3rd Down: GOTW, Upset Alert and more...

Game of the Week
#1 Alabama vs. #15 Texas A&M-
Alabama is coming off a huge, emotional victory at Death Valley and will host a Aggie team that should be coming in with a ton of confidence coming off a good win at Mississippi State last week.  How 'Bama is able to rebound and put last week behind them will go a long way in determining what goes down in this game.  If they can bounce back and be the Alabama team we expect to see, then I think they will be able to take care of A&M.  As good as Texas A&M's offense is (averaging 44.7 ppg and 559 yards), it has struggled against top ranked defenses. The Aggies scored 17 points and had 334 yards against Florida and scored 19 points and gained 410 yards to go along with five turnovers at LSU.
-Jeremy

No. 21 Mississippi State at No. 7 LSU-
I like the Alabama pick and I would have to agree that is the game of the week, but just to add something I am going to pick another game in the SEC as the game of the week. This is an interesting game with Mississippi State losing its last two games and LSU falling in a close one to Alabama last week. Both teams are looking for revenge and that is why I chose this as the game of the week. The Bulldogs started the season 7-0 before two pretty ugly losses to Alabama and Texas A&M over the past couple weeks. This team looked like it was in line to challenge for a BCS berth and now it is trying to catch back up. The Tigers also started with BCS hopes but those have been almost all but dashed with all the other SEC teams in the top 10 with only one loss. Both of these teams are looking for a statement game. Let's start by looking at the offenses. At quarterback Zach Mettenberger has played much better over the past couple games including almost leading his team to victory over the No. 1 Tide. Mettenberger is completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,717 yards and eight touchdowns. For the Bulldogs Tyler Russell has thrown for a lot of yards (1,954) and touchdowns (16) but he has been more of a game manager for the past couple games. At running back the Bulldogs rely on LaDarius Perkins who has carried most of the load with 153 carries and 804 yards with eight touchdowns. The Tigers have a tandem backfield with Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard who are each over 400 yards this season and each have accounted for six touchdowns. Both are also averaging over 5.5 yards per carry. This game will come down to who can play the better rush defense, because as we know both have excellent pass rushes. I like the Tigers to win this because they are third in total defense (253.1) and 12th in rush defense (102.78). I do not think the Bulldogs can slow down the Tigers run games having allowed 168 yards per game this season while also allowing 377 total yards. Look for this game to be close early, but the Tigers to pull away late. There is no way the Tigers will lose back-to-back night games in Death Valley, look out Bulldogs, LSU is looking for serious revenge.
-Nick

Where the Stakes are High
Wisconsin @ Indiana
Going into the season, no one would have thought this game would have B1G Championship implications.  But, with the crazy season we've seen in the B1G and the fact that the two best teams in the conference, Ohio State and Penn State, are ineligible, this is where we stand.  Wisconsin is leading the Leaders Division with a 3-2 conference record and could really salvage, what has been a disappointing season for the Badgers.  Indiana is 2-3 going into this game and if they win would improve to 3-3 with, what would be the head-to-head tie-breaker over Wisconsin.  Each team still has conference games left after this game, but the winner will control their own destiny and have a chance to compete for the conference title. 

Keep an Eye On
#11 Oregon State @ #14 Stanford
Big match-up this weekend for the Pac-12 North.  Both teams are 5-1 in the conference and one game behind the first place Oregon Ducks.  While both Oregon State and Stanford each still have a shot at the Ducks, a loss in this game would likely end their chances at the a Pac-12 North title.  The winner stays right behind the Ducks with a chance to win in head-to-head play.  Oregon State and Stanford have had eerily similar seasons- they both have top 20 defenses and have each had their own little quarterback flip-flop. 

#10 Florida State @ Virginia Tech
The 8-1 Seminoles go into this Thursday night game in Blacksburg with ACC title on their mind.  With a win, FSU takes one step closer to its conference championship and gets a good, prime-time, nationally televised win.  Easier said then done as the Seminoles have been a tale of two teams this season at home versus on the road.  The 'Noles have been utterly dominant in the friendly confines of Doak Campbell Stadium this season- they're 6-0, outscoring opponents an average of 54-9 and out-gaining them 584-199.  Away from home has been a different story.  FSU is 2-1 in road games this season and average 26 points to their opponents 18 and yards per game drops almost 200 yards, from 584 to 405, while opponents gain almost 100 more ypg, going from 199 to 284. 

Despite the road struggles, the 'Noles are going up against a Virginia Tech team that finds itself in unfamiliar territory.  The Hokies have limped to a 4-5 record and for the first time in years, they're going to miss out on a 10-win season.  Unlike recent seasons, VaTech is struggling to produce consistently in the running game with quarterback, Logan Thomas lead the team with 422 yards. 

I think this game will be close and I fully expect VaTech to play their best game of the season.  Despite that, I just don't think the Hokies have what it takes to beat a Seminoles team that is superior in every aspect of the game. 


Nick's Upset Alert
I think this week I am going to put Nebraska on upset alert against Penn State. The Huskers have been so up and down this season that I am not sure what team will take the field on Saturday in Memorial Stadium. I know Penn State is 6-3 this season but it seems like it has improved every week. Penn State is looking to spoil some teams seasons and this is the perfect opportunity on the road to put a hinge in the Huskers Rose Bowl aspirations. I think the key to this game is at the quarterback position. The Nittany Lions Matt McGloin is a much better quarterback than the Huskers Taylor Martinez. McGloin has thrown for 2,436 yards 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season. If Penn State is going to make the upset here they have to rely on a great game by McGloin.


Jeremy's Upset Alert
As I look at the slate of games this week, I really think Alabama should be on upset alert but I'm going with Kansas State here.  TCU is down this season compared to the teams they've had the past few seasons.  That said, they're still a very well coached team that knows how to win and will not be intimidated by the second ranked Wildcats.  The health of Heisman front runner Collin Klein could also be a factor.  Klein is expected to play, but you never know how guys will recover with head injuries.  I'm going to take K-State to win, but don't be shocked if they don't make it out of Ft. Worth undefeated.

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