New Year's Day Bowls

Happy New Year everybody! I can't think of a better way to start the New Year than with a day full of College Football! Here are my picks for the first games of 2016, enjoy! I hope everyone has a wonderful 2016!! GO BIG RED!

Outback Bowl

13 Northwestern (10-2) vs. 23 Tennessee (8-4)

     Early in the year, both teams looked very strong and were primed to win their division in their respective conferences. The Wildcats have one of the nations top defenses as they only give up an average of 16.4 points per game. Their offense tends to have problems moving the ball, but their defense keeps them in games and has helped them to a very impressive 10-win season. Northwestern relies heavily on their ground game as they average close to 200 yards per game. Tennessee's defense has been strong this year as well. They give up an average of 21.2 points per game, and all 4 of their losses were one score, very close games. The Vol's main strength is on the offensive side of the ball however. The QB-RB duo of Josh Dobbs and Jalen Hurd is difficult to stop for any defense. I think that this one will start off low scoring, but Tennessee should find some more rhythm in the second half. Two tough ground games against two tough defenses. I'm rooting for the BIG 10 in this game, and I think that the Wildcats will sneak out a victory in this game. Turnovers will be key in this match-up, and I think Northwestern will get a couple of takeaways to decide this one. Wildcats 23, Vols 17.

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl

14 Michigan (9-3) vs. 19 Florida (10-3)

     This is a fun match-up because I doubt that anyone will be able to predict how either of these teams will play. Both teams have played very well under their respective new coaches, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Michigan gives up an average of 17.1 points per game while the Gators average 16.5 points per game. Both teams looked like they could compete for a spot in the top four at times this year, but they have also looked like a team that has no idea they're playing football. Both teams lost big in their rivalry games against Ohio State and Florida State. In those match-ups, neither Michigan nor Florida could move the ball, or stop the opposing RBs (Elliot & Cook). I'm interested to see which teams come out, because I think both teams want to prove that they are not as bad as their past few games may have indicated. Even with the tough defenses, I think that there will be a good amount of points scored in this one. Between the two, I think that Michigan is a bit more complete as Jake Ruddock leads an offense that averages close to 400 yards per game. The Gators just won't be able to score enough in this game, so I have Michigan winning another one for the BIG 10 34-21.

Battle Frog Fiesta Bowl

8 Notre Dame (10-2) vs. 7 Ohio State (11-1)

     This will be a fun match-up since two duel threat QBs will be looking to torch the opposing defenses. Both teams have very strong defenses, but often give up a lot of yards. When you have two very good offenses opposing them, yards can easily turn into points. The Irish look to avenge their two close losses that kept them out of the Playoffs this year by beating down on the defending champs. The Buckeyes are out to prove that they probably should be in the Final Four and that their MSU loss was a fluke. JT Barrett vs. Deshone Kaiser, I'm excited to see how this one plays out. Ezekiel Elliot will be another player to watch in this game, but Notre Dame's defense should shut him down fairly well. I expect him to have a few big runs, but if the Irish can limit that, they can stay in the game. I think that it will be close, but I'm going to have to give the edge to the Buckeyes in this game. I think that JT Barrett will be able to make a few more plays than Kaiser and be able to win the game. Look for a higher scoring game in this one. Ohio State 42, Notre Dame 38.

Rose Bowl

6 Stanford (11-2) vs. 5 Iowa (12-1)

     Low scoring, grind-it-out and a tough defensive battle is how I would describe this game. Iowa has one of the toughest defenses in the nation, and very rarely gives up points. Stanford's defense isn't quite as strong as it has been in previous years, but they often get key stops on 3rd downs to get the ball back to their offense. Speaking of offense, that's where this game will be decided. Both offenses are very efficient and love to run the ball. Iowa isn't very flashy, the line up and grind it down your throat. They are often in 3rd and short situations, so they manage those fairly well. On the other side, Stanford has a heavy focus on the run game, but has a deadly downfield passing attack as well. The toughest part of stopping the Trees is Christian McCaffrey. The AP Player of the Year has broken Barry Sanders' record for all-purpose yards in a season and can hurt you in a number of different ways. McCaffrey returns kicks, runs the ball, catches passes out of the backfield and even throws the ball! This will be a fun game to watch, and a close one on the scoreboard. Iowa has played well all season, but they often find themselves in close games. Their offense has trouble finishing drives, especially against tougher defenses. I don't think that they'll be able to keep up with Kevin Hogan & Christian McCaffrey. I think that McCaffrey will run all over the field in this game and prove why he should have won the Heisman this year. Stanford wins the Rose Bowl 31-27.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

16 Oklahoma State (10-2) vs. 12 Ole Miss (9-3)

     This one will be a shootout. Two high-scoring offenses with big time passing attacks. Chad Kelly squares off against the Cowboys' duo of Mason Rudolph & J.W. Walsh. Both offenses are going against two defenses that struggle quite a bit. Ole Miss's defense is definitely stronger than the Cowboys', but after Nkemdiche's suspension from the bowl game, I think OSU will be able to torch them fairly easily. Both defenses give up a lot of yards, and this is another match-up where these offenses can easily turn yards into points. The QB battle will be the focus in this game and whichever team causes the most pressure will likely win the game. QB pressure will cause mistakes in this game because although these defenses give up yards, they are very opportunistic and very good at forcing turnovers. Tough pick, but I'm going to give the edge to Chad Kelly and the Rebels. Ole Miss wins this game 55-49.

December 30-31 Bowls

     Here are my picks for today's Bowl Games along with New Year's Eve Bowls. Enjoy!

Birmingham Bowl

Auburn (6-6) vs. Memphis (9-3)

     Memphis was primed for a New Year's Six bid before Navy derailed their season and they ran into a streak of three straight losses. However, they dynamic offense of the Tigers is still around. Even though Head Coach Justin Fuente has moved on to Virginia Tech, the Tigers still have QB Paxton Lynch, and he is primed for a big game. Since Auburn Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp has left for South Carolina, he has taken Auburn's Secondary Coach as well. Both offenses should have a hay-day against two defenses that struggle very much, especially against the pass. I expect a good amount of scoring to be done, but I think that the problems at QB will hurt Auburn. The leadership Paxton Lynch brings to the Tigers team is going to be in this game. I have the Memphis Tigers winning this battle of the cats 52-42.

Belk Bowl

NC State (7-5) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)

     Dak Prescott's final Collegiate Football game. Just like in the Navy-Pitt game, I can't pick against him. Prescott is a great athlete and a fantastic QB. He has thrown for 3413 yards this season with a 25:4 TD to INT ratio. He's also added 541 yards rushing with 10 TDs which leads the Bulldogs this season. There are not many other players in the country that mean as much as Dak Prescott does to State's offense. NC State won't be able to keep up with Prescott in this game, and I doubt they'll be able to do much against the Bulldogs defense. I expect a comfortable 45-20 victory for the Bulldogs. HAIL STATE!

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Texas A&M (8-4) vs. Louisville (7-5)

     This one is going to be a very tough game to pick on considering that Texas A&M has lost their top two QBs over the past couple weeks. The Cardinals are a very young team, but a very deadly one. Freshman QB Lamar Jackson leads the teams in both passing and rushing. He's caused headaches for opposing defenses all season, but he has not faced the pass rush of the Aggies yet. Myles Garrett leads the SEC in sacks and will be looking to add to his total with more today. It should be a good game, but I'm not sure how A&M will come out. I think that there are too many issues going on for them to play well in this game, especially with a 3rd string QB. I'm going to take the Cardinals in this one 35-24.

National Funding Holiday Bowl

25 USC (8-5) vs. Wisconsin (9-3)

     Very good BIG 10 vs. PAC-12 match-up in this game. Wisconsin doesn't have very much offense, but their defense is giving up a nation's best, 13.1 points per game. USC is averaging 35.1 per game under the Cody Kessler lead passing attack. However, their run game has picked up late in the season, and they are becoming more balanced. Wisconsin has almost nothing to show on offense, and the Trojan's defense shouldn't have too tough of a time shutting them down. I think that this one might be a little more on the low side for scoring. I would love to stick with the BIG 10, and I would be happy to see the Badgers win, but they just don't have the fire power to stick with USC in my opinion. Trojans 34, Badgers 21.

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

18 Houston (12-1) vs. 12 Florida State (10-2)

     This is an interesting game since Florida State will be without QB Everett Golson. Backup QB Sean Maguire has plenty of game experience however, and should have a lot of help from star RB Dalvin Cook. My big key to victory for the Seminoles is to get Cook the ball. He is by far their most dynamic player, and one of the best backs in the nation. He hits the hole so quickly that defenders almost only have enough time to stick an arm out, which isn't going to stop him. On the other side, Greg Ward Jr. leads the high-powered Cougar offense with over 3600 total yards and 35 TDs. He's a tough player to stop, and even FSU's stingy defense will have a tough time. There's going to be a good amount of points in this one, but I think that Dalvin Cook will take this game over and win it for the 'Noles. FSU 48, Houston 42.

CFP Semifinal Capital-One Orange Bowl

4 Oklahoma (11-1) vs. 1 Clemson (13-0)

     The first of two playoff matches, and I don't think that either will disappoint. Despite being undefeated, the Tigers find themselves as an underdog with many people believing that out of the Final 4, they don't belong. Clemson just sent home 3 players today, including Freshman WR Deon Cain after they failed drug tests. Not a crippling loss, but never good for a team to have that happen. Deshaun Watson is going to have to play the best game of his life as OU's defense has been nothing short of dominant since their loss to Texas. Baker Mayfield has followed suit. They way Mayfield and OU's offense has played since their loss to Texas is insane. They are averaging 52 points per game and around 450 yards per game. Samaje Perine will be a big factor as Clemson's stout defense will face their toughest challenge yet. They will try to contain Mayfield, which is dangerous if they forget about Perine. I think that OU is the strongest team in this playoff race, and they're going to avenge that terrible beat down from the Tigers last year. High-scoring and close, I've got the Sooners in a 49-42 victory.

