Sep 26, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Drake Johnson (20) rushes against the Brigham Young Cougars at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to Week Six of The Lowe Down.
Honestly, this has been the wildest college football season I can remember. Teams that were supposed to be really good (Oregon, Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech, Arizona State, Arizona) aren’t, and teams (Utah, Northwestern, Michigan, Florida) that were expected to have respectable years (somewhere in the neighborhood of seven to nine wins), and nothing more, currently sit at the top of their conference standings.
Now will the Utes, Wildcats, Wolverines and Gators continue their successful seasons and really surprise by contending for a College Football Playoff berth? Eh, doubt it. Michigan and Northwestern face off this weekend in what should be one of the lowest-scoring games of the weekend. Utah has a tricky matchup with high-scoring Cal, and Florida will make the trek to Missouri to take on Gary Pinkel’s Tigers. Hey, kudos to these teams for being where they are, but championships are won in October and November not September.
Speaking of title contenders, Alabama was supposedly left for dead (head coach Nick Saban made sure to mention that in his weekly press conference earlier in the week) after it lost to Ole Miss. But last weekend’s performance against Georgia was very impressive. If the Crimson Tide plays mistake-free, they will be a hard team to beat going forward.
Last week’s record was 16-7, bringing the yearly record to 79-22. To the games we go…
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Maryland (2-3) at Ohio State (5-0) 11:00 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, warm
Yeah, Ohio State is 5-0, but Urban Meyer’s team hasn’t look like the juggernaut they were expected to be.
So what’s going on in Columbus?
Well, it’s tough to say, but a new offensive coordinator (Ed Warinner) is calling the plays, the team is turning the ball over at an alarming clip (six fumbles lost; seven interceptions) and is struggling in the red zone. Throw Cardale Jones’ inconsistent play into the mix and there’s a lot of self-inflicted pain permeating within this Buckeyes’ team.
So, can it be fixed? Sure. Cleaning up the turnovers is chore No. 1. And there’s been talk this week that Meyer may bring in J.T. Barrett in red zone situations — considering his effectiveness there a season ago — to help in that area. If Ohio State can get those two main issues worked out, it should get on a roll.
The Lowe Down: Maryland 10, Ohio State 47
No. 19 Georgia (4-1) at Tennessee (2-3) 2:30 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Scattered showers, light wind
This is a tough game to call. But the close losses to Oklahoma and Florida, and most recently Arkansas, have the Volunteers trending in the wrong direction.
I love Jalen Hurd as a tailback and I think Tennessee will have some success against Georgia’s defense, but the Bulldogs got embarrassed last weekend and they’ll enter Knoxville with a bad taste in their mouth. Look for Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to come up big in the ground game, and look for the Bulldogs to leave Neyland Stadium with a much-needed win.
The Lowe Down: Georgia 27, Tennessee 20
Georgia Tech (2-3) at No. 6 Clemson (4-0) 2:30 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Thunderstorms, windy
After an emotional win over Notre Dame in the pouring rain last weekend, No. 6 Clemson better be ready to play when Georgia Tech comes to town, especially with rain in the forecast.
The Yellow Jackets have dropped three in a row and are in dire need of a big win to get their season turned around. Last year, Paul Johnson’s team dominated the Tigers 28-6 in Atlanta.
The Lowe Down: Georgia Tech 23, Clemson 27
No. 13 Northwestern (5-0) at No. 18 Michigan (4-1) 2:30 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Mostly sunny, cool
Northwestern is attempting to open the season 6-0 for the first time in 53 years, but it must solve the riddle that is Michigan. The Wildcats, who enter the game with the Big Ten’s top rushing attack (248.8 yards per game) and the nation’s top scoring defense (7 points per game), have lost four straight to the Wolverines, including a 10-9 defeat a season ago.
If the Wildcats want to end that streak, dual-threat quarterback Clayton Thorson will have to make sound decisions against a Michigan defense that’s down one of its best players, defensive end Mario Ojemudia, but will present the Northwestern QB with a number of challenges. The 6-4, 210-pound Thorson is a good athlete who can give defenses fits with this legs, but he will have to protect the ball when the team goes to the air.
