Thoughts for Saturday: Week Six

A team like Boise State, trying to crash the party, Iowa and one-loss teams like Virginia Tech, USC, Ohio State and Oklahoma State, they really need LSU to lose.

Let's say Florida loses, with or without Tim Tebow. There is no way Florida moves below No. 4 in the polls because they will blame it on Tebow's absence or Tebow's injury making him rusty. Unless LSU just beats the crap out of the Gators, Florida stays in the top four.

Here is what I know in my black little heart: Tim Tebow will play and the Gators will win. This is good news for those teams. I think Florida wins by 14-20 points, which should cause LSU to fall a bit.

The energy in Tiger Stadium will be palpable and the home team will be fired up. Eventually, Florida will wear them down and win.

Sam Bradford is going to play a very, very big role in deciding who plays in the National Title game. The Heisman Trophy winner is returning this week against Baylor, just in time to tune up for the Texas game. Texas losing would help the aforementioned teams.

If Bradford were coming back for the first time against Texas, I'd say he'd have no chance against that ferocious Longhorn pass rush, but a week back in the saddle (Sooners have saddles, right?) will do him some good.

I have a hunch Bradford comes back with a vengeance and the Sooners don't lose again this year. No way Bob Stoops and the boys want to lose three times this year.

I'm not a big fan of powerhouse teams playing cupcakes, but in the case of the Miami Hurricanes, I'm okay with it. They started the season with four straight ranked teams, so I have no problem with them playing Florida A&M this week.

Another loss at home and a 2-4 record for the Tennessee Volunteers would seriously jeopardize their chances of making a bowl game and missing one for a second straight year would be a disaster in Knoxville. On the other hand, Georgia losing to a team that can't score, and falling to 3-3 would leave Georgia a long way from being ranked again. I think it will be the former.

Is Alabama going to Oxford to play Mississippi actually a test? I don't think so. Ole Miss was so overrated it's ridiculous. I think The Tide rolls on.

I think UCLA tops Oregon at home. I think the Bruins will be fired up and ready to play and take advantage of Oregon being a little nicked up. I also think Stanford goes to Corvallis and loses. Hard place to play. I'm putting the Cardinal on upset alert. Arizona at Washington is also a big game. The Wildcats will be looking very good with a win, and with a loss, the Huskies will be all but forgotten. But a UW win and people will love them again.

Georgia Tech loses at Florida State. I don't know why, but I have a feeling. I think Dr. Jekyll shows up for the Seminoles on Saturday. They're gonna rally around the embattled Bobby Bowden.

Who knew that the Michigan at Iowa game would be a big early October showdown? Nobody expected the teams would be a combined 9-1. Nobody, I tell ya. Michigan doesn't want to stay out of the Top 25 too long and Iowa doesn't want to fall from an opportunity to be in the BCS title game and Rose Bowl race. I expect the latter to happen, and it will be in true Hawkeye fashion where they do just enough to win a close game.