SHOWDOWN SATURDAY

FINALLY!! I’m back with another amazing blog coming up! I know I missed the last 2 weeks, but no better time to come back before what should be an AMAZING week of college football coming up! And this is a HUGE week because TONIGHT, the first college football playoff rankings will be announced. These are basically pointless rankings, but they will get fans everywhere going crazy for some odd reason. I’ll likely disagree with whatever they put out tonight, but o well, I’ll give my rankings below. Someone else has finally thrown themselves into the Heisman race, which I was worried would never happen and we’ve had our first major coach firing, though not the first one I expected! I’ll get into it all and more!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKINGS

As mentioned before, tonight begins our Road to the Playoff with the first rankings of the season and even though they don’t matter I am anxious to see how they look.

Let’s break this down by conference contenders.

SEC

Primarily, I want to see where they have Alabama ranked in the initial rankings. They will likely have them at 1 due to Nick Saban and past history. But, forgive me if I’m wrong, but rankings should be based on this season and this season alone and ALABAMA HAS BEATEN ONE POWER 5 TEAM WITH A WINNING RECORD ALL YEAR. ONE. That not worthy of them being ranked at ONE. I would much rather have Georgia at 1. They have a GREAT win against a top 5 Notre Dame team, while Alabama’s best win is Texas A&M who just got destroyed by Mississippi State last week. Is Bama 2? Not in my rankings. But this isn’t all about Bama and the trash Southeastern Conference.

BIG 12

Oklahoma has 1 loss to what is turning out to be a damn good Iowa State team who just knocked off an undefeated TCU this past week. How high should they be? But they also play in a virtual elimination game this weekend against rival Oklahoma State, so it doesn’t matter much. What about TCU? They have the 1 loss, but also have 3 really good wins against West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State on the road. They play against Oklahoma next week in a must win game. At this point, they still control their own destiny. Oklahoma State as we mentioned plays in a elimination game against Oklahoma this week. Luckily it’s at home. If they win, they have a great chance to get to the playoff.

BIG 10

Is this the best conference in college football? One could make an argument. I honestly believe there are 6-7 good teams in this league. But of course, we’ll only focus on the contenders. Ok, I know Penn State just lost to Ohio State in maybe the game of the year this past Saturday, but I still think they are the best team in this league. But just as I argued for Penn State to be ranked ahead of Ohio State last year due to head to head, I have to hold to that same principle this season. So Ohio State is ahead now, but they still have 3 tough games ahead. On the road this week at Iowa, and they still have Michigan State and Michigan on the schedule. If they win out, they clearly deserve a playoff invite. Penn State goes on the road to Michigan State this week. This is likely their last big test of the regular season. I haven’t even gotten to the ONLY undefeated team in this league yet. Wisconsin has flown under the radar due to not having the names and notoriety of the previously mentioned teams but they are a REALLY good football team. They seem to dominate every game behind a tremendous defense. Lucky for them, they avoid playing Penn State and Ohio State in the regular season.

ACC

Miami is undefeated, BUT even though I’m a diehard fan of the Canes, I can even admit that all of their wins haven’t been the most impressive! On offense at least. I’ll put the Canes defense up against almost anybody’s. But 7-0 is 7-0 and they control their own destiny. Their 2 biggest games of the season are the next 2 weeks and lucky for them, they’re both at home against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. If Miami wins both, there’s a great chance they end up in the ACC title game. Which brings me to Clemson. Clemson is a great team still and even though they have 1 loss, I take into account that it came on a Friday night, which are always crazy outcomes, and also their starting quarterback was injured. The human element has to take that into account. Clemson should be fine if they win out, but that process starts this week against a tough North Carolina State team. I guess I should mention Virginia Tech who has 1 loss to Clemson, and a good win against West Virginia. If they beat Miami this week, they may have a chance to get their revenge against Clemson in the ACC title game.

PAC 12

Washington is the only semi contender here. They have 1 loss which wasn’t a terrible loss. It was on the road to an improving Arizona State team. However, they have 4 games left and I wouldn’t be surprised if they lost at least 2 of the 4.

So….my ranking that will likely change by next week as the season plays itself out.

1. GEORGIA

2. NOTRE DAME

3. CLEMSON

4. OKLAHOMA

5. OHIO STATE

6. PENN STATE

7. ALABAMA

8. WISCONSIN

9. MIAMI

10. TCU

Heisman Race

So we’ve finally been able to add a few names to the Heisman race. Don’t get me wrong, Saquon Barkley is still the favorite, but he at least won’t be making the trip to New York alone now. Here are my top 4 Heisman candidates.

1. Saquon Barkley - Runaway leader at this point. He literally does everything and is the most explosive player in college football. Will be a top 5 pick in the draft whenever he comes out.
2. JT Barrett - I am not a JT Barrett fan at all, but the 4th quarter he put together to come from behind and beat Penn State this past Saturday was phenomenal. He has been really good since the loss to Oklahoma earlier this year. If he keeps it up, he will definitely be in New York. I mean he’s 25 TD’s to just 1 interception.
3. Bryce Love - Maybe the best pure running back in the country. He plays at Stanford and they haven’t gotten a ton of attention this year, but this guy is a problem whenever he steps on the field.
4. Baker Mayfield - Still playing at an extremely high level despite the 1 loss to Iowa State. Needs his defense to be better for him to win out and actually have a true shot at the award.
5. Mason Rudolph - Has a lot of weapons and does a great job getting them all the ball. More skilled than most quarterbacks as he can run as well and well as throw the ball deep very well.

Bye, Bye McElwain

We’ve had our first major program coach get fired. And it wasn’t the one I expected. While Butch Jones and Bret Bielema continue to kill their current programs, Florida made the decision to fire head coach Jim McElwain. As the A.D. said, this came down to more than wins and losses. Since he was hired there, I never got a good vibe from him as the leader of that program. Now several reports are coming out regarding his attitude and arrogance. Basically he thought he was more important than the program and looked down on others in the athletic department. I don’t think it was a coincidence that he was fired immediately following not only a loss to rival Georgia that wasn’t even close, but also character concerns. He came out recently and said that he and his players have received death threats this season due to bad play, but there has been zero evidence given to support that claim and he has failed to give any specific examples. If someone would lie about that, do you really want them at your program? I 100% see why Florida made the decision that they did.

PICK 6

There are so many great football matchups this week, I may not even be able to limit myself to picking just 6 games! I know I’ve said this before, but this truly is a day to clear your schedule and just watch college football all day long.

Penn State VS Mich St.

In what should be a great game, Penn State travels to Michigan State looking to bounce back after blowing a huge lead vs Ohio State. Michigan State is very good defensively, similar to Iowa who Penn State struggled against earlier this year. They are also a very young team but at home, I expect them to challenge Penn State in every way. I see this game being close until the very end.

Penn State 27

Michigan State 20

Oklahoma VS Oklahoma State

In what is basically a playoff elimination game, this should be a great game! Neither of these teams have great defenses so I expect a shootout. This will likely come down to a quarterback duel between Mason Rudolph and Baker Mayfield, 2 of the best quarterbacks in the country. What team gets a stop will be the deciding factor late. I give an edge to the home team.

Oklahoma State 41

Oklahoma 37

Ohio State VS Iowa

Can Ohio State come down from the emotional high of having to come back to defeat Penn State last week? Iowa is a tough place to play and they are a really good team who will put tons of pressure on JT Barrett. Yes, Iowa has 3 losses but they’ve all come down to the wire and have been by 7 points or less. This is the same team that Penn State needed a miracle to defeat. I expect this to come down to the end.

Ohio State 24

Iowa 17

Clemson VS North Carolina State

Clemson had starting quarterback Kelly Bryant return last week and he looked good in a win over Georgia Tech. NC State has been good this year, but they come off a game where Notre Dame shut them down, and out in the second half. Can they rebound to knock off the defending champs who can’t afford another loss? I don’t think so.

