Week 5 College Football

Games of the Week


#8 Oklahoma @ #17 Miami (+7)

Players:

Oklahoma: QB Landry Jones (or Sam Bradford), RB Demarco Murray, WR Ryan Broyles

Miami: QB Jacory Harris, RB Graig Cooper, WR Aldarius Johnson

The Sooner defense has been the difference since their opening loss, shutting out back to back opponents, while Landry Jones has filled in nicely. Miami got off to a great start with wins over FSU and GT. Last week though they travelled to VT and were dominated as favorites in a game played in a downpour. I think both teams will be ready to play this one, the Sooners with a chance to erase any doubt after their loss to BYU, while Miami will be back in the sunshine of South Florida knowing that their impatient fans will forget their hot start if they don’t perform well here. With the nation jumping on the Hurricane bandwagon after their quick start and jumping off just as quickly when they crashed in Blacksburg, I think Miami will relish the underdog role again. But will they be good enough to beat a Sooners team hungry to get back in the National Title picture. This will be a very good matchup of ACC and Big 12 powers.

#4 LSU @ #18 Georgia (-3)

LSU: QB Jordan Jefferson, RBs Charles Scott and Keiland Williams, WR Brandon LaFell

Georgia: QB Joe Cox, RB Richard Samuel, WR AJ Green

LSU comes into this game ranked 4th in the country but have not looked great in any game yet. This could bode well for them as they are due for a big game or it could show that they are not as good as advertised. They struggled in wins over Washington and Vanderbilt and last week needed a goal line stand to beat Miss. St, being outgained by the Bulldogs and only a 97 yd punt return and interception return for TDs won the game. Georgia has looked good since their opening loss at Oklahoma State, beating South Carolina and Arkansas in shootouts and holding off Arizona State last week. Georgia has won 3 straight in the series, all by double digits. I expect a closer game this week with the team that is able to run the ball better getting the win. LSU especially needs to be good on the ground to take pressure off their young QB. We will know a lot more about the boys from Baton Rouge after this week and next, when Florida visits for a night game.

#7 USC @ #24 California (+4.5)

USC: QB Matt Barkley, RB Joe McKnight, FS Taylor Mays

Cal: RB Jahvid Best, CB Syd’Quan Thompson

Both teams come into this game reeling for different reasons. Cal’s season took a hit with the annihilation in Autzen last week, while USC lost their leader Stafon Johnson in a freak weight lifting accident on Monday. Who would have thought this game would almost be a must win for each of these teams in the Pac 10 race. Although two losses might win the league this year, neither wants to find out this early. Cal will be desperate to put last week behind them and get RB Best going again on his Heisman campaign. But for that to happen, QB Kevin Riley will have to play his best game to keep the defense honest. It is about time Jeff Tedford won an important game for Cal and this definitely qualifies. USC will have to find a way to ignite a slumbering offense as Matt Barkley will be healthy and ready to show that he can lead the Trojans back to Pac 10 supremacy. I expect Cal to perform much better at home than they were on the road last week, but will they be able to erase the doubt put into their minds from season after season of expectations crashing down. This will be a big test for both teams, with the loser relegated to hoping for the Las Vegas Bowl.

UCLA @ Stanford (-5)

UCLA: RB Jonathan Franklin, WR Terrence Austin, CB Alterraun Verner

Stanford: RB Toby Gerhardt, WR Chris Owusu, QB Andrew Luck

Two teams that have surprised a lot of people early in the season square off in Palo Alto. UCLA is undefeated with the big road win at Tennessee while Stanford is 3-1 and 2-0 in the Pac 10 with wins over the Washington schools. The reason to watch this game is Stanford’s rushing attack, led by Toby Gerhardt (2nd in rushing in the country) going against a strong UCLA defense that has held opponents to 39, 115 and 69 yards rushing in their three games. Look for UCLA to load up the box and let their corners go man to man with Stanford’s receivers and their freshman QB Andrew Luck. This is probably the strongest offense and overall team UCLA has faced (sorry Tennessee) while Stanford will face its toughest defense yet. This game will show a lot about both teams and both coaches as Jim Harbaugh and Rick Neuheisel look to join the Pac 10 elite. I expect a close game with the defenses dominant early. The Cardinal is capable of big plays on special teams as evidenced by 3 kickoff returns for TD by lightning fast Chris Owusu so far this year. That could be the difference between two very evenly matched teams. The home field advantage should help Stanford in a series they have not won since 2003, but the Bruins are off a bye week and will be ready to start Pac 10 play.

