College football - Week Six preview

Viewing plans this week
It's Homecoming for UMD this week, so my bags are not packed this week (thank GOODNESS). However, it's also opening weekend of hockey season (hence the ten previous posts previewing the WCHA season), and UMD is at home. I'm a season-ticket holder, so my day on Saturday is full of things that aren't related to the games I'm about to preview. I have, literally, no viewing plans this week, unless I decide to tape Minnesota-Michigan.

The picks
Last week: 8-2 (1-0 on the NCC bonus pick)
Season: 58-20 (1-0)

Saturday, October 8
Wisconsin at Northwestern--> Wisconsin is too hot for Northwestern. The Wildcats will score some points, but will struggle trying to slow down the Bucky offense.
The pick: Wisconsin

Illinois at Indiana--> The Hoosiers' dream of an unbeaten season came to an end a week ago. However, Hoeppner's team can take another step toward a potential bowl bid with a win this week.
The pick: Indiana

Minnesota at Michigan--> All the talk about Laurence Maroney is interesting. Too bad he won't be the best running back on the field on Saturday. That honor will fall on Michael Hart.
The pick: Michigan

Iowa at Purdue--> This is a battle of teams that had hoped to contend for a national title, but both teams come in with two losses. Purdue was blown out at home by Notre Dame last week, and Iowa has struggled in their two road games so far, playing badly at Iowa State and Ohio State.
The pick: Purdue

Ohio State at Penn State--> We all want to see JoePa do well here (well, most of us do). But Michael Robinson hit 13 of 32 passes last week. He's not a very good quarterback. tOSU's defense will slow down the Penn State attack, and the question becomes whether or not Penn State can keep tOSU off the board. I'm betting the emotion of a huge night game in Happy Valley will vault the Nittany Lions to another big win.
The pick: Penn State

Oklahoma at Texas--> If they lose this game this year, Mack Brown should just quit on the spot.
The pick: Texas

TCU at Wyoming--> Huge early game in the Mountain West. Utah will be a factor in the end, but right now it's TCU and Wyoming fighting for supremacy. In the elevation, I'll ride Bramlet and Bouknight to a Cowboy win.
The pick: Wyoming

Georgia at Tennessee--> Now that Phil has made the right choice at QB (Clausen), the Vols' offense is only going to get better. I think Georgia is a tad overrated, but Shockley can shut me up with a big performance.
The pick: Tennessee

Texas Tech at Nebraska--> Neither team has played a great opponent yet, but both are 4-0, which does count for something. Nebraska has showed us some defense this year, but their offense is too inept to lead them past a team as potent at Tech.
The pick: Texas Tech

LSU at Vanderbilt--> I was all set to tape this game until Vandy went and lost to Middle Tennessee. Ouch.
The pick: LSU

California at UCLA--> The winner emerges as the last good challenge to USC's conference supremacy this season. Cal has their best test of the season (before USC) in this game, and they'll pass it thanks to Marshawn Lynch, who will outduel Maurice Drew.
The pick: California

Oregon at Arizona State--> It's the "Battle of the Last Two Teams That Failed to Slow Down USC". ASU might be the best two-loss team around...well, except for the Patriots.
The pick: Arizona State