Football Future-see 2015: Week Thirteen: SuperSized Edition

Going 5-0 last week, and seeing the huge slate of games this week, meant that I simply can’t pick just five games. This week, you the reader get a full slate of ten games. Georgia makes their obligatory appearance for Good Old-Fashioned Hate. The Iron Bowl make an appearance, as do rivalry games between Florida State and Florida, Ohio State and Michigan, and several Big XII games. Enjoy.

RECORD

Week One	9-1
Week Two	4-1
Week Three	3-2
Week Four	2-3
Week Five	2-3
Week Six	3-2
Week Seven	5-0
Week Eight	3-2
Week Nine	4-1
Week Ten	4-1
Week Eleven	3-2
Week Twelve	5-0
Week Thirteen	7-3
Championships	0-0
Bowls	0-0
OVERALL	54-21	.720

The Games:

15 Navy at Houston (Friday, Noon, Fox)

This game lost some luster when the committee stopped caring so much about Houston. As the Cougars dropped, the Midshipmen rose. Navy is making a strong case for the Group of Five spot in the New Years Six bowl games. Houston’s defense should keep Navy in check, but I expect Navy to overpower the Cougars and finally put them away. Navy wins.

Final Score: Navy 33, Houston 23
INCORRECT: Houston won 52-31

4 Iowa at Nebraska (Friday, 3:30pm, CBS)

Iowa is undefeated, so they finally get to appear on the picks. Sorry for being so tardy to the party, Hawkeyes fans. Nebraska, meanwhile, has been a rollercoaster. They’ve lost games they should have won, and won games they should have lost. Now they play host to a strong Iowa team looking to reach the Big Ten championship game with an unblemished record. Nebraska will put up a fight, but I like Iowa to win.

Final Score:  Iowa 30, Nebraska 20
CORRECT: Iowa won 28-20

7 Baylor at 19 TCU (Friday, 7:30pm, ESPN)

Way back when the season started, this was the game everyone was looking forward to in the Big XII. Now, with both teams suffering injury and loss, this game isn’t as important as it once was. In fact, this game may not even impact the Big XII championship. Baylor has injuries. TCU has more injuries. Right now, I’m taking the healthier team. Baylor wins.

Final Score:  Baylor 42, TCU 34
INCORRECT: TCU won 28-21 in 2OT

8 Ohio State at 10 Michigan (Saturday, Noon, ABC)

Ohio State finally played a ranked team when they faced Michigan State, and Sparty sent them home with a loss. Last season, Michigan took Ohio State to the brink before the Buckeyes won, and now Michigan is even better. Ohio State has to play better than last week if they hope to win at the Big House. I’ve been saying all season, though, that Michigan would take down the Buckeyes. I’m still calling for it (why turn back now?). Wolverines win.

Final Score:  Michigan 24, Ohio State 18
INCORRECT: Ohio State won 42-13

Georgia at Georgia Tech (Saturday, Noon, ESPN2)

Georgia’s season went down the tubes a long time ago. Now all they have left to play for is pride. Mark Richt might be coaching for his career, but a simple firing of the Dawgs current Offensive Coordinator would probably quiet the rowdy faithful. Georgia Tech’s season went down the tubes before Georgia’s did, so they have almost nothing left to play for. In fact, the Yellow Jackets may even send their coach, Paul Johnson, packing after this season. Georgia should win this game, but I think it’ll be close. Dawgs win.

Final Score:  Georgia 24, Georgia Tech 21
CORRECT: Georgia won 13-7

2 Alabama at Auburn (Saturday, 3:30pm, CBS)

The Iron Bowl definitely does not have the luster it typically has, seeing as Auburn was never as good as the preseason hype said they were. Alabama is, I think, the most dangerous team in the country right now. I think they could beat anyone out there. Auburn might put up some fight, seeing as this is their biggest rival of the season, but I can’t see them lasting long against a stout Bama team. Roll Tide. Alabama wins.

