UPSET ALERT!!!!

This week in college football might as well be considered a trap for any favored team playing, because there are way too many upset alert games for the majority of top 25 teams. The traps have been set to snare many unsuspecting victims this week, but who will lose? Let's look at the match ups...

#11/12 Iowa (6-0) @ Wisconsin (5-1) -

I will go ahead and say that Iowa has a legit defense, a great head coach and seems to have an aura about them in clutch situations this season. I will call their bluff and say that they will lose to an extremely physical Wisconsin football team. The Badgers will remind Iowa that offense is a key to winning football games 9 times out of 10, and the Hawkeyes won't be able to muster enough points. Verdict: UPSET

#22/22 South Carolina (5-1) @ #2/3 Alabama (6-0) -

In the SEC many greats teams haven fallen to seemingly unworthy opponents, yet still go on to achieve great things (see Florida or LSU the past three seasons). This could be yet another example. The Gamecocks have a swagger on defense to go with much improved play by QB Stephen Garcia which has led to some great victories this season, most especially the win over Ole Miss. I guess I will go with some simple math here: SC beat Ole Miss close, while Bama killed the Rebels. In short, Bama will beat South Carolina in a close game. Stupid equations aside, I do think Alabama will almost fall to South Carolina but will be too powerful along the line of scrimmage in the fourth quarter for coach Spurrier's team to handle. Verdict: No Upset.

#8/9 Cincinnati (5-0) @ #21/21 South Florida (5-0) -

I don't need to explain myself here, and I will go ahead and say what everyone already knows I'm going to say: Cincinnati will lose Thursday night. South Florida was my preseason favorite to win the Big East conference, and has proven to be just as powerful of a team without star QB Matt Groethe. I won't back off of them now, seeing as how they have improved each and every week this season. UC won't be able to generate enough defensive stops and USF will send the "best team in Ohio" back home with an even bigger chip on their shoulder as usual. GO BULLS! Verdict: BIG TIME UPSET

My Top 10 - Week Seven

1. Florida (5-0, vs Arkansas)

2. Alabama (6-0, vs South Carolina)

3. Texas (5-0, vs Oklahoma)

4. Virginia Tech (5-1, @ Georgia Tech)

5. USC (4-1, @ Notre Dame)

6. Ohio State (5-1, @ Purdue)

7. Boise State (5-0 , @ Tulsa)

8. Iowa (6-0, @ Wisconsin)

9. Cincinnati (5-0, @ South Florida)

10. LSU (5-1, Bye Week)

outside looking in....

TCU

Penn State

Miami, FL

Oregon

Game 6- #8/8 Ohio State (4-1, 2-0) vs #25 Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0)

Where: Ohio Stadium

When: 3:30 EST

TV: ABC Regional (ESPN or ESPN2 in some areas)

This game brings back a lot of memories for me, which mostly are negative ones. I became a big time fan of OSU football near the tail end of the Cooper era that featured two straight home losses to Wisconsin to end his career. One of which was against the eventual Rose Bowl champions in 1999 that saw the Buckeyes take a 17-0 halftime lead. Wisconsin won 42-17. In 2001, Tressel's first year on the job inheriting what Cooper had left at OSU, OSU was once again up 17-0 only to see that lead diminish into a 20-17 loss to Wisconsin. Since Tressel has taken over, the series is knotted up at 3-3. Why is this stat important? Well, not only does it show that these games have been extremely physical and competitive, but also that Tressel does not have a winning record against the Badgers. They are the ONLY team that Tressel doesn't have a winning record against. This game may not seem big in terms of their ranking (only ranked in one poll at #25) or in terms of how this game may not even end up registering a blip on the Big Ten championship radar, but it is big for Jim Tressel and this Ohio State football team. If they beat Wisconsin, they generally own every single team in their conference. That's a lot of incentive in my opinion.

It will obviously be a physical contest, featuring a mistake free QB at Wisconsin named Scott Tolzien and a strong, big bodied RB John Clay and a typical large Badger offensive line, but the defense does not impress me that much. They have had to survive many football games this season by registering three turnovers or more against inferior competition. If Wisconsin can achieve three turnovers in this football game, then I guess they deserve to win. However, the weather is looking calm and cool without any precipitation, and OSU has been holding on to the ball relatively well lately (they average a turnover a game when the weather is fine...which isn't good but I'm just saying it's not bad either). I know that OSU had fumbilitis against Illinois, but there was a downpour for that entire game. Throughout the game, there will be moments where Wisconsin will be knocking on the door and have an opportunity to seize momentum. I know the Buckeye defense far too well to know that Wisconsin won't have a prayer in doing much of anything consistently throughout the day.

