College Football Week Ten Picks

Nick Marshall

3 Auburn vs. 4 Ole Miss
The SEC West and Playoff race will continue to take shape, as two legit contenders square off in Oxford this weekend. Ole Miss, coming off their first loss of the year against LSU, will try to find their offensive spark once more, following a weak performance against the Tigers. Quarterback Bo Wallace struggled mightily against LSU and they will need him to be on his A game. The good news is that he will face an Auburn defense that isn't particularly strong. This is a pass defense that allowed 402 yards last Saturday to Dylan Thompson and South Carolina. Wallace will have his favorite target, sophomore Laquon Treadwell, ready to go along with sure-handed Vince Sanders. Along with the 1-2 punch of Jaylen Walton and I'Tavius Mathers, along with an O-Line that is playing well, Ole Miss will challenge the Tigers' defense in a variety of ways. Their defense did not play bad at all against LSU, holding those Tigers to just ten points. They did look soft against the run though occasionally and they received terrible news this past week: linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche is done for the year. That isn't good news against Auburn, who averages around 280 yards on the ground per game, tenth in the nation. Nick Marshall continues to have his ups-and-downs through the air, but JUCO transfer Duke Williams has proven to be quite dangerous when Marshall can hit him down the field, with Sammie Coates making plays underneath. Cameron Artis-Payne continues to impress, while Auburn will also bring true freshman Roc Thomas and Corey Grant to the equation, testing that Rebels' run defense. Robert (Denzel's brother) will have to get penetration up the middle, while linebacker Serderius Bryant will have to be flying all over the place. This game is essentially an elimination game for Playoff and SEC West title hopes: the loser is out, while the winner has a big win down the stretch. Even coming off a pretty ugly loss last week, Ole Miss has the defense to get the job done at home, especially if Wallace rediscovers his big arm.
Ole Miss, 34 Auburn, 24

7 TCU vs. 20 West Virginia
West Virginia, who firmly put themselves on the nation's radar with an upset victory over Baylor, will try to get a huge victory in Morgantown against the Big 12's frontrunner, TCU. Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs are rolling on all cylinders, absolutely shredding Texas Tech's defense last week to the tune of 82 points. No, not a misprint, 82. QB Trevone Boykin continues to improve, week after week, throwing for seven scores against the Red Raiders last Saturday. Along with B.J. Catalon and wide receiver Josh Doctson, who could easily say the Horned Frogs' have the Big 12's best offense (even in a conference that includes Baylor, Oklahoma and yes, West Virginia) and possibly even the nation's. Their defense also appears up to the challenge against Clint Trickett and the Mountaineers. Trickett, an FSU transfer, who constantly struggled to make the big throws in his early career, has been absolutely spectacular this season. While having a Heisman candidate at receiver like Kevin White certainly helps, Trickett's poise and comfort in Dana Holgorsen's scheme has seen him turn into an All-Big 12 caliber QB. White, continues to shred defenses without much problems. After a big day in the opener against Alabama, White has only improved, already eclipsing 1,000 yards on the year, with eight touchdowns. Another transfer, Pitt castoff Rushell Shell, leadings a vastly improved run game that will keep defenses honest. The TCU defense has had a great year (especially if you ignore their second half against Baylor) and has an absolute run stuffer in legit All-American candidate Chucky Hunter. Paul Dawson is a superb linebacker, while defensive back Sam Carter will certainly be leaned on to help defend White and the other dangerous West Virginia receivers. Quietly, Mario Alford has had a superb year for West Virginia at receiver, and he could have a huge day if TCU focuses too much on White. If the Big 12 is to put a team into the Playoff the most likely case it is going to be one of these two teams, or possibly Kansas State. While both offenses are certain to put up points, it is really hard to pick against TCU, the way they are rolling.
TCU, 47 West Virginia, 35

5 Oregon vs. Stanford
While the Pac-12 South has two huge games this weekend (ASU vs. Utah, UCLA vs. Arizona) the Pac-12 North is far from decided, although Oregon has clearly emerged as the favorite. While the Ducks have been superb this year, they have been absolutely shut down against Stanford the last two years and the Cardinal defense is once more fantastic. They will bring a physical front seven to the table, one that includes A.J. Tarpley, along with a ton of disciplined, good open field tacklers. The Cardinal's discipline, and great tackling have made it very tough for Oregon to get anything going for the Ducks on the ground the last two years. Freshman Royce Freeman is coming off a great week but he has not faced a defense like Stanford's since Michigan State, where he wasn't used much. While the Stanford defense is once again great, they haven't seen a Marcus Mariota like this. The junior has grown into a better leader, better athlete and smarter quarterback. Now, the Heisman candidate will hope to push himself into the frontrunner position with another impressive victory. He will be aided by explosive athlete Devon Allen, along with a now relatively healthy offensive line, which didn't help him at all in the Ducks' loss to 'Zona. The Oregon defense has had its up-and-downs but it will get an opportunity to prove itself against the inconsistent Stanford offense. At times, Stanford's offense has been absolutely terrible but when QB Kevin Hogan plays well, they are usually in a good position. He does have explosive Michael Rector and Ty Montgomery, who can make plays down the field, to hopefully help him out. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has struggled at times this year, but there is no better cornerback in the entire nation than the senior when healthy and on his game. If he can make some plays and Oregon can play strong and physical against the Stanford O-Line they have a real chance to avenge the last two seasons' losses.
Oregon, 30 Stanford, 17

Other Picks
14 Arizona State, 42 17 Utah, 28
22 UCLA, 34  12 Arizona, 31
1 Mississippi State, 35 Arkansas, 20
11 Georgia, 27 Florida, 13
10 Notre Dame, 28 Navy, 22
Current Picks Record: 51-21

College Basketball Preview 2014-2015: 1. Kentucky Wildcats

1. Kentucky Wildcats (29-11 in 2013-2014, lost in National Championship Game) 

Willie Cauley-Stein

Projected Lineup:
G Aaron Harrison -- Sophomore
G Andrew Harrison -- Sophomore
F Alex Poythress -- Junior
F Trey Lyles -- Freshman
C Willie Cauley-Stein -- Junior
Sixth Dakari Johnson -- Sophomore

Once more expectations were extremely high in Lexington, Kentucky, to nobody's surprise. The Wildcats were bringing in the nation's top recruiting class (one that included stud prospects Julius Randle, along with the Harrison twins) and also had a number of veterans back (Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress). While youth and turnovers caused serious problems for Kentucky early, the Wildcats figured it all out at the right time of the season. They would go on a mad tournament run, one that included victories over Wichita State, Louisville and Michigan, who were all Final Four teams in 2013. Well the run was impressive, a tough loss to Connecticut in the national championship motivated a number of Wildcats to return, including the Harrison twins, big men Dakari Johnson and Willie Cauley-Stein, along with forward Marcus Lee, who could be in store for a breakout season. Join that up with another fantastic recruiting class and once more, big things are expected for Kentucky.

