Florida St. V Miami: 10 Must See College Football Games Week 6
The beginning of conference play for most teams started last weekend.
Most of the favorites came out on top; while some of the underdogs made statements in their games.
Last week, we broke down the top-10 games that must be seen for the weekend. And, we did a good job for the most part.
My record was 7-3 in those picked games; while Danny V's was 8-2.
This weekend, we look to continue to break down the best games of the weekend, and give some insight into why and how these teams will get it done.
This weekend should have its share of great games with the Sunshine State clash between Miami and Florida State going down; in a game that is always played close.
Alabama faces another tough test against their crown as they take on the Ol' Ball Coach and his Gamecocks. Also, Michigan faces Michigan State to determine which team is for real in the Big Ten.
Should be a very interesting weekend!
Baylor Bears at Texas Tech Red Raiders
1 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Baylor Bears running back Jay Finley was expected to have a huge year since QB Robert Griffin was the only true threat that gave a cause of concern to opposing defenses.
Finley only has 259 yards and a TD, so he must improve upon those numbers if the Bears expect to go to their first bowl game since 1994.
Matchup of the Game:
Baylor receiver Kendall Wright against Texas Tech corner Jarvis Phillips.
Phillips who is just a freshmen, leads the nation with four interceptions. Wright is a sneaky-good wideout whom Griffin loves to target on third downs.
Look at that side of the field. That will be the battle to watch that should shape the result of the game.
Why Texas Tech can win:
Taylor Potts is still firing the ball all over the place and, despite the loss against Iowa State, he still threw for 377 yards with 5 TD’s. Just an average day for him, however.
The Red Raiders need to avoid turning the ball over if they expect to keep this game close.
Coach Tuberville has done a pretty good job so far, and it will be a close game under his leadership in this one.
Why Baylor can win:
Robert Griffin is only a super soph, but he is flat-out sensational at quarterback.
He is a freak of an athlete that reminds some of former Iowa State Cyclone QB Seneca Wallace. Only a few inches taller, Griffin has no problem seeing over defenders and putting the ball into the hands of his playmakers.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: BAYLOR 34, TEXAS TECH 28
JFAV's Pick: TEXAS TECH 48, BAYLOR 42
Southern Cal Trojans at No. 16 Stanford Cardinal
2 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Stanford running back Stefan Taylor needs to run the ball effectively, or else USC will pin its ears back and unload on Andrew Luck.
Without Taylor, the Cardinal offense is not nearly as potent as it would be when he is running wild, similar to the way Washington RB Chris Polk ran against the Trojans last week.
They don't have Toby anymore in Cardinal land, and they need someone to make up part of the production that the Heisman finalist left behind.
Matchup of the Game:
QB Andrew Luck against the USC secondary.
We just talked about the run defense of the Trojans against Stanford’s tremendous offensive line. However, Luck is prone to throwing the football up for grabs when there is single coverage.
He loves throwing it to his tight ends, so it is up to the Trojans to come away with at least two interceptions. Or else they will just get torched by Luck and the Cardinal.
Why USC can win:
USC has not struggled to run the ball with Allen Bradford, as he toted the rock 22 times for 223 yards and a pair of TD’s.
If he can do that against this bulldozing front line of Stanford, then the Trojans may very well win this game. Stanford is not as athletic as we thought they were.
Why Stanford can win:
Andrew Luck is still a candidate to be the first pick in the draft, and his tight ends are some of the best in the Pac-10. Their defense is like a giant brick wall up front, except for the fact that nobody has freakish speed up front.
If you can get the angle on them and run by them, then you can gash them. However, USC does not have blazing speed in the backfield like we are accustomed to seeing.
This Stanford is way too prepared and motivated to lose this game at home to the Trojans, it appears.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: STANFORD 31, USC 23
JFAV's Pick: STANFORD 35, USC 27
Arizona State Sun Devils at Washington Huskies
3 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Running back Chris Polk ran all over the Trojans' defense, gaining over 100 yards.
