Gators have chomp; new power in West?

As we enter week six, there are 11 teams that sit at 5-0 and on the brink to be the first to be bowl eligible: Memphis, Houston, Oklahoma State, TCU, Michigan State, Ohio State, Northwestern, Iowa, California, Florida and Texas A&M. Who would’ve had Memphis, Houston, Northwestern, Cal and Florida in that group preseason?

Are we ready to say that Florida is a real contender in the SEC? This goes back to SEC Media Days when defensive lineman Jon Bullard told Sirius/XM College SportsNation that he wasn’t going to let his senior season be a rebuilding year and that the Gators defense was ready to win now. That all was true. It was the offense that was the concern. In just over a month, the offensive line has been effective enough, Will Grier has grown confident, the Gators have a running game and Brandon Powell and Antonio Callaway have emerged as playmakers to complement Demarcus Robinson. Things are looking up for the Gators. That Florida team that beat Ole Miss 38-10 looked like a team that can compete with Georgia in the SEC East and even beat Florida State. That means Florida could be on its way to at least ten wins. But first things first, the Gators have to avoid a letdown on the road at Missouri this week.

With Ole Miss losing, the SEC did not have a top five team in the AP Poll for the first time since 2010. Is the SEC that far down this year? Not so fast. There’s still plenty of football to be played and I think LSU, Texas A&M and Alabama still have a lot to say towards competing for a national championship.

This week is also going to help clear up the Big Ten West race. Illinois has emerged under Bill Cubit and is undefeated in conference play. The Illini take on undefeated Iowa this weekend. Northwestern has been the Big Ten surprise of the year and the Wildcats are still undefeated but face a tough Michigan team. Preseason favorites Wisconsin and Nebraska also face off this week for the Freedom Trophy and that could be an early elimination game in the division.

Staying in the Midwest, it’s not a good week to be the two Kansas schools is it? Both teams have gone down to four quarterbacks and now they host Baylor and TCU. Baylor is a 45-point favorite at Kansas, who will start a true freshman quarterback and Kansas State hosts TCU but should have quarterback Joe Hubener back but the Wildcats have offensive linemen and defensive linemen ready to play quarterback just in case.

Some have Cal's Goff projected as top QB in '15 NFL Draft.

Heading out west, California at Utah is this weekend’s marquee game while some classic rivalries like Texas-Oklahoma and Miami-Florida State are overlooked. Then of course there’s the made up rivalry between UConn-UCF that the UConn staff is still enjoying. But out west, could there be a changing of the guard with Cal and Utah as the only undefeated teams? If Cal wins, the Bears will be 6-0 for the first time since 1950. If Utah wins, the Utes continue to be legitimate national championship contenders adding to the impressive job that Kyle Whittingham has done taking his team into the Pac-12. While the power teams out west like USC, UCLA, Oregon and Stanford overcome losses, Cal and Utah have a chance to shift the power to out west.

The one thing that we hate to see is more injuries and unfortunately on top of the news of UCLA’s Myles Jack planning on leaving for the NFL, there have been more injuries. UCLA, TCU and Notre Dame have been decimated, but now add Michigan State to the list. The Spartans had already lost starting linebacker Ed Davis and starting corner Vayante Copeland and then played with two backup offensive tackles last week. Now Michigan State loses safety R.J. Williamson, forcing them to move cornerback Demetrious Cox to safety. I thought Michigan State was a legitimate national championship contender, but a team can only overcome so many injuries to key players.

With that said, there’s a Big 12 showdown in Morgantown this week between Oklahoma State and West Virginia, who were two sleeper picks in the Big 12. Leading into this game, both team’s lost their leader on defense. Oklahoma State middle linebacker Ryan Simmons tore his ACL and PCL and West Virginia safety Karl Joseph tore his ACL.

And finally, it’s back to the drawing board for Clemson and Notre Dame after playing each other last week. They both move on to face option teams now with Notre Dame hosting Navy and Clemson hosting Georgia Tech.

Did you know?

