Rivalry Week Predictions

     Hey football fans! I hope you're all ready for the holiday weekend because this is the best weekend of the year in my opinion. Rivalry Week is the best weekend of the year because I get out of classes for half the week, there's tons of great food to eat (thanks mom) and great football games to watch. Rivalry games bring out the best (and sometimes worst) of teams, because there's nothing better than taking down the team you love to hate. I do want to make the disclaimer that Rivalry Week isn't nearly as great as it used to be. With all the conference re-shuffling back a few years, we lost some of the best rivalry games in all of College Football. West Virginia and Pitt with the backyard brawl, Bedlam being moved up in the season and countless others. Why don't they do what Clemson and South Carolina do and save 1 non-conference game for their rivalry every year. Georgia Tech and Georgia do it, as well as Florida and Florida State. I personally think bringing back more of those old rivalries will only enhance College Football. But enough about me and my soap box, let's get to my predictions! Enjoy!

South Florida at #15 UCF

     A birth in the American Athletic Conference Championship game is on the line as the Bulls and Gold Knights clash for a major showdown in the Sunshine State. This is a bigger game than UF and FSU this year as neither one of those teams are even close to a bowl game. Scott Frost has UCF on track to finish undefeated and likely to make a New Year's Six Bowl. The big names to watch in this game are the star QBs, Brandon Flowers of USF and McKenzie Milton of UCF. Flowers has over 2,000 yards passing with a 17 to 5 TD to INT ratio, as well as 870 yards rushing with 9 more TDs. He's been one of the nations most dynamic players over the past few seasons, and will look to cause headaches for the Knights' defense. Milton has been extremely impressive in Frost's system, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards with 26 TDs and 5 picks. He leads the nation's 5th best total offense. We'll see which QB has the bigger plays in this match-up, but no matter what, I expect a lot of yards and points to be put up in this shootout. I'm all in with Scott Frost, UCF wins the big rivalry 42-36.

#25 Virginia Tech at Virginia

     The Battle for the Commonwealth Cup takes place in Charlottesville as the Hokies face off against the Cavaliers. The Cavs hung tough with the Hurricanes on the road last week, but gave up 30 points in the second half, eventually falling 44-28. The Hokies have had a solid season, but struggle on the road, losing both the Miami and Georgia Tech in the past 3 weeks. Both offenses are led by talented QBs, Josh Jackson for VT and Kurt Benkert for UVA. Jackson has been impressive in his freshman season, throwing for 2,600 yards with 18 TDs and 7 picks, but his inexperience has cost him at times. Benkert, the Senior, has put up solid numbers with over 2,800 yards and 25 TDs with 8 picks. He too has struggled with bonehead mistakes, so I look to the defenses in this game. Virginia Tech's defense give up just 14.7 points per game, and allow just 315 yards per game on average as well. Virginia will put up a fight yet again, but I like the Hokies in this one. Plus, I'm still on the Josh Jackson train, this kid is going to be good! Hokies win it 34-24.

#9 Ohio State at Michigan

     The Game. No trophy for this rivalry, but bragging rights are much more important to begin with. The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to "that place up North" to take on the Wolverines of Michigan. This Rivalry always leads to some of the best games, but recently just for the Buckeyes. They have won the past 5 meetings between the two teams, and last year's Overtime stinger still leaves a bad taste with Jim Harbaugh and company. Harbaugh has taken a lot of heat this season for not being able to beat his rivals. A win this weekend would calm a lot of those OUTRAGEOUS rumors that he'll get fired. However, to beat Ohio State, his Wolverines will need to have some form of offense take place. That likely won't happen as John O'Korn is likely back at QB after Brandon Peters suffered a concussion last week against Wisconsin. The Wolverines' defense will keep them in the game for a while, but without their offense producing any points and taking up some time to drive the ball, JT Barrett will get his. He is too dynamic of a play-maker to hold down for an entire game, and I expect him to make some big plays in this one. Michigan does not seem like they can hang tough in this game, but in rivalry games, you forget everything you know about a team. I think Ohio State will win this game, but Jim Harbaugh will definitely not be fired. Buckeyes continue their streak with a late pull away win 35-16.

Arizona at Arizona State

     The Wildcats and the Sun Devils square off in the desert for the Territorial Cup and a 2nd place finish in the PAC-12 South. Both teams have had ups and downs this season, but bragging rights in this classic rivalry will make everything better. Arizona QB Khalil Tate has been one of the best highlight reels to watch this season, with 2,482 total yards (1,157 passing and 1,325 rushing) and 20 total TDs. Arizona State can move the ball just fine, especially with Manny Wilkins running the offense, but their defense has been lacking. Neither one of these teams has much defense to be honest, so this looks to be a high-scoring shootout! This will be a great QB dual between Wilkins and Tate, but I love watching Tate run the read option, so I've gotta take the Wildcats. Arizona wins a crazy one in the desert, 44-39.

#3 Clemson at #24 South Carolina

     This is one of the best protected rivalries in all of College Football, and it seems to get more heated every year when the Tigers and Gamecocks meet to determine who runs the state of South Carolina. Clemson is on a 3 game streak in this rivalry, and will look to make it for as the tune up for Miami in the ACC Championship game. South Carolina does not stack up very well, scoring just 25 points per game. Jake Bentley has been fairly impressive at QB this season though. The Sophomore has a 63.1% completion rating with 2,429 yards and a 15 to 9 TD to INT ratio. No matter how well he plays, I don't think Bentley will be able to get past Clemson's 7th ranked total defense. The Gamecocks will look to do better than the 56-7 beat down they suffered last season, but Clemson shouldn't have too many issues in this one. Tigers 40, Gamecocks 14.

#8 Notre Dame at #21 Stanford

     The Fighting Irish travel up to the Farm to take on the Cardinal, who are coming off a couple of tough wins against Washington and Cal over recent weeks. This is a tough game to pick because both teams have been really good at times, and really bad as well. Statistically, these two teams are very similar with powerful rushing attacks and mediocre passing attacks. Defensively the both hold teams to 20 points on average. It's hard to know which of these teams will show up, but hopefully Stanford will play K.J. Costello at QB. The Cardinal have been much more successful with him under center, as he has a 60.7% completion rating. Brandon Wimbush for the Irish has been very good this season, especially when using his legs to move the chains. Both QBs will need to make a couple of game changing plays to win, because this game will focus primarily on the two star running backs. Bryce Love and Josh Adams are two of the best backs in the nation with Heisman-caliber numbers. They will be the focal points of both offenses, and especially the defenses. This one should be a good game, but I've been sticking with Love all season long, and I'm not going to break that now. I think he's probably the best running back in the nation, and he'll prove that on Saturday night. Stanford 33, Notre Dame 24.

