Welcome to Week 5 of the College Football season football readers! I'm starting to turn around my prediction record, but this week I can feel is going to be a good one. There is a fantastic setup of games today, and I've got a lot to predict on. There are some under-the-radar games that will be really fun to watch today, and two games that feature top 10 teams squaring off! Plus, I will be doing play by play announcing for the Huskers' game against Purdue on the campus radio station, 90.3 KRNU! If you use this link (http://krnu.unl.edu/) and click the KRNU button in the top right, you can listen into the broadcast of the game! Thanks for all your support and enjoy my predictions.
Week 4 Prediction Results: 6-5
Overall Prediction Results: 19-23
#12 West Virginia at #25 Texas Tech
The Mountaineers face their first true test of 2018 as they travel to Lubbuck to take on the red-hot Red Raiders. Texas Tech is averaging 52 points per game and is coming off a monster win over Big XII foe Oklahoma State 41-17 last weekend. Freshman QB Alan Bowman has taken over the starting roll and 1,557 yards, 10 TDs and just 2 picks to show for it. He'll be facing a tough WVU defense that's giving up just 12.3 points per game and has 7 sacks on the season. Heisman hopeful Will Grier leads the dynamic Mountaineer offense with over 1,100 passing yards and 14 TDs. The key factor to watch in this game will be the secondaries. Both teams have a lot of experience on the back ends of their respective defenses, but they will be tested with these two gunslingers throwing the ball around. I expect a lot of firepower and points to be put up in this game, but WVU is a Playoff team for me, and they get the tough win on the road 48-38.
Florida at #23 Mississippi State
Dan Mullen returns to Starkville for the first time as head coach of the Gators and not the Bulldogs. It's not likely he'll receive a warm welcome when he returns, but I think he should be applauded. He built up State into a team to watch out for in the SEC West and he took them to 8 straight bowl games, winning 5 of them (last bowl game was won by Interim Head Coach, Greg Knox). I doubt State fans will be happy he up and left them for the Gators, but I can understand why Mullen would be tired of playing Alabama and LSU every single year. Anyways, as we look to the game, the Bulldogs have a small advantage in this one. It's only a 7 point spread in their favor, and when you look at the stats, