The College Five Week 9

If you work or have an event or something this Saturday afternoon, skip it! The afternoon slate of games is one of the best this season. Top ranked teams facing off will leave huge playoff implications for the rest of the season. Not only will teams be playing for playoff spots, but the race for a spot in the Big Ten championship and Big 12 championship will be decided. After a tight 3-2 weekend, I sit at 24-16 on the season.

5 - (3) Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators, Saturday at 12:30 pm

This is a storied rivalry that dates back to 1915, a rivalry which the Bulldogs lead 49-43-2 all-time. The Bulldogs running game of Sony Michel Sony and Nick Chubb have destroyed opposing defensive lines, combining for 1,180 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. The Bulldogs will come into Florida highly motivated to gain all the momentum they can as they prepare for the SEC championship.

Prediction: Georgia wins 40-19

4 - (4) TCU Horned Frogs vs. (25) Iowa State Cyclones, Saturday at 12:30 pm

The upset alert meter is at an all-time high for this game after the Cyclones knocked off the Oklahoma Sooners on the road and have been rolling ever since, finally breaking into the top 25 this week. However, this Horned Frogs defense is an underrated bunch and just like their game against West Virginia, the defense decided the game. The TCU defense is ranked 12th in the country, allowing only allowing 291 total yards and 14.9 points per game. The defensive front gets plenty of pressure, with 19 sacks and 18 hurries. With the defense playing as one of the best in the country, the job for TCU quarterback Kenny Hill and the offense becomes far easier.

Prediction: TCU wins 31-20

3 - (11) Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. (22) West Virginia Mountaineers, Saturday at 9:00 am

The Cowboys need every win if they intend to take part in the first Big 12 championship. The Mountaineers have a ferocious offense led by quarterback Will Grier 2,467 passing yards. The Mountaineers have taken bad loses to Virginia Tech and TCU. The game is a great quarterback duel with Grier taking on Mason Rudolph , who leads college with 2,650 passing yards. While they were close against TCU, the Mountaineers pull this one out at home with a spectacular performance from Grier.

Prediction: West Virginia wins 45-37

2 - (14) NC State Wolfpack vs. (9) Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Saturday at 12:30 pm

This is a game I really did not anticipate looking forward to, with the Irish bouncing back from last year’s 4-8 debacle of a season. Now running game of quarterback Brandon Wimbush and running back Josh Adams, who have combined for 1,475 rushing yards. The Irish average 317.9 rushing yards per game, which means they will look to grind out the football game against a team that only racks up 177.4 rushing yards per game.

Prediction: Notre Dame wins 38-27

1 - (2) Penn State Nittany Lions vs. (6) Ohio State Buckeyes, Saturday at 12:30 pm

The Nittany Lions rolled over Michigan last weekend, but now are underdogs on the road against the Buckeyes. Buckeyes quarterback J.T Barrett had a tough start to the season in the first two weeks, but has since racked up 2,197 total yards. He has been counted out of the Heisman running but has still helped carry the Buckeyes with freshman running back sensation for the Buckeyes, J.K. Dobbins, who has 775 yards. While the Buckeyes are out for revenge from last season’s loss, Penn State is one of the best teams in the country, only letting up 9.6 points per game and score 40 points per game. The dynamic duo of quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley has cruised (mostly) all season long. Heisman hopeful Barkley has amassed 1,494 total yards, gaining ground as a rusher, receiver and in the kick return game. McSorley adds 1,879 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, making the balance of the offense incredibly hard to defend. In a tight game, the somehow underdog Nittany Lions continue their rampage to the playoff.

Prediction: Penn State wins 41-28