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]

sorely solely :)


I probably spelled it wrong when I was typing too fast and the spellcheck caught it and I didn't realize I picked the wrong word :)

[MikefromOhio]

I was looking for Field Goals....

If it were Clemson BC again, I'd go for missed PATs :)

[dfwgator]

We had two PATs blocked last week against Kentucky, we'd better get that fixed ASAP.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah....

there's no excuse for that.

what is it with PATs this year?

Just watch, a missed PAT will decided either a BCS game or who goes to a BCS game.

[PRND21]

Auburn did that tonight.

Overrated!
Take Arkansas and the points against Auburnt next week.
Lock of the year.

[MikefromOhio]

since we don't know what the spread will be yet, that isn't even in the calculation....

I know where you're going with this, but you've got to worry about Washington St this week don't you?

[PRND21]

since we don't know what the spread will be yet, that isn't even in the calculation....

Spread doesn't matter. Give it one of these-

As for SC, I fear the fake grass in Spokane almost as much as the shin high grass in South Bend.

[MikefromOhio]

It isn't the grass you should worry about, it's going up against a decent offense without your best WR....

[MikefromOhio]

Rutgers Fight Song

And tonight we have Rutgers defending their first ranking in 30 years on ESPN2.....

[bwteim]

I will try to do as well as I did with Auburn v Gamecocks. Since I know little about USF and less about Rutgers... so my pick is USF 34 - Rutgers 23

[aft_lizard]

Mustain is too green and the Auburn D will eat him alive.

[aft_lizard]

I look for them to take care of business again. 35-17.

[MikefromOhio]

I went here:

Rutgers 24 – South Florida 19

But like an idiot I didn't separate this game out like I should have because it's on a Friday Night.

[MikefromOhio]

possibly.

Depends on the South Florida QB.

He's pretty young.

[aft_lizard]

They looked far from impressive against a lackluster KU squad, I think Rutgers is at least 2tds better than KU.

[Dog Gone]

USC's third WR is better than Washington State's first WR. That's no reason to be cocky, but if USC gets upset this year, it's surely not going to be by Washington State.

Cal, Arizona State, maybe even UCLA are bigger obstacles. The Notre Dame game always looked like a big one, especially after that game for the ages last season, but Notre Dame isn't scaring anyone right now.

But that matchup is the last game of the season, and the landscape will probably look much different than in September.

[MikefromOhio]

Rutgers 7

South Florida 0

[bwteim]

I'm still picking USF over Rutgers;)

[MikefromOhio]

:)

[bwteim]

But Hill dropping that ball ain't helping me... plus that field goal kicker... sheesh.