BACKCOURT: Few incoming freshmen were as hyped as the Harrison twins were entering 2014. NBA scouts raved about their size, ability to attack the rim, and leadership ability. But, both struggled throughout much of last season. Both of the Harrisons were prone to mistakes, not too surprising for young newcomers granted the reigns of the offense. Though, they managed to figure things out and there was no denying how good they were in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Aaron, in especially, found his clutch gene and made two huge shots against Wisconsin in the Final Four and Michigan in the Elite Eight. It will be interesting to see how the pair matures this upcoming season. If they can develop a consistent jumper they have the chance to be scary; quick, deceptive ball handlers with the size to get to the rim and finish, reminds me of John Wall. John Calipari landed two stud guards in freshman Tyler Ulis and smart, hard-working shooting guard Devin Booker. Ulis might not see a ton of action this season, but there is loads of potential there. The extremely quick 5'9" ball handler is excellent in transition and moves well side to side. He has the chance to be a great defender; he has very quick hands the athleticism to keep up with some of the nation's top guards. The loss of wing scorer James Young hurts, but Booker could possibly make up for it. Young showed excellent versatility last season, proving to be a dangerous sharpshooter who can also was a great jumper and was around the rim often. While Booker isn't the shooter that Young was he has the chance to grow into one because he has a very quick release and has the long arms to extend over defenders. Depth could be a relative concern in the backcourt, as Calipari will almost certainly lean heavily on sophomore Dominique Hawkins, who has the potential to grow into one of the nation's top defenders. Hawkins saw action in 33 games lasts season and proved to be the team's most consistent defender. Hawkins excels on the defensive side because of his high basketball IQ, and his long arms.

College Football Week Nine Picks

Anthony Jennings

3 Ole Miss vs. 24 LSU
It won't be an easy ride to the Egg Bowl for Ole Miss, who still has a tough meeting with Auburn after this road test against LSU and Les Miles. The Rebels' defense will hope to stop a Tigers' offense that is starting to find its groove after scoring an embarrassing seven points against Auburn earlier this month. A big reason for that is the play of the running backs, including true freshman Leonard Fournette, who is finally starting to consistently show the talent many expected him to show when the season began. Along with Fournette, Miles and LSU bring powerful Kenny Hilliard to the table along with workhorse Terrence Magee, who ran for 127 in LSU's victory over Kentucky. While the ground attack should certainly help the Tigers move the ball, they need to find more success passing if they are to have any success against this Ole Miss defense. Whether it has been the slightly more experienced sophomore Anthony Jennings or true freshman Brandon Harris, the Tigers' offense has struggled to find anything proven through the air. While both ran run and extend plays, they don't have the arm strength to beat Ole Miss' quick defenders over the top, even possessing some of the deep threats they do have. Safeties Cody Prewitt and Trae Elston and cornerback Senquez Golson form one of the nation's best secondaries in the nation and they will give LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron absolute fits. While their offense has clearly had its up and downs, the LSU defense has been among the stingiest in the entire nation, holding opponents to just 17 points per game, good enough for eighth in the nation. They must get Bo Wallace uncomfortable and stop the quarterback, who has been on absolute fire lately. They must also contain underrated running back Jaylen Walton, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and get past a strong offensive line. Even if their defense can do all that, the Tigers will almost certainly struggle to move the ball against the Rebels. Even on the road, Ole Miss should prove their superiority.
Ole Miss, 31 LSU, 17

19 Utah vs. 20 USC
The crowded Pac-12 will hope to figure itself out somewhat this week, as two South contenders battle late night. The Utes have surprised, moving to a 5-1 start with a victory over UCLA, thanks to a superb defense and breakout running back Devontae Booker, who now has 742 yards on the year. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has announced gritty Travis Wilson will start at quarterback for the Utes. He will hope to get a pass offense going that has been extremely subpar, while the Trojans will not help him, bringing safety Su'a Cravens and defensive tackle Leonard Williams to the table. That will force the Utes to rely even more on Booker and a defense that will almost certainly get tested against Cody Kessler and the Trojans. Although he also has had some tough weeks, Kessler is having a huge year under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. In fact, tons of Trojans are, because Sarkisian's system utilizes the vast amount of weapons USC has at their disposal much better than Kiffin's ever did. Running back Buck Allen has catapulted himself into Heisman talks after yet another great week, while receivers Nelson Agholor and JuJu Smith have emerged as Kessler's favorite targets through the air. Utah defensive end Nate Orchard has had a huge year, racking up 10.5 sacks already, good enough for No. 2 in the nation. He will have to have another great game if the Utes are going to slow down Kessler and the Trojans' explosive offense. While nobody should count on the crazy inconsistent Trojans this year, they are riding a wave of momentum, one that should carry them past a Utes team that has been barely sneaking past opponents. Unless Utah's offense somehow finds a way to keep up with USC, the Trojans should become bowl eligible after a win.
USC, 38 Utah, 27

1 Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
While their Magnolia state rivals prepare for a tough road test against LSU, Mississippi State will hope to improve to 7-0 on the year and preserve their No. 1 ranking against Kentucky, who was improved in big ways this season and is 5-2. A big reason for the Wildcats sudden turnaround (they could easily be 6-1 if not for a botched call against Florida) has not only been the positive spirit of head coach Mark Stoops but the superb play of QB Patrick Towles. Towles, who was barely hanging on to the starting gig when the year began, has thrown 10 touchdowns and has also run for two more. The sophomore has also been helped out by the great play of running back Jojo Kemp and a defense that has been led by superb defensive end Alvin "Bud" Dupree. Though, Kentucky struggled mightily to do anything last week against LSU, in which they were absolutely demolished 41-3 and they haven't seen a team anywhere close to the level of Mississippi State. QB Dak Prescott continues to put up Heisman numbers while the defense continues to shut down some explosive offenses. The ground game has been led by bruiser Josh Robinson and De'Runnya Wilson has clearly established himself as one of the SEC's best receivers. Add to that the fact the Bulldogs are coming off a bye and should be well rested and well prepared, and Kentucky will have an awfully tough job trying to keep up with the nation's top team.
Mississippi State, 45 Kentucky, 24

Other Picks
22 West Virginia, 35 Oklahoma State, 33
14 Arizona State, 28 Washington, 14
4 Alabama, 37 Tennessee, 13
5 Auburn, 34 South Carolina, 26
13 Ohio State, 30 Penn State, 20

College Football Playoff Projections after Week Eight

A lot has changed since my last official Playoff Projections about a month ago. Texas A&M is falling apart in front of our eyes, Oklahoma appears to be out of the race and my No. 1 seed at the time, Oregon, has obviously not looked invincible. So here we are, a week before the Selection Committee will unveil their first ever rankings, which will eventual decide the College Football Playoff. So without further ado:

The Four

1 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Dak Prescott

Led by Heisman frontrunner Dak Prescott, a number of explosive offensive playmakers and a quick, smart defense, the Bulldogs have made a historic rise to the top of college football which has included big victories against LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn. While the Texas A&M victory does not look as great as it once did, there is no denying how dominant Mississippi State has played on the road against LSU and against Auburn, where they jumped out to a 21-0 lead. While the SEC's scheduling (especially the brutal West) makes it hard to go undefeated, Mississippi State has an already stocked resume that will hold up even in the event of a loss. Though, with Prescott under center, Josh Robinson running the ball, De'Runnya Wilson catching and a stout front seven, chances are, they might not lose at all in 2014.

2 Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles' hold on a Playoff spot had been shaky at best, considering their unspectacular performances against both Oklahoma State and Clemson, before a strong performance against No. 5 Notre Dame. The victory over the Irish not only gives FSU their strongest resume booster, but it also gives them momentum and pushes them through a second half that is not very difficult at all. The 'Noles lone tough game remaining (other than an ACC Championship game) would be next Thursday against 6-2 Louisville on the road. While trap games like these are worrying for a team that can have scary ups-and-downs like Florida State, Jameis Winston and company should get the job done. With two nice non-conference victories (Florida could add another) and a win against the ACC's second best team, Clemson, without Winston, the Seminoles certainly have enough claim to a 1 or 2 seed in the Playoff.

