Games to Watch Week 5 #LSU@Georgia

And here we are again on another Wednesday looking ahead to Saturday! Here are the games NOT TO MISS and my predictions! This is a huge week of ranked teams playing ranked teams, so I do not have just one, but TWO games of the week in which I will present full fledged break-downs! Because I know you, the college football fan that you are, want to know all the details from all the games that matter.

#Virginia Tech@Georgia Tech on Thursday

Team with the most to lose: Georgia Tech - Last week the Yellow Jackets managed to grind out a win against UNC to give them a 1-0 record in the ACC. This week they get the Hokies who have quietly gone to 3-1. Every conference game is important, but Georgia Tech is looking to take that "next step" this year and a loss here would be a step in the wrong direction. Hopefully they are not looking ahead to next week when they travel to Miami, which they shouldn't be looking ahead since they have over a week to prepare. Wins against UNC, Va Tech, and Miami in 3 straight weeks would give Georgia Tech a stranglehold on their side of the conference. But they DO NOT want to go to Miami with a loss in conference already.

Team with the most to gain: Virginia Tech - They have quietly compiled a 3-1 record with the only loss to Alabama. But it took them 3 overtimes to put away Marshall. They start conference play here and then play UNC and Miami in the next two weeks. The proposition that Georgia Tech is faced with, Virginia Tech finds themselves entering into as well. A win against Georgia Tech gets that stretch of games off to a great start and gives them a leg up on one of the tougher teams on their side of the conference.

Top 25 Impact: Low at this point

Prediction: GEORGIA TECH


#LSU(6)@Georgia(10) - GAME OF THE WEEK #1

Team with the most to lose: Georgia - This would be their second loss of the season and it would be the end of their national championship hopes. The computers may have given us two SEC teams in a national championship, but a two loss team from any conference doesn't cut it. Georgia's offense will put up yards on LSU (they did on South Carolina), and the key will be turnovers and special teams play...2 things that have haunted Georgia this year.

Team with the most to gain: This game would be pretty huge for either LSU or Georgia. Georgia gets close if not back into the Top 5 and LSU WILL be in the Top 5 with a win, maybe the Top 3 (a win on the road at a top 10 team can do that). Both of these teams have high powered offenses and big bruising backs; this promises to be one of the BEST games of the year.

Top 25 Impact: VERY HIGH

Prediction: LSU


#Oklahoma(12)@Notre Dame(22)

Team with the most to lose: Oklahoma - They are off to a great start despite the quarterback play of the first two weeks. Then Knight got injured, in comes Bell and all hell breaks loose on the offensive side of the ball. Even though Notre Dame ain't what they used to be this will be the Oklahoma offense's biggest test so far. They can smell the top 10 from where they are and a loss here will not help them get there.

Team with the most to gain: Oklahoma - As I just said, this is Oklahoma's biggest test of the season so far. It's time to show what they are made of. Judging by the performances of both teams up to this point this should be Oklahoma in a blow-out, but it is also their first road game of the year. The B12 isn't that tough this year so Oklahoma needs to beat every ranked team possible.

Top 25 Impact: HIGH

Prediction: Oklahoma


#Ole Miss(21)@Alabama(1)

Team with the most to lose: Alabama - I am sending up the bat-signal on the Alabama offense. It is awful and if any of you have read my "Whatever happened to defense in the SEC" you know how bad they are. A loss here and they fall from number 1 and they fall behind LSU in the standings and the polls; and unless they get some serious help on offense, they will never catch the Tigers.

Team with the most to gain: Ole Miss - It's into the Top 20 with a victory here. It's into a first place tie with LSU in the SEC West. This team is young, the defense is young, but has held up well so far this year. They held Texas to their lowest offensive output all year and that was IN Austin. Ole Miss has had 2 weeks to prepare for the Tide and they get one of their injured starters back on defense. The only question is can the Rebels score enough points against the Alabama defense on the road? Ole Miss wants to run, Alabama's run defense has been up and down. It will come down to the explosive ability of Ole Miss which has been on display often this year. I wonder if Ole Miss is young enough to not realize the things they can't do...I know they won't quit till the final second runs off the clock.