#13 Washington State at #17 Washington

     The Apple Cup has quite a bit riding on it, just like last year. Last season, the winner would represent the North in the PAC-12 Championship, and the stakes are very similar now in 2017. However, Washington can only play spoiler as they lost their head-to-head with Stanford. Since Wazzu beat the Cardinal, if they beat the Huskies, they're in the PAC-12 Championship. If Washington were to win, for the 5th straight season, then Stanford would win the North Division due to their victory over the Huskies a couple weeks ago. So when looking at this game, you wonder who has the edge. Washington has dominated the Cougars over recent years, holding them to 17 points or fewer in their past 4 meetings, including a 45-17 whacking last year. However, this is a new and improved Wazzu team here in 2017. Their defense ranked 62nd last year in total defense, but ranks 11th this season. They're holding opponents to around 300 yards per game on average and just 22.9  points. Their offense is usually one of the best in the nation, and with Luke Falk, they will always be able to score points. The Huskies have not been as impressive as last season, primarily because Jake Browning hasn't thrown for 3,400+ yards and 43 TDs. He has 2,451 yards and 18 TDs so far this year, but their offensive efficiency has taken a step back. This will be a great game to watch in my opinion, and I picked Wazzu earlier in the year to be my Dark-horse team for the Playoffs. While the Cougars may not make it to the CFP, I do think Mike Leach's crew will make it to the PAC-12 Championship. Wazzu turns the tables in this rivalry and comes away with a major win in the Apple Cup! Cougars beat the Huskies 44-30.

#1 Alabama at #6 Auburn

     Yet again, the Iron Bowl has much more than in-state bragging rights. One of the best, most vicious rivalries in all of sports takes place in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday as the Tigers of Auburn take on the Rolling Crimson Tide of Bama. This game will be the focal point of the weekend because the winner goes onto play Georgia in the SEC Championship, and will likely go on to the College Football Playoff as well. Bama has yet to miss a playoff, but has yet to play a top-notch team this season as well. Some may argue FSU or LSU, but if you look beyond the numbers, we can all see that the Tide's schedule wasn't the most difficult of challenges. Auburn on the other hand, played a tough schedule, and are looking to be the first 2 loss team to make it into the playoffs. I said they would be on my radio show, which gives away who I'm picking in this game. Bama is Bama, and they will do their thing. Tough defense followed by an efficient offense. However, their offense has yet to face a major challenge like the one Auburn will present. The Tigers rank 10th in total defense, giving up just 16.6 points per game on average. Look for them to pressure Jaylin Hurts early and often, making him beat them with his arm. He's improved as a passer, but still throws with a lot of inconsistencies at times. On the other side of the ball, you have the dynamic Tiger offense against Bama's stonewall defense. The Tide have the #1 total defense in the nation, but yet to face any team close to the caliber of Gus Malzhan's offense. The Tigers rank 17th in total offense, racking up an average of 475 yards and nearly 38 points per game. Statistically, the best offense Bama has faced all year was Ole Miss (20th in total offense), but they are not nearly as good as that ranking suggests. This will be a very tough game, but with some home field advantage, and a possible playoff birth on the line, I think the Tigers will win. As I stated on my radio show, "Auburn will be the first 2 loss team in the playoff". Also, the last time College Gameday visited the Iron Bowl... the KICK SIX happened! Not saying, just saying! Tigers 30, Tide 27.

The Heroes Game
Iowa at Nebraska

     The annual Heroes game doesn't really mean much yet again. "Farmaggedon", as some fans call it, pits the Hawkeyes against the Huskers in a boarder war that is missing a bit of an edge in the rivalry. If these teams would come in ranked, with a potential trip to Indianapolis on the line, then maybe we could really get some national attention on this. For now, it's going to be a battle of sub-par teams looking to bounce back in 2018. Nebraska is a total mess and will likely have a coaching vacancy once the clock hits 00 in the 4th Quarter. Iowa is set for the next 50+ years with Kirk Ferentz, but follows their typical trend of random upsets mixed with atrocious losses. This will be a very infuriating game to watch for both sides in my opinion. There are a few bright spots, including Stanley Morgan having a chance to become the first 1,000+ yard receiver at Nebraska, needing just 88 more yards to accomplish that feat. Iowa has a bowl game to look forward to, and All-American Linebacker Josey Jewell will be a big draft pick for the Hawks. Looking at the game, it's honestly hard to pick. There's a 3.5 point spread in Iowa's favor, but they did lose to Purdue last week. Nebraska has lost to basically everyone else and just want to finish this season and move on. I'll definitely take my Huskers, but Tanner Lee better not throw anywhere near Iowa DB Joshua Jackson. The Junior DB has a nation-leading 7 picks on the season, returning 2 of them for TDs. We all know Tanner has been prone to those Pick-Sixes, so hopefully he can avoid that today. Lee has improved a lot over the year, and his passing is the only source of offense for the Huskers. Iowa needs to feed Akrum Wadley, as he's one of the best backs in the BIG 10 Conference. We'll see how this all turns out later this afternoon, but I've got Nebraska finishing on a high note! Morgan gets 1,000+ yards and Nebraska gets the win over Iowa 34-30.

Here are some quick hit games that will be fun to watch this weekend as well!

Cal at UCLA: The Bruins fired Jim Mora with just 1 game remaining on their schedule as they battle the Golden Bears for bowl eligibility. UCLA is a mess right now, and I'm not sure Josh Rosen can win this on his own. I like Sonny Dykes and Co. for the upset win in this game. Cal has been impressive under their new head coach, and this would be a great way to finish their season! Golden Bears win it on the road 31-27.