-Texas is 1-4 and Virginia is 1-3 but all 7 of those combined losses are to teams that are currently ranked in the Top 25.

-LSU has yet to trail in a game this season. The Tigers have not allowed a first quarter point and with the South Carolina game moved to Baton Rouge, LSU will not leave home until it travels to Alabama in November.

-The last four games between Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky have been decided by a total of 12 points. The two face off this weekend. Middle Tennessee has ball-hawk safety Kevin Byard but Western Kentucky quarterback Brandon Doughty hasn’t thrown an interception at home since Oct. 15, 2013 in 387 pass attempts.

-Iowa is 5-0 for the first time since 2009 when it made the Rose Bowl. Texas is 1-4 for the first time since 1956 when it went 1-9. UCF is winless for the first time since George O’Leary’s first season when it winless.

-Penn State will play its fifth straight home game vs. Indiana before a bye week and then an Oct. 17 trip to Ohio State, leaving the state of Pennsylvania for the first time.

-Northwestern is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense at 7.0 points per game allowed while Michigan is No. 2 at 7.6 points per game.

-East Carolina and BYU will play for the first time. ECU will be the first team from the Carolinas to play in Provo.

-At No. 4, Michigan State is the highest ranked team to play at Rutgers since No. 2 South Florida in 2007. Remember that Matt Grothe-led team?

-Navy and Notre Dame will be wearing the same Under Armour baselayer uniforms and the same gloves and cleats to be honor the storied history and brotherhood between the two schools. The uniforms will feature the words “Respect, Honor, Tradition.” Both sidelines and coaches will also wear the same Under Armour gear.

Games of the Week

LSU vs. South Carolina – The game will be played in Baton Rouge due to the floods in Columbia but South Carolina will be treated like the home team. It’s been a situation handled with a lot of class by LSU and it’s administration. But it’s hard to ignore that it decreases any chance the Gamecocks had of winning. South Carolina will have to load the box to stop Leonard Fournette but the Gamecocks secondary has been susceptible to big plays. Can Brandon Harris complete passes down the field? It also sounds like South Carolina will start Perry Orth at quarterback with Lorenzo Nunez out now with a shoulder injury. My Pick: LSU 34, South Carolina 17
Matchups to watch:
-South Carolina OT Brandon Shell vs. LSU DE Tashawn Bower
-LSU OT Vadal Alexander vs. South Carolina DE Marquavius Lewis
-South Carolina TE Jerell Adams vs. LSU S Jamal Adams

Illinois at Iowa – The Illini are on a roll under Bill Cubit but will be without running back Josh Ferguson for this game. Iowa has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. The Hawkeyes defense has been stifling and Iowa’s made enough plays with C.J. Beathard. My Pick: Iowa 27, Illinois 17
Matchups to watch:
-Illinois WR Geronimo Allison vs. Iowa CB Desmond King
-Iowa RB Jordan Canzeri vs. Illinois LB T.J. Neal
-Illinois OG Ted Karras vs. Iowa DT Jaleel Johnson

Shepard is a big part of Sooner's high-flying offense.

Oklahoma at Texas – Is the Texas locker room really divided or will the Longhorns come together and upset the Sooners again like in 2013? This Oklahoma team has had a resurgence on offense with Baker Mayfield and I don’t think the Texas defense slows it down this week. My Pick: Oklahoma 45, Texas 17
Matchups to watch:
-Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard vs. Texas CB Duke Thomas
-Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine vs. Texas LB Malik Jefferson
-Oklahoma C Ty Darlington/OG Nila Kasitati vs. Texas DT Hassan Ridgeway

Indiana at Penn State – Christian Hackenberg has not had a turnover in two straight games. Indiana has scored 58 points off turnovers this year and lead the Big Ten with a plus-9 turnover margin. Another thing to watch is that Indiana has given up 3 sacks all season and Penn State averages 4.2 sacks per game. Indiana is always a tough matchup but the health of Nate Sudfeld and Jordan Howard will be key. Zander Diamont adds another dimension to Indiana’s offense with his legs if he plays. Penn State’s offensive line will have to be ready for an Indiana defensive line that is very underrated. My Pick: Penn State 23, Indiana 20
Matchups to watch:
-Indiana OT Jason Spriggs vs. Penn State DE Carl Nassib (SCOUTER'S DELIGHT)
-Indiana WR Simmie Cobbs vs. Penn State CB Trevor Williams
-Penn State OT Paris Palmer vs. Indiana DE Nick Mangieri

