Checking out the Top 25
The college football season is starting to really heat up, just when the weather is beginning to give us that autumn chill. It’s amazing how one week can shift the balance of power. Last week, we thought that the Georgia Bulldogs would have a fighting chance against the Alabama Crimson Tide, only for Georgia to lose by 28 points at home.
Then there were the No. 3 Ole Miss Rebels, who went into The Swamp to play the No. 25 Florida Gators. Everyone expected Chad Kelly and crew to take apart the overgunned Gators, only to see Florida rise up and subsequently make a massive leap in the rankings.
Going into the second weekend of October, here are the games you should be watching:
No. 13 Northwestern Wildcats at No. 18 Michigan Wolverines
Michigan has been a lost program for years under Brady Hoke and Rich Rodriguez, but it has once again been found. Jim Harbaugh, who played quarterback in Ann Arbor during the 1980s, has turned the Wolverines into a formidable opponent once again despite a roster most certainly in flux.
Meanwhile, Northwestern has one of the best defenses in the country. The Wildcats have the appearance of a team that could challenge anybody in the Big Ten, including the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan State Spartans. Look for this game to be a very high-intensity, low-scoring battle that could be decided by who makes the fewest mistakes in the end.
No. 2 TCU Horned Frogs at Kansas State Wildcats
Any time you face a team coached by the great Bll Snyder, you need to be on your toes. Despite being the second-ranked team in the country, TCU has had plenty of issues playing good defense. Opponents have racked up yardage and points as though it was a non-contact scrimmage, something to be concerned about against a well-coached team.
Kansas State also has the benefit of playing free and easy. This is a home team with a roaring crowd behind it, knowing it has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Look for Snyder to dive into his big bag of tricks and perhaps pull out a winner or two. The longer this game is close, the more concerned the Horned Frogs should be of an upset loss in Manhattan.
No. 11 Florida Gators at Missouri Tigers
Recent history in this series suggests that the Tigers will not be an easy out for the Gators. Since coming into the SEC, Missouri has not lost to Florida, giving it all kinds of problems both offensively and defensively.
Florida now has pressure on it after vaulting 14 spots and becoming a contender for the SEC championship. Can the Gators go into Missouri and keep their undefetaed season alive?