#7 Georgia at Georgia Tech: Clean, Old Fashioned Hate. Nothing better than beating your rival when it comes to the Bulldogs and the Yellow Jackets. The Ramblin' Wreck's triple option attack will be challenged by Georgia's defense, and the Dawgs only way to make the CFP is to never lose again. I think they'll be pretty motivated in this game and bring the house down. Georgia 37, Georgia Tech 17.

#5 Wisconsin at Minnesota: The Battle for Paul Bunyan's Ax takes place in the Twin Cities this year as the Badgers travel to take on the Gophers. Wisconsin already has the BIG 10 West wrapped up, so this game is to help build their playoff resume. The Gophers are looking to end a 13 year drought against the Badgers, and spoil their playoff dreams. As much as I would love to see the upset, I know this one will not happen. Wisconsin's defense will shut down Croft and company pretty quickly, and win this game 34-10 on the back of Johnathan Taylor. On Wisconsin.

West Virginia at #4 Oklahoma: After his inappropriate actions last weekend at Kansas, Oklahoma QB will not allowed to be a captain or start in this game. I doubt Lincoln Riley will keep him out for long (at most a series, but I'm expecting 1 play), so look for the Sooners to start rolling quickly. WVU has the offense to put up points, especially against the 64th ranked Sooner defense. But the Mountaineers lack a defense of their own, and Baker Mayfield will likely be too much for them to handle. Sooners win this one 47-28.

Thanks for reading my predictions and enjoy all the greatness that is rivalry weekend! We've already had 1 upset with Ole Miss shocking #14 Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl 31-28, so maybe there's more chaos to come! Let's hope for some great games and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Week 12 Predictions

     Hello football fans! Due to a combination of numerous class projects and the recurring beat downs of the Husker football team, I've avoided writing up reflection posts on the Husker games. I'll get back to that soon, but I think we can all agree taking a few weeks off was valid. Anyways, this post will focus on my predictions for week 12 in College Football and which games will be interesting to watch! I'll also include the latest episode of The 2nd String, my radio show here on campus! My friend Michael Ferguson subbed in for my regular co-host Nate Muhlbach as he had to work, and Mike and I had a lot to discuss with possible coaching speculations, so be sure to listen in! Here are my week 12 predictions, enjoy!

SMU at #21 Memphis

     This may not seem like the most interesting game to most, but these two American Conference West teams match up pretty well. The Tigers are coming off a BYE, and have yet to be challenged in a game since mid-October. The Mustangs are coming off two tough losses over the past two weeks, 31-24 to UCF and 43-40 to Navy. The big thing to note from these losses is how close SMU was in each game. Memphis was blown out by UCF 40-13, but did come away with a 3-point win against Navy. There's a 12.5 spread on this game, primarily because of Memphis QB Riley Ferguson. He's thrown for nearly 2,900 yards this year and has 27 TDs compared to just 7 picks. The Tigers' offense averages just over 500 yards per game and 42.3 points. Neither team has much to offer on defense as they both give up around 32 points per game and 450 yards, so I expect this to be a barn-burner. The Mustang offense is very similar, with a solid QB in Ben Hicks and a dynamic rushing attack lead by Xavier Jones. Hicks has also thrown for nearly 2,900 yards and has a 24:7 TD to INT ratio while Jones has 806 yards on the ground and 7 TDs. I've watched SMU over the past couple weeks, and this team can move the ball. Memphis will struggle to stop them in this game, and it's definitely going to be closer than the spread. I'm picking the upset on this one, just to cause some chaos in the American West Division! Besides, the third time is the charm if the Mustangs can hang close. There will be some highlights from this one, SMU 41, Memphis 40.

Arizona at Oregon

     Both of these teams have been up and down this year, but I think Arizona has been playing very well. Since switching over to Khalil Tate at QB, their offense has been nearly unstoppable, especially on the ground. The Ducks are coming off a BYE, so they'll be rested, and their rush defense only gives up 129 yards per game on average. The spread is only 2.5 points, but I think Tate will look to change that. Oregon has struggled to find a lot of balance, especially when Justin Herbert doesn't play. He'll be back for today, so that gives the Ducks a great chance to compete, but I love watching Khalil Tate because he reminds me of a young T-Magic Martinez at Nebraska. High-scoring affair, but Tate will run away with the show. Wildcats win a big road game against the Ducks 45-33.

UCLA at #11 USC

     We've got some rivalries starting up for us a week early as the Battle for Los Angeles takes place in the Coliseum. The Bruins only source of possible points is Josh Rosen. He does not have a ground game to lean on, and not much of an o-line either as he's been sacked 19 times so far this year. USC's defense has had ups and downs, but they are 2nd in the nation with 37 sacks so far this season. Rosen will be under constant pressure, and USC should run away with this one. Sam Darnold will have his offense cruising, and I think Ronald Jones II will have a huge game as the Bruins give up 302 average yards per game on the ground. Trojans roll in this rivalry game, 48-20.


Cal at #22 Stanford

     The Game. Cal & Stanford meet yet again to continue one of the most storied rivalries in the PAC-12. The Golden Bears head up to the Farm to take on the 22nd ranked Cardinal who are coming off a huge upset of Washington last week. Cal is looking to get bowl eligible with a win today, and they've hung around with some solid teams this year, so a win is not completely out of the picture. However, Stanford has Love, and Love always prevails. Of course I'm talking about Bryce Love, the Cardinal RB with 1,622 yards and 15 TDs. As long as they feed him the rock, they will be fine. KJ Costello, the Stanford QB, played well last week, but against a weaker defense like Cal, he should have more room to make plays on his own. I've been watching Cal a lot this year, and they've improved drastically in their first year under HC Justin Wilcox, so this will definitely be a tricky team to play in the years upcoming. This is the 35th anniversary of "The Play" though, so craziness is always a possibility. I like Stanford to run away with this one though, Cardinal 30, Golden Bears 17.

Harvard at Yale

     The battle of two of the most iconic Ivy League teams takes place yet again as the Bulldogs host the Crimson. Now I have not followed either of these teams this year, but this game has a lot riding on it as Yale can win the outright Ivy League title for the first time in 8 years. Statistics and records go out the window in a game like this, but with Harvard looking for revenge from last year, I'm going to side with the Crimson! Harvard upsets Yale and spoils their Ivy League title with a 28-22 win!

#24 Michigan at #5 Wisconsin

     The only ranked match-up of the weekend takes place up in Madison as the Badgers take on the Wolverines. Michigan disappeared from everybody's radar since getting blown out in Prime Time against Penn State. However, they've changed QBs, and the Wolverines have won 3 straight games, scoring 30+ in all of them. Sophomore Brandon Peters has started each of those last 3 games, and hasn't been amazing, but has definitely been an upgrade for Michigan at QB. He has a 60.9% completion rating with 329 yards 4 TDs and 0 picks. However, he's played some really lackluster defenses thus far... and the Badgers are no slacker on that side of the ball. Wisconsin ranks 3rd in scoring defense, 7th in passing defense and 1st in both rushing and total defense. They have forced 22 turnovers so far this season, and I expect more to come today. This will be a classic BIG 10, grinder kind of game as Michigan has a tough defense as well. They're down just a couple pegs at 3rd in total defense, so I don't expect many points in this one. However, the Badgers are just too consistent for me to go against. Having watched them live, and seeing firsthand how dominant they can be late in the game running the ball, I can't pick the Wolverines. Look for Troy Fumagali to make some big 3rd down catches to seal the game for Wisconsin. Badgers finish strong and win 30-14.

Nebraska at #10 Penn State

     I really don't want to talk about this game. I'm the most optimistic person ever, but even before the season started, I called this game a loss for my Huskers. Penn State is far too dominant of a team, and Mike Riley just does not have the team or they system to compete with them this year. Nebraska has all but rolled over for the rest of the season, and this will not go well. Tanner Lee is cleared to play, which helps the Cornhuskers tremendously, but it still won't be enough. I'm very hopeful for the upset, and again, anything is possible on any given Saturday! Look for JD Spielman to have another big game and that's about it. He's our only bright spot this year, because the Huskers are going to get demolished today. I'm tired of being wrong, so I'm picking the Nittany Lions. Hopefully it's not this bad, but I've got Penn State 60-20. #Praying4theUpset

Here are some Quick Hits on other interesting games to watch today:

Kentucky at #7 Georgia: The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after getting THUMPED last week against Auburn. They've already clinched the SEC East division crown, so they'll still get to Atlanta regardless. However, if they want to get back into the Playoff picture, no mess-ups are allowed. The Wildcats are much improved, but on the road against an angry Bulldog team doesn't look fun. I think they'll break into the 21.5 point spread, but the DAWGS win it 40-24.

Virginia at #3 Miami: The Cavaliers are much improved from recent years, but the 'Canes still have that Turnover Chain. If there was a let down game possibility, it would be this one. Miami is coming off two major wins against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, but now has to play an 11 am game against a weaker team. I don't think they'll fall asleep in this one, but they'll be drowsy. Cavs keep it closer than the spread, but the U wins it 34-21.

Minnesota at #23 Northwestern: The Gophers ran all over Nebraska last week, but I doubt they'll be able to do that against Pat Fitzgerald's squad. The Wildcats rank 7th in rush defense, so Minnesota will have a difficult time moving the ball. Feed Justin Jackson, and the Wildcats should win this one easy. Northwestern 37, Minnesota 23.

Air Force at #25 Boise State: The Broncos are looking for their 7th straight win against the Falcons tonight on the "Smurf Turf". The Falcons have really struggled against the run game, but with both teams scoring around 32 points this could be a close one. I'll stick with the Bronco's though, I've been to the Blue Turf, and it just gets to your head. Broncos 38, Falcons 23.

Last year there were lots of major upsets on this day with all the big schools playing cupcakes, so be sure to watch for the chaos! Thanks for reading and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Week 11 Predictions

     Hello football fans! I apologize for not giving a reflection post this week, but a combination of an International Economics test and the bitter disappointment from that game killed that dream. Nonetheless, there is a fantastic slate of games this weekend as we move into the heart of November, when the best football is played! There's a few games with big playoff implications, so we'll have a good idea of who might be in by the end of Saturday. Here are my big games to watch this weekend, enjoy!

#12 Michigan State at #13 Ohio State

     This is basically a "Who wins the BIG 10 East Division" game as the winner has the inside track to the BIG 10 Championship. The Spartans recovered from their Triple-OT loss against Northwestern to bounce back and upset the Nittany Lions last week. My co-host for The 2nd String, Nate Muhlbach, said it best in my opinion... "Never play Michigan State in a rainstorm". The Nittany Lions found that out the hard way as the Spartans racked up 474 yards, 400 of which came from the ARM of QB Brian Lewerke. All season long I've been talking about his legs and his rushing ability from the pocket, but Lewerke lit up the Nittany Lions secondary much like JT Barrett did a couple of weeks ago. The most bizarre thing from this game was the lack of the ground game, but Penn State's rush defense is no slouch. I'm sure Dantonio will be searching for more balance this weekend. Looking at the other side, we have the mighty Buckeyes of THE Ohio State University. The Buckeyes strolled into last week coming off the major comeback win against Penn State and everyone had them pegged for the playoffs... everyone except Iowa that is. The Hawkeyes seemingly came out of nowhere and kicked Ohio State in the teeth with a 55-24 beat down in Iowa City. JT Barrett's inaccuracy at QB have finally caught up with him this season, and he threw 4 picks (3 to the same guy) against Iowa. The crazy thing with the Buckeyes was their lack of a rushing attack. They've been averaging 235 yards per game on the ground, but mustered up just 163 against Iowa. This may sound alright, but Barrett was their leading rusher. He doesn't run nearly as much as he did early on in his career, so with the lack of contribution from Dobbins and Weber, the Buckeyes offense stalled and had to rely on JT's arm. As I've said before, you have to live & die by Barrett's passing ability, and that could be the story again for the Buckeyes. The Spartans held Saquon Barkely to just 63 yards rushing and got a lot of pressure on McSorley sacking him 3 times along with 6 tackles for loss. The "experts" have a 17 point spread on this game in Ohio State's favor, but they've seemed to have forgotten how hard it is to beat a Mark Dantonio team in November. It was a 1 point win for Ohio State last season, and that was when Michigan State was "bad". The Buckeyes are lucky there's no rain in the forecast, but I wouldn't completely rule out an upset in this one. If Michigan State can force Ohio State to rely on Barrett's arm yet again, I think they can win. Besides, they're known for those last second field goals against Ohio State right? I can see this one going either way, but I think it's a close win by the Spartans. I'm not sure how comfortable I am picking this upset, but Dantonio will have something up his sleeve. Spartans with another shocker, 20-17.

