Week 5: Leaders on the line?

Standings
1) Schweinfurth    14-2      (1-3 upset)
2) Draper             13-3      (1-3 upset)
3) Hoying             12-4      (1-3 upset)

*Draper is again screwed by the officials in the MSU/ND game with super-questionable PI calls.  I call collusion.  The officials clearly read the blog and make calls to spite me.

Louisiana State Tigers @ Georgia Bulldogs
Draper: This is LSU's first game that is of any consequence since TCU in week 1...and Athens is a tough place to play.  I'm giving the nod to Aaron Murray and Todd Gurley between the hedges.  LSU has been really good in friendly environments, but this is a new level.  UGA has the better offense and should be able to put some points on the stout Tiger D.  Should be a great game, but the Dawgs triumph in a slugfest. LSU: 17--UGA:20
Hoying:  Alabama fails to put North Texas away early, and suddenly everyone is jumping off the Tide bandwagon to crown Georgia as the new cream of the SEC.  I don't see it.  The Bulldogs have looked vulnerable in every game this season (including the one they LOST), while LSU has been merrily rolling along against their Ohio State-esque non-conference schedule.  Astoundingly, Tiger QB Zach Burgermeister Meisterburger is playing better football than Aaron Murray, and LSU RB Jeremy Hill might (just might) be as good as Georgia's Todd Gurley.  The usually impenetrable LSU defense is a bit weaker this year, but Georgia's defense has looked flat-out weak with Jarvis Jones.  I'd feel a lot better picking LSU if they were in Death Valley, but I'm beginning to think that they (NOT the Tide or the Dawgs) are the true kings of the SEC this year. LSU: 28--UGA: 24
Schweinfurth: This is Georgia's third marquee game of the season and they are tested.  LSU has played one in TCU. LSU still has Mettenburger at QB and Murray is much better at his job. I'll take Georgia every day. LSU: 24--UGA: 35

Oklahoma Sooners @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Now the Sooners have the Belldozer running the show.  Yeah, they haven't really been tested, but the Sooners have been rolling.  Look for another revenge game here as Notre Dame has not impressed anyone.  Losing to a supremely overrated Michigan team (albeit on the road) is one thing, but they looked awful against a hapless Purdue team.  Big Game Bob will get his clubs first test, but emerge victorious in Irish country.  OU: 31--ND: 20
Hoying: Two top-five all-time programs clash in South Bend.  Too bad neither of these teams is top-ten caliber this year.  Way to beat West Virginia 16-7 at home, Oklahoma.  That only makes you 28 points worse than Maryland.  Notre Dame managed to slog through their annual B1G slate and emerged looking pretty shaky themselves.  Why is this team ranked?  Anyway, Oklahoma now has Blake Bell at QB and everything's supposed to be hunky-dory because he shredded Tulsa.  Anyone remember Connor Cook shredding Youngstown State?  How did that work out for him when Michigan State faced this Irish D?  Nobody outside of nobody expected the Irish to win this game last year (in Norman, no less), and the same sentiment permeates this year's matchup, but I just have a feeling.  Oklahoma on the road /= Oklahoma in Norman.  Irish pull the stunner.  OU: 20--ND: 21
Schweinfurth: Notre Dame is still bad.  Oklahoma isn't as bad.  Oklahoma in a blowout. OU: 42--ND: 14

Ole Miss Running Rebels @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Many are calling this a potential upset as Bama has looked vulnerable.  Problem with that is that Ole Miss really isn't that good.  Bo Wallace has run the O nicely, but not against Bama.  The Tide roll at home, easily.  This isn't going to be close.  Miss: 10--Bama: 31
Hoying: You know we've reached Bizarro territory when Ole Miss struggles against Vanderbilt and crushes Texas, and neither was a fluke.  Unlike the laughable "showdown" between undefeated Alabama and undefeated Mississippi State last year, the Magnolia State underdog in this matchup is legitimately good enough to win this game.  It's hard to believe that Nick Saban isn't grinding his players' bones to make his bread after some lackluster performances on both side of the ball this year.  I think he'll have them whipped into shape for this one.  Who could they possibly be looking ahead to?  Georgia State?  Kentucky?  Arkansas?  Tennessee?... Miss: 17--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: Alabama isn't as good as they were last year, but they are still the class of the SEC.  Ole Miss's defense will challenge the Tide a bit but 'Bama pulls away. Miss: 17--Bama: 30

Wisconsin Badgers @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Finally the Buckeyes get a test.  It's an intriguing game for the OSU defense as we finally play a team that focuses on the run.  I'm not concerned about the OSU offense going up and down the field (maybe not with the ease against FAMU), but can the Bullets stop the Badgers.  Miller should bomb all day against an overmatched Wisconsin secondary.  Melvin Gordon and James White are very talented running backs, but they will face some real athletes and a crazy environment Sat night.  Braxton returns and leads the Buckeyes to a nice 10 point win in which the defense steps up a bit, but still shows some weaknesses.  Wisc: 24--OSU: 34
Hoying: You want to be #2, Ohio State?  Then you come out and PUNISH Wisconsin in this game.  Give them the old San Diego State treatment.  Anything less than a total annihilation isn't going to move the needle vis-a-vis Oregon and Clemson.  Are the Buckeyes capable of such a beatdown?  I think so.  Ohio State's A-game offense, with the way the receivers have been playing, the return of Carlos Hyde and the nice contrasting style of Jordan Hall, and the decision-making and throwing talent of Braxton and Kenny, should steamroll the Badger D for another 40-50 points.  The only question is whether this front seven can stop the Wisconsin running game, and if they can't, if the DBs can tackle well enough to prevent huge game-changing plays.  We'll learn a lot we didn't yet know about these Buckeyes and their title chances on Saturday night.  Wisc: 27--OSU: 45
Schweinfurth: Wisconsin, in my mind, is the best fake good team in the nation this year.  They have yet to play a run defense with a pulse.  I do think that the Badgers will get some yards, but those big chunks won't be there.  The Silver Bullets will show a lot of 7, 8 and even 9 men fronts and I think they will get away with it.  Roby will shut down Abraderous and Stave will get pwned by Noah Spence and Adolphas Washington.  On offense, Braxton is back.  If the reports are to be believed, Miller is 100% and has all of his weapons back.  I expect the offense to keep chugging along for the most part.  This game will be similar to Buffalo. Wisc: 17--OSU: 35

Upset Special
Draper: Kentucky over Florida
Hoying: UCF over South Carolina
Schweinfurth: Arkansas over Texas A&M