Oct 4, 20176 min read

CFB: Week 6 Preview

Week 5 started to really show the gap between the top teams in the country, and the next tier of challengers. No. 5 USC fell from the former to the latter with a Friday night loss to No. 16 Washington State, while No. 8 Georgia ascended with a 41-0 performance against rival Tennessee. Meanwhile, No. 1 Alabama stomped over Ole Miss, 66-3, and No. 2 Clemson earned their third (!) ranked win over No. 9 Virginia Tech.

Week 6 only has two ranked-vs.-ranked matchups, pitting No. 12 Miami against No. 25 Florida State and No. 1 Alabama versus No. 22 Texas A&M. However, there are plenty of other good games to watch out for, like West Virginia at No. 9 TCU, Michigan State at No. 7 Michigan, and Stanford at No. 20 Utah. Our CFB Staff, of Chinedum Wejinya, Chase Zayac, and Charles Post, will look over college football's landscape.

*Maximum of 100 Points.*

Top-25 Rankings:

1. Alabama (5-0, 2-0) - 100 Pts.

2. Clemson (5-0, 2-0) - 97 Pts.

3. Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) - 94 Pts.

4. Penn State (5-0, 2-0) - 91 Pts.

5. Georgia (5-0, 2-0) - 87 Pts.

6. Washington (5-0, 2-0) - 86 Pts.

7. Michigan (4-0, 1-0) - 82 Pts.

8. Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) - 78 Pts.

9. TCU (4-0, 1-0) - 74 Pts.

10. Ohio State (4-1, 1-0) - 73 Pts.

11. Washington State (5-0, 2-0) - 67 Pts.

12. Miami (3-0, 1-0) - 66 Pts.

13. Auburn (4-1, 2-0) - 65 Pts.

14. USC (4-1, 1-1) - 64 Pts.

15. Oklahoma State (4-1, 1-1) - 60 Pts.

16. Virginia Tech (4-1, 1-1) - 53 Pts.

17. Louisville (4-1, 1-1) - 50 Pts.

18. South Florida (5-0, 2-0) - 36 Pts.

19. San Diego State (5-0, 2-0) - 30 Pts.

20. Utah (4-0, 1-0) - 30 Pts.

21. Florida (3-1, 2-0) - 29 Pts.

22. Texas A&M (4-1, 1-0) - 13 Pts.

23. Kentucky (4-1, 1-1) - 12 Pts.

24. Kansas State (3-1, 1-0) - 11 Pts.

25. Florida State (1-2, 1-1) - 10 Pts.

Just Missed the Cut:

26. Notre Dame (4-1, 1-0) - 8 Pts.

27. Oregon (4-1, 1-0) - 7 Pts.

28. West Virginia (3-1, 1-0) - 7 Pts.

29. Toledo (3-1, 0-0) - 3 Pts.

30. Mississippi State (3-2, 1-2) - 1 Pt.

Trending Upward: Georgia (+3) has moved up for the second week in a row, after defeating back-to-back SEC opponents, Mississippi State and Tennessee, both of whom have spent time in the top-25 at points during the season. And looking at the Bulldogs' schedule, they'll be favorites in each of their next four games, heading into No. 13 Auburn on November 11. Georgia, for the first time since 2012, actually controls their own destiny. That year, the 'Dogs had a win-and-in scenario to play for the BCS title if they'd have beaten Alabama in the SEC championship. A similar scenario could repeat itself in early December. Other teams that are moving up are Washington State (+5), Louisville (+3), and Miami (+2).

Trending Downward: USC (-9) took a major fall in the rankings, following their first loss of 2017, which ended their 13-game winning streak, which was the second longest active streak in the nation, behind Oklahoma's 14 straight. USC should be favorites in seven of their final eight games, but unless Sam Darnold starts playing like he did last season, the Trojans can kiss the CFP goodbye. Other teams that are sliding in the rankings are Virginia Tech (-7), Mississippi State (-7), and Florida (-2).

Charles Post:

No. 17 Louisville @ NC State

Wake Forest @ No. 2 Clemson

No. 5 Georgia @ Vanderbilt

LSU @ No. 21 Florida

West Virginia @ No. 9 TCU

No. 12 Miami @ No. 25 Florida State

No. 1 Alabama @ No. 22 Texas A&M

Michigan State @ No. 7 Michigan

No. 11 Washington State @ Oregon

Stanford @ No. 20 Utah

Week 5 Record: 8-2.

Overall Record: 41-9.

