After a few rough weeks, we finally got back on track last week with a perfect 5-0 record. Lets try and keep the momentum going in this weeks picks.
Texas A&M vs LSU
Johnny Manziel looks to cement his chances at a repeat of the Heisman trophy on Saturday when his Aggies take on LSU in Baton Rouge. Manziel has led the high power Aggie offense to incredible heights this year, including scoring at least 42 points in every single game so far this season. He will look to have his way again with a struggling LSU defense. Manziel has accounted for over 4000 yards and 39 touchdowns so far this season. Manziel will try to get the ball to star WR and touchdown machine Mike Evans early and often. Along with Evans, Manziel will target Malcome Kennedy to stretch the LSU defense and force the Tigers to man up as opposed to double teaming Evans. A&M's running game is nothing to sniff at either, led by Ben Molina and Trey Williams. The pair are averaging six yards per carry and have accounted for 15 rushing touchdowns as well. If the Aggies continue to do what they have done on offense so far this season, this could be a long game for the Tigers.
LSU looks to rebound after getting blasted by Alabama two weeks ago, but it won't get any easier against Texas A&M. QB Zach Mettenberger has played outstanding this year including last week against Alabama. Mettenberger has completed almost 66% of his passes and has more than a two to one ratio when it comes to touchdowns to interceptions. He will need to be on point once again on Saturday if his Tigers are going to keep up with the Aggies on offense. The Aggies defense has some serious holes in it and if Mettenberger can stay on his feet and get the ball into the hands of Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry in space, then the Tigers will be able to stay in the game. If Mettenberger can expose the defensive backs, that will also allow running lanes to be opened for power back Jeremy Hill and could cause some serious trouble for the Aggies. Hill is averaging almost seven yards per carry and has 13 touchdowns, but most importantly for the Tigers is that he accumulates 100+ yards on the ground. Every game Hill has gotten 100+ rushing yards, the Tigers have lost. while every game except against UAB where he has rushed for less than 100 yards, the Tigers have lost. If Hill can move the pile and get large chunks of yards on each carry, this will be a game that comes down to the wire.
Key Matchup: Jeremy Hill vs the Texas A&M front seven. If Hill can rush effectively throughout the game against the Aggies and keep Johnny Manziel on the sidelines, LSU will have a great chance the beat the Aggies. If Texas A&M can slow him down just a little bit and force a couple of three and outs from the LSU offense, this one could get ugly real fast.
Prediction: +Texas A&M University 45 - +LSU Football 35
Missouri vs Ole Miss
James Franklin returns for the Tigers as they look to clinch the SEC East title with a win over the Ole Miss Rebels. Franklin got a little action last week in the Tigers blowout win over Kentucky, but will start in his first game since he was hurt against Georgia. The Tigers fared well without Franklin but will need him to return to form over the next two game stretch against Ole Miss and Texas A&M if they want to make it to the SEC Championship. Franklin had been on quite a tear before his injury throwing for 14 touchdowns to only three interceptions in six games. Franklin will rely on RB Henry Josey early in the game as he continues to get his feet out from under him. Josey saw his carries increase while Franklin was out and didn't disappoint averaging just under seven yards per carry. Josey will look to gash the Rebels who at times have been susceptible to the big play in the run game. At some point, Franklin will need to air it out and that's where WR's Ladamian Washington and Dorial Green-Beckham come into the fold. Both receivers have been big play guys, catching 35+ passes and nine touchdowns. Both Washington and Green-Beckham will look to get behind the Rebel defense to get their quarterback some confidence early in this game.
Ole Miss will look to beat their second top 10 team of the year at home on Saturday when the Tigers come to town. QB Bo Wallace will look to continue the success he has had so far this year both through the air and on the ground. Wallace has accumulated over 2900 yards and 21 touchdowns so far this year. He will need to be shifty and get the ball out quick against the phenomenal pass rush of the Tigers. Wallace will no doubt be looking to get the ball into the hands of WR Donte Moncrief, his deep threat and highly touted freshman Laquon Treadwell, his possession receiver. Both Moncrief and Treadwell have excelled this year feeding off each other as Wallace has taken what the defense has given him and gotten both of these playmakers plenty of opportunities. With Missouri's pass rush however, the Rebels will need to establish the run in order to prevent the Missouri defensive line from pinning their ears back and rushing the passer on every down. RB Jeff Scott returned to the backfield last week after missing the previous three games and will join Jaylen Walton in the backfield to help provide the Rebels with a rushing threat. More importantly for the Rebels, Scott was the team's punt and kick returner in the beginning of the season, so the Rebels might put him back there if they need a big play to break the game open.
Key Matchup: Henry Josey vs Ole Miss front seven. If Josey can gash the Rebels like others have done, than Missouri will be in control for most if not all of the way. If Ole Miss can bundle Josey up and force Franklin to beat them in his first game back, than Ole Miss will have a great chance at another top 10 win.
Prediction: +Mizzou Athletics 31 - +Ole Miss Rebels 24
Baylor vs Oklahoma St
Bryce Petty and the Baylor Bears will look to continue to jockey for position for an outside shot at the BCS National Championship on Saturday when they travel to Stillwater to take on the Oklahoma St Cowboys. Petty will also look to continue to build on his Heisman candidacy as he has been absolutely dominant this season. Petty has thrown 24 touchdowns to only one interception and has thrown for over 300 yards in every game except Oklahoma so far this year. He will need to be just as good on Saturday against the big corners of Oklahoma St and in the hostile environment of Stillwater. Petty has spread the ball around to numerous receivers this year, which will continue on Saturday. WR's Antwan Goodley and Levi Norwood will get the bulk of the throws as Baylor will be without speedster Tevin Reese against the Cowboys. While the Bears have an extremely potent passing attack, their running attack is just as good if not better. The Bears sub in multiple backs including lead back Lache Seastrunk, Freshman speedster Shock Linwood and power back Glasco Martin. The Bears are averaging over 300 rushing yards per game and if they expect to win in Stillwater, they will need to run the ball early, often and effectively.
