Last weekend was a lot of fun. So how about we do it all over again this weekend? We have another nice slate of college football games this weekend including a Top 5 and Top 10 matchup. Will lightning strike twice and give us total chaos for the second week in a row? Lets take a look at the upcoming games.
#2 Auburn vs. #3 Mississippi State
All eyes will be on Starkville, Mississippi once again as the Bulldogs host the Tigers from Auburn. Both teams are coming off big wins against ranked opponents and the winner jumps to the top of the standings in the SEC West. This game also features the top two quarterbacks in the SEC in Nick Marshall and Dak Prescott in what could end up being a very high scoring affair. Both offenses put up 40+ points this past weekend and both boast balanced attacks with a lot of designed quarterback runs. I expect this game to be close and to go down to the wire, last team with the ball wins this one.
Prediction: MSU
#3 Ole Miss vs. #14 Texas A&M
This game features two teams who are going in opposite directions. Ole Miss is coming in fresh off a big upset of Alabama, while Texas A&M is still licking it’s wounds from a beat down it took from Mississippi State. The silver lining for the Aggies? This game takes place in College Station instead of Oxford. Kenny Hill looked rattled and uncomfortable for the first time all year against MSU and he faces another stout defensive test this week in bunch that refers themselves as the Landsharks. This is big game for both teams as a win for the Rebels keeps them in thick of the playoff hunt and a win for A&M puts them back in the conversation. A loss for the Aggies likely ends all playoff talk and has them staring down a tough road to get to double digit wins for the year.
Prediction: Ole Miss
#5 Baylor vs. #9 TCU
I have a funny feeling about this game in Waco. TCU is coming off a big upset of Oklahoma last week and Baylor’s offense struggling most of the game against Texas despite winning the game 28-7 ( 7 came off a block FG). Baylor looked vulnerable in more ways then one, Texas just didn’t have the offensive fire power to make the game more interesting then it was. The Horned Frogs are one of the biggest surprises so far this season and I think they give the Bears all they can handle in more this weekend.
Prediction: TCU pulls off the upset
#12 Oregon vs. #18 UCLA
This is a very intriguing matchup for me. Both teams are coming off upset losses and are looking to rebound and get back into the thick of things. Oregon has gone from penthouse to outhouse after coming up short on a comeback against Arizona and a win on the road would put them right back inside of the Top 10, while UCLA is reeling from an upset loss at the Rose Bowl to Utah and is looking to right the ship. Both teams have plenty of work to do and order to get back in the playoff conversation, but only one can come out a winner at this juncture. UCLA’s loss at home is a little more troubling to me and Utah had success running against them, I think the Ducks get back on track in LA.
Prediction: Oregon
#13 Georgia vs. #18 Missouri
The winner of this game will be all alone at the top of the SEC East. While that doesn’t sound like much given the results so far this year, you can never count out an opponent from the SEC. The Dawgs from Georgia hit the road to take on Missouri which could end up being a back and forth game before it is all said and done. I was buying stock in Maty Mauk coming into the year, but after a poor performance against South Carolina he has me wanting my money back. This game has taken a interesting twist with Georgia’s star running back Todd Gurley being suspended indefinitely days before the game and now the Dawgs have to lean on their two freshmen stud recruits Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Both are very talented and have shown what they can do in flashes this year.
Prediction: Georgia by a FG