Clemson 37

NC State 17

LSU VS Alabama

I think this game will be much closer than the spread says (Bama -21.5). I think this mainly because Alabama has proven nothing to me this season. They’ve beat one team this season who has a winning record and that was a single digit ballgame in the end. LSU is very capable of beating Alabama. Their defense has improved and Darius Guice will be ready to make up for what he was unable to do last year. As good as Alabama was last season, they needed a 4th quarter touchdown to close this game out and win 10-0. It would not surprise me at all if LSU won this game and if they were at home, it’d make my pick easier.

Alabama 13

LSU 10

Virginia Tech VS Miami

Miami is undefeated but has had issues closing out opponents and having to rally late in games to win. This is why they are ranked where they are. The name of the game is to win, but those wins need to also be impressive. Miami needs a win against a good team that leaves zero doubt as to who they are as a program and Va Tech is a good place to start. The Hokies have looked really good as of late and are a contender as well. They have 1 loss, and would love nothing more than winning out and getting a chance at redemption against Clemson in the ACC title game. This should be a great game on primetime. I believe Mark Richt will have the Canes ready.

Miami 30

Virginia Tech 17

NBA PREVIEW

WELCOME BACK NBA!!!!!!

I couldn’t be more excited for an NBA season. Storylines on top of storylines. This has been an offseason that has seen several All Star’s change teams, and shake up the entire league. Golden State is still the favorite but a couple of new contenders have emerged. This offseason has seen the Western Conference get much stronger, and seen the Eastern Conference get even weaker, if that’s possible.

Western Conference Breakdown

The Favorite

Golden State - The Warriors are still the favorite in the West but now, they’ll at least have some competition. They kept their entire core from last season, and also acquired Nick “SwaggyP” Young. Steph Curry just got a new big deal and I expect him to be GREAT this year. Kevin Durant may be the best player in the world after the performance he has in last years finals. And everybody else is back. Draymond Green is already talking noise, so you know he’s fired up! But as I said before, there are some contenders out West now starting with Kevin Durant’s old team.

The Contenders

Oklahoma City  - Kevin Durant’s former teammate Russell Westbrook now has some help in Oklahoma City as not only did they acquire Paul George, but they also managed to get Carmelo Anthony. How’s that for a new BIG 3? They got PG and Melo for basically Victor Oladipo and Enes Kanter. Talk about winning a trade. This team will be able to score with anyone, and Billy Donovan has a lot to work with, as well as Westbrook who now doesn’t have to do everything on his own. They may need to acquire a shooter but they are definitely a team to be reckoned with.

Houston - Speaking of getting help, the Rockets went out this offseason and traded almost their whole team in return for the rights to still one of the best pure point guards in the league in Chris Paul. They had watched James Harden wear down from carrying his team all season in game 6 against the Spurs last year and knew he needed help. Paul would be that guy. Harden had a historic year last year and maybe the 2 of them together can help them both finally get to where they want to be.

San Antonio - The Spurs are the Spurs and as long as Greg Popovich is on the sidelines, they will always be a contender. Kawhi Leonard expects to again be in the MVP conversation this season and the Spurs also signed Rudy Gay in the offseason. He is eager to prove he still has major value in this league. I’m not sure why but they also resigned LaMarcus Aldridge to a huge deal in hopes he can return to his former form. Dejounte Murray should be better in the backcourt this year as well.

Minnesota - Maybe it’s because it happened earlier in the offseason, but I haven’t heard alot of people talking about the T-Wolves. They have put together a really nice team and have a solid big 3 of their own in Karl Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins. They also signed Jeff Teague at point guard who should be a really good fit here, as well as a 6th man in Jamal Crawford. These guys are unselfish, young, and talented and all want to win. Think Oklahoma City lite. They should be a really good defensive team however.

New Orleans - Now, I know that noone thinks the Pelicans can contend because apparently it’s not a big man’s league anymore and your best players need to be on the wings for you to win a championship. I would normally agree with that, but it may be different when you have the 2 best big men in the world on one team. Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis have had a full offseason to gain some chemistry and make a run this season. No team in the league will be able to stop those two. They did add a a floor general in Rajon Rondo, but one more big move before the trade deadline could definitely help them reach their goals.