3 Ole Miss Rebels
While Mississippi State's ascension to the No. 1 ranking has been truly amazing, lets not forget about their Egg Bowl rivals, Ole Miss, who continued their dominance with a beatdown of Tennessee this weekend. Senior quarterback Bo Wallace has been terrific since a dazzling performance in Ole Miss' huge victory over Alabama and the defense is among the nation's best, headed by hard-hitting safety Cody Prewitt and rising sophomore Robert Nkemdiche. While Mississippi State's schedule is relatively soft (outside of Alabama) before these two team's Egg Bowl meeting, Ole Miss has two tough ones against LSU and Auburn, not to mention a sneaky Arkansas team desperate for their first SEC win in the Bielema era. While the committee might be hesitant to put two SEC West teams in, they have to realize just how strong these teams are. Even with an Egg Bowl loss, Ole Miss is going to be very much in the mix.

4 Oregon Ducks
After a loss to Arizona on a Thursday night game, everything has fallen in line for the Ducks. Marcus Mariota continues to do great things, Royce Freeman has re-energized the ground game and the O-Line is finally, relatively healthy. Add to that wins over UCLA and Washington along with upsets galore in the Top 10 and once more, Oregon is very much in the mix. The Ducks still own an extremely convincing victory over Michigan State on their resume and could add Stanford and Utah down the stretch this year. While Stanford and Utah are two strong teams, they have clear weaknesses the Ducks should exploit and come away with a victory. While the Pac-12 has certainly been itself up, Oregon is starting to emerge as the frontrunner and they should be able to sneak into the Playoff, assuming they can run the table and win the Pac-12 Championship Game, in what could realistically be a rematch with Arizona.

Just Missed the Cut

Alabama Crimson Tide: Honestly, the Tide probably deserve to be in the Playoff. But, putting three SEC West teams in the Playoff just wouldn't work and the Tide still have a tough schedule remaining. Though, the way Blake Sims and Amari Cooper have carried the offense and the improvement of the defense, Nick Saban still certainly has a dangerous Alabama team, who probably feels pretty disrespected considering the attention both Mississippi schools are receiving. While they will probably have to run the table the rest of the way, Alabama is still extremely scary.
Auburn Tigers: And yet another SEC West team. While Kansas State's victory over Oklahoma on Saturday was obviously beneficial to them, it also helped out Auburn big time, considering they beat K-State. That should help, considering Auburn's resume is not as strong as Alabama's or either of the Mississippi schools. Still if they run the table and win the Iron Bowl, they have a chance to sneak into the Playoff.
TCU Horned Frogs: The Big 12 really put itself in a bad spot this weekend. The top two Playoff contenders, Baylor and Oklahoma lost, while Kansas State and TCU won, but they have a loss. Though, TCU's lone loss was a close one to Baylor on the road, and they have destroyed any other competition that has stood in their way. With the way Trevone Boykin is rolling and the strength of the defense, they are my pick to win the Big 12. If they can beat Kansas State, TCU moves into serious consideration for a Playoff spot, considering they are a Power Five conference winner.
Georgia Bulldogs: While all the attention in the SEC has clearly been on the stacked West, Georgia has dominated out East. They handled Arkansas this weekend to keep their hopes alive and they still do have a pretty convincing victory over Clemson, and their lone loss was an extremely close one to South Carolina. They have the schedule to be able to run the table, but unless they can win the SEC Championship Game, they aren't going to get in, especially with two losses. Still, with the sudden emergence of Nick Chubb, the Bulldogs are going to be a threat down the stretch.

Others Still in the Mix
Michigan State Spartans
Kansas State Wildcats
Arizona State Sun Devils
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Baylor Bears
Ohio State Buckeyes
Marshall Thundering Herd
Duke Blue Devils
Utah Utes
Arizona Wildcats
East Carolina Pirates

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Eight Edition)

1. Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-0) -- Even on a bye week, Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs stay at No. 1 in the polls and my power rankings. Why? Three wins over top eight teams (at the time they played) with impressive victories against all three. The good news keeps coming, Mississippi State has a soft schedule upcoming, including meetings with Kentucky, Arkansas and UT-Martin.