The same could be said for Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock, who has looked better recently after a rough start. Rudock was 2-0 against the Wildcats as the starting QB for Iowa and that success, along with the potential return of dynamic tailback De’Veon Smith to bolster a tough ground game that also features Drake Johnson and Derrick Green, will be the difference here.
The Lowe Down: Northwestern 13, Michigan 23
Arkansas (2-3) at No. 8 Alabama (4-1) 6:00 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, cool
Arkansas’ humongous offensive line against Alabama’s rugged, athletic D-line will be one of the more intriguing storylines of the weekend. If the Hogs’ front wall, the biggest in college football, can create a push in the run game, then Bret Bielema’s bunch could prove to be a formidable foe for the Crimson Tide.
However, if Alabama’s front wall can limit Alex Collins and Rawleigh Williams, a true freshman who has given the team a spark, in the run game, then it could be a long night for quarterback Brandon Allen behind center. The reason? Arkansas is already without its top receiver, Keon Hatcher, and if the Crimson Tide defense can make the Razorbacks one-dimensional, like it did Georgia last week, you might see a similar result in back-to-back weeks.
The Lowe Down: Arkansas 13, Alabama 34
Miami (3-1) at No. 12 Florida State (4-0) 8:00 p.m. ET Weather Forecast: Scattered showers, warm
Behind quarterback Brad Kaaya Miami has had little problem scoring points. The big bugaboo right now for the Hurricanes is stopping people. In the last two games, Miami has given up 33 and 34 points. And if the Hurricanes want to upset the favored Seminoles, then the ‘D’ will need to step up.
FSU running back Dalvin Cook is expected to play after injuring his hamstring in the ugly win over Wake Forest last week, but is he truly 100 percent? Eh, I don’t think so. And if that’s the case, the Seminoles, who have had trouble scoring this year, may be vulnerable to a capable Miami team.
The Lowe Down: Miami 26, Florida State 29
No. 23 California (5-0) at No. 5 Utah (4-0) 9:00 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Clear, warm
The Bears have made great strides under third-year coach Sonny Dykes, who has the best quarterback prospect in the country in junior Jared Goff. With Goff, a deep, playmaking receiving corps (you should know the names Kenny Lawler, Bryce Treggs, Stephen Anderson and others), and underrated tailbacks, the Bears are tough to slow down.
But Utah can.
The Utes have a couple of the ingredients found in teams that end up surpassing preseason expectations — they have an experienced quarterback who is putting it all together (fifth-year senior Travis Wilson) and they are physical up front on defense. Utah, as it showed in the opening win over Michigan, can grind with the best of them. And standout DE Hunter Dimick is expected back this week after missing two games.
Some problems: The Utes have underrated RB Devontae Booker, but don’t have the wealth of skill talent like say, USC, which is coming up on the schedule in a couple of weeks. Utah is only 69th nationally in yards per play.
Cal’s defense has been awful in recent seasons, but so far this season it is among the national leaders with 18 sacks and 10 interceptions.
Still, the Utes have better overall balance and have played the tougher schedule.
The Lowe Down: Cal 23, Utah 31
In other Saturday games:
Duke 24, Army 17
Indiana 26, Penn State 23
No. 3 Baylor 59 at Kansas 23
Illinois 13, No. 22 Iowa 26
New Mexico State 20, No. 14 Ole Miss 54
UMASS 17, Bowling Green 48
Kent 13, No. 24 Toledo 38
South Carolina 14 at No. 7 LSU 38
Navy 23, No. 15 Notre Dame 30
Iowa State 33, Texas Tech 48
No.10 Oklahoma 42, Texas 28
No. 25 Boise State 42 at Colorado State 24
No. 21 Oklahoma State 26, West Virginia 31
No.11 Florida 24, Missouri 18
No. 2 TCU 42, Kansas State 38
No. 4 Michigan State 38, Rutgers 20
Wyoming 20, Air Force 37
