Baylor @ Texas A&M (10/15 at 12:00 pm ET, on FX) - Game of the Week
No love lost here. Big squabble about A&M leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, leaving Baylor in the dust. With the Baylor program's fate in the air, you can expect one hell of a grudge match this Saturday. Not that that's the only reason this is the game of the week. Both of these teams have landed on my lists in the past, and multiple times on top of that (and they've won their share as well). As I've said previously, these offenses are for real. And questionable defenses can result in an awesome display of fireworks. Buckle your seat belts ladies and gentlemen, because I liken this game to the Arkansas/A&M game from two weeks ago that was an instant classic.
Prediction: This time, however, A&M will get theirs. They win by 9.
Michigan @ Michigan State (10/15 at 12:00 pm ET, on ESPN/ESPN3)
Another bitter in-state rivalry, and one that has been dominated by the "little" brother as of late. Michigan seems to have gotten back on track this season, starting 6-0 for the first time in several years, but I still find myself questioning their defense. Well, we'll find out a lot this Saturday. Michigan State is as "Big 10" as it gets. They're going to pound the ball on offense, and put big hits on Denard Robinson and the Wolverine play-makers every chance they get. Michigan hasn't faced a team this physical yet, so they better buckle-up those chin-straps because the Spartans would love nothing more than to extend their winning streak against the Wolverines to four games. I have a feeling this one's going down to the wire.
Prediction: The Spartans shock Michigan again, exposing their D en route to an 8 point win.
Oklahoma State @ Texas (10/15 at 3:30 pm ET, on ABC or ESPN/ESPN3)
Texas still isn't back in the national title picture, as was shown last week when they were demolished by arch-rival Oklahoma. Now the other major Oklahoma squad comes to Austin in the form of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. And these boys are legit too. So how will Texas respond? Mack Brown hired an outstanding set of coaches after last season, as I've said before, but you have to think they had the wind knocked out of them after last week. But Okie State is like Texas A&M in that their defense is a constant question mark. Which means, with the Longhorns' skilled offense, they have a fighter's chance in this one. This game might be the second best offensive shootout of the week after A&M and Baylor, and you definitely shouldn't miss this one.
Prediction: But the Cowboys are too much in this win and take it by 13.
Florida @ Auburn (10/15 at 7:00 pm ET, on ESPN/ESPN3)
This game is mostly here because I don't want too many of my games of the week being at the same time. So Florida gets a chance to redeem themselves after being placed as a game of the week against Alabama and being embarrassed. I put UGA on notification last week, so now it's Florida's turn. The War Eagle finally ran out of luck last week against Arkansas, but this week they get a Florida team that has been creamed not once, but twice over the last two weeks (the latter game against LSU). Auburn has had a lot of good fortune at home against the Gators in recent years, and some of those wins were against very good Florida teams. While I believe Will Muschamp is a good fit for the Swamp and will have the Gators firing on all cylinders in the near future, this is not a good Gator squad. But it'll be a very tough game anyway. Florida's defense is very strong and arguably the toughest one the Tigers have faced this season. That'll keep Florida in the game, and if they can get their elite speed rolling, Auburn's in for a brawl. But they're at home, and that alone is worth a couple of TDs in this series.
Prediction: Home-field is enough for Auburn to squeak it out by 6.
Arizona State @ Oregon (10/15 at 10:15 pm ET, on ESPN/ESPN3)
Very intriguing matchup out west. Oregon has one high-powered offense, while Arizona State isn't afraid to step up and hit you in the mouth. ASU will come in believing that this is the game that could win them the Pac-12, and they'll be right about that. But this game is in the Autzen, and that makes all the difference in the world. Oregon is also on a roll, though they give up big points. This one will likely be a shootout, and it'll be a perfect matchup for you folks who like to stay up late on Saturday night. While I've hinted at the contrary, this likely won't be the biggest Pac-12 regular season game (Stanford/Oregon probably will be), but it'll be one hell of a way to cap off what will certainly be an awesome day of college football.
Prediction: LaMichael James and the Ducks are too much here; they win by 10.
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