If he can do that against a more physical Sun Devil defense, then the Huskies will be able to eventually hit the deep ball, which will open up the passing game for Jake Locker. Locker scrambling and Polk breaking a few extra tackles would help them come out victorious.
Matchup of the Game:
Jermaine Kearse against corner Omar Bolden.
Kearse is Locker’s go-to guy, and he must win this primetime matchup if the Huskies are to have any success completing passes down the field.
If Kearse is able to get behind Bolden and the Devil secondary, it could be a big day for Jake Locker and his draft stock.
Why ASU can win:
RB Deantre Lewis is just a freshmen, but he is putting up big numbers so far, and he has not slowed down one bit.
He ran for 100 yards against a solid Beavers defense, and if he can do that again this week, I am not sure the Huskies will have the ball enough times to hold onto victory.
The Sun Devils have a nice front seven, and with Bolden in the secondary, it makes it that much tougher for opponents to move the ball on them.
Why Washington will win:
Jake Locker has finally stepped up and shown us the leadership that he is capable of having.
He made some critical plays down the stretch against USC in the Coliseum that most did not expect him to make. If he can go back-to-back weeks of comeback heroics, then the Huskies can pull this out in a nailbiter.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: WASHINGTON 28, ARIZONA STATE 27
JFAV's Pick: WASHINGTON 31, ARIZONA STATE 29
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No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kansas State Wildcats
4 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Kansas State running Daniel Thomas is capable of going off in this game.
First off, he is one of the best backs in the nation, despite playing for an average team. Second, the Blackshirts may be back under Coach Snyder; however, they have not played anybody the past two weeks, and I am not sold in this defense as far as putting the clamps down on anybody they face.
Thomas should have no issues running for over 100 yards, which will enable QB Carson Coffman to find some one-on-one coverage on the outside.
Matchup to watch:
Kansas State center Wade Weibert against Jared Crick.
Kansas State must be able to impose their will against the front four of Nebraska, or else it will be a long night. I was shocked to see Kansas State manhandle a solid UCLA defense, but maybe the Wildcats are just a solid football team this year.
If Kansas State can get that running game going somehow, then we could be smelling a shocker.
Why KSU could win:
Daniel Thomas needs some Heisman hype if he single-handedly carries his team to victory in this one.
The Wildcat defense is the main story, as they rank 39th in the nation in scoring defense. If they can slow down the Huskers' running game and force freshman Taylor Martinez into some turnovers, all bets are off.
Why Nebraska could win: Taylor Martinez has been sensational this season, and he has two backs in Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead who have combined to be arguably the best running-back duo in the nation.
We know that the Huskers' defense is loaded up front, but it is their pass defense that is the third-best in the nation, allowing only 127 YPG. If that stat and ranking stay intact, it will be nearly impossible for the Huskers to lose this game.
It will be closer than the experts think, however.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: NEBRASKA 27, KANSAS STATE 21
JFAV's Picks: NEBRASKA 21, KANSAS STATE 10
Oregon State Beavers at No. 9 Arizona Wildcats
5 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Quarterback Ryan Katz has a very strong and pretty much underrated arm.
He has to avoid turnovers, or else this game may turn into a long night for the Beavers. He has an outstanding wideout in James Rodgers, who can torch the Cats' secondary on any play.
Matchup to watch:
Linebacker Dwight Robertson against tailback Nic Grigsby.
If The Cats' running game gets going early and often, it will be a long day for the Beavers' defense. If Oregon State has any chance at pulling off the upset, they must stuff the run.
That 100-yard marker for Grigsby will be a sign of how the game will go. If he gets to that marker, then Arizona should win.
If not, then it could be a happy night for the fateful in Corvailles.
Why Arizona could win:
Their defense is one of the fastest teams in the nation, led by their two bookends in Ricky Elmore and Brooks Reed.
They also have an underrated group of linebackers, who have done a good job coming off blockers to make tackles behind the line.
Their secondary has been sensational, and if they can continue to harass quarterbacks, they will continue to pull out thrillers.
