Another weekend of exciting and meaningful college football action has already kicked off with week night games. But the real fireworks are yet to come. Here are 4 top games we’re watching and which potential NFL Draft Picks should be drawing your attention.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (9-0) @ ALABAMA (8-1) by 4 3:30/ET/CBS
At this point there seems to be very little debate that these are the top two teams in the powerful SEC. But with multiple games left to play it cannot be assumed the winner here is a lock for the FInal Four. State is the cinderella team in D1 this season. And there is plenty of talent to back up their undefeated season this far. But I’m thinking the bubble gets burst with this trip to Tuscaloosa. I say that because clearly the strength of QB/DAK PRESCOTT’s game is yardage up the middle of the field whether its by passing or his own running. But that is the strength of the Alabama Defense with big physical inside backers and FS LANDEN COLLINS. THis may time for back-up ‘Bama RB/DERRICK HENRY to shine with YELDON banged up. If this is a close one and it comes down to the kicking game because of stout defenses then it could get fairly ugly. Neither team excels when it comes to piling up FG points. Both teams have multiple weapon offenses, but my money says defenses will dominate play. Let us hope this doesn’t come down to a flurry of missed field goals at the end of the day.
MISSISSIPPI STATE ALABAMA
#15 DAK PRESCOTT/QB/6’2/230*** #4 TJ YELDON/RB/6’1/220****
#34 JOSH ROBINSON/RB/5’9/215*** #2 DeANDREW WHITE/WR/6’0/190**
#6 DAMION JOHNSON/TE/6’2/130** #9 AMARI COOPER/WR/6’1/205****
#63 DILLON DAY/OC/6’3/305** #77 ARIE KOUANDJIO/G/6’5/315***
#91 PRESTON SMITH/DE/6’6/267*** #26 LANDEN COLLINS/FS/6’0/215****
#50 BENARDRICK McKINNEY/LB/6’5/245**** #33 TREY DePRIEST/ILB/6’2/250***
#96 CHRIS JONES/DT/6’5/300/SO**** #19 REGGIE RAGLAND/ILB/6’2/255****
NEBRASKA (8-1) by 3@WISCONSIN(7-2)3:30/ET/ABC
This game is a bit tough to call because of the questions about how healthy and how much RB/AMEER ABDULLAH will play for the Cornhuskers. But I just cannot get past the fact that the Badgers QB tandem of STAVE/McEVOY just doesn’t bring enough to the table, whether individually or combined, to run a big time D1 football team. The lack of a sound passing attack is like a giant anchor dragging on the Badgers Offense. At least QB/TOMMY ARMSTRONG brings a little passing ability with him to go along with his good wheels. The NEBRASKA D should be good enough against a one-dimensional offense to keep a lid on MELVIN GORDON and the Badgers running attack.
NEBRASKA WISCONSIN
#8 AMEER ABDULLAH/RB/5’9/195*** #25 MELVIN GORDON/RB/6’1/210****
#80 KENNY BELL/WR/6’1/185** #49 SAM ARNESON/TE/6’4/250**
#68 JAKE COTTON/OG/6’5/305* #54 KYLE COSTIGAN/OG/6’5/315*
#4 RANDY GREGORY/DE/6’6/240**** #78 ROB HAVENSTEIN/OT/6’7/325**
#6 COREY COOPER/SS/6’1/215** #59 MARCUS TROTTER/LB/6’0/230*
AUBURN (7-2)@GEORGIA (7-2)by 37:15/ET/ESPN
The loser of this game is out of it relative to the SEC Championship… I think. Auburn has shown that they are incredibly deficient on the defensive side of the ball. But they sure can move it with NICK MARSHALL/QB at the helm and HC Gus Malzahn calling the plays. But when you talk about weak defenses you certainly cannot leave UHA out of the equation either. Expect to see both teams pounding the rock with strong running games. TODD GURLEY is schedules to be back from his unpaid vacation. Like many Auburn games this thing could well come down to whichever team possesses the ball last. I’ll take UGA at home, but I admit that makes me a bit nervous because MARK RICHT has never impressed me as a big ‘game day coach’. Watch the pro prospects frolic Saturday night.
AUBURN GEORGIA
#14 NICK MARSHALL/QB/6’1/210** #3 TODD GURLEY/RB/6’1/230****
#18 SAMMIE COATES/WR/6’2/205**** #26 MALCOLM MITCHELL/WR/RS/6’1/190***
#44 CAMERON ARTIS-PAYNE/RB/5’11/210** #82 MICHAEL BENNETT/WR/6’3/205**
#50 REESE DISMUKES/OC/6’3/295** #47 RAY DREW/DE/6’5/275**
#90 GABE WRIGHT/DT/6’3/290** #51 RAMIK WILSON/ILB/6’2/230**
#25 TROVON REED/CB/6’0/190* #58 JORDAN JENKINS/OLB/6’3/245***
#9 JERMAINE WHITEHEAD/FS/5’11/195** #5 DAMIAN SWANN/CB/5’11/180**
FLORIDA STATE (9-0) by 3@MIAMI (6-3)
To me the Hurricanes are the best 3-Loss team in the country. HC AL GOLDEN has the program on the up-tick with the end of NCAA investigations (for now) and a young team of primarily talented South Florida players. His true freshman QB/BRAD KAAYA is getting better with every game and his overall roster depth and talent is improving. But the phenom that is JAMEIS WINSTON/QB, just keeps working enough magic to overcome even his sudden penchant for the INT ball, and the Seminoles have never lost a game with him at the controls. It could be tight, but I expect the same result in this contest. FSU should pull out another squeaker.
FLORIDA STATE MIAMI
#5 JAMEIS WINSTON/QB/6’4/235**** #8 DUKE JOHNSON/RB/5’9/205***
#9 KARLOS WILLIAMS/RB/6’1/220** #4 PHILLIP DORSETT/WR/RS/5’10/185**
#80 RASHAD GREENE/WR/PR/6’0/180*** #46 CLIVE WALFORD/TE/6’4/260***
#35 NICK O’LEARY/TE/6’3/245** #62 SHANE McDERMOTT/OC/6’4/295*
#54 TRE JACKSON/G/6’3/335*** #71 ANTHONY CHICKILLO/DE/6’4/277**
#70 JOSUE MATIAS/G/6’6/330** # 91 OLSEN PIERRE/DT/6’5/305*
#75 CAMERON ERVING/T/6’6/300*** #52 DENZEL PERRYMAN/LB/6’0/240***
#90 EDDIE GOLDMAN/DT/6’4/315**** #34 THURSTON ARMBRISTER/OLB/6’2/235**
#15 MARIO EDWARDS/DE/6’3/295*** #37 LADARIUS GUNTER/CB/6’2/200**