Week 6 Thoughts on Three Predictions for: #10 Florida Gators, #11 Texas Longhorns and Boston College Eagles
By Rich Lynch
Week 6 is upon us already. The focus this week is on three games the first, has national championship implications, the second could provide the leading contender in the Heisman Trophy race and third is a traditional Northeast regional matchup between programs desperate for a win.
#10 Florida Gators(4-0) v. #4 LSU Tigers(5-0)
When: 3:30 pm EST
Where: Ben Hill Griffen Stadium – Gainsville, FL
Weather: 80s, cloudy, possible rain
Results last season: LSU 41, Florida 11
Final Score this Season: Florida 24, LSU 22
The Florida Gators have played a tough schedule including games on the road against Texas A&M and Tennessee. To date, the Gators are undefeated. The Gators offense has not received a lot of publicity nationally. Florida is scoring 31 points per game, which ranks it 52nd in the country. However, the national ranking is deceiving since Florida would have scored more points if their schedule were on par with that of, say, LSU.
The Gators are led on offense by quarterback Jeff Driskel, who has completed 70 percent of his passes this season for 698-yards, four touchdowns and one interception. In addition, Driskel has 148 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. The running game is based on the production of Mike Gillislee who has contributed 69 carries, 402-yards and FIVE touchdowns this season. Receivers Frankie Hammond, Jordan Reed and Quinton Dunbar have accounted for 35 receptions, 507 yards and four touchdowns.
Watch out for not-so-secret weapon Trey Burton who was used effectively by coach Will Muschamp in the Florida game against Tennessee. Burton had three carries for 91-yards and two touchdowns while accumulating two receptions for 38-yards against the Volunteers.
The Florida defense is strong along the front seven and they will be tested against the Tigers. Florida is only allowing 13 points per game which ranks them 10th in the entire country.
LSU is so loaded with talent that nobody really knows it besides maybe Alabama, who is keeping tabs for sure. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger has done an admirable job this season. He has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1016 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Mettenberger has a trio of receivers including: Odell Beckham, Kadron Boone and Jarvis Landry who have 44 receptions, 627 yards and six touchdowns as a group.
In terms of being loaded, the Tigers have FIVE running backs who could play ANYWHERE in the country including: Kenny Hilliard, Alfred (You’re my Boy Blue!) Blue, Michael Ford, Spencer Ware(the only player in college football whose first and last names are towns in Massachusetts) and Jeremy Hill. The five have a total of 198 carries, 993 yards and 13 touchdowns. Blue is out with an injury this week, though.
The LSU defense is outstanding as well. It’s allowing opponents 12 points per game, which ranks 9th nationally and one spot higher than Florida.
The weather is looking murky and the field could literally be a swamp on Saturday. LSU is going to run the ball at Florida mercilessly and then throw play action passes. The key to this game is the Florida front seven, which must withstand the LSU running game and give Will Muschamp and Brent Pease’s offense as much time on the field as possible. Florida wins a tough game at home after having two weeks to prepare.
#11 Texas Longhorns(4-0) v. #8 West Virginia Mountaineers(4-0)
When: 7 pm EST
Where: Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium – Austin, TX
Weather: 60s, clear
Results last season: N/A
Final Score this Season: Texas 40, West Virginia 38
Texas is a very balanced and effective team. Offensively, the Longhorns are scoring 47 points per game which ranks them 9th in the country. The offense is directed by quarterback David Ash. Ash has completed 78 percent of his passes for 1007 yards, ten touchdowns and one interception. Ash throws to a plethora of receivers however, Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley have combined to date for 33 receptions, 435-yards and six touchdowns. Running backs Joe Bergeron, Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray have 125 carries, 657 yards and eight touchdowns as a group.
Texas place kicker Nick Jordan has hit three of seven field goal attempts this season.
The Texas defense is allowing 21 points per game which ranks them 41st in the country.
Morgantown, West Virginia could be the home of the Heisman Trophy IF quarterback Geno Smith continues to play well. Smith is a Senior and he has completed 83 percent of his passes for 1728 yards, 20 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The Mountaineer quarterback also has 20 carries for 99 yards and one touchdown. Smith has three extremely productive receivers in Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin and J.D. Woods, who have 116 receptions for 1428 yards and 19 touchdowns as a unit. Running backs Andrew Buie and Shawne Alston contribute as well, accounting for 411 yards and six touchdowns.
Mountaineer place kicker Tyler Bitancurt has been successful on one of his two field goal attempts this season.
The West Virginia defense has been porous to date. They have allowed their opponents to score 33 points per game which ranks them 96th nationally.
The game will be exciting and very similar to the games each team played last week, which were both close and high scoring. The field goal kickers for these teams have not been used often nor have they been successful when called upon. Texas wins a close game at home.
Boston College Eagles (1-3) v. Army Cadets (0-4)
When: Noon EST
Where: Michie Stadium – West Point, NY
Weather: 60s, cloudy
Results last season: N/A
Final Score this Season: Boston College 31, Army 11
Boston College is searching for a new athletic director to replace Gene Defilippo, who resigned effective Sept. 30. The football program has been influx and essentially has been mismanaged the last few years by Defilippo and head coach Frank Spaziani. Spaziani will most likely be replaced by the new AD at the end of this season.
So the Eagles come into the game having played spirited football this season. The offense looks dynamic and quarterback Chase Rettig has worked well with his third offensive coordinator in three years, Doug Martin. Martin was previously the head coach at Kent State and has recruited the Ohio area well for the Eagles. Rettig has completed 57 percent of his passes for 1292 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Wide receivers Alex Amidon, Johnathan Coleman and Spiffy Evans have caught a total of 57 passes for 891 yards and seven touchdowns. The running game has not been as effective at Boston College this season as it has been traditionally. Running backs Andre Williams, Rolandan Finch and Tahj Kimble have 100 carries for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Cumulatively, the offense has scored 28 points per game which ranks them 64th in the nation.
The Eagles defense has played well in certain spots and they are allowing 28 points per game which ranks them 76th in the country.
The Army offense is led by quarterback Trent Steelman who has completed 46 percent of his passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Also Steelman has 75 carries for 290-yards and five touchdowns. Raymond Maples and Larry Dixon have 134 carries, 819 yards and five touchdowns combined. In total, ALL of the Army receivers have 11 catches for 192 yards and one touchdown.
The Eagles are more talented than Army, no disrespect, and need the win since the schedule only gets more difficult. Look for Rettig to pass more to returning wide-receiver Bobby Swigert and for Andre Williams to have his most productive game of the year. Boston College wins big in West Point, NY on Saturday.