Week Nine Top 10 College Football Games

I took last week off along with the Gamecocks and surprisingly did not watch a whole lot of football. I caught the tail end of the Wisconsin/Michigan State & Southern Cal/Notre Dame games, as well as the Texas Tech upset of the previously unbeaten Oklahoma Sooners. Last week saw two unbeaten teams fall (Wisconsin & Oklahoma) from the unbeaten ranks, and this week, two unbeaten teams (Clemson & Stanford) hit the road for tough conference match-ups. Let’s take a look at my top ten games for this Halloween weekend.

LSU @ Alabama: This game can’t get here fast enough! The Hat (Les Miles) versus The Sabanator (Nick Saban). #1 versus #2, enough said! Nobody cares about any other game except this monumental clash in Tuscaloosa.
Prediction: 11/05/2011 - only seven more days!

Stanford @Southern Cal: If you want to enjoy a match-up of classic drop-back quarterbacks then this Pac-12 contest is the game of the week. Stanford’s Andrew Luck and USC-West’s Matt Barkley could be the top two QBs that come off of the 2012 NFL Draft Board, with Luck being the unanimous #1 selection. The Cardinals have survived their last two trips inside the historic Coliseum, but last year won a squeaker by only two, 37-35, in Palo Alto.
Prediction: I’ll take my Luck & stick with the Cardinals over the fightin’ Kiffins, SU 41-34.

Oklahoma @ Kansas State: Has anyone noticed that the KSU Wildcats are ranked in the Top 10? Wildcats Head Coach Bill Snyder knows a thing or two on changing the fortunes of the silver & purple from Manhattan, KS. Texas Tech did KSU no favors last week by upsetting the Sooners in Norman. Oklahoma has not lost two games in a row since 1999 and has won four straight over Kansas State.
Prediction: Boomer Sooner rolls into the Little Apple on the Plains and declaws the Cats, OU 45-37.

Baylor @ Oklahoma State: If you detest defense and love watching flag football then this Big 12 match-up will wear out the scoreboard. Both of these teams have dynamic quarterbacks leading high-octane offenses. Baylor’s Robert Griffin III & Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden can cause a lot of defensive coordinators many sleepless nights! BU has not won in Stillwater since the beginning of WWII (1939).
Prediction: I’ll take the fightin’ T. Boone Pickens (OSU) over the litigating Ken Stars (Baylor), OSU 55-41.

Michigan State @ Nebraska: The last two weeks must have been cloud nine for Spartans fans, as they knocked off Michigan & Wisconsin from the unbeaten ranks. This Leaders divisional showdown in the corn fields of Lincoln, NE is a battle for first place, and the winner sits in the driver’s seat for a rematch with Wisconsin. Nebraska has never lost to Michigan State in five previous meetings.
Prediction: Spartans make a stand in Lincoln but the fightin’ Pelinis prevail, NU 30-17.

Clemson @ Georgia Tech: Remember the last time Clemson was undefeated (8-0 in 2000) and played Georgia Tech? Clemson ran into an angry bunch of Yellow Jackets and lost (31-28) in the waning seconds of the game on a touchdown pass, as the Ramblin’ Wreck prevailed and spoiled Clemson’s undefeated season in Tommy Bowden’s inaugural season. This time around, the Tigers bring a high-powered offense south on I-85 to the ATL and face Paul Johnson’s triple option offense.
Prediction: Keep alive the ghosts of 1981, Clemson fans, at least for another four weeks, CU 42-28.

Georgia/Florida: The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (never stray from tradition) convenes in Jacksonville this weekend. Florida has won 18 of the last 21 contests and three straight. UGA Head Coach Mark Richt desperately needs a signature win on his resume this year, and a wounded UF team under first year Head Coach Wil Muschamp would aid the cause.
Prediction: The Gators chomp the Dawgs again, UF 30-28.

Missouri @ Texas A&M: Mike Slive & the SEC 2012 schedule get a head start today, when these two conference foes hook up for one last soiree as members of the Big 12. The Aggies are already 0-1 in SEC play this season losing to Arkansas in Dallas earlier this season. Next year, these two teams will be on opposite sides of the SEC: Texas A&M (West division) & Missouri (East division)
Prediction: These two teams audition in The Show Me State for their SEC brethren, A&M 37-27.

South Carolina @ Tennessee: Tennessee is a shell of the program it used to be in the 20th century when Manning or Martin were under center on Rocky Top, and UT fans complained about one or two loss seasons. UT is currently winless in the SEC (0-4) and suffering a three-game losing streak. In comes a subdued OBC and offensively challenged Gamecocks offense – first one to 14 points wins!
Prediction: The Gamecocks defense spurs a comeback on Rocky Top, USC 21-13.

Wisconsin @ Ohio State: A Leaders division prime time showdown in the Big 10 at the Shoe! Wisconsin is coming off a last-second heart break loss at Michigan State last weekend, while Ohio State is coming off a bye week after beating Illinois two weeks ago. Wisconsin has won three of its last five trips to Columbus, but OSU is 7-3 all-time in night games at the Shoe.
Prediction: The Badgers overcome last week’s last-second setback and tattoo OSU, UW 41-17.

West Virginia @ Rutgers: Will either of these two teams reside in The Big East this time next year? Will The Big East even exist in 2012? For now, we have to treat this game for what it is… the last possible television option if you happen to be in its viewing area! WVU has only lost four times in 38 meetings with Rutgers. The Mountaineers leave Rutgers with a reminder of how things will always be in The Big East – the Scarlet Knights always looking up in the standings at another contender!
Prediction: The Mountaineers shoot down another red scare, WVU 45-34.
My next blog will be Monday afternoon as Spurspective will review the USC/UT contest and peek ahead to the trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas and match-up with the Razorbacks.
Go Gamecocks!