#6 LSU @ #9 Georgia
Instant Analysis
LSU is off to
a hot start and looks like one of the most complete teams in the nation. Quarterback Zack Mettenberger has been a
force this season and he’s helped by running back Jeremy Hill and a group of
dominant receivers. Defensively, they
look just as fast and aggressive as ever.
But, can they do it against the best of the SEC? LSU has won against lesser opponents so far
this season and they’ll get a real test from a battle tested Georgia team.
The Bulldogs
lost week one at Clemson, but turned around and beat a good South Carolina team
at home. Aaron Murray got off the
schnide against ranked teams with the win over SC but the Bulldogs will have to
play their best game of the season to get passed this LSU team and the stakes
couldn’t be higher. With UGA’s one loss,
they cannot afford another. They’re
already behind the eight-ball in the BCS Championship race and a loss in
conference would reopen the SEC East.
In the end, I
think the trip to Athens will be too much for Mettenberger. I’m not sold on him yet and if he can’t
control his emotions in his return to Georgia, LSU is going to struggle to move
the football. I think UGA gets the win,
but it’s going to be close.
Key’s to Victory
LSUThe Tigers are going to have to score some points this week and they’ll have their opportunities against a very inexperienced Georgia defense that’s still finding its identity. Mettenberger has been better this season but again, can he do it on the road, with SEC championship stakes on the line. Mettenberger needs to move the football effectively and avoid turnovers, make easy throws and let receivers Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry make plays.
Defensively,
the Tigers must get after Murray. The
Bulldogs offensive line showed signs of weakness against Clemson and LSU must
exploit any opportunities to get Murray on the ground.
Georgia
Protect the
football. Georgia posted similar yardage
numbers against Clemson and South Carolina and outgained both by nearly 100
yards. The difference? Two turnovers against Clemson, non against South
Carolina. In Mark Richt’s three wins
against LSU, the Bulldogs have 0 turnovers.
In Richt’s four losses to LSU, 10 turnovers.
Fun Facts
This is
Georgia’s third opponent of the season that goes into the game ranked in the
top 10 (Clemson #8, South Carolina #6, LSU #6).
LSU holds a
16-12-1 advantage and 5-4 edge when both are ranked.
Our picks-
Jeremy- Georgia,
34-33Nick- Georgia, 42-40
No. 21 Ole Miss @ No. 1 Alabama
Instant Analysis:
This game
should be a really good measuring stick of for both of these teams. Alabama is
the big powerful two-time champs and Ole Miss is young talented and looking for
a statement win to prove it is for real.
Keys to victory:
Alabama The Tide are going to have to slow down a quick and balanced Ole Miss offense. Alabama’s defense needs to do what it has done so well this season force turnovers and disrupt this fast-paced offense. Alabama is going to have to pressure the Rebels freshman quarterback Bo Wallace. The Tide cannot let Wallace get comfortable because the Rebels big receivers could gash them like Texas A&M’s Mike Evans did. Alabama’s defense will get some early stops in this game and keep the crowd into it and make the young Rebels uncomfortable. Alabama’s offense has been a little sluggish in two games this season with one high scoring game to beat Texas A&M. This offense just needs to establish the run early and control the ball. AJ McCarron has played pretty well this season and TJ Yeldon has been a beast all season and that tandem will come alive this game and run up some points on a young Rebel defense. The Tide offensive line is still gelling but it is working the kinks out and will lead it to a win.
Ole Miss
The
Rebels are going to have to start fast and not allow any turnovers. Wallace is
going to need to go off and have a huge game. The Rebels need to make big plays
on the outside and run the ball effectively. If the Rebels can go into
Bryant-Denny and score some early points and make the Tide play from behind
they could have a chance for the major upset. If this defense can slow running
back TJ Yeldon and force the Bama offense to be one dimensional it could be the
best thing for them. I think the Rebels are going to struggle with the strength
of the Bama rushing attack.
Fun Facts
Ole Miss is 3-0 for the first time since 1989. Alabama has won eight games in a
row in this series. Ole Miss is playing in Tuscaloosa for the second-consecutive
year for the first time since 1931-32. Bama is 24-7 against ranked opponents in
the past six years.
Our Picks
Nick-
Alabama, 37-20Jeremy- Alabama, 34-24
No. 14 Oklahoma @ No. 22 Notre Dame
Instant analysis:
I think
Oklahoma will return the favor to Notre Dame and go into South Bend and steal a
win.
Key’s to Victory
OklahomaThe Sooners defense is improving on a weekly basis and I think it will be up to the task in South Bend this weekend knocking Tommy Rees off balance and slowing the Irish offense. Offensively I think Blake Bell has his big game coming out party on Saturday and has a big game. Bell looks like he got the message after being beat out by Trevor Knight for the starting job. Bell will have his hands full with a solid Notre Dame d-line, but will sling the ball down field and create big plays for the Sooner offense.
Notre Dame
The Irish are
going to have to pressure Blake Bell to make sure he is uncomfortable. Force a
couple early sacks maybe a turnover and that could get Bell off his game early.
If the Irish defense can do that and stop the big play it will hold Bell and
the Sooner offense to less than three touchdowns. The Irish offense really
needs to get some big plays early. Tommy Rees is going to have to allow the run
game early to open up the passing game later. Rees also needs to make smart
decisions and create big plays down the field without turning the ball over.
I give the
Sooners an advantage in this game and think the OU defense will slow the Notre
Dame offense and I think Bell and the Sooner offense will beat Notre Dame with
big plays.
Fun Facts
This is the
second meeting in a row these two have been ranked. Notre Dame downed Oklahoma
38-13 last season, but was the game was tied 13-13 early in the fourth quarter.
This is the 10th meeting between these two storied programs Notre
Dame leads 9-1.
Our picks
Nick-
Oklahoma, 31-24Jeremy- Notre Dame, 27-24
Instant Analysis
Washington is a quickly rising team and looks like it can make a run at a Pac 12 title. Arizona enters the game 3-0 and is also a rising team in the Pac 12. I think the Huskies are a better team and should show it in this one.
Washington
The Huskies just need to get behind quarterback Keith Price and run the points
up on Arizona. The Huskies are gaining
over 600 yards a game this season which is third in the country. UW should be
able to control the ball and run the score up on the Wildcats. On defense the
Huskies have to stop the Arizona run because that is all the U of A has.
Washington should slow down the Zona running game and be able to with this game
going away.
Arizona
Run,
Run, Run as fast as you can. The Wildcats need to get the ball to running back
Ka’Deem Carey and he is going to have to go off for them to score enough points
to win this game. If Carey can rack up some serious yards the Wildcats could
have a chance. The Zona defense needs to stop Keith Price and at least slow
down the offense of Washington and keep its offense in the game. I don’t think
the Arizona defense is up to the task to slow down the Huskies offense.
Fun Facts
This is
Arizona’s first ranked opponent of the season. The last eight meetings of this
game have been very competitive with the combined scores of 258-254 Washington.
Our picks
Nicks pick-
Washington, 42-24 Jeremy’s pick- Washington, 41-27
#4 Ohio State vs. #23 Wisconsin
Instant analysis
Ohio State
gets their first real test of the season.
Wisconsin physical running game could be a bad matchup for the Buckeyes all
new front seven. The Badgers are running
for 349 yards a game and they’ll need everyone to show up and play big to go
into the “Shoe” and get a win. I think
the loss Wisconsin suffered against Arizona State a few weeks ago will actually
benefit them on Saturday. While the
Buckeyes are coming in off four powder-puff opponents, Wisconsin has been
battle tested and had it not been for a botched officiating crew, they could be
4-0 as well.
Key’s to victory
Ohio State
They Buckeye’s must get a lead. Whether it’s Braxton Miller or Kenny Guiton, the need to keep the pressure on Wisconsin by getting out to an early lead and force the Badgers to play from behind. The Badgers secondary is a bit inexperienced and struggled at times against Arizona State. The Buckeyes must take advantage of this.
Defensively,
Ohio State must slow down the Wisconsin rushing attack on first down, forcing
Joel Stave to keep the Badgers alive with his arm. Stave’s completion percentage was just over
50% in their first road game.
Wisconsin
It’s pretty
simple. If the Badgers can take
advantage of a young Ohio State offensive line and control the trenches,
Wisconsin can pull out a road win. The
Badgers have a deep group of backs led by Melvin Gordon (624 yards and 7 TD’s)
and James White (442 yards and 3 TD’s) who can pressure a defense all game
long. The Buckeye’s front seven is
almost entirely new from a year ago and have yet to be tested. Defensively, Wisconsin must limit Braxton Miller or Kenny Guiton on the ground. If they can bottle up either quarterback and force them to throw, they’ll have a good shot a getting a win.
Fun Fact
Gary Anderson
was Urban Meyer’s defensive coordinator at Utah in 2004.
Ohio State
leads the all-time series 55-18-5.
Our picks
Jeremy- Wisconsin,
34-33Nick- Wisconsin, 31-28
USC @ Arizona State
Instant Analysis
Despite all
the noise coming from LA, USC is 3-1 and fully alive in the Pac-12 South. Arizona State is 2-1 and you can argue the
Wisconsin “win” all you want, at the end of the day, ASU was down early, came
back and got a good win against what could be the best team in the B1G. I realize that we’re not even to October yet
and both teams have almost a full conference schedule ahead of them but a win
here (especially for USC who lost to conference foe Washington State) would go
a long way in the South.
Both teams
have a lot of question marks but if ASU can beat Wisconsin in the desert, they
should be able to beat USC there too.
ASU gets the home edge and gets the win.
Key’s to Victory
USC
The Trojans must find some symblance of an offense against ASU. The Sun Devils will score points and USC won’t win this one 10-7. They don’t need to be spectacular, just complete some easy passes and get a ground game going. Running back Trey Madden has looked pretty good through four games and if Kessler or Wittek can complete enough passes to keep the Sun Devil defense honest, the Trojans have a chance.
Arizona State
Spread the
field and keep the peddle to the metal.
USC has one of the best defenses in the nation but depth is an
issue. If ASU can keep the pace up and
keep the sticks moving, the Sun Devils can ware out the Trojan defense. Fun Facts
ASU has lost 12 of their last 13 meetings. However, their lone win in the span was a 2011 victory in the desert.
Our picks
Nick- ASU, 34-31Jeremy- ASU, 30-24
Utah State at San Jose State, Friday, 9 ET, ESPN
Utah State
played a great game against USC last weekend, the Spartans are off to a slow
1-2 start. The Aggies should go to San Jose and take down the Spartans.Nick’s Pick: Utah State, 42-31
Jeremy’s pick- Utah State, 35-21
Wyoming @ Texas State, 7 ET, Longhorn Network
Cowboy
quarterback Brett Smith is No. 2 in the country in total offense and should be
able to carve up a weak Texas State secondary.Nick’s Pick: Wyoming, 45-20
Jeremy’s pick- Wyoming, 47-17
Colorado @ Oregon State, 3 ET Pac-12 Network
The Buffs
have had the week off to prepare for an Oregon State team that can score but
lost of an FCS team already. CU is improved I think will go get its first road
win in a long time.Nick’s Pick: Colorado, 40-37
Jeremy’s pick- Oregon State, 41-31
SMU @ TCU, Noon ET, Fox Sports 1
Both of these
teams are off to a tough start after what looked like what should be two good
teams. The Frogs should be able to start getting back on track running the ball
and playing defense in this one.Nick’s Pick: TCU, 38-31
Jeremy’s pick- TCU, 27-21
Iowa @ Minnesota, 3:30 ET ABC/ESPN2
The Gophers
are off to a surprising 4-0 start and Iowa looks like it is slowly improving
week-by-week. I think The Gophers will use home field advantage to win this
game.Nick’s Pick: Minnesota, 28-24
Jeremy’s pick- Minnesota, 27-23
Northern Illinois @ Purdue, Noon ET, ESPN2
Northern
Illinois is looking for a solid win against a B1G school. I think the Huskies
should be able to go to West Lafayette and steal a win.Nick’s Pick: Northern Illinois, 41-38
Jeremy’s pick- NIU, 35-31
Toledo @ Ball State, 3 ET, ESPN3
The Cardinals
are off to a 3-1 start and could pick up another good MAC win.Nick’s Pick, Ball State, 49-45
Jeremy’s pick- Ball State, 42-38
