Buell's Eye: Week 6's College Football Picks

Maybe we're starting to see the true side to the Top 25 College Football teams in the country heading into Week Six.
Then again, maybe not.
After going 13-4 last weekend, my record on the year moves to 86-22.
Several teams waved goodbye to their BCS Title dreams after Week Five, including the Oklahoma Sooners, California Golden Bears, Georgia Bulldogs, and the Houston Cougars.
On the other side of the coin, there is fresh blood and unbeaten teams entering the rankings this week.
Three upsets will take place, including two programs suffering their first losses of the season, and a primetime SEC showdown between two top ranked undefeated schools features a premiere player who hopes to be on the right side of the sidelines.

Week Six: Bye Weeks

No. 6 Boise State Broncos, No. 7 USC Trojans, No. 8 Cincinnati Bearcats and No. 23 South Florida Bulls all take a break this weekend.

The Broncos are still vying for busting the BCS party yet again in 2009, the Trojans still find themselves in the thick of the race after their surprising Week Three loss in Washington, the Bearcats continue to roll as they reach the Top Eight, and the Bulls arrive on the scene undefeated, waiting for their next mission to prove they belong.

Bring on Week Seven for these schools, because their storylines are just beginning to be written.

No. 25 South Carolina Gamecocks (4-1) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (2-2)

South Carolina has finally cracked the Top 25 rankings after their 4-1 start in the 2009 season, and a big upset win over No. 20 Mississippi, who at the time was ranked fourth in the nation, whether they deserved it or not.
This week, the Gamecocks look to hold on to the curvy numbers next to their school's name in the polls as they welcome the Wildcats from Kentucky to Columbia.
Kentucky hangs in there, but South Carolina improves to 5-1 with a 28-20 victory.

No. 22 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-1) at Florida State Seminoles (2-3)

Georgia Tech is trying to inch its way back to the top, as all is nowhere near well in Seminoleville.
Florida State has not started 2-3 since 1976, the year Bobby Bowden took the reigns of the program from Tallahassee. Many are calling for his head as his talented, yet young and inexperienced, team continues to falter this season.
The Noles look to right the ship this weekend as they welcome the Yellow Jackets to town in an ACC match-up.
To quiet some of the angry masses temporarily, Florida State takes the upset, 36-33, over Georgia Tech.

No. 21 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1) at No. 24 Missouri Tigers (4-0)

How about a little Big 12 match-up on a Thursday night?
You're sitting at home, bored on the couch eating popcorn and cheese doodles, watching the clock until TGI Friday, and these two schools fight it out in the trenches on your television set for Big 12 North prominence.
Sounds like a date to me.
Missouri is unbeaten, playing at home, but this is their first true test.
They flunk.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers roll into Missouri, with their only loss being in a close one against the No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies. They leave victorious, defeating the Tigers, 24-20.

No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners (2-2) vs. Baylor Bears (3-1)

Had this man been wearing a helmet, rather than a cap and street clothes, I would be typing much different words at this very moment.
Instead, yes, I picked the Oklahoma Sooners to win it all this year, preseason.
No, I did not see them losing to Brigham Young.
And no, I really didn't think Miami was good enough to beat them last weekend.
Yes, the presence of Heisman Trophy winning senior QB, the Oklahoma team leader, Sam Bradford, would have made a major difference, but he did not play. The Sooners, consequently, sit at 2-2, and we can move on now.
Expect a down team in Week Six as Oklahoma takes on the Baylor Bears at home.
The Sooners only win by the score of 38-20.

No. 18 Brigham Young Cougars (4-1) at UNLV Rebels (2-3)

Speaking of Brigham Young, does anyone know what to make of this team yet?
We still won't find out a lot to that mystery in Week Six as they take on the Rebels of UNLV.
The Cougars rip up the Rebels, 47-17.

No. 17 Auburn Tigers (5-0) at Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2)

Maybe there's something different cooking in my kitchen, but I can smell this one from a mile away.
Auburn spent all that time, week by week, starting the 2009 season 5-0 under new head coach, Gene Chizik.
Then, they finally get ranked and have to travel to Arkansas.
The Razorbacks, who own one of the nation's most difficult schedules this season, are playing people tough, with the exception of a loss to a ready, willing, and able Alabama team who was up to the task.
However, this Razorbacks team is poised to ruin someone's season.
Look no further than Week Six.
Arkansas takes down Auburn in upset fashion, 34-30.

No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks (4-0) vs. Iowa State Cyclones (3-2)

I'm not impressed with Kansas this season, even if they are still undefeated at 4-0.
They take on Iowa State this weekend, looking to improve to 5-0.
The Jayhawks win again against the Cyclones in a close one, 31-24.

