Top 5 Football Week 10 Breakdown
Welcome to Championship Week in the Football Bowl Subdivision… oh, wait, it’s NOT Championship Week? Well, you sure wouldn’t know it by listening to everyone talk about the big game in the Southeastern Conference. The LSU-Alabama game has attracted so much attention it was moved to primetime on Saturday night, and don’t be surprised if it draws monster numbers for a college football game. This likely won’t be a preview of the national championship game, but the winner of this clash will be on the fast track to the No. 1 spot when the final BCS rankings come out in early December. There are many decent matchups this week to keep the college fan’s appetite fed for a while.
#2 LSU AT #1 ALABAMA (8 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
The big showdown has finally arrived after weeks of breathless hype, and from the looks of things it could be a matchup for the ages. Both teams carry identical 8-0 overall records into the game and have 5-0 records in the SEC West Division. The winner of this game is on track to face either South Carolina or Georgia in the SEC title game, but there isn’t a doubt this game could be the definitive SEC title clash. Both teams had last week off. On October 22, Alabama blasted its way to a 37-6 win over Tennessee as A.J. McCarron scored two touchdowns – one passing and one rushing – and threw for 284 yards in victory. Trent Richardson also came up with two touchdowns and rushed for 77 yards. As for LSU, Alabama fans got a kick out of LSU’s exploits when it trampled to a 45-10 win over Auburn. LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee passed for 165 yards and two touchdowns, Kenny Hilliard ran for 65 yards and two scores, and Rueben Randle caught five passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. It will be two explosive offenses at work.
#14 KANSAS STATE AT #3 OKLAHOMA STATE (8 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Dueling showdowns in prime time… what more could a college football fan ask for except a remote? The loss of Nebraska to the Big Ten has made for a very interesting Big 12 Conference picture this season. Thanks to Oklahoma’s misstep against Texas Tech last month, the Sooners are not in first. Instead, they are tied with Kansas State (7-1, 4-1) for second place in the Big 12. In first place is none other than Oklahoma State (8-0, 5-0), owners of a five-game winning streak and one of the hottest teams in the country. Kansas State hasn’t lost on the road and Oklahoma State hasn’t fallen at home, so something’s going to give here. Kansas State certainly is licking its wounds following a 58-17 pasting at the hands of Oklahoma last week (we told you the Sooners were upset). Kansas State only had 240 yards in total offense, and quarterback Collin Klein generated 150 of them while being sacked seven times. Oklahoma State had a much easier time against Baylor, winning 59-24 as Joseph Randle ran for 152 yards and four touchdowns and Brandon Weeden passed for 274 yards and three scores.
# 6 OREGON AT #25 WASHINGTON (10:30 p.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington)
If you’ve watched Washington college football games, you no doubt recognize the stadium with the lake in the background where boats often park and fans step off to attend games. That tradition comes to an end this week as Washington bids farewell to its vintage stadium. If it has to close down, at least Washington fans should have an exciting game to watch. Oregon (7-1, 5-0) is a half-game behind Stanford in the Pac-12 North Division standings, while Washington (6-2, 4-1) is safely in third place. Stanford proved it almost could be beaten, so the winner of this contest will have a hold on the runner-up spot in the North with an eye on Stanford possibly losing. Oregon beat Washington State last week, 43-28, despite a lackluster performance from quarterback Darron Thomas, who was 8-for-13 for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. If he struggles, expect the team to turn to freshman Bryan Bennett, who was 4-for-7 for 88 yards, two scores and no picks. The team says there is no quarterback controversy, but if Washington bolts out to the lead expect things to be different. Washington defeated Arizona last week, 42-31, behind Chris Polk’s 144-yard, four-touchdown effort. Quarterback Keith Price was much more stable on offense as well, firing 16-for-30 for 277 yards and one score.
#11 SOUTH CAROLINA AT #8 ARKANSAS (7:15 p.m. Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas)
The second big SEC showdown of the week is actually an inter-division showdown, unlike the Alabama-LSU clash that likely will decide the West championship. South Carolina (7-1, 5-1) is tied atop the SEC East with Georgia, while Arkansas (7-1, 3-1) is in third place in the West behind Alabama and LSU. Like Kansas State-Oklahoma State, something will also have to give in this game. Arkansas hasn’t lost at home yet this season, but South Carolina hasn’t lost on the road. Both teams are coming off games considered too close for comfort last week. South Carolina beat Tennessee 14-3 thanks mainly to a rushing attack that outgained Tennessee, 231-35. Rory Anderson caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Connor Shaw and Shaw also ran in a 5-yard touchdown. Arkansas rallied from a 28-17 deficit to beat Vanderbilt, 31-28, behind Zach Hocker’s 42-yard field goal with 6:53 to play in the game. Hocker also had a 50-yard field goal in the rally, and Jerry Franklin returned a fumble recovery 94 yards for a touchdown.
MICHIGAN AT IOWA (Noon Saturday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa)
It doesn’t involve ranked teams, but this Big Ten Conference matchup could go a ways toward deciding one half of the Big Ten championship game. While Penn State and Ohio State battle for the Leaders Division championship, four teams are in the thick of things for the Legends title. Michigan, Nebraska and Michigan State all have 3-1 conference records while Iowa is a game back at 2-2. Michigan (7-1 overall) scored an impressive 36-14 win over Purdue as running back Fitzgerald Toussaint ran 20 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Denard Robinson and Michael Shaw also scored touchdowns for the Wolverines. Iowa lost 22-21 to Minnesota thanks to MarQueis Gray’s 3-yard touchdown run with 2:48 remaining in the game. The loss spoiled a strong performance from Iowa’s Marcus Coker, who ran 32 times for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
