Trent's Touchdown: Six Week 6 College Football Games to Watch

We’re really at Week 6 already! I’m on edge right now. We are long overdue for something weird to happen. That’s what college football is all about, the weird and unexplained, sort of like the popularity of Jersey Shore. If Alabama lost, now that would qualify, but that isn’t happening any time soon. More on that later, but now, on to the Touchdown.


1) No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 South Carolina – 3:30 on CBS

You know, watching the Alabama/Florida game last weekend, I have to thank God CBS had the intellect to hire Tracy Wolfson as their sideline reporter. If not for her, we might not have the Richardson/Ingram nickname of “Fast and Furious”. Thanks for that contribution Tracy!

Anyway, I’ve asked the question before and I’ll ask it again, is there any defense that can stop the Alabama offense? To be generous, I’ll say Nebraska, and that’s it. Minus my shot at Wolfson, Richardson and Ingram are the most dynamic backfield duo since James Davis and C.J. Spiller.

After you get past the running game, you have to deal with Greg McElroy, who hasn’t lost a game as starting QB since junior high (or so CBS kept telling me, over and over and over again). He has been a tad shaky at times, but he has Ingram to fall back on if he gets in trouble. Just ask Arkansas.

South Carolina finally came back down to earth against Auburn. Not only that, Spurrier once again screwed with a QB’s head by pulling Stephen Garcia for the underwhelming Connor Shaw. Garcia is back for this game, but may be a bit shaken, given he can’t seem to hang on to the ball.

Garcia is going to need to have the game of his life to beat the tough Alabama defense and outscore the Alabama offense. Not going to happen, not by a long shot. As always, ROLL TIDE.


2) No. 17 Michigan State at No. 18 Michigan – 3:30 on ABC

I’m starting to get real tired of all this Denard Robinson talk. He hasn’t faced a quality defense all season long. You know, there is a quality QB for Michigan State that no one seems to be talking about.

I would love to make the blanket statement that Kirk Cousins is the best QB in the Big Ten, but that honor really goes to Ricky Stanzi (I refuse to even acknowledge Terrelle Pryor in this conversation). Cousins is one of those QB’s who makes smart plays, doesn’t really hurt you, and knows how to manage a game. Yeah, he throws too many interceptions, but it hasn’t come back to haunt him yet.

Along with Cousins arm, the MSU offense has a dynamic running attack, with both Bell and Baker racking up yards on the ground (both averaging just over 7 yards a carry). MSU is a well balanced offensive team with a solid defense that can cause teams fits.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Michigan has some guy at QB who likes to run the ball. I’ll give Robinson credit, he’s good, but I want to see him pull off runs against Iowa and Ohio State before I crown him the next Vince Young. A win here would help sell me on the whole Shoelaces Robinson era.

This game will come down to defense. Michigan’s defense is poor. They give up way too many points and hope that Robinson will bail them out. That’s fine against the UConn’s and Bowling Green’s of the world, but not in Big 10 conference play. Michigan State pulls off the shocker in Ann Arbor.


3) No. 12 LSU at No. 14 Florida – 7:30 on ESPN

How is LSU still unbeaten? I’m not talking about the last second thriller against Tennessee last week. That was the right call. I mean, I’ve seen LSU play. They are not good. They are the worst Top 25 team in the country, and that includes Miami!

For everyone who thought that Florida would beat Alabama last week, hang your head in shame. If you hadn’t seen Florida play this year, I can see where you went wrong. Florida uses its pure athletic talent to beat teams. Brantley is getting more comfortable with the offense, but he has problems with good defenses. He’ll rely on the weapons around him to move the ball.

LSU has some issues at QB (and that’s putting it mildly). Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee will be splitting time at QB. That’s like trying to decide whether to drink spoiled milk or eat rancid meat. The results will be the same, so it’s all about the journey.