Rashad Greene

2. Florida State Seminoles (7-0) -- Although it took all they could take to escape past Notre Dame yesterday, FSU did play their most complete game of the year in the victory. Their offense looked crisp, their defense made plays and they didn't turn the ball over much.
3. Ole Miss Rebels (7-0) -- The Rebels had very little troubles with the struggling Tennessee Volunteers, handling them 34-3. While the defense has certainly gotten a lot of credit for Ole Miss' success through the season's first half, Bo Wallace has been scorching lately and the Rebels' offense has been rolling.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1) -- Many people were appalled at Alabama's lack of explosiveness and offense in their 14-13 squeaker of a victory over Arkansas last week. So naturally, the Tide come and manhandle Texas A&M 59-0, holding Aggies' head coach Kevin Sumlin to the first shutout of his coaching career.
5. Oregon Ducks (6-1) -- A team that looked almost dead in the water following a loss to unranked Arizona, the Ducks have responded extremely well, playing great in back-to-back victories over strong Pac-12 teams, Washington and UCLA. The emergence of freshman Royce Freeman and the ground game has been great, while the stability on the offensive line has propelled Oregon back into the Playoff hunt.
6. Auburn Tigers (5-1) -- Following their first loss of the year to Mississippi State, Auburn was one a bye, before things start to get real tough. The Tigers will have an absolutely brutal late October and early November slate, one that starts this next weekend against the inconsistent but still dangerous South Carolina Gamecocks.
7. Michigan State Spartans (6-1) -- Michigan State ran past Indiana yesterday, posting 56 points on the scoreboard and holding a lethal Indiana offense to just 17 (granted, they are without starting QB Nate Sudfeld). Though, now they will endure their toughest stretch of the season with games against a still sneaky Michigan team and then their huge meeting with Ohio State, which will essentially decide the Big Ten.
8. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) -- Finally the 'Dawgs did what no other team in the entire nation has done to any SEC West team: beat them. Against outside competition, the SEC West is now 28-1, thanks to another great day from Georgia's sudden star running back Nick Chubb, helping the Bulldog's resume out a little bit.
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1) -- The Irish's playoff chances took a hit when Corey Robinson's game-winning touchdown was called back for pass interference, but they are still alive. Everett Golson played great in the losing effort, and the Irish have a schedule the rest of the way that could help them run the table.
10. TCU Horned Frogs (5-1) -- Also coming off their first loss of the season, a heartbreaker on the road to Baylor, TCU firmly pushed themselves back into not just the Big 12 race, but also the Playoff hunt, dominating Oklahoma State by nearly five scores. Quarterback Trevone Boykin continues to impress, while the defense recovered just fine from a bad outing against the Bears, holding the explosive Cowboys to just nine points.
11. Kansas State Wildcats (5-1) -- Norman, Oklahoma is one scary place to play for opponents of the Sooners. But, apparently not for coach Bill Snyder and K-State, who pulled off their second straight victory against Oklahoma on the road. Jake Waters played masterfully and the defense tamed the surging Sooners.
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) -- The Buckeyes and redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett continued their hot streak, having no problems with Big Ten newcomer Rutgers, winning by nearly six touchdowns. Barrett now has 24 total scores on the year, while sophomore back Ezekiel Elliott has emerged as a star.
13. Baylor Bears (6-1) -- Following a huge emotional high after coming back and stunning TCU, the Bears looked overmatched against Clint Trickett and West Virginia, who handed Baylor their first loss of the year. The good news is that the Bears get a bye and then a game against Kansas, which should help provide them with momentum before a brutal Big 12 stretch.
14. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1) -- Things have changed quite quickly for the Sun Devils, who went from a five-touchdown loss at the hands of UCLA to wins over USC and then a dominating victory over Stanford. The defense has seemingly found some rhythm and wide receiver Jaelen Strong is having another monster year.
15. Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-1) --  Behind the insane production of running back Ameer Abdullah, the 'Huskers had little problems with Northwestern. Abdullah, who ran for four scores, has been putting up crazy numbers all year and has helped young QB Tommy Armstrong to adjust to his new role.
16. Arizona Wildcats (5-1) -- The 'Cats were off this week, following a rough loss to USC. They will have to meet a sneaky Washington State and the huge arm of QB Connor Halliday before a huge meeting with UCLA the November 1st, one that could greatly effect the Pac-12 South race.
17. East Carolina Pirates (5-1) -- The Pirates were also one a bye this week prior to their Thursday night contest with UConn, who is trying to spoil ECU's AAC Championship hopes. With their explosive offense and improving defense, the Pirates shouldn't have much problems with the Huskies.
18. Utah Utes (5-1) -- The Utes needed some extra time to tame Sean Mannion and Oregon State, but they did, keeping them with just one loss on the year and very much in the hunt for a Pac-12 title. Junior Devontae Booker has put together one great year, with 742 yards and seven touchdowns. He will have to show up in full force against the explosive Trojans of USC.
19. Oklahoma Sooners (5-2) -- Any Playoff hopes for the Sooners unraveled yesterday when Kansas State stormed into Norman and came out with a victory. While the year has been a disappointment, Bob Stoops will still have this time firing two weeks from now on the road against Iowa State.
20. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-2) -- After narrow losses to both Alabama and Oklahoma, the Mountaineers finally got their first signature win of the year. QB Clint Trickett continues to put up huge numbers, while wide receiver Kevin White is among the nation's most underrated players. A test this next weekend against Oklahoma State could essentially be an elimination game for the Big 12 title.
21. USC Trojans (5-2) -- Behind Cody Kessler's seven passing touchdowns, USC dominated Colorado. When Kessler, Buck Allen and Nelson Agholor are playing well the Trojans have one of the nation's top offenses, something that could help them break from the pack in the crowded Pac-12 South.
22. Marshall Thundering Herd (7-0) -- The Herd join the two Mississippi schools and FSU as the only teams to be undefeated in the entire FBS. With record-setting quarterback Rakeem Cato, who now has a touchdown pass in 39 consecutive games, it is easy to see why.
23. Clemson Tigers (5-2) -- It certainly wasn't pretty, but the Tigers did manage to come away with a quality road victory against the sneaky Boston College Eagles. With no more Deshaun Watson at QB (who is out recovering from a finger injury) the defense has to be great, which it was yesterday, holding a solid Eagles' offense to just 13 points.
24. Duke Blue Devils (6-1) -- One year after winning the ACC Coastal, the Blue Devils appear primed to reach similar heights, beating Virginia to improve to 6-1 on the year. Outside of a possible tough one on November 15th against Virginia Tech, the Blue Devils' schedule the rest of the way is really devoid of any sort of test.
25. Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-1) --Quietly, Jerry Kill has developed a winner at Minnesota, who is now 6-1 and in perfect position to make a run at the Big Ten West crown. Their lone loss on the season? A loss on the road to the flaming hot TCU Horned Frogs, which doesn't look very bad at all.

Others Receiving Votes
Oklahoma State
LSU
UCLA
Colorado State
Missouri
Stanford
Wisconsin
Louisville
North Dakota State
Texas A&M

College Football Week Eight Picks

Everett Golson

2 Florida State vs. 5 Notre Dame
An old rivalry will have a new chapter as the undefeated Seminoles take on Everett Golson and the Fighting Irish. FSU started the year a little bit slow and was outplayed against both Clemson and Oklahoma State before a comeback victory against NC State. The last two weeks, though, it appears they have clearly figured things out, beating Wake Forest by 40 and beating Syracuse by nearly three scores. While Jameis Winston has been so up-and-done this year, there is no denying how great of a player he is in big games. His poise for being so young is truly amazing and he makes the big plays at the big moments that the Seminoles. He is going to be supported by an offense that has been grooving lately. Karlos Williams and Dalvin Cook form a scary combo at running back, Rashad Greene is among the nation's most reliable receivers and the offensive line is starting to play a lot better after a shaky start to 2014. While Winston is an impressive 19-0 as starter, Golson is undefeated as well in the regular season. He is a legit Heisman candidate, though he has cooled down significantly as of late and turnovers have become a real issue. He will need the running game to take some pressure off of him, and some serious help from sophomore Will Fuller and the rest of the Irish's talented receivers. While the Seminoles' secondary certainly has talent, with corner P.J. Williams and safety Ronald Darby, it has been exposed at times this season. Fuller is a deep threat and could be making some big plays game. The Fighting Irish won't get anything easy on the ground, as the 'Noles rush defense appears to be quite stout, with the likes of tackle Eddie Goldman and an experienced linebackers corps helping out. Meanwhile, the Irish defense will hope to keep up their impressive hot streak, pretty surprising considering the amount of sheer talent they are missing. Still, their secondary has looked exposed at times and Winston could pick on it with Greene and sure-handed tight end Nick O'Leary. The winner of this game has an inside track to the Playoff chase, along with the Mississippi schools. While Winston and FSU have been extremely inconsistent so far this year, they can turn it on in big games, that is clear. If they can force Golson into mistakes and capitalize on those, they should pull out a victory in front of their home folks.
Florida State, 34 Notre Dame, 23

11 Oklahoma vs. 14 Kansas State
While Baylor has emerged as the clear favorite inside the Big 12 following their victory over TCU, the rest of the conference is wide open, making these games matching one loss teams extremely important. While K-State played extremely sloppy in their only true test this season, against Auburn, the loss doesn't look terrible on their resume, keeping them in the Playoff race. They will be led by dual threat quarterback Jake Waters. The last time Oklahoma saw a dual threat at the caliber of Waters was against TCU and their dual threat Trevone Boykin, who really embarrassed the Sooners' defense. Linebacker Eric Striker and end Geneo Grissom will have to work extremely hard to tame Waters and a strong Wildcats' rush offense. The Sooners will also have to contend with receiver Tyler Lockett (who is also a special teams demon) and Curry Sexton, who had a coming out party against Auburn in Manhattan. The Oklahoma offense has been prolific at times this year; they obviously need a big day from their QB, Trevor Knight. While Knight will turn the ball over at times, his huge arm and ability to make plays with his legs will certainly give K-State some problems. True freshman Samaje Perine had a huge game earlier in the year against West Virginia and the Sooners will certainly rely heavily on his production. Kansas State's defense also has to worry about wide receiver Sterling Shepard, Knight's favorite target, who is among the nation's most dangerous receiver when on his "A" game. While both offenses have some playmakers that can change games, the biggest X-factors in this game are each other's kickers. Jack Cantele missed three field goals (K-State lost by six) against Auburn, and that was at home. It will be even more difficult for the inconsistent veteran on the road against the hostile folks in Norman. This game could while turn into a typical Big 12 shootout, but the Wildcats will need some help from Cantele and their special teams(hello Tyler Lockett!) to pull off an upset and push themselves firmly into the Big 12 and Playoff race.
Oklahoma, 37 Kansas State, 28