Georgia Tech at Clemson – Georgia Tech beat Clemson last year and is unranked this year. Clemson has beaten 32 straight unranked opponents. The Tigers can’t let this be a letdown. Georgia Tech is struggling with turnovers and Clemson needs to force some in this one. My Pick: Clemson 28, Georgia Tech 17
Matchups to watch:
-Georgia Tech QB Justin Thomas vs. Clemson LB B.J. Goodson
-Georgia Tech OT Bryan Chamberlain vs. Clemson DE Shaq Lawson
-Clemson WR Artavis Scott vs. Georgia Tech CB D.J. White

Georgia at Tennessee – This was a highly anticipated game back in August. Not so much anymore. Thought Georgia would come out on top back in August and sticking with it. Tennesee won’t be able to stop Nick Chubb and pressure Greyson Lambert like ALabama did. My Pick: Georgia 31, Tennessee 21
Matchups to watch:
-Georgia WR Malcolm Mitchell vs. Tennessee CB Cam Sutton
-Georgia OT John Theus vs. Tennessee DE Derek Barnett
-Tennessee RB Jalen Hurd vs. Georgia LB Jake Ganus

Navy at Notre Dame – Navy has won 10 of its last 11 games with the lone loss in that span being to Notre Dame. The Irish have proven they can stop the option offense but with Keenan Reynolds having one last chance to beat Notre Dame, don’t count out Navy. My Pick: Notre Dame 35, Navy 28
Matchups to watch:
-Navy QB Keenan Reynolds vs. Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith
-Navy OG E.K. Binns vs. Notre Dame DE Sheldon Day
-Navy FB Chris Swain vs. Notre Dame LB Joe Schmidt

Northwestern at Michigan – This is likely to be a defensive battle with Northwestern and Michigan allowing 7.0 and 7.6 points per game, respectively. Michigan has given up 3.1 yards per play and Northwestern has given up 3.88 yards per play. Both teams want to run the ball with Justin Jackson and De’Veon Smith and play defense. It comes down to the quarterbacks and I think Michigan disrupts Clayton Thorson more. My Pick: Michigan 16, Northwestern 10
Matchups to watch:
-Michigan WR Amara Darboh vs. Northwestern CB Nick VanHoose
-Michigan RB De’Veon Smith vs. Northwestern LB Anthony Walker
-Michigan TE Jake Butt vs. Northwestern S Traveon Henry

Wisconsin at Nebraska – Nebraska was my preseason favorite in the Big Ten West and this game being in Lincoln was a factor into that. That was back in August. It all changes now. Nebraska’s defense has struggled and the offense has not been consistent. Wisconsin’s front seven should stuff Nebraska’s running game and force Tommy Armstrong into mistakes. But the Badgers have to come up with something offensively too. Remember last year when Melvin Gordon ran for 408 yards? My Pick: Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 20
Matchups to watch:
-Nebraska OT Alex Lewis vs. Wisconsin LB Joe Schobert
-Nebraska WR Jordan Westerkamp vs. Wisconsin CB Sojourn Shelton
-Wisconsin TE Troy Fumagalli vs. Nebraska S Nate Gerry

Washington State at Oregon – Washington State came up short 38-31 last year but had 29 first downs. The Cougars threw for 436 yards but had two big turnovers. Given all the problems in Oregon’s new-look secondary this year, if Washington State takes care of the football, it’s capable of big plays against the Ducks. After Utah went into Autzen and won 42-20, that’s a confidence boost for the Cougs. My Pick: Washington State 42, Oregon 38
Matchups to watch:
-Oregon OC Matt Hegarty vs. Washington State DT Destiny Vaeao
-Washington State OT Joe Dahl vs. Oregon DE DeForest Buckner
-Oregon RB Royce Freeman vs. Washington State LB Jeremiah Allison

