Folks, it's a playoff weekend!
In College Football, every week matters when you're trying to gain a top 4 spot. This weekend, we have 2 massive showdowns in the Big Ten: one in Columbus, and the other is in East Lansing.
Now, I haven't had the time to write one of these since week 1, but now I do, and this weekend deserves it. The Football Gods have blessed us with dramatic match-ups!
Here are my Top 5 games of the week, and my picks.
5. #9 Iowa @ Wisconsin
The Big Ten's hottest club is Camp Randall. It has everything: Fullback dives, striped overalls that don't fit right, and 2 offenses that'll have even the most loyal supporters wishing they were literally anywhere else.
Except for Barry Alvarez and Kirk Ferentz, those sickos love this.
Here's the thing, despite being ranked in the top 10, Iowa lives and dies by their defense. If the defense can come up with a couple of picks, they'll smother you. If not, this offense won't sniff the red zone.
Luckily for them, Wisconsin QB, Graham Mertz, is a turnover MACHINE. He has thrown 7 interceptions to go along with a measly 2 TD's.
Wisconsin will have to throw at some point, and when they do, Iowa will kill them.
Frank's Pick: Hawkeyes +3.5
4. #1 Georgia VS Florida
I hate neutral site games with a burning passion, but at least this is a tradition, and there will be a cocktail party.
I saw a crazy stat this past week that Georgia has 11 guys on defense that are 5-star recruits. That defense allows just over 6 points a game.
Meanwhile, Florida lost to LSU of all teams!
Look at UGA and tell me you're not taking the Dawgs in this rivalry game. No chance.
Frank's Pick: Dawgs -14
3. #10 Ole Miss @ #18 Auburn
Dude, I love Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. You see him get hit with a golf ball in Tennessee?
Amazing.
Ole Miss is a scoring machine, averaging close to 42 pts/game and their only loss is to the fighting Sabans in Tuscaloosa.
Auburn has homefield advantage and an impressive win over Arkansas, but I don't know if they have the firepower to keep up with Kiffin's offense.
Frank's Pick: Fighting Kiffins +3
2. #20 Penn St. @ #5 Ohio St.
You have to start playing your best football when the seasons change, and the Buckeyes are doing just that. C.J. Stroud and company just torched the Hoosiers on the road at night, 54-7.
Meanwhile, James Franklin just lost to Brett Bielema and Illinois at home, in a 9 overtime game that set Football back 100 years. What an absolute mess.
To make matters worse, Franklin couldn't even figure out who he was playing during his weekly presser!
Franklins looking at USC and LSU, while Ryan Day is looking at another trip to Indianapolis.
Frank's Pick: Buckeyes by a BILLION (-18.5)
1. #6 Michigan @ #8 Michigan St.
Like I said, the Football Gods have blessed the State of Michigan this week to give us this game. Both teams are undefeated. Both teams are in the Top 10. Both teams have explosive ground games.
Both fanbases are scared.
I've only been around this rivalry since 2017, but every year it's marked on the calendar as a big game for this area. All week it's trash talk from both sides, until it's time for kickoff, and both fanbases take deep breaths and mutter a small prayer that they don't have to face the music at the water cooler at work on Monday.
I won't dive too deep into the details again, but it's gonna come down to who can protect their Quarterback better.
Given their proven ability to throw the football, I have to go with the Spartans on this one.
Frank's Pick: Spartans +4