12 TCU vs. 15 Oklahoma State
The Horned Frogs and Cowboys will square off in a game that is also extremely important in the Big 12 race. Both offenses have shown elite explosiveness, and both offenses will attempt to propel their teams to a big victory. TCU QB Trevone Boykin has really figured things out and he is putting together a pretty impressive 2014 campaign. He will be joined by running back B.J. Catalon, an extremely powerful runner, along with big play receiver Kolby Listenbee, who had some huge moments against Baylor. The Cowboys secondary misses Justin Gilbert and a number of other pieces still, and it could be in store for a wake up call in this game; it has not seen an offense anywhere near TCU's since the season's first week, against Florida State. Though, it does have massive defensive linemen James Castleman, who will plug some holes, along with underrated pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, who played really well in that game against FSU and has had a great year. Those massive linemen will have to stop Catalon and put pressure on Boykin, who still struggles with defenders making him move around. On the other side for the Pokes of Oklahoma State, they have put together huge numbers, not surprising for a Mike Gundy offense, with Daxx Garman at quarterback who has taken over for J.W. Walsh. Garman is a huge armed gunslinger who can also move around extremely well. He is joined by an excellent mix of backs in the strong, powerful Desmond Roland, who is a short yardage runner, and do-it-all speedster Tyreek Hill. If you can tame Hill, the Cowboys offense is not nearly as scary but there are still playmakers everywhere. The TCU defense had a brutal day against Bryce Petty and Baylor, but they are ready to come back and recover. Defensive tackle Chucky Hunter is among the best the nation has to offer, and linebacker Paul Dawson is absolutely superb in run support. While both offenses have the talent and scheme to also make this one a shootout, my bet is the Horned Frogs' defense will get things going again and Garman won't get anything easy. While they now have one loss, the Horned Frogs could easily be undefeated (in fact, they should be) and they have convinced me. They push themselves back into the chase and likely really hurt any chance Oklahoma State still has left, with a massive home victory.
TCU, 30 Oklahoma State, 24

Other Picks
10 Georgia, 24 Arkansas, 14
7 Alabama, 35 Texas A&M, 28
23 Stanford, 27 17 Arizona State, 21
9 Oregon, 45 Washington, 27
4 Baylor, 50 West Virginia, 34
13 Ohio State, 37 Rutgers, 24

Current Picks Record: 39-16

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Seven Edition)

1. Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-0) -- It is truly historical how quick the Bulldogs have risen. They became the fastest team in the history of college football to rise from unranked to No. 1 in the polls in a matter of just five weeks. Dak Prescott might well be the Heisman frontrunner and the speed and big-play potential of the offense is extremely impressive.


Jaylen Walton

2. Ole Miss Rebels (6-0) -- One of the hardest things to in any sport at any level is to follow up a huge win. After stunning Alabama, Ole Miss appeared poised for a letdown against Kenny Hill and Texas A&M. Though, led by Bo Wallace and a stifling defense, the Rebels had no issues with Texas A&M, keeping pace with their Magnolia State rivals.
3. Florida State Seminoles (6-0) -- While Mississippi and the SEC West is going crazy, Florida State has been perfectly fine rolling through their soft ACC schedule, having little problems with Syracuse this week. A meeting at Notre Dame this next week gives them their first test in weeks, they will need Jameis Winston ready to go once more.
4. Baylor Bears (6-0) -- What Baylor did in the fourth quarter against a great TCU team yesterday was pretty unbelievable. Against that vaunted Horned Frogs' defense, Bryce Petty and the Bears put up 24 unanswered to stay undefeated. With Oklahoma, TCU and Oklahoma State all with one loss, Baylor has clearly emerged as the team to beat in the Big 12.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) -- The Irish managed to stay undefeated this past week, despite a  good fight put on from a disappointing UNC team. QB Everett Golson, wide receiver Will Fuller and a strong Notre Dame defense will hope to push themselves further up the polls by taking down a fragile FSU team this week.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) -- The Tide were far from overly impressive this past week against a decent Arkansas squad, narrowly avoiding an upset at the hands of Brandon Allen and the Razorbacks. Their daunting SEC West schedule only continues, with a date with a motivated Texas A&M squad who desperately needs a win to retain any Playoff hopes.
7. Michigan State Spartans (5-1) -- While they didn't exactly blow out lowly Purdue this weekend, Michigan State has clearly emerged as the class of the Big Ten. With the Pac-12 in chaos and the SEC West likely beating its self up, the Spartans have a shot to sneak into the Playoff if they can win out.
8. Auburn Tigers (5-1) -- After falling behind early, the Tigers were never able to figure things out again against Prescott and Mississippi State. While their offense managed to play decent, their defense looked completely overmatched against a strong Bulldogs' offense. Though, don't count out Gus Malzahn and the Tigers yet; they may still have magic left in them.
9. Georgia Bulldogs (5-1) -- No Todd Gurley, no problem for the Bulldogs, who dominated a ranked Missouri team on the road. Without Gurley, true freshman Nick Chubb stepped up big time and he is poised to be Georgia's next great back. Don't let his last name fool you; Chubb is lightning quick with superb athleticism and is ready to take the Bulldogs to the top of the SEC East, depending on how long Gurley is out.
10. Oregon Ducks (5-1) -- The Ducks clearly outplayed No. 18 UCLA this past Saturday, but they still leave me with some questions. Can Marcus Mariota really perform behind this banged-up offensive line? Can the secondary stop some of the Pac-12's premier offenses? The good news is, the rest of the conference is losing, pushing Oregon back to the top.
11. Oklahoma Sooners (5-1) -- It was kind of sad seeing Oklahoma play Texas with such little excitement surrounding it. But, either way, the Sooners did improve to 5-1 and add another Big 12 victory to their resume. Led by Trevor Knight, Samaje Perine and more, the offense continues to perform at a high level and the defense stepped up when the game mattered.
12. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1) -- The Buckeyes had a bye one week before a battle with Rutgers that weirdly has pretty serious Big Ten East title implications. The Scarlet Knights will play hard, but the Buckeyes' offense has figured things out and should be able to help OSU pull out a victory against one of the conference's newcomers.
13. TCU Horned Frogs (4-1) -- Once more, the Horned Frogs got off to an early lead, but they were unable to stop Baylor's second half rally. The loss hurts, but TCU's schedule is favorable enough (only two major tests, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, both at home) to push them back into the Playoff mix.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-1) -- Ever since their opening loss to Jameis Winston and the 'Noles, the Cowboys have been absolutely rolling through an extremely soft schedule with the help of QB Daxx Garman. Though, this next week they get their first significant test inside the Big 12 against TCU, where they need to start off strong early, something nobody has done well against the Horned Frogs.
15. Kansas State Wildcats (4-1) -- The Wildcats have also been quietly rolling after their lone loss of the season to Auburn, beating UTEP and Texas Tech before getting a bye this week. They will get an opportunity to get very much in the Big 12 title race with a huge meeting against Oklahoma on the road this week.
16. East Carolina Pirates (5-1) -- Sure, the Pirates really weren't great against South Florida yesterday. But, they did manage to sneak out a victory improving to 5-1 on the year. With their explosive offense and improving defense, the Pirates should be able to run the table before a big AAC date with Cincinnati in mid-November.
17. Arizona Wildcats (5-1) -- How does Rich Rodriguez and the 'Cats follow up one of their biggest wins in school history? With a loss, to a USC team still recovering from a heartbreaking loss to ASU. QB Anu Solomon must find his rhythm once more, while the defense must play with the fire it did against Oregon if the Wildcats are to stick in the Pac-12 South race.
18. Utah Utes (4-1) --  With everybody losing inside the Pac-12, the Utes are quietly emerging as a possible dark horse inside the wacky South division. While their quarterback situation is in question, defensive end Nate Orchard, among the nation's leaders in sacks, keeps the Utes' defense rolling.
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) -- After their tough loss to Michigan State, Nebraska had a bye this weekend. Now, they get a meeting with a sneaky Northwestern team, a game they must win on the road to stay in the hunt for a Big Ten title.
20. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1) -- Following their crazy, wacky win over USC, the Sun Devils had a bye. They, like many with a bye this past week, have a huge meeting upcoming, this one against Kevin Hogan and Stanford. They will need QB Mike Bercovici to perform the way he did against the Trojans to pull out a win; 510 yards and five touchdowns.
21. Clemson Tigers (4-2) -- Louisville is not a bad football team by any means, which is why it was huge for Clemson to get victory against them and help their ACC schedule. The Tigers' defense is starting to pull extremely well, while Deshaun Watson leads the quick, efficient offense.
22. Texas A&M Aggies (5-2) -- How quickly things have changed for Kenny Hill and the Aggies. Just a couple weeks ago, Kenny "Trill" was a legit Heisman candidate while the Aggies were being talked about for a Playoff berth. Then, both Mississippi schools put a whooping on the Aggies, leaving them with little momentum heading on the road to meet Alabama.
23. Marshall Thundering Herd (6-0) -- The Herd have been absolutely rolling this year, led by gun slinging QB Rakeem Cato. Marshall is averaging 47.8 points per game (2nd in the nation) and their schedule is soft enough that 12-0 is a very real possibility if they stay healthy.
24. Stanford Cardinal (4-2) -- The Cardinal managed to tame Washington State and big-armed Connor Halliday, giving them a nice conference victory, something hard to come by in the Pac-12 this year. Now, Kevin Hogan, Ty Montgomery and their stingy defense must come out and play superb against an inconsistent but dangerous Sun Devils' team.
25. USC Trojans (4-2) -- Like so many teams in the Pac-12 this year, it is so hard to know how good the Trojans are. They've managed some good victories, like Arizona yesterday night. But, they looked terrible against Boston College and didn't play particularly well against ASU either. Either way, Steve Sarkisian has found a star in RB Javarious Allen, who is nearly the 800 yard mark just halfway through the year.