Eastern Conference Breakdown

The Favorite

Cleveland - It’s a new look team in Cleveland and I do mean new. The only remaining starters from last years Eastern Conference Champions are Lebron James and Kevin Love. When Kyrie Irving shocked the world and requested a trade, he changed what this team would look like this season, and the end also changed their main competition in the East. The Cavs traded Kyrie to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Aziz, and a 1st and 2nd round pick. Thomas is still injured and hopes to be back in January. Until then Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, and Crowder will fill out the starting lineup. The Cavs also acquired Jeff Green who like Rudy Gay in San Antonio wants to still show he has some value.

The Contenders

Boston - As mentioned before, the Celtics team took a new shape when Kyrie requested a trade. They only return 4 players from last years 53 win team. Kyrie will lead this team as he finally has a chance to be the guy. Uninformed people may try and compare this to his first 3 years in the league, but there is truly no comparison. Kyrie should be an MVP candidate and lead this team. Boston also added All Star Gordon Hayward who is reunited with his college coach in Brad Stevens. Al Horford returns and the Celtics also drafted a big time player from Duke in Jayson Tatum. He will be a day 1 starter and combine with last years top 3 pick Jalen Brown to add to this young athletic frontcourt. Boston has depth and I truly believe they can go back to the finals this season. But it all starts tonight.

Washington - John Wall and Brad Beal return to try to make another run at the Eastern Conference Finals after coming up short last year. The Wizards saw Otto Porter improve a great deal last year and if he can take another step, this team may really make some noise. They didn’t make any major moves this offseason and I think they still need some things to really contend. However, if John Wall can keep improving his jump shot, anything is possible.

Toronto - They return the core of Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan, and Jonas Valaciunas. The Raptors should be solid in the regular season as they are every year. There problem is always the postseason and that will likely be their downfall again. CJ Miles should add some depth to their backcourt but when it counts, that just won’t be enough.

Miami - Maybe the best kept secret of last year is that after the 1st half of the season is that the Miami Heat were one of the best teams in the league. They closed 30-11 to end the year and if they had of made the playoffs, they would have definitely gave several teams a good run. They are doing their best to not dig a hole for themselves this year. They resigned Dion Waiters who was a major part of that close last year as well as having Hassan Whiteside back to show his dominance. Justise Winslow also returns from an almost season absence after an injury last year. He will surely be looking to build off of a solid rookie year.

So there you have it! 7 All Stars changed teams this offseason and while football is great, the NBA has been the best entertainment in the past year. It will likely continue as we get started tonight with Kyrie going back to Cleveland! Will OKC dethrone the Warriors by season’s end? Will Lebron go to his 8th straight final? We have 82 games to get a better idea. Enjoy!

End of Season Predictions

Western Conference Champions - Oklahoma City Thunder

Eastern Conference Champions - Boston Celtics

MVP  - Kyrie Irving

Defensive Player of the Year - Paul George

Rookie of the Year - Ben Simmons

Most Improved Player - Brandon Ingram

Coach of the Year - Brad Stevens

My Week 6 Thoughts

Another great weekend in college football recently passed! There were quite a few games that were good including my Miami Hurricanes winning at the buzzer against Florida State snapping a 7 year losing streak! Definitely the highlight of my weekend. There was also a HUGE upset with BIG 12 favorite Oklahoma losing to Iowa State. And get this, someone even lost by single digits to mighty Alabama. This weekend only proved that you have to always bring your “A” game and nothing is guaranteed on any given Saturday.

Who is Jim Harbaugh really?

