College Football Week 6: 2011

Things are warming up on the gridiron as big conference matchups take place week after week from here on out.

RIVALRY GAME OF THE WEEK:
The RED RIVER Shootout:
# 3 Oklahoma Sooners vs. # 11 Texas Longhorns (both 4-0, at Cowboys Stadium)
This is the first of two matchups on Saturday between two programs with more than 800 wins each (the other one is right below this one directly). These two meet up in Dallas for their annual "Red River Shootout".
Pick: Oklahoma 41, Texas 23

THE BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Ohio State Buckeyes (3-2, 0-1) at # 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1, 0-1)
The second of two matchups on Saturday between two programs with 800 all-time wins or more, this was going to be billed as the "Return of the Tattoo Five", but by now, we all know that that's not going to happen. Last week, both teams disappointed their faithful. Wisconsin welcomed Nebraska to the Big Ten with a 48-17 butt spanking, while Ohio State failed to show up in a 10-7 loss to Michigan State, that probably was more one-sided than the scoreboard. Only of two of Ohio State's "Tattoo Four" players- defensive end Solomon Thomas and offensive lineman Mike Adams will suit up against the Huskers, who are 34-5 at Memorial Stadium under the lights since 1986. The Buckeyes have not lost back-to-back games since their three-game losing streak to start Big Ten play in 2004 (remember that loss to Northwestern out of nowhere? THAT three-game losing streak). This is a battle of two former Buckeye football players under legendary Buckeye coach John Cooper- Bo Pellini (1987-90) and Luke Fickell (1992-96). Fickell is at a disadvantage, because he's only been a head coach for five games, while Pellini has been around the block for quite a while.
Pick: Nebraska 49, Ohio State 6

BIG TOP 25 GAMES THIS WEEK:
# 15 Auburn Tigers (4-1, 2-0) at # 10 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-1, 0-1)
Coming Later

Miami Hurricanes (2-2, 0-1) at # 21 Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1, 0-1)
Coming Later

# 12 Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 1-0) at Northwestern Wildcats (2-2, 0-1)
With a win, the Wolverines will become Bowl Eligible, and off to their best start since 2006. Last week, Michigan football returned as the Boys in (Maize and) Blue ran a clinic on Minnesota as The Little Brown Jug remains in Ann Arbor. This week, they play Northwestern, who has a history of knocking off unbeaten teams at home (most notably Ohio State in 2004).
Pick: Michigan 38, Northwestern 21

# 17 Florida Gators (4-1, 2-1) at # 1 LSU Tigers (5-0, 2-0)
Coming Later

Missouri Tigers (2-2, 0-1) at # 20 Kansas State Wildcats (4-0, 1-0)
Coming Later

Maryland Terrapins (2-2, 1-0) at # 13 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets (5-0, 1-0)
Georgia Tech is off to their best start in 21 years and welcomes in the Ugliest Football Jerseys in Town this week.
Pick: Georgia Tech 37, Maryland 19

OTHER DIVISION I GAMES OF NOTE:
# 23 Florida State Seminoles (2-2, 0-1) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-1, 2-0)
Pick: Florida State 31, Wake Forest 26

# 19 Illinois Fighting Illini (5-0, 1-0) at Indiana Hoosiers (1-4, 0-1)
The Illini are off to their best start in 60 years and have the first of two easy games in a row with Indiana this weekend (and Ohio State the next).
Pick: Illinois 45, Indiana 10

Colorado Buffaloes (1-4, 0-1) at # 7 Stanford Cardinal (4-0, 2-0)
Pick: Stanford 55, Colorado 3

Vanderbilt Commodores (3-1, 1-1) at # 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0)
Pick: Alabama 42, Vanderbilt 0

Air Force Falcons (3-1) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-2)
Pick: Notre Dame 28, Air Force 24

Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-2, 1-0) at Toledo Rockets (2-3, 1-0)
Toledo should be 4-1 right now, and are better than their 2-3 record.
Pick: Toledo 44, Eastern Michigan 27

Boston College Golden Eagles (1-4, 0-2) at # 8 Clemson Tigers (5-0, 2-0)
Pick: Clemson 52, BC 7

Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-0) at Penn State Nittany Lions (4-1, 1-0)
Pick: Iowa 29, Penn State 23

Georgia Bulldogs (3-2, 1-1) at Tennessee Volunteers (3-1, 0-1)
Pick: Tennessee 31, Georgia 22

TCU Horned Frogs (3-2, 1-0) at San Diego State Aztecs (3-1, 0-0)
Pick: TCU 27, San Diego State 20

OAC Football:
Heidelberg Student Princes (3-1, 2-1) at Muskingum Muskies (4-0, 3-0)
Marietta Pioneers (1-3, 0-3) at Mount Union Purple Raiders (4-0, 3-0)
John Carroll Blue Streaks (2-2, 2-1) at Wilmington Quakers (0-4, 0-3)
Ohio Northern Polar Bears (2-2, 1-2) at Capital Crusaders (2-2, 2-1)
and
Baldwin-Wallace Yellowjackets (3-1, 2-1) at Otterbein Cardinals (1-3, 0-3)
Picks: Muskingum, Mount Union, John Carroll, Ohio Northern, and Baldwin-Wallace

Other Central Ohio Football:
Ohio Dominican Panthers (2-3, 1-3) at Hillsdale Chargers (4-1, 4-0)
Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops (1-4) at Carnegie-Mellon Tartans (3-2)
Chicago Maroons at Denison Big Red (both 3-2)
Allegheny Gators (2-3, 1-1) at Kenyon Lords (0-4, 0-1)
Wittenberg Tigers (5-0) at Huntingdon Hawks (4-1)
Picks: Hillsdale, Carnegie-Mellon, Chicago, Allegheny, and Huntingdon