfwgator]

Prediction: Auburn 23 - South Carolina 16 The Final: Auburn 24 South Carolina 17

Did you base your prediction on each kicker making three FGs, or on each kicker missing a PAT?