One team who learned this the hard way was Michigan. Now I’ll say this, I was listening to ESPN the other day and I heard them say that Michigan State beating Michigan was a HUGE upset. This shocked me as I was not shocked by it at all! 1) This is a rivalry game and ANYTHING can happen when rivals matchup. 2) Michigan can’t score. 3) Jim Harbaugh has no clue how to win big games. Now I picked Michigan to win by 3, strictly because of their defense, but I didn’t take into account that Michigan State’s defense would be just as good! Harbaugh is overrated. He is owned by Urban Meyer, Mark Dantonio, and any other coach in a big game. He is taking over the moniker that Bob Stoops left when he retired. He seems to get good recruiting classes but I want to see it translate on the field before we give him the love he wants. He had a sensational quarterback at Stanford that helped to mask some of his deficiencies, and an extremely talented team in San Francisco. There is no way a Michigan team this inept offensively should have been as highly ranked as they were. Michigan still has games remaining against Indiana, Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State and I truly think they will lose 3 of those 4. We know how Michigan fans are and a 3 straight seasons of not being a contender will surely start to wear them down.

Miami ends the streak

Finally….finally...finally. After 7 frustrating and agonizing years the Miami Hurricanes finally beat Florida State. And I wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way. The past 3 years Miami has lost to Florida State by a combined 10 points! I have watched them come up short, and fail to close time after time. So to see them finally have a game winning drive, a come from behind win in the closing seconds was humbling, yet exciting and an extreme relief to know that it’s finally over. Maliik Rosier did something that Brad Kaaya could never do. Make the throws at the end of the game to move the ball down the field. Everyone stepped up for Miami from Travis Homer who replaced injured running back Mark Walton, to Braxton Berrios making clutch catch after clutch catch, to the Darrell Langham who made the game winning catch on just his 2nd play of the game! It was the result of a vision put in place by Mark Richt who in his 2nd season as head coach is already bringing Miami to places they haven’t been in years. He has instilled a new tough mentality in these Canes and it’s showing up every week now. Miami currently has the number 2 ranked recruiting class coming in for 2018, so it looks like these new Canes are here to stay.

Primetime Topic of the Week

Is this the worst Heisman race in years?

Let’s face it. This year’s heisman race is weak...real weak. Weakest I’ve seen in a long time. I mean I know Saquon Barkley is the favorite right now, and for good reason but who else is there? Lamar Jackson’s team has 2 losses, so he’s likely out. Baker Mayfield just lost to Iowa State  and Sam Darnold isn’t what the media said he was. There is a lack of exciting, charismatic stars right now in college football and it’s a problem. If someone asks you, who’s the one guy they have to watch play, what do you tell them? Jake Browning? It’s kind of a joke at this point. The 2 top teams in the country in Alabama and Clemson don’t have household names on their team right now. Georgia has looked great, but I’m not setting my DVR to watch Jake Fromm throw 10 yard passes, sorry. Kenny Trill? Yea, I’d pay to watch that guy play. But this new laid back Kenny Hill? Nope! We’re only 6 weeks so I’m hoping some more big time talents emerge, but I’m definitely not holding my breath. I hear there’s some studs in the 2019 class though, so I guess I’ll have to wait.

Week 7 Picks

After going a season best 4/5 last weeks in picks, I’m excited to pick this week’s games. There are several I could go with so it was tough to narrow it down. Several teams will be tested by lower ranked or unranked teams. I definitely plan to be in front of a television Saturday watching college football happen.

Michigan VS Indiana

Michigan is looking to bounce back against a tough Indiana team. Michigan still has an issue scoring which is a problem when you go up against Indiana who has proven to be a tough team at home. They will be ready for the upset. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will most likely do everything he can to get his team ready after losing last week. Indiana can win this game if they control the ball, and stop the run. This game will be close but in the end, I think Michigan takes it.

Michigan 17

Indiana 14

Texas Tech VS West Virginia

In what might be the game of the day, Texas Tech takes their 4-1 record to West Virginia.Texas Tech has scored under 30 points only 1 time this year, so the Mountaineers defense will have to be a lot better than they have been this season. New Texas Tech quarterback Nick Shimonek is 7th in the nation in yards this season and West Virginia’s defense did allow TCU to rack up some yards last week. Texas Tech’s defense has been maligned in recent years but this year, they actually seem somewhat respectable. West Virginia definitely has the talent and took undefeated TCU to the brink last week. I expect this game to be a high scoring shootout.