Chase Zayac:

No. 17 Louisville @ NC State

Wake Forest @ No. 2 Clemson

No. 5 Georgia @ Vanderbilt

LSU @ No. 21 Florida

West Virginia @ No. 9 TCU

No. 12 Miami @ No. 25 Florida State

No. 1 Alabama @ No. 22 Texas A&M

Michigan State @ No. 7 Michigan

No. 11 Washington State @ Oregon

Stanford @ No. 20 Utah

Week 5 Record: 7-3.

Overall Record: 40-10.

Chinedum Wejinya:

No. 17 Louisville @ NC State

Wake Forest @ No. 2 Clemson

No. 5 Georgia @ Vanderbilt

LSU @ No. 21 Florida

West Virginia @ No. 9 TCU

No. 12 Miami @ No. 25 Florida State

No. 1 Alabama @ No. 22 Texas A&M

Michigan State @ No. 7 Michigan

No. 11 Washington State @ Oregon

Stanford @ No. 20 Utah

Week 5 Record: 7-3.

Overall Record: 38-12.

1. What has gone wrong with the LSU Tigers lately, and are they going to be able to win at No. 21 Florida?

Post: It’s a lack of quarterback play. If you look back, LSU has a history of inconsistent QB play, even when they’ve been contending for the title. Although Matt Flynn, Jamarcus Russell, Jarrett Lee, Jordan Jefferson, and Zach Mettenberger were solid, only one of them was great. Other guys that have started (unsuccessfully) for the Tigers are Ryan Perrilloux, Andrew Hatch, Anthony Jennings, Brandon Harris, and now Danny Etling. It’s shocking to think that a team that brings in top-10 recruiting classes every year, can’t bring in a dominant quarterback in nearly a decade. LSU won’t return to national prominence until they get legitimate dual-threat QB play. However, I’m actually taking the Tigers over the Gators, mainly because I don’t think Florida is good either, and their quarterback play is just as bad.

Zayac: What has gone wrong for LSU is the constant coaching carousel. They should not have run Les Miles out of town, and the program looks like a mess right now. I don't think they can win at Florida, especially with how great the Gators looked against a not-so-bad Vanderbilt team.

Wejinya: LSU seems not to be playing as good as they used to a couple years ago. I think this is because their offense is not as balanced and they don’t have solid QB play. The Tigers have to rely on their RB so much, like last year, where teams zoned in on Leonard Fournette and now it's Derrius Guice. But, I do think they will be able to pull through and beat No. 21 Florida.

2. What's the final score in the Michigan State versus No. 7 Michigan game and who is the MVP, and why?

Post: Give me No. 7 Michigan, 27-13, in a game that isn't as close as the score looks. I don't think Michigan State can hang against Big Brother, anymore, especially with what went down in the Big House a couple years back. Devin Bush Jr. will have 10+ tackles and will prove that he's one of the best linebackers in the nation, and will help keep the Wolverines unbeaten.

Zayac: The final score to the Paul Bunyan Rivalry will be Michigan, 28-14. The MVP of the game will be Wolverines' quarterback John O'Korn. He will be the deciding factor if Jim Harbaugh decides to go with him over Wilton Speight, who is questionable after going down with a back and neck injury against Purdue.

Wejinya: I think the score of the Michigan State versus Michigan game will be a blow out in Michigan's favor, with the final score being 41-10. I think John O'Korn will be the “MVP” because he has to be the one to set the tone, especially in a rivalry game and I believe he will.

3. Now that we're six weeks in, who do you think has the best chance of reaching the CFB Playoff?

Post: I think we’re starting to see the teams that will make the CFP, separate themselves. There is going to be an SEC team (Alabama, Georgia, or Auburn) and an ACC team (Clemson, Miami, or Louisville) for sure. And then the other spots will be up for grabs, between the Big Ten (Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Ohio State), Big 12 (Oklahoma, TCU, or Oklahoma State), and Pac-12 (Washington, Washington State, USC, or Utah). At this point in the season, I’m thinking Alabama, Clemson, Penn State, and Oklahoma, but watch out for Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, and USC to make a run at it as well.

Zayac: The four College Football Playoff teams will be Alabama, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Washington in order. This is because they have been proven winners so far this year and have enough big games to gain credibility to the Playoff Committee.

Wejinya: The four teams I believe have the best change to go to the College Football Playoff is No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Oklahoma, and No. 6 Washington. Other teams to watch out for are No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Ohio State, and No. 14 USC, if the latter two can rebound from prior losses.