 
Saturday Lox of the Week


Premium Lox

Ole Miss (-10) @ Vanderbilt

The Rebels are coming off a deflating loss at South Carolina that saw their hopes for a National Title fall flat. They also lost last year at home to Vandy, the week before their upset of Florida. So they will be motivated to recover from last week’s loss while also in a revenge setting against the Commodores. QB Jevan Snead had high hopes coming into the season but has been mediocre at best through 3 games. The key to the offense is getting Dexter McCluster the ball in the open field, something they finally started in the 4th quarter at South Carolina, but was too late to pull that game out. I expect the Rebels to bounce back nicely and put on a good show in anticipation of next week’s tilt against Alabama. PICK: Ole Miss 34 – Vanderbilt 13

South Florida (-7) @ Syracuse

The Bulls from USF showed a lot last week in their win over Florida State. In their first game after a season ending injury to star QB Matt Grothe, who is the all time Big East leader in total offense, they beat the Seminoles behind new QB BJ Daniels. This will be their Big East opener and while Syracuse is improved from last year, still has a long ways to go. USF has won all 4 in this series, by totals of 32, 31, 17, and 27, covering the spread in all 4. Although the offense for USF may not hit on all cylinders, I expect DE George Selvie and the Bulls defense to dominate the Cuse and possibly pull off a shut out. Greg Paulus will not have faced this kind of pressure since Ty Lawson was in his back pocket for 40 minutes on the hardwood. PICK: South Florida 20 – Syracuse 3

Auburn @ Tennessee (Under 52)

In a battle of first year SEC coaches the Tigers visit Neyland Stadium undefeated and very confident in their spread offense. Tennessee on the other hand is abysmal on offense but possibly the best defensive team in the SEC, my apologies to Florida and Alabama. With Monte Kiffin calling the shots on defense, I expect Auburn to struggle in their first road game of the year and playing against a defense that they have yet to experience. The Volunteers will play ball control offense and give RBs Hardesty and Brown time to wear down the Auburn defense. If Vols QB Jonathan Crompton does not throw too many interceptions, he shouldn’t even be given the opportunity, this game should be a slug fest. The total in the last seven matchups dating back to 1997 has only been over 50 twice, so with Auburn’s first road game going up against their toughest defense, coupled with the Volunteers’ inept offense I expect a lower scoring game than the total would indicate. Take the Under. PICK: Tennessee 23 – Auburn 21

Regular Lox

#8 Oklahoma @ #17 Miami (+7)

Bob Stoops has declared Landry Jones the starter, making this his first road start and first true road game for the Sooners. Considering this I expect Oklahoma to play more conservative than normal. The Miami defense will be the best the Sooners have seen and the Canes offense the quickest and most athletic. Oklahoma needs this game to stay in the BCS picture and make the Texas game in two weeks the Game of the Year. I think the Sooners pull this out but it will be close, with Jacory Harris bouncing back from a nightmare game last week to play great in front of the home fans. RBs Graig Cooper and Javarris James will need to find holes to open up the passing game, as Oklahoma is counting on its defense until Sam Bradford comes back. PICK: Oklahoma 27 – Miami 24

Clemson (-13.5) @ Maryland

Staying in the ACC, I like Clemson’s chances to win on the road at Maryland. The visitor has won 4 straight in the series and Clemson is better than its 2-2 record would indicate, losing close games to GT and TCU, both very tough defenses. Maryland is 1-3 (losses to Cal, Middle Tennessee and Rutgers) with their only win against James Madison. The Terps also have given up over 200 yards on the ground in their 3 losses. Look for RBs CJ Spiller and Jamie Harper to run wild in the secondary and leave College Park with a big win and rumors of Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen’s job in jeopardy. PICK: Clemson 38 – Maryland 17

Arkansas (-1) vs. Texas A&M (Cowboys Stadium)

This game will be played in the new Cowboys Stadium with Jerry Jones inviting old Southwest Conference rivals to town. You know which team the owner’s box will be rooting for as Jones is an alumnus of Arkansas. Texas A&M comes into this game 3-0, but stepping up greatly in competition. Arkansas meanwhile is 1-2 with tough losses to SEC rivals Georgia and Alabama. I think the difference in this game will be Ryan Mallet, the Razorbacks QB, who had two great performances before running into the buzz saw that is Bama’s defense. Having faced tough competition two weeks in a row, I expect Arkansas will jump out to a quick start and hold on for victory in a high scoring affair. I would have liked the over (67) in this game but it has been going up every day and might be too much now. The Aggies are much improved in Mike Sherman’s second season, but this will be a tough game for their young team. And if Jerry Jones is right and God truly does look through the opening in the dome, then surely he/she will be pulling for Arkansas. Or at least Jerry hopes. PICK: Arkansas 37 – Texas A&M 33


Upset Specials

Wisconsin (+3) @ Minnesota

Michigan (+3.5) @ Michigan State

NC State (+3) @ Wake Forest

Kansas State (+2) @ Iowa State