Texas Tech 41

West Virginia 33

Auburn VS LSU

LSU finally got a somewhat impressive win against an average Florida team last week by a score of 17-16. The defense was able to hold up well but Auburn brings in a new challenge. They bring in a quarterback  in Jared Stidham who transferred from Baylor and has given Auburn the passing threat they haven’t had. He’s top 10 in the nation in completion percentage, and passer rating. Combine that with the running of Kerryon Johnson and LSU will be in for a major challenge. LSU’s offense still leaves a lot to be desired, and frankly I’m not sure they have enough to win this game.

Auburn 26

LSU 17

Georgia Tech VS Miami

Another test for Miami. Georgia tech comes in off a bye week to get prepared for the challenges Miami will present. The last time the Yellowjackets took the field, they were dominating North Carolina. It’s always difficult to prepare for a triple option offense, but if Miami has one advantage it’s that head coach Mark Richt coached at Georgia for years and has tons of knowledge on this offense. Miami does have some injuries coming into this game but this isn’t a team that lacks talent. I expect Rosier and the offense to perform well and continue to momentum gained from the Florida State win.

Miami 30

Georgia Tech 13

Washington VS Arizona State

I think Washington needs to be on upset alert this weekend. Arizona State is a pretty good home team and they already have an upset of Oregon earlier this year on their resume. Washington is extremely talented and looking to make a return to the playoff but tough games like this on the road will test them. In the end however, I don’t know that Arizona State has the talent to be there in the 4th quarter.

Washington 37

Arizona State 27

Those are my picks for the week! Hoping for a perfect 5/5. Very interested in seeing how Miami performs off the big win last week. And also, does LSU gain any momentum from beating Florida? Coach O surely hopes so. Does TCU avoid losing at Kansas State which has been a tough place to play in the past? I can’t wait to get these questions answered Saturday!

WEEK 6 PREVIEW

Another good College Football Saturday is in the books and we now are beginning to get some answers to our preseason questions. While there weren’t a lot of big time ranked vs ranked matchups, as always there was a few games that did entertain, and pretenders and contenders are beginning to reveal themselves. The best player in the country debate is heating up, but there is one player in the BIG 10 who has pretty much taken over that title. As for those questions and answers..

Is the SEC really this trash?

So maybe I was early on this but I have said for at least the last 2 or 3 years that I see the SEC sliding, and MANY have argued with me but I doubt anyone can do that now. As usual, Alabama is still dominant. But how dominant are you when you continue to smash terrible teams. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida, and Tennessee have all looked worse than they did a few years ago. ALOT worse. Georgia seems to be the only team in the SEC East worth watching, and the SEC West is a joke. I mean did Alabama just beat Ole Miss by 63 points? It’s really incredible when you look at it. We’re only 5 weeks into the year so this conference still has time to turn it around, but I would truly be STUNNED. Alabama is great but the best team in the nation still resides in the ACC.

Who is the most overrated player in the county?

There are definitely a few players who could be considered here. My vote is easily Sam Darnold of USC. He has been getting passes every week of the year for his inconsistent play. I’ve seen some analysts blame his O-Line, or his young receivers but it comes down to him just having to play better. He throws interceptions, and while a few have been tipped balls, a few have have also just been bad throws. He became the media darling after USC finished the year strong last year and came in as the heisman favorite. But he doesn’t seem to be that guy. Is he a top 3 quarterback in the PAC 12? Maybe not. While he has time to change this perception, as of now he is NOT who we thought he was and scouts are starting to notice.

What, if anything, can prevent Clemson V.S. Alabama Part 3?

Right now, doesn’t look like much. These 2 teams have been the class of the country so far. They have great defenses and offenses that get the job done, not to mention 2 outstanding coaches. When you look to see what could stop the Alabama train from making another championship appearance, there are only 2 games that could possibly trip them up. The Iron Bowl is always tough and takes place in Auburn this year.While Auburn does have a very stout defense, I don’t see them being able to score against Alabama. The only other competition may be Georgia in a potential SEC Championship, but as I said previously, Alabama is in a league of their own.