Top 25 Impact: VERY HIGH

Prediction: Ole Miss


#Texas A&M(9)@Arkansas

Team with the most to lose: Texas A&M - This is their first road game of the year and the people in Arkansas are going to be fired up. A second loss here and just like Georgia, the national title hopes are lost as well. A&M has to be worried about that run defense of theirs going up against an Arkansas team that has an electrifying run game. If Arkansas can control this game and score how Alabama did, it could be a long day for the Aggies.

Team with the most to gain: Arkansas - After the let down against Rutgers, Arkansas looks to get back into conversation with a win against #9 A&M. It would give them a leg up in the SEC West standings and that is not a bad place to be. However, after what I saw from that Hog defense against Rutgers I wonder if they have the mental toughness to hang once Manziel starts making plays.

Top 25 Impact: HIGH

Prediction: Texas A&M


#Arizona@Washington(20)

Team with the most to lose: Washington - Are the 7-7 seasons a thing of the past? This game will let us know. Its a conference game and its at home. So far the Huskies have answered the bell in every challenge this year. They just need to take it one game at a time and not be thinking ahead to Stanford next week. They have Oregon the week after that and they must come out of this 3 game stretch 2-1 if they want any chance of playing for a Pac12 title and a loss against Arizona probably assures they WILL NOT go 2-1.

Team with the most to gain: Arizona - Washington has allowed only 30 points this year. Arizona has allowed 26. Washington gave up 24 of those 30 points in one game to Illinois. Arizona is averaging 44 points a game. Illinois averages 37. Arizona knocked off Oklahoma State last year, almost beat Oregon State and Stanford. They also crushed Washington 52-17 last year. They are 3-0 right now and a win against Washington makes them legit and gives them a great start in Pac12 play. Who's offense is going to make the most plays?

Top 25 Impact: MEDIUM

Prediction: WASHINGTON


#Wisconsin(24)@Ohio State(3) - GAME OF THE WEEK #2

Team with the most to lose: Ohio State - They MUST go un-defeated for a shot at the national championship game. Ohio State has not played anyone that matters except for Cal and they don't REALLY matter. I'm sorry but a schedule against deaf and blind schools doesn't mean much to me when teams like Georgia have already played 2 top 10 teams. So this is the put up or shut up game for Ohio State. Miller should be back in the line-up as well.

Team with the most to gain: Wisconsin - Maybe they aren't as over-rated as I have previously said, a win against the Buckeyes and I'll apologize. But Wisconsin lost the only game they played on the road against real competition and Ohio State looks to have an offense just as good as Arizona State's. Although it's hard to tell with the level of competition the Buckeyes have played. Wisconsin plants itself at the top of the B10 and looks to get into the Top 20 with a win. But if the Badgers have to throw the ball to stay in it, they won't. Although Ohio State has not faced a run game like Wisconsin's that can control a game. Wisconsin has been through one test this year, this will be Ohio State's first. We find out who is the most over-rated in this game. A Wisconsin victory and I get closer to my dream: ALL B10 teams have 1 loss and take themselves out of the national debate. A very hard game to call because both have ran up their records against sub-par teams.

Top 25 Impact: HIGH

Prediction: Ohio State


#Cal@Oregon(2)

Team with the most to lose: Oregon - A top 10 team CANNOT lose to an un-ranked team at home. The loss would be devastating.

Team with the most to gain: No one really. This victory won't mean much for Cal because they aren't a good team. Yes it would be a win, but you have to have more than 2 or 3 in a season for it to mean something. Oregon doesn't gain anything from a win. The most interesting part of this game is Cal's offense. This is the best offense that Oregon has faced all year and we will learn what the Duck defense is made of.

Top 25 Impact: VERY HIGH with a Cal upset

Prediction: Oregon