College Football Week 6: 5 bold predictions

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:52 p.m. ET

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Week 5 of the college football season was truly amazing. From Hail Marys to a one handed game winning interception and even some big upsets. As a Hoosier, I am very proud to say that I was a part of one of these upsets, and that it made last Saturday all the more satisfying. It was a great week, but we are now on to Week 6 which promises to be just as good.

Some big games this week are Texas vs No. 20 Oklahoma, No. 9 Tennessee vs No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 23 Florida State vs No. 10 Miami and No. 1 Alabama vs No. 16 Arkansas.

Much like last week, these games all have a chance at being huge. A lot of teams still need a big win to help them and some can’t afford another lose. With that being said, here are five bold predictions for Week 6.

Sep 17, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) evades Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Jaylen Dunlap (1)during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Western Michigan beat Illinois 34 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

5. Western Michigan makes top 25 for the first time

I know, they technical already have made it into the Top 25, via the USA Today polls. But I’m talking about the AP poll. They currently have 76 votes to be in the Top 25, which is more than any other school to get into the Top 25. If we’re going based off of votes, they are the 26th-ranked team in the country. They are by far the best team in the MAC as well.

What P.J Fleck has done is incredible. The season that the Western Michigan Broncos are having is one of the best they have ever had. Start the season 5-0. Beat two Big Ten teams and blow out your in state rival, Central Michigan, 49-10. They are now only one win away from a bowl game. At this rate they could be making a very respectable bowl game when its all said and done. Fleck’s “row the boat” idea has truly inspired this team and made them believe that they can beat anyone if they try hard enough.

After what should be their sixth win over Northern Illinois, Western Michigan will be ranked inside the Top 25 for the first time come next week. They not only deserve this, but they will have earned it with the way they are playing.

Oct 1, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) gets out of reach of the Kentucky Wildcats defender at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide defeated Kentucky 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

4. Alabama rolls through tough stretch and never gives up No. 1 ranking

Alabama has looked like one of the best, if not the best, teams in college football. The only team that I could possibly see beating them would be Ohio State. Alabama’s schedule hasn’t been all that hard up to this point. They have played the likes of Kent State, Western Kentucky, and Kentucky. They beat them by a combined score of 120-16. However, the next four weeks present more a challenge.

The toughest game they have played this year would have been against Ole Miss. A game that they only won by five points, but in all reality it was a solid victory. Ole Miss tried to make the comeback at the very end but ran out of time.

In the next four weeks, Alabama will have to play three games on the road. They will be playing at No. 16 Arkansas, No. 9 Tennessee and LSU along with a home game against No. 9 Texas A&M. These next four weeks will define what type of team Nick Saban has this year. Get through this, and you can get through anybody. It won’t be easy, but it also won’t be as hard as it seems. The hardest game to me is probably the road game at Tennessee. They are still undefeated and have had some luck thrown their way to stay unbeaten. Alabama doesn’t use or believe in luck for that matter. They come and they come and they beat you down because the nine times out of 10, they are way, way, way better than who they are playing.

Alabama may look like they are going to fall in the next four weeks, but I don’t see that happening. They are way too good of a football team to not stop trying. I don’t believe that they will give up the No. 1 ranking at all this year. It is theirs and they are going to keep it for as long as they possibly can. If they did lose, they would have to deal with a very angry Nick Saban. So that extra motivation right there. Come on coach, you’re winning 38-10 and there is only 46 seconds left. Can I get smile? No? okay.

Oct 3, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Daeshon Hall (10) celebrates after a sack against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

3. A&M finally stops Tennessee

Tennessee is still undefeated by the narrowest of margins. They stayed perfect last Saturday thanks to a Hail Mary pass to beat a worn out Georgia team. If this Tennessee team is truly as good as they appear to be, they should have been able to beat Georgia without that play. It should never have come down to a Hail Mary. This is still the team that just barley beat Appalachian State at home to start the year. As for A&M, aside from Week 1, they have a had a pretty easy time with who they have played and have also picked up two Top 25 wins.