Why OSU should win:
The Quiz himself, Jacquizz Rodgers, is starting to get in his groove after rushing for 150 yards against a solid Sun Devils defense.
If he can continue to grind out drives and get in the end zone, the Beavers will pull off the upset. One thing must occur though to pull off the upset: They must win the battle of field position.
Having James Rodgers back healthy returning will make this a big game this weekend.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: OREGON STATE 21, ARIZONA 20
JFAV'S Pick: ARIZONA 27, OREGON STATE 20
No. 11 Arkansas Razorbacks at Texas A&M Aggies
6 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Jerrod Johnson. Why not?
He is one of the top senior quarterbacks out there. However, he still is making dumb decisions and throwing the ball to the other team when, clearly, he could just throw the ball away to live another down.
Matchup of the Game:
Defensive end Von Miller against Arkansas LT-Demarcus Love: Miller has not been able to put any pressure on the opposition, which is vital if the Aggies want to win eight or more games this season.
Why Texas A&M can win:
Their offense is still one of the most explosive in the Big 12, and they can put up points on anybody.
Running back Christine Michael must be able to run the ball with Cyrus Gray. Or else the Razorbacks will just start to rush three and pluck eight guys in the secondary, which will make it next to impossible for A&M to throw the ball.
Why Arkansas can win:
Their defense has been fantastic thus far in the season.
If they are going to win the SEC, or at least compete for a BCS at-large berth, their defense needs to continue being a top-10 unit. They have tremendous speed all over the field, led by All-American DE Jake Bequette.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: ARKANSAS 38, A&M 24
JFAV's Pick: A&M 41, ARKANSAS 28
No. 12 Louisiana State Tigers at No. 14 Florida Gators
7 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Tigers QB Jordan Jefferson. Well, he must be able to snap the ball for one, and secondly, he must avoid just simply throwing the ball to the other team.
Matchup of the Game:
Wide Receiver LSU Terrence Toliver against Florida corner Janoris Jenkins will be a key matchup because, if LSU is to have any success moving the ball, they must be able to hit the home-run ball at least once. Jenkins and the Gators safeties are arguably the best in the SEC.
Why LSU can win:
Their defense is still among the best in the SEC, and they can put the clamps down on the Gators offense due to their own struggles. However, it is imperative that Jefferson stays in the game and can march the ball down the field in the Swamp.
Patrick Patterson is the man to watch, and if he makes a big impact, then the Tigers will be victorious.
Why Florida can win:
John Brantley needs to shows us he is healthy, and that he can lead his team to victory in a tough game. If Florida wins the battle in the trenches, they should have a decent lead heading into the fourth.
If Florida cannot get a long run by Demps, it will simply come down to Deonte Thompson or Trey Burton stretching the field against the likes of lockdown corner Patrick Peterson.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: FLORIDA 24, LSU 20
JFAV's Pick: LSU 21, FLORIDA 19
No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 19 South Carolina Gamecocks
8 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore has clearly given this offense something they never had in the Spurrier era—a consistent, power-rushing attack.
He makes life much easier for QB Stephen Garcia as well. If he can run well.
Matchup of the Game:
Alabama RBs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson against South Carolina’s front four.
Cliff Matthews and Ladi Ajiboye must be able come off the Tide’s OL, or else Ingram and Richardson will be able to coast and just plow their way to the second and third gears of the Gamecock defense.
If South Carolina can limit the big gains, they will have great field position, which will give their offense a great chance to take an early lead.
Why Alabama can win:
Their defense is still living and dying by forcing a few turnovers.
Regardless, they are about where I thought they would be at this point. They have one of the most talented defenses in the nation, though they are still fairly young in the secondary.
Julio Jones must be able to play, since he is a matchup nightmare for a South Carolina secondary that is one of the best in the nation. They have nobody who can come in and just shut Julio Jones down.
Bama needs to have a consistent passing game, since they did not have much success last week against the Gators, albeit they were crushing the Gators from the opening coin flip.
Why South Carolina can win:
Stephen Garcia has had a spectacular season, if you exclude a few of his fumbles.
