Six Pick: Week Four

Oktoberfest is in full swing and so is the 2011 college football season. After a sluggish first, the last two have been shit hot. This week has the look to continue that streak, if not surpass the previous fortnight. I want everyone to pause for a second. In the middle of all these games and conference realignment, take a breath and relax. Let's stop and enjoy the sights, the sounds before we look up and it's late October. We all go hard for these glorious 4 months. Take a second, bask in it, because before you know it, it's those long 8 months following 18-year-olds, Fulmer Cup updates and bogus forty times again.

This week is L.O.A.D.E.D and not talking about the West by God fans. Left out of the Six Pick are Missouri at Oklahoma, Oregon at Arizona, Southern Cal at Arizona State and Notre Dame at Pitt. Many weeks these games would make the Six Pick, but not this week. Three games have a legit claim to be the game of the week, but I chose the corndogs vs the cousins. It's not often a top 5 team outside the Big East strolls into Morgantown, especially one from God's conference. The scene promised to be electric years back when it was announced, but now it will be supercharged, rivaling the 1993 Miami and 2003 Virginia Tech games games in Puskar Stadium. Fueled by conference desperation, pride and lots of alcohol the natives will be restless and very hostile. A Morgantown Molotov cocktail thrown right at LSU. THIS IS MUST SEE TV.

Saturday, September 24th

San Diego State at 22 Michigan -10.5 noon BTN

Brady Hoke certainly looked forward to this game when he scheduled it a couple of years back, just not under these circumstances. Hoke looks like he's had a few too many brats during the tailgates and by halftime the accompanying meat sweats that go with, but the man can coach. Brady balled out at Ball State leaving after a 12-0 season for San Diego State to rebuild the Aztecs. In year two they went 9-4 and looked primed for a big 2011. Then Michigan stepped in. After the failure that was DickRod, UM called Hoke home (former UM assistant) to resurrect his third program. It's going to be awhile before anyone knows if he is the guy for the job, but until then feel free to make Fred Flintstone and Ron Jeremy jokes.

On My Radar: Hoke has the advantage of knowing the SDSU personnel, but he also knows some of those kids are better than the talent DickRod left him. The Aztecs return running back Ronnie Hilman who is more than good enough to tune up a Wolverines defense that is still a couple years away from rolling off the assembly line; Michigan proud. Right now Michigan is +6 in turnover margin, if that were to flip and they were -2 against SDSU 110k people might go home angry.

Pick: San Diego State getting points keeping it within a touchdown.

***

North Carolina at 25 Georgia Tech -6.5 noon ESPN

The more I think about this, the more I think the ACC Coastal in 2011 might be what people expected it to be in 2010, deep and pretty damn good. Along with Miami, these two teams are going to make VT earn a return trip to Charlotte. Coach Paul Johnson has tinkered with his spread option attack to include ... imagine this ... the forward pass and the result, his best offense yet at Georgia Tech. Amidst heavy, NFL losses, NCAA violations and coaching changes the Tarheels are playing relatively well. It's easy to see their next level talent and just as easy to see how they shoot themselves in the foot with regularity. This game pits strength vs strength, the GT O vs the UNC D. The winner gets a leg up for the division crown.

On My Radar: Al Groh's bend don't break 3-4 defense against a first year starting quarterback. UNC's QB Brynn Renner has been playing lights out and bombing away. On Saturday he'll face a D that gives up the underneath a lot more than the over the top. Will he have the patience to take what is given and not force too many bad balls. Can the Tarheel front 7 slow down the run just enough so they don't have to walk a safety up, exposing a weak secondary to the resurgent Yellow Jacket passing attack?

Pick: Georgia Tech and the points, home + least mistake prone.

***

14 Arkansas at 3 Alabama -12 3:30 pm CBS

Currently, my favorite matchup in the SEC is when the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Arkansas Razorbacks. In a league full of damn good coaches, this game features the best defensive mind in Nick Saban and offensive guru in Bobby Petrino. An aside, I wonder if both ironically consider the other to be an insufferable asshole? Back to the topic, last season the Razorbacks were up on the Tide until the residual effects of all those (bong) hits made Ryan Mallet play like complete ass in the 4th quarter. His interceptions were gift wrapped and delivered the game to Bama. Ole Bobby can scheme all he wants, but if quarterback Tyler Wilson gives Bama extra possesions, he will end with another loss. These two plus LSU give the SEC West the top 3 teams in the conference, enjoy them beating up on each other.

