Football Future-see 2014: Week Five

Record
Week 1	8-2
Week 2	5-0
Week 3 Week 4 Week 5	2-3 4-1 2-3
Total	21-9	0.700

Week Four was good for the Right Wing. In fact, I was an LSU-didn’t-show-up-for-three-quarters game away from perfection. Georgia dominated Troy, as expected. Auburn barely escaped Kansas State, but they still won. Alabama pulled away from Florida. Florida State took overtime but defeated Clemson. Yeah, it was just LSU that messed the whole thing up. Now, at 19-6 on the year, we start getting into more conference play and some higher profile games. This is especially true next week. This week we have two Thursday games, one of which is the only Top 25 match-up on our slate this week. Georgia is there again, facing rival Tennessee. Mizzou visits South Carolina and Ohio State hosts Cincinnati. Enjoy. 

The Games: 

Texas Tech at 24 Oklahoma State (Thursday, 7:30pm, ESPN) 
Ever since taking Florida State to the limit in a Week One loss, Okie State has rolled, albeit against inferior competition. Texas Tech had steamrolled their first two opponents, but then ran into the buzzsaw that was SEC bottom-feeder Arkansas. The Razorbacks rolled up 438 rushing yards and 49 points on the Red Raiders, leading to the Lubbock team bringing in a defensive coordinator. Oklahoma State has the advantage here, with home field and more staff stability. The Red Raider defense will be tested, and I believe Oklahoma State will find enough holes to pull away in the second half. Cowboys win. 
Final Score: Oklahoma State 35, Texas Tech 21 
CORRECT: Oklahoma State won 45-35

11 UCLA at 15 Arizona State (Thursday, 10:00pm, Fox Sports 1) 
The only Top 25 game on our slate this week features two PAC-12 South teams in a battle for supremacy. UCLA, though ranked #11, has thoroughly underwhelmed this season, barely skating past Virginia, Memphis, and Texas. While those schools are not exactly the “little sisters of the poor,” they’re not exactly powerhouses at the moment. Arizona State, meanwhile, has looked better against worse competition, soundly defeating Weber State, New Mexico, and Colorado. It’s not a stretch to call this one an upset. Sun Devils win a close game. 
Final Score: Arizona State 27, UCLA 23 
INCORRECT: UCLA won 62-27 (I might be wrong, but at least I correctly predicted ASU's point total)


Tennessee at 12 Georgia (Saturday, 12:00pm, ESPN) 
Last year, this game is when the wheels came off the bus for Georgia. Injuries kept piling up against an upstart Vols team that was looking for a huge upset. They nearly got it, as UGA won in OT 34-31. This time, though, Georgia is healthier. They’re rested, with the starters sitting much of last week’s 66-0 whipping of Troy. Tennessee hasn’t played since their 34-10 loss at Oklahoma. The Vols are averaging 27 points per game while giving up 20. They’re also averaging 130 rushing yards per game. Georgia is averaging 304 rushing yards per game while scoring 49 and giving up 20. Both teams are 2-1. I can’t see Georgia going away from the run. They purposefully rested Todd Gurley against Troy so he’d be ready for Tenessee. Vols QB Justin Worley may have some answers against the Dawgs, but I think Georgia rolls, especially between the hedges. Dawgs win. 
Final Score: Georgia 38, Tennessee 17 
CORRECT: Georgia won 35-32

Cincinnati at 22 Ohio State (Saturday, 6:00pm, Big Ten Network) 
Alright, kiddos, here’s your first real Upset Special of the year. Now, do I really think Cincinnati is going to pick off Ohio State? Truthfully, no. I don’t think they will. But if ever there was a time to pick off the Buckeyes, the Bearcats are scheduled for it. The Buckeyes are about to enter conference play, they’re missing their starting QB, and they were just proven mortal at home by Virginia Tech. Cincinnati had best be dissecting the game tape from the OSU-VT match-up. If Cincinnati wins, it’ll be close, perhaps on a last second field goal. Bearcats in the upset. 
Final Score: Cincinnati 24, Ohio State 22 
INCORRECT: Ohio State won 50-28

Missouri at 13 South Carolina (Saturday, 7:00pm, ESPN) 
ESPN’s College GameDay visits Columbia for a game that seemed far more important at the beginning of the season than it does now. Both of these teams have lost much of the luster that they held in the Preseason Top 25 poll. South Carolina is arguably the more dangerous team here, but they’re coming off a much-closer-than-it-should-have-been win over lowly Vanderbilt. Missouri was just upset at home by Indiana. Steve Spurrier has even said the Gamecocks are not a good football team, which is Head Ball Coach speak for “we’re not that bad, but we need work.” The air is out of the tires for Mizzou, so I see South Carolina taking this one. Gamecocks win, but close. 
Final Score: South Carolina 28, Missouri 24 
INCORRECT: Missouri won 21-20