I expect a defensive battle for the first half, with Terrelle Pryor, Brandon Saine and Boom Herron taking control of the game for the Buckeyes in the second half. The defense will score a touchdown late to seal it, and OSU will march on to 5-1 with an undefeated record in the Big Ten. If Iowa loses to Michigan, then the Bucks will have sole possession of first place in the conference. Why is that important in early October? I suppose it is not that important....I just hope that Ohio State will be #1 come the end of November and USC is #1 in the Pac 10....

Prediction:

Ohio State- 31

Wisconsin- 13

Games of the Week/ Big Ten Rundown 6

#1/1 Florida (4-0) @ #4/4 LSU (5-0) -

If Tim Tebow can't go in this one, then LSU should win this game. Losing a Tim Tebow isn't something that can be fixed by simply putting in another guy who can run the system effectively. You are losing the heart, soul and fire behind the undefeated, defending national champions. With all of this aside, I do think that Tebow plays in this game because, as I mentioned before, he is the heart of this team and will refuse to not play in a game on such a big stage. It will be close heading into the fourth quarter, but Tebow will lead a touchdown drive to secure the lead while the stellar defense will do the rest. LSU will prove they aren't a joke, but Florida will be Florida and win this big game.

Prediction:

Florida- 28

LSU- 20

#3/3 Alabama (5-0) @ #16/20 Ole Miss (3-1) -

Another big time SEC showdown will define this week's action, although I don't see it being quite as intriguing as a Florida-LSU match up. In my opinion, Alabama is the most well balanced team in college football and are most suited to play for the national title and win if the game were being played today. The Crimson Tide defense should do everything in their power to keep Ole Miss from pulling any fast ones early in the game, and will force Mississippi QB Jeavan Snead to win the game with his arm. He will throw for two touchdowns, but it will be too late. Alabama will already be up by several touchdowns.

Prediction:

Alabama- 30

Ole Miss- 14

Michigan (4-1) @ #12/14 Iowa (5-0) -

Iowa is widely considered to be the favorite to win the Big Ten after beating Penn State in Happy Valley. Am I buying into that? Well, they are a safe team to pick because they are physical, they run the football well, their QB doesn't make mistakes and they have a hell of a coach. I am highly unimpressed with their offensive production, though, and think that their defense is beatable. Michigan will come into Iowa City and put A LOT of scare into the Hawkeye faithful, but Iowa's defense will step up and make some plays down the stretch to secure a very close victory. What?? Michigan is human after everyone declared them back among the conference's elite?? Who saw that coming??? .....I did....

Prediction:

Iowa- 23

UM- 17

Big Ten Rundown-

Other than Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin, no one is looking too awesome at the moment. Penn State and Michigan have both dropped games that they should've won, while everyone else just loses it seems like. Iowa and Wisconsin are both 5-0, while OSU might as well be 5-0 after the way they played against USC. Their three point loss to the Trojans was probably the best thing to happen to Big Ten football since...well...when OSU won the national title after the 2002 season. An undefeated team might fall this weekend in conference play. But who will it be: Iowa or Wisconsin?

Wisconsin (5-0) @ Ohio State (4-1) TBA

Michigan State (2-3) over Illinois (1-3) Dantonio has this team focused after a rough start.

Iowa (5-0) over Michigan (4-1) Too much defense for the little QB that could Tate Forcier.

Minnesota (3-2) over Purdue (1-4) Purdue just can't play defense. Minnesota can score a lot.

Penn State (4-1) over Eastern Illinois (????) Who cares.

Northwestern (3-2) over Miami OH (0-5) Who cares, part II.

Indiana (3-2) over Virginia (1-3) FIRE AL GROH!! He's done at Virginia...for real this time.