Arkansas at Alabama – This is another game that plays to the Alabama defense although the Tide have to match up with tight end Hunter Henry and Drew Morgan has been on a tear for the Hogs but it will take more skill to get open vs. Alabama. If the Tide play clean on offense, this one should be a wash. My Pick: Alabama 38, Arkansas 17
Matchups to watch:
-Arkansas RB Alex Collins vs. Alabama LB Reggie Ragland
-Arkansas TE Hunter Henry vs. Alabama S Eddie Jackson
-Arkansas OG Sebastian Tretola vs. Alabama DE A’Shawn Robinson

Oklahoma State at West Virginia – The loss of Karl Joseph is huge as he led the nation with 5 interceptions and would have been counted on against Mason Rudolph. Joseph was the enforcer and now the Mountaineers need to fill that void. Oklahoma State was my Big 12 sleeper so I’ll stick with the Cowboys but they need a running game after rushing for just 49 yards in a near-loss to Kansas State last week but that was without running backs Chris Carson and Rennie Childs who should return. My Pick: Oklahoma State 34, West Virginia 27
Matchups to watch:
-West Virginia WR Shelton Gibson vs. Oklahoma State CB Kevin Peterson
-Oklahoma State WR Marcell Ateman vs. West Virginia CB Daryl Worley
-Oklahoma State RB Chris Carson/Rennie Childs vs. West Virginia LB Nick Kwiatkowski

Florida at Missouri – Don’t worry about that trip to LSU, Florida. Focus on Missouri. The Tigers have one of the best offensive lines in the SEC but now it faces Florida, who leads the league with 18 sacks and harassed Chad Kelly last week. Missouri is starting Drew Lock for his second career start but his first game against a scary defense. My Pick: Florida 20, Missouri 13
Matchups to watch:
-Florida RB Kelvin Taylor vs. Missouri LB Kentrell Brothers
-Missouri OT Connor McGovern vs. Florida DE Alex McCallister/Jon Bullard/Jordan Sherrit
-Florida WR Demarcus Robinson vs. Missouri CB Kenya Dennis

Miami at Florida State – Miami leads the ACC with a plus-9 turnover margin and has been opportunistic but Florida State has not turned the ball over on offense yet. The lone Seminoles turnover was on a punt return. Miami’s offensive line has done a nice job of keeping Brad Kaaya clean and opening gaps for the running game but the Canes have to stay on schedule and convert third downs. That’s been the hard part. This game could be a close one in Tallahassee though and a must-win game to take heat off of Al Golden. My Pick: Florida State 24, Miami 21
Matchups to watch:
-Florida State WR Travis Rudolph vs. Miami CB Artie Burns
-Florida State WR Kermit Whitfield vs. Miami CB Corn Elder
-Miami WR Stacy Coley vs. Florida State CB Jalen Ramsey

California at Utah – Utah led the nation in sacks last season but so far this year it’s California leading the charge with a Pac-12 best 18 sacks. This Utah offensive line is going to be challenged but Travis Wilson has the mobility to escape the pressure. Jared Goff and Cal’s juggernaut receiving corps provides a really tough matchup for the Utes despite the talent in the Utes secondary. Utah has to continue to win on the line-of-scrimmage and to help that, gets defensive end Hunter Dimick back from injury. My Pick: Utah 34, California 31
Matchups to watch:
-Utah OT Sam Tevi vs. California DE Kyle Kragen
-California WR Trevor Davis vs. Utah CB Dominique Hatfield
-California WR Kenny Lawler vs. Utah CB Cory Butler-Byrd
-Utah RB Devontae Booker vs. California LB Hardy Nickerson