Final Score: Alabama 37, Auburn 17
CORRECT: Alabama won 29-13

Penn State at 5 Michigan State (Saturday, 3:30pm, ESPN)

Can Penn State upset Michigan State? Yes, at this point, anyone can beat anyone… Will they? No, no they won’t. Sparty wins and clinches the Big Ten East.

Final Score:  Michigan State 34, Penn State 14
CORRECT: Michigan State won 55-16

6 Notre Dame at 9 Stanford (Saturday, 7:30pm, Fox)

Stanford has a chance to make a statement here. They’ve scratched and clawed their way back from some nasty loses. They could still make the playoff, if things break their way. Notre Dame is a study in overcoming adversity. No team has been as hampered by injury as the Irish this year. They’re still at #6, according to the committee, but I think the injuries are catching up. I like Stanford here, but I think ND keeps it close.

Final Score: Stanford 28, Notre Dame 24
CORRECT: Stanford won 38-36

13 Florida State at 12 Florida (Saturday, 7:30pm, ESPN)

Which Florida team shows up for this game? The team that made a hot run and won the SEC East, or the team that nearly lost to Florida Atlantic? Florida State is playing good football right now, and that should give them the edge over a suddenly mortal Gators team. It’s a rivalry game, and that means Florida should step up, but I like the Seminoles here. FSU wins.

Final Score: Florida State 28, Florida 20
CORRECT: Florida State won 27-2

3 Oklahoma at 11 Oklahoma State (Saturday, 8:00pm, ABC)

The winner of Bedlam may very well punch a ticket to the playoff. No one wants to play Oklahoma right now. The Sooners are hot. Oklahoma State suffered a loss to Baylor that took some of the shine off them, but they can regain that magic if they can top Oklahoma. I just don’t think they can. Baker Mayfield has the Sooner offense in top form, and he can sling it anywhere. Sooners win, but Okie State keeps it close.

Final Score: Oklahoma 35, Oklahoma State 27
CORRECT: Oklahoma won 58-23

Right Wing Top Ten

Week Seven of the poll features all sorts of changes.

NR = Not Ranked the previous Week

NC = No Change from previous week

+ = Moved Up

-  = Moved Down

Dropped Out: TCU Horned Frogs, Houston Cougars

15. Navy Midshipmen (NR)

14. Stanford Cardinal (+1)

13. Florida State University (NR)

12. Oklahoma State Cowboys (-8)

11. Ohio State Buckeyes (-8)

10. Florida Gators (-2)- Florida was taken to overtime by Florida Atlantic. Now the Gators must face Florida State and Alabama in back-to-back weeks.

9. Michigan Wolverines (+4)- Michigan has a big game with Ohio State this week, with an outside chance of reaching the Big Ten title game.

8. Baylor Bears (NC)- Baylor took down Oklahoma State, but they’re still on the outside looking in concerning the playoffs.

7. Michigan State Spartans (+7)- Sparty proved who Ohio State really was. Now they need to beat Penn State to claim a spot in the Big Ten title game.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels (+5)- UNC is playing as good on offense as anyone else in the nation, and they’ll look to knock off Clemson in the ACC Title Game.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+2)- How Notre Dame keeps overcoming all these injuries, I’ll never know… But now they have to face Stanford in Palo Alto.

4. Oklahoma Sooners (+1)- Oklahoma is one of those teams that, even though they have a loss, no one wants to play them right now.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes (+3)- Iowa is still undefeated, and is making every possible case they can for a playoff spot.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (NC)- Alabama would probably be favored over anyone else in the country…the Iron Bowl won’t make a dent in that mystique.

1. Clemson Tigers (NC)- Clemson should have an easy walk against South Carolina, but that doesn’t mean they should overlook the Gamecocks on their way to an ACC title game against North Carolina.

Right Wing Bowl Predictions

Playoffs

Cotton Bowl: Clemson vs Oklahoma

Orange Bowl: Alabama vs Michigan State

Top Tier Bowls

Peach Bowl: LSU vs Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl: Florida vs Oklahoma State

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs Stanford

Fiesta Bowl: Navy vs Baylor

Second Tier Bowls

Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs Georgia

TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl: Mississippi State vs Penn State

Outback Bowl: Iowa vs Ole Miss

Random Football Thoughts (Mostly on College Football)

The season is in full swing for the college game, as well as the NFL. There has been no shortage of surprise or chaos either. Let's examine the happenings of this season.