They finally have a power-running game with Lattimore, who can push the Tide’s front seven to the limit. Arguably the matchup to look out for will be South Carolina’s huge wideouts against Bama’s small, speedy corners.
Guys like Alshon Jeffrey and Tori Gurley must be able to slice and dice DeQuan Menzie, DeMarcus Milliner, BJ Scott, and Dre Kirkpatrick. It will simply come to third downs and manageable distance for South Carolina.
If they can come down with a few deep throws down the field, they will pull this upset off.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: SOUTH CAROLINA 23, ALABAMA 21
JFAV's Pick: ALABAMA 20, SOUTH CAROLINA 14
No. 17 Michigan State Spartans at No. 18 Michigan Wolverines
9 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Running back Le’Veon Bell has had a heck of a season for a freshmen. If he continues his torrid pace, Sparty will soon be ranked in the top 10, and will start to hear whispers of a possible Rose Bowl berth.
Matchup of the Game:
"Shoelace" Denard Robinson against Greg Jones.
It is the matchup we have all been waiting for. The best linebacker in the Big Ten, and possibly the nation, against the Heisman frontrunner through the first month of the season.
If Robinson takes a big hit from Jones and has to leave the game for more than one possession, it will be the difference in the game.
Why Michigan State can win:
Sparty is one of the “IT” teams of the year so far.
Their defense is loaded at linebacker, led by Greg Jones and Eric Gordon. However, this is the first time in quite a while where their front four is wreaking havoc on solid opponents.
Why Michigan can win:
They have one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, and they are arguably the most entertaining team to watch right now.
They simply will run the spread all day on you until you are forced to load up the box. And when you do throw your safeties at the line of scrimmage,
Denard will hit a few of his wideouts for a big gain. He is impossible to track down and, unless you have an amazing front seven, Shoelace will have his way with you.
Luckily, the Spartans are easily the toughest opponents that Michigan has faced so far. Expect a back-and-forth war that should come down to the wire, and will go a long way in determining the shape of the Big Ten.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: MICHIGAN 31, MICHIGAN STATE 30
JFAV's Pick: MICHIGAN STATE 34, MICHIGAN 26
No. 23 Florida State Seminoles at No. 13 Miami Hurricanes
10 of 10
X-FACTOR:
Florida State tailbacks Jermaine Thomas and Chris Thompson have been breaking off some long runs, which has given Ponder and the passing game more to stretch the field. They better be able to do something, because this Canes defense is as good as it gets.
Matchup of the Game:
Andrew Datko against Miami defensive end Allen Bailey/Oliver Vernon will be the most important matchup to look at.
Datko is coming back from an injury, and with Datko back in the lineup FSU has one of the most talented offensive lines in the nation. However, they will be going up against the second-leading team in the nation in sacks.
You gotta think that the Canes will get to Ponder a few times in the game, but if it can be limited to a smaller number, then it could go a long way to determining the winner in this one.
Why Miami (FL) can win:
The Canes' defense is led by All-American corner Brendan Harris. If he can take away one side of the field against FSU’s receivers, then it will make it that much more difficult for the ‘Noles to move the ball.
Florida State has struggled at times with their receivers getting open, so if the Canes can get some pressure with their front four alone, the secondary will just completely manhandle the Noles' playmakers.
Also, Jacory Harris can again try to make a big-time statement nationally in this one, and fans in the Sunshine state tend to remember the heroes of this rivarly.
Could it be him?
Why Florida State can win:
They lead the nation in sacks, and already have more than they did a season ago.
Defensive ends Markus White and Brandon Jenkins have consistently put pressure on quarterbacks. If they can do the same to Jacory “I like to turn the ball over” Harris, then the Noles will come out of Miami Gardens with the W.
Expect a thriller, and for the game to come down to a last-second drive by Ponder and the Noles.
FINAL SCORE:
Danny V's Pick: FLORIDA STATE 28, MIAMI FLA 26
JFAV's Pick: MIAMI 24, FSU 21
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