CFP Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl

3 Michigan State (12-1) vs. 2 Alabama (12-1)

     Lots of people believe that this will be a tough, grind it out, low-scoring affair. I believe it will be a tough, rugged game, but I also think that there will be a good amount of points scored in this game. Both teams have very sturdy defenses, and very consistent offenses. The Heisman Winner, Derrick Henry, looks to run all over Sparty's tough defense, while Connor Cook looks to finish out his stellar career on a positive note against the toughest defense in the nation. Michigan State's best chance to win is to make Bama QB Jake Coker beat you. That requires shutting down Derrick Henry, but it can be done. On the other side of the ball, MSU needs to stay ahead of the chains. If Bama's defense gets Connor Cook (who is phenomenal on 3rd downs) into 3rd and long, they are going to be too strong for even Cook to convert a good amount of them. I would love to see MSU take down the Tide, but I don't think that they'll get it done. I really think that Ohio State is still the best team in the BIG 10, and had they used Ezekiel Elliot against the Spartans, things would be very different. Hopefully they prove me wrong, but I see the Tide Rolling in this one 35-23.

Foster Farms Bowl Reflection

     What a great game for Husker fans! That was a very fun game to watch and I am beyond excited for our team and staff for getting that victory. Tommy played great, the run game was phenomenal, and apart from a few drives, the defense completely shut down a dynamic Bruin offense. Josh Rosen was constantly under pressure from blitzes and the coverage downfield was the best we have seen all season (not saying a whole lot, but it's worth noting). Nebraska had 326 yards rushing in this game, the only 300+ rushing game of the season. They controlled the clock and kept the ball away from Josh Rosen. The O-Line was opening huge holes and the backs were running with a purpose. That's one of the most dominant running games I have seen in a while, especially out of Nebraska. Apart from one drive early in the 4th, and a few other plays, I thought that Langsdorf & Riley called their best offensive game of the season. I was very happy to see that they only had Tommy Armstrong pass when he needed to. Throwing only 19 times was very nice to see. There's no reason to be dropping back 30-40+ times per game. If Nebraska can continue this kind of production on the ground next year, things will be very different.
     On the defensive side of the ball, the Blackshirts came to play. They got pushed around early in the game as UCLA drove right down the field, but after the third TD, the defense seemed to settle in and not give up anything after that. The defensive pressure was key in this game as they rattled Josh Rosen and the Bruin offense early, and kept them from doing very much of anything for half the game. The Blackshirts held UCLA to just 67 yards rushing and 5-12 on third downs. UCLA only had two drives in the 3rd quarter, and both were 3 and outs. The defensive play helped the offense to control the time of possession. Still a lot of work to do in the secondary, but 2 INTs on Josh Rosen is a good start.
     I was very happy to see Tommy have a solid game. He really took that Iowa loss hard, and it's good to see that he's still fighting to prove that he's the QB to lead this team. The game plan helped Tommy and the Huskers succeed, and I'm hoping that is a good sign for next season. I'm anxious to see how the Huskers look under Coach Riley's second year. Obviously this season did not go as planned, but I am certain that another year in the system and getting another recruiting class in will do wonders for this team. Apart from back to back games in Madison and Columbus, the schedule sets up well for a possible 10-11 win season and maybe even a West Division Title and trip to Indianapolis. We can always hope, but we'll have to wait and see next year for the Huskers! I'll do my best to post updates on recruiting after all the bowls are done.
     A quick note on the Nate Gerry Targeting call... HORRIBLE! I honestly have never seen a better tackle. I appreciate what the Targeting rule is trying to protect with player safety and concussions, but there is too much grey area. I think that the NCAA needs to go back and look at the way the rule is written. I agree that if a player deliberately tries to bash his head against someone else's that he should be ejected. But for a hit like Gerry's, or just any big hit in general, a player should not be ejected. Football is a hard hitting game, just because someone de-cleats another player doesn't mean that he was trying to bash his head in and give him a concussion. I think that the rule needs to be looked at and edited. Players heads are going to move in a tackle, that doesn't mean that they were intentionally targeting the opponent's head. The officiating crew on Saturday night was not up to par, and they made a terrible call by ejecting Nate Gerry. He turned his head to the side for pete's sake! Just ridiculous, hopefully someone sheds light on this rule soon. Thank you & GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

December 29th Bowls

     Hey everyone, I hope you're all ready for another great couple days of football as we lead up to the New Year's Eve Semifinals and other big bowl games! This post has my picks for today's 4 bowl games. I plan to have my reflection of the Husker Game and tomorrow's picks up later today/early tomorrow. Comment if you'd like my reflection on any team and how their bowl game/season went. Thank you & GO BIG RED!

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
California (7-5) vs. Air Force (8-5)
     This match-up puts Jared Goff's "Golden Arm" against the Falcons rushing attack. Cal's season seemed to crash and burn for a while after the Utah loss where Goff threw 5 interceptions (a few of them tipped). The Golden Bear's lost 4 straight including the Utah loss, and Goff had 8 picks over those 4 games. However, he has thrown for over 4200 yards this season along with a 37:13 TD to INT ratio. Neither defense is going to be able to stop the other team's offense in this one, so I think there will be a good amount of points in this game. Air Force's best chance to win is to keep the ball away from Jared Goff. Their ground attack can cause havoc for teams, and Cal doesn't have the defense to stop them. I think that this one will be fairly close, but I have the Golden Bears winning this game 38-31.

Russel Athletic Bowl
10 North Carolina (10-2) vs. 17 Baylor (9-3)
     This game will be a very fun one to watch. I had Baylor as my Dark Horse to sneak into the playoffs with Seth Russel at the helm, and even while Jared Stidham was playing, but losing all of their QBs has caused problems for the Bears. Their defense has fallen off the past few games as well, and it seems like they just broke after the Oklahoma loss. UNC has been fighting all season to prove that they should be in the big bowl conversation. They nearly knocked off Clemson in the ACC championship, but a bad offsides call cost them the chance for a big upset. These two teams are very high-powered on offense and struggle to stop much of anything on defense. I expect a lot of points to be scored in this game, especially being played in Orlando. I would love to see the Bears fight back and prove their season wasn't a complete fluke, but I think they'll have to wait until Seth Russel comes back next season. There is going to be a lot of yards in this game, but Tar Heels squeek by in this one 52-44.

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Nevada (6-6) vs. Colorado State (7-5)
     I'm not really a fan of putting two teams from the same conference against each other in the bowl game together, but since they haven't played this season, I'll let it go. I was disappointed with Rashard Higgins this season as he only caught 66 passes for 933 and 8 TDs. I thought that he was going to have a much bigger season after his Sophomore year where he 96 catches for 1750 yards and 17 TDs. Apparently Jim McElwain took a lot of the passing game with him down to Gainesville. Nevada really doesn't have much to talk about with their team. They have a very strong rushing attack, and will look to control the clock. Their secondary is very young though, so CSU can easily get Higgins going. If they get Higgins the ball, they should win this game without too many problems. I have the Rams winning 35-21.

Advocare V100 Texas Bowl
20 LSU (9-3) vs. Texas Tech (7-5)
     I have had a tough time deciding who to pick in this game. This is a very interesting match up as LSU's ground game and sturdy defense go against the Red Raiders' high-flying air attack and Swiss Cheese defense. Leonard Fournette should have a field day running all over, around, and through Tech's defense. However, I expect TTU to put up some points as well. LSU's defense gave up around 200 yards per game in their three losses, and 2/3 of those teams are run heavy. Tech's passing attack is second in the country with just under 400 yards per game. LSU's secondary will be tested like they have never been before this season. Tech will keep it close for a while, but I think the ground game of Leonard Fournette will be too much. Tigers 42, Red Raiders 31.

December 26-28 Bowls

     Hey everyone, I hope you're all having a very Merry Christmas and are enjoying all the College Football action. This post will have my picks for Saturday's games, as well as Monday's games. My pick on the Husker game will be on the bottom, and I will probably have my analysis of the Husker game up on Sunday. Happy Holidays & Go Big Red!

St. Petersburg Bowl
UConn (6-6) vs. Marshall (9-3)
     The Huskies are just a few plays away from a very different record as they played in a lot of close games this year. They have a very tough defense and opposing offenses often find it hard to score points against them as UConn only gives up an average of 19.8 points per game. The big issue for the Huskies is the lack of a productive offense. Their defense has kept them in so many games, but the Huskies offense has failed to capitalize on the numerous opportunities to score points and win the game. It will be tough for them to score in this one as well since Marshall is only giving up 18.4 points per game on average. The level of competition between the two was different indeed, but Marshall's consistent offense makes it tough for opposing teams to have the ball long enough to score. I think that this will be more of a low scoring, defensive battle. Turnovers and TOP are key in this match-up, and I have the Thundering Heard winning 24-13.

Hyundai Sun Bowl
Miami (FL) (8-4) vs. Washington State (8-4)
     This is a fantastic match-up and one game that I am really looking forward to watching. The Canes & the Cougars have two of the most prolific passing attacks in the nation, and are very difficult offenses to stop. Miami has had a very up and down season, but seemed to have gained some confidence since Al Golden was removed. Sophomore QB Brad Kaaya has been their bright spot this season passing for over 3000 yards and owning a 15:4 TD to INT ratio. The Canes need to get a new system in fast, because there is too much talent for Kaaya and crew not to at least compete for an ACC title. On the other side, Wazzu is starting to bring their name back into play for a PAC-12 North Title. The Cougars were just a blocked field-goal away from knocking off Stanford and claiming the North Title this year. Sophomore stud Luke Falk has thrown for over 4200 yards and owns a 36:8 TD to INT ratio. The top ranked passing attack of Wazzu is hard to stop for any team, but I think Miami will have some really though stretches in this game, especially after sending Safety Jamal Carter home for violating team rules less than 1 day after arriving for the bowl game. The weather could damper each team's passing attack, but the QB battle should be a fun one to watch in this game. I have the Cougars winning 35-24.

Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
Washington (6-6) vs. Southern Mississippi (9-4)
     This game features the high-powered Golden Eagle offense against the sturdy Husky defense. So. Miss averages over 500 yards of offense and 40.6 points per game. The level of competition is drastically different between these two, but Southern Miss can still score a lot. Washington's true Freshman QB Jake Browning will be a very good player later in his career and maybe even help the Huskies compete for a PAC-12 Title. He's young, but he is very well rounded in the game and fights to the very end. If Washington can get him some weapons over the next couple years, he's going to be a deadly QB. I expect him to have a big game and the Husky defense should shut down Southern Miss fairly well. I expect a solid win for Washington 38-20.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Indiana (6-6) vs. Duke (7-5)
     This is an interesting match-up since Duke has more or less fallen apart over the last few games. Indiana had a lot of close losses this season, but fought to win out their last two to become bowl eligible. QB Nate Sudfeld and RB Jordan Howard lead the Hoosier offense that is more than capable of scoring points, averaging 36.2 points per game. Duke's offense has struggled mightily this season, especially during the last half where they lost 4 of their last 5 averaging only 25 points per game over that span. Indiana has put themselves in place for a potential upset performance, but can never quite close the deal. I think that they will put this game away with Jordan Howard & Nate Sudfeld playing well. They will need a few stops from their defense, but I can see a lot of points in this one. Indiana 42, Duke 33.

Camping World Independence Bowl
Tulsa (6-6) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6)
     My key factor to victory in this game is Frank Beamer. There is no way that the Hokies will ever let Frank walk off the field losing his final game. VaTech has a lot of pride to play for in this game, and all of their close losses will be forgiven if they can end their rough season with a bowl win. They had a lot of injuries to key players through this season, but should get some key players back for this game. Tulsa's passing attack is something to watch out for as the Hokies struggled against the pass this year, but I honestly can't see anything than a Hokie victory. VaTech 35, Tulsa 23.

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman
Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. Navy (10-2)
     You all know how I feel about Navy QB Keenan Reynolds, and you can all probably guess who my pick is to win this game. I would like to once again say how bad I feel for the Midshipman since, just like New Mexico, they do not get to travel anywhere for their bowl game. These kids deserve a destination bowl more than anyone, especially after a 10 win season! Pitt has a good chance to challenge Navy in this game, but the key will be to get the ball to stud WR Tyler Boyd. Boyd has over 50 receptions more than the next leading receiver on the team and 6 Touchdowns. He is easily the Panthers' best athlete and needs to get the ball if Pitt wants to compete. Georgia Tech is the only other team they have played this season that runs an offense similar to Navy's. Although they won that game, Pitt still gave up 376 yards rushing. I guarantee that if Pitt gives any amount close to that to Keenan Reynolds, this game won't even be close. The advantage Pitt has is that Navy has trouble on defense, especially with a tough passing attack. this will be a good game, but there's just no way I can pick against my man Keenan Reynolds. He'll reclaim his NCAA record for TDs in a career that Kenneth Dixon broke earlier this week and the Midshipmen will win this one at home 40-28.

Quick Lane Bowl
Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Minnesota (5-7)
     It has been a very emotional, up and down season for the Gophers, especially with Head Coach Jerry Kill having to step down mid-season due to health issues. Despite their 5-7 record, they made a bowl game and are looking to end their season on a good note. The Chippewas passing attack averages over 300 yards per game, and their looking to avenge their 1 point bowl loss to WKU from last year. I have to stick with the BIG 10 in this game, so I have the Gophers in a tough one. Minnesota 20, Central Michigan 13.

Foster Farms Bowl
Nebraska (5-7) vs. UCLA (8-4)
     Probably not the ideal match-up for my CornHuskers, but a good one nonetheless. Obviously not the seasons that either of these teams were imagining. UCLA was looking to compete for a PAC-12 Title and possibly break into the top 4. The Huskers' schedule looked prime for a BIG 10 Title run, but lots of close games, new system struggles, and poor play from key players at the most inopportune times lead to a disappointing 5-7 record. The three big questions to ask in this game are:
1. Can the Huskers defense shut down Josh Rosen and that deadly air attack of the Bruins?
2. Which Tommy Armstrong will show up in the Golden Gate City?
3. Which UCLA team will show up?
     The Blackshirts have improved by leaps and bounds since the early part of the season, especially in their last few games. They held Iowa without a third down conversion in their season finale. The big issue for the Huskers defense has been opponents' passing attacks. Nebraska has struggled all year against the pass, often forgetting about someone or just missing the ball when trying to make a play. Once again, it has been better towards the end of the season, but not nearly to the level it needs to be at if the Blackshirts want to stop Josh Rosen.
     On the other side of the ball, Tommy needs to show up to this game. He needs to play lights out, all four quarters from kickoff to the final second. Obviously no team can win without a QB, but in an offensive system like Coach Riley/Langsdorf's, we clearly cannot even function without one. Nebraska does not have the reliable running game it was once known for to fall back on and keep them in the game. The team goes as Tommy goes, the offense is centered around him being able to make plays and get the ball to his receivers. Any QB would kill to have a receiving corps as deep and as experienced as Nebraska's, but they are completely useless if Tommy can't get them the ball. We've seen him when he is at his best (i.e. 4th Quarter Miami/1st Quarter Rutgers), but it seems like his worst always shows up at the wrong times (i.e. Iowa... the entire game). Tommy is a fantastic athlete and one heck of a QB if he works within the system. When he tries to go a "lone gunslinger", which is quite often, he locks in on one receiver, makes poor reads and very poor throws. To beat UCLA, Nebraska needs Tommy to play at his finest. I'm always optimistic, and I believe that Tommy really wants to prove himself after the Iowa game. He can't do it alone though, a strong running game will be key against UCLA. In UCLA's 4 losses, they gave up nearly 200 yards rushing, and over 300 in their blowout loss to Stanford. If the Huskers can establish a solid rushing attack against the Bruins, they can control the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of Josh Rosen.
     Finally, the question of which UCLA team will show up. UCLA has been bi-polar at times throughout the year; In their victories, they have looked like a team that should be in the top four and could compete with anyone, In their losses, they have looked like they don't know what is going on or how to even compete. Freshman QB Josh Rosen has been incredible this season, but is still a freshman. If his team gets into a rut during the game, I'm not convinced that he has the maturity or the leadership to fire them back up and pull them out. When I watched the Arizona State game (their first loss) when momentum shifted, it seemed to just tank the UCLA squad and they could not do anything. If they come out like they did against Utah, and completely shut down the Huskers offense (which isn't always hard depending on which Tommy shows up), the Bruins can easily win this game. If they get into a rut, it could be tough for them to pull this one out. Momentum is a major factor in this game, underrated, but definitely a factor to keep your eye on.
     You all know that I can/will never pick against my Huskers, so we are going to believe that the good Tommy Armstrong shows up and proves that he does want to be QB1 next year. If the Huskers defense can cause just a little pressure on Rosen, get a stop or two, they have a good chance. D-Line pressure is huge for both teams in this game. Whichever QB gets rattled and stays rattled will lose. Hopefully Riley & Langsdorf have added a little more creativity to their rushing attack so that I can't predict every run play before the snap. I've got my Huskers in another close one, 38-34. GO BIG RED!

     I would also like to make a quick note about how Stanford do-it-all RB, Christian McCaffrey, was named the AP Player of the Year earlier this week and was very well deserving. He was the first non-Heisman winner to win this award since Ndamukong Suh back in 2009. In my opinion, based on the finalists of their respective years, both should have won the Heisman over the Bama running backs that only won it since Bama was winning and going to the National Championship/Semifinal games. Congrats Christian McCaffrey, very well deserved, now go BEAT IOWA!

December 22-24 Bowls

     Here are my picks for the rest of the bowl games this week! Saturday's bowls will have there own post and I'll have a big analysis on the Husker game afterwards! Let me know if you want my analysis on any other bowl games! Thank you & Go Big Red!

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Akron (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6)
     I honestly have not watched these teams very much this season, so I'm a little in the dark on this pick. On paper, both teams look fairly even according to the stats, but my big key to victory in this game will be Utah State's defense. The Zips like to run a lot of misdirection plays to fool the defense and often come out in a number of formations, including the wildcat. This could cause potential headaches for the Aggies, but I think that they will rise to the challenge. I have Utah State winning 24-13.

Marmot Boca Raton Bowl
24 Temple (10-3) vs. Toledo (9-3)
     This is an interesting match-up because it pits one of the nations more dominant defenses against one of the nations better rushing attacks. Temple's LB Tyler Matakevich won the Nagurski Award and Bednarik Award for best defensive player of the year, and he leads the stellar Owl defense with 126 tackles and 5 interceptions. They will face a fast-paced Rocket offense that averages around 450 yards per game. RB Kareem Hunt will be the player to watch for Toledo. He missed a few games due to injury this year, but he still has 5 100+ yard rushing games including 4 straight. With Hunt gaining speed over the last few weeks of the season, that poses a big challenge for the Owls. Hunt has 7 TDs in his last 4 games, so that will be the key to shutting down the Rockets. I think the Owls defense will make a few key stops to help them to victory. Temple 27, Toledo 21.

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Boise State (8-4) vs. Northern Illinois (8-5)
     The Broncos walk into this one with one of the premiere passing attacks in the nation in an offense that scores nearly 40 points per game. They're matched up against the Huskies of NIU who have won the West Division of the MAC for the past 6 seasons. The QB battle is key in this game. Boise's stud Freshman Brett Rypien has thrown for nearly 3000 yards this season and 17 touchdowns. Second year starter Drew Hare leads the Huskies with nearly 2000 yards passing and 14 touchdowns. NIU doesn't have the dynamic offense that Boise possesses, but they are very consistent. Look for NIU to keep this one close. I have the Broncos winning 38-35.

GoDaddy Bowl
Georgia Southern (8-4) vs. Bowling Green (10-3)
     The Eagles versus the Falcons. The nation's best rushing attack versus the 3rd best passing attack. Both teams score a lot of points despite being so one dimensional. Probably because they are both so good at what they do. Georgia Southern is lead by RB Matt Breida who has rushed for over 1500 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Falcons dynamic air attack is lead by Senior QB Matt Johnson who has thrown for 4700 yards and 43 touchdowns this season. I expect this one to have a lot of points scored in this one, but the Falcons will emerge victorious. BGSU 56, Georgia Southern 41.

Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
Middle Tennessee (7-5) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
     I honestly would love to be a part of either of these football programs right now if it meant that I got a trip to the Bahamas! That's a pretty luxurious bowl destination for a bunch of college kids if you ask me. If these players can get their heads out of the clouds down in paradise, this could shape up to be a good game to watch. Western Michigan has a very balanced attack on offense that averages 35.4 points per game. The Mustangs rely more on their run game at times, and can be very effective when they get in a grove. The Blue Raiders focus more on the passing game and are lead by Freshman QB Brent Stockstill who has thrown for 3678 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. I think the Mustangs will have the edge in this fight because they will be able to control the clock with their rushing attack. WMU 35, MT 27.

Hawaii Bowl
San Diego State (10-3) vs. Cincinnati (7-5)
     This match-up looks to be a fun game to watch. Donnel Pumphrey leads the Aztecs rushing attack with 1554 yards and 16 touchdowns so far this season. The big question in this game however is if Cincy's dynamic passing attack can break through the rugged Aztec defense. San Diego State is only giving up an average of 17.2 points per game which ranks 10th in the country. Cincy's QB Gunner Kiel leads the Bearcats offense with 19 TDs even with missing 3 games with an injury. This will be a tough game to score points in, but I think that Pumphrey will lead the Aztecs to victory. San Diego State 28, Cincy 24.

December 21 Bowl

     Bowl season is off and running! There's a nice calendar of games set up for us to watch this week as we approach Christmas. Here is my pick for today's game!

Miami Beach Bowl

Western Kentucky (11-2) vs. South Florida (8-4)

     This bowl places two high-powered offensive attacks against each other. USF struggled in the early parts of the season starting out 1-3, but turned on the burners in the second half going 7-1 and scoring over 40 points in each of their last 3 games. Sophomore QB Quinton Flowers leads the Bulls' dynamic offense with nearly 900 yards rushing, over 2000 passing, and 31 total touchdowns. Senior QB Brandon Doughty leads the Hilltoppers with nearly 4500 yards passing and 45 passing touchdowns. I think this one will be a high-scoring affair as WKU averages 44.2 points per game. Whichever QB can come out hot will win this one, but I'm going to go with the Senior. Doughty has been stellar his entire career at WKU, especially the last two seasons, and I think he'll end his career with a bowl victory. WKU 49, USF 38.

December 19th Bowl Games

     Hey everyone, I hope you're all ready for a great holiday season with a fantastic slate of College Football to watch! I am going to make predictions on every single bowl game, so if you want to join me, comment with your picks! I love watching the match-ups in bowl games because you never know what you could get. Here we go, it's Bowl Season!

Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Arizona (6-6) vs. New Mexico (7-5)
     I feel bad for New Mexico in this one because although they do get home field advantage, they don't get to travel anywhere for their bowl game. The Lobos' triple option attack can cause headaches for a defense like Arizona's that has been on its heels all season. However, the Wildcats will get All-American Linebacker Scooby Wright back from injury. Wright is arguably one of the best defensive players in all of College Football and brings so much life back into this defense. Arizona has struggled mightily without him, so his return should spark a fire. I expect Scooby to shut down New Mexico's rushing attack and Anu Solomon will have a feast on the Lobos weaker defense. Even with home field advantage, I'm going with Arizona in this game, 28-13 Wildcats.

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
BYU (9-3) vs. 22 Utah (9-3)
     I was beyond excited when I saw this match-up get selected. BYU and Utah have a big rivalry and since they changed conferences, they don't get to play each other every year like they used to. Now they get to duel for both the Las Vegas Bowl Title and for the Beehive Boot. This should be a very interesting match-up even with the rivalry aside. The Utes were on top of the world in the early parts of this season, but some lopsided losses really took them out of any chance for a PAC-12 Title or a New Year's Six Bowl. I believe that Utah's struggles have stemmed from the run game. I don't think that they are using Devontae Booker enough as he is only averaging 22 attempts per game. Not terrible, but for a player of his caliber, he should easily be closer to 30. BYU's passing attack has been very solid this season under Tanner Mangum, and I expect him to have a big day against a shaky Utes secondary. If Utah let's Devontae Booker control this game, they can win. However, based on how this season has gone, I think that the Cougars will come out on top in this one. Look for it to be close, maybe even another Hail Mary! BYU 24, Utah 20.

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Ohio (8-4) vs. Appalachian State (10-2)
     Not the most intriguing match-up to watch, but College Football is never bad in my eyes! I always try to root for Frank Solich since I watched him coach the Huskers as I was growing up. The Bobcats started out strong, had a very rough patch mid-season with 3 straight double-digit losses, and then finished out the year strong. They have a fairly balanced offense, but nothing too flashy. The Mountaineers are lead by dual threat QB Taylor Lamb, and RB Marcus Cox. They are the two big play-makers on offense, and often cause headaches for opposing defenses. Both teams have fairly solid defenses that don't give up many points. Granted, they have not played against some of the better teams in the nation. I like Frankie, but I think that Taylor Lamb will be too much for him today, Mountaineers win this game 42-27.

Autonation Cure Bowl
San Jose State (5-7) vs. Georgia State (6-6)
     Another game that might not be very appealing to some, but it's still football nonetheless. The Panthers of GSU have a prolific passing attack lead by QB Nick Arbuckle who has thrown for over 4100 yards so far this season. However, even with their strong passing attack, Georgia State struggles to get the ball into the endzone. Their defense also struggles at preventing other teams from getting the ball into the endzone. They've been in a few close games this season, but haven't quite been able to close the deal. The Spartans are lead by Senior RB Tyler Ervin who has nearly 1500 yards rushing and 13 TDs so far this season. Ervin is a very powerful player and means a lot to San Jose's offense. If the Panthers want any chance of winning, they need to shut him down. I think that Ervin will have a great game in his last one as a Spartan, leading San Jose to victory. I'm excited to watch this one because I think that Ervin might be able to sneak into the NFL radar with a good game today. Spartans take down the Panthers 34-17.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Arkansas State (9-3) vs. Louisiana Tech (8-4)
     Former Florida QB Jeff Driskel has lead the Bulldogs to a solid 8-4 season by passing for over 3500 yards and 24 TDs. LA Tech is looking for it's second 9-win season in a row under 3rd year coach Skip Holtz. The Red Wolves are the Sun Belt Conference Champs and are fairly balanced on offense. They are 10th in the nation by scoring an average of 41 points per game. Look for this one to be a little higher scoring as Driskel looks to torch the Red Wolves defense that doesn't allow much. I think that Arkansas State will win this one with a couple of interceptions, Red Wolves 38, Bulldogs 20.

I hope you all enjoyed my picks and I hope you will enjoy the first 5 Bowl Games of the season. I can't wait for the rest of the games. I want to send a big shout out to the Husker Volleyball girls as they take on Texas tonight for the National Title, Thank You & GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

The Heisman

     Hey everyone, I hope you're all ready for the Army - Navy game today and the Heisman ceremony later tonight. This post is going to be a reflection of my thoughts on the three Heisman Finalists, and who I believe the award should go to... even though it's already been determined by every College Football Analyst.

     The three big things that bug me the most about the Heisman is that 1. It's strictly given as an offensive award, 2. It is a very biased award, and 3. It's only given to a player if his team wins. I have always enjoyed watching the Heisman ceremony, but it seems that the award has been given out to the winner before the ceremony even begins the past few years. I was very frustrated to see that once again, that the Heisman Committee only selected three finalists. The Finalists this year are Derrick Henry (RB, Alabama), Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford), and Deshaun Watson (QB, Clemson). I have always believed that their should be five finalists since that is what it always used to be. Whenever I see it narrowed down to three finalists, I can tell that they have already chosen a winner. I was very upset when they announced the three finalists this year, because they left out my favorite to win the award, Navy QB Keenan Reynolds. Many of the analysts have already awarded the Heisman to Derrick Henry, who has had an incredible season, but I just feel someone else has earned it more. 

     My five finalists in order would have been 1. Keenan Reynolds, 2. Christian McCaffrey, 3. Derrick Henry, 4. Deshaun Watson, and 5. Baker Mayfield. I promise that it's not just my annoyance with Bama to put Henry down that far. He is definitely one of the best backs in the nation, and definitely deserves to be a finalist. My biggest argument with Henry winning the award is that the Heisman is supposed to be for the best College player in the nation, and I don't believe he is. You could put almost any running back in the nation be hind Bama's offensive line and they would have a great season. They may not reach the stats or records that Henry has broken this season, but I promise you that they would still be running through those 4 foot wide holes from Bama's O-Line. If you're going to be the best player in the nation, I believe that you should be the most important player on your team as well. If you take out Christian McCaffrey from Stanford this year, I would bet that their record would be closer to 8-4 or 7-5 without a trip to the PAC-12 Title game. If you take Baker Mayfield out of OU, they collapse after the Texas loss and probably end up 9-3 or 8-4. My best example is Keenan Reynolds. If you were to take out the 4-year starter from the Midshipmen's option attack, I promise you that Navy wins a total of 10 games maximum over the past 4 seasons. Reynolds means more to that team than any other player means to any other team in the nation. That's not my only argument for why Reynolds should have been at least a finalists if not the winner. Reynolds has 25 total TDs on the season and over 2000 total yards. Even in their two losses, Reynolds accounted for over 500 yards of offense and 2 TDs. He also broke Montee Ball's FBS record for most rushing touchdowns in a career. Ball was at least a finalist the year he set that record! ESPN had him on the list for fan voting a couple of weeks ago, but took him off because he was receiving a majority of the votes even after their loss to Navy. I really don't see how the Heisman can be determined by the number of wins a team has. Especially when a candidate still performs at a Heisman caliber level. I know that it's underlying, but another reason that Reynolds couldn't have ever won the award, or even been a finalist in this case is because he plays football at Navy. Even though he has made Navy a dangerous opponent, he does not play for a premiere football program, and therefore cannot be considered a high enough caliber player to win such a prestigious award. I really wish that he could've won the award this year, I am very upset that he was not at least honored as a finalist. For all that he has done for College Football and what he has and will do for this country, I thought that would only be fair.

     As for the three finalists, I truly believe that if I had to put together a College Football team, I would choose Christian McCaffrey as my RB. Deshaun Watson has had a great season, but I don't believe he has enough buzz to win the award. Back to the running backs, Henry is no slouch, and any coach would love to have him in their backfield, but I think that McCaffrey is more of an all around player than Henry's power back style. McCaffrey has proven to be useful in every aspect of the offensive game including kick returns, running the ball, catching passes, and even throwing the ball. In the PAC-12 Championship game he had a rushing, receiving, and passing TD. McCaffrey has broken Barry Sanders record for all-purpose yards in a season as well. I think that he should win the Heisman tonight, but we'll have to wait and see.

     On Bowl Selections, I was very excited with many of the match ups. I want to send a shout out to New Mexico and Navy. They got skimped on their bowl games as they don't even get to leave their campus! I say that these kids should be rewarded with a Bowl game that allows them to travel. However, I am excited for all the bowl match-ups and I will be making predictions on each one of them. Enjoy the game today and GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY! GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Conference Championship Predictions

     Another big day in football is upon us! Championship weekend is here, and we have some big games today. Many of these conference championship games have big implications on the playoff picture, and chaos can still happen! Let's hope for something interesting today.

American Athletic Conference Championship
1. 22 Temple at 19 Houston
     Both of these teams were looking to crash into a New Year's Six bowl earlier this season, but lost a couple games in the home stretch. Temple's defense was one of the toughest earlier this season, but have struggled the past few games, especially against USF where they gave up 44 points. Houston's high-powered offense is very similar to that of USF's, and I expect them to put up a lot of points in this one. They've had a little chip on their shoulder after their UConn upset, and I think they were over looking that game too much. Houston QB Greg Ward Jr. is going to light up Temple's secondary, and the Cougars win this one 45-27.

SEC Championship
2. 18 Florida vs. 2 Alabama
     This one has potential for chaos, but the chances are slim. The Gators are coming off of a big loss to in-state rival FSU and could be looking for an upset in this one. It's definitely possible, but it will take a lot for the Gators to win this one. The big key is to stop Derrick Henry and make Jake Coker and Alabama pass to move the ball. Florida's defense is very opportunistic and creates a lot of turnovers. The big issue for the Gators is on offense. I doubt that they have found one in the past week, and I don't see them scoring a lot of points in this game. As much as I want to see the Tide fall, Derrick Henry will not be stopped and Bama Rolls to a 35-14 victory. I wouldn't be mad getting this one wrong though.

PAC-12 Championship
3. 20 USC vs. 7 Stanford
     If chaos happens, this is an interesting game to watch. IF the Tide or Clemson were to fall, I believe that Stanford should be in the Playoffs if they take care of USC again. Christian McCaffrey had over 250 all purpose yards against the Trojans earlier this season, and Stanford scored 41 points. USC has improved over the season, but I think that Stanford is too strong of a team. This one will be a little closer, but I have the Trees 34-28. Hopefully they can jump into the playoffs with this win and some chaos.

ACC Championship
4. 10 North Carolina vs. 1 Clemson
     This is the game with the biggest potential of chaos. North Carolina has not lost since the opening weekend, but they have had a very weak schedule. UNC is looking to knock off number one and try to jump into the playoff picture. Clemson's defense is very tough, but has yet to play an offense as good as the Tar Heels. Look for this game to be close, and I would love to see the upset, but I don't think that UNC can keep up. This is their first true test, so we'll see how it goes. I have the Tigers 31-23.

BIG 10 Championship
5. 5 Michigan State vs. 4 Iowa
     This is another classic BIG 10 match-up, two big bruising teams ready to grind it out. Iowa has found ways to win in close games all season long. They have not looked like a championship caliber team, but championship teams always find ways to win. Winning the line of scrimmage will be key in this game. Two tough defenses and two power running offenses. We'll see how the Hawkeyes handle the big spotlight. This will be their toughest match-up of the season as they played the weaker teams from the East Division during the regular season. I think Connor Cook will have the advantage in this game, and all the yards that Iowa gives up will finally turn into points. The Hawkeyes have been out gained in their last couple games against Purdue and Nebraska. Points are hard to get against the Hawkeyes, but this will be the best offense they have played all season. I really don't think that Iowa would be the best representative in the Playoffs for the BIG 10, but this is the game to prove it. If they win, look for it to be really close and possibly come down to the last second. I think that Sparty will take control of this game though. MSU in a close one 30-24.

     I hope you all have a great Saturday of football! I hope some chaos takes place to make the Playoff race interesting! GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Rivalry Week Reflection

     Hey everyone, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend, and a great weekend of football! Sorry for the late post, but I have been swamped this week getting ready for finals and finishing up the semester. I had a rough week with my picks, but watching all the games was still nothing but fun. There wasn't quite as much chaos as I was hoping for, but there were still some really great games. In this post I'll discuss the Iowa-Nebraska game, along with the bowl situation for the Huskers.
     I had a lot of fun at the game, even with how freezing cold it was. It was a lot of fun meeting some more recruits and reconnecting with some of my previous recruits that I am now friends with. I was bummed that we lost, but I really do not believe that Iowa beat Nebraska on Friday, Nebraska beat Nebraska. Iowa played a very good football game, and definitely deserve the win since they minimized their mistakes, but they did not look like a championship caliber team. With the number of mistakes made by the Huskers, specifically the four interceptions Tommy put right in the hands of Iowa players, the Hawkeyes easily should have scored 50+. I would like to give a lot of credit to the Blackshirts defense; besides the two long TD runs by Canzeri, Iowa's extremely efficient offense was completely locked down. Sadly, the Huskers offense, specifically Tommy, did not show up to this contest.
     Offensive execution has to be one of the biggest focuses of the off-season for the Huskers. I think that Coach Riley & Coach Langsdorf need to sit down with the tape and scrap some of the plays that did not work this year, specifically the screen passes. I have never been a big fan of screens, but if they are run right, no one will have a problem. Nebraska has a lot of problems running them though, so I think we need to focus on something else. Another big adjustment to the play book I would like to see is a more creative running game. I can easily predict where the run plays are going from my seat in the student section, so I know the defense can see it as well. The blocking does not set up well and there is hardly ever a hole for the backs. Speaking of running backs, they need to work a lot this off-season as well. They need to hit the hole hard and fast, and limit the amount of dancing. Newby has looked very good at times this year, but there are numerous times throughout the game where he just tries to dance and juke around everyone too much, wasting too much time and letting whatever hole was there to close. Back to the game a little bit, I thought that the play calling was sub-par once again. I thought that we abandoned the run game (no matter how pathetic at times) too soon. Having Tommy throw the ball 40+ times per game is not an ideal situation for Nebraska, especially when he's not having a good game. I know a lot of people have been questioning the 4th & 1 call where Tommy went deep to the endzone. I personally think that we should have kicked the field goal and gotten the points while we could, but with the play that was called, it was not completely stupid. Clearly our running game wasn't going to get the yard that we needed, so Langsdorf dialed up a passed. The play worked to perfection as the bunch formation on the left side of the line broke out into their routes and TE Cethan Carter was wide open for the first down, and a whole lot more. The only issue is that Tommy was going for the home run ball and never looked left to see Carter waving his hands. After going back and watching the film, I was not upset with the call at all, because Langsdorf clearly found the hole he had been looking for, but Tommy blew it. The circumstances of that play would tell even the most simple of football novices that you should never throw that pass. The offense will have a lot of work to do in perfecting this system. Tommy and Langsdorf need to work constantly together this off-season working on Tommy's reads and decision making. Everyone wants Patrick O'Brien to come in and take the starting job in the Spring, but I really don't see that happening. Tommy is going to be our QB next year, but he needs to get better for this team to succeed. This team will be better next year, but the offense, especially the run game and Tommy, need to improve. I don't even want to discuss his interceptions because they were beyond horrible. Not even close to our wide outs and easy pickings for the Iowa defense.
     On the defensive side of the ball, the Blackshirts had another great outing. Canzeri had those two big touchdown runs early in the third quarter, but after that, Iowa's offense did nothing. Besides those two drives, they didn't really do anything significant on offense throughout the game. Nebraska held Iowa to a total of 250 yards and only 97 passing yards. The two big run plays accounted for 97 of the rushing yards as well. The Blackshirts also stopped the Hawkeyes completely on 3rd down. Iowa was 0-9 on their third down attempts. For a team that averaged almost a 47% conversion rate on 3rd down, that is very impressive. The defense has easily improved leaps and bounds over the past few weeks, and having a healthy linebacking corps and other players back in the line up really helped as well. Overall I'm a little frustrated with the game because just like many of the other games this season, the Huskers easily could have come away with a victory. Minimizing mistakes will be key for Riley's teams to be successful.
     As for the bowl possibilities for the Huskers, I have conflicting feelings. As a college football fan, I do not believe that there should be 41 bowl games in the first place. Having too many bowl games takes away that aspect of fighting to become bowl eligible and allows teams with losing records to sneak their way into the post-season. I believe that it should be a reward to earn a bowl game, and you should only receive that reward if you go 6-6 or better. That being said, I am very happy that my Huskers will get to go to a bowl game for a few reasons:
1. I am a huge Husker fan and love watching my team play as much as possible
2. I am happy for all my friends in the band and on the team or staff who get to go on this special trip
3. This will give the Huskers more time to practice and another game setting in which they can improve themselves
     I am excited to see what bowl game the Huskers end up in, and who our opponent will be. I will be making predictions on all 41 bowl games and it's always fun to see the match-ups. I hope you enjoyed reading my reflection post, and please comment if you think of any topics you would like me to cover. GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Rivalry Weekend Predictions

     Hey everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you're all stuffed and ready for the best weekend of the year in College Football... and overall in my book! Rivalry weekend is upon us, and although it marks the end of the regular season for football, it also means that the bowl games are right around the corner. There is a great set of games this weekend, many of them having big implications on the playoff picture. I wish I could make a pick on all of the great rivalry games, but there are just too many. I will do quite a few this week though, so be prepared. Always remember that anything is possible in College Football, especially during Rivalry Week! Records go out the window, and teams play on an entirely different level when they play against their rivals. This is the weekend where chaos gets its name from, so here we go!

