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| Utah looks to bounce back Saturday night after a close loss to Stanford last week Photo via USA Today |
Play of Week 6: "Shades of Manziel"
Alabama went to College Station last week to face 4-1 Texas A&M, and many (myself included) expected the Tide to keep rolling without much resistance. But quarterback Kellen Mond and the Aggies battled until the end, thanks in part to this touchdown that brought back memories of Johnny Football. Alas, Money Mond and the Aggies came up short against the Tide.
Performance of Week 6: Khalil Tate, QB, Arizona
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| Photo via USA Today |
12-13, 154 yards passing, 1 TD; 14 carries, 327 yards rushing, 4 TD
Arizona came away with a 45-42 win on the road against Colorado last week, and the Wildcats' sophomore quarterback was a big factor. He led all FBS player in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns last week, and he completed all but one pass.
Picks
Record
Last Week: 16-4 vs. Spread: 11-9 O/U: 9-11
Season: 91-20 vs. Spread: 43-46 O/U: 42-47
#6 TCU 42, Kansas State 32 (Noon, FS1)
Line: TCU -7 O/U: 49.5
TCU comes into this game looking like the best team in the Big 12 after wins over Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Kansas State, which was ranked four weeks ago, has lost two of three. The Wildcats might hang in there at home, but Kenny Hill and the Horned Frogs will be too much.
#17 Michigan 31, Indiana 24 (Noon, ABC)
Line: MICH -7.5 O/U: 46.5
Michigan will try to get back on track after a loss to Michigan State last Saturday night. This week, the defensive-minded Wolverines face off with the offensive-minded Hoosiers. Indiana will test Michigan in Bloomington, but I can't see Jim Harbaugh's team dropping two in a row to unranked foes.
#20 NC State 38, Pittsburgh 17 (Noon, ACCN)
Line: NCST -11 O/U: 53.5
After a big win over Lamar Jackson and Louisville last week, the Wolfpack travel to the Steel City to face Pitt Saturday. I don't see the 2-4 Panthers (who are coming off a loss to Syracuse) standing much of a chance against NC State.
#24 Texas Tech 38, West Virginia 45 (Noon, ESPNU)
Line: WVU -3.5 O/U: 72.5
Expect a high-scoring affair when Texas Tech's Air Raid offense faces off against Will Grier and the Mountaineers. WVU fell just short against TCU last week, and the Red Raiders will not make it easy this week, but having a veteran quarterback and home-field advantage should help West Virginia to victory.
Purdue 14, #7 Wisconsin 32 (3:30 PM, BTN)
Line: WISC -17 O/U: 50
The Boilermakers have looked a lot better so far this year than they have the past few years, but knocking off Wisconsin Saturday in Madison will be a tall order. The 5-0 Badgers have scored over 30 points in every game, and their closest win was by nine points (against Northwestern). I expect Wisky to cruise to 6-0.
#10 Auburn 34, LSU 16 (3:30 PM, CBS)
Line: AUBURN -7 O/U: 43.5
After getting stunned by Troy, LSU came back and beat Florida last week. This week, the Tigers host an Auburn team that ranks 13th in the country in total defense (288 yards allowed per game). LSU has alternated wins and losses the last four games, and I expect that trend to continue in this battle of Tigers.
Georgia Tech 32, #11 Miami 35 (3:30 PM, ABC)
Line: MIAMI -6.5 O/U: 51.5
The Canes are stylin' and profilin' so far this season, coming into this ACC meeting unbeaten. But Georgia Tech's triple-option attack is always a tough offense to defend, and the Yellow Jackets are a two-point conversion away from being unbeaten themselves. I think Miami holds on for the win, but I would not be completely shocked by an upset here.
#12 Oklahoma 38, Texas 32 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
Line: OKLA -9 O/U: 64.5
Baker Mayfield and the Sooners looked like a legitimate Playoff contender after destroying Ohio State in Columbus, but things changed after Oklahoma barely beat Baylor and lost of Iowa State. Tom Herman's squads always play well against ranked teams, but I think Mayfield and company will escape Austin with a win.
Baylor 21, #14 Oklahoma State 44 (3:30 PM, FS1)
Line: OKLAST -26 O/U: 68.5
Baylor has had a very rough season, coming into a road meeting with Oklahoma State at 0-5. To their credit, the Bears haven't lost a game by more than two touchdowns, but Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys should change that this weekend.
