Even though this game wasn’t as dramatic as we hoped, at least it was close. Despite suffering a brutal concussion two weeks ago against Kentucky, Tim Tebow decided to play for his Florida Gators in college football’s Game of the Week. Many assumed No. 1 Florida would need Tebow in top form to beat No. 4 LSU, but that wasn’t the case. While Tebow was far from horrible, Florida’s spectacular defense was the deciding factor, as the Gators snatched the win over the Tigers 13-3.

Tonight’s matchup was the first time two top-five teams faced one another this year. If anything, the outcome is further proof that Florida has what it takes to win another national championship. Early on, it was clear that Florida coach Urban Meyer was watching out for Tebow’s safety, deciding to keeping the ball on the ground. In the end, Florida combined for a total of 193 yards on 43 carries. Tebow never hung onto the ball too long, sticking to his trusted running game. Nevertheless, he didn’t shy away from contact, often bulldozing his way through LSU’s defensive line, notably taking two heavy hits in the first quarter. Of his 16 passes, 11 were caught for 134 yards, including his 24-yard touchdown pass to Riley Cooper at the end of the second quarter. It was the final time either team scored, leading to a second half dominated by defense.

In front of the largest crowd in the history of Tiger Stadium, sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson couldn’t generate any significant offense for LSU. The Gators defense held Jefferson to 96 yards and picked him once. In total, LSU finished with a measly 162 yards. The Florida defense also controlled LSU’s senior tailback Charles Scott, who once again failed to notch 100 yards in a game. After a breakthrough performance last week against Georgia, Scott was a non-factor tonight, rushing for 53 yards and no touchdowns.

Nobody expected Tebow to run for a touchdown and throw for 210 yards and two scores like he did last year against the Tigers. He didn’t have to. Florida’s defense is that good, and they have the ability to immobilize a top-ranked team like LSU, even on the road.

Terrelle Pryor and the rest of the Ohio State offense were bound to have a quiet game. Despite their relatively subtle performance, Ohio State’s defense and special teams managed to keep the Buckeyes on the board as they held off the Badgers 31-13.

After losing to USC in the second game of the season, Ohio State is evolving into a remarkably complete team under coach Jim Tressel. Remember, this is the same program that lost star running back Beanie Wells and their top receivers in the last NFL Draft.

The Buckeyes held their composure against an undefeated Wisconsin squad, quickly overcoming a 10-7 deficit in the second quarter. Both teams were 2-0 entering today’s overlooked matchup at the Horseshoe. With this win, Ohio now has a great shot at winning the Big Ten.

Although Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien passed for 250 yards, he couldn’t find anyone in the end zone and was picked twice. Even worse, those two interceptions were returned by the Buckeyes defense for touchdowns. Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor did connect with DeVier Posey for a 32-yard touchdown, but he only threw for 87 yards total.

Interestingly enough, Wisconsin put up much better numbers offensively. With 250 yards passing and 118 yards rushing, they should have outlasted Ohio State. In the end, Tolzien’s interceptions cost his team an important victory.

Did anybody else feel the energy completely evaporate at the beginning of the third quarter? This game took place in Oxford, Mississippi and the fans consistently did their best to keep the Rebels inspired. Nevertheless, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead was never able to make the big play that would turn this game around. By the third quarter, the noise in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was the equivalent of a gigantic yawn.

Alabama entered this competition 5-0, favored to beat Ole Miss who held a record of 3-1. Over the last four seasons, Albama had won this competition each time, though the game always came down to the final possession. However, today’s meeting was never really close, despite the score at the half.

Throughout the game, Jevan Snead failed to complete crucial first downs. Alabama’s defense terrorized his offense, picking off Snead four times. (Snead had previously only thrown five interceptions on the year.) They also limited Ole Miss’ rushing to a pathetic 57 yards.

On the other hand, Alabama QB Greg McElroy was able to come through on big downs. Though he still passed for the same amount of yards as Snead, he didn’t throw any interceptions. In the end, neither quarterback was stellar. McElroy didn’t complete a touchdown pass as well. Alabama kicked their way onto the scoreboard, as
Leigh Tiffin made each of his five field goal attempts. Running back Mark Ingram scored the game’s only touchdown, weaving through the Ole Miss defense on a 36-yard run.

