College Football - week six - what piques your interest?
Week six of the college football season is upon us and this weekend’s matchups have a few games that could be interesting. The games that caught my eye and their ranking follow. Two teams (Maryland and Texas A&M) in “others receiving votes” are noted with a ranking of 26th and 28th respectively.
The Red River Rivalry / Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas is the top game this weekend. This is their last season in the Big 12, and I have no idea if there’s such a thing as a protected rivalry in the SEC.
- Oklahoma (12) vs Texas (3) – neutral site / Dallas at noon
- Maryland (5-0 and 26th in the polls) at Ohio State (4) – noon
- LSU (23) at Missouri (21) – noon
- Alabama (11) at Texas A&M (28) – 3:30 pm
- Kentucky (20) at Georgia (1) – 7:00 pm
- Notre Dame (10) at Louisville (25) – 7:30 pm
- Michigan (2) at Minnesota (NR) – 7:30 pm
The other B1G games are:
- Nebraska at Illinois on Friday evening
- Rutgers at Wisconsin
- Howard at Northwestern
- Purdue at Iowa
What games are of interest to you? What will you be following (besides Michigan)? Is there anything you're hoping - or expecting - to see?
I'm particularly interested in Texas v Oklahoma, and Maryland @ Ohio State. Two SEC games - Bama @ A&M and Kentucky @ Georgia are also on my radar.
Enjoy. Go Blue!
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^
Andrel Anthony and Xavier Worthy in The oh what might have been Red River Rivalry.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
In many ways I'm happy that Xavier ended up at Texas. He is good for them and might have been a distraction here.
But yeah, what could have been!
Granted, we had Nico, DPJ, and Black on the same team.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
I don't follow him closely, but I don't think Worthy has gotten in trouble / said anything at UT.
I also think Michigan wins of the playoff games with him, since he's just that good.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
Why exactly would he have been a distraction at Michigan?
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Gattis is long gone, so the distraction is gone.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^
I see who he did there... uh what you did there.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^
Is it really confirmed that Gattis banged his mom? Or is that still rumor?
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:40 PM ^
Distraction? Cmon. If he came here none of the "rumors" would ever surface because no one would ask "why didn't he come here"
Reality is last year he would have gotten 2-3 targets a game max behind Bell's 5. (and less than the tight ends) That was the offense last year. He would be in the DPJ mold of "intriguing player with great athleticism who isn't targeted much but maybe in the NFL he can prosper."
He made the right choice for his prospects in the league.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Andrel's a fine young man. I hope he has a fantastic game on Saturday - and a great season.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
Texas has played a heck of a schedule so far - if they take out Oklahoma, I think they've got the best case for #1 in the country so far this year.
Ohio State will likely roll Maryland.
Can Rutgers take out the probable B1G West champion? INTRIGUE!
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
I don't think you're wrong re: Texas, but I think Georgia is going to get as much of the "Alabama treatment" as possible with their back-to-back titles. I can see them remaining #1 until someone beats them.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:43 PM ^
Texas would deserve it on resume as Georgia has been relatively pedestrian and is either bored or just not that talented as last 2 years. Probably a combination of both.
Oklahoma has been under the radar - their offense has been impressive this year. They've scored 50+ more than 3x and their defense has been surprisingly improved. Should be a hell of a game.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^
I wouldn't rule out Maryland. That game will be an offensive shootout
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
I was a little more hopeful before I saw it was in Cbus, but I still think if Ohio stumbles at all (which they’ve done plenty), Maryland could make it a track meet, and Michigan has shown the shoe is a paper tiger once they get punched in the mouth.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
Yes Maryland on the road is going to beat OSU. Err.
October 3rd, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^
Fear the Terrapin!!!
October 3rd, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^
I hope you are right but I suspect not. OSU's D has looked really good this year. And while their O has looked mortal Maryland plays mediocre defense. Especially given this game is at the Shoe, I see it as OSU 38 Maryland 16. Hopefully Maryland can be competitive or maybe even pull off an upset. I highly doubt it though.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
I predict msu somehow finds a way to lose this week.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
I'm pretty sure the SEC has protected rivalries. Just off the top of my head, there's Alabama -Auburn, Georgia -Florida, Ol Miss vs Mississippi St, Tennessee -Vandy.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:22 AM ^
I feel like the SEC is smart enough to know that getting both Oklahoma and Texas means that you they *have* to preserve the Red River Rivalry. Otherwise, what are they even doing?
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
Alabama/Tennessee is a big rivalry. It's pretty much always the 3rd saturday in October.
Georgia/Auburn is billed as the oldest rivalry in the south.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
Does the B1G have a protected rivalry for OSU vs The World?
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^
Only in baseball. They start them in the last position before you reach home.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
They definitely have protected crossover games. Alabama plays Tennessee every year, LSU plays Florida every year, Auburn plays Georgia every year, etc.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
They are eliminating divisions next season, so there will no longer be protected crossover games.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
ohio is going to lose a game before we give them their second loss.... the question is, will it be MD, PSU or WS? Maybe Purdue still has some of that anti-buckeye serum from 2018?
GO BLUE! Wolverines vs Gophers? not much of a matchup, even if they're golden.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:30 AM ^
I actually think MD has the best chance. PSU seems lackluster this year. But I wouldn't be completely shocked if both of them beat the nuts.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Agreed that PSU offense seems lackluster, or at the very least remains a question mark. But the PSU defense is no joke. I can see them shutting the OSU offense down
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:20 AM ^
The PSU vs OSU game will be interesting. That game will be in Columbus - I'd assume / wager that Fox's Big Noon will be there. As they say, defense travels. I'm not sold on the Buckeyes offense - their OL and McCord did win in South Bend - but, I also think that was a "loss" by ND instead of a "win" by OSU.