#15 Oklahoma State at #21 Iowa State

     Both of these teams are coming off tough losses a week ago to fall down to 2 conference losses a piece. The Cyclones have been a surprise this year, but couldn't quite find their offense last week at WVU as they lost 20-16. The Pokes are only offense as they racked up 661 yards and 52 points only to fall short to Baker Mayfield and the rival Sooners in Bedlam. With both teams looking to bounce back, we should see a good one in Ames this morning. Mason Rudolph will look to light up the ISU secondary with his seemingly unending list of weapons on the #1 ranked offense in the nation and Kyle Kempt will look to get the Cyclones back on track to their Cinderella Big XII season. The most impressive part of Iowa State's team however, is their defense. The Cyclones are giving up just 18.9 points per game, which is damn near impossible in the High-Octane Big XII. Their defense contained Baker Mayfield and shut down Kenny Hill. Mason Rudolph will be a different type of challenge though. Blitzing early and often will be the key in this match up as Iowa State failed to get pressure last week against Will Grier. If they can keep Rudolph under pressure, I think their defense can win them this game. However, the Pokes have seemed to find their offense last week, so I'm giving them the edge. We'll see who can bounce back the best in this game, but I have Oklahoma State winning 37-21.

#1 Georgia at #10 Auburn

     The Bulldogs travel to Auburn for a big test in the SEC for both teams. Georgia has looked good, rolling through the majority of their schedule, but haven't played anyone too difficult yet. Their toughest game has been Notre Dame, but no one else has presented much of a challenge. Freshman Jake Fromm has looked impressive at QB, but he's only thrown more than 15 passes in a game just 3 times this season. With Auburn's stingy run defense, allowing just 126 on the ground per average each game, Fromm will probably have to make some plays with his arm. The Tigers only give up 16.9 points per game on average, so Georgia will really need to be sharp when moving the ball. Their rushing attack has been phenomenal this year, lead by Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Auburn will have their own issues slowing them down, but I think this will end up being a defensive game. As I mentioned, neither team has been tested too much, so it'll really prove who's legit and who's not. I've made the mistake of picking against Georgia before, so I don't think I'll do that again. Auburn's offense is tough to stop, but they've had their faults this season. Even though the upset would cause some chaos, I'm sticking with the DAWGS! Georgia 23, Auburn 14.

Battle for the Heartland Trophy
#20 Iowa at #8 Wisconsin

     I absolutely despise making a pick on this game because these teams upset me so much. Nonetheless, Iowa and Wisconsin face off yet again as they battle for the Bronze Bull known as the Heartland trophy. The Badgers look to keep on their undefeated season while the Hawkeyes look to ride their wave of momentum after drumming Ohio State 55-24 a week ago. If you're looking for a lot of action, this would not be my recommended game. Wisconsin and Iowa are going to pound the ball at each other and I doubt much will come of it. Both teams have solid rushing attacks and two of the best RBs in the BIG 10, but also have solid rush defenses. Wisconsin gives up just 87 yards on the ground per game on average and Iowa gives up 147 yards. That means this game will likely come down to the QBs, Nate Stanley (Iowa) and Alex Hornibrook (Wisconsin). Of the two, Stanley has been much more impressive in my opinion. He's thrown for nearly 2,000 yards with a 22:4 TD to INT ratio. One week point has been he inaccuracies on the deep ball, but he did well last week, throwing for 226 yards and 5 TDs with a 64.5% completion rating. Hornibrook has been a bit more accurate, but still makes some poor decisions when throwing. He has a little over 1,700 yards passing with a 64.4% completion rating on the season. However, he also has 9 picks on the season to go with his 15 TDs. I can see this game going either way, especially because both teams win in some of the most lackluster ways, but I'll stick with the Badgers this time around. They tend to be a bit more consistent than the Hawkeyes, but this one will be a grinder no matter what. Get ready for a hard-nosed defensive battle up in Mad-town! Badgers snuff the Hawkeyes 18-14.

#2 Alabama at #16 Mississippi State

     The Tide Roll into Starkville to do battle with the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. This game is always hyped up, making it seem like the Bulldogs have a shot. They don't. As much as I would love to see the upset and as much as I believe in Bulldog QB Nick Fitzgerald, it just won't happen. Now, technically anything is possible in College Football, but I don't see Bama really being challenged until the Iron Bowl. Nick Fitzgerald will definitely give their defense headaches, especially since they're starting to battle injuries, but I don't think it will be enough. The Bulldog defense was run all over by Georgia earlier this season, and I expect Bama to do much of the same. I want the Bulldogs to be competitive, but it just hasn't been in the cards for Dan Mullins and his crew. Bama rolls 38-10.

#6 TCU at #5 Oklahoma

     The two best teams in the Big XII square off in Norman as the Horned Frogs take on the Sooners. There's potential for these teams to rematch in the new Big XII Title game this year, which honestly could be more important than this game depending on how close the score is tonight. Regardless of the playoff possibilities, this should be a good shootout. Baker Mayfield is on yet another Heisman campaign, and looks to break away from the pack even more with another statement win in November. He's coming off a game where he accounted for nearly 600 yards and 6 total TDs... all by himself. TCU's defense has been solid this season, but they haven't faced anyone to the caliber of Baker Mayfield. However, they're still holding teams to less than 70 yards rushing per game on average and just 13.9 points. They've only given up 20 points in their last 4 games, so the Sooners have their work cut out for them. I think the biggest story in this game however, is Kenny Hill. The Frogs QB has accounted for 2,009 passing yards with 15 TDs, 5 picks and 2 more TDs on the ground. He's completed an impressive 68% of his passes so far this season, so OU will need to put pressure on him often. If TCU wins, it's because of Kenny Hill's play. He will be the key factor because you can only hold down Mayfield for so long. If he can keep pace with Baker, TCU could pull this one out. I'm sticking with the Sooners though, because Baker Mayfield just does not lose. Sooners win a big one at home 40-30.

