Power Five teams that’ll crash the AP top-25 with wins Saturday
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy takes a photo with fans following an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Oklahoma State defeated Texas 38-35. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
Saturday presents four teams with an opportunity to bolster themselves in the AP rankings if they can pull out victories in week five of the College Football season. Each team faces a quality opponent and a win should be able to shakeout the hierarchy of the conference standings.
Iowa State: The Cyclones took all of their frustration out on a Sun Belt team and scored 72 points last Saturday, which was the most of the Matt Campbell era. Iowa State’s only loss is to No. 14 Iowa and it was by one point in a game that included a three-hour weather delay. The allegations of mistreatment by the Iowa State fans to the Iowa band has been a distraction to the team. However, it’s the perfect time for the Cyclones to get on the road and get out of Iowa for a little while. Iowa State will square off against an undefeated Baylor team in Waco, which will be both teams’ conference openers. True sophomore quarterback Brock Purdy is playing at a high level and the Cyclones’ defense remains solid. Iowa State has won its’ last two over Baylor. The Cyclones started out No. 21 in the preseason AP Poll and if they can leave Texas with a win there’s no doubt they’ll land back in the rankings.
Oklahoma State: Unfortunately, Mike Gundy’s team came up short against Texas on the road last week. However, Oklahoma State will get another shot at a ranked team for the second-straight game when No. 24 Kansas State travels to Stillwater. Gundy knows offense and the Pokes have been impressive so far this season, averaging 44.5 points per game. Not to mention Oklahoma State has played three of its’ first four games on the road. The Cowboys have lost two-straight to the Wildcats and Chris Kleiman seems to have his team playing with confidence after their road win at Mississippi State. A win over Kansas State, will catapult Oklahoma State into the rankings, which it hasn’t been in since September of 2018. The Cowboys’ schedule lightens up for the month of October also.
Wake Forest: Dave Clawson has done a magnificent job building the program back to respectability. Besides Baylor, Wake Forest is the only undefeated Power Five team that’s not ranked. The Demon Deacon have won six-straight games dating back to last season. Wake Forest is clearly the second-best team in the ACC Atlantic Division. A road win over a 3-1 Boston College team will do Clawson’s team some justice. It’s a key divisional battle and both teams are hungry. The Demon Deacons’ are averaging 38 points per game this fall and has the firepower on offense to snap a three-game losing streak to the Eagles this Saturday. Clawson has won his last two trips to Boston College. A victory Saturday will tie Wake Forest with Clemson for first place in the Atlantic.
Washington State: The 67-63 loss last week to a winless UCLA team hurt. Plus Washington State led 49-38 entering the the fourth quarter. However, the Cougars have the opportunity of redeeming themselves when they take on a top-20 Utah team on the road. Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense continues to put up video game numbers, averaging over 52 points per game. Quarterback Alex Gordon has played out of his mind, with 1,894 yards through the air, 21 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. Utah’s stifling defense will be the best unit Gordon has faced thus far. Leach seems to have Kyle Whittingham’s number and Washington State has won four-straight over Utah, including the last three in Salt Lake City. A fifth-straight win over the Utes will boost the Cougars back into the rankings and possibly the top-20.