Others Receiving Votes
Duke
UCLA
LSU
Minnesota
Kentucky
Georgia Tech
Washington
West Virginia
Louisville
Wisconsin

College Football Week Seven Picks

Josh Robinson

2 Auburn vs. 3 Mississippi State
One week after one of the craziest days in college football history, all eyes will once more be on the SEC West and this huge meeting. After embarrassing both Texas A&M and LSU, Mississippi State will hope to add yet another huge win to their resume, led by Heisman candidate Dak Prescott. Prescott has done it all so far this season for the Bulldogs, throwing for 1,232 yards, running for 455 more and combining for 19 total touchdowns. While Prescott is the most recognizable name on the Bulldogs' offense, he is far from the only weapon that Auburn will have to worry about. Powerful tailback Josh Robinson is having a huge year (592 yards, 6 touchdowns, averaging 7.5 yards per carry) and he dominated against Texas A&M. Sophomore De'Runnya Wilson and Jameon Lewis are Prescott's weapons in the pass game. The speedy Wilson stretches defenses vertically and sideline to sideline while the senior Lewis has impressive versatility. The Auburn defense has been very stout this season but this Mississippi State offense is the best they've seen by far. They will need a big day from their secondary once more, which will unfortunately by without big play safety Jermaine Whitehead, who is suspended. That pass defense held LSU to just a shocking 33.3 completion percentage and just 5.9 yards per attempt through the air. The Auburn offense will be all about the run in this game, to nobody's surprise. A unit that includes QB Nick Marshall, hard-nosed Cameron Artis-Payne, Corey Grant and Roc Thomas, the Tigers have worn out every opponent they have seen. Though, Mississippi State's front seven is strong, powerful and deep and they have the athleticism and stamina to keep up with the Tigers' rushing attack. That means the passing game must take the steps necessary to make plays against this Bulldogs' defense. Before the year, we all said one thing: if Auburn is going to return to the national championship game, their pass offense must improve. It has shown signs of being dangerous, but it is still inconsistent and could be an issue. If Marshall makes the throws needed, Auburn can win this football team. But, the way Prescott and Miss. State have been playing, it is awfully hard to pick against them. They should add another huge SEC victory to their resume, and make a serious bid for the No. 1 spot in the nation, something little people outside of Starkville, Mississippi thought would ever happen.
Mississippi State, 37 Auburn, 27

5 Baylor vs. 9 TCU
While all the SEC West mania is fun, there are other conferences with huge meetings this week, including this Big 12 battle. Gary Patterson and the 4-0 Horned Frogs have already matched last year's win total and hope to take down yet another explosive offense with their stingy defense. Offensively, they are no slouch either, led by dual threat quarterback Trevone Boykin, who has improved tremendously this season. Boykin was always known for his speed and ability to make things happen when plays break down but his arm strength has greatly improved and he has been able to put some serious zip on the ball. He will be helped out by a strong running back in B.J. Catalon, a shifty runner with some power along with a veteran offensive line. He will get the opportunity to throw against a Baylor defense that has not seen an offense anywhere close to the level of TCU's. He will have to deal with some pressure though, as the Bears present massive defensive end Shawn Oakman to the table, a guy who is shooting up NFL draft boards. Baylor's offense is all about speed and stretching defenses. They will bring Heisman candidate Bryce Petty to the table, a guy who is now 100 percent after dealing with back problems earlier in the season. He will be supported by two great running backs in Shock Linwood and Johnny Jefferson along with an abundance of big-play receivers, including K.D. Cannon, Antwan Goodley and Jay Lee. Cannon has been an absolute monster in his first year in Waco, picking up 527 yards through the first five games, averaging over 20 yards per reception. When preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Devonte Fields was kicked off the team, many expected TCU's defense to take a step back. Though, led by a quick, smart secondary, the Horned Frogs's "D" shut down Oklahoma last week and has been great all year. Safeties Sam Carter and Marcus Mallet lead the secondary, which will often capitalize on any mistakes made by quarterbacks, while leading tackler Paul Dawson is a beast at linebacker (37 tackles through four games). Though, is this defense quick enough and smart enough to handle a Baylor offense that is averaging 51 points per game and has a healthy Petty at the helm? They will need to force and capitalize on turnovers and stop Cannon from making big plays. While this game could be tight, Baylor should impress in their first big test of the season.
Baylor, 45 TCU, 28

3 Ole Miss Rebels vs. 14 Texas A&M Aggies
After a memorable last weekend, Ole Miss will face the toughest task of pulling off a major upset: coming back and performing the next week. And, there post-Alabama and post-College Gameday mania matchup? A date with Kenny Hill and the Aggies at Kyle Field. After a fabulous performance in their opener against South Carolina and comeback heroics against Arkansas, Hill struggled against Mississippi State. But, with the home crowd behind him this week, and a plethora of options in the passing game, he should recover just fine. He is aided on offense by speedy running back Tra Carson, along with receivers Speedy Noil (who is exactly what his name implies), Ed Pope and Malcome Kennedy, his most reliable option. Though, the Rebels defense won't let Hill get anything easy, they have a number of studs. That includes hard-hitting safety Cody Prewitt (Google his hit against Boise State if you don't believe me) and cornerback Senquez Golson, who already has four interceptions on the year. The Ole Miss offense will be lead by quarterback Bo Wallace, halfback Jaylen Walton and dangerous receiver Laquon Treadwell. Wallace is the X-factor for the Rebels in this game, much like he was against Alabama. Wallace is an experienced QB but he still struggles with consistency and turnovers have constantly plagued him. He had a great game against Alabama and he made all the throws, but you get the sense a letdown could be in order. Wallace will need help from Treadwell and proven junior receiver Cody Core against an Aggies' defense looking to recover from getting dismantled a week ago. While the Rebels clearly have the momentum on their side, they could experience a hangover following one of their biggest victories in school history. Hill must be calm and controlled and the Texas A&M defense must make some plays. At home, the Aggies pull off a pretty big upset and throw the SEC West into further chaos.
Texas A&M, 31 Ole Miss, 28

Other Picks
18 UCLA, 30 12 Oregon, 26
7 Alabama, 35 Arkansas, 33
13 Georgia, 24 23 Missouri, 21
8 Michigan State, 42 Purdue, 13

College Football Power Rankings (Post-Week Six Edition)

1. Florida State Seminoles (5-0) -- The Seminoles haven't looked like the best team in the nation this year but the fact of the matter is, they are the only team consistently winning. Outside of a major meeting with Notre Dame, the 'Noles really don't have a game left on their schedule that could keep them away from the Playoff.

K.D. Cannon

2. Auburn Tigers (5-0) -- How brutal is life in the SEC West? One week after a tough meeting with LSU, Auburn will get the flaming hot Mississippi State Bulldogs (and then a stretch that includes South Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and then Georgia). The way the Tigers' defense played this past week, they should have some serious confidence going up against Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs.
3. Baylor Bears (5-0) -- Thanks to a pretty soft schedule, the Bears have rolled through the first of their schedule. Though, this next week, they get their first significant test against the defensive-minded and suddenly dangerous TCU Horned Frogs.
4. Ole Miss Rebels (5-0) -- The Rebels were dominating early this season, but they were good enough to take down Amari Cooper and Alabama? Led by the suddenly smart and poised Bo Wallace, the Rebels got perhaps their biggest victory in school history. The tough part? Coming out next week and doing the same thing.
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-0) -- While all of the nation's eyes were on the SEC West and the state of Mississippi, Notre Dame absolutely shut down the inconsistent Stanford offense. The way Everett Golson is playing and the way the defense is playing, this team looks a lot like the magical 2012 team.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-0) -- After dominating LSU a couple weeks prior, Mississippi State came out and got a huge victory at home against Kenny Hill and Texas A&M. We knew Prescott was a legit Heisman candidate but the amount of offensive weapons Miss. State has at their disposal is extremely impressive.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) -- The Tide had a real opportunity to emerge as not just the frontrunner in the SEC, but in the entire nation. Unfortunately, they couldn't get the job down against the Ole Miss Rebels. They will need their defense to continue making big plays and shut down a sneaky Arkansas team next week.
8. Michigan State Spartans (4-1) -- Unlike the final score indicated, the Spartans dominated the previously undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers in every part of their matchup. Still, another weak fourth quarter is worrying, considering MSU lost to Oregon in the fourth. If they can't figure out how to finish games, Michigan State is not going to win the Big Ten and make the Playoff.
9. Oklahoma Sooners (4-1) -- Two weeks after putting up huge numbers against West Virginia, the Sooners couldn't get anything going against TCU. The good news is that Trevor Knight will only improve and the defense is just scratching the surface of what it could be. This loss hurts, but a win against Baylor down the stretch this year will put them right back into the mix.
10. Oregon Ducks (4-1) -- For the second straight year, the Ducks were really dominated by the Arizona Wildcats, possibly costing them their national title hopes. Their offensive line has been an absolute joke lately and Marcus Mariota just didn't appear to be comfortable at all against the Wildcats. If they don't figure some things out on defense, the Ducks could have some serious issues.
11. TCU Horned Frogs (4-0) -- Gary Patterson has always been a defensive-minded head coach, and while the defense is playing great, the offensive explosiveness has been the reason for the Frogs' breakout season. Led by do-it-all Trevone Boykin, TCU is emerging as a legit candidate to overtake Baylor in the Big 12.
12. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) -- While all the SEC West top teams are beating each other up, Georgia is cruising through the East division, led by Todd Gurley. With Mariota losing and just not playing well, Gurley might have overtaken him as the Heisman frontrunner after his superb performance against lowly Vanderbilt.
13. Texas A&M Aggies (5-1) -- While the loss to Mississippi State obviously hurts, the Aggies are still very much alive. With weapons like Kenny Hill, Ed Pope, Speedy Noil and much, much more the offense will keep them in every game, and one loss in the SEC won't keep them out of the Playoff.
14. Arizona Wildcats (5-0) -- The Wildcats were able to pounce on a banged-up Oregon team and get a huge resume booster. With al the craziness happening inside the Pac-12, the Wildcats and huge-armed QB Anu Solomon have emerged as the favorites.
15. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1) -- It was a great overall week for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Not only did their archrival, Oklahoma lose, they had no issues with the struggling Iowa State Cyclones, with a lot of help from versatile running back/receiver Tyreek Hill.
16. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1) -- It isn't time to count out the Buckeyes just yet. Since their loss to Virginia Tech, they have won three straight, putting up 50 points or more every single time. J.T Barrett has figured things out, and the offensive line has really stepped up around him.
17. UCLA Bruins (4-1) -- The Bruins' luck finally caught up to them this week, as the Bruins couldn't come up with any late in the game against the upset-minded Utah Utes. While Brett Hundley has done everything he can, he just can't succeed with his offensive line playing so bad and no consistent weapons around him.
18. Kansas State Wildcats (4-1) -- The Wildcats have recovered nicely after their first loss of the season, a big Thursday night battle with Auburn. Jake Waters continues to do everything offensively for K-State and the defense has been solid. The Wildcats will get a much needed bye before a huge game against Oklahoma, the loser likely getting knocked out of the Big 12 Championship race.
19. East Carolina Pirates (4-1) -- The Pirates just continue to put up huge numbers offensively, posting 45 points this week against winless SMU. QB Shane Carden has emerged as a dark horse Heisman threat, and wide receiver Justin Hardy continues to play very well, recording three touchdowns against the Mustangs.
20. Missouri Tigers (4-1) -- With South Carolina and Florida both struggling, it is clear that the Tigers have emerged as the only real threat to Georgia inside the SEC East. Those two teams play a huge game at Faurot Field (Missouri), one that could come down to the final seconds.
21. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) -- Despite the fact they lost, it wasn't a terrible week for Nebraska. They were able to fight down to the wire against Michigan State and with Wisconsin losing, they stick as the favorite out in the weak Big Ten West.
22. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1) -- Few teams in the nation are as confusing as the Sun Devils. One week after getting absolutely demolished by UCLA, the Sun Devils beat USC on a fabulous hail mary, pushing them back into contention in the wide open Pac-12 South.
23. Utah Utes (4-1) -- Kyle Whittingham has done a great job with this year's Utah squad. They are now 4-1 (their lone loss was a one-point heartbreaker at the hands of Washington State) and have a huge resume boosting victory over UCLA. Equipped with dangerous receiver Dres Anderson and a stable of backs, the Utes have all the makings of a serious dark horse.
24. BYU Cougars (4-1) -- This past Friday night, any playoff hopes for the Cougars were extinguished, as they were pretty much shut down by Utah State. To make matters worse, Taysom Hill will miss some time with a fractured leg. The good news is that the ground game still has some serious bite, and the defense is playing pretty well.
25. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-0) -- Quietly, Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets are having a big year. Sure, their schedule hasn't been full of tough opponents, but the way Justin Thomas is playing, and the way the offense is moving, the Yellow Jackets are a dangerous dark horse.

