Saturday Six-Pack Week 6: Loaded Slate With LSU-Florida Ushers In October

September 22, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators offensive linesman James Wilson (66) blocks against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The Saturday Six-Pack welcomes you to October and…wait, it’s October already? What the hell?!

Yes, indeed, a month of the greatest season of the year is in the books. Championship dreams are crushed, but new hope emerges rises like a holograph from R2-D2’s lid. The proverbial Princess Leia is saying, “Save us, Obi Chip Kelly. You’re our only hope.”

The Empire has rolled along, but Nick Saban’s Dethstar merely orbits this week. Alabama is on a bye. Other SEC battles ensue with tremendous conference and BCS implications: top 10 teams LSU-Florida, and Georgia-South Carolina highlight the most loaded Saturday of the season to date. Now, it is worth mentioning that last week’s slate was panned before producing an exciting series of games. Any given Saturday, friends. Any given Saturday.

LSU at FLORIDA

Defending SEC champion LSU has had consecutive underwhelming performances against a one-win Auburn team, and FCS Towson. The Bayou Bengals are struggling to establish an offensive rhythm, which could be their undoing when they travel into the Swamp to face Florida. The Gator defense is among the most experienced and athletic in the SEC, which in turn means in the nation.

Florida has held its four opponents to a combined 51 points, good for the No. 10 scoring defense average in all college football. Marcus Roberson is one of the best defensive backs in the country — will LSU offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa have quarterback Zach Mettenberger challenge the shutdown Gator? He might need to if LSU is unable to establish a consistent rush.

There’s no coincidence that LSU’s point production has dipped without Alfred Blue. Blue is not likely to return soon. Kenny Hilliard has been the leading rusher, with an average hovering around seven yards per carry. Michael Ford and Spencer Ware have each carried at a pace better than five yards per. All three must produce to keep the Florida defense back on its heels. The Gator front is athletic and tenacious with Leon Orr on the line and Jon Bostic anchoring the linebacker corps. Good news for LSU is while very good against the rush, UF isn’t impenetrable: Texas A&M, a pass-first offensive team, did accrue a respectable 134 yards on the ground against the Gators.

UF faces the same proposition of needing to develop the ground game against an imposing front. LSU has one of, if not the most talented defensive line in the nation with Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery patrolling.

This should be your classic defensive SEC showdown wherein every inch is worth a mile. Special teams become of particular significance, and LSU has one of the nation’s premiere punters in Brad Wing. Wing memorably broke off a touchdown rush against the Gators last season, which was called back for taunting.

GEORGIA at SOUTH CAROLINA

Contrary to UF-LSU, Georgia-South Carolina has the makings of a shootout. There are BCS implications riding on the outcome in Columbia, as there are down in Gainesville, and two of the most talented individual defenders in all college football are taking the field in Jadeveon Clowney and Jarvis Jones. That said, both teams have been rattled off points in bunches all season, and Georgia’s defense has been shockingly susceptible to giving up scores.

Perhaps ironically, South Carolina has gotten some of its offensive oomph from the passing game. Both Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson have five touchdowns. Marcus Lattimore has yet to really get rolling for the Gamecocks, averaging below five yards per carry, but the Cocks haven’t been too adversely impacted. Defense and special teams play have made life easier on the South Carolina offense.

Conversely, the Dawgs’ special teams have been much maligned and put the defense in precarious positions a few times. The offense has more than handled the load, though. The UGa freshmen tandem of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall has produced big to help spur the offense. With quarterback Aaron Murray lacking his top receiver, Michael Bennett, the newbies might need to have their biggest output yet against the best defense they have faced.

WASHINGTON at OREGON

The much maligned Washington defense was at the dawning of a new day last week when it kept the Stanford offense out of the end zone for 60 minutes. Tennessee refugee coordinator Justin Wilcox has made an immediate impact on the Huskies, but Saturday he faces a challenge unlike anything he’s ever encountered — as a Husky, anyway.

Everyone’s well aware of the speed that makes Oregon so dangerous, but the quick style Chip Kelly employs is not possible without depth and a multifaceted approach. The Ducks just have so many ways to beat an opponent. Even Wilcox’s familiarity with Oregon can only go so far in addressing the many weapons.

UW is playing its third top 20 opponent and second No. 2 ranked foe of the season. Talk about navigating a mine field. Previous encounters with LSU and Stanford give this Husky team fortitude — it knows what to anticipate facing a top caliber squad, and the experience at LSU undoubtedly helped the Huskies down Stanford. A difference between then and now, though, is that LSU and Stanford had striking similarities: defensive-minded teams with balanced and more traditional offensive philosophies. There isn’t much out there comparable to Oregon, if anything at all. Add a raucous Autzen crowd to this rivalry game, and it’s a steep mountain for the Dawgs to climb.

WEST VIRGINIA at TEXAS
Sept 29, 2012; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State quarterback J.W. Walsh (4) is sacked by Texas Longhorns defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat (44) during the second half at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE
Texas is certainly the most talented defense the prolific West Virginia offense will have faced when the clock strikes zeroes in Darrell K. Royal Stadium Saturday. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Longhorns are going to shut down Geno Smith — last weekend, Oklahoma State put up 36 in Texas’ win in Stillwater running almost the same offense and with a quarterback who…well, isn’t Geno Smith.

The Mountaineers are going to light it up, with Smith finding speed demons Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey primarily, but spreading the ball around the field. Key for Texas is mustering a few stops when it can, then capitalizing immediately. The Longhorn offense is flourishing with quarterback David Ash meeting his potential, and the running back combination of Joe Bergeron, Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown combining to make Texas the No. 19 rushing yard producers in college football.

West Virginia’s defense has struggled mightily this season, so UT will score. Another track meet should develop, making any and every stop vital. Smith knows that UT is likely to seek that critical stop by getting to him.

“[Defensive coordinator Manny] Diaz does a great job getting to quarterbacks with his blitzes,” Smith said.

NORTHWESTERN at PENN STATE

Undefeated Northwestern comes into Beaver Stadium employing a unique offensive style. Pat Fitzgerald has used quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter intermittently, and found other ways for Colter to contribute when not passing. It’s difficult to argue with the results, and Bill O’Brien cited that in his weekly press conference.

“That’s a guy that you have to understand on every single snap where he is,” the Penn State head coach said of Colter.

Siemian made his first appearance in Week 1, a win at Syracuse, that coincidentally was the Wildcats’ last road game.

It was also the last time the Northwestern defense faced a quarterback producing big numbers. Ryan Nassib led a four-touchdown rally in the second half that nearly put Syracuse over the top. Nassib has statistically been one of the nation’s best quarterbacks, and took to task the Northwestern defense in a way no one else has been able since. Matt McGloin might challenge the Wildcats in similar fashion.

O’Brien has done an outstanding job in coaching Penn State to three straight, blowout victories since starting 0-2. He deserves particular praise for the turnaround he’s led McGloin on. If there was any doubt of O’Brien’s quarterback coaching ability, it’s been blown into oblivion with McGloin’s progression to a 10-touchdown and just two-interception passer. A strong case could be made that McGloin has been the Big Ten’s second best quarterback, behind Ohio State’s Braxton Miller.

PSU is playing well, particularly on the defensive end. Since giving up 24 to Ohio in Week 1, the Nittany Lions have held all comers to 17 or fewer.

NEBRASKA at OHIO STATE
September 29, 2012; East Lansing, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) runs against Michigan State Spartans safety Isaiah Lewis (9) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Ohio State won 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE
It’s the team largely considered the best in the Big Ten against the team emerging as its technical front runner. Braxton Miller is earning high praise for his play in Urban Meyer’s offense, some calling the sophomore a Heisman Trophy candidate. But Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez has been no slouch himself this season. Martinez has demonstrated a vastly improved passing touch and captained the Cornhuskers to 44.8 points per game, No. 10 in the nation.

Ohio State has performed well enough defensively, yet hasn’t faced a truly challenging offense. A healthy Rex Burkhead makes Nebraska precisely that for Luke Fickell’s unit.

Defensive issues continue to plague Nebraska. Wisconsin was able to score early on the Cornhuskers last week despite the Badgers’ struggles every week leading up to Week 5. Miller is comparable to UCLA redshirt freshman Brett Hundley, who had an outstanding showing against the Husker defense in Week 2. A critical difference in this match-up is OSU lacks the dynamic running back UCLA had in Johnathan Franklin.

“Eight times he shouldn’t have been hit [against Michigan State],” Urban Meyer said of Miller. “We scrambled around, throw the ball away, find a receiver or give the ball. So we’re going to go try to win a game, and Braxton’s our quarterback and our best player: the guy with the ball in his hands.”

That spells out, clearly, this game is won or lost by Miller for OSU.

SATURDAY’S SIX-PACK: Sierra Nevada Tumbler

The Chico, Calif. based brewery Sierra Nevada always does great work, but Tumbler might be its finest. Tumbler is the perfect brew for autumn, dark and rich with sweet undertones. Put together with a nice steak, and there’s no better October dinner to pair with your football.