The good news is - some very interesting games to watch in the coming weeks.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^
It seemed like the CFB world interpreted OSU vs. ND as the Buckeyes gutting out a victory over a top-10 team. From what I saw, neither team looked all that great and it didn't look like a hard-fought victory for anyone to me, so much as it looked like one team was able to make one less mistake than the other.
The media narrative the next day really surprised me.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^
Think it's going to be similar to the ND OSU game which was low scoring rock fight. PSU defense will keep them in, and OSU doesnt seem to be the same offense as years past. Too bad not in happy valley.
October 3rd, 2023 at 5:54 PM ^
PSU has averaged 40 rushes a game for a 4 yard average over the last 3 games, so Ryan Day's 'toughness' should be on full display.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
Ive called Wisconsin over OSU since day 1. I gotta stick by it now.
Havent felt this sure on an upset since that strange PSU win over OSU a few years back. Several years now I guess.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:21 PM ^
Three of the next four will be interesting for the Buckeyes. This weekend hosting Maryland, followed by a trip to Purdue (which I don't think will be a challenge), hosting Penn State on the 21st, and finishing up with a game in Madison on the 28th.
Wondering whether this will turn out to be an October to forget for those in Columbus.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
Purdue has pulled an upset or two off of OSU (2018!) and has a high powered offense (relative to the junk that is almost all B10 offenses) and is @ home. That is exactly the game they could lose *IF* OSU offense remains relatively pedestrian. Purdue is still playing the big offense style with no defense. OSU might struggle in a track meet. Again at home teams play different than on the road if they are middle of pack vs top level.
The worry is OSU does OSU things and turns into the typical monster mid season with the offense. Hopefully not this year.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
High powered huh? Im not so sure about that.
Loss at home vs Fresno
24-17 Vtech
20-35 Syracuse L
Maybe Illinois was a start of a new trend for them? But it would be a start not a continuance.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:16 AM ^
Go Howard!
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
Most important game I will be watching is Albion College (5-0) at Hope College. Grandson plays OL for Albion. Should be home in plenty of time for M kickoff at Minny.
October 3rd, 2023 at 5:06 PM ^
Go Brits!
I graduated from Albion in 1993.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:20 AM ^
I like 'em all. And to add to the list - Ore State at Cal. Cal is interesting this year in the P12. I wonder if they, in typical fashion, all beat each other and miss the CFP again.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:31 AM ^
Maybe Cal is interesting in a drink-your-own-hemlock kind of way. That program is arguably more responsible for the demise of that conference than any other.
They've been nothing for 50 years outside of 2003 despite being in a jewel of a media market thereby deflating the conference's value worse than any other program. Their success relative to financial potential has been nothing short of a disaster. That's why their Olympic sport kids now get to fly to the Atlantic coast to compete.
Go Beavs!
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
Not relevant yet, but I'm really looking forward to next weekend (Oct. 14) for the big dogs in the PAC-12. Oregon vs. Washington and Notre Dame at USC. Should answer a lot of questions
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
Oregon at Washington will be a 3:30 pm EDT kickoff on the 14th. An ideal game to watch during the "post game" tailgating after Michigan's game against Indiana.
As for USC vs ND - which is an evening contest - that too, will be interesting. It may show just how much D USC has, or lacks.
A great topic for conversation next week.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
Maryland has had a knack for keeping things closer with OSU than they should be at a glance. The way they've been playing so far, I'm hoping they can keep this one interesting.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:34 AM ^
Maryland has "kept things closer with OSU than they should" in the Buckeyes' last 2 visits to College Park, but when it comes to their Columbus match-ups (the 3 games with Locksley as Terp Head Coach):
- 2021: Lost 66-17 as a 22-point underdog.
- 2019: Lost 73-14 as a 42,5-point underdog (this was OSU running it up after Locksley supposedly snitched on Chase Young, getting him suspended).
- 2017: Lost 62-14 as a 30-point underdog.
If OSU and Locksley have a good showing in Columbus, it will be a first. Not to say it won't happen, but I'm dubious on them.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
NF - great points that I wasn't aware of. I don't intend to be argumentative - do you think if Maryland keeps the game within a score or two - that it will reflect positively on the Terps, negatively on the Bucks - a combination of the two?
The Bucks OL will be something I'll watch when time permits.
In that game - Maryland at OSU - I'm unsure of what to expect, besides Taulia attempting a bunch of passes.
Maryland Run / Pass ratio is about 46 / 54 (run / pass) - so, it might give some insights to the OSU secondary. Coincidentally, the Buckeyes run pass ratio is almost identical to Maryland's.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
I think that would reflect much more positively on the Terrapins. OSU is very talented, that's a given. Maryland, much less clear.
I need to see Mike Locksley and one of his Maryland teams take a big step up in a road game. They have a poor historical track record here. People here recall their 2022 game in AA where they played decently well (but were never really a threat). But overall, Locksley is 1-9 (!!!) against-the-spread at Maryland in B1G road games against teams that had a winning record in conference play:
- 2019: 0-2 ATS against OSU & Minnesota.
- 2020: 0-2 ATS against NW & Indiana.
- 2021: 0-3 ATS against MSU, OSU & Minnesota.
- 2022: 1-2 ATS against U-M, Wisconsin & PSU.
The 2022 games at Wisconsin & PSU were particular duds. They completely no-showed (and arguably gave up vs. PSU).
If they can step up in a big road game, that will reflect well on them! But they need to show me.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:23 PM ^
NF - thanks...
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:27 PM ^
Locksley took over in 2019. But im not sure that makes it any better. MSU and Maryland just absolutely shit the bed in Columbus.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
Yep, my bad. That 2017 loss is on Durkin's resume.