The Jefferson/Lee double-headed monster gets to go up again the best secondary in the SEC. Gee, I wonder how this is going to work out? LSU is going to have to rely on its defense to keep them in this game and hope to fluster Brantley enough to get him to turn the ball over. Florida wins big at home.


4) No. 23 Florida State at No. 13 Miami – 8:00 on ABC

Are you ready for a top of the line ACC rivalry game? While on the surface I might say I’m ready to catch up on Fringe on DVR, this game has potential. I’m not saying the ACC has potential, I’m saying that this match-up will prove close and interesting.

Let’s break this down for you. Neither team is really that good, but they are the class of the ACC. Both QB’s are sketchy, but I trust Christian Ponder more than Jacory Harris (that’s not saying much). FSU has a better running attack, but Miami does a pretty good job stopping the run.

The question you need to ask is, do you trust the FSU defense more than the Miami offense? Jacory Harris has the ability to make amazing plays one down, then completely idiotic plays the next. If you look at last week, Clemson wins that game if they had a competent receiver who Parker could throw to, because Harris kept letting Clemson hang around.

This game comes down to the last second and FSU comes away with the victory.


5) No. 11 Arkansas vs. Texas A&M – 3:30 on ABC (in Arlington, TX)

If you’re a fan of offense, this is your game. This is going to be like that Stanford/Oregon game, lots of points and very little defense.

Not to denigrate Arkansas, but the only reason you’re watching them if for Ryan Mallett. The kid has a cannon arm and isn’t afraid to throw the ball all over the field. They might run the ball to mix things up, but the scoring for Arkansas rests on Mallett’s shoulders.

Texas A&M has one of the best offenses in the country. They would be even better if Jerrod Johnson would learn not to complete so many passes to the other team. Seriously, he has 8 interceptions in the last 2 games. That’s not a stat you want to see from your starting QB.

Expect a few more interceptions from Johnson as Arkansas beats up Texas A&M. It might be close if Johnson only throws to his players.


6) San Jose State at No. 21 Nevada – 10:30 on ESPNU

The main talking point in Boise this week is that the WAC has another ranked team, so maybe the Boise State schedule isn’t as easy as everyone complains about. Well, think again. Nevada is riding the same wave as BSU. I think my old high school team could finish third in this conference.


Extra Point:

I think the main question everyone has right now is “can Alabama be beat?” The answer is yes. However, you have to let me combine teams to do it. Alabama has amazing players on both sides of the ball. They score when the need to and can stop just about any teams offensive schemes.

Alabama is coming to the end of, arguably, the toughest three game stretch in college football this year. The only game they have had a problem with was Arkansas, and the defense stepped up when needed and Ingram carried the offense. The Florida game last weekend was utter humiliation.

The remaining schedule isn’t sunshine and roses, with games at South Carolina, at Tennessee, at LSU, and home against Auburn. Can anyone honestly say that they think any of those teams can beat Alabama? Not only will Alabama win, but I don’t think any of those teams are coming within a touchdown.

So, who can beat them? As I said, let me combine teams and I think I have it. Give me the offensive team of Oregon and the defense of Nebraska and I think we have a winner. Neither of these teams can beat Alabama as is. Nebraska doesn’t have the offense and Oregon doesn’t have the defense. However, Oregon has the offensive firepower to run with any team in the country. Nebraska has the defensive might to give most any offense fits. Put them together and we have a great game.

Right now, if you had me pick my dream National Championship Game, it would be Oregon/Alabama. The only reason is that give me the best opportunity for a good game. If you look at the other top 5 teams, can you say the same thing? Ohio State is a paper tiger, ready to be ripped to shreds by half the teams in the SEC. Boise State and TCU, while good stories, wouldn’t stand much of a chance. No team is as well balanced on both sides of the ball as Alabama, but Oregon has the ability to score at anytime from anywhere and would at least bring out the best in the tide. Until something weird happens, it’s ROLL TIDE all year long.