No. 15 Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1) at Texas A&M Aggies (3-1)

The Aggies got run all over against Arkansas last Saturday, yet I still wanted to pick them in the upset this week against Oklahoma State in Twelfth Man Stadium.
Instead, they fall just short this weekend as they welcome in the Cowboys, with Oklahoma State escaping, 34-27.

No. 14 Penn State Nittany Lions (4-1) vs. Eastern Illinois Panthers (4-1)

They have an uphill climb, but Penn State has time to still make some noise this season.
This weekend, they take on an unknown team called the Eastern Illinois Panthers.
In a much closer one than the Nittany Lions anticipated, they win the catfight over the Panthers, 27-17.

No. 13 Oregon Ducks (4-1) at UCLA Bruins (3-1)

I had trouble deciding which picture I wanted to use for Oregon; they only have 48 different uniform designs.
I also had trouble picking a winner in this match-up.
Oregon outscored their last two opponents, 94-9, but were absolutely inept in their opening game of the season, scoring only 8 points against Boise State.
The Ducks have apparently hit their stride and have found the swagger everyone thought they'd have this season, after all.
They'll need it as they travel south to take on a 3-1 UCLA team.
In a shootout, the Ducks outscore the Bruins, 45-42.

No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes (5-0) vs. Michigan Wolverines (4-1)

All good things must come to an end.
Michigan lost their intrastate rival game last weekend against the Michigan State Spartans, and for the Hawkeyes, their 5-0 start hasn't even been that good.
Iowa sits at No. 12 with one blocked field goal and one score away from having two losses against Northern Iowa and Arkansas State, respectfully.
In a classic Big 10 match-up, these two hard-hitting teams fight out a low scoring game for four quarters with Michigan pulling the upset, 20-14.

No. 11 Miami Hurricanes (3-1) vs. Florida A&M Rattlers (4-0)

Okay, I already told you I didn't see Miami beating Oklahoma, but who really saw this Hurricanes team starting this season 3-1 after opening with the four opponents that they did?
2-2 would have been impressive enough.
Miami looks to have returned to their glory days after a brief hiatus, and get to relax just a bit in Week Six as they play Florida A&M.
The Hurricanes win easily, 44-14.

No. 10 Texas Christian Horned Frogs (4-0) at Air Force Falcons (3-2)

Air Force loves to show up and ruin seasons in mid-year form, just like in this match-up.
But, TCU is on a mission, they are in the Top 10, and they expect a close one from the Falcons.
The Horned Frogs keep hopping, winning this tight one, 21-20.

No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1) vs. USA Today Poll No. 25 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0)

This is sure to be a good one.
Wisconsin is one of the forgotten unbeatens remaining, and Ohio State is still poised to make a run at the top as they hold on to a Top 10 ranking.
In another classic Big Ten showdown, the Buckeyes keep rolling, handing the Badgers their first loss of the season, 23-17.

No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1) vs. Boston College Eagles (4-1)

We'll just call Virginia Tech's far from impressive 34-26 win against Duke last weekend "looking ahead" to this week.
The Hokies' opening loss against Alabama is their only stain on an impressive start to their 2009 season, but isn't hurting them yet as they still sit in the Top Five.
Virginia Tech keeps their National Title dreams alive with a 26-23 win this weekend over the Eagles from Boston College.

No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0) @ No. 20 Mississippi Rebels (3-1)

Alabama has continued to pass every test they've faced this season.
Mississippi is yet to impress anyone.
The Rebels hope to change that this weekend as they welcome in the unbeaten Crimson Tide to their house.
Alabama rolls again, however, 34-24, over Mississippi.

No. 2 Texas Longhorns (4-0) vs. Colorado Buffaloes (1-3)

The hot seat under Colorado's head football coach, Dan Hawkins, is hot.
Very hot.
After this weekend, it will only grow hotter.
Texas remains unbeaten at the No. 2 position as they continue to run through their schedule.
Colorado comes to town this weekend, praying they don't fall to 1-4 on the season.
Texas keeps up their winning ways, 43-20.

Game of the Week: No. 1 Florida Gators (4-0) at No. 4 LSU Tigers (5-0)

Yes, the No. 1 Florida Gators do begin, and end, with Tim Tebow.
And, if he's healthy enough to play this Saturday against the No. 4 LSU Tigers, in the Bayou, he will be the difference maker in getting the Gators the win and keeping the nation's longest winning streak alive.
In this week's SEC showdown, with a healthy Tim Tebow running the Gator offense, Florida wins over LSU, 35-24.