As far as Clemson, I don’t see a single game on their schedule that they should lose. Maybe the ACC Championship game against a team like Miami. But that’s really it. Even if you catch Clemson on a day where their offense is subpar, that defense is dominating and likely won’t let you score. These 2 teams are the most balanced, talented, deep, and well coached teams in the country. It’s likely nothing will prevent the 3-peat.

Week 6 Picks

Another week, and unfortunately not a ton of glamourous games on the schedule. There are some marquee names playing each other, but sadly the teams don’t mean as much as they normally would. However, I’ve picked 5 games that I’ll have my eye on.

West Virginia VS TCU

I am looking forward to this game. TCU has surprised some as they’ve been impressive on offense and that defense looks a lot better than it did a year ago. That defense will be put to the test this week against a team in West Virginia that has scored over 50 points in 3 consecutive games. Kenny Trill leads a TCU offense that can move the ball well in their own right as he has plenty of weapons and has been a lot more patient to make the right throw this season. I think this may be one of the best games of the weekend that will come down to the wire. In the end though, I’m going with the home team.

TCU 40

West Virginia 31

Miami VS Florida State

As previously stated, I am a Miami fan but I will take all biases out of this prediction. Miami comes in looking really good. The defense seems to be elite and the offense also looks great. Star Running Back Mark Walton appears to be healthy and is said to “look good” in this week’s practices. Miami is simply a better team and I don’t think this game will be too close. The 7 game losing streak likely comes to an end this Saturday. This is a statement game opportunity for Coach Mark Richt and the Hurricanes. Florida State is playing a true freshman at quarterback who despite a game winning touchdown pass last week to beat Wake Forest, has looked awful for much of the young season. Miami has had equal or better teams than Florida State the last few years but had their hearts broken mainly due to former FSU star Dalvin Cook who’s no longer there. I think Miami comes into this game with a point to prove, and shows that their trying to get back to Miami in the early 2000’s days.

Miami 27

Florida State 17

 

Oregon VS Washington State

2 weeks ago, I was REALLY looking forward to this game, but now that Oregon’s star quarterback Justin Herbert is injured, it loses some of its luster. Washington State has their bigtime quarterback in Luke Falk and come in full of confidence after beating USC.Oregon will likely rely on the legs of Royce Freeman who is definitely one of the best backs in the country, but I’m not sure it will be enough. Washington State has proven that they can win a shootout, or a physical grinding game. Due to the absence of Herbert, I’m inclined to lean the other way.

Washington State 35

Oregon 24

Michigan State VS Michigan

A bigtime rivalry game with both teams still having a lot to prove. While Michigan is ranked number 7 in the country, I genuinely don’t think they’re that good, primarily offensively. The O-Line isn’t great, and the quarterback situation could be a lot better. If not for that dynamic defense, they would surely have a couple of L’s next to their name. Michigan State is a team that’s clearly flying under the radar and prime for an upset. They also have a tough defense and struggle offensively. In the end it will come down to who can make a stop.

Michigan 20

Michigan State 17

LSU VS Florida

In years past, this may have been a game that people set their calendar too, but as of now, it’s nothing more than a regular game Saturday in Gainesville. LSU comes in looking terrible and not anything like we expected. Some analysts and even myself thought they had 2 of the best coordinators and whether it’s them or the players themselves, it hasn’t shown. They have a hard time scoring, and even their defense has been suspect this year. Of course it hasn’t helped that star running back Darius Guice has spent much of this year banged up. Florida is dealing with issues of their own, as several key players are suspended. This is a game that LSU needs, and Florida as well if they want to contend with Georgia for the SEC East. I genuinely don’t know what team will show up for either one of these programs.

LSU 19

Florida 17

So as you can see, not the most exciting games to watch this week but as I always say, this is when we have gotten some GREAT games in the past. I am looking forward to seeing my Canes end that 7 game losing streak, and if they don’t I will surely be depressed next week!