College Football: Week 6

Another glorious week of college football has come and gone, filled with more drama and excitement than a Gene Hackman movie. Why Gene Hackman? He is unofficially the actor who has been in the most movies ever. So this week, I am going to compare some teams/players to the corresponding Hackman flick.

Absolute Power - Texas Longhorns/Alabama Crimson Tide

There are a similarities between these two top 3 teams- for starters, neither team has been tested yet. Sure, the Tide had a semi-close game against the Hokies in week one, but they still dominated that game (and VA Tech has looked unbeatable since). Neither Texas nor Alabama have had team closer than 10 points in the final score. Both teams have scored at least 34 points in every game so far. Both teams boast very strong defenses that should enable them to have no problem winning if they can continue to score 34+ points per game. Both teams have four ranked teams left on the schedule, two at home and two on the road (kinda for Texas). There are no games on either teams' schedule that look un-winnable. Alabama and Texas have absolute power in controlling their own destiny, and their march to the BCS Championship Game.

Under Suspicion- LSU Tigers

LSU has looked extremely vulnerable during their 5-0 run to begin the season. Most expected blowouts, even on the road, against Washington and Mississippi State. After squeaking out a win in Athens, LSU will have to prove that it belongs among the elite teams by hanging with the Florida Gators this weekend.

Heartbreakers- Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooner faithful have to be deflated. Most experts and fans thought the Sooners would basically walk into the BCS Championship Game again this year. Losing in week one and losing your Heisman quarterback were bad enough. Losing an out of conference game for your 2nd loss, with Texas, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Nebraska still on the schedule- heartbreaking. The Sooners are the only ranked team with two losses- but don't expect a BCS appearance from the consensus #2 team to start the year.

The Replacements - Florida State

Jimbo Fisher better be ready, in a hurry, because it looks like Bobby Bowden's reign is nearing its end in Tallahassee. The 'Noles have suffered an extreme fall from grace over the past few years. Fisher can only hope his replacement players, coaches and philosophy can get FSU back to a national (even though they'd probably settle for state) powerhouse.

Mississippi Burning - Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels were the #4 team in the nation two weeks ago. This week they will host the #3 team in the country, Alabama. Jevan Snead isn't living up to expectations and the defense hasn't looked like it did in the second half of 2008. A loss this weekend could send the Rebels into a free fall, with a schedule that is not getting any easier.

Enemy of the State - Lane Kiffin

102,000 people can get really, really loud during a football game. During a home loss to Auburn this past weekend, Vols fans weren't loud enough to cause any false start penalties or big miscues on offense for Auburn, but they sure got loud when they booed Jonathan Crompton. The 2nd loudest moment of the night came when Crompton finally completed a pass for a first down after 7 straight incompletions and the crowd sarcastically cheered. The real boos may not have been for Crompton, but for the playcalling and decision by Kiffin to leave Crompton in the game. The Tenneessee fans are quickly losing their temper with Kiffin. The Vols look like they are heading for a losing season and watching bowl games from home. With a lot of seniors graduating, Kiffin is not impressing many people in Knoxville. Expect the boos to continue for a while.

Superman - Tim Tebow

Really, I'm actually doing this? If only Gene Hackman, as Lex Luthor, would have known that the only real kryptonite for Superman was his own player's knee to the back of the head. That would have been much easier than trying elaborate bank heists and joining forces with terrorists in attempts to destroy the Eiffel Tower. Can a concussion really keep Tebow from the biggest game of the year for Florida? Nope.

Heist - Boise State Broncos

As previously discussed on the blog, Boise is well on their way to a BCS Bowl. It is simple robbery with their remaining schedule. They will not be tested again until the post season. We will see if they deserve the high ranking or if they took advantage of the vulnerable polling process.

Postcards from the Edge- Maryland Terrapins

Just when I thought the Terps were one of the worst ten teams in all of D-1A football, they bust out an ACC win over Clemson. I was worried that the Terps were very, very close to the edge after losing to Middle Tennessee State and barely beating D-1AA James Madison. For now, Ralph Friedgen can step back from the edge.

Extreme Measures- Oregon Ducks

After dropping a road game at Boise State in week one, Oregon looks like it might be a contender in the Pac-10. Chip Kelly has realized that his team may need LeGarrette Blount, after all, if they want to keep the train rolling. I'm confused because they lost the only game that he played in- a game which he had negative rushing yards. Yet, there is talk of letting him back on the team? Odd decision to me.

Narrow Margin- Miami Hurricanes

A last second dropped touchdown pass against FSU, a one point victory over Oklahoma: the 'Canes fans better have the defibrillator close by. This team is fighting and clawing its way to respect. Even after an embarrassing display against Virginia Tech, Miami is flirting with the top ten. A win is a win, no matter how ugly. I'm sure Randy Shannon doesn't mind winning by one point, or winning at the last second.

Loose Cannons- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Paul Johnson's offense is capable of dominating a game at times, and at others, not moving the football at all. When the Jackets O is clicking, this team is dangerous.

It was very tempting to use Hoosiers or Crimson Tide to talk about those respective teams, but that was too obvious, and I didn't have anything to say about Indiana football. There were a lot of other good flicks that I had to leave out, because I know you are reading this while at work and you are being unproductive, get back to it! But real quick, here are my predictions for this weekend:

#21 Nebraska @ #24 Missouri (Friday)

Boston College @ #5 VA Tech

Purdue @ Minnesota

#15 OK State @ Texas A&M

Wisconsin @ #9 Ohio State

#13 Oregon @ UCLA

Connecticut @ Pittsburgh

#22 Georgia Tech @ Florida State

Michigan @ #12 Iowa

Georgia @ Tennessee

Vanderbilt @ Army

#17 Auburn @ Arkansas

Kentucky @ #25 South Carolina

Houston @ Mississippi State

#3 Alabama @ #20 Ole Miss

#1 Florida @ #4 LSU

Okay, one more:

Get Shorty - Nick Saban

Get it? He's short.