WEEK 6
October 3rd, 2013
By Mike Nowoswiat and Brett Ciancia
By Mike Nowoswiat and Brett Ciancia
MARYLAND at FLORIDA STATE
Saturday, October 5th, 12:00. ESPN. AT Doak Campbell Stadium
Maryland is ranked? What year is this? Well whether you like it or not, the Terrapins are a good team this year and Randy Edsall, once again, is proving how great of a coach he is. Maryland is averaging about 500 yards per game while only giving up 263 per game. CJ Brown finally gives the Terps stability at the QB position, while proving to be a true playmaker after being injured last season. He is completing 66.7% of his passes and has taken care of the ball (1 interception). Stefon Diggs is averaging 100 yards receiving per game and is one of the most electric players in the country. Unfortunately, he will be lining up against some of the most talented defensive backs in the nation. The Seminole defense, once again, is one of the nation’s best. Led by a deep line and the most talented linebackers in the league, this front seven should be able to shut down the Maryland attack. Not to mention, Florida State’s offense has been unstoppable, averaging over 50 points per game. Jameis Winston is as good as advertised; with a win against Clemson in two weeks, he could catapult himself into the Heisman race. The numbers are already there: 1,048 passing yards and 12 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions.. His downfield accuracy is tremendous, which should exploit a thin Maryland secondary…Florida State 38 Maryland 17
GEORGIA TECH at MIAMI
Saturday, October 5th, 3:30. ESPNU. AT Sun Life Stadium
I was disappointed in the play of Vad Lee last week after I picked the Jackets against Virginia Tech. Lee had two costly turnovers to start the game, and the offensive line struggled to contain the Hokie front. Georgia Tech will probably not see a defense quite like the Hokies for the rest of the season, but I am worried about the Jackets’ ability to simply outscore teams. Lee has not looked very comfortable running the triple option, the bread and butter of their system. However, he has been able to get the ball downfield through the air to a much better receiving corp than anyone anticipated. DeAndre Smelter looks very comfortable playing football for the first time since high school after playing for the Yellow Jacket baseball team and is a big body who must be accounted for at all times. If Miami comes into this game overconfident, an upset is likely. Still, I cannot predict the mindset of this talented Hurricane squad. Stephen Morris and Duke Johnson are a lethal backfield combination and the defense is mightily improved from last season. I think Miami will be able to run the ball well against a weaker defensive line and Morris will be able to take advantage on play action. Unless Lee vastly improves his option reads…Miami 27 Georgia Tech 17
ARKANSAS at FLORIDA
Saturday, October 5th, 7:00. ESPN2. AT Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Florida is not 2012 Florida especially after the loss of star DT Dominique Easley. Arkansas is not the Arkansas we are accustomed to—Bobby Petrino Arkansas—the team that would air it out until it scored 70. Or the John L. Smith Arkansas: the pathetic FCS-looking team. No, as badly as you may want to punch Bret Bielema because of his hair flip and aviator glasses, he has given this team a new identity. The Bielema Razorbacks will punch you in the mouth until you quit. They play a manly brand of football that is quickly disappearing from the modern game. Florida plays the same way, particularly on defense. The Gator defense is still one of the best in the nation despite the loss of Easley. The Gator secondary is one of the best in the country and the front, now led by Ronald Powell and Dante Fowler, is still ultra-talented that will give Razorback QB Brandon Allen fits. True freshman Alex Collins has looked great at running back for Arkansas, averaging about 120 yards per game and nearly six yards per carry. Collins will need to have a huge game if the Razorbacks want to steal a win in Gainesville. While I really want to pick Arkansas in the upset—and I would if the game were played in Fayetteville—I don’t know if the Razorbacks will be able to do enough on offense to seal a victory. Look for the Gator defense to help QB Tyler Murphy put points on the board…Florida 23 Arkansas 17
NOTRE DAME vs. ARIZONA STATE
Saturday, October 5th, 7:30. NBC. AT AT&T Stadium (N)
