Just trust Campus Confidential. I couldn't put the game on until 9:30 in the third quarter, but SoCo looked good from what I saw. I started to feel good about this game as I was ironing my shirt and wish I had time to log on and put some scratch down. That's how it goes.
Everything I read online said Woodson couldn't pull off the win but did nothing to hurt his stock. The Gamecocks can play some serious defense, so that's a pretty good report.
I'm pretty burned from live blogging the Yankee massacre, so I'm going to keep this short.
Before I make the picks, I just want to follow up BNG's folo to my folo.
"BC will also fall. Not this week or next Bowling Green and Notre Dame, but fall they will, and when they do, they're strength of schedule (or lack
thereof) will be a major story in their demise."
I agree with everything there. They won't be in the title hunt. But they're definitely a sexy pick for the ACC title and a berth to the BCS. You'd have to agree there, right? The ACC isn't offering much right now.
As for Week 6:
No. 15 Virginia Tech at No. 22 Clemson (-5)
Let's stay in the ACC. It's Virginia Tech's second trip to a Death Valley to face the Tigers this year. I don't know that it will be another blowout, but Clemson will cover this game if it can complete some early passes. Tech is just extremely weak up front and Clemson has a Top 25 defense that will give Tech fits all night. James Davis and C.J. Spiller should each get 20 carries as they did in a 42-20 win over North Carolina State. Clemson to cover.
No. 5 Wisconsin at Illinois (-2.5)
You read that right: Illinois is a favorite. And they should be. Wisconsin doesn't deserve its No. 5 ranking and Illinois doesn't deserve to be unranked. Wisconsin's Top 5 defense from last year is nowhere to be found. Will this year's unit force enough mistakes from the young Juice Williams? Will Wisconsin let another opponent hang around. If so, is this the game they lose? I'm going to say yes. I'm taking Illinois at home. Zook is back, baby.
No. 10 Oklahoma vs. No. 19 Texas (+12)
We're going to find out how bad Texas is. My guess, they won't cover. Oklahoma is going to romp. But will I be shocked if the Longhorns wake up and do something? No. The Longhorns are actually playing decent, statistically speaking, but it's not enough. OU is saltier than the Longhorns and it'll show.
No. 12 Georgia at Tennessee (push)
I've seen enough from Georgia to take the Bulldogs this game. Tennessee is getting quite a bit of respect with this line. They've beaten nobody and were stomped by somebodies. The Vols have been a huge disappointment in my eyes and rank up there with Penn State as teams that have let me down most this year. Georgia's only loss was to a soon-to-be Top 10 South Carolina team, by 4. Woof, woof. Dawgs to win.
No. 9 Florida at No. 1 LSU (-8)
I have a feeling the Tigers are liking that No. 1 ranking and no matter how mad Florida is, they aren't coming into Death Valley and leaving with a win. Now the question is that spread. The key here is LSU's offense against Florida's defense. LSU should have a much easier time moving the ball than they did against South Carolina and Florida will have their hands much more full with LSU than it did with Auburn. LSU to cover.
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 23 Purdue (+7)
This is one of the most important games of the weekend. If Ohio State wins here, there's a strong chance it runs the table and creates some BCS problems (although that shouldn't be the case). Colleague Erik Boland I discussed it this week and he feels an unbeaten Buckeyes team would get in over a one-loss LSU or USC. I guess he's right, although it shouldn't be the case. As for who wins Saturday? Purdue is beyond awful against the pass (which is weird because it's what they do so well on offense). But Ohio State's offensive strength isn't the pass, although the Buckeyes have shown flashes. Purdue's Top 10 offense is going against OSU's No. 2 defense. Time and time again this year we've seen high-powered offenses, who lack on defense, play teams that can really slow down a game and every time the defense wins. For that reason, I'm taking the Buckeyes to win by 10.
No. 20 Cincinnati at No. 21 Rutgers (-4)
Another lower-ranked team tabbed the favorite. I'm not ready to jump ship on the Rutgers bandwagon yet and I don't think Ray Rice is ready to completely throw away a shot at the Heisman. A strong outing against Cincy's tough rush defense and he can put himself on the map. I like the Scarlet Knights to cover.
No. 25 Nebraska at No. 17 Missouri (-6)
Nebraska is pretty rough on defense, but Missouri is worse. This one could go either way, but I'm going to pick the upset. Call it a sentimental pick. But I believe in Callahan's bunch. Nebraska to win.
As for a lock this weekend? Clemson let me down because I was arrogant and picked them again.
I like Kansas State (-3) hosting Kansas. The Jayhawks are off to a fast 4-0 start, but have played noooobody. Three points is a gift.
Comments (3)
Adam, You're asking me if BC can win the ACC? It kills me to say so, but I'll agree with that. As a Big East fan (Something that's extremely hard to admit this week), It's extremely difficult to give any credit to the three 'Benedict Arnold' schools of BC, VT, and UM.
Actually, that brings up a interesting question:
- From a purely football perspective, If you could have known in March of 2003 what you know today, which of the schools involved in the ACC raid, Big East restocking, would you prefer?
USF? BC? VT? Cinci? the "U"?
Adam, you're MIA! Did college football finally push you over the edge? :-)
Here I am looking to your blog to make sense out of the trainwreck that is college football and you're nowhere to be found.
Adam come back! :-)
P.S. Cincy over mighty Rutgers... geeze Adam, where's the self respect? :-)
Well, at least now the voters have a legit reason for putting LSU #1, Adam, although they will get beat too, at some point.