NCAA Week 6 picks

Not as many marque match-ups this week, and seemingly fewer opportunities for upsets.  Of course, the upsets are NEVER predicted!

Tuesday Oct 6
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Troy Trojans:  Troy doesn't stink by as much as I thought they would this season, but they are still in rebuilding phase.  Middle Tennessee has had some rough games, but they get up for conference play.  MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Thurs Oct 8
#15 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #10 Missouri Tigers:  Both teams had extra time to prepare for this game, but I think Missouri might be a little tougher.  In this conference, though, this game could go either way.  MISSOURI

Fri Oct 9
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Nevada Wolfpack:  Nevada was a dark horse favorite for BCS busting in the preseason, but they've mainly been a bust.  Their decline should continue.  LOUISIANA TECH

Top 25
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide at #23 Ole Miss Rebels:  The Tide's defense should crush Ole Miss, but this team might get up for the game.  Ole Miss beat them last year, so they have an idea what to do.  Of course, you have to consider that revenge factor... ALABAMA

Colorado Buffaloes at #3 Texas Longhorns: Given the season the Buffs are having, this should be a blow-out.  TEXAS

#5 Auburn Tigers at Arkansas Razorbacks:  Arkansas fights hard, but Auburn seems to have things in control this season.  They haven't been overly impressive the last couple of weeks, though.  If the Tigers think this will be an easy game, the Razorbacks might surprise them.  AUBURN

Iowa State Cyclones at #6 Kansas Jayhawks:  Iowa State isn't bad this year, but their defense can't slow down Kansas, and their offense can't keep pace.  KANSAS

#19 Michigan Wolverines at #8 Iowa Hawkeyes:  Rich Rodriquez rarely allows one of his teams to lose two in a row, but I have to go there.  Iowa has proven to be a force in the conference this year, and they have the tools to pester freshman QB Todd Forcier.  IOWA

#22 Wisconsin Badgers at #12 Ohio State Buckeyes:  Wisconsin has won a couple of games on luck this year.  I think they're luck will run out against the Buckeyes.  The defense is sharp again, and the offense is moving, so Ohio State should easily prevail.  OHIO STATE

#13 Oregon Ducks at UCLA Bruins:  Will UCLA fight back after their first loss of the season?  Yes, but Oregon will be fiestier.  The Ducks have played with a chip on their shoulders since their embarrassing opening weekend loss, and they get stronger each week.  OREGON

Eastern Illinois at #14 Penn State Nittany Lions:  Pie of cake against an FCS opponent.  PENN STATE

#16 Stanford Cardinal at Oregon State Beavers:  The Beavers tend to engineer one upset game a year (twice against USC); could this week be the one?  Maybe, but Jim Harbaugh seems to have this team on the right track this year.  STANFORD

Boston College Eagles at #17 Virginia Tech Hokies:  BC is always capable of surprises, but it seems as though Virginia Tech has better control than they started the season.  VIRGINA TECH

Oklahoma State Cowboys at #18 Texas A&M Aggies:  This game will truly demonstrate whether A&M has what it takes to compete in the Big XII this season.  The Cowboys looked confused earlier in the season, but are catching fire.  If the Aggies want to remain contenders, this is a crucial game.  I think they're up to it, but watch out for the Cowboys!  TEXAS A&M

#21 BYU Cougars at UNLV Running Rebels:  BYU has some nice warmup games before their match against TCU.  BYU

UConn Huskies at #24 Pitt Panthers:  Connecticut is no pushover, and this is their conference opener.  Pitt needs to avoid a letdown.  They have the tools to win this game, if they don't make stupid mistakes, a flaw they've suffered the past few seasons.  PITT

Kentucky Wildcats at #25 South Carolina Gamecocks:  South Carolina should have the upper hand here, but these SEC rivalry battles can always get tough.  SOUTH CAROLINA

Big Ten
Miami Ohio RedHawks at Northwestern Wildcats:  Northwestern is posting a pretty good season, while Miami Ohio finds themselves near the cellar.  The MAC has had a good season against the Big Ten; the Wildcats get to swing one the other way.  NORTHWESTERN

Michigan State Spartans at Illinois Fighting Illini:  Illinois needs to fire their offensive coordinator!  They have a lot of talent on this team, but it's wasted.  Confused signals, poor choices on downs, and lack of offensive line protection has given Illinois fits, and State's powerful front four will only make matters worse.  MICHIGAN STATE

Purdue Boilermakers at Minnesota Golden Gophers:  Minnesota is a good team, they've just had some trouble finishing in the fourth quarter.  Purdue has suffered that problem, too, so I think Minnesota will get this one.  MINNESOTA

Indiana Hoosiers at Virginia Cavaliers:  Pity Virginia fans.  This has been a tough year for the faithful.  Playing a deceptively strong Indiana team won't help, either.  INDIANA

Other games of Interest
Baylor Bears at Oklahoma Sooners:  It is clearly a sign of respect that I think the Bears have a chance to win this game.  They are a much-improved team this year, while the Sooners are a bit "off".  Oklahoma has shown they can win with or without Sam Bradford, so his health will be less of an issue than the Sooners' own preparation.  If they think they're facing the Baylor of old, they'll lose.  If they take this game seriously, they should win, although it'll be a dangerously close game.  OKLAHOMA

Utah Utes at Colorado State Rams:  It's been a while since the Utes were unranked at this point in the season.  Colorado State has been playing well, and would love to return to the Top 25 after so many years.  A win over the Utes might do that, but I'm sure the Rams are quite capable of that yet.  UTAH

Florida A&M at Miami Hurricanes:  Another "cheap" victory against an FCS team.  Since the point spread won't count in my system, the Hurricanes will remain with a NEGATIVE score on points scored v points allowed against FBS opponents.  MIAMI

TCU Horned Frogs at Air Force Falcons:  TCU's first real challenge, this starts a tough three-week stretch (they next have Colorado State and then BYU).  I think the Frogs will win this one, but I don't think they'll emerge unscathed from the three-game stretch.  TCU

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Florida State Seminoles:  Florida State is the media's darling, but they haven't been living up to expectations.  Georgia Tech's defense is still capable of terrorizing foes, and their offense gets the job done.  That's more than I can say for Florida State.  GEORGIA TECH

Idaho Vandals at San Jose State Spartans:  After years of being the dregs of the WAC, the Vandals are showing power.  On the other hand, San Jose is slipping badly.  IDAHO

Georgia Bulldogs at Tennessee Volunteers:  Georgia has not lived up to the preseason hype, but Lane Kiffin can't seem to finish games for the Vols, either.  Georgia will succeed merely by continuing to play in the fourth quarter.  GEORGIA

Game of the Week:  #2 Florida Gators at #7 LSU Tigers:  With the extra week, Tim Tebow should return from his concussion.  His practice time will be limited, though, and the speed will be reduced.  The Tigers are also very capable of giving opponents headaches.  Now that Tebow has shown himself to be human and fragile, expect lots of pressure and hits from the Tigers.  That might just throw off the Gators' game plan enough for an upset.  LSU in a shocker!