Conference Play Begins! (College Football Week 5 preview)

Matt: Another week of college football in the books, and I was at a wedding so I missed most of the action this week, but I was able to catch a few games at the bars after the reception. Once again, my Hoosiers failed to win, showing once again what happens when I start to get a little excited about Indiana football. However, my Hoosiers don’ t play this week, so hopefully that’ll give them time to recover from the beat down that Missouri handed them. Last week went to Ryan again, as he beat me by three games. I went 46-13 while Ryan went 49-16. Ryan overall is now ahead six games on me. Time to put my game face on and hope that I can get those games back this week, we’ll be previewing five big matchups this week.

Purdue vs Northern Illinois

Ryan: Purdue is going through a tough year and it doesn’t get any easier this week. The Boilermakers host a Northern Illinois team that has won 15 of their last 16 games. The best game in which Purdue played was against Notre Dame. It is easy for a team to get motivated for an in-state rival, but a non BCS-qualifying team, I don’t see it happening, even if the Huskies are a better team. The Boilermakers, behind a less than stellar Rob Henry, have struggled to put up points this year. The Huskies, on the other hand, have dropped nearly 40 a game. Jordan Lynch is playing great for the Huskies at the quarterback position, and will continue his success in West Lafayette. Northern Illinois will be too much for a rebuilding Purdue.
Winner: Northern Illinois

Matt: Just as I said, Wisconsin put a hurting on Purdue. As an Indiana fan, I know how it feels to get beat up by the Badgers that bad, and it doesn’t get easier for the Boilermakers as they take on one of the toughest non-qualifying BCS schools, Northern Illinois. I do think the Boilermakers will come out with some fight in them because they are almost at the breaking point and really need a win here, but unfortunately I don’t seem them pulling it out here.
Winner: Northern Illinois

Notre Dame vs Oklahoma

Ryan: Oklahoma visits South Bend this year after getting torn apart in Norman last year. But that was last year. The landscape of this game has changed completely; two different quarterbacks are starting, Oklahoma has the edge on defense, and the Sooners have to play on the road. Notre Dame has struggled defensively this year, giving up 24 points to Purdue and 41 against Michigan. They bounced back against Michigan State in what turned out to be a hard-nosed game. The Sooners started Blake Bell last week, and Bell looked good throwing for 413 yards and four touchdowns. That game, however, was against Tulsa. He had no success against the Irish last year when he was used as a runner. The key to this game is who is going to make the big plays. Notre Dame has the speed with TJ Jones and George Atkinson III.  I have Notre Dame in a close 6 point game.
Winner: Notre Dame

Matt: Notre Dame barely escaped a close game with my Spartans last week, winning by a mere four points. Notre Dame has another tough test against the Sooners this week. Don’t get twisted, this isn’t the same Notre Dame team from last year. I think even at week 5 we can tell that. Oklahoma has really impressed me this year, and they look like the clear favorite to win the Big 12 going into conference play. I think that Sooners put a good fight and in the end find themselves victorious against Notre Dame.
Winner: Oklahoma

LSU vs Georgia

Ryan: The game between the Tigers and the Bulldogs is obviously the game of the week. LSU has been flying under the radar so far this year. With a win against Georgia, that will no longer be the case. Georgia started the year as a favorite in the SEC. The loss to Clemson has pushed the Bulldogs aside. A win against LSU puts Georgia back in the mix. Zach Mettenberger has improved a lot from last year, throwing for over 1000 yards and ten touchdowns in the first four games. Aaron Murray has continued to play well. No real team stands out in this game, so I am going based on home field. Georgia hasn’t lost a home game since South Carolina in 2011.
Winner: Georgia

Matt: Say what you will about the SEC, but this is why it is the best conference in the nation. A top ten matchup between the Tigers and the Bulldogs and it is only week 5. This is going to be a great game, both teams looking like national contenders. This one for me is probably the hardest game to call this week, and I went back and forth between the two but in the end I’m going to have to go with Georgia. I think they have something to prove this year after falling one game short of possibly being in the National Championship last year
Winner: Georgia