1. 15 Navy at Houston
     Since this is Navy's first season as a member of the American Conference, this is a new rivalry. I think that over the next few years, these two teams will continue to be atop the American Conference, and this rivalry will have a bigger impact. Houston is coming off a big upset at the hands of UConn last week, while Navy just continues to run over, around, and through teams. UConn ran very well against Houston last week, blasting them for a few big runs throughout the game. I believe that Navy is too tough to stop with the Triple Option attack, and I still have them winning the American Conference this year. Midshipmen win this one 40-24.

2. 20 Washington State at Washington
     The Apple Cup: Wazzu against the Huskies of Washington. This is always a classic game up in the Pacific Northwest, and it has some extra implications this year. Washington is fighting for a bowl game while Wazzu is tying to turn the tide in a series in which the Huskies have won 5 out of the last 6. Luke Falk has taken the PAC-12 by storm this year, passing for 4266 yards and 36 TDs. If he is not able to play tomorrow, I believe it will be a much closer game. Washington's defense has been very tough for opponents to score on, giving up an average of 18.5 points per game this season. The biggest issues are on offense for Chris Petersen's squad. I have the Cougars winning with or without Luke Falk, but if he's not able to go, look for Washington's defense to cause more havoc. Wazzu 35, Huskies 28.

3. 7 Baylor at 19 TCU
     Earlier this season, this looked to be the game that would decide which Big XII team jumped into the playoff. TCU has fallen off the past couple of weeks, and the injuries to Boykin and Doctson have not helped. Baylor is still in prime position to win the Big XII and find their way into the Final Four. Backup QB Jarrett Stidham is the second Bears QB to lose the end of his season to injury, but third-string QB Chris Johnson tore apart OSU's defense when he came in off the bench last Saturday. TCU fought admirably against the Sooners, but couldn't quite pull the upset. This will be another big shootout, and the rivalry only feeds the fire. Last year the Bears came back from a 21 point deficit to win a 61-58 thriller in Waco. Traveling to Ft. Worth is never an easy task, but I think that the Bears will handle this one. Chris Johnson leads the Bears to victory and a spot in the playoffs. Bears 52, Horned Frogs 40.

4. 8 Ohio State at 10 Michigan
     The first of many meetings between Urban Meyer and Jim Harbaugh. This one should be a great game up in the Big House. Ohio State is coming off of their first loss of the season as the Spartans upset them with a walk-off field goal in the Horseshoe last week. Two tough defenses face off in what should be another low scoring, hard-nosed game. Michigan will try to shut down JT Barrett and the deadly Buckeye offense that has struggled to get off to a fast start in games. It will be interesting to see what kind of leadership is shown by the Buckeyes as RB Ezekiel Elliot and QB Cardale Jones both said they would not return for their Senior campaigns after the MSU game. Elliot was especially upset with the number of times he touched the ball and the coaching decisions that were made. I think that the off-field issues will hurt the Buckeyes in this game. Michigan has played very good football this year, and I think that they will beat their arch rival at home this weekend. Harbaugh gets a leg up on the rivalry and Michigan wins it 28-23. The winner of this game is hoping for a Penn State victory so that they can claim the East Division Title.

5. 1 Clemson at South Carolina
     The Gamecocks have more or less fallen off of the face of the Earth this season. Favored as one of the best candidates to win the SEC East Division, they find themselves walking into this rivalry game at 3-8 with nothing special to play for besides bragging rights and upset capability. That's all the motivation you need in a rivalry game though. Records don't matter this weekend, and I think that South Carolina will try as hard as they can to prove that. There's nothing better than to have the number one team walk into your house thinking they've already won it. However, I don't believe that South Carolina has any team chemistry this season, and that's a big factor in their losses. Clemson's defense should be able to take care of the Gamecocks, and I think that Deshaun Watson will tear apart their defense. Clemson is out to prove they're number one, and they'll do that with a convincing 45-14 victory. Sorry Cocky, no upsets this year.

6. Penn State at 5 Michigan State
     The Nittany Lions walk into East Lancing looking to upset the 5th ranked Spartans. They have climbed back up in the polls after falling to my Huskers a few weeks ago, and look to book a trip to Indianapolis if they can get a win on Senior Day. The Nittany Lions are looking to claw their way back into becoming one of the Powerhouses in the East. Their defense is very tough to score on and keeps them in games, but their offense still struggles to find their groove. Sparty's defense stepped up last game, as well as backup QB Tyler O'Connor. Connor Cook looks to be back for Senior day, and one can only imagine what kind of damage he's looking to do. An East Division title will put Michigan State back into title talk. I think that this one will be a tough, low scoring game, but Sparty will come out on top. Penn State just doesn't have the offensive firepower to match the Spartans. Michigan State 28, Penn State 17.

7. Wisconsin at Minnesota
     The Gophers are looking to end an emotional season with a victory over the Badgers and a trip to a Bowl game. The Badgers are coming off a close loss on Senior day to the Wildcats of Northwestern. This game won't be anything flashy, just a tough, hard fought battle between two bitter rivals. The Battle for Paul Bunyan's Ax has not been very close the past few seasons, and Minnesota is looking for their first win since 2003! I think that Mitch Leidner and the Gophers will get it done in this one and win a close one 23-20.

8. 2 Alabama at Auburn
     The Iron Bowl, another great rivalry in College Football. Two years out from the incredible "Kick-Six", Bama looks to walk into Jordan Hare Stadium and pummel a struggling Tiger squad that is looking for another upset. Over the season, Auburn has not given up a whole lot of points, but they have not scored many either. Their struggles on offense have lead them to a 6-5 record. This game has big implications nationally because not only would it probably knock Bama out of playoff contention, but it would put Ole Miss into the SEC title game if they can win the Egg Bowl. Sadly, I don't think that Bama will fall in this one. Derrick Henry will run through his 6ft wide holes and Bama should cruise to victory. If Auburn is within striking distance in the 4th Quarter, it could get interesting, but I have the Tide rolling in this one 38-21.

9. 22 UCLA at USC
     The classic LA showdown of Southern California. Cross town rivals with everything on the line. The winner of this game books their trip to the PAC-12 Title game in Santa Clara against the Stanford Cardinal. Both have fallen to Stanford already this season, so they would love nothing more for another shot. The Trojans came into the year favored to win the PAC-12 and be selected into the playoffs. Those dreams faded throughout the year as off the field issues caught up with head coach Steve Sarkisian forcing him to step down. Play on the field has been up and down all season for both teams. UCLA got off to a great start, but struggled mightily throughout conference play. Both teams have shown that they can play with the best, but have also shown terrible outings. I picked USC to win the South division earlier this season, and they have the perfect chance to do it against their rivals. Josh Rosen has had an impressive freshman campaign, but I think USC's defense will get the best of him. Trojans force too many turnovers and win this game 35-21.

10. 18 Ole Miss at 21 Mississippi State
     The Egg Bowl, another great rivalry in the SEC. Both teams have great leadership at the QB position, especially the Bulldogs in Dak Prescott. He has been one of my favorite players to watch over the past few years in College Football. I would love to see him have a great day on Senior Day, and send Ole Miss packing. The Rebels have been so hot and cold this season, and with the talent level that they have, they really shouldn't be struggling with teams. They're hoping for an Auburn upset, but they still need to get by Dak Prescott. The Rebel's defense have struggled against balanced offenses, so look for a shootout in this one. Chad Kelly and Lequon Treadwell will be going deep quite often against the Bulldogs struggling pass defense that gives up an average of 215 yards per game passing. I think that Dak Prescott will shine in his final home game as a Bulldog, and Hail State will win the shootout 45-42.

11. 13 Florida State at 12 Florida
     The Gators and the Seminoles square off in the classic Florida Rivalry. The Gators have already locked up their trip to Atlanta, and are looking to finish the season 11-1. They seemed to have overlooked Florida Atlantic last week as it took Overtime for the Gators to hold off the Owls. Hopefully they aren't looking at the SEC Title game already, because they have a great opportunity to fight their way back into the playoff picture with a solid win this weekend. Neither team's offense has been stellar this season, so I think that this one will be a low scoring affair. Dalvin Cook should be a big factor as FSU's QB situation has been in question the past few games. I think that the Gators have enough offense to get around Florida State, and they're looking to stop FSU's streak of two straight wins in the series. Gators 24, Seminoles 20.

12. 6 Notre Dame at 9 Stanford
     This game is one of my top games to watch this weekend. Both Notre Dame and Stanford are trying to fight their way into the Playoff picture. The Irish are coming off of a sub-par game against Boston College in which they turned the ball over 5 times. The Cardinal are a much tougher opponent and are not going to let you win if you commit 5 turnovers. Notre Dame's defense may be young, but they are well experienced due to injures over the past couple years. Offensively, the duo of Kizer and Fuller causes headaches for every defense they face. I see this game being a little more high scoring than others, so look for more offense. Christian McCaffrey is still my top Heisman choice so far this season, and I think that he will have another monster game. I know my Uncle won't be very happy with me, but I have to go with the Cardinal on this one. McCaffery is going to be too much for the Irish. Stanford 38, Notre Dame 33.