My Top 10 - Week Six

1. Florida (4-0, @ LSU)

2. Alabama (5-0, @ Ole Miss)

3. Texas (4-0, vs Colorado)

4. LSU (5-0, vs Florida)

5. Virginia Tech (4-1, vs Boston College)

6. Boise State (5-0, Bye Week)

7. USC (4-1, @ Notre Dame)

8. Ohio State (4-1, vs Wisconsin)

9. Cincinnati (5-0, Bye Week)

10. TCU (4-0, @ Air Force)

Outside Looking In...

Iowa (5-0)

Oklahoma State (4-1)

Miami, FL (3-1)

Oregon (4-1)

Penn State (4-1)

I finally backed down on ranking Ohio State ahead of USC. I do believe that OSU is a better team than the Trojans, however it is wasted energy to still be stewing about that match up. I will worry about who should be ranked higher if it comes down to earning a national title bid....

The Florida-LSU match up suddenly looks like it could be a hell of a game with HUGE national title implications. I don't think LSU will be in the national title conversation because Alabama should beat them, Ole Miss is still hanging around and Florida is clearly better, but you never know in this day and age who will win what games. I was completely wrong about this LSU team (especially their defense), so I expect a classic in Baton Rouge Saturday night.

Game 5- #9/9 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-1, 1-0) @ Indiana (3-1, 0-1)

Where: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)

When: 7:00 PM

TV: Big Ten Network

Short and sweet: Ohio State will MURDER Indiana. I don't buy into Indiana's pistol offense. I don't buy into their run defense being among the best in the Big Ten. I don't buy into their "revamped" home field advantage. Until I see a change, I will always be under the impression that OSU will have almost as many fans in the stadium as there are IU fans.

It will be ugly, and IU will quit just after halftime.

Sorry to be so blunt about it, but this will be a snoozer.

Brandon Saine scores twice, along with Pryor accounting for three total touchdowns, as the Buckeyes destroy yet another opponent....even though I don't have the guts to call for a third straight upset.

Prediction:

Ohio State- 42

Indiana- 3

Games of the Week/Big Ten Rundown 5

#8/8 Oklahoma (2-1) @ #17/21 Miami FL (2-1) -

Miami was supposed to make their comeback to the national stage last week against Virginia Tech, but they must have booked their plans for another date and time. Perhaps for this Saturday night against traditional power Oklahoma? I doubt it. Oklahoma has hardly given up any points this season, including two consecutive shutouts since losing to BYU the first week of the season. Even is Sam Bradford isn't back for the Sooners, I like the favorites to come away with a victory in Coral Gables. Miami just won't be able to match the physicality that OU will bring to the table.

Prediction:

OU- 27

The U- 13

#4/4 LSU (4-0) @ #14/18 Georgia (3-1) -

I think that LSU is very talented, skilled and ready to explode at any moment in the SEC. I also think that at this point in the season they are highly overrated. Georgia has shown improvements on the defensive side of the ball while being able to score in bunches this season. I think that Georgia will benefit from LSU's lack of defensive tenacity and be able to score early and often against the Tigers. LSU will have it's moments but ultimately they will be caught looking ahead to Florida and will drop a game on the road to Mark Richt and Georgia.

Prediction:

UGA- 33

LSU- 20

#7/7 USC (3-1) @ #19/24 California (3-1) -

Both team aren't the most impressive teams I have seen this season, but both are obviously pretty damn good when on top of their games. When they aren't on the top of their games...well...losses to Washington and a massacre by Oregon will occur. Cal will put all of their energy into forcing Matt Barkley to win the game for USC, while the Trojans will focus on taking on Jahvid Best and the Cal running attack. I like USC's defense much more than I do Cal's, so I will take Southern Cal to win. It's not that I do not like California anymore, but you can't go against USC in a big conference game. The Trojans resume, which includes a gutsy win over Ohio State, is much more impressive at this point.

Prediction:

Cal- 14

USC- 26

Big Ten Rundown-

I will make it short and simple here and pick what I think will happen. Not much to report on at this point in conference play.

Michigan State (1-3) over Michigan (4-0) UPSET

Wisconsin (4-0) over Minnesota (3-1)

Northwestern (2-2) over Purdue (1-3)

Penn State (3-1) over Illinois (1-2)

Iowa (4-0) over Arkansas State

Ohio State (3-1) @ Indiana (3-1) TBD