Week 5 in college football may look fairly docile at first glance, but upsets tend to happen at the most unexpected times. Will we see any this weekend?
Rankings are based on the week 5 Bunn Sports Power Rankings.
Tennessee at #4 Georgia – 2:30 on CBS
Derek Dooley was legitimately on the hot seat before the season started. A win over North Carolina State gave Volunteer fans a lot to be happy about, but it might have been fool’s gold. When Tennessee hosted Florida, it was clear that Dooley still has a ton of work to do in getting his team ready for SEC competition.
If Tennessee loses the game, the long knives will be out for Dooley soon. On the other hand, if the Vols upset Georgia, it could spark a downward spiral for Georgia. And don’t think for a second that Bulldog fans have called this season a success yet.
#25 Baylor at #7 West Virginia – 11:00 on FX
Baylor is undefeated and playing fairly well. West Virginia is undefeated and playing fairly well. So, this should be a good game, right? On paper, yes, it should. However, I think this is going to be a breakout game for Geno Smith and the West Virginia offensive attack. An early morning start will favor the Bears, but Morgantown is WVU’s trump card.
#14 Ohio State at #21 Michigan State – 2:30 on ABC
This game was almost a major showdown, but because of Michigan State’s disappointing defeat by Notre Dame, it is just a good game in the Big Ten. I still believe OSU is the best in the conference, and I think it will go into East Lansing and get the win.
#10 Texas at Oklahoma State – 6:50 on FOX
This could where be where an upset happens this weekend. It’s a late game that will be played in Stillwater. I think Texas has a good team this year, but this is a very dangerous game. The Longhorns are back in the BCS Championship hunt, but they cannot afford any careless losses. With Oklahoma losing, Texas also has a clear path to a Big 12 Championship. I think Texas wins a close one.
Wisconsin at #22 Nebraska – 7:00 on ABC
I predicted before the season that this game would be a preview of the Big Ten Championship Game. I may still be correct, but both teams have already under-performed to what I thought they would. Wisconsin can’t seem to beat any team the way it should, and a loss to Oregon State is a huge stain on the resume. Nebraska did lose on the road to a feisty UCLA squad. Because it is in Lincoln, I think it is the Cornhuskers’ game to lose.