13. 3 Oklahoma at 11 Oklahoma State
    Bedlam, the Big XII depends on this game. Oklahoma wins the conference title with a win and a Baylor loss in either of their next two games. Oklahoma State looks to knock OU out of the playoffs, and try to climb back into the talk of them. The Cowboys were embarrassed last week at home by a Baylor offense that torched them for 700 yards of offense. They will look to bounce back against a Sooner squad that escaped the upset against TCU last week, but has otherwise been on a roll since their Texas loss. The Sooners are sitting at number 3 right now, and are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. This one will be another great Big XII shootout, and I think the Cowboys will show up ready to win. Oklahoma might still be wondering how they let TCU's freshman QB nearly upset them, and I think that the deep threat of OSU's passing game will hurt the Sooners over and over again. We'll see which QB starts for the Sooners and if it's Trevor Knight, look for OU to start slow on offense. Cowboys win Bedlam 45-38.

14. 4 Iowa at Nebraska
     Boarder War, Farmageddon, or The Heroes Game. What ever you want to call it, this rivalry is finally getting some national attention. The 4th ranked Hawkeyes are 11-0, have locked up a trip to Indianapolis, and are looking for a spot in the playoffs. They don't blow teams out, but they always find a way to win games. They have yet to trail in the 4th Quarter this season, and their 3-Headed rushing attack is nothing to overlook. Defensively, they have one of the most consistent squads in the nation. They tend to run a lot of zone coverage with good push from their front four and outside blitzes. The have struggled with fully putting teams away through out the year, so look for this to be another game that comes down to the wire. Nebraska is looking to upset their rivals, finish this regular season with 3 straight victories, and make a Bowl game at 6-6. The Huskers have already upset a top ten team at home this year, and Husker Nation would love nothing more for Coach Riley's first Heroes Game. The Huskers are coming off of a bye week which has allowed them to get healthy. That will be a key factor in this game. The defense has gotten a lot of players back this week, and the linebacker corps is nearly as healthy as it was against BYU. This game will be a hard-nosed, ground and pound battle between two tough teams. The Huskers have one of the better run defenses in the country, but still struggle against the pass. They have done much better the past couple games, but the Blackshirts will have to play their best game yet if they want to pull the upset. Offensively, Tommy needs to play like he did in the first quarter against Rutgers. The Huskers need to keep drives alive and hold onto the ball in this one. Look for RBs Imani Cross and Terrell Newby be used a lot in this one. My big keys to victory in this game are Time of Possession and which team can capitalize on turnovers. Whoever can score off of the other team's turnovers, they will win this game. Last year, special teams was the deciding factor as DPE returned two big punts in the fourth quarter, the second for a TD. Sadly, DPE won't be out their for this game, so mistakes on special teams must be avoided. The team that minimizes their mistakes has the best chance to win this game. I know both teams are very motivated, and it's going to be a great game to watch. I'm very excited to meet the recruits tomorrow, but it's going to be a cold one. I've got another upset for the Huskers in this one, 28-24. The Sea of Red is going to be electric tomorrow, and there's nothing better than a rivalry game in Lincoln!

     I hope you all enjoyed my picks and had a great Thanksgiving. Now let's all just sit back, relax, and watch the chaos of Rivalry weekend start. Thanks for reading and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Week 12 Predictions

     I hope everyone is ready for an action-packed Saturday of football! I'll be spending my Saturday with my family down in Jacksonville, FL as my Uncle is getting married today. However, there are still a ton of big games this weekend and I'm still going to make my picks for the week, so here we go!

1. 21 Memphis at Temple
     Memphis is coming off of two straight losses, the most recent one to an undefeated Houston team that is looking to crash their way into a New Year's Six Bowl game. The Owls have dropped two out of their last three, coming off of a major upset at the hands of South Florida last week. Both teams are looking to find their footing after struggling the past few weeks. Temple still has a strong defense, but they have had some very rough few weeks. I'm giving Memphis might have the edge in this one. Their offense is coming off of two sub-par performances, and they are ready to explode. I think that Paxton Lynch will be too much for the Owls to handle today and Memphis gets the win 38-20.

2. 12 Michigan at Penn State
     The Nittany Lions have played very well this season, and have one of the better defenses in the nation giving up just 17.7 points per game. Michigan has a much stronger offense than PSU, but their defense is nothing to forget about. The Wolverines are giving up an average of just 14.8 points per game. Both teams will come out tough, but I think the Wolverines want a chance at the BIG 10 Title, and they'll hold off Hackenberg winning this one close 21-16.

3. 15 LSU at 22 Ole Miss
     Another classic rivalry takes place down in the SEC this weekend. The Tigers have lost two straight and now travel to Ole Miss to take on a confused Rebels squad. Everyone and their dog still has to be wondering how Ole Miss let Arkansas upset them two weeks ago with that insane 4th & 25 conversion. The Rebels are still playing for a spot in the SEC title game however. If they win today, and Auburn upsets Alabama next week, the Rebels can reach the SEC title game with another win in the Egg bowl. Leonard Fournette has more or less dropped out of the Heisman race as LSU has dropped their last two games. Even though the Rebel's defense is loaded with 4 and 5 star talent, they haven't quite lived up to the hype. Let's see how they handle Fournette. I think Ole Miss takes care of business though and wins this one 34-21.

4. 24 USC at 23 Oregon
     At the beginning of the season, this looked like the preview match-up of the PAC-12 Title Game, but times have changed. USC still has a very good shot at winning the South Division, but Oregon is never an easy hurdle to jump. Especially since they are coming off of a major upset on Stanford just last week in Palo Alto. Both teams have explosive offenses and defenses that aren't bad, but don't always live up to their hype. Two of the Duck's losses have come at home this year, but USC has not traveled the best this season. I think that the Ducks are on the rise again, and I still see Utah getting into the PAC-12 Title game. Ducks win it 40-30.

5. UCLA at 13 Utah
     The Utes are still very much in contention for not only a PAC-12 Title, but possibly a New Year's Six Bowl! They get a struggling UCLA team at home this week, and are looking to bounce back from that Arizona loss. UCLA has all the talent and potential to win the South Division, but they have dropped key games in horrible fashion. They can still reach the PAC-12 Title game if they win out, but I don't think that they'll be able to get it done in Salt Lake City. Devontae Booker is going to run over, around, and through the Bruins defense leading the Utes to a 35-17 victory.

6. 20 Northwestern at 25 Wisconsin
     This is an interesting match-up over in the BIG 10 West. Both the Wildcats and the Badgers have had somewhat tough stumbles throughout the year, but they have both also won a lot of close games. I think that this line should be a little closer than the 10 point margin the experts are saying. I'm not really sure how to peg this one. Neither team has very much offense, but both defenses are two of the best in the conference. Look for a low scoring affair in this one with the Badgers edging out Northwestern at home 18-13.

7. 9 Michigan State at 3 Ohio State
     This is the big showdown in the BIG 10 this week. A game that gives the winner a big advantage in winning the East Division. Both of these teams have been near the top of the rankings all season long despite their lackluster performances on the field. I personally don't think that either one of these teams is the real deal this year, but the winner definitely puts themselves in a good position for the playoff. Connor Cook better get back on his game quick, because he'll have Joey Bosa and a very fast Buckeye D-line coming after him all game. If the Spartans can control the clock, they may be able to stay close and possibly pull the upset. The score will be pretty tight until mid-late third quarter. By then, J.T. Barrett will figure out how to hurt Sparty, and he'll start going off. Look for Braxton Miller to be a HUGE factor against MSU's struggling secondary. I have the Buckeyes winning this one 38-24.

8. Mississippi State at Arkansas
     I chose this game because it looks like a very interesting match-up to me. If you have not watched either of these teams much this season, both are playing very good football, especially as of late. Arkansas is coming off of two massive upsets on Ole Miss and LSU. They'll be looking to continue their power rushing attack and control the clock all game long. The Bulldogs are lead by star QB Dak Prescott, who has been putting up insane numbers all season long. He has over 2600 passing yards, 18 TDs and only 2 picks. I love watching Dak play, and I think he'll play great against a vulnerable Razorback defense, but I don't see a victory for him. Arkansas QB, Brandon Allen has had quite an impressive season too. He holds at 22:6 TD:INT ratio, and a very impressive 7:1 ratio for the month of November so far! I think that this will be a good game, but the Razorbacks win it 38-24.

9. 10 Baylor at 6 Oklahoma State
     The Bears took a stumble last week as they fell to the Sooners at home. They have another tough challenge this week as they travel to take on an undefeated Oklahoma State. They Cowboys tore apart the Horned Frogs of TCU a couple weeks ago, and look primed for a big showdown next week in Bedlam. Their defense has looked good, but they have yet to play an offense like Baylor. I think that Stidham will bounce back and upset the Cowboys today. Look for another big shootout, but the Bears take this one 56-45.

10. 18 TCU at 7 Oklahoma
     TCU has fallen off the past few weeks, and overall hasn't played the best football all season. Today they walk into Norman, OK looking to upset Big-Game Bobby without their Heisman-caliber QB or WR. They are going to start their Freshman QB Foster Sawyer who has only thrown 8 passes in his career. Without a go-to target like Doctson, the Sooner defense should have a feast. Baker Mayfield will tear apart a struggling TCU defense as well. I have the Sooners big in this one. OU wins 45- 21.

11. Cal at 11 Stanford
     Another great rivalry in College Football, often called "The Game". Cal looked promising earlier this season, but have not found their groove since that loss to Utah. Stanford is trying to lock up the PAC-12 North Division with a win today since they were upset last week by the Ducks at home. Look for McCaffrey to be a big factor in this one. I don't think that Cal will be able to stop him, and Stanford will run to a victory. Probably no crazy finishes in this one, I have the Cardinal winning 35-17.

     I hope you all enjoyed my picks, and hopefully we can get back on track this season! Let's have a great day of football today! Thank you, and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Week 11 Reflection

     Hey everyone, sorry for my late post, I've had a very busy week with tours and two tests! Going all the way back to last weekend, I'm going to give my thoughts on the Husker's sold win over Rutgers. I was very happy to see that Rutgers Center Derrick Nelson was released from the hospital the day after the game. Hopefully he can get healthy and back onto the field soon. Now onto my reflection.
     On the offensive side of the ball, the first quarter and a half were incredible. The offense was doing whatever they wanted and had the Scarlet Knights' heads spinning. The Huskers were running the ball, and spreading it around. Around the middle of the second quarter, they started to trip up as Tommy threw two bad interceptions. The first coming when he over threw a wide open Lane Hovey in the middle of the field, and the second one on a high floater that was ten yards short of intended target Stanley Morgan Jr. Tommy's fantastic day came to a bit of a screeching halt with those two INTs before halftime. In the second half, he threw another TD, and another bad INT on a horrible screen play. I have never been a big fan of the screen game, although I will admit they are deadly when run correctly, but I feel like Langsdorf & Riley rely on them a little too much. Tommy made some great plays throughout the day, but the interceptions definitely hurt his performance. Nebraska can afford that against a lackluster Rutgers squad, but when Iowa comes to town, that is not going to be good. Iowa takes advantages of mistakes like those too easily. As for the run game, Nebraska totaled 174 yards rushing. I believe that it easily could've been more, but definitely not the worst outing we have seen this season. Imani Cross lead the way again with 90 yards, but Cethan Carter stole the show with his 32 yard end around for a TD. Carter had a career day against Rutgers with 57 yards receiving and 2 TDs. The Huskers will have a much tougher test against Iowa's run defense. Hopefully the bye week will give them some time to come up with a plan to get through Iowa's defense. The run game will be a big factor against Iowa. I think it will be a close scoring game, and TOP will make a big difference.
     On the defensive side of the ball, that was by far the Huskers' best performance all season. The defense had a lot of help with some tough field position provided by Sam Foltz. The Blackshirts held Rutgers to only 89 rushing yards. They also had a solid performance on pass defense finishing with 2 INTs and holding Laviano to only 170 yards. Both interceptions were fantastic plays on the ball as Chris Jones and Nate Gerry went up high to snatch the ball away before any receiver had a chance for it. The defensive line played an amazing game as well. The Blackshirts recorded 6 sacks through out the game, and held Rutgers to only 3 out of 14 3rd Down Conversions. It definitely helped that Leonte Caroo wasn't quite 100%, but this performance will still give the Husker's defense confidence heading into their showdown with the Hawkeyes. I was very impressed by the way the Blackshirts last week, and I cannot wait until the Iowa game. I know the team will be vamped up and ready to play.

     This past week I went 5-4 with my predictions. Not quite where I wanted to be, but I was definitely surprised by some of the games. It looks to be a crazy finish to this College Football Season, and we still have a couple weeks left! One of my favorite weekends of the year is almost upon us too. Next week, not only because of Thanksgiving, but because it's Rivalry Week! By far the best week in CFB, and I cannot wait to see all the big games being played! First let's get through this week, let me know if you have any teams you'd like me to reflect on or special picks for this week! Thank you, and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Week 11 Predictions

     Good morning everyone, I hope you're all ready for another gameday packed full of big games! I went 4-4 last week, so we're going to try and better that record this week. If you have any games that you'd like me to make a pick on, please leave a comment. Also, please share this blog with any friends or family who might want to read it, I would greatly appreciate it! Now onto my picks for week 11.

1. Miami at 23 North Carolina
     I doubted North Carolina's legitimacy last week, but they have proven to be one of the better teams in the ACC and the nation this year. I think everyone is still wondering how they lost to South Carolina in the season opener. UNC has been running wild since that opening loss, and QB Marquise Williams has been playing very well passing for over 2100 yards and has 15 TDs. Their run game is lead by both Williams and then star RB Elijah Hood. Hood is only a sophomore but runs hard, he has over 800 yards this season and 11 TDs. Miami has struggled greatly against teams with high-powered offenses, and I don't believe that will change today. The Tar Heels will spread them out with Marquise's ability to throw on the run, and then grind out yards with Hood. North Carolina likes to throw the ball deep, so look for their receivers to burn Miami's struggling defense all day. Tar Heels win this one 45-20.

2. 2 Alabama at 17 Mississippi State
     This game is going to be a big test for the Tide. They're coming off of a big win against LSU, and heading into next week, they face Charleston Southern. Alabama doesn't overlook teams very often, so they should be ready to play today, because the Bulldogs have upset on their minds. Dak Prescott has been playing some of the best football in his life this year, throwing for over 2300 yards so far this season along with an incredible 18:1 TD to INT ratio. Prescott also has nearly 500 yards rushing and 7 TDs. The Bulldogs defense is ranked 11th in the nation in scoring so far this season, but they have yet to face Derrick Henry of the Tide. Henry has over 1200 yards rushing and 17 TDs. I think that Mississippi State will be able to keep it close, but Bama will roll with the win in the end. I would love to see an upset, but I think that Bama handles this one 28-21.

3. 21 Memphis at 24 Houston
     The Tigers got blown out last week when they faced the Midshipmen. Houston has one of the best offenses in the nation scoring an average 44 points per game. Memphis is tied with that exact stat as their high-powered offense is lead by star QB Paxton Lynch. It will be an air attack today as these two defenses will struggle to shut down the opposing offenses. I think that this one could easily turn into a Big XII like shoot out, but the Tigers come out on top. Memphis wins this one 42-38.

4. Arkansas at 9 LSU
     A classic rivalry down in the SEC as the Hogs and the Tigers facing off for the Golden Boot. The Razorbacks have had a few big wins this season, the craziest coming last week as they beat Ole Miss in overtime after converting a 4th & 25 on an incredible play (look it up on YouTube and be amazed). LSU is coming off of a big loss at Alabama while the Hogs have won 3 straight. These two teams have a couple of the best rushing attacks in the nation, so we'll see how these defenses handle this one. If Arkansas keeps it close, look for the upset, but I think Fournette will have the edge in this one. Tigers win it 30-20.

5. Oregon at 7 Stanford
     The Ducks are headed to the Farm to take on the Trees. Always a big game in the PAC-12 North, especially when Stanford can win the division today. Not your typical Oregon season for the Ducks, but they're still a deadly team that can score a lot of points. The Vernon Adams & Royce Freeman duo can burn any defense in the nation at the flick of a switch. However, I'm all on board with the McCaffrey-Heisman train. I'm not sure if he'll win it, but I believe that he is one of the best players in the nation. If you get a chance to watch this game, watch number 5 for the Cardinal, this boy is one heck of a football player. He's extremely versatile too, Stanford will use him in the passing game quite a bit. I think that McCaffrey takes over this game and runs wild against a weaker Oregon defense. Stanford wins this one on the back of #5 by a score of 35-24.

6. Minnesota at 5 Iowa
     Minnesota is headed into their third straight week facing a top 15 team. They had a close one against Michigan, and caused the Buckeyes headaches for a while last week. The Iowa rivalry is always a good one, and you never really know with a game like this. Like every other Iowa game, I think the Gophers will keep it close, but CJ Bethard and Iowa pull out another win. Bethard, even though banged up, has played very well for the Hawkeyes this season. The Hawkeyes will keep it on the ground with their tough running game and stuff the Gophers offense. Iowa 30, Minnesota 27.

7. 12 Oklahoma at 6 Baylor
     The Bears are my team to beat in the Big XII this year. Even with losing starting QB Seth Russel, they are still one of the best teams in the nation. Baker Mayfield and the Sooners have blown out their last 4 opponents, but K-State, KU, TTU, & ISU don't compare to Baylor. Stud WR Corey Coleman has 20 receiving TDs so far this season, and has burned every opposing defense he faces. Look for the Oklahoma defense to be on it's heels most of the game. The key to this game will be turnovers and stops on defense. Both of these teams have high-scoring offenses, so expect another Big XII shootout. OU's defensive line will get pressure, but if QB Jarrett Stidham can get rid of the ball quickly and make his reads, Baylor will score like they have been all season. Let's not forget about the run game either, Shock Linwood and Samaje Perine are two of the best backs in the Big XII and arguably the nation. Baylor's offense isn't just pass it deep, they are also one of the best rushing teams in the nation. I like the Bears in this one, and I think that they will make it to the CFB Playoff this year. Their defense isn't the best, but they make key stops. That will be the difference in this game. Baylor puts up 52 and wins 52-38 over the Sooners. SIC 'EM!

8. Washington State at 19 UCLA
     This is going to be my upset pick of the week. Wazzu has been playing upset all season and would love nothing more than to continue that trend. They are even still in the running for the PAC-12 North title if they get a little help from the Ducks. Josh Rosen has had an incredible freshman campaign, but I like the Cougars in this one. They air it out more than any other team in the nation averaging 417 yards passing per game. UCLA's pass defense has struggled against the pass, and today will prove that. I've got Wazzu winning this one 38-30.

9. Nebraska at Rutgers
     The Huskers are coming off of a massive upset against Michigan State down in Lincoln last week. They have yet to put together back to back wins this season, but I think that will be changed today. Rutgers has a very deadly offense, and are looking to win out to be bowl eligible. Leonte Carroo, will be the player to watch for the Scarlet Knights on offense. He constantly burns defenses, so look for QB Laviano to go deep against Nebraska's weak secondary. Rutgers rushing attack isn't anything to worry about for the Huskers in my opinion. The Blackshirts have proven to be on of the better rushing defenses in the nation this season, so look for lots of 3rd & long throws to Carroo for Rutgers. On the other side of the ball, the Huskers need to score. Hopefully the budding new run game will give the o-line confidence walking into this one. The Scarlet Knights are not a defense that a talented offense should fear. They'll get a few stops, but the only reason Nebraska loses this game is by shooting themselves. We'll see if Nebraska can break their terrible trend of being horribly inconsistent between games. Tommy and the receiving corps are ready for today, and they're not going to accept a loss. Huskers win it 38-21.

     Thanks for reading my picks, and please comment if you have any other games to pick or topics you'd like me to cover. Enjoy your Saturday and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando