Picks for the Week (10/6/07)
I'll keep this one pretty short, two games.
This week I'll focus on the USC vs. Kentucky and Clemson vs. Virginia Tech matchups.
I'll start with:
USC v. Kentucky
Wildcats
Kentucky has a high powered offense, led by dark horse Heisman hopeful Andre Woodson. Woodson receives help from running back (and former TL Hanna standout) Raphael Little, receivers Keenan Burton and Dicky Lyons Jr., and tight end Jacob Tamme. The offense is averaging nearly 50 points per game (46.6) on 492 yards per game. Clearly a very high powered offense.
On the year, Woodson has been stellar so far. He has gone 112-167 for 16 touchdowns, while only throwing 1, count it, 1 interception. Burton, Lyons, and Tamme have combined for 847 yards and 9 touchdowns. One man to watch is Steven Johnson, who has 4 TDs on the year so far.
The defense gives up 22 points per game on 384 yards per game, which shows they allow a lot of yards, but not a lot of points; a bend but don't break defense.
One thing to note is the level of competition the Cats have faced. Easten Kentucky and Kent State are by no means SEC caliber talent, Louisville has little to no defense, and Arkansas showed it had no passing game, and a relatively weak pass defense.
Gamecocks
USC on the other hand started off the season offensively a little slow, after a 14 point victory over UL-Lafayette, but have already recorded a 16-14 upset over Georgia. A win over SC State wasn't pretty, but the 28-16 loss to LSU proved that USC could hang with the top teams in the SEC. A win over Miss. State got the winning ways going again.
The offense is averaging 27 points per game (roughly) while the defense is giving up close to 16 a game.
Redshirt freshman QB Chris Smelley took over the offense last week, beating Mississippi State on a 19-for-37 day for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns, while only throwing 1 interception.
The offense is led by RB Mike Davis and Cory Boyd, while the leading receiver, and go to guy, is Kenny McKinley.
The Low-Down
Kentucky, as mentioned before, has a very good offense, but it hasn't gone against a top pass defense. (USC has one of the top pass defenses in the country). Another concern is how good the Kentucky defense is.
USC has to play a defensive game, with ball control, to keep the Kentucky offense off the field, and out of the endzone.
If Kentucky makes it a shootout, then it doesn't look for SC, whose offense can't go full speed with the lack of consistent WR play outside Kenny McKinley.
My Prediction
There are two possibilities, this will either be a close, defensive game, with USC controlling the ball and playing tough defense, or a shootout where who has the ball last may win it.
I'm actually seeing a defensive struggle, but won't be surprised if the scoreboard rivals that of a high school basketball game.
I see the USC defense not completely shutting down the Kentucky pass, but containing it. Little will get his numbers, but won't get into the endzone more than once.
USC QB Chris Smelley will continue to grow in confidence, and Davis and Boyd will cancel out Little's stats.
USC 30
Kentucky 24
Clemson vs. Virginia Tech
Hokies
Virginia Tech is coming off an ACC opener win over North Carolina. True freshman QB Tyrod Taylor will be starting in his 4th game, after replacing Sean Glennon for the Ohio game. He so far has gone 41-for-81 for 487 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Rushing, the Tech offense, Brandon Ore has carried the ball 84 times for 298 yards and 3 TDs. Taylor has carried it 35 times for 115 yards and 3 TDs. The Tech offense is still pretty weak, in my personal opinion, only putting up a total 285.6 yards per game (169 pass, 116.6 ground). They are also averaging 22.6 point per game.
The Tech defense is giving up 15 points per game, giving up 121 on the ground and 187 through the air. They are led by linebackers Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi, and corner Brandon Flowers.
Tigers
Clemson is coming off an embarassing 13-3 loss to Georgia Tech.
The offense is averaging nearly 402 yards per game (251.6 through the air, 150 on the ground) and scoring 31 points per game. QB Cullen Harper has gone 92-147 for 1158 yards, with 12 TDs and one interception. James Davis (70 for 454 yards) and CJ Spiller (56 for 201 yards) have gotten to slow starts compared to last year.
