Where does time go? We’ve already reached the end of September and we are nearing the halfway point in the college football season. Here are my top five games for this weekend.
#7 Stanford Cardinal at #10 Washington Huskies: The Pac-12 will struggle to get a team into the College Football Playoff. The only way they’ll be able to is if a team in the conference goes undefeated. That means that the winner of this game will have to run the table in order to have any chance. Washington has one of the top defenses in the country and their offense is explosive but its hard to pick against a Cardinal team that is balanced on both sides of the ball and battle tested. This will be a tough game for Stanford but just like last week against UCLA, they’ll win a close one. I am taking Stanford in a tight affair.
Prediction: Stanford 31 Washington 28
#22 Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma State Cowboys: The Cowboys need a signature win so they are getting the Longhorns at the right time. Texas looked like they were on their way to top 15 status but then lost to Cal. You can forget about defense in this one. Both teams run up tempo spread offenses. It’ll be a shootout but I think Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys will out last Texas because they are at home and they are better defensively.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 45 Texas 38
#11 Tennessee Volunteers at #25 Georgia Bulldogs:After watching Georgia get smacked last week by Tennessee, I am going to take the Vols in this one. Tennessee is feeling it now after some early season struggles. Last week’s come from behind win over Florida will serve as a catalyst for the Volunteers moving forward. I think Tennessee will win this game and take control of the SEC East.
Prediction Tennessee 31 Georgia 24
#8 Wisconsin Badgers at #4 Michigan Wolverines: The Badgers made a statement last week in thumping Michigan State but Michigan is a different animal. The Wolverines are far more explosive and diverse on offense. Factor in an opportunistic defense that generates turnovers and you can see why the Wolverines are virtually impossible to beat at home. I think Wisconsin will keep this close but I am taking the Wolverines by ten.
Prediction: Michigan 31 Wisconsin 21
Oklahoma Sooners at #21 TCU Horned Frogs: Oklahoma is out of national title contention but they can still win the Big 12 and compete for a New Year’s Day Bowl. In order to do that, they must beat Kenny Hill and the high flying Horned Frogs.
This will be another classic Big 12 shootout but its hard for me to go against Baker Mayfield and the Sooners. They are better on defense and that will be the difference in this game.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45 TCU 42
(5.A)#3 Louisville Cardinals at #5 Clemson Tigers: Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson will finally face a defense that can run and contain him.
Call me crazy, but I think Louisville will struggle offensively in this game. They won’t slap 60 plus on the Tigers.
Clemson hasn’t been as explosive as we thought offensively thus far but the backfield tandem of DeShaun Watson and Wayne Gallman is still one of the top backfields in the country. I am not quite sure Louisville is ready to go into Death Valley and win a game like this. That’s why I am picking the Tigers at home.
Prediction: Clemson 38 Louisville 35
Other Games to Watch
#14 Miami Hurricanes at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Miami has flown under the radar thus far but Mark Richt’s troops will get to prove that they are for real this week.
Navy Midshipmen at Air Force Falcons: Navy has owned the Commander in Chief Trophy in recent years. If they are going to continue that dominance, they must win this game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Penn State Nittany Lions: Big early season game for both programs. Tracy Claeys has the Gophers believing and that’s what makes them a tough match up for Penn State.
# 18 Utah Utes at Cal Golden Bears: Utah continues to play the role of Rodney Dangerfield. They get no respect nationally. Winning games they should win, like this one helps.
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