Oklahoma St has been playing some great football of late and will look to extend its winning streak to seven on Saturday against Baylor. QB Clint Chelf has taken the reigns at QB and has improved drastically week by week. Now comes the true test against one of the nations best teams in Baylor at home under the lights of Stillwater. Chelf has done a great job managing the game and not trying to make too much happen. His decision making has improved as well over the last five weeks, which has shown in his QB Rating improving from a 91.8 to a 168.9. Chelf will need to play at the level he did last week against Texas for the Cowboys to stay in the game. Chelf made plays with both his arm and legs and will need to do that against Baylor to prevent the Cowboys from facing deep third and longs. Like Petty, Chelf has a good running game that he can rely on. RB Desmond Roland has been absolutely running over opponents in the last four games, averaging 23 carries a game for 104 yards and he has scored eight times in those four games. If the Cowboys are going to beat Baylor, they will need Roland to run the way he has over the last four weeks to keep the chains moving and keep the Bears offense on the sideline and most importantly put the ball in the end zone.
Key Matchup: Baylor's running game vs Oklahoma St rush defense. If Baylor can have the success it has had running the football against Oklahoma St, this game will heavily be in Baylor's favor. If Oklahoma St can slow them down or even stop the run with their stout front seven, than the Cowboys will more than likely lead this game in the fourth forcing Baylor to beat them through the air.
Prediction: +Baylor Athletics 42 - +Oklahoma State Athletics 41
Wisconsin vs Minnesota
The oldest rivalry in D1 continues on Saturday when the Badgers travel to Minneapolis to take on the surging Minnesota Golden Gophers. Wisconsin looks to keep pace with Ohio St at an outside shot for the Leaders Division Championship. Wisconsin has been tearing it up since losing to Ohio St, winning five in a row. This will be a big test for the Badgers as both their losses have come on the road this year. QB Joel Stave, while not flashy, has done a great job managing the Badger offense and giving his team a great shot to win every game. Stave has not done what most young quarterbacks do, which is lose his team football games. The Badgers were jobbed against Arizona St and the defense was to blame for the Ohio St loss. Stave knows he has an incredible running attack behind him and because of that, doesn't try to force the issue through the air. Instead he takes what the defense gives him and if it means the Badgers have to punt, than that ok but the defense has done very well all season as well. RB's Melvin Gordon and James White have been sensational this year with each averaging seven yards per carry and 12 touchdowns. Both Gordon and White will need to force the issue on the Gophers and pound them early so the Badgers can get off to a good start. If the Badgers can get the Gophers in a hole early, than Wisconsin will be in a great position to get their first win against a ranked team on the road.
Minnesota looks to continue its magical run by winning the Paul Bunyan Axe on Saturday. QB Philip Nelson has done a great job leading the Gophers both through the air and on the ground. Nelson has done a great job managing the game through the air while being a playmaker on the ground with his legs. He will need his dual threat ability on Saturday if the Gophers are to beat the Badgers. Like the Badgers, the Gophers will rely on their running game led by RB David Cobb. Cobb has averaged over five yards a carry along with Nelson who has averaged just over four yards per carry. The Gophers will need their running game to move the chains and keep the Wisconsin offense on the sidelines and the prevent the Gophers from having to rely on Nelson to beat the Badgers through the air. Like the Badgers, the Gophers have built up quite a defensive unit, especially against the run. If the Gophers can run the ball and can slow down the Badger run game, than they will have a great chance to get their ninth win of the season on Saturday.
Key Matchup: Wisconsin's running game vs Minnesota front seven. If Wisconsin can establish the run and impose their will on the Gophers, than the Badgers will have a very good chance at winning the Paul Bunyan axe. If the Gophers can slow down the Badger running game and force Stave to take some shots down the field, the Gophers will have a good shot at winning the Paul Bunyan axe for the first time since 2003.
Prediction: +Wisconsin Badgers 31 - +Minnesota Gophers 21
Upset Special
Arizona St vs UCLA
The Pac-12 South Champion could be decided on Saturday when Arizona St travels to the Coliseum to take on UCLA. Arizona St is coming off a 30-17 victory over Oregon St and has won five in a row coming into Saturday's game. QB Taylor Kelly has struggled over the last two games, but has done a very good job all season getting his team in the right position to win. Over the last two games, Kelly has thrown only one touchdowns and two interceptions along with throwing for less than 200 yards in each game. However, Kelly had been spectacular up until that point and the Sun Devils have increased Marion Grice's workload, which has decreased Kelly's need to throw. Kelly will look to get the ball to WR Jaelen Strong along with RB's D.J. Foster and Marion Grice. Grice has been an absolute workhorse for the Sun Devils, especially the last two weeks rushing 20+ times for over 100 yards in each game. He will get a lot of looks on Saturday as UCLA has struggled to stop the run against good rushing teams this season.
UCLA is on a three game win streak of their own, but will now face the toughest test in last four weeks against Arizona St on Saturday.
Key Matchup: Marion Grice vs UCLA front seven. If Marion Grice can run the way he has all season long and run against an eight man front, then Arizona St could run away with this game by the third quarter with their offensive explosiveness. If UCLA can stop Grice and force Kelly to beat them, then the Bruins can put pressure on a QB that has struggled recently and keep the score low, which improves the Bruins chances of winning.
Prediction: +Arizona State University 31 - +UCLA Bruins 28
Last Week: 5-0
2013 Season: 38-22
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