#3 Notre Dame at #7 Miami

     Another edition of "Catholics vs. Convicts" is set to take place down in South Beach as the Hurricanes renew their rivalry with Notre Dame. The Irish come into this game looking to remind Miami who the last team to beat them was, and end their 13-game win streak. Their plan is to run the ball, and keep running it all game long. Notre Dame averages 324 yards on the ground per game, so you know Miami is going to load the box. This means Brandon Wimbush will need to pick apart their secondary if they want to win. This could be tough as Miami's secondary has been playing very well lately. Their entire defense has been playing very well as they have 20 turnovers this season. Miami will be looking to rip that ball away from the Irish so they can wear the Turnover Chain. On the other side, Notre Dame has been playing solid defense as well, but hasn't faced an offense quite as talented as Miami's. Malik Rosier has been very impressive at QB, throwing for nearly 2,300 yards with 19 TDs and 7 picks. He has good weapons on the outside, but his best one has to be RB Travis Homer. He took over for Mark Walton after Walton suffered his season ending injury, and has been fantastic for the Hurricanes. Homer has 612 yards with 6 TDs, all primarily coming in the last four games. He'll be a primary focus in this game as Miami will look to relieve the pressure on Rosier that the Irish are sure to bring. This one is a hard game to pick, and both teams look to be Playoff caliber. However, I'm partial to a solid rushing attack, and Josh Adams could be a name to watch on that Heisman list. I'll take the Irish, but I'm hoping for a crazy one in this game. Big stage and big game, the Irish win it 31-30.

Battle for the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy
Nebraska at Minnesota

     The greatest trophy in the history of the world is up for grabs as my Huskers travel North to take on the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. The $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy is back, and here to stay now that the Team Jack Foundation and the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital have sponsored this incredible piece of hardware. The Huskers are coming off a tough overtime loss at home to Northwestern while the Gophers have returned from a 33-10 beat down at Michigan where they gave up 371 yards on the ground. Due to Nebraska's lack of competency on offense, I doubt the Huskers will be able to muster up anywhere close to 150 on the ground, but we can always hope! This is the most win-able of the Huskers' final 3 games, but Minnesota has just as much claim. The Gophers have struggled to find offense under PJ Fleck in his first season, averaging just 23.4 points per game, but their defense has been tough to move on for opponents. The Huskers will need to get the ball to the edge quickly in this game. Keeping it away from the offensive line has been the only way to move the ball lately, so I expect to see lots of roll outs and quick passes to the outside. Sadly, that does mean Langsdorf will try his beloved bubble screen. It won't work, I can tell you that now, but he'll still try. Hopefully JD can break loose on a couple big plays, helping Nebraska edge out the Gophers in this game, but that's probably our only hope. I don't expect much of a run game from Nebraska, so again it will be on the arm of Tanner Lee. On defense, shutting down the run on early downs will be the main focus for the Huskers. Minnesota QB Conor Rhoda has struggled passing this season, so putting the game on his arm will be crucial for the Blackshirts. In the end, Nebraska should be able to edge this one out, but we'll see what team shows up. I'll take my Huskers with a 24-18 win.

Here are some quick hit games that will be interesting to watch:

Arkansas at #24 LSU- The Battle for the Golden Boot is always hard fought, especially on the ground. The Hogs have not looked good this year, but Rivalries are always intriguing. I'll take the Tigers though, LSU wins 33-16.

Florida State at #4 Clemson- Usually a big clash in the ACC is somewhat lacking this year due to FSU's current state, but still could be interesting to see how Freshman QB James Blackman handles that formidable Tiger defense. Clemson should have a field day in this with FSU's nonexistent offensive line. Hopefully Blackman can make it out of this game, I like that kid. Tigers 39, Seminoles 9.

Tennessee at Missouri- Okay, this one is a pretty bad game, but it's kind of fun to see who the worst team in the SEC East is right? The Tigers demolished the Gators last week, and Tennessee is just a mess and a half. That's about all I have to say, so Mizzou wins this ugly-fest 34-21.

Thanks for reading my Gameday predictions and enjoy your football Saturday! Here' the latest episode of The 2nd String as well, GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando

Week 10 Predictions

     Hello football readers! I hope you've had a great week and are ready for some awesome College Football games this weekend! There's an amazing slate of games to watch this weekend, and I'm really excited to have the Huskers back at home for our game against Northwestern! The College Football Playoff rankings are out now as we move into November. I anticipate a lot of chaos over the next few weeks, and hopefully it starts today! Here are my big predictions on this week's games, enjoy!

#7 Penn State at #24 Michigan State

     Both the Nittany Lions and the Spartans are coming off brutally tough losses to Ohio State and Northwestern respectively. They're both still technically in the hunt for the BIG 10 East Division, but they'll need some help, and a big win today. Looking at this game, Penn State has a huge edge, even in back to back road games. Michigan State struggled to slow down Clayton Thorson and the Wildcat offense, which racked up 432 yards, 368 of which came through the air. Penn State struggled to move the ball against Ohio State, especially in the second half, so they'll be looking to find success against the Spartans' reeling defense. Michigan State still knows how to shut down the run game, ranking 4th in the nation allowing just under 90 yards per game on average. They've held Justin Jackson, Josh Adams and Akrum Wadley all under 60 yards so far this season, so Barkely could have another tough game on the ground ahead of him. I think Penn State got somewhat complacent last week in the second half and played a little too conservative in my opinion. I'm guessing they'll come out swinging in this game, and McSorely and their dynamic receiving corps should handle the Spartans secondary fairly easily. On the other side of the ball, Lewerke and Scott will look to move the ball on a tough Penn State defense. Look for them to take a lot of plays from Ohio State with the read option and get Lewerke out side of the pocket running and throwing. Could be a close game, but I think Penn State will be looking for more blood than the Spartans. Nittany Lions win this one on the road 30-17.