Others Receiving Votes
Stanford
Clemson
LSU
USC
Wisconsin
Marshall
Minnesota
Louisville
West Virginia
Kentucky

College Football Week Six Picks

Laquon Treadwell

3 Alabama vs. 11 Ole Miss
This weekend is chalk full of elite matchups, especially in the SEC West. But, this battle between the powerful Tide and the athletic Rebels may be the best the weekend has to offer. Alabama has been extremely impressive so far, especially through the air, where senior QB Blake Sims has been helped out in a major way by Heisman candidate Amari Cooper. They will hope to add a big victory to their resume against the Ole Miss Rebels, who don't have a real notable win outside of Boise State. Senior quarterback Bo Wallace has been extremely inconsistent through the Rebels' first four games. He has struggled with turnovers and dumb decisions, something he hoped he had outgrown. But yet, he is still putting together a solid season, both through the air and on the ground. He will hope to pick apart an Alabama secondary that has been suspect at times, with the exception of safety Landon Collins. His main target will be playmaking sophomore Laquon Treadwell, who is having an outstanding encore to his freshman campaign, racking up 307 yards and three touchdowns. Treadwell is a quick, explosive runner and Ole Miss will need him to show up in a big way if they are to beat 'Bama. The Tide will once more need a big game from Sims, but they will also need a strong performance from their running game. When it is going effectively, there is not a better rushing attack in the entire nation than the one in Tuscaloosca. The Ole Miss front seven will give the Alabama O-Line some issues (most notably versatile pass rusher Robert Nkemdiche) but they don't have the strength to stop the punishing efforts of Derrick Henry and T.J. Yeldon, it is just too much. Ole Miss is a legit football team this year, but they aren't at the level of Alabama just yet. Unless Treadwell or some other playmakers dominate and the defense plays extremely well, the Tide should come out on top.
Alabama, 24 Ole Miss, 17

9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. 14 Stanford Cardinal
One of the defining moments of Notre Dame's championship run in 2012-2013 was their goal line stop against Stanford, with quarterback Everett Golson on the sidelines. Now, they get an opportunity to take on the Cardinal again, with Golson, who was missed last year. The Irish defense isn't at all at the level they were back in 2012-2013, but the offense has taken huge strides. Golson is a much different quarterback, who is more confident and has more zip on the football. He will face a Stanford defense that has been absolutely dominant, even without defensive coordinator Derek Mason. That defense includes gritty end Henry Anderson, tackling machine A.J. Tarpley and sneaky defensive back Jordan Richards. If the offense is going to have success Golson must make smart decisions and the running game must find it's form again, it has been terrible as of late. The Stanford offense has struggled in big games in the past, but this offense seems up to the challenge. Junior QB Kevin Hogan has cut down on his turnovers and is ready to lead the Cardinal to a victory, while playmakers surround him, including speedy Barry Sanders Jr. at halfback. They will face a Notre Dame defense that has been extremely odd. Expected to struggle following the departures of many key faces, the Irish defense has been superb through the first five weeks of the season. Though, they really haven't faced an offense that has the power and versatility of Stanford's offense. These two teams appear to be very evenly matched and this is one of a number of games in this week that I think will be a toss-up. Though, the Irish with Golson is a magical thing and that is why I see them improving to 5-0 and adding a huge resume booster.
Notre Dame, 30 Stanford, 24

2 Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats
The undefeated Arizona Wildcats will get a chance to prove themselves in a big way against one of the nation's top teams, the Oregon Ducks. The Wildcats will bring their explosive offense to the table, one that has been nearly impossible to stop this season so far. QB Anu Solomon has made all the throws and has impressed with his huge arm, throwing the ball to a number of high quality targets including senior Austin Hill and sophomore stud Cayleb Jones. Add in running back Nick Wilson and a strong offensive line and the 'Cats almost certainly have an offense that can keep up with the high-powered Ducks. They will be led by Heisman frontrunner Marcus Mariota, along with a variety of running backs including Thomas Tyner, Byron Marshall and true freshman Royce Freeman. The Oregon defense has played with more toughness this year, but the secondary has been inconsistent. All-American corner Ifo Ekpre-Olomu has been burned on a number of occasions and Oregon struggles to tackle in open space. That could mean big issues against the speed and deep threats that Arizona possesses. Add to that the fact Oregon is missing some big chunks on their offensive line and Top 10 teams always struggle on Thursday nights, and the Ducks are almost certainly on upset alert. This will be a defining moment for Mariota and the Ducks. While Arizona isn't the most high-profile meeting on their schedule, I honestly believe it could be one of their toughest battles all season. Mariota will have to have some second half heroics like he did against Michigan State, and the Ducks' offensive line will have to show up against a pretty ferocious 'Zona pass rush. This appears to have all the makings of a late night Pac-12 shootout. Hopefully for Oregon it doesn't ruin their playoff hopes. Either way, they have to be on high alert against the dangerous Wildcats.
Oregon, 44 Arizona, 42

6 Texas A&M vs. 12 Mississippi State
One of the big questions in college football right now: just how good is Mississippi State? We saw how dominant they were against LSU, but how good is LSU? This battle with the Aggies of Texas A&M will go a long way in telling us just how good this 2014 Bulldogs team is. They will, of course, be led by rising Heisman candidate Dak Prescott, who absolutely embarrassed LSU. He will get a chance to face off against a defense that has had its fair share of struggles. Though, he will also have to contend with monster defensive end Myles Garrett, who has been unreal for Texas A&M through the season's first half. He will be helped by shifty wide receiver Jameon Lewis and running back Josh Robinson, a junior having a monster season. Offensively, on the other side, the Aggies won't have troubles moving the ball either. After a rough first half against Arkansas, Kenny Hill found his groove and put up huge numbers late against the Razorbacks. Can he do the same thing against a Mississippi State defense that has an absolutely scary front seven, that includes plenty of experience and pounds? He will be helped by Edward Pope at receiver (a player who is quickly reminding me of Mike Evans) along with a variety of backs. Add to that a strong, effective offensive line, one that includes Cedric Ogbuehi, and the Aggies will clearly put up their fair share of points. And, so once more it will be shootout in one of these Week Six battles. Two of the biggest sensations in college football right now, Prescott against Hill. One will keep themselves in the running for a Heisman, one will fall out. While I like Texas A&M they got all they could handle from Arkansas last week and I just don't know if they can beat another talented team like Mississippi State for the second straight week in a row, especially with the defense so susceptible to big plays.
Mississippi State, 35 Texas A&M, 26

Other Picks
10 Michigan State, 31 Nebraska, 13
4 Oklahoma, 38 25 TCU, 34
1 Florida State, 42 Wake Forest, 12
5 Auburn, 28 LSU, 18
Current Picks Record: 29-11