by WCT, The Ship of Fools
pic: College Game Balls
Its week 5! The first weekend of fall, and I'm pumped. We have a great slate of games this week as conference play begins in earnest across the college football landscape. This week also takes on new meeting for several contenders of the now vacant #1 spot in the nation, as USC - who now has three crippling and inexplicable losses in three years, and two to bad Oregon State teams - will inevitably drop in the polls.
We have two top 5 teams that welcome ranked opponents (including another big night game in the SEC), a primetime matchup of ranked teams in Happy Valley, a game that old-timers remember as a rivalry (that will be a blowout this year), and the (probable) return of the most talked-about toe in college football (along with the running back attached to said toe).
I promise it will all make sense if you keep reading.
All times eastern, lets go!
Minnesota at Ohio State (-18) - Noon - I mention this game only because it signals the (likely) return of Buckeye Jr RB Chris Wells. After an interminable period of secrecy, smokescreens, innuendo, and misinformation, OSU coach Jim Tressel listed Wells as "probable" this week. We still aren't sure what the injury was - we know it involves is right foot, probably his right big toe - or the extent to which it healed. A lot has happened since Wells went down late in the game on August 30th. Todd Boeckman (who, incidentally, did not throw a TD pass in any of the games since Wells' injury) has been supplanted as starter, seemingly for good. Its amazing how many warts on the OSU offense Wells' ability covered up. It will be interesting to see what this team looks like with Wells and Terrelle Pryor in the same backfield.
Ole Miss at Florida (-22.5) - 12:30pm - Apparently I am the only one that thinks that the Rebels are an SEC sleeper. Vegas certainly doesn't think so. I'm going to go one more week on the one-man "watch out for Jevean Snead and Ole Miss!" campaign. I will take the points.
Arkansas at Texas (-27.5) - 3:30pm - Evidently, these two teams used to have quite a rivalry in the old Southwest Conference. Who knew? Texas has quietly risen to #7 in the nation by beating up on nobodies. Did you know that in two weeks the Longhonrns begin a stretch where they play, in succession, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech? They could very easily lose each of those games. On November 1st, we will know a lot about Texas, but for right now, the beating up on nobodies continues - not sure if you've noticed, but Arkansas really misses Darren McFadden and Felix Jones because they stink right now - so I'll take Texas.
Tennessee at Auburn (-6.5) - 3:30pm - Every year, Tennessee rises from the dead to win at least one game that makes you go, wha? Last year, in the middle of a mediocre season, they destroyed a good Georgia team. This point spread leads me to believe that the oddsmakers seem to think that the Vols are going to overachieve in this game too. There is no reason that a Tennessee team that lost to a bad UCLA team, and was just embarrassed in Gainesville, should be getting fewer than 10 points at Auburn. I'm not going to take the bait. I'm going to take the points and hope Tennessee keeps it close.
TCU at Oklahoma (-18.5) - 7pm - The Sooners finally take on a ranked team (who knew TCU was ranked?) as they welcome the Horned Frogs to Norman. I'm not sure how you can sneak into the top 25 by beating the likes of Stephen F. Austin and SMU, but here TCU is, ranked #24 in the AP poll. What a banner year this has been for the Mountain West Conference, huh? 3 ranked teams? (Also BYU and Utah) That's more than the Pac-10! Did you know that the last time these two teams played, TCU beat then #7 ranked Oklahoma in 2005? Do you know what that means for this game? Absolutely nothing. I'm afraid that TCU is going to get smacked back to reality this weekend. Take OU.
Alabama at Georgia (-7) - 7:45pm - Finally, the first big test for each of these teams (no, Arizona State was not a test for UGA. And no, Clemson was not a test for 'bama). These two teams are testament to the depth in the SEC: Are they the top two teams in the Conference? Are they 4th and 5th best? Who knows. Alabama is still somewhat young, and I have never been sold on John Parker Wilson (or anyone with 3 names for that matter. What, "John Wilson" isn't a good enough name for you?). Georgia is the more talented team of the two, but you cannot underestimate Nick Saban's ability to coach his team up in a big game. I'm going to take the points, but I think Georgia wins a close game.
Illinois at Penn State (-15) - 8pm - I hate to break every game down to its gambling implications, but I cannot believe the spread in this game. The Nittany Lions have accomplished a whole lot of nothing this year in blowing out the Coastal Carolinas and Temples of the world. Yes, they have looked impressive so far in outscoring opponents 211-40 so far this year, but Illinois hung around with a great Missouri team. I guess the blowout win over Oregon State looks better in light of last night's events, but I'm not sure how far you can carry out that whole "if we beat them, and then they beat them, then we could beat them" theory. The enitre eastern half of the United States is supposed to be covered with rain and wind all weekend, which is not good for scoring. I think the Illini keep it closer than 2 TDs.
pic: College Game BallsIts week 5! The first weekend of fall, and I'm pumped. We have a great slate of games this week as conference play begins in earnest across the college football landscape. This week also takes on new meeting for several contenders of the now vacant #1 spot in the nation, as USC - who now has three crippling and inexplicable losses in three years, and two to bad Oregon State teams - will inevitably drop in the polls.
We have two top 5 teams that welcome ranked opponents (including another big night game in the SEC), a primetime matchup of ranked teams in Happy Valley, a game that old-timers remember as a rivalry (that will be a blowout this year), and the (probable) return of the most talked-about toe in college football (along with the running back attached to said toe).
I promise it will all make sense if you keep reading.
All times eastern, lets go!
Minnesota at Ohio State (-18) - Noon - I mention this game only because it signals the (likely) return of Buckeye Jr RB Chris Wells. After an interminable period of secrecy, smokescreens, innuendo, and misinformation, OSU coach Jim Tressel listed Wells as "probable" this week. We still aren't sure what the injury was - we know it involves is right foot, probably his right big toe - or the extent to which it healed. A lot has happened since Wells went down late in the game on August 30th. Todd Boeckman (who, incidentally, did not throw a TD pass in any of the games since Wells' injury) has been supplanted as starter, seemingly for good. Its amazing how many warts on the OSU offense Wells' ability covered up. It will be interesting to see what this team looks like with Wells and Terrelle Pryor in the same backfield.
Ole Miss at Florida (-22.5) - 12:30pm - Apparently I am the only one that thinks that the Rebels are an SEC sleeper. Vegas certainly doesn't think so. I'm going to go one more week on the one-man "watch out for Jevean Snead and Ole Miss!" campaign. I will take the points.
Arkansas at Texas (-27.5) - 3:30pm - Evidently, these two teams used to have quite a rivalry in the old Southwest Conference. Who knew? Texas has quietly risen to #7 in the nation by beating up on nobodies. Did you know that in two weeks the Longhonrns begin a stretch where they play, in succession, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech? They could very easily lose each of those games. On November 1st, we will know a lot about Texas, but for right now, the beating up on nobodies continues - not sure if you've noticed, but Arkansas really misses Darren McFadden and Felix Jones because they stink right now - so I'll take Texas.
Tennessee at Auburn (-6.5) - 3:30pm - Every year, Tennessee rises from the dead to win at least one game that makes you go, wha? Last year, in the middle of a mediocre season, they destroyed a good Georgia team. This point spread leads me to believe that the oddsmakers seem to think that the Vols are going to overachieve in this game too. There is no reason that a Tennessee team that lost to a bad UCLA team, and was just embarrassed in Gainesville, should be getting fewer than 10 points at Auburn. I'm not going to take the bait. I'm going to take the points and hope Tennessee keeps it close.
TCU at Oklahoma (-18.5) - 7pm - The Sooners finally take on a ranked team (who knew TCU was ranked?) as they welcome the Horned Frogs to Norman. I'm not sure how you can sneak into the top 25 by beating the likes of Stephen F. Austin and SMU, but here TCU is, ranked #24 in the AP poll. What a banner year this has been for the Mountain West Conference, huh? 3 ranked teams? (Also BYU and Utah) That's more than the Pac-10! Did you know that the last time these two teams played, TCU beat then #7 ranked Oklahoma in 2005? Do you know what that means for this game? Absolutely nothing. I'm afraid that TCU is going to get smacked back to reality this weekend. Take OU.
Alabama at Georgia (-7) - 7:45pm - Finally, the first big test for each of these teams (no, Arizona State was not a test for UGA. And no, Clemson was not a test for 'bama). These two teams are testament to the depth in the SEC: Are they the top two teams in the Conference? Are they 4th and 5th best? Who knows. Alabama is still somewhat young, and I have never been sold on John Parker Wilson (or anyone with 3 names for that matter. What, "John Wilson" isn't a good enough name for you?). Georgia is the more talented team of the two, but you cannot underestimate Nick Saban's ability to coach his team up in a big game. I'm going to take the points, but I think Georgia wins a close game.
Illinois at Penn State (-15) - 8pm - I hate to break every game down to its gambling implications, but I cannot believe the spread in this game. The Nittany Lions have accomplished a whole lot of nothing this year in blowing out the Coastal Carolinas and Temples of the world. Yes, they have looked impressive so far in outscoring opponents 211-40 so far this year, but Illinois hung around with a great Missouri team. I guess the blowout win over Oregon State looks better in light of last night's events, but I'm not sure how far you can carry out that whole "if we beat them, and then they beat them, then we could beat them" theory. The enitre eastern half of the United States is supposed to be covered with rain and wind all weekend, which is not good for scoring. I think the Illini keep it closer than 2 TDs.
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