#4 Clemson at #20 NC State

     The Tigers have to feel pretty good after being ranked 4th in the first CFP rankings that came out on Tuesday. They're looking to keep their season on track towards their 3rd consecutive ACC Championship, but a Wolf Pack stands in their way. This Wolf Pack is coming off a tough loss to Notre Dame, where the Irish racked up 318 rushing yards on them. However, NC State is still unbeaten in ACC play and could take the inside track to the Championship if they pick up the win today. They've been known to cause chaos with upsets before, but Clemson will be tough to knock off again. Kelly Bryant looked much healthier this past week than when we last saw him against Syracuse. Bryant threw for 207 and 2 TDs last week against Georgia Tech while adding another 67 on the ground. He'll definitely need to use his legs as Bradley Chubb and the rest of the Wolf Pack front seven will look to apply a lot of pressure in this one. Chubb has 7.5 sacks already this season, and the Wolf Pack have 55 Tackles for Loss so far this season. Clemson will need to protect Bryant if they want to win this game. Establishing a running game with Etienne will keep Bryant out of trouble and keep the ball away from NC State QB Ryan Finley. Finley has over 2,100 yards passing this season with a 66.3% completion rating and an incredible 12:1 TD to INT ratio! Clemson has one of the most formidable defenses in the nation, but Finley can cause anyone headaches. I expect this game to be close, but Clemson should handle this one cleanly. We'll see if any chaos ensues, but I'm taking the Tigers in a hard fought 33-21 road victory.

#15 Iowa State at West Virginia

     The Cyclones are easily the most surprising team of 2017. They've knocked off two top 4 teams so far this season, and control their own destiny on their way to the new Big XII Conference Championship game. They've already taken down two of the best teams in the conference with Oklahoma and TCU, but have to take a trip to Morgantown to keep their momentum going. West Virginia has a solid offensive attack, but Will Grier threw 4 picks in their loss to Oklahoma State, so they could have some issues coming into this one. Iowa State held TCU to just 307 total yards and only 7 points! The Horned Frogs average nearly 40 points per game, but the Cyclones defense would not give an inch. They forced 3 turnovers from TCU, including two picks by Kenny Hill. I have been extremely impressed with the Cyclones defense, because they tackle very well. That's a rarity nowadays in football, but Matt Campbell has his team wrapping up better than anyone else in the nation in my opinion. On the other side of the ball, West Virginia has given up at least 36 points and 450+ yards in each of their last 3 games. With Kyle Kempt finding his stride as a starter and developing good chemistry with his receivers, the Cyclones could put up some impressive numbers in this one. Watch for RB David Montgomery to have a big game too, he has 716 yards and 8 TDs on the year thus far. I'm impressed with the Cyclones, and I think they'll keep rolling! ISU wins a solid road game 38-24.

#21 Stanford at #25 Washington State

     The only story line you need to know is that Bryce Love is returning after missing last week with an injury. With Love out, they Cardinal were nearly upset by Oregon State last week. With Love back, they'll return the focal point of their offense who averages nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. Wazzu was scorched for 310 rushing yards last week against Arizona in their 58-37 loss, so this does not bode well for them. I was all hyped up on the Cougars earlier this season, but they seem to be falling apart as the season rolls on. Senior QB Luke Falk was even benched last week, so I think Stanford should roll in this game. I'm still interested in why Stanford has switched back and forth between Keller Chryst and KJ Costello at QB, but with Bryce Love returning to the backfield, it won't matter. Costello will get the start tkdag, and Stanford, more accurately Bryce Love, runs away with this game and demolishes any hope of Wazzu competing for a PAC-12 title. Cardinal 37, Cougars 17.

#19 LSU at #2 Alabama

     The Tigers roll into Tuscaloosa to renew their Rivalry with the Tide. Bama has looked like Bama this season, but they have yet to play a challenging team this season. They opened with Florida State, but as we have seen now, the 'Noles aren't quite the team we thought they were. This will be a great opportunity for Nick Saban's squad to build up their resume, but it won't be an easy game. LSU is surging after early season struggles, but this will be a very difficult game for Orgeron to win. The Tigers are on a 6 year losing streak to the Tide dating back to 2012. No matter what, this always turns into a great game for any football fan to watch. I anticipate the usual, tough defense, hard nosed ground game and Bama Rolling. As always, I'm rooting for the upset, but I think Bama will take care of business yet again. Tough win, but Bama rolls away at the end. Tide 31, Tigers 12.

#13 Virginia Tech at #10 Miami

     Another big game in the ACC looks to set up the winner on the inside track of the Coastal Division for the Championship game! This seems to be somewhat of a "ACC semifinal" weekend with Clemson and NC State battling for the top spot in the Atlantic and the Hokies and Hurricanes fighting for the Coastal. Miami has been one of the bigger surprises at 8-0 this season, primarily because of the late game Heroics from QB Malik Rosier. He's been clutch late in the game, leading them to last second victories over FSU and Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels scared the 'Canes last week, but I'm sure Miami will be more prepared with Va Tech walking in. Speaking of the Hokies, no one has really heard from them since they lost to Clemson in the early part of the season. Regardless if you've been paying attention to them or not, Justin Fuente has this team playing really well. They've given up just 20 combined points over the past 3 games, and QB Josh Jackson has this offense rolling. They have the 28th ranked scoring offense in the nation, averaging 35.4 points per game. This has great game all over it, and I think we'll see this one come down to the wire. Both defenses are tough and both young QBs have been stellar this season. I was behind the Hokies earlier this year against Clemson, and they weren't quite ready for that upset. This one is a really difficult game to pick, especially since it's a bit of an under the radar rivalry! I'll take the Hokies with a 27-26 stunner! This will be a fantastic game to watch!

#22 Arizona at #17 USC

     Rich Rod's Wildcats travel to LA to take on the Trojans in a game that gives the winner the lead in the PAC-12 South and the inside track to the PAC-12 Championship! That's something I never thought I would be saying, but Arizona has found life, and his name is Khalil Tate. The Sophomore sensation at QB has exploded onto the scene in the past few weeks, and has helped the Wildcats become one of the best offensive attacks in the nation scoring 45+ points in their last 4 games this year. Tate has done most of his damage on the ground, rushing for 926 yards and 8 TDs so far this season, while throwing for 784 with 6 TDs and 3 Picks. He'll be squaring off against a Trojan defense that has struggled mightily against the run this year, giving up an average of nearly 170 per game, ranking 65th in the nation. This may not sound horrible, but when you remember they gave up 377 on the ground to Notre Dame two weeks ago, including 106 and 2 TDs to QB Brandon Wimbush, you realize Arizona has a great chance to dominate this game. The Wildcats will look to ground it out and run all over the Trojans, throwing only when necessary to keep Tate away from that pass rush. On the other side, Sam Darnold looks to continue his success through the air from last week where he threw for 266 and 3 TDs against the Sun Devils. Arizona gives up an average of 300.6 passing yards per game, ranking 128th (3rd to last) in the nation. Darnold should have a field day, and this means both offenses will be putting up some points. This is a fantastic match-up for PAC-12 after dark, and I'm very excited to see how it turns out! I think Arizona will cause some havoc, but their lack of ability to slow down the passing attack from Darnold will let them down in the end. Trojans take care of business at home in a barn burner, 47-39!

