Week 5

 Once again, I've got the five games you college football fanatics should take in.  Though I'm already starting to wonder, Oklahoma, Alabama, or LSU?  Who is the best team in the country?

Arkansas vs Texas A&M (10/1 at 12:00 pm ET, on ESPN/ESPN3) - Game of the Week

The Hogs got thumped by the Crimson Tide of Bama 38-14 last week, but not many teams are going to make it out of Tuscaloosa unscathed.  They put up a good fight for 2 1/2 quarters, but their defense is going to have to tighten in a hurry if they want a shot at slowing down the Aggies' high-flying offense.  The dual-threat imposed by Aggie QB Ryan Tannehill will be incredibly difficult for the Hogs to overcome, but let's not forget that stable of Razorback WRs.  This match between long-time rivals looks to be a slug-fest, and one of the most dynamic games of the year.  Do not miss.






Prediction: Arkansas wins the most exciting game of the day by 3.

Baylor @ Kansas State (10/1 at 3:30 pm ET, on ABC or ESPN/ESPN3)

Arky and A&M is my game of the week, while Baylor/Kansas State is my surprise pick of the week.   I said in week 1 that if Robert Griffen III isn't stopped, he can do some big-time damage.  TCU, Stephen F Austin, and Rice found out the hard way.  But the Wildcats of KSU won't be fazed a bit after going into Miami and pulling off the unlikely upset.  This time, the Wildcats are at home, and the homefield crowd behind them will give their stifling defense some extra juice.  This will be the biggest challenge of the year so far for Robert Griffen and senior WR Kendall Wright.  Kansas State is loaded with momentum, and won't be giving up half the century mark like most of Baylor's opponents thus far.

Prediction: Give me Kansas State for the upset by 2 with a late field goal.

Clemson @ Virginia Tech (10/1 at 6:00 pm ET, on ESPN2/ESPN3)

Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney have silenced critics claiming they're the underachieving "Georgia" of the ACC with huge home wins against Auburn and Florida State.  Now it gets even tougher as they travel to perennial ACC power Virginia Tech, making their first appearance in my weekly picks.  We know what Clemson has, but what about the Hokies?  Well, in three words: defense and rushing.  The same thing year in and year out with a Frank Beamer team.  And of course, there's the matter of "Beamer Ball," and their outstanding special teams.  But hard-nosed defense and a smash-mouth rushing attack (David Wilson and Josh Oglesby both have 5 TDs) will wear and tear this Clemson team that has been in close games all year.  And that fatigue may very well be the difference.

Prediction: Props to Dabo Swinney so far, but VT takes this by 9.

Alabama @ Florida (10/1 at 8:00 pm ET, on CBS)

It didn't take long for Will Muschamp to get the Florida Gators back in the national spotlight, and now we get to find out if they really are the real deal.  Trent Richardson has been pounding everyone as Bama continues to cruise through its season, but now he gets his stiffest challenge in the powerful Florida front seven.  Florida's young talent on defense is certainly maturing, but if John Brantley can't get the passing game going, the Gators will have their work cut out for them.  Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have been breaking off monstrous runs, utilizing their ridiculous speed, but they haven't faced a defense as tough as Alabama's and I'm unsure how they'll react when they start getting popped in the mouth.  Speed alone won't win this game, so watch the battle in the trenches.  This is going to be a physical game, and if UF's big uglies can't hold their own, then they can kiss this perfect season goodbye.

Prediction: Alabama is too much and takes it by 14. 



Nebraska @ Wisconsin (10/1 at 8:00 pm ET, on ABC)

Nebraska's first Big Ten game will be a toughie.  Camp Randall is a tough venue to escape with a win, and Wisconsin sports fans are rough.  Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead are an outstanding duo, but Wisconsin has one of the meanest defenses around.  And Nebraska's offensive weapons have buckled in big games before.  On the other side of the ball, Russell Wilson has been everything the Badgers needed, throwing for 11 TDs to only 1 INT this season.  Mix in their always outstanding rushing attack, which has produced 12 TDs so far, including 9 from Montee Ball, and you've got one formidable team.  Let's not forget about 6'3 WR Nick Toon either, who has been a force in the Badger passing attack.  Nebraska has a tough task ahead of them, but this game will show coach Bo Pelini exactly where his program stands in its new conference.

Prediction: Wisconsin at home by 13.