College football really gets going this weekend with five games between Top-25 teams. Alabama travels to Georgia. West Virginia and Oklahoma clash. Ole Miss takes on Florida. Mississippi State plays Texas A&M and Clemson hosts Notre Dame. This slate of games brings us to our roundtable question as TSS associate editors Bart Doan and Terry Johnson join staff writer Kevin Causey.
Question: There are five games between ranked teams this weekend. Which are you most looking forward to?
Bart Doan:
On Twitter @TheCoachBart
I know this is off the radar, but I’m stoked about Florida and Ole Miss. People can say Florida got out of dodge lucky last week and they don’t have a shot, but games like that are a huge confidence shot in the arm. I mean, it’s Florida. Just because they have a coaching change doesn’t mean they don’t still have talent.
They just have talent that wasn’t coached particularly well.
I’m not sure they don’t match up pretty well with Ole Miss, who isn’t a power running team that you figure would trouble the Gators and put a gag in the mouth of The Swamp’s most faithful. Ole Miss would rather sling it around the yard, and that’s where the Gators are at their best, in the secondary.
Florida and Ole Miss have both already shown serious sack this year, and games betwixt teams that have sack usually end up as entertaining fare.
Kevin Causey:
On Twitter @CFBZ
Notre Dame-Clemson is very intriguing, but I’m going with Bama and Georgia. The last two games between the Tide and the Dawgs were completely different but had the same result: a Tide victory.
In 2008, the Tide ran over the Dawgs. In 2012, Georgia was just seconds away from beating Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Two and a half years later, Georgia and Alabama continue to evolve and this matchup brings many intriguing questions.
Can Georgia’s revamped defenses under Jeremy Pruitt (a former Bama assistant) stifle the struggling Bama offense?
How will Alabama’s defense match-up with Georgia’s offense?
Is Greyson Lambert ready for this game?
Can Mark Richt overcome his reputation (deserved or not) of not being a big game coach?
Georgia and Alabama is one of the most interesting games of the year and could decide how the SEC plays out in 2015.
Terry Johnson:
On Twitter @SectionTPJ
While all of these games are intriguing, I’ll pick Notre Dame – Clemson.
What makes this contest so exciting is that it pits strength against strength. Despite losing a number of key players due to injury, the Irish still rank 21st nationally in scoring offense, 15th in total offense, and 12th in rushing yards per game. Likewise, Clemson has one of the top defenses in the country, ranking in the top 10 in scoring defense (10th), total defense (9th), and third down conversion defense (4th).
In addition to the stellar statistical matchup, I can’t wait to see this contest because it could have a significant impact on the Heisman Trophy race. While many would argue that he’s the top player in college football right now, quarterback Deshaun Watson’s overall numbers aren’t as good as some of the other top Heisman contenders. If he should turn in a solid effort against Notre Dame, there’s no reason to think that he couldn’t vault to the top of a few ballots.