Alabama vs Ole Miss

Ryan: Alabama is not who we thought they were. Texas A&M was able to exploit the Tide’s defense in which gave up 628 yards and 42 points. Ole Miss is a young, aspiring team. The Rebels started the year off with a come from behind win against Vanderbilt. Ole Miss still has a long way to go before they are able to knock off a top tier team such as Alabama. TJ Yeldon has disappointed this year, gaining over 100 yards only once this year. AJ McCarron is going to have to lead this team until Yeldon picks up the pace. Against a less than powerful Rebel offense, I see the Tide defense being able to have their way.
Winner: Alabama

Matt: The Crimson Tide have another test against the surprise, for me, of the SEC, Ole Miss Rebels. While I would like to say the kings are going to fall of their throne this week, this just isn’t the team to do it. I could be wrong and for the sake of destroying dynasties, I hope I am, but Alabama is looking like.. well, Alabama. The Tide roll on.
Winner: Alabama

Wisconsin vs Ohio State

Ryan: The Buckeyes and Badgers battle in what could be a deciding game in the division. Wisconsin, who should be 4-0 if not for terrible execution by the referees during the Arizona State game, is coming off a huge win against Purdue. Melvin Gordon is making his case for the Heisman by running for at least 140 yards and a touchdown every game this season. The Buckeyes have a little bit of controversy on their hands. Star quarterback Braxton Miller has missed the past two games with an injury. Playing in his place, Kenny Guiton has looked amazing. With only three games, Guiton has over 600 yards passing with thirteen touchdowns. Benching Miller if healthy would seem crazy, but not playing Guiton with the way he has shined would also be crazy. Either way, the Buckeyes are in trouble. Having only played one BCS-qualifying team and giving up 34 points to them is not impressive. The Badgers have played two (and beaten both) and looked impressive in the outings. I look for the strong defense of Wisconsin to control the line of scrimmage and also the quarterback controversy to get in the way. Wisconsin in a close one.
Winner: Wisconsin

Matt: Bold pick there, Ryan. After completely crushing the Boilermakers, the Badgers have their toughest test of the year. This is going to be a great game, and I am extremely upset that I’ll miss it because I’ll be at work, but hopefully I’ll be able to get home for an exciting finish. Braxton Miller makes his return to the field, and what better game to come back in than the marquee schedule of the Ohio State schedule. I think that and the home field advantage will be enough to propel Ohio State to the victory. The fact that I picked the Buckeyes as my national champion might have something to do with this pick as well, but that is another story.
Winner: Ohio State

Matt: There you have it! A preview of week 5. Oh, by the way, sorry about missing week 4, I guess Ryan was too busy to write a blog. We are going to cut NFL for awhile so we can focus on NCAA. Here are our complete picks for the week.