Arizona State is on the final leg of its 4-week gauntlet, and is looking to become the first team ever to beat USC and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks (13 have tried prior). Bad news for the Catholics in South Bend, the Devils are on fire! After a close first half, the Sun Devils scored 4 straight 3rd quarter Touchdowns that essentially cost Lane Kiffin his job in Los Angeles. QB Taylor Kelly has Arizona State's offense ranked #7 in points per game - he is surrounded by playmakers all over the field. Marion Grice is a proven runner and a weapon in the pass game, while TE Chris Coyle is a great safety valve for Kelly. Look for Coach Graham to continue to draw up long stop routes designed to get Jaelen Strong the ball near the sidelines. Notre Dame has had success so far against traditional I-formation teams such as Michigan State, but has lost both times against dynamic (ranked) offenses: Michigan and Oklahoma. The Sun Devil offense will present troubles for the Irish defense, who continues to play below expectations. Down in JerryWorld Saturday, Notre Dame finds itself at a cross-road: get back on track with a ranked win ... or lose, with 7-5 looking very possible. Look for the latter... Arizona State 34 Notre Dame 20
OHIO STATE at NORTHWESTERN
Saturday, October 5th, 8:00. ABC. AT Ryan Field
Northwestern Football will be front and center all-day Saturday, as they host College Gameday for the first time since 1995, and then host the undefeated Top 5 Buckeyes in primetime. If Ryan Field hasn't been dubbed it yet, I will claim it first - "The House that Pat Built." Pat Fitzgerald, not only brought the NU Football program to new heights as a rare 2-Time Nagurski and Bednarik winner on the successful 1995 and 1996 squads, but has built the program from the ground up in his 7+ seasons here as Head Coach. Last year, NU was 10-3 and just 5:03 clock time from being undefeated. Many feel that this NU team is his best yet - we will see under the lights on Saturday night. With just a 14-59-1 all-time record against Ohio State, NU has been a punching-bag to the scarlet and gray. WIll it change this fall? Urban Meyer is still undefeated at Ohio State, a team that is fresh off of a key BigTen win over rival Wisconsin. Braxton Miller returned from injury and looked like his old self, passing for a Kenny Guiton-esque 4 TD's. Just as important is the dominance of the Buckeye rushing attack which features several dangerous runners: Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde, and Miller himself. Yes, Northwestern is 4-0 and yes, I respect what Fitzgerald has built - but I am skeptical of how Northwestern will play in the national spotlight, an unfamiliar situation for the 'Cats. Northwestern has struggled with inferior opponents, needing defensive touchdowns to escape with wins against Cal and Maine. The quarterback duo of Cain Kolter and Trevor Simien will give the Silver Bullets some trouble at times, but even the return of the dynamic Venric Mark wont be enough here. Ohio State is loaded, and knows how to win big games. Northwestern will place too much emotional attention on this game and come out flat, folding on the big stage... Ohio State 38 Northwestern 24
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WASHINGTON at STANFORD
Saturday, October 5th, 10:30. ESPN. AT Stanford Stadium
Washington and Stanford have each rolled to 4-0 starts, both with impressive ranked wins and offensive/defensive balance. While Stanford's defense hasn't been as notable on the scoreboard, if you have seen the Cardinal play at all you'll understand why I view them so highly. Their front seven may just be the most talented in the nation (yes, Tuscaloosa, I said it). Both offenses are playing at a high level, with Washington's appearing a bit more talented, (SO FAR). Their skill players are already established (Price, Sankey, Seferian-Jenkins, and Williams), while Stanford's skill guys are still growing to their potential (Hogan, Gaffney, Wilkerson, Montgomer, and even Barry Sanders Jr). Coach Wilcox continues to improve the Husky defense - as RGIII was scoring 67 points on UW in the 2011 Holiday Bowl, it would be absurd to think that 16 games later, UW is ranked in the TOP 5 in scoring defense! I was very high on both teams entering the season, and I'd like to use Stanford's home field advantage as a determining factor, but we all know that is laughable (honestly, for ASU-Stanford, the only ranked game of the weekend, that stadium wasn't even half-full at kickoff). Look for Stanford's stout Offensive Line to wear down the Husky D, especially in the 2nd half. Hogan will make enough gutsy plays to win... Stanford 27 Washington 21