Saturday Predictions: Week 6

Despite their 2-3 record, the Hokies will be slight favorites at
home against the Wolfpack. Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Hard to top the last two weeks of action, but we should have another fabulous weekend of football ahead of us. There are two games tonight, SMU at Houston and Washington at USC, but neither is expected to be particularly competitive. Friday, however, should get a couple good matchups. First, an improved Southern Miss teams takes on Marshall and later NC State battles Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Come noon Saturday, 4-1 Illinois plays undefeated Iowa on the road, looking for a shocking upset in the Big Ten West. The Hawkeye defense should be a little too much for the Illini this year. In the Big Ten's other division, Indiana and Penn State will both be looking for their fifth win of the season. Last week, Indiana came a few plays short of overthrowing Ohio State, while Penn State came just as close to dropping a game to Army. If the Hoosiers maintain their confidence, they should be a formidable opponent for the Nittany Lions.

Later in the afternoon, Georgia Tech travels to Clemson to face the Tigers. Georgia Tech already has three losses, and another here would put their ability to become bowl-eligible in jeopardy, putting their backs against the wall. Clemson is playing at home and should have every advantage; however, the oddsmakers suggest this game could be closer than you might expect. Another team in crisis is Tennessee, who are faced with the Georgia Bulldogs this week. Tennessee also has three losses and is on the verge of total disaster. Georgia, however, may still be shocked from the results of last week's massacre in Athens. However, the Bulldogs still aspire for an East division championship. Both teams have some serious flaws, and it is up to the other to exploit them. Either team would be devastated by another loss now.

Syracuse will meet up with another former member of the Big East, the South Florida Bulls. South Florida has just one win this season (against Florida A&M), but showed their ability to fight last week against Memphis. Syracuse, meanwhile, has to play on the road with some second- and third-string players at key positions. A win here for the Bulls would help show that the program is making strides in the right direction. Undefeated Navy faces a tough battle against Notre Dame. The Irish may have lost last week, but should still prove a huge challenge for the Midshipmen.

Since dropping their season opener 24-17 at Utah, Michigan
has given up just 14 points in four games. They could be
contenders in the Big Ten. Patrick Barron-MGoBlog

Northwestern and Michigan are both ranked heading into their showdown Saturday. Both possess two surprisingly great defenses. Playing at the Big House, the Wolverines will have home-field-advantage. However, the Wildcat defense has what it takes to keep the game close throughout. With luck, fans of the sport will be treated to another Big Ten classic between the two squads. Unlike Northwestern and Michigan, Wisconsin and Nebraska have disappointed many this season with five combined losses on the season. In each of their three losses, the Cornhuskers have fell behind on opponents' scores within the final minute of the game. In other words, they're among the most heartbroken team in America. However, they have a chance to change their fortunes against the Badgers in Lincoln. Wisconsin, for their part, has to get back on track for one of their preseason goals, a conference title.

Winless UCF has another chance to pick up a victory this week at home against UConn. The Knights need to catch a few breaks offensively and resume playing solid defense if they hope to win this game. After severe flooding overwhelmed the infrastructure of central South Carolina, the Gamecock's home game against the LSU Tigers has been moved to Baton Rouge. LSU should be too much for the Cocks this season.

As night falls on the East Coast, Oklahoma State and West Virginia will be off and running in Morgantown. The offenses should outmatch the defenses in this game, so expect a shootout. Half-an-hour later, TCU takes on Kansas State in Manhattan. The Horned Frogs are highly ranked and undefeated, but face perhaps the toughest test of the season against the well-coached Wildcats. KSU might be able to play well enough on defense while exploiting some of TCU's defensive weakness to shock the Frogs.

Florida State might not need much offense if their defense
keeps dominating opponents. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Another undefeated team, the Florida Gators, should get a tough challenge on the road this week. Their opponents, the Missouri Tigers, have an outstanding defensive front and a much-ballyhooed freshman at quarterback. If the Florida Gators play like they did last week with great defense and good offensive execution, they should win the game comfortably. However, if Missouri's defense can cause disruption, all bets are off. Mizzou's gotten the best of the Gators for the last two years, and it's certain that Florida looks to play a much better game this year.

Shortly after the Gators kick off, their in-state rivals begin play in Tallahassee. Florida State is quietly undefeated, beating four teams but no one of particular note. Miami has one loss after falling last Thursday to Cincinnati. This game may be decided by one factor: the health of Seminole running back Dalvin Cook. The Florida State offense has been much less effective when Cook is off the field, and, after suffering a leg injury last week, it remains unknown if the star halfback will be able to perform against the Hurricanes. If Cook does not play, Florida State can still win the game playing good defense (the FSU defense has yet to surrender more than 16 points this season) against a talented but erratic Miami offense.

This week the Pac-12 gets one signature game between Utah and California. Cal will come into Salt Lake City undefeated, but leaving it so should be a tall order. The Utes have impressed many in the early season and some even consider them the nation's best team. The Golden Bears have a star at quarterback, although the Utah defense should present some problems for him. Cal will need a good performance from their defense to keep this game from getting away from them.

State of Florida:

• FIU (2-3) over UTEP (2-3), 24-16
• Florida Atlantic (1-3) over Rice (2-3), 34-31
• Syracuse (3-1) over South Florida (1-3), 30-24
• Connecticut (2-3) over UCF (0-5), 27-17
• 11 Florida (5-0) over Missouri (4-1), 28-17
• 12 Florida State (4-0) over Miami (3-1), 30-28

Southeastern Conference:

• 14 Mississippi (4-1) over New Mexico State (0-4), 63-10
• 7 LSU (4-0) over South Carolina (2-3), 42-24
• 19 Georgia (4-1) over Tennessee (2-3), 35-32
• Mississippi State (3-2) over Troy (1-3), 42-14
• 8 Alabama (4-1) over Arkansas (2-3), 38-7
• Auburn (3-2), BYE
• Kentucky (4-1), BYE
• 9 Texas A&M (5-0), BYE
• Vanderbilt (2-3), BYE

Top 25:

• 1 Ohio State (5-0) over Maryland (2-3), 31-10
• Kansas State (3-1) over 2 TCU (5-0), 38-35
• 3 Baylor (4-0) over Kansas (0-4), 70-20
• 4 Michigan State (5-0) over Rutgers (2-2), 31-16
• 5 Utah (4-0) over 23 California (5-0), 35-28
• 6 Clemson (4-0) over Georgia Tech (2-3), 38-20
• 10 Oklahoma (4-0) over Texas (1-4), 41-17
• 18 Michigan (4-1) over 13 Northwestern (5-0), 28-21
• 15 Notre Dame (4-1) over Navy (4-0), 27-24
• 17 USC (3-1) over Washington (2-2), 38-28
• West Virginia (3-1) over 21 Oklahoma State (5-0), 45-42
• 22 Iowa (5-0) over Illinois (4-1), 21-13
• 24 Toledo (4-0) over Kent State (2-3), 31-24
• 25 Boise State (4-1) over Colorado State (2-3), 45-21
• 16 Stanford (4-1), BYE
• 20 UCLA (4-1), BYE