CFB 2011 Week 6 Preview: The Super Seven

Oct 6, 2011

Following all the titanic tilts we’ve been given over the past few weeks, the college football schedule takes a little breather this weekend, with a slew of mismatches and just three contests featuring a pair of ranked teams on tap.

So instead of giving you a top ten list of games to watch in Week 6, like everything else in this economy, I had to downsize. Hey don’t blame me , do what everyone else does - blame Obama.

Thursday:

Cal (3-1; 0-1) at 9Oregon (3-1; 1-0) 9:00ET, ESPN
The Ducks have been rolling since their season-opening loss to LSU, and coming off a bye week, they get a chance to go 2-0 in the conference when the Bears come calling in Eugene. Last season Cal took Oregon to the brink of defeat, holding the high-powered Ducks offense to 377 yards and 15 points in losing by a pair in Berkeley. The game was memorable for Cal players faking injuries in order to slow down the Oregon attack, a move that has been emulated by NFL players in recent weeks. We’ll see if Chip Kelly and his team can maul the Bears like they do most other conference foes – you can bet after that last meeting, he’ll take every opportunity to run up the score in this one.

Friday:

5Boise St. (4-0; 0-0) at Fresno State (2-3; 1-0) 9:00ET, ESPN
The Bulldogs may be under .500, but it’s not for lack of trying. As usual, Fresno has played a brutal opening schedule, losing at Cal and Nebraska and dropping a tough 38-28 decision to Ole Miss at home last week. Now Pat Hill gets a chance to add another Top 5 team to his hit list, as the Broncos, who actually dropped a spot in the polls despite last week’s 30-10 win over Nevada, come to town. QB Kellen Moore is coming off his worst passing game at BSU (19-33, 142yds, 2TD, 2INT), and this could be Boise’s last real test this season now that TCU has dropped out of the Top 25. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Broncos roll, but never count out Hill’s snarling Dawgs.

3Oklahoma (4-0; 1-0) vs. 11Texas (4-0; 1-0) @ The Cotton Bowl Noon, ABC
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops recently stated that if the Red River ~~Shootout~~ Rivalry were to go away due to conference realignment, he wouldn’t be all that upset. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that Texas has won four of the past six meetings. Or maybe he’s still pissed about the name change. Whatever happens down the road, it looks like the rebuilding Longhorns are still a couple of years away from knocking off the superior Sooners again.

17Florida (4-1; 2-1) at 1LSU(5-0; 2-0) 3:30ET, CBS
The Gators limp into Death Valley without starting quarterback John Brantley, who was injured in last week’s thrashing by Alabama at the Swamp. Even with a healthy Brantley, UF had little to no hope of knocking off the number one team in the nation at home. But Florida fans can take solace in the fact that even a second consecutive loss won’t keep them from a berth in the SEC championship game, thanks to the feeble competition in the SEC East.

15Auburn (4-1; 2-0) at 10Arkansas (4-1; 0-1) 7:00ET, ESPN
This in an intriguing matchup between two teams that are hard to get a read on. The defending national champ Tigers could be 2-3 right now, or even 1-4 if South Carolina had any kind of offense whatsoever. Arkansas, meanwhile, salvaged its season when it came back from an 18 point halftime deficit to defeat Texas A&M last week, and the Hogs have a favorable schedule the rest of the way until a season-ending matchup at LSU. This one promises to be high- scoring and probably highly entertaining. as well.

Ohio State (3-2; 0-1) at 14Nebraska (4-1; 0-1) 8:00ET, ABC
The Huskers should pick up their first Big 10 victory in their second conference game as the sorry Buckeyes limp into Norman. OSU thought it was getting a couple of key players back from suspension for this game, but yet another payola scandal squashed that plan. While new coach Luke Fickell polishes his resume and plans his escape from the flaming Horseshoe, Bo Pellini and his boys should have no trouble putting last week’s blowout loss at Wisconsin behind them.

TCU (3-2; 1-0) at San Diego State (3-1; 0-0) 10:30, Regional
The unranked Horned Frogs already have enough off field problems, as the TCU administration ponders a move to the Big 12 before its planned defection to the Big East even took place. If that’s not bad enough, the normally TCU defense is surrendering an un-Froglike 28PPG and could hold a late lead in a 40-33 overtime loss to SMU last week. All this could spell trouble as they prepare to face an Aztec team that boasts dynamic sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman, who is eighth in the nation in yards (606) and touchdowns (8). I’m not sure what the more interesting storyline is here – to see if TCU drops a third game for the first time in a season since 2007, or opts to play in a third conference without ever having played a game in the second one.