Last week was survive and advance week in college football. Texas A&M got outplayed for three-and-a-half quarters but survived with an overtime win over Arkansas to remain a legitimate contender for the SEC West. Florida State’s defense gave up more than 500 yards of offense, but overcame NC State in what is likely the last challenge to an ACC crown. Stanford survived its first road test in a very noisy Husky Stadium and reestablished itself as a contender for the Pac-12 North. Georgia survived against a vastly improved Tennessee team and remains the definitive leader for the SEC East crown. And Brady Hoke survived and advanced to another week as Michigan’s football coach, although no one seems quite sure as to how or why.
Week six has six games matching top 25 teams, so let the fireworks begin.
Week 6 College Football Preview
Oregon (4-0) vs. Arizona (4-0): Don’t be surprised we are starting here. First, it is the Thursday night game, and second, it could be a truly entertaining one, featuring two of the top offenses in the entire country. You read that correctly. Arizona is averaging 594 yards per game. Oregon is averaging 555. Surprised? Admittedly, Arizona’s best game of the year was a last second Hail Mary win at home against Cal. The Wildcats are getting more than 400 yards passing per game out of quarterback Anu Solomon, the first freshman to start at quarterback for Arizona in nine years. Everyone knows Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota as a quarterback who is fleet of foot and strong of arm and a legitimate Heisman candidate, but Oregon’s offensive line has been suspect this season and Mariota is having to scramble more than he would like. Arizona stunned Oregon 42-16 last year. Speaking of stunned, yes, that is Oregon in black and pink uniforms, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Ole Miss (4-0) vs. Alabama (4-0): The Rebels have a chance to go 5-0 for the first time since the Kennedy administration and they claim they are for real this season, so it is put up or shut up time for them. Ole Miss is averaging 500 yards per game on offense behind an average quarterback in Bo Wallace. Alabama’s defense has faced one tough opponent, West Virginia, and got torched for 400 yards. On the other side of the ball, the alleged quarterback controversy in Tuscaloosa is over. Blake Sims has embraced the new, more open offense that is averaging 42 points per game. Say you want about Lane Kiffin, and I have said a lot, but this is not your father’s Bama offense. Now, he has to face a Rebels defense that is yielding only 9 points per game and has a tough defensive line, coached by younger brother Chris Kiffin. Thanksgiving dinner will be a real hoot in that household.
Notre Dame (4-0) vs. Stanford (3-1): Notre Dame is averaging 35 points per game and quarterback Everett Golson is having a spectacular season. Last week he completed 25 consecutive passes against Syracuse. Okay, now that we have covered that, this is the first game Notre Dame is playing against a team with a winning record, and Golson has had to account for way too much of the offense on his own because the ground game has been, well, grounded. Stanford’s defense is only giving up 6.5 points per game and 74 yards passing per game. Both put the Cardinal at the top of Division 1 stats. They are also 77th in the country in offense, so expect a low scoring game. Stanford is one decent offensive series against USC away from being undefeated. The Cardinal probably also remember their last visit to South Bend when a horrible official’s call at the end of the game cost them the winning touchdown.
Michigan State (3-1) vs. Nebraska (5-0): The Big 10 has 3 ½ good teams, (I’ll let you figure out who the half is), and this game will play a significant role in the conference’s playoff aspirations. Nebraska is third in the nation in rushing offense with 354 yards per game, thanks in part to the option attack offense that highlights running back Ameer Abdullah, who is averaging 166 yards per game. However, the Michigan State defense is giving up only 78 yards rushing per game, and that includes the loss to high-powered Oregon. The Spartans, of course, continue to root for Oregon. Any Duck win lessens the blow of Michigan State’s loss to them. Such is the new world strength of schedule order. Bo Pelini has never started a season 6-0 in seven years as Huskers’ head coach.
Mississippi State (4-0) vs. Texas A&M (5-0): Mississippi State had a bye last week after a huge upset win at LSU the previous week. They have had plenty of time to prepare for a Texas A&M defense that showed plenty of cracks last week while hanging on to beat Arkansas in overtime. The Aggies gave up nearly 300 yards rushing and had a defensive back lead the team in tackles with 16. When your defensive backs are leading the team in tackles against a running team, you have issues. Conversely, Mississippi State’s pass defense is the weak link in the chain, giving up 320 passing yards per game, and now comes Aggie quarterback Kenny Hill, who is one of the better passers in the country.
Auburn (5-0) vs. LSU (4-1): The Tiger battle. LSU’s only loss is to the aforementioned Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Bayou Bengals are making a change at quarterback this week, going with freshman Brandon Harris, who replaced struggling starter Anthony Jennings against New Mexico State last week. All Harris did was throw seven touchdown passes in seven possessions in the blowout win. Auburn has put up points this season for sure, with quarterback Nick Marshall having a decent enough season, but the Tigers are only 79th in the country in passing. Mississippi State proved that balance is the key to beating LSU. Marshall will have to have a good throwing game. Look at this and the game above and you get why the SEC West is getting so much attention.
TCU (3-0) vs. Oklahoma (4-0): The Sooners have only three real tests in conference play. They passed one against West Virginia. TCU is next. The Sooners are averaging nearly 44.8 points per game. TCU is averaging 44.7. Think we won’t see some offense? Sooner quarterback Travis Knight is completing 58 percent of his passes, but has only four passing touchdowns. They are racking up their points on the ground. TCU is running much more of a quick strike spread attack with quarterback Trevone Boykins and his eight touchdown passes.
UCLA (4-0) vs. Utah (3-1): Potential trap game for the Bruins. They showed big-play ability and the high-powered offense people have been waiting for in a blowout win at Arizona State. The defense gave up a lot of yards but they were on the field for 105 plays because the offense scored so quickly. Utah, on the other hand, blew a lead at home against Pac-12 bottom dweller Washington State last week.
USC (3-1) vs. Arizona State (3-1): ASU quarterback Taylor Kelly will not play for the second week in a row with a foot injury. Backup Mike Bercovici is capable but lacks the decision-making expertise. Southern Cal played its most complete game of the season last week, stunting Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion in a blowout win.
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