College Football: Top 5 Games to Watch in Week 6
Week 6 of the college football season will feature six matchups of ranked teams on Saturday.
The SEC will have a second straight week of important games, except the three big ones will revolve around the race for the SEC West Division title.
The Magnolia state will host two of the best games of the day, with No. 12 Mississippi State hoping to upset No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 11 Ole Miss trying to get a statement win over No. 3 Alabama. At night, No. 15 LSU and No. 5 Auburn will square off in what should be another physical game between these two bitter rivals in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
No. 9 Notre Dame has hopes of contending for a national title this season, but No. 14 Stanford stands in its way in what should be another close game in South Bend Saturday afternoon.
No. 19 Nebraska and No. 10 Michigan State will be the most anticipated non-SEC game of the day, as the two teams hope to put themselves in position to win a Big Ten Championship. No. 4 Oklahoma will also travel to No. 25 TCU in what will be the Sooners biggest test yet this season.
With so much to be excited for on Saturday, here are the top-five games to watch.
No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 12 Mississippi State
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No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 12 Mississippi State, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
Texas A&M survived a scare in Arlington last Saturday, as it defeated an improved Arkansas team 35-28 in overtime. As the Aggies hope to keep their undefeated season alive, Dak Prescott and Mississippi State are hoping to pull off yet another upset and contend for an SEC West Division title.
Heisman contender quarterback Kenny Hill, who has already passed for 1,745 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, is looking to lead the Aggies to their first 6-0 start since 1994. The offense has racked up 51.2 points per game this season and has caused opposing secondaries problems with a pass game that is averaging an impressive 401.2 passing yards per game. Wide receivers Malcome Kennedy, Josh Reynolds and Edward Pope all made big plays and combined for four touchdowns against Arkansas.
The Bulldogs’ success will depend on Prescott again, who will look to have another solid performance by passing and running the ball, as he did at LSU on Sept. 20. Prescott passed for 268 yards, rushed for 105 yards and scored three total touchdowns.
With the Bulldog offense up against an Aggie defense surrendering just 15 points per game, junior running back Josh Robinson, who had a career-high 197 yards and one touchdown against LSU, must be a game-changer.
Last season’s game between these two teams resulted in a high-scoring affair, with Texas A&M winning 51-41 over Mississippi State. It should be more of the same in Starkville, Miss. on Saturday, with the Aggies and Bulldogs fighting to stay in the conference title race. Don’t be surprised to see another dramatic finish in a high-profiled SEC contest.
Prediction: Texas A&M 38, Mississippi State 34
No. 3 Alabama at No. 11 Ole Miss
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No. 3 Alabama at No. 11 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
It’s likely one of the biggest games in Ole Miss history. Hugh Freeze’s Rebels are looking to defeat Alabama for the first time since 2003 and prove that they are an SEC contender with their successful recruiting class from 2013.
Bo Wallace is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference and will need to be solid against an always talented Alabama defense. Wallace has recorded 1,271 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions so far this season. He will rely on talented sophomore wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (307 yards, three TDs) and Cody Core (277 yards, four TDs) through the air and hope to present problems for the Crimson Tide secondary.
Defensively, Ole Miss will have the challenge of containing an Alabama balanced attack headed by new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back T.J. Yeldon will be up against a Rebel defense, led by defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, which has only allowed 8.5 points per game (third in the country).
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims will get his toughest test of the season yet, and he will need to be able to make plays using his mobility. Sims moving the offense down the field and making critical plays should be the difference in the Crimson Tide winning for an 11th consecutive time, but will a bruised throwing shoulder prove to be an issue?
Ole Miss will compete and give Alabama a tough game, but Nick Saban’s squad will escape with a close victory.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Ole Miss 24
No. 14 Stanford at No. 9 Notre Dame
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No. 14 Stanford at No. 9 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
Last time these two rivals faced off in South Bend, the Notre Dame defense led by Manti Te'o had a goal- line stand for the ages and held off the Cardinal with a 20-13 overtime win. Besides that loss in 2012, Stanford has won four of the last five meetings.
The Cardinal have already lost to USC this season and had to fend off Washington on the road 20-13 last Saturday. It should be another typical defensive game with Stanford’s defense, led by linebacker A.J. Tarpley, having to suffocate Notre Dame’s offense to keep up on the scoreboard.
The Cardinal are currently first in the nation by holding opponents to only 6.5 points per game and just 74 passing yards per game but will get its best test of the year against quarterback Everett Golson.
