The Way I See It – Week Nine
We are flying through this college football season with a quickness and now the Bulldogs of Mississippi State, along with others are turning the corner to the back half of their schedules.
Week nine offers some intriguing matchup and the inaugural college football playoff poll comes out this Sunday so it should be fun.
Let’s get to this week’s big games.
Last Week: 3-2
Yearly Predictions: 26-17
South Carolina at No. 5 Auburn
This is a game where two teams are headed in totally different directions. Many felt South Carolina would be the SEC East juggernaut before the season and others felt Auburn would rule the West.
Carolina has struggled at times this year while Auburn still has every goal in front of them, regardless of their one defeat on the season.
The Tigers get the luxury of playing at home this week and while Carolina is talented, I just don’t think they have enough talent to upset the Tigers on the Plains.
Throw the Toilet Paper 37 Throw the Visor 21
Michigan at No. 8 Michigan State
It’s the battle of the Motor State as the Wolverines take on the Spartans. This battle this year has tons of side bar stories, making this rival game that much more heated.
Brady Hoke wants desperately to save his job and a win here would go a long way.
Michigan State is trying to climb back into the college football playoff picture after losing to Oregon, so the Spartans can ill-afford to drop another ball game.
Playing at home in front of a capacity crowd and with tons on the line, Army Shields UP!
Sparty 27 On the the next coach 17
No. 6 Oregon at California
Oregon is another one of those teams scrambling to stay at the top of the polls with one loss in hopes of getting one of those four college football playoff spots. The Ducks have look sporadic at times this year, like a loss against Arizona and on the road at Washington State. The Ducks have also looked very good like in their win against Michigan State earlier in the year.
Cal has been up and down for most of 2014 and could possibly ding the Ducks, but at the end of the day it will only be a scare for Team Nike.
Quack Quack 38 The Other Bear 27
No. 3 Ole Miss at No. 24 LSU
It’s the Magnolia Bowl between the Rebels of Ole Miss and the Tigers of LSU.
Ole Miss won this game in close fashion last year in Oxford and poses the nation’s best defense in 2014.
LSU has had struggles this year with quarterback play, young players and got taken to the woodshed earlier this year by Mississippi State and LSU.
The Tigers run game is coming around though and while that plays right in the strength of the Ole Miss defense, anytime you play under the lights at Tiger Stadium it’s tough on the opposing team.
The Tigers have only lost to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State at night in Baton Rouge under Les Miles.
Look for the Tiger-D to turn Ole Miss over a few times and generate enough run production to shock the Rebels and reclaim the Magnolia Bowl Trophy.
GEAUX GEAUX GEAUX 16 Fins Cut 13
No. 1 Mississippi State at Kentucky
The nation’s number one team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs head to Lexington, KY to take on the Wildcats after a much needed off week.
For the Bulldogs, it will be the first time they will have played as the number-one team in the country. Many feel this could be a trap game or a slip up for the Bulldogs. While there’s always that possibility, this team seems so focused and so dialed in, I almost think they are enjoying this moment and understand what’s at stake.
The Bulldogs should have great success via the running game and their defense should be able to stymie anything Kentucky has on offense.
Come Sunday, look for Mississippi State to be number one in the first ever college football playoff poll.
We Them Boys 41 Basketball U 24