On My Radar: Alabama is going to play excellent defense, this we know. However, Arkansas is too good not to score and likely lay the most points against Saban's team this year. Most important is how improved the Razorback's defense is. They have been trending up, and if that continues the training wheels on Bama quarterack AJ McCarron will have to come off to get the win.

Pick: Arkansas, so good on offense, they'll keep it 10 or under.

***

11 Florida State at 21 Clemson -2 3:30 p.m ESPN

Nothing like coming off a big win versus an out of conference opponent one week only to follow it up the next against your biggest divisional rival. Clemson is sky high after getting head coach Dabo Swinney's first big win over Auburn. On the opposite end is Florida State, who is down in a hole after a physical, tight loss to no. 1 Oklahoma. So many ways the teams could come out this week. Will FSU rise up and rebound, or will they let OU beat them twice? After the big win will Clemson be a little full of themselves or are they finally starting to reach potential and hit their stride? There is a good chance the end result will either be the premature backulation of FSU, or Clemson spitting the bit once again. One fan base is going to be awfully unhappy at 7pm.

On My Radar: I cannot mention this game without discussing the injuries to Florida State's skill players. Quarterback E.J. Manual is likely out this game with a bruised shoulder and 3, maybe 4 of his top 5 receivers are as well. Now add in the fact the FSU running game is below par and the young, just sorta meh Clemson defense has a chance to perform reasonably well. The Noles defense, is just fine and I suspect are going to show what SEC speed looks like on an ACC team. Clemson might do well yardage wise, but yards per play is gonna come way down this week.

Pick: Florida State winning outright. All things being equal give me defense and the battle tested team.

***

7 Oklahoma State at 8 Texas A&M -4 3:30 pm ABC or ESPN2

Before the game starts does anyone else think the Okie State players will give a nod of respect and dap the A&M crew for having the balls to bust out of the Big XII? Regional rivalries be damned, only so much University of Texas shit a man can take. Even better than telling the Horns to kiss their ass is the winner of this game sets up to be the Oklahoma Sooners biggest foil to Big XII title. Texas doesn't usually expect to be playing for the Alamo bowl. This is going to be a very good game and I will be shocked if either team scores less than 30 or if the game isn't very close with 5 minutes to go.

On My Radar: Really, I don't have a clue. Sit back and enjoy the game. The best team may not even win. It could come down to which team's defense lucks into a timely turnover, somehow gets a stop or forces the other to settle for 3 instead of 7. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to the BigXII's fastest team on turf contests.

Pick: aTm by a touchdown, I like their more physical offense.

***

2 LSU -6 at 16 West Virginia 8:00 pm ABC

Props to LSU for playing an out of this world schedule. Their typical SEC schedule plus contests vs Oregon and WVU shows for a fact, no one has a bigger set than Les Miles. LSU has won three national championships in football, color me extremely impressed if they can add another corndog with the 2011 label on it. I know the Tigers play in Alabama later this year, but this is likely to be the most hostile environment they'll see all year. The SEC did Les' crew no favors telling WVU "don't call us, we'll call you," the week of their trip to Morgantown. Any coach worth his salt will have his team playing with the major RESPECT card. Over/under on how many times Dana Holgorsen dropped the "the SEC doesn't think you are good enough" line on his players this week? Two for each redbull pounded. The Neers don't want to be relegated to the Freaks and Geeks conference with the leftover Big East and Big XII schools, so they'll come (and go) out swinging. The rabid, but now wounded fans will do their best to "greet" the LSU players on Saturday the best they know how (keep your helmets on.) I recommend the West Virginia National Guard be on full alert, the police and fire departments are not going to be enough.

On My Radar: Emotion, execution and stamina. WVU is sure to come out playing hard with a little extra in front of a frenzied crowd. Will they be able to execute and keep their emotions in check? LSU is the more talented team with an extremely physical defensive two-deep meant to out run, out physical and wear down opposing offenses. Holgorsen will have to call a masterful game and the neers will have to keep quarterback Geno Smith's jersey clean to win this. Luckily for WVU the LSU offense is just inept enough to keep the game within in reach at all times.

Pick: WVU getting the points, LSU to win in a Les Miles crazy finish.

Oktoberfest Beer of the Week

In honor of our favorite west coast Hokie, this week's beer is his recommendation, Augustiner Bräu Maximator. Claudia thinks Maximator is an excellent doppelbock (dark lager,) who am I to argue?

Quick Recap

San Diego State at Michigan -10.5
North Carolina at Georgia Tech -6.5
Arkansas at Alabama -12
Florida State at Clemson -2
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M -4
LSU -6 at West Virginia