#25 Navy 41, Memphis 38 (3:45 PM, ESPNU)
Line: MEMP -3 O/U: 71
After squeaking by Air Force last week, unbeaten Navy faces another tough test on Saturday in Memphis. The 4-1 Tigers rank 11th in the nation in total offense (509 yards per game), but they're 124th in total defense (506 yards allowed per game), which doesn't bode well against a Navy offense that averages 508 yards per game (12th in the nation).
East Carolina 13, #22 UCF 55 (7:00 PM, CBSSN)
Line: UCF -36 O/U: 69.5
Speaking of really bad defenses, 1-5 East Carolina ranks last in the country in total defense (600 yards allowed per game), and the Pirates have given up 47.8 points per game (also last in the FBS). Central Florida, which ranks eighth in total offense (533 yards per game), should have a (literal) field day on Saturday.
Arkansas 10, #1 Alabama 52 (7:15 PM, ESPN)
Line: BAMA -31.5 O/U: 54
Alabama got a bit of a challenge from Kellen Mond and Texas A&M last week, but was still able to prevail. Arkansas, which got dominated by South Carolina last week, shouldn't provide nearly as much of a challenge.
#9 Ohio State 48, Nebraska 17 (7:30 PM, FS1)
Line: OHIOST -24.5 O/U: 58
Since the ugly loss to Oklahoma, Ohio State has dominated (albeit against weak competition). Nebraska might provide a tougher test than Army, UNLV, Rutgers, or Maryland, but J.T. Barrett and the Buckeyes should still win in a rout.
Missouri 3, #4 Georgia 40 (7:30 PM, SECN)
Line: UGA -29.5 O/U: 56.5
Georgia, with a top three defense and a dangerous backfield tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, looks like Alabama's biggest challenger in the SEC (along with Auburn). Missouri, meanwhile, has lost four in a row. The Bulldogs will continue their domination.
Cincinnati 24, #18 South Florida 51 (7:30 PM, ESPNU)
Line: SFLA -23.5 O/U: 65
The undefeated Bulls of South Florida haven't played anyone of much significance so far this season, and they won't play anyone of much significance Saturday either. After getting shellacked by Central Florida last week (51-23), the 2-4 Bearcats will have the honor of being shellacked by South Florida this week.
Utah 38, #13 USC 35 (8:00 PM, ABC)
Line: USC -13 O/U: 52.5
There are no matchups between ranked teams this weekend (in fact, College Gameday is at James Madison, an FCS school, this Saturday), but this primetime Pac-12 battle comes close. The Utes were ranked last week before falling to Stanford, and I think they'll bounce back by upsetting the Trojans, who have been shaky this season.
#21 Michigan State 31, Minnesota 20 (8:00 PM, BTN)
Line: MICHST -4 O/U: 40
Fresh off an upset of in-state rival Michigan, Mark Dantonio's team marks its 2017 debut in the Top 25 with a trip to Minnesota. I'm still unsure about just how good the Spartans are (they got whacked by Notre Dame and barely beat Iowa), but I think they're good enough to get by the Golden Gophers.
Boise State 28, #19 San Diego State 34 (10:30 PM, CBSSN)
Line: SDGST -6.5 O/U: 46
San Diego State may face a bit of a challenge when it hosts Boise State for the first time in three years. The Broncos are 4-2, but one of those losses was to Washington State in three overtimes. Then again, the other loss was by 19 points to Virginia. I think Rashaad Penny and the Aztecs run past Boise in a tightly-contested one.
#5 Washington 52, Arizona State 27 (10:45 PM, ESPN)
Line: WASH -17.5 O/U: 56
The 6-0 Huskies have blown through their schedule so far (their closest win was their first, a 30-14 victory over Rutgers), and it should be more of the same Saturday night in Tempe. 2-3 Arizona State will have a hard time stopping Jake Browning and friends.
Oregon 32, #23 Stanford 45 (11:00 PM, FS1)
Line: STNFRD -10 O/U: 55.5
The night ends with some #Pac12AfterDark, as the flamboyant Ducks travel to Stanford to battle the Cardinal. Crazy things could happen (since it's a late-night Pac-12 game), but Bryce Love and company shouldn't have too much trouble with an Oregon team that got trounced by Washington State last week.
Stats and Information via ESPN.com
Lines and Over/Unders via SportsLine.comLines and Over/Unders are as of Friday Afternoon
To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter (you can also find me on Twitter @G_Tingley)
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