College Football Trend Watching : Week 4

Week 4 is in the books so a little wrap up and a little look ahead to week 5 of college football

What You Know (A Summary of the Previous Week)
Boise is going undefeated, Mark Richt is on the really hot seat, Mallet has an INT problem, Cam Newton of Auburn is a name you will know, Pryor is a man that likes diversity (6 TDs 3 different ways), Texas has serious problems

What You Might Have Missed (Under the Radar Stories)/ Looking Ahead
The trends coming into week 5 can and will be different very different from the trends coming out of week 5. So rather than focus on the little things out of context...let's look at the little things going into these big games

Florida at Alabama
Florida's offense got on track with QB Trey Burton playing the Freshman Tebow role (i.e., red zone t-formation). Burton scored 6 TDs against Kentucky that way. Alabama, while it got the win, was torched in the secondary by blown assignments by it's inexperienced secondary.

Pick : Alabama - Florida is 90th in passing and can't take advantage of Alabama's vulnerability

Stanford at Oregon
Clash of styles of Stanford's old fashion run and pass action offense versus Oregon's run spread. While Oregon get's the hype (2nd in the nation in scoring)but Stanford is right behind them (4nd in scoring) Last year Stanford got the better of Oregon and won 51-42...with all signs pointing to a high scoring repeat.

Pick - Umm No Clue/Pass/Physical Challenge - Stanford's D has improved.. as demonstrated when they shut down the UCLA rush attack that decimated Texas so if push comes to shove...Stanford

Texas v. OU
The movable object versus the stoppable force. Texas' offense is 68th overall in points scored . OU's defense is 65th overall in points allowed. For the record Mack Brown has had Stoops number lately (UT has won 4 of the last 5)
Pick: OU...If they can't beat Texas when they're down...will they ever be able?

Wisconsin at Michigan State
There's actually 2 BIG Big 10 games (Penn State at Iowa being the other). However this game I think has more intrigue. More or less these teams are mirror images of one another. MSU on average out rushes teams 235-80 while Wisconsin has on average outrushed teams 260-94. Umm not much difference. Add on the fact that D'Antonio will be back from a heart attack and sitting/coaching from on high and this game is unpickable.

Pick: MSU D'antonio return and home field advantage are enough in a close game.

Big Picture Prediction Time 9/23

BCS Championship: Alabama v. Nebraska
Orange Bowl : Miami v. Boise State
Sugar Bowl: Florida v. TCU
Fiesta: West Virginia v. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Stanford v. Ohio State