Week of Oct 10 Preview

Last week provided some fun games. None more fun than Arkansas beating Mississippi State to end their 20-game SEC losing streak. Though Texas losing to TCU was a close second in amount of fun. This week we have one top 10 vs top 10 matchup and 3 other top 10 teams have to play ranked teams. This should be another fun week of college football. Also, Houston finally got to play a football game! They beat Tulane 49-31 on Thursday night.

My Record: 3-3 last week, 14-10 overall

Notable Games
7Miami at 1Clemson
Miami has looked really good so far this season and is most likely Clemson’s biggest test outside of Notre Dame. They seem to be really clicking as a team, and that makes them dangerous. Clemson has yet to face a really tough opponent, but they are still Clemson with Trevor Lawrence at QB. I expect the Tigers to win this game, but I think Miami makes it close and makes the Clemson fans worry a little bit.
I am picking Clemson

14Tennessee at 3Georgia
Tennessee has been impressive this season. They did have a close call with South Carolina in their first game, but they were able to hold on. Last week they handled a not so good Missouri team. Georgia is a bit different though. The Dawgs made Auburn look bad on offense (well, in conjunction with Chad Morris). Now that UGA has picked their QB, they look fantastic. I doubt Tennessee will be able to compete for a full four quarters. Georgia is just too good.
I am picking Georgia

4Florida at 21Texas A&M
Texas A&M got stomped by Alabama last week. A lot of analysts thought that their poor showing against Vanderbilt was because they were unfocused (and the turnovers), but I thought it was probably because they just aren’t that good. Florida is a very good team, though they have been giving up some points. I think this game will look similar to last week’s Texas A&M game: close early, then Florida will pull away as the game goes on.
I am picking Florida

19Virginia Tech at 8North Carolina
Honestly, I think North Carolina is extremely over-ranked. They have only played two games so far this season: a big win over a not great Syracuse team and a four-point win over Boston College last weekend. But all that being said, I haven’t watched them play much. The same goes for Virginia Tech. I think both teams are very good, and this should be a good game. The Hokies do have the better win (a big one over NC State) between the two teams, but I think UNC’s defense will win this game.
I am picking North Carolina

22Texas vs Oklahoma
This is going to be a strange installment of the Red River Rivalry Shootout game (that’s right, I’m just combining them because no one really knows what to call it). There will be no fans, no State Fair, and no real CFP implications. Oklahoma is coming off back-to-back losses to unranked teams and Texas is coming off a loss to TCU. Neither team likes to play defense, as is customary in the Big 12. It is hard to pick a winner in this game because I don’t have a ton of faith in either team. I think this game will be a close one, but it won’t be pretty. That said, I would be very surprised to see Oklahoma lose three games in a row.
I am picking Oklahoma

Kansas State at TCU
Another very difficult to predict Big 12 game. Kansas State was able to hold off Texas Tech last week and TCU was able to hold on to beat Texas. I doubted Kansas State last weekend because I thought they would have a hangover from beating Oklahoma, but I was wrong. The Wildcats played pretty well and beat a decent Texas Tech team by 10. Kansas State is a consistent team, which makes them dangerous. I think this game will come down to the wire, and even though KSU just gave their head coach and extension, I think they will end up on top.
I am picking Kansas State

Arkansas at 13Auburn
First of all: WOOO PIG SOOIE! The Hogs finally got an SEC win! It was the first once since Bret Bielema’s last season with Arkansas (Chad Morris had 0 SEC wins in 16 tries). What’s even more surprising is that the Hogs won because of their defense. Barry Odom has been beyond amazing as the new DC. The offense is still struggling, and it seems like the new OC, Kendall Briles, is not calling plays that his offense is able to execute. Somehow, Arkansas was able to shut down the Mike Leach air raid offense and an early pick 6 was the difference in the game. This week the Hogs might have a little extra pep in their step. Disgraced former head coach, Chad Morris, is the offensive coordinator at Auburn this season and I know emotions will run high in this game. I’m not sure who will win, but Auburn only scored two FGs against Georgia. The Hogs scored a TD and a PAT. And unless math has changed, 7 is more than 6.

Top 25
7Miami at 1Clemson
2Alabama at Ole Miss
14Tennessee at 3Georgia
4Florida at 21Texas A&M
Florida State at 5Notre Dame
6Ohio State OFF
19Virginia Tech at 8North Carolina
9Penn State OFF
10Oklahoma State BYE
11Cincinnati BYE
12Oregon OFF
Arkansas at 13Auburn
UTSA at 15BYU
16Wisconsin OFF
17LSU at Missouri (moved to Columbia, MO because of hurricane Delta)
18SMU BYE
20Michigan OFF
22Texas vs Oklahoma (Cotton Bowl)
23Louisiana BYE (game vs Coastal Carolina moved to Wednesday)
Texas Tech at 24Iowa State
25Minnesota OFF

Other Games
Houston 49 Tulane 31 (Houston’s first game of season)
Louisville at Georgia Tech (Friday)
NC State at Virginia
Pittsburgh at Boston College
Temple at Navy
Mississippi State at Kentucky