The defense gives up 303 yards per game (154 on the ground, 149 through the air) while only giving up 17 points per game. They are led by linebacker Nick Watkins, safety Chris Clemons, and defensive end Phillip Merling.
The Low-Down
Virginia Tech and Clemson both have something to prove in this game. The Hokies are 4-1, 1-0 in ACC play, but that record can be deceiving. Their wins come against East Carolina, William & Mary, Ohio, and UNC, with the lone loss to #1 LSU. Taylor is still growing into the offense that runs through Brandon Ore.
Clemson, as mentioned, is coming off a tough loss. The Tigers are also 4-1, 2-1 in ACC, with wins over UL-Monroe, D1AA Furman, NC State, and an former power in Florida State. The GT game really hurt Clemson, and not just in the win-loss column. It revealed holes in the Clemson offensive scheme that other defensive coordinators can exploit.
My Prediction
This is a really tough game to call. Niether team has any real "look at me" wins. Yes, Clemson beat FSU, but an FSU team that is a mere shadow of its once glory days. VT has yet to really beat anyone of high caliber, and they are still starting a true freshman at QB.
The game is in Clemson, which could rattle the youngster's nerves, and force Tech to go back to Sean Glennon.
VT has to play defense, and run the ball with Brandon Ore like they did last year.
Clemson has to fix the holes in their offensive game that GT found, and that Bud Foster (VT D-coordinator) will surely try to exploit. Spiller and Davis also have to get on track for them to have success.
The game being in Clemson gives the Tigers an advantage, if nothing more the fact that Taylor may get disrupted.
Also, watch for Beamer ball. A punt or field goal will get blocked, or a kick will get returned for a TD in this game, which could be the difference maker.
Clemson 21
Virginia Tech 23
Other picks for the week
Ole Miss over Louisiana Tech
Miss. State over UAB
Alabama over Houston
Arkansas over Chattanooga
Georgia over Tennessee
Auburn over Vanderbilt
And for the game of the week
Tough pick. My head says pick LSU, but my gut says go with Florida in the upset.
Florida over LSU
Previous 5 weeks record: 37-9
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
This week I'll focus on the USC vs. Kentucky and Clemson vs. Virginia Tech matchups.
I'll start with:
USC v. Kentucky
Wildcats
Kentucky has a high powered offense, led by dark horse Heisman hopeful Andre Woodson. Woodson receives help from running back (and former TL Hanna standout) Raphael Little, receivers Keenan Burton and Dicky Lyons Jr., and tight end Jacob Tamme. The offense is averaging nearly 50 points per game (46.6) on 492 yards per game. Clearly a very high powered offense.
On the year, Woodson has been stellar so far. He has gone 112-167 for 16 touchdowns, while only throwing 1, count it, 1 interception. Burton, Lyons, and Tamme have combined for 847 yards and 9 touchdowns. One man to watch is Steven Johnson, who has 4 TDs on the year so far.
The defense gives up 22 points per game on 384 yards per game, which shows they allow a lot of yards, but not a lot of points; a bend but don't break defense.
One thing to note is the level of competition the Cats have faced. Easten Kentucky and Kent State are by no means SEC caliber talent, Louisville has little to no defense, and Arkansas showed it had no passing game, and a relatively weak pass defense.
Gamecocks
USC on the other hand started off the season offensively a little slow, after a 14 point victory over UL-Lafayette, but have already recorded a 16-14 upset over Georgia. A win over SC State wasn't pretty, but the 28-16 loss to LSU proved that USC could hang with the top teams in the SEC. A win over Miss. State got the winning ways going again.
The offense is averaging 27 points per game (roughly) while the defense is giving up close to 16 a game.
Redshirt freshman QB Chris Smelley took over the offense last week, beating Mississippi State on a 19-for-37 day for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns, while only throwing 1 interception.
The offense is led by RB Mike Davis and Cory Boyd, while the leading receiver, and go to guy, is Kenny McKinley.
The Low-Down
Kentucky, as mentioned before, has a very good offense, but it hasn't gone against a top pass defense. (USC has one of the top pass defenses in the country). Another concern is how good the Kentucky defense is.
USC has to play a defensive game, with ball control, to keep the Kentucky offense off the field, and out of the endzone.