How I Never Bought the Hype on Auburn
"For some reason, everyone seems to be buying the hype on Auburn this year. I'm not...at least, not yet." -July 1, 2015

"I’m just not buying the hype yet. Auburn is being touted as a title contender. Auburn, who after October 4 last year lost to every ranked team they played. Don’t get me wrong, I think Auburn will beat Louisville…but I’m just not buying Auburn as a championship contender yet." -August 27, 2015

I wrote those two statements nearly two months apart. I was not buying Auburn. Everyone with a voice in the national college football scene was saying Auburn was going to contend for the SEC championship and a subsequent playoff spot. Auburn was voted by the SEC media writers to win the conference, even though, thanks to the quirky voting rules, Alabama was voted in as the winner of the SEC West. Auburn's QB, Jeremy Johnson, was going to battle for the Heisman.

That was then. Now, on September 28, Auburn is 0-2 in the SEC, suffering a crushing loss to LSU and a staggeringly offensively inept loss at home to Mississippi State. The Tigers defeated Louisville to start the season, but an overtime victory, in Jordan-Hare, over FCS opponent Jacksonville State, shook the foundation of the Auburn faithful.

Jeremy Johnson has been nothing close to what was advertised. Gus Malzahn's offense has looked inept and, in some cases, has simply not shown up. LSU crushed Auburn 45-21, showing no mercy in throttling the preseason SEC favorites. Mississippi State then came into Jordan-Hare and completely kept Auburn out of the end zone, even after Auburn had benched Jeremy Johnson in favor of back-up QB Sean White.

And for the record, I called it. I told you I wasn't buying Auburn. That call looks better and better each week.

Goooooo Dawgs! Sic 'em! Woof woof woof woof!
The Dawgs are just awesome! Nick Chubb has been a force to be reckoned with, and he has enough firepower around him that he should stay healthy and fresh all season. QB Greyson Lambert has been the model of near-perfection, completing 33 of his last 35 passes. The Dawgs have a huge test this weekend as Alabama comes to town, but Georgia is projected to be the favorite in every game it plays for the remainder of 2015.

Is Florida chomping off more than they can chew?
The Gators are a difficult team to get a read on. They are 4-0, but they're winning close and winning ugly. They had to come back from two touchdowns behind to beat Tennessee. Three of Florida's next four games are home for Ole Miss, at LSU, and at Jacksonville for the World's Largest Outdoor Non-Alchoholic Fun For the Whole Family Party (Georgia). If they can win one of those three they'll be alright.

Is Ole Miss Really That Good?
The Rebels of Ole Miss went into Tuscaloosa and hung 43 on Alabama. But then they struggled against Vanderbilt. Granted, Vandy is better than most people give them credit for, especially on defense (they held Georgia to 31 points; no one else has kept Georgia under 48). Ole Miss has a trip to Florida this week. That will sort out a lot of the confusion around both teams.

Way Too Early Playoff Prediction
#1 Michigan State vs #4 Notre Dame
#2 Georgia vs #3 Baylor

Meanwhile, in the NFL...
...How 'Bout Those Falcons?
The Atlanta Falcons, yes, those Atlanta Falcons, are 3-0 on the year. This is the same team that didn't win it's third game last season until week ten. They did it in week three this year, obviously. Matt Ryan is still Matt Ice, although he has some problems that a good QB coach should've already sorted through. Ryan has a tendency to throw a lot of televangelist passes, meaning he has the ability to make 70,000 people stand to their feet and cry out "Oh, God!"

The Falcons running game is currently a tad hampered by Tevin Coleman being hurt, but Devonta Freeman is carrying the load well. The WR corps is still beast, though. Julio Jones has 34 catches and nearly 400 yards through just three games. Obviously, I don't expect the undefeated run to last, but these Falcons are capable of winning ten or more games this year, and they should make the playoffs.