Notre Dame heads into Saturday’s contest following a rather unimpressive 31-15 win over Syracuse. The country will get to witness if this Irish team is the real deal against Stanford.
Golson, who has passed for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions, will need to make plays with his arm if there is going to be any chance in opening up the run game. The Cardinal are always physical upfront, and spreading the ball out through the air to wide receivers William Fuller (344 yards, five TDs) and Corey Robinson (190 yards, two TDs) is a must if it wants to start 5-0, as it did in 2012.
A key in the game will be the productivity of the Stanford offense in the red zone. Kevin Hogan needs to avoid turnovers and be able to get the ball to standout wide receiver Ty Montgomery. Senior Jordan Williamson will also need to be solid in the kicking game, as he has been somewhat inconsistent this season by converting just four of eight field goals.
It should be a low-scoring affair in a matchup that has been decided by seven points the last two years. The Irish will make plays down the stretch and knock off the Cardinal.
Prediction: Notre Dame 24, Stanford 20
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No. 15 LSU at No. 5 Auburn
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No. 15 LSU at No. 5 Auburn, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
It’s one of the best rivalries in the SEC, which features Tigers versus Tigers. LSU has been dominant in the series as of late. It has won six of the last seven meetings and was the only team to defeat Auburn during the regular season last year.
With a conference loss already to Mississippi State, Les Miles’ squad needs to win out if there is any chance of reaching the SEC Championship Game for the first time in three years.
Freshman Brandon Harris will get his first start Saturday night, after a solid showing against New Mexico State last week, where he was 11-of-14 for 178 yards and scored five total touchdowns. Harris needs to be consistent and avoid making poor decisions that could result in a turnover and good field position for the Auburn offense.
Harris will look for help in the backfield from freshman Leonard Fournette, who has already rushed for 322 yards and four touchdowns, as well as Kenny Hilliard. They’ll be up against an Auburn defense surrendering only 90.8 rushing yards per game.
Auburn survived a scare at Kansas State on Sept. 18, but then followed it up with a blowout 45-17 home win over Louisiana Tech.
Auburn’s offense will only be as successful as quarterback Nick Marshall plays. Marshall has thrown for 548 yards, rushed for 273 yards and scored eight total touchdowns so far this season. If LSU, which has given up 161.6 rushing yards per game this season, can contain Marshall and the rushing attack like Kansas State did, it has the potential to keep an Auburn offense that is averaging 42.3 points per game this season off the scoreboard.
Keeping Auburn’s offense off the field and establishing a pass game, which includes wide receiver Travin Dural, will be key to LSU winning on the road Saturday night.
It will be a hard-nosed matchup that'll end with Auburn escaping with a win to keep its undefeated season intact.
Prediction: Auburn 35, LSU 26
No. 19 Nebraska at No. 10 Michigan State
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No. 19 Nebraska at No. 10 Michigan State, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
A Saturday night showdown in East Lansing, Mich. could be the most important Big Ten game of the season. It also could be a preview of the Big Ten Championship Game in December.
Nebraska defeated Michigan State both times, before losing last year’s meeting in Lincoln. Five Husker turnovers, along with 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Spartan running back Jeremy Langford, were the difference in an impressive 41-28 road win to take control of the then-Legends Division.
Looking to prove that they are a better team this season, Nebraska is hoping to take down conference favorite Michigan State with a rushing attack led by one of the best backs in the country Ameer Abdullah. With his workhorse mentality, Abdullah leads the nation with 833 yards and eight touchdowns. The senior also has two straight 200-plus yard games as well.
The Husker rushing game, which is racking up an average of 354.8 rushing yards per game, will have its most difficult challenge yet against a stout Michigan State defense. If the Spartan defensive front, led by defensive ends Marcus Rush and Shilique Calhoun, can contain Abdullah and force Tommy Armstrong to rely more on his on arm, it will put the game in Michigan State’s favor.
While Mark Dantonio’s defense will be the major focus in this matchup, the Spartans have been successful on offense with junior quarterback Connor Cook under center. Cook will lean on running back Jeremy Langford (340 yards, three TDs) and solid wide receiver Tony Lippett (421 yards, six TDs).
Both teams’ offenses rank in the top 10 in scoring this season, with Michigan State averaging 50.3 points per game and Nebraska averaging 45.4 points per game. Don’t expect this highly anticipated conference clash to become any sort of shootout, though. Defense will play more of a role in this contest, as Michigan State gets a big victory to keep itself in the national championship race.
Prediction: Michigan State 34, Nebraska 24
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