College football fans might look at this game and think Alabama did everything right. While they beat a talented team in Ole Miss, they were still limited to 152 yards passing and 202 yards rushing. Alabama’s defense ensured this win. If Nick Saban can turn his offense into a force half as dominant as his defense, Alabama will be unstoppable.

When your team can’t run, pass, or defend during the first half, how do you expect to win a college football game? Auburn was 5-0 on the season before this game, coming off a big win over Tennessee in Week 5. Despite the early game time in Fayetteville, the stadium quickly came alive as the Razorbacks came out in full force, scoring 20 unanswered points. At the half, the Razorbacks were in complete control with a 27-3 lead over Auburn.

Today’s win was obviously led by Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns on 24 of 37 attempts. He even ran one into the end zone early in the third quarter, exposing Auburn’s confusion on the defensive end. Although he was picked off once, he constantly found receivers Greg Childs, D.J. Williams, and Cobi Hamilton. Childs especially did an excellent job finding his way into the open field, catching fives passes for 85 yards.

However, one shouldn’t overlook Arkansas’ defense, which forced three turnovers and shut down Auburn’s passing game. Auburn quarterback Chris Todd completed 15 of 28 passes for 133 yards, but none were for touchdowns. Auburn was forced to rely on their running game, consistently feeding the ball to Ben Tate.

In the end, Auburn’s rushing couldn’t catch Arkansas, who kept the pressure on from beginning to end. Congratulations to Hogs coach Bobby Petrino for earning his first SEC win. While the announcers practically discussed Florida’s Tim Tebow the entire game, Arkansas overpowered an undefeated team, and Petrino was obviously a huge part of that. After starting their 2009 schedule with a 2-2 record, this win should instill a needed confidence in the Razorbacks. They’ll need to harness this same intensity if they stand any chance against Florida next week in Gainesville.

No. 1 Florida (4-0) at No. 4 LSU (5-0), 8:00PM ET
The Gators travel to Baton Rouge to take on the Tigers on Saturday night in college football’s game of the week. Florida’s 14-game winning streak is in jeopardy because quarterback Tim Tebow hasn’t been medically cleared to play yet after suffering a concussion two weeks ago in a win over Kentucky. Another factor working against Florida is that LSU has won 32 straight Saturday night games and Baton Rouge has proven to be one of the more hostile environments in college football. But for betting purposes, something doesn’t feel right about this point spread. Why is Florida a 7.5-point favorite on the road against a Tiger team that hasn’t lost on Saturday nights in 32 consecutive tries and Tebow hasn’t been cleared to play? LSU’s offense has struggled so far this year and things won’t get any easier this week against a Florida defense that is the best in the nation. The game might be tight for a while, but the Gators cover in the end.
Odds: Florida –7.5.
Prediction: Florida 24, LSU 14.

Boston College (4-1) at No. 5 Virginia Tech (4-1), 12:00PM ET
The Hokies have won two straight ACC title games against the Eagles coming into this game, but BC holds a three-game regular season winning streak over VA Tech. While the Eagles have surprised many pundits this year, they’re likely to struggle this weekend in Blacksburg. VA Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor continues to improve as a passer and is starting to build a lot of confidence. Boston College doesn’t have the offensive weapons to match up with the a tough Hokie defense and the Eagles will struggle to contain Taylor for four quarters.
Odds: VA Tech –13.5.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, Boston College 13.

Michigan (4-1) at Iowa (5-0), 8:05PM ET
The Wolverines struggled in their first road game of the year last week at Michigan State and will face another tough challenge this week in Iowa City. While quarterback Tate Forcier has proven to be a gamer, the key to stopping Michigan is to take away its ground game. Iowa has the fourth best pass defense in the nation and match up well with Michigan’s receivers. Look for the Hawkeyes to load the box to shut down the Wolverines’ running game and force Forcier to beat them through the air. As long as Iowa limits the big plays and doesn’t allow Forcier to move around the pocket, they should roll in this Big Ten matchup.
Odds: Iowa –8.
Prediction: Iowa 27, Michigan 17.

Georgia Tech (4-1) at Florida State (2-3), 8:00PM ET
The Seminoles are a mess and yet they still find themselves 3-point favorites against a Yellow Jackets team that has the sixth best rushing attack in the nation. FSU is allowing opponents to rush for 128.8 yards per game on the ground and could have issues containing Jonathan Dwyer. The key for Georgia Tech is slowing down Christian Ponder and FSU’s 17th-best passing attack, which shouldn’t be a problem as long as their offense keeps churning out yards on the ground. The Jackets need to keep Ponder and company on the sidelines.
Odds: Florida State –3.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 30, Florida State 27.

Odds makers have released the point spreads for Week 6 in college football. Below are a list of odds for the top 25 and quick-hit previews for every game.

Thursday, October 8
No. 21 Nebraska -3
No. 24 Missouri +3
Both of these teams can light up a scoreboard, but the Huskers have the defensive advantage of the Tigers. Nebraska has the 16th best pass defense in that nation, while MIZZOU has struggled to stop the run this season, allowing opponents to rush for over 130 yards per game.

Saturday, October 10
No. 1 Florida -8
No. 4 LSU +8
The marquee matchup in this week will take place in Baton Rouge, where the Tigers host a banged up Gators team that could be without starting quarterback Tim Tebow (concussion). If Tebow can’t play, Florida will rely on the best defense in the nation to shut down Charles Scott and the LSU offense that has been inconsistent in the first five weeks of the season.

Colorado +32
No. 2 Texas -32
Colt McCoy and company will be fresh coming off a bye and should have any problem scoring against a defense that is allowing 28 points a game.

No. 3 Alabama -6.5
No. 20 Ole Miss +6.5
This matchup lost some luster a couple weeks ago when the Rebels fell in South Carolina, but this will nevertheless be a great test for the Tide’s second best defense. Alabama might be the most complete team in the nation, although Jevan Snead and company are tough to beat at home.

Boston College +13.5
No. 5 Virginia Tech -13.5
Despite all of their injuries, the Eagles have surprised early by compiling a 4-1 record. They upset Wake Forest and Florida State the past two weeks, although Tyrod Taylor and VA Tech pose a unique challenge. It’s never easy to win in Blacksburg, but it’s going to be even tougher this time around for BC as Taylor continues to mature as a passer.

Wisconsin +14
No. 9 Ohio State -14
The Buckeyes have bounced back nicely since their loss to USC and are currently ninth in the nation in total defense. The Badgers have yet to lose and their offense has been potent thanks to running back John Clay, who has been extremely tough to bring down. This is one of the more underrated matchups on the schedule and could decide the winner of the Big Ten.

No. 10 TCU -10
Air Force +10
The Horned Frogs’ aggressive defense continues to give opponents fits, although they’ll get a unique challenge this week against a Falcons team that averages almost 300 yards a game.

Florida A&M N/A
No. 11 Miami N/A
After facing four ranked opponents to start the season, the Canes finally get a break with an easy non-conference foe. That said, this is no time for Jacory Harris and company to take their foot off the pedal with ACC foes Clemson and Wake Forest coming up in a couple of weeks.

Michigan +8
No. 12 Iowa -8
The Hawkeyes have rebounded from their near-embarrassing loss to Northern Iowa at the start of the season and have now built up some moment. While Michigan continues to struggle defensively, Tate Forcier brings another element to the field with his mobility in and out of the pocket. He could have a tough time throwing against the fourth best pass defense in the nation, however.

No. 13 Oregon -6
UCLA +6
Since losing to Boise State in their opener, Oregon has been an unstoppable force, racking up nearly 35 points a game thanks to junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s threat as a runner and a passer. That said, the Bruins have an outstanding secondary and will force the Ducks to beat them with their rushing attack. The team that controls the game on the ground will likely emerge as the winner.

Eastern Illinois N/A
No. 14 Penn State N/A
With non-conference games against Akron, Syracuse, Temple and now Eastern Illinois, it’s clear that Penn State doesn’t want to exert itself too much in the early going.

No. 15 Oklahoma State N/A
Texas A&M N/A
The Cowboys have been flying under the radar since their Week 2 loss to Houston, although wins over Rice and Grambling State won’t turn many heads. They’ll face an Aggie team that was absolutely shredded by Arkansas last week, but one that posses a threat with their offense. It’ll be interesting to see if Jerrod Johnson and A&M can pull off an upset a week after being embarrassed by the Razorbacks.

Iowa State +20
No. 16 Kansas -20
Kansas is another team that has flown under the radar the past couple weeks, although they’ll hardly get a challenge this Saturday. Todd Reesing and company should roll over a Cyclone defense that is allowing over 150 rushing yards per game.

No. 17 Auburn -3
Arkansas +3
The undefeated Tigers finally broke the top 25 with a win over Tennessee last week. Their defense will face a huge challenge this week against a Razorback team that ranks seventh in the nation in passing offense and is coming off a 47-19 beat down of Texas A&M. Can Auburn slow down Ryan Mallett and his trio of receivers?

No. 18 BYU -16.5
UNLV +16.5
The Cougars may be 4-1, but they have issues. Quarterback Max Hall has not played well thus far this season and must cut down on the turnovers. Thanks to running back Harvey Unga, BYU won’t get much of a challenge from UNLV this week, but Hall must step up his game before TCU comes to town in two weeks.

Baylor +25
No. 19 Oklahoma -25
After suffering their second loss of the season, the Sooners won’t make a repeat appearance in the national title game. Sam Bradford might play this week, although there’s a good chance that Bob Stoops will hold him out against Baylor with a trip to Texas coming up next week. The loss season for Oklahoma continues…

No. 22 Georgia Tech +2.5
Florida State -2.5
The Yellow Jackets are averaging over 250 yards per game on the ground this year and would roll over a Seminole defense that is allowing nearly 130 rushing yards per game.

Kentucky +10.5
No. 25 South Carolina -10.5
South Carolina’s defense will prove to be a stiff challenge for Derrick Locke and the Wildcat offense, although the Gamecocks can’t overlook KU with a trip to Alabama coming up next week.

In their Week 5 recap of college football, the Draft Zoo writes that Miami’s Jacory Harris and Minnesota’s Eric Decker are risers in this year’s Heisman race.

3.) Jacory Harris, QB, Miami
He’s back too. Harris was wiped from this list after a poor performance in a loss to Virginia Tech, but he rebounded in a big way. His second half against OU was a microcosm for his season. Despite rugged starts, he’s coming through in a big way for his team. Beating OU was a signature moment for Harris.

Week 5 Stats: 19/28 202 yards 3 TD 2 INT, 4 carries -30 yards

5.) Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota
I don’t care that he has no chance to actually win the award. I don’t care that receivers are an afterthought. And I don’t care that Minnesota is no place for a Heisman candidate to call home. Decker is the most consistently uncoverable wideout in the country, and he is single handedly making the Golden Gophers an interesting team. He hasn’t caught fewer than eight passes in a single game this season.

Week 5 Stats: 8 catches 140 yards 1 TD

Outside of Miami’s Week 4 loss to Virginia Tech when the Hokies constantly harassed him with pressure, Harris has been outstanding this season. He just doesn’t panic and with him under center, the Canes have a shot every week.

I absolutely love Decker and I couldn’t agree more with the guys at the Draft Zoo. If you haven’t watched this kid play, you’re truly missing out because he is Minnesota’s offense.

Every time the Golden Gophers need a play in the passing game, he’s there. Every time they need a huge first down in the second half, Decker is the one making the catch. He has NFL-caliber skills and I can’t wait to see what he does on Sundays.

The only knock on him is that he’s a tad injury-prone. But he’s a tough kid and he’s always giving up his body to make a catch.