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]

Another fun weekend is here!!!

[MikefromOhio]

College Football Ping.

Freepmail me to be added to this list.

[thoughtomator]

Is there a version without flashing landmine images?

[MikefromOhio]

No :)

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Irritating and waste of time on your added graphics.

[MikefromOhio]

better now?

[MikefromOhio]

I think I'm allowed to waste my time however I wish....especially since I'm making the threads...

just a thought....

[sean327]

Mike your wrong about Air Force/New Mexico. This game has traditionaly been a battle since both teams were in the old WAC. There is also no love lost between Fisher Deberry and Rocky Long, and that feeling generaly applies to the players. This will be a good hard fought game, and it will be closer than the spread you give. I think New Mexico will come out on top in this one. No one gave the Lobos a chance last week, but they sent "Table Dance" Mike Price back to El Paso with his stupid pick axe buried in his backside!

[misterrob]

No appreciation for the work that you do....

No Ping List complainers

[MikefromOhio]

yeah that didn't make much sense to me.

it's partially my fault because I hadn't up to last week actually watched what New Mexico brought to the table.

Air Force is a different team than UTEP and Fisher DeBerry could outcoach Mike Price with half his brain tied behind his back....

I could be wrong :) It wouldn't be the first time.

[MikefromOhio]

ah well...

the blinking landmine will be back next week :)

[sean327]

The land mines are a nice touch by the way. Don't change it!

[subterfuge]

Thanks for posting MIke.

Florida is out to avenge their first loss last year, when they were also 4-0, to Alabama---a 31-3 pasting.

Those 'Bammers are talking some serious trash on their message boards.

Go Get 'em GATORS!!!

[MikefromOhio]

what I should do is edit it and make it explode somehow.....

hmmmmm...

I'll leave the solid ones up for this week, but the blinkers come back next week :)

[MikefromOhio]

Florida has the offense going well and Alabama hasn't shown much spark recently.

Rivalry games are notoriously tricky in picking, but I think Florida has the momentum going into this game.

[MikefromOhio]

The thread has been up for something like 30 minutes and we already have an upset alert

At the half:

BYU 10

TCU 3

TCU has the nation's longest winning streak.

[sean327]

TCU better get their act together, they need to stay undefeated so the Mountain West will remain the only conference to bust the damn BCS!

Not only am I a New Mexico homer, I'm also a Mountain West homer!!!!

[MikefromOhio]

LOL!!!

Never know, if TCU chokes it away, that would put the winner of UTAH - Boise St into the driver's seat...

[LA Woman3]

Texas A&M vs. Texas Tech should be a great game this weekend!
Gig 'em Aggies!!!!

Also....the T.O. 911 call has been released and is posted on ESPN.com.

[MikefromOhio]

The fat lady isn't singing yet, but she's warming up

With about 10 minutes left...

BYU 17

TCU 3