Additional Upset Alerts to…
-Boise State at Colorado State (My Pick: Boise State)
-Michigan State at Rutgers (My Pick: Michigan State)
-BYU vs. East Carolina (My Pick: BYU)
-Western Michigan vs. Central Michigan (My Pick: Western Michigan)
-Toledo vs. Kent State (My Pick: Toledo)
-Pittsburgh vs. Virginia (My Pick: Virginia)
-Virginia Tech vs. NC State (My Pick: NC State)
-Minnesota at Purdue (My Pick: Minnesota)
-Western Kentucky vs. Middle Tennessee (My Pick: Western Kentucky)

Other matchups to watch:
-NC State OT Joe Thuney vs. Virginia Tech DE Dadi Nicolas
-Ohio State WR Michael Thomas vs. Maryland CB Sean Davis/Will Likely
-Ohio State OT Taylor Decker vs. Maryland DE Yannick Ngakoue
-Bowling Green WR Roger Lewis vs. UMass CB Randall Jette
-Western Kentucky WR Taywan Taylor vs. Middle Tennessee Jeremy Cutrer
-Colorado State WR Rashard Higgins vs. Boise State CB Donte Deayon
-East Carolina OT Ike Harris vs. BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi
-Rutgers OT Keith Lumpkin vs. Michigan State DE Shilique Calhoun
-Rutgers WR Leonte Carroo vs. Michigan State CB Arjen Colquhoun
-Colorado WR Nelson Spruce vs. Arizona State CB Lloyd Carrington

This week's Playoff Prediction

1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Baylor
4. Clemson

As of week six, Alabama still looks like a national championship contender and if the Tide win out in the SEC, they could get the No. 1 seed after you factor in strength-of-schedule over an undefeated Ohio State. The biggest difference so far between Ohio State in 2015 and Florida State in 2014 dropping to No. 3 is that the Buckeyes haven’t had any games in jeopardy yet while Florida State trailed in several games in the second half but I’m not sure Ohio State’s entire body of work will be better than a 1-loss Alabama. A 1-loss Alabama at season’s end would mean the Tide beats LSU and Texas A&M, who I think both could also play their way into the Final Four. I continue to think that Baylor goes undefeated in the Big 12 and claims a spot among the four teams and then the fourth spot is still up for grabs between the ACC, Pac-12 and yes, Notre Dame. If the Irish win out, and the only loss is by 2 points on the road at Clemson in the messy weather with a freshman quarterback, the Irish will have an undeniable resume but only if Clemson suffers a loss because the Tigers have the head-to-head. I think right now Clemson has the best chance to finish undefeated over a Pac-12 team so the Tigers are in.

My Top 25

Cardale Jones and the Bucks are still my No. 1 team.

1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Baylor
5. Texas A&M
6. Utah
7. Clemson
8. Michigan State
9. Oklahoma
10. Florida
11. TCU
12. Florida State
13. Northwestern
14. Ole Miss
15. Notre Dame
16. Stanford
17. Georgia
18. Michigan
19. USC
20. UCLA
21. Iowa
22. California
23. Oklahoma State
24. Temple
25. Boise State
Out: Mississippi State, West Virginia, NC State
Also Considered: Toledo, Oregon, Arizona State, Memphis, Duke

Yes, Ohio State hasn’t been great but they haven’t exactly been on the ropes in games either. The Buckeyes don’t have the best resume but I would take them over the field right now. Much like Alabama getting back into my top three because that Tide team that beat Georgia would beat almost everyone else in the country. Along with resume, a big part of my top 25 is who I think is better than who and would win if they played today.

Picks Recap

Week 5 Picks: 11-8 | Overall: 63-35 (.643)
Wins
Iowa 27-24 (Result: Iowa 10-6)
Alabama 31-27 (Result: Alabama 38-10)
Stanford 38-20 (Result: Stanford 55-17)
Baylor 49-38 (Result: Baylor 63-35)
Ohio State 38-24 (Result: Ohio State
Texas A&M 49-21 (Result: Texas A&M 30-17)
Missouri 27-20 (Result: Missouri 24-10)
TCU 45-27 (Result: TCU 50-7)
Navy 28-24 (Result: Navy 33-11)
California 45-41 (Result: California 34-28)
Vanderbilt 27-20 (Result: Vanderbilt 17-13)