College Football Week 6: Pac-10 and Other Game of the Week Picks

It's October, which means Halloween is near—so it's time to think about scary things.

Such as LSU clock management.

College football fans have seen just about everything from Les Miles’ and Co., except for possibly taking a knee late in the game LSU is losing.

Compounding the matter and hurting the SEC's already poor academic standing was Derek Dooley and Tennessee trotting out the always-invincible 6-5-2 goal line defensive scheme.

At least it worked against LSU. UAB would probably have scored on it.

Lost in the discussion of the coaching mindlessness was Les Miles’ brilliant postgame comment of, “Just another game in the SEC.”

Hey Les, how about telling your “just another game” comment to Chip Kelly and Oregon.

They invaded SEC country with ease, only matched by General Sherman and Pete Carroll.

At least Miles somehow skates through his clock mismanagement unscathed, something my picks did not do last week.

I suffered my first losing week of the season, going 4-6, 3-7 against the spread; Sojka went 4-5, 3-6 against the spread.

We had better pick it up or we’ll be like Mark Richt next year, looking for work.

One final note before we get to the picks: Two weeks ago, the pro-SEC CBS halftime report defended Tennessee going to OT against UAB because “keep in mind, this is a good UAB team.”

I wonder if they will mention UAB’s 42-7 loss to Central Florida.

My hunch is this will slip under the radar of Tim Brando, Gary Danielson, and Phil Fulmer.

Now, onto the predictions.

Pac -10

Oregon at Washington St: (Oregon by 33.5)

Trevor Sojka: Umm... Oregon?

Patrick Hamblin: I cannot believe my partner’s short analysis. I’ll go with the Ducks…by a lot.

UCLA at Cal: (Cal by 7)

TS: (UCLA) This is a huge game for both teams. If either team wants to make a bowl, this is the kind of game they must win.

The Bruins have won three in a row, but a lot of people are saying those were wins against weak teams, and that the Cougars hung around way too long last week. I agree with both statements, but I think UCLA shows what they were made of and tops the Bears in Strawberry Canyon.

One thing the Bruins have going for them is the Pistol offense, which Nevada ran already against Cal and used it to destroy the Bears. Even with a bye week to prepare for this kind of offense, I don't see the Bears having enough defense to stop UCLA.

It will be a shootout, I believe, but the Bruins have enough in the tank to keep running down the Bears' throat all afternoon.

PH: (UCLA) This game hinges on Jeff Tedford’s defensive staff’s ability to make adjustments against The Pistol.

While Kevin Prince is not the athlete Colin Kaepernick is, the Bruin running backs are better than Nevada’s. While the Golden Bears have an above average running attack with Shane Vereen, this game, like so many Cal games, will boil down to whether Kevin Riley can avoid turning the ball over.

Call it a mild upset for the UC school from southern California.

Oregon St at Arizona: (Arizona by 9.5)

TS: (Arizona) The Beavers are good? Decent? Lucky? This game will determine really where the Beavers stand.

I think the Wildcat defense is too good though to allow the Rodgers brothers to run wild, and Ryan Katz won’t have the luxury of home to allow him to feel comfortable on the field.

Arizona will dominate the second half en-route to a big win.

PH: (Arizona with OSU to cover) Two simple factors are at play here: One, the Wildcats are at home and Tucson has become one of the Pac-10’s tougher road trips; two, the Beaver defense does not match up well with the Arizona offense.

While Stephen Paea is a truly dominant pass rusher, Mike Stoops’ club likes to dink and dunk you with short passes thus making Paea's influence negligible.

The Beaver secondary just does not have the speed to contend with Zona’s spread passing attack.

Arizona St. at Washington: (Washington by 1)

TS: (ASU) Jake Locker and Washington will not make it two wins in a row.

The Sun Devils have been oh so close in their last few games that they just seem due to finally win one.

Arizona St. hasn’t been able to put it all together for all four quarters, but I think they do on Saturday. The Washington offense looked unstoppable against the Trojans, but the Sun Devil defense will not allow the same kind of mistakes that plagued USC.

Sun Devils jump out quick and cruise to victory.

PH: (Washington) The big question here is if the Washington post-game celebration in the Coliseum has finally ended so Sark and his Dawgs could get back to Seattle.

The initial reaction here is to pick the Sun Devils, since UW will be coming off an emotional high. Arizona St. does not have USC’s rushing attack though, and while ASU is 9^th in the nation in passing, Steven Threet has been turning the ball over way too much.

Home field advantage wins it for Washington over a young ASU club on the road for the third time in four weeks.

Pac-10 Game of the Week:

USC at Stanford: (Stanford by 7)

TS: (Stanford) Stanford is mad. USC is mad. Unfortunately, for the Trojans, the Cardinal are far more frustrated about last week’s loss and will not be looking kindly on USC.

The Trojan defense hasn't seemingly tackled anyone all year, and this will continue against a Stanford team that cannot wait to punch you in the mouth. This kind of smash mouth football does not bode well for the Trojans, and the Stanford defense will want redemption from last week. With Barkley looking timid in the second half, the Stanford defense will pounce.

I see a monster Cardinal win in store. Stanford wins in a rout.

PS: (Stanford) This game has all the makings of a season defining game for the Trojans.

A win shows the Washington loss was the typical USC fluke loss of the year and the Trojans are still one of the top teams in the Pac-10; a loss, however, makes them a conference also-ran with the potential of a downhill season without the promise of even a mediocre bowl.

Unfortunately for USC, Monte Kiffin’s defense, as was written about here http://is.gd/fQIXU, is not going to be able to slow the Cardinal offense.

As we learned last year, Jim Harbaugh does not act nice either (and nor should he.)

Other Games of National Interest:

Alabama at South Carolina: (Alabama by 8)

TS: (South Carolina) There is no way the Gamecocks win right? The Tide is rolling, they are passing, they are running and they aren't taking names before or after the game. So my pick is easy: the Gamecocks.

Spurrier hasn’t won a single big game at South Carolina that really meant something, but this week, he will finally do it. It won’t be because of amazing quarterback play, but simply because the Tide won’t be able to get their offense in gear.

Last week, Alabama’s offense didn’t do much of anything and stalled in the second half. Not known for being a defensive genius, Spurrier prods his offense enough to pull it out.

Remember that game a few years back in the Swamp when the Gamecocks should have upset No. 1 Florida? Well, this is slight redemption—Gamecocks win 17-14.

PH: (Alabama with South Carolina to cover) My partner will be right, one of these days with picking South Carolina—it just will not be this week.

Alabama’s defense is playing the best defense in the SEC and what was an inexperienced secondary is now catching up to the rest of the defense. The Gamecocks will be hindered by Spurrier’s insistence on playing games with rotating quarterbacks and even the bye week will not help them as Greg McElroy, though not spectacular, is steady at the helm.

Also, check the trash bins for discarded visors with interlocking SC's.

Michigan St at Michigan: (Michigan by 5)

TS: (Michigan) This might be the most difficult game to pick all week.

Neither team seems for real, as I think the Big 10 is way down this year, so I can’t quite get a grasp on either team.

However, against each other, I think Denard Robinson continues his amazing play and carries the Wolverines once again.

PH: (Michigan St.) Notre Dame is the barometer by which to measure the Wolverines.

The Irish lost in the final minute, but were forced to play nearly the entire first half without their quarterback. Had he played, Michigan would have lost.

The Spartans meanwhile barely got by Notre Dame, needing a fake field goal to win in OT. Based on that and Mark Dantonio’s sideline return, I’ll go with the visitors from East Lansing.

LSU at Florida: (Florida by 7.5)

TS: (Florida) Whom are we kidding here? LSU does not deserve to be in the top 15, and Les Miles makes about 2 million dollars more than he should.

But somehow, the Tigers keep winning and Miles becomes more and more hated each week down in the Bayou. Finally, the clock management problems and more importantly the quarterback problems, will catch up to LSU.

The Gators will not score a lot of points, but they will need to when the Tigers keep on shooting themselves in the foot… and hand, and leg, and anything else that is within shooting distance.

Gators win a close one—that will not be as close as the score indicates.

PH: (Florida) Ah, the SEC version of Comedy Central rolls into the Swamp.

Jordan Jefferson, Jarrett Lee, and whoever else Les Miles wants to run out there as quarterback will realize that Florida’s 11 players on defense are just as good as Tennessee’s 13. 

LSU’s defense will keep the game close, but look for the Gators to take advantage of Tiger turnovers to pull away late.

Florida St at Miami: (Miami by 7)

TS: (Miami) Set your TiVo’s for another classic rivalry game from the best teams in college football.

Expect the Hurricane defense, led by Ray Lewis, to smother this Bowden-led Seminole team in an epic clash at the Orange Bowl.

Oh wait—Jacory Harris is the QB at Miami? And you say Jimbo is the coach at FSU, and Miami doesn’t play at the Orange Bowl?

OK, nevermind then—I guess we can all skip this game and watch anything else that coincides with this game’s kickoff time, assuming there is no Big 10 game on as well.

If that is the case, watch the Outdoor Channel in hopes that Ted Nugent is on, or possibly take a nap.

Miami wins a close game.

PH: (Florida St.) The Seminoles get their second shot at a ranked opponent (after falling to then No. 10 Oklahoma on the road 47-17.)

Expect FSU’s Mark Stoops’ led defense to force Miami’s Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde quarterback, Jacory Harris to turn the ball over.

Unlike Pitt and Clemson, expect Christian Ponder, the best quarterback in the state of Florida this year, to take advantage and keep the ‘Noles solidly in line for an ACC Atlantic Division championship.

You can follow my thoughts on college football and the sports world on Twitter at @plh55.