If Kentucky makes it a shootout, then it doesn't look for SC, whose offense can't go full speed with the lack of consistent WR play outside Kenny McKinley.
My Prediction
There are two possibilities, this will either be a close, defensive game, with USC controlling the ball and playing tough defense, or a shootout where who has the ball last may win it.
I'm actually seeing a defensive struggle, but won't be surprised if the scoreboard rivals that of a high school basketball game.
I see the USC defense not completely shutting down the Kentucky pass, but containing it. Little will get his numbers, but won't get into the endzone more than once.
USC QB Chris Smelley will continue to grow in confidence, and Davis and Boyd will cancel out Little's stats.
USC 30
Kentucky 24
Clemson vs. Virginia Tech
Hokies
Virginia Tech is coming off an ACC opener win over North Carolina. True freshman QB Tyrod Taylor will be starting in his 4th game, after replacing Sean Glennon for the Ohio game. He so far has gone 41-for-81 for 487 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Rushing, the Tech offense, Brandon Ore has carried the ball 84 times for 298 yards and 3 TDs. Taylor has carried it 35 times for 115 yards and 3 TDs. The Tech offense is still pretty weak, in my personal opinion, only putting up a total 285.6 yards per game (169 pass, 116.6 ground). They are also averaging 22.6 point per game.
The Tech defense is giving up 15 points per game, giving up 121 on the ground and 187 through the air. They are led by linebackers Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi, and corner Brandon Flowers.
Tigers
Clemson is coming off an embarassing 13-3 loss to Georgia Tech.
The offense is averaging nearly 402 yards per game (251.6 through the air, 150 on the ground) and scoring 31 points per game. QB Cullen Harper has gone 92-147 for 1158 yards, with 12 TDs and one interception. James Davis (70 for 454 yards) and CJ Spiller (56 for 201 yards) have gotten to slow starts compared to last year.
The defense gives up 303 yards per game (154 on the ground, 149 through the air) while only giving up 17 points per game. They are led by linebacker Nick Watkins, safety Chris Clemons, and defensive end Phillip Merling.
The Low-Down
Virginia Tech and Clemson both have something to prove in this game. The Hokies are 4-1, 1-0 in ACC play, but that record can be deceiving. Their wins come against East Carolina, William & Mary, Ohio, and UNC, with the lone loss to #1 LSU. Taylor is still growing into the offense that runs through Brandon Ore.
Clemson, as mentioned, is coming off a tough loss. The Tigers are also 4-1, 2-1 in ACC, with wins over UL-Monroe, D1AA Furman, NC State, and an former power in Florida State. The GT game really hurt Clemson, and not just in the win-loss column. It revealed holes in the Clemson offensive scheme that other defensive coordinators can exploit.
My Prediction
This is a really tough game to call. Niether team has any real "look at me" wins. Yes, Clemson beat FSU, but an FSU team that is a mere shadow of its once glory days. VT has yet to really beat anyone of high caliber, and they are still starting a true freshman at QB.
The game is in Clemson, which could rattle the youngster's nerves, and force Tech to go back to Sean Glennon.
VT has to play defense, and run the ball with Brandon Ore like they did last year.
Clemson has to fix the holes in their offensive game that GT found, and that Bud Foster (VT D-coordinator) will surely try to exploit. Spiller and Davis also have to get on track for them to have success.
The game being in Clemson gives the Tigers an advantage, if nothing more the fact that Taylor may get disrupted.
Also, watch for Beamer ball. A punt or field goal will get blocked, or a kick will get returned for a TD in this game, which could be the difference maker.
Clemson 21
Virginia Tech 23
Other picks for the week
Ole Miss over Louisiana Tech
Miss. State over UAB
Alabama over Houston
Arkansas over Chattanooga
Georgia over Tennessee
Auburn over Vanderbilt
And for the game of the week
Tough pick. My head says pick LSU, but my gut says go with Florida in the upset.
Florida over LSU
Previous 5 weeks record: 37-9
Week 1: 8-3
Week 2: 9-0
Week 3: 6-3
Week 4: 7-1
Week 5: 7-2
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