Tennessee is doomed to crash. This team is living off of the hype from week to week. This was kinda the same thing I saw with Michigan last year. The kept winning there games and thinking that they couldn’t be stopped. Then the game against Michigan State happened and they started to look sluggish. The shut out opponents before the Michigan State game and barley beat opponents after.

I feel like this story will be the same for Tennessee. This game is also a top ten showdown in the SEC and it’s a road game for the Vols. To make matters worse for them, they play Alabama the following week. Try and tell me that no one will be thinking about that. Meanwhile Texas A&M and cruised along to an undefeated record and a No. 8 ranking. Led by QB Trevor Knight, the Aggies put up 521 yards of total offense a game. That’s 139.4 yards more then Tennessee puts up, and 161 more yards then the Vols allow per game. Trevor Knight leads the Aggies offense in passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. A trend that isn’t all that new to college football. As the game evolves so does that of the QB position. Being versatile makes it harder for defenses to defend on a play to play basis.

At home, Texas A&M and Trevor Knight should be able to find a way to win against Tennessee. They have the better offense and have played a tougher schedule up to this point that will help them be better equipped for this game. Just don’t let it come down to a Hail Mary pass. Tennessee seems to know how to complete those.

Sep 10, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) throws a pass during the second half against Florida Atlantic Owls at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami won 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

2. Miami gets statement win

For this, we need to go back in time to the coach days of Howard Schnellenberger and Jimmy Johnson. Back when all the talent that came out of the city of Miami, went to Miami. If this was still the case, Lamar Jackson would be burning defenses for the U, and not for Louisville. That time has since past, and we are here now here, where Miami is No. 10 in the nation and has a chance to make a huge statement. Huge statements like the did in the past.

Now, look at who Miami has played this year and you will see that it is no one. Look at who Florida State has played this year, and you will that they have played a lot of great teams. This game is huge for both schools. Florida State needs to to stay afloat. Miami needs it to validate its presence in the Top 10.

One of the most iconic symbols of college football, throwing up, the U with your hands. Thumbs connecting, pointer fingers up. It’s a symbol of tradition, a tradition that seems to be on the rise once again. Offensively, Florida State has the better offense. That doesn’t really seem to matter too much and here is why. Take out the Charleston Southern game, and the least amount of points that Florida State has giving up is 34. Meanwhile, Miami’s defense is only giving up 253.3 yards a game to their opponents, and is 2nd in the country in points allowed per game at 11.0. Miami’s defense is really good, and Florida State’s is not. Try not to read to much into, but that spells trouble for Florida State.

Florida State is one more blow away from being forgotten about for the rest of the year. Lose this game and they drop from the rankings. The only playoff they will be thinking about will be next years playoff. Miami can, and will win this game. It’s at home and they have the will power to do it. Florida State is weak and Miami needs to capitalize on the chance they have.

Sep 10, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) warms up before the game against the University of Texas at El Paso at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

1. Texas saves Charlie Strong

It is Red River rivalry week, yet this game has a lot more meaning to it then just bragging rights. It seems that Charlie Strong’s job has Texas head coach may be on the line as well. Texas won this game last year and will look to do that once again this year. After beating Notre Dame in Week 1, the Longhorns shot up the rankings to No. 11. They have since falling back to earth and are now unranked.

As for Oklahoma, they spent a week out of the top 25 after losing to both Houston and Ohio State and are now back at No. 20. To get back to the level of success they want to play at they could use a huge rivalry win here. This matchup, statistically, seems dead even. They are almost the same in offense and are a point off of being dead even in defense.

This game can’t be predicted through stats. Both teams have something to fight for, and its the same thing. Both teams are fighting for pride. Oklahoma wants to be back on top, back to where they started the season and regain everyone’s attention. Meanwhile Texas, they need this so that they can believe in the school, their coach and in themselves. Along with that, Charlie Strong is on the hot seat. The Longhorns will have to step up and win in the road if they want to save their coach. Giving it everything they have a still coming up just short, may not cut it this time.

In the end, I still feel that something isn’t right in Oklahoma and that the beat down they took form Houston to start the year wasn’t a fluke. The loss that Texas took last week was bad, really bad and it is the reason for all the talk around coach Strong. Texas will come out and play with a lot of heart and a lot fight. They will fight and win for them and for their coach.