Week 9 Key Games and Picks

Week 9 Key Games and Picks

 

     Week 9 already? We are in the final third of the season. Don't worry though, this is usually the most exciting part of the season, next to opening day.

 

 

     I am 34-15 this season. This week I am feeling like there will be a team in the top 5 that will lose. This could be one of the biggest weeks in college football, so lets see what games you should keep an eye on and what my picks look like.

 

    Tennessee at South Carolina. I only have this game circled because of South Carolina. Tennessee has nothing left to fight for and they may as well just pack it up. South Carolina is struggling to find that early season magic that they have suddenly lost. South Carolina fans had such high hopes this season, only to have their hopes dashed in the last two weeks. The only way this game stays close is if UT hasn't already called it quits. Tyler Bray will be on a shorter leash. UT fans may get a chance to see their backup QB if Bray struggles early. The Gamecocks will be very focused for this game, as they look to get back on track with a win at home. Gamecocks win, 30-13.

 

 

 

   

     Notre Dame at Oklahoma. HUGE game here. This could impact the rankings big time. With a win, the Irish could move up in the BCS. Same can be said for Oklahoma. Either way, this game will have an impact. If Oklahoma wins, it suddenly makes Kansas State's win over the Sooners that much more respectable. Notre Dame NEEDS this win more than some may think. This is their first matchup against a top 10 team. The only thing holding the Irish back in some polls is strength of schedule, and this will greatly help them......But can they win? Is Notre Dame everything they have been made out to be thus far? I have stuck with the Irish all season, but at the same time, I have said they fit the description of a pretender. They have blended in with the top teams in the country to this point, but I feel it ends this week. They have won the close games like a good team should, but can they go on the road into a very tough environment, and get a win against a top 10 opponent? BOOMER!!!! SOONER!!! Oklahoma gets the upset and win, and I think they win in convincing fashion, 28-14.

 

   

     So, if that's the top 5 team that falls, then the others are safe, right? In the words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friends!" It may not be that easy for the other top 4 teams.

 

 

 

     Florida vs Georgia. The Bulldogs have new life. They could control their own destiny with a win over Florida on Saturday. This is a great matchup because it will directly impact the SEC Championship game. Florida looks like they could take on anybody, anywhere, and anytime. They play such an interesting style right now. The Gators play boring to start the game, getting their opponents to drift off to sleep, and thats when they have you right where they want you. UF has destroyed teams in the second half. Their play is much like 'ICEMAN' (Top Gun reference, yes I went there). If Georgia hopes to have a chance at pulling the upset, they must find a way to get the lead early in the game, AND HOLD ON TO THE LEAD late in the game. So far, teams haven't found the right recipe to be able to do that. Georgia's defense will be tested. Their offense? Yes, that too will be tested against this suffocating defense. Even if Georgia plays lights out, I just can't see Florida losing in this one. Unless Georgia exposes something that hasn't been seen all season long from the Gators, it just doesn't look good for the Bulldogs. Gators win, 27-21.

 

 

 

 

     Mississippi State at Alabama. Well, this will give us a good idea of just how good Mississippi really is.......or how bad they are.....or something, right? We all think we know how good Alabama is, right? They haven't been tested, and here we are in week 9 and they still may not be tested. According to the rankings, this looks like a test, it acts likes a test, but I think it will be more like a 'practice test'. The toughest part about this game may be the outcome. Think about it.....If Alabama doesn't win convincingly, then you will start to hear the whispers about Bama being overrated......And if they win big? Then you will hear what we are hearing/reading right now, Mississippi State is overrated and isn't as good as their record says. No matter what happens (even with a loss) Alabama doesn't gain much credibility, if any, with this game. Just remember, if Bama stuggles just enough, and UF wins big over Georgia, that could cause a shuffle at #1 and #2 in the ranks. Bama will win, and it should be convincing, 37-17.

 

 

    Duke at Florida State. Florida State returns home to face Duke. Oh, and DUKE IS BOWL ELIGIBLE!!! FSU will look to James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman to replace leading rusher, Chris Thompson. CT had his senior campaign end last week with a torn ACL. I don't expect much drop-off. His leadership will be missed, but this will be a great chance for others to step up. Duke has some momentum and could hang with FSU early, especially if FSU continues to start slow. FSU hasn't had a complete game this season, and that certainly could hurt them this game. While many will overlook this game, FSU fans should be a little concerned. Jimbo Fisher doesn't have the greatest record against teams that he is favored by double digits. One good thing is that FSU is 17-0 against Duke. Florida State is the better team....much better, and they should win big, but I caution fans, it could be closer than expected. FSU wins, 35-17.

 

 

     Kansas State vs Texas Tech. The Wildcats are playing great football right now, and they are looking to stay undefeated. This will be the tale of two teams that both beat West Virginia. Which team has the edge? The Red Raiders will be playing spoiler again. Can they pull off another upset this season? Kansas State has a lot on the line. Heisman Trophy hopes, and possibly a shot at the National Championship fuels Kansas State. They have silenced many of their haters with wins over Oklahoma and West Virginia, and while this game may not look as big as the others, it will have as much of an impact as the others did. Kansas State needs this win to prove they can survive the trap games. Even though they are in the top 5 and have beaten some really good teams, they are still at a point where they have to prove themselves to everyone. I think that's what has been driving this team all season. They are playing with a chip on their shoulder. This game is at Kansas State and I think that gives them the edge they will need to win. Wildcats win, 34-24.

 

  

    Michigan at Nebraska. This game may fly under the radar for some fans out there. That may be due to the fact that the Big Ten isn't relevant in the big picture right now. However, this is a big game within the world of the Big Ten. Two of the most exciting (and not exciting, at times) QBs square off in Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are still trying to find their footing. They have had a very up and down season thus far. At times, their offense looks great......Then it's like they all forget who they are and how to play football. Don't get me wrong, Michigan looks the same way. Denard Robinson might be getting back to playing the way he did a year ago. And, as a reader pointed out last week (Thank you, Tim Shay) Michigan's defense is looking better and could be a major factor in this game. Both of these teams have ruined some picks for me in the past and I said I would never pick either of these teams again this season.......and here we are in Week 9. I have picked Michigan to win two (2) times this season, and I lost both of them. I have picked Nebraska to win three (3) times this season and I lost two of the three. It comes down to the home team for me. Nebraska at home is a tough team to play. Cornhuskers win, 28-24.

 

 

    Thanks for reading. Send your questions and/or comments to jeremy.cf2d@yahoo.com for my Reader Questions Segment each week.  Don't forget to check us out of Facebook and give us a 'LIKE'. www.collegefootball2day.blogspot.com

 

 AND DON'T FORGET:  Lets make things a little interesting. I want YOU (the reader) to email or post A WORD that you would want used in my posts. It can be totally random. Just a word that would seem out of place in a college football blog. Please keep it clean, but have fun with it. I will pick a word or two every week and force them into my posts. The more rediculous the word, the more it will stand out. Have fun with it.