BEDLAM
#5 Oklahoma at #11 Oklahoma State

     The Sooners and the Pokes square off in Stillwater for another Battle of Bedlam! This battle looks to give one of these high-powered offenses the lead for a trip to the Big XII Championship game. Mason Rudolph leads the nation's top offensive attack against the rival Sooners, who give up over 25 points per game on average. However, whenever Bedlam comes around, the Pokes seem to lose all of their offensive firepower... and their defense... and basically get demolished by OU in every area of the game. Oklahoma has a two game win streak in this series, scoring 58 and 38 in the last two meetings. Oklahoma State will look to turn that script around and burn OU deep with their stellar group of wide receivers. The Sooners rank 86th in the nation against the pass, so Mason Rudolph and crew have a great chance to put up some numbers. They'll need some help from their ground game though, so look for Justice Hill and J.D. King to be a primary focus of the offense today as well. If they can balance their offense and keep Mayfield on the sidelines, the Pokes have a chance to pull out a big win today. Looking at the Sooners, all you need to know is Baker Mayfield. The Heisman Caliber QB has never lost a Conference road game, and he's arguably the biggest Kryptonite against the Pokes. He's accounted for 27 TDs (23 Pass, 4 Rush) so far this season, and I don't think he'll miss a step today. This feels like another game where the "Poke Choke" takes a hold of Oklahoma State and Oklahoma runs away with this game. I wish this was a prime time game so I could watch it, but I'm hoping more for a good game. Rudolph will need to play flawlessly, and have some help from his weapons, but I think Baker Mayfield and the Sooners roll in this one! Sooners 44, Cowboys 28. We'll see if the Cowboys can break that curse!

Battle of the NUs
Northwestern at Nebraska

     The Huskers are back home for a battle against the Wildcats of Northwestern. This is always one of my favorite games of the year because I think it's one of the most underrated rivalries in the BIG 10 Conference. The Huskers and the Wildcats always have great games, and both teams are looking to get a big win today. The Huskers are trying to get above .500 and move one game closer to bowl eligibility while the Wildcats are looking to get that 6th win in order to become bowl eligible. Northwestern comes to Lincoln on the heels of two back to back overtime wins against Iowa and Michigan State at home. When looking at the numbers, both teams are pretty even. Both teams average just under 400 yards per game, give up an average of nearly 400 yards per game and score in the mid-20s on average. My biggest concern in this game is our offense against the Northwestern defense. Pat Fitzgerald always has one of the toughest defenses to move the ball on, and that's true yet again. The Wildcats give up only 118 on the ground, ranking 17th in the nation. Nebraska has struggled with the run game all season long, but especially in the last couple weeks. The Huskers racked up only 40 rush yards against a lack luster Purdue squad last week, because it doesn't look like many people care. It was obvious that Purdue wanted that victory more last week, and if Nebraska plays with that mindset again, they'll get demolished by everyone else on their schedule. Northwestern found some offense last week, and they fought to the finish to beat the Spartans in triple OT. This should be a close one today, and I think it comes down to which defense can make a play. Neither offense has been that impressive, but they both have play makers. Clayton Thorson has always played well against Nebraska, and RB Justin Jackson is the Wildcats all-time leading rusher. The Blackshirts will need to get pressure early and often to slow them down, and tackling will be more important than ever when Jackson has the ball. On the offensive side, run the ball, but live through JD Spielman, Stanley Morgan and you're other play makers on the outside. It's clear that running the ball won't happen very much with our beaten up O-line, so ride the Tanner wave and use your weapons on the edge. Realistically, I don't like this game for Nebraska, and I think Northwestern's defense will cause a lot of issues. However, I'll always give my reason to why Nebraska can win any game, and I think some key plays on defense will lead the Huskers to a 27-24 victory! GO BIG RED!

Here are some Quick Hit games I think will be interesting to watch this week as well:

#9 Wisconsin at Indiana- Another game for Indiana to lose in the last 5 minutes is what this looks like to me. Wisconsin hasn't been great over recent weeks, and with the injury to Johnathan Taylor, their offense loses a lot. Indiana's tough defense should keep them in the game, but their offense will prove to hurt them yet again. Wisconsin wins (more accurately Indiana loses) a grinder on the road 28-23.

#14 Auburn at Texas A&M- The Tigers control their own destiny in the SEC, but first they must travel to College Station and take on the very confusing Aggies. You never know what team will show up for A&M, but their defense can still get after the QB. Look for Stidham to get rid of the ball quickly in this game, but I think they'll be okay on the road. Tigers win it 42-24. Kevin Sumlin could be looking for a new job at the end of this year.

#6 Ohio State at Iowa- This should be a cakewalk for the Buckeyes, but Iowa City has gotten the best of a number of top ranked teams, especially in November. The Hawks get Josey Jewel back, so Ohio State could have a difficult time moving the ball early in this game. I think JT Barrett and the Buckeyes run away with this one late, 47-17.

Texas at #8 TCU- The Horned Frogs are coming off their first loss of the season as they return home to take on a tough Longhorn team. They've beaten the Longhorns in each of the past 3 season by a combined margin of 129-26. The Frogs will need to get their offense back on track after only scoring 7 last week against the Cyclones. Texas gets Ehlinger back, so this should be a good game. Watch out for that Longhorn defense! I think I'm going to call the upset on this one! I want TCU to win, but Texas is a sneaky team, even on the road. I'm saying Hook 'Em and Texas wins a stunner on the road 36-31.

Thanks for reading my game predictions and I hope you have a fantastic weekend of football craziness! Commence the chaos and GO BIG RED!

#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando