Hoke's College Football Big Game Breakdown: Week Five

Well, Week Five is here, and once again the SEC is carrying the day with the marquee games in the nation. Last week it was LSU at Auburn and Florida traveling to Tennessee. This week the Vols travel to Auburn, and in the biggest game in the country, the Crimson Tide of Alabama travel to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.

Here are the big games this weekend and how I see them breaking down.



No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)

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No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)

Must See Rating: 5 out of 5

Key Matchup: Alabama Rushing Offense (236 ypg, 14th nationally) vs. Georgia Rush Defense (46 ypg, third nationally)

In the biggest game in the country in Week Five, the Tide travels to Athens to take on the red hot Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia comes in with national title hopes on the line and hoping to make a big statement win to the nation. Alabama comes in on a roll and literally running over their opponents on their way to a 4-0 start.

For Alabama, it's simple: Run the ball and stop the run. Alabama's strength on offense is clearly their run game, led by Glen Coffee, who is averaging 100 yards per game and eight yards a carry. If the Alabama run game gets going, they have a great shot at the upset in Athens.

They also have to stop Knowshon Moreno and company from controlling the clock themselves. Of course, the way Matthew Stafford is playing, he's just as dangerous these days.

Alabama doesn't have a quick strike offense, so getting down by a couple of scores could be costly. Javier Arenas needs to be an X-factor returning punts and setting Alabama up in good field position.

In Georgia's case, it's all about the rush defense. Alabama is currently rolling over teams, and if Georgia wants to win this game, it comes down to stopping that powerful run game of Alabama and making John Parker Wilson beat you.

Wilson is coming off a 74-yard performance against Arkansas and hasn't been asked to do a whole lot through the air so far.

Offensively, Knowshon Moreno will find it tough sledding against an Alabama defense that is in the top 10 in the nation in stopping the run. Matthew Stafford and the receivers will have to make some plays through the air and down the field like they did a week ago at Arizona State.

This game comes down to the lines of scrimmage and the QBs. Whoever can stop the run and get better production from their QB is the winner.

Georgia is more balanced, so they can get shut down in one area and still win a game. Alabama has been fairly one dimensional so far, so it will be crucial that they find success running the football so the game isn't all in Wilson's hands.

Winner: Georgia

Player of the Game: QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia

No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1)

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No. 12 Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)

Must See Rating: 4 out of 5

Key Matchup: Illinois Rush Offense (224 ypg, 15th nationally) vs. Penn State Rush Defense (52 ypg, seventh nationally)

In the first big in-conference matchup of the season in the Big Ten, Illinois travels to Happy Valley to take on a Penn State team that has been dominant so far.

Illinois and Juice Williams are looking to show that they are still one of the best teams in the conference even without Rashard Mendenhall, while Penn State is ready to show that they are for real after playing some nice tune-up games before conference play.

Illinois comes in with only one loss, and that was to top five Missouri in the season opener. Many people wondered if the Illini could continue their success after big time running back Rashard Mendenhall left early for the NFL, but with Juice Williams back, they are still rolling up points on offense and looking like a contender.

The key for Illinois will be getting that running game rolling with Williams at QB and Daniel Dufrene at running back. That is the strength of this team, and it will have a tough task going against a rush defense in Penn State that is only giving up 53 yards per game on the ground.

Penn State is on a roll right now, both on offense and defense. New quarterback Daryll Clark has been great in the Nittany Lions' spread offense, and running back Evan Royster is making a name for himself as well. Penn State currently ranks in the top 10 in nine different categories on offense and defense.

There is, though, a question about who they have played. Coastal Carolina, Syracuse, and Temple aren't exactly world beaters, so Joe Paterno and his boys should be eager to show the nation what they have against top 25 competition.

Penn State comes in doing everything well, but the toughest task they will face is corralling Juice Williams and the Illini run game and getting off the field.

Illinois will come into this game ready to play and control the clock and keep the high-powered Nittany Lion offense off the field. Juice will make his plays, you know that, but the Illini don't look to be quite balanced enough against this tough Penn State defense to score many points.

Penn State's offense is going to score at home, so it will be up to Juice and company to try and keep up.

Winner: Penn State

Player of the Game: RB Evan Royster, Penn State

Tennessee Volunteers (1-2)

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No. 16 Auburn Tigers (3-1)

Must See Rating: 4 out of 5

Key Matchup: Tennessee Pass Eff. Defense (99.7, 23rd nationally) vs. Auburn Pass Offense (188 ypg, 88th nationally)

In what looked like a potentially huge game a week ago, both teams are now coming off tough losses at home on national TV. Auburn comes in with a close loss to defending champion LSU and will have to regroup quickly after a big emotional letdown.

Tennessee comes in reeling even more than Auburn after a bad-looking loss to Florida at home that saw the Vols make mistake after mistake. This is truly a must-win game for both teams, so it could turn out to be very entertaining.

Tennessee has struggled with consistency this season, especially at QB. They have a solid offensive line and two solid backs in Arian Foster and Monterio Hardesty. The problem seems to be with new QB Jonathan Crompton.

Crompton has all his receivers returning, but he has struggled to make good decisions and get the ball to his playmakers on the outside.

Defensively the Vols are very talented and haven't been helped much this season by an inconsistent offense. The Vols' secondary is as good as it gets, led by stud Eric Berry at safety.

The Vols have to stop the Auburn run game like LSU did and then take advantage of any errant throws Auburn QB Chris Todd might make. The Vols also have to get Foster and Hardesty rolling. If they do, then this could be a big upset.

Auburn comes in off a tough loss at home to LSU and will be tested as to how quick they can get back up off the mat emotionally. The big question for Auburn has been the offense and the new spread attack. There has been much criticism so far about the offense because of a lack of a power running game and limited big plays down the field.

QB Chris Todd is the starter, and he's been good, but he lacks the elusiveness that is oftentimes needed in the spread offense. The Tigers have to get some kind of consistent running game going in order to take pressure off Todd and get some plays open down field.

Defensively the Tigers have been good as always. Despite a bad second half against LSU, Auburn is a top 20 defense in the nation and will make it tough for the Vols to get the running game going.

This game could actually be one of the most entertaining games in the nation just because both teams are looking at a must-win situation. Tennessee's coach Phillip Fulmer has fielded questions this week about his job security, and Auburn's offense has been under harsh criticism after the losses last week.

Both teams are fighting for their SEC lives this week. A loss for either puts them squarely behind the eight ball in the race to Atlanta, where a win rights the ship and gets things back to normal for at least one more week.

Winner: Auburn

Player of the Game: QB Chris Todd, Auburn

No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers (3-0)

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Michigan Wolverines (1-2)

Must See Rating: 3 out of 5

Key Matchup: Wisconsin Rush Offense (238 ypg, 13th nationally) vs. Michigan Rush Defense (65 ypg, 12th nationally)

Wisconsin is about to start a three-game stretch that will decide their season. They have Michigan on the road, then play at home against Ohio State and Penn State. It all starts, though, with a road game at Michigan. The Wolverines are looking to start a new season in conference play and forget the losses to Utah and Notre Dame to start the season.

Michigan's offense has been so sporadic that it seems hard to think they will be able to score enough points to win this game. The only chance they have is to somehow stop the power running game of P.J. Hill and the Badgers and find their offense at home.

Wisconsin has one of the best backs in the nation in Hill and one of the best tight ends in the nation in Travis Beckum as well to throw to. If the Badgers get the run game rolling, not only will they score 20-plus points, the Michigan offense won't be on the field—and they need as many chances to score as possible.

Winner: Wisconsin

Player of the Game: RB P.J. Hill, Wisconsin

No. 24 TCU Horned Frogs (4-0)

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          No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

Must See Rating: 3 out of 5

Key Matchup: TCU Defense (183 ypg, first nationally) vs. Oklahoma Offense (556 ypg, fourth nationally)

Can TCU do it again? They went into Norman a couple of years ago and shocked the Sooners in pulling off the upset. They come into this game undefeated and back in the top 25 heading into Norman. The Sooners are steamrolling opponents, and TCU should be a good warmup game for the Big 12 schedule.

TCU comes in with the number one-ranked defense in the entire nation and are coming off a solid performance, holding the pass-happy SMU team to seven points. The question is whether they can do it against Oklahoma's Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Bradford and company. TCU sports some ridiculous numbers, but they haven't been tested yet—that's about to change.

TCU will look to keep this ball on the ground with quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Aaron Brown. The Horned Frogs run a lot of zone read, and they will have to be successful in running the ball to score and keep the Oklahoma offense off the field.

Oklahoma is on the right track to a national title shot, and they have the offense and defense to do it. The Sooners are currently in the top 10 in nine different offensive and defensive categories and lead the nation in scoring offense.

Sam Bradford comes in as one of the best QBs in the nation and will have to be at his best on Saturday going against a tough TCU defense that will look to take away the run. Look for Bradford to air it out early and often.

Winner: Oklahoma

Player of the Game: QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1)

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  Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0)

Must See Rating: 3 out of 5

Key Matchup: Virginia Tech Rush Offense (172 ypg, 45th nationally) vs. Nebraska Rush Defense (77 ypg, 18th nationally)

In one of the more intriguing non-conference games of the season, the Hokies of Virginia Tech travel to Lincoln to take on Nebraska in Bo Pelini's first big game at home as head coach of the Cornhuskers.

Virginia Tech has already had a topsy-turvy season. First they suffer a season-opening loss to upstart East Carolina, then they pull the redshirt off QB Tyrod Taylor and have since won three games in a row, including a come from behind win at North Carolina.

The Hokies are starting to build confidence, and a road win at a place like Nebraska would only help that going into the meat of the ACC schedule.

Nebraska has played a cupcake schedule so far this season and has rolled up nice numbers across the board because of it. The Cornhuskers will be tested big time in this matchup, but the home crowd should provide a big lift. Nebraska needs to get Marlon Lucky going early and often and take control of the game from the start.

This is an interesting game and should feature a couple of good rushing attacks. The Nebraska defense has gotten a little tougher from last season with the addition of converted offensive linemen to defense, and converted running back Cody Glenn leads the team in tackles at his linebacker spot.

Tyrod Taylor has jumpstarted the Hokie offense and is looking to keep it going on the road in Lincoln.

Winner: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Player of the Game: RB Marlon Lucky, Nebraska