Alabama, OU, Clemson……my number one is…. Sooners ready for Cyclones; Pokes win in Lubbock; Washington State moves up as USC fails……Heisman favorites……

In Big Twelve Action

It was a good week in the Big Twelve for the Oklahoma State Cowboys as they used the arm and the feet of quarterback Mason Rudolph to win a hard fought game in Lubbock over much improved Texas Tech, 41-34.  Oklahoma got the week off, Texas held strong in a win in Ames over the Cyclones of Iowa State, and Kansas State was too much as they defeated the Bears of Baylor.

Oklahoma State and Tech:  A good running game to go along with a strong passing game gave the Pokes too much fire power the previously unbeaten Red Raiders.  The defense stopped the Red Raiders cold on the ground and got seven stops out of 15 possessions for the home team.  All-in-all, progress made in a must win for the Aggies.

Kansas State and Baylor:  I thought the Bears would score more than twenty in their 33-20 loss in the Little Apple.  Baylor is improving and they will get a win soon.  Again, I am not so high on the Wildcats, especially going against the best of the conference.  They just do not have enough to beat the Sooners, Cowboys, and Horned Frogs.

Texas and Iowa State:  Coach Tom Harmon has the Horns defense playing better and the team looks like it is improving as the season progresses.  Iowa State’s quarterback situation is not good and the Cyclones are going to lose a lot of conference games this year.

Fred’s Big Twelve Rankings

1. Oklahoma

2. TCU

3. Oklahoma State

4. West Virginia

5. Texas Tech

6. Texas

7. Kansas State

8. Baylor

9. Iowa State

10. Kansas

This week in the Conference:

Texas Tech goes to Lawrence and it does not look good for the home team.  Tech wins this one 43 to 29.

West Virginia and TCU play in the marque game of the conference in week six.  If the Frogs can get error free play from quarterback Kinny Hill, the home team should take a win here.  West Virginia will move the ball and score so do not think this one is easy pickings for TCU.  In close games like this, I usually take the home team and I see no reason not to here.  TCU in a squeeze, 46 to 38.

Kansas State goes to Austin to play Texas and it will be a win for the team that does not make the mistakes in the kicking game and has the fewest turnovers.  Texas has a better offense and the Wildcats are more steady.  KSU could not beat a mediocre Vanderbilt team in Nashville so I have to take the Horns by four, 23 to 19.

Oklahoma hosts Iowa State in a rooster kickoff.  The Sooners should take this one in a waltz.  Sooners 41 and Iowa State 17

Last week:  2-1  Year:  26-9

Fred’s Top Twenty-five

1. Alabama

2. Clemson

3. Oklahoma

4. Penn State

5. TCU

6. Georgia

7. Washington

8. Washington State

9. Ohio State

10. Wisconsin

11. Michigan

12. Miami, Fla

13. Oklahoma State

14. Auburn

15. USC

16. Univ. Central Florida

17. Utah

18. South Florida

19. Florida

20. Navy

21. Virginia Tech

22. West Virginia

23. Louisville

24. San Diego State

25. Notre Dame

National Predictions for Week 6

Louisville 36 at N.C. State 31 (Thursday)

Clemson 49 and Wake Forest 7

Penn State 31 at Northwestern 20  (could be an upset here)

Georgia 40 at Vanderbilt 10

Auburn 24 and Ole Miss 7

Miami, Fla 21 and Florida State 17

Notre Dame 24 and North Carolina 16

Florida 24 and LSU 0

Ohio State 29 and Maryland 17

USC 50 and Oregon State 9

Tulane 31 and Tulsa 28

Arkansas 21 and South Carolina 11

Alabama 36 and aTm 14

Michigan 22 and Michigan State 14

Wisconsin 38 and Nebraska 21

Oregon 27 and Washington State 24

Utah 16 and Stanford 14

Washington 42 and California 24

Heisman Watch

Sam Darnold is not only not the number one choice for the NFL draft in 2018, any chance for him to win the Heisman Trophy is out the window.  Fact is, strong armed quarterbacks from USC are hyped by the media and Darnold is just average as a signal caller.

My top Heisman candidates:

1.  Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

2.  Lamar Jackson, Louisville

3.  Luke Falk, Washington State

4.  Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

5.  Bryce Love, Stanford

Feature photo:  Washington State linebacker Jahad Woods tackles Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold (14) after Darnold fumbles the ball during the second half of Friday night’s game. (AP) (YOUNG KWAK/AP)