					Matt	Ryan
Thursday	7:30 PM	Virginia Tech Hokies	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	ESPN	Virginia Tech	Georgia Tech
Thursday	7:30 PM	Iowa State Cyclones	Tulsa Golden Hurricane	FS1	Iowa State	Tulsa
Friday	9:00 PM	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders	BYU Cougars	ESPU	BYU	BYU
Friday	9:00 PM	Utah State Aggies	San Jose State Spartans	ESPN	Utah State	San Jose State
Saturday	12:00 PM	Miami (OH) RedHawks	Illinois Fighting Illini	BTN BTN2	Illinois	Illinois
Saturday	12:00 PM	Northern Illinois Huskies	Purdue Boilermakers	ESP2	Northern Illinois	Northern Illinois
Saturday	12:00 PM	15 Miami (FL) Hurricanes	South Florida Bulls	ESPU	Miami (FL)	Miami (FL)
Saturday	12:00 PM	SMU Mustangs	TCU Horned Frogs	FS1	TCU	TCU
Saturday	12:00 PM	12 South Carolina Gamecocks	UCF Knights	ABC	South Carolina	South Carolina
Saturday	12:00 PM	11 Oklahoma State Cowboys	West Virginia Mountaineers	ESPN	Oklahoma State	Oklahoma State
Saturday	12:21 PM	South Alabama Jaguars	Tennessee Volunteers	ESP3 ESGP SECN	Tennessee	Tennessee
Saturday	12:30 PM	East Carolina Pirates	North Carolina Tar Heels	ESP3 ESGP ACCN	North Carolina	North Carolina
Saturday	12:30 PM	Virginia Cavaliers	Pittsburgh Panthers	ESP3 ESGP CHSS	Pittsburgh	Virginia
Saturday	2:00 PM	Navy Midshipmen	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	ESNN	Western Kentucky	Navy
Saturday	2:30 PM	Akron Zips	Bowling Green Falcons	ESP3	Akron	Bowling Green
Saturday	3:00 PM	Toledo Rockets	Ball State Cardinals	ESP3	Ball State	Ball State
Saturday	3:00 PM	Troy Trojans	Duke Blue Devils	ESP3	Troy	Duke
Saturday	3:00 PM	Colorado Buffaloes	Oregon State Beavers	PACN	Oregon State	Oregon State
Saturday	3:30 PM	8 Florida State Seminoles	Boston College Eagles	ABC ESP2	Florida State	Florida State
Saturday	3:30 PM	Connecticut Huskies	Buffalo Bulls	ESP3	Connecticut	Buffalo
Saturday	3:30 PM	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	3 Clemson Tigers	ESPU	Clemson	Clemson
Saturday	3:30 PM	UTEP Miners	Colorado State Rams	CBSS	Colorado State	Colorado State
Saturday	3:30 PM	6 LSU Tigers	9 Georgia Bulldogs	CBS	Georgia	Georgia
Saturday	3:30 PM	Iowa Hawkeyes	Minnesota Golden Gophers	ABC ESP2	Iowa	Minnesota
Saturday	3:30 PM	Central Michigan Chippewas	North Carolina State Wolfpack	ESP3	North Carolina State	North Carolina State
Saturday	3:30 PM	14 Oklahoma Sooners	22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish	NBC	Oklahoma	Notre Dame
Saturday	4:00 PM	Army Black Knights	Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	FS1	Louisiana Tech	Louisiana Tech
Saturday	4:00 PM	Houston Cougars	UTSA Roadrunners	FSN	Houston	Houston
Saturday	5:00 PM	Temple Owls	Idaho Vandals		Temple	Temple
Saturday	6:30 PM	21 Ole Miss Rebels	1 Alabama Crimson Tide	ESPN	Alabama	Alabama
Saturday	7:00 PM	10 Texas A&M Aggies	Arkansas Razorbacks	ESP2	Texas A&M	Texas A&M
Saturday	7:00 PM	20 Florida Gators	Kentucky Wildcats	ESPU	Florida	Florida
Saturday	7:00 PM	Tulane Green Wave	Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks	ESP3	Louisiana-Monroe	Louisiana-Monroe
Saturday	7:00 PM	Florida Atlantic Owls	Rice Owls	FCS	Florida Atlantic	Rice
Saturday	7:00 PM	Wyoming Cowboys	Texas State Bobcats	LGHN	Wyoming	Wyoming
Saturday	7:00 PM	Arizona Wildcats	16 Washington Huskies	FOX	Washington	Washington
Saturday	7:00 PM	Kent State Golden Flashes	Western Michigan Broncos	ESP3	Kent State	Western Michigan
Saturday	7:30 PM	Arkansas State Red Wolves	Missouri Tigers	ESP3 ESGP CHSS	Missouri	Missouri
Saturday	7:30 PM	UAB Blazers	Vanderbilt Commodores	ESP3 ESGP FSN	Vanderbilt	Vanderbilt
Saturday	8:00 PM	UNLV Rebels	New Mexico Lobos	ROOT	UNLV	New Mexico
Saturday	8:00 PM	San Diego State Aztecs	New Mexico State Aggies	ESP3 ESGP	New Mexico State	San Diego State
Saturday	8:00 PM	23 Wisconsin Badgers	4 Ohio State Buckeyes	ABC	Ohio State	Wisconsin
Saturday	8:05 PM	Air Force Falcons	Nevada Wolf Pack	CBSS	Nevada	Nevada
Saturday	10:00 PM	5 Stanford Cardinal	Washington State Cougars	ESPN	Stanford	Stanford
Saturday	10:15 PM	Southern Miss Golden Eagles	Boise State Broncos	ESPU	Boise State	Boise State
Saturday	10:30 PM	USC Trojans	Arizona State Sun Devils	ESP2	Arizona State	Arizona State
Saturday	10:30 PM	California Golden Bears	2 Oregon Ducks	PACN	Oregon	Oregon
Saturday	12:00 AM	25 Fresno State Bulldogs	Hawaii Rainbow Warriors		Fresno State	Fresno State