By Aaron M Smith
Week 10 of the college football season brings us the most anticipated game of the 2011 season, as well as a smorgasbord of college football games that could potentially have huge ramifications on the Pickin’ Splinters College Football Poll. The Top 5 teams in the PSCFP are in action this weekend, and it promises to be a Hootenanny of a weekend. Let’s take a look:
LSU (#1 PSCFP) vs. Alabama (#2 PSCFP):
The game of the college football season. The #1 and #2 teams in the country face off. What’s on the line? Well a probable place in the SEC Championship Game for starters. Follow that up with a driver’s seat view to the National Championship, and there is plenty on the line. Many are calling this the real National Championship game, and they might be right. Both teams had a bye week to prepare. Both teams sport top defenses. Alabama has Heisman hopeful, Trent Richardson in its backfield. The Tigers have a two headed attack at the QB position with Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson. Bryant-Denny Stadium will be rocking and in the end – I think it will be difference. Alabama wins in a low scoring game, 24-23.
Kansas State (#14 PSCFP) vs. Oklahoma State (#3 PSCFP):
Life isn’t fair in the Big 12. What do you get for losing to Oklahoma at home 58-17? How about a date with the high powered Oklahoma State Cowboys? After giving up 690 yards in total offense, including 505 passing yards, Bill Snyder is looking for a Staple’s easy button. Snyder needs to shore up his defense against the Cowboy’s aerial attack led by Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon. Add a red-hot Joseph Randle to the mix and this is a game that can get away from the Wildcats in a hurry. Oklahoma State wins 49-27.
Boise State (#4 PSCFP) vs. UNLV:
On paper this looks like blowout. But Boise State looked flat in their 37-26 win over Air Force back on October, 22nd. Was Boise State just looking ahead to a bye week? Expect Kellen Moore and Doug Martin to prevent this Broncos’ team from becoming complacent. Boise State wins 49-10.
Stanford (#5 PSCFP) vs. Oregon State:
An interesting stat about Andrew Luck – he has yet to win in the state of Oregon as a member of the Stanford Cardinal. This may be the weekend to do it, but strange things have been know to happen in Corvallis, Oregon. After a dramatic 3 OT game against USC, can Stanford prevent the proverbial letdown? It starts with the Cardinal defense which gave up a season worst 432 yards against USC. After then it is a heavy dose of Andrew Luck. The streak continues. Stanford wins 38-17.
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma (#6 PSCFP):
After suffering their 3rd loss at home, things don’t get any easier for Mike Sherman’s Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies now travel to Norman, Oklahoma to take on a Sooners team that mandhandled Kansas State, 58-17. The Sooners dropped their last home game in surprising fashion to Texas Tech. Oklahoma will be without leading rushing Dominique Whaley for the rest of season, but they might miss him for this game. Texas A&M has the worst pass defense allowing over 300 yards per game. Landry Jones fresh off a 505 yard performance is licking his chops. The Aggies will have to slow down Jones to have a chance. Oklahoma wins 45-33.
South Carolina (#13 PSCFP) vs. Arkansas (#8 PSCFP):
After the LSU/Alabama game, this might be the best game of the weekend. We will now see how good South Carolina is without star running back, Marcus Lattimore. South Carolina has had a hard time with the Razorback’s offense in recent years and will have the similar issues with QB Tyler Wilson at the helm. While throwing for 13 TDs, Wilson has been effective in protecting the ball, throwing only 3 INTs. An inexperienced Conor Shaw leads the Gamecock’s offense, and expect the Gamecocks to try and prevent a shootout. To successfully do that, the Gamecocks will have to control the game on the ground, which places the pressure on Brandon Wilds. Gamecocks in the upset, 23-21.
Oregon (#7 PSCFP) vs. Washington:
The Oregon Ducks invade Husky Stadium on what should be a high scoring affair. The Ducks are starting to get healthy, and expect QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James to lead the charge in this PAC-12 match-up. The Huskies have a high-powered offense as well, led by QB Keith Price and RB Chris Polk. Polk ran for career-high 5 TDs in last week’s win over Arizona. With a match-up looming against #3 Stanford, could the Ducks get caught napping? Something tells me that Chip Kelly will have his squad ready. Oregon wins 45-28.
Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest:
These teams have the exact same record(5-3), but are heading in opposite directions. The Demon Deacons have lost 2 of their last 3 games. The Fighting Irish have won 5 of their last 6 games, including a convincing 56-14 win over Navy. Expect the Irish to continue their 2 headed rushing attack led by Cierre Woods and Jonas Gray. When the running attack is working, it allows Rees to utilize the play action and target favorites Michael Floyd and Theo Riddick. Notre Dame wins 38-27.
Have a prediction? Have a game to discuss? Let’s hear it on the Pine. But of all things – enjoy. It is going to be an Hootenanny of a weekend.
almost makes me want to take timeout to catch a game or two…
I don’t have a good feeling about Stanford going into Corvalis.
LSU will not score 20 against the Tide.
upset alert in washington …
LSU has been impressive on the road (at Oreg and WVA). I believe they will impress again. LSU has continued to find a way to get it done. ND/WF won’t be anywhere near that close as Irish romp. I think K State rebounds in a big way to pull the upset, S Carolina squeaks by again and Oregon wins big over a Wash team that is still a year away. Funny how no Big 10 games make our slate any more! But if there is a game of interest to me, it’s Northwestern at Nebr. Look for an upset here. I would say that the academically-minded Wildcats “will outsmart” the Huskers, but in fact at last count Nebraska had more Academic All Americans than any other schoo; ND is second.l
I can’t name a single player on LSU’s team. Yet what’s funny is that people have bashed Les Miles in the past. Never understood that. Apparently the guy can coach. I agree with you Smitty on the low scoring affair, but have to flip this coin to determine who wins.
…….
Heads. LSU wins.
Rey – great points about Miles.
That coin that you flipped. Was it a quarter? Or a fifty-cent piece?
Quarter.
Anyone else watch College GameDay this morning? Brian Wilson annoys the heck out of me, but he had me rolling along with Herbstreit while making their picks.
Brian Wilson? Was he lying in bed? 🙂
I agree that when you really compare LSU and Alabama – there aren’t many differences. While LSU is pretty good on the road, playing 2 or 3 tough games on the road earlier in the year will definitely help them. In the end though, I think Alabama wins.
Does Miles do more with “Les”??
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. 🙂
Is Matt Barkley playing himself into the Heisman race? Granted his 6 TD passes last night were against Colorado. But he borderline outplayed Andrew Luck the week before, and he was huge in USC’s win over Notre Dame. Chicks dig the QB, so is he earning himself a trip to New York?
Re: Barkley – I HOPE NOT! Does the USuC ban extend to individual awards? I hope so!
Re: Les Miles; one reason I pick LSU tonight is I believe he is vastly underrarted.
Is Michigan in the process of being eliminated from the top 15? Down 24-9 to Iowa.
Casey – MIchigan has definitely played itself out of the Top 15…
Haven’t seen a second of football today, heard the Michig Nan/Iowa game was wild though. While I agree that Miles is underrated, I still think Saban is definitely the better coach. Ill take Bama in a squeaker because I think Richardson is the best college back since Adrian Peterson. Bama 20 LSU 16.
No other game worth watching Saturday night IMO. Id rather watch the Bama/LSU halftime show than any of the other games.
Am I glad I didn’t pick A&M to upset OU! And looks like I nailed NU “outsmarting” Nebr.
Pete with the prediction!! Northwestern with the upset! Guess we are finding out about Nebraska a week early.
Geez Les – trying to defend you but did LSU just throw the ball 5 times on 4 downs in the red zone???
Turnovers are keeping Kansas State in the game. 2 INTs by Weeden and a fumble by Blackmon.
OSU is on upset alert!
These defenses are good.
Just some thoughts:
1) LSU had the better gameplan, as constantly pointed out by the broadcasters. I liked how the second line of the defense just went right at Richardson’s knees and left no doubt on his going down. Nobody tried to go up high on a tackle and that probably made a difference on more than a few runs.
2) With that said, I stick by my mantra that all undefeated teams should stay ahead of ‘Bama. No – I do not want to see a rematch of LSU-‘Bama. LSU won. If they play 50 more times, well, you know the rest. ‘Bama had their shot and lost the pre-national championship game. I’d like to move on and see one of these undefeateds get their shot. Should an undefeated not remain at the end of the season, I still say ‘Bama is at best #3.
3) Funny thing, these college games. K-State looked like it was playing in rookie mode on a video game. Their QB looked slow, yet he busted so many runs and kept K-State in the game. OK State’s defense never really caught on and kept letting the ‘Cats back in the game. That is not good, especially when you have a date with the Sooners coming up. But they survived, so kudos to them for fending off a pesky opponent.
4) Between those two games, my ‘last channel’ button is worn out.
HELMET STICKER!