Football Future-see 2015: Week Five

Last week was one of those weeks that did not go well for me on the picks, but went fantastically for college football as a whole. Some close, awe-inspiring games took place, like TAMU and Arkansas going to overtime. Some truly mind-boggling events took place, like Tennessee being up 27-14 on Florida one minute, then suddenly losing 28-27. Some of the teams that should have won did so, like Georgia winning by 42 over Southern. Some of the teams that weren’t necessarily expected to win did so, like Utah winning by 42 over Oregon. Will the chaos continue, or will order be restored? Given the slate this week, I’m looking for more chaos. We’ve got Alabama at Georgia, Ole Miss at Florida, and Mississippi State at Texas A&M, along with a conference game from the Big XII and a pseudo-conference game from the ACC.

RECORD

Week One	9-1
Week Two	4-1
Week Three	3-2
Week Four	2-3
Week Five	2-3
Week Six
Week Seven
OVERALL	20-10	.667

The Games:

23 West Virginia at 15 Oklahoma (Saturday, Noon, FoxSports1)

Oklahoma has been solid this year, earning a come-from-behind victory at Tennessee, and crushing wins over Tulsa and Akron. The problem for the Sooners this week is that their next game is with Texas. Now, Texas ain’t great, but it is a rivalry game, and stats just don’t matter in rivalry games. West Virginia has quietly crept into the Top 25 by beating Georgia Southern 44-0, Liberty 41-17, and Maryland 45-6. But even with those impressive wins over less-talented teams, the Mountaineers have yet to face a test like OU signal caller Baker Mayfield. Sooners win.

Final Score: Oklahoma 31, West Virginia 24
CORRECT: Oklahoma won 44-24

13 Alabama at 8 Georgia (Saturday, 3:30pm, CBS)

The SEC Network’s Saturday countdown special will be in Athens this week for what will be the biggest game of the week (never mind that game in Clemson). Given the way that Georgia has been playing this season (all they do is win, yet the dropped a spot to 8th in the AP poll while remaining 6th in the coaches poll), and the fact that Alabama gave up more than 40 to Ole Miss, seems to be setting the stage for Alabama to finally enter a game as an underdog after 72 games. Georgia’s QB, Greyson Lambert, is absolutely on fire, completing 33 of 35 over the last two games. Couple that precision with a running game led by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and Georgia’s offense is staggeringly dangerous. Alabama’s run defense is more than solid, but they were not effective against the Rebels of Ole Miss. The game is in Athens, giving the Dawgs home field advantage. Georgia’s offense is clicking on all cylinders. All of that adds up to a solid Georgia win.

Final Score: Georgia 28, Alabama 23
INCORRECT: Alabama won 38-10

3 Ole Miss at 25 Florida (Saturday, 7:00pm, ESPN)

The Gators are ranked. That’s right, they are 4-0 and they’re ranked. Ole Miss is a high-powered offense that recently knocked off Alabama. Now they travel to the Swamp. Florida is coming off a huge win over Tennessee in which the Gators came from a 27-14 deficit to win 28-27. Tennessee is reeling and the Gators are rising. But Ole Miss is better than any team the Gators have faced so far. QB Chad Kelly leads an offense that is averaging 55 points per game. Florida’s defense is good, probably the best facet of their team, but it’s not good enough to stop Ole Miss. Rebels win.

Final Score: Ole Miss 31, Florida 20
INCORRECT: Florida won 38-10

21 Mississippi State at 14 TAMU (Saturday, 7:30pm, SEC Network)

The Aggies struggled for a time against Arkansas before finally putting the Razorbacks away in overtime. Mississippi State, meanwhile, continued Auburn’s freefall from preseason favorite into conference obscurity. TAMU’s QB, Kyle Allen, has been the catalyst for the offense all year. That’s not to diminish the efforts of Dak Prescott for MSU. Prescott is keeping the Bulldogs in the conversation, and has lifted them back into the top 25. If this game were in Starkville I would probably have the Bulldogs winning. But given that the game is in College Station, I’m leaning toward the Aggies.

Final Score: TAMU 34, Mississippi State 28
CORRECT: TAMU won 30-17

6 Notre Dame at 12 Clemson (Saturday, 8:00pm, ABC)

ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Clemson as the Irish come to town to face the 12th ranked Tigers. Clemson looks like the best team in the ACC, given the faltering state of Georgia Tech and the not-remotely-fear-inducing Florida State. That said, Notre Dame appears to have some sort of magic this year. They lose player after player to injury, and still find ways to win. Just ask Georgia Tech how that worked out. Clemson, though, has not yet reached their full potential this year. QB Deshaun Watson was thought to be a preseason Heisman contender, but he hasn’t played to that level yet. Do so this Saturday, and the accolades may start to pile up. I just don’t think they will. Notre Dame is making a playoff run and a narrow road win over a staunch Clemson team will further their case. Irish win.

Final Score: Notre Dame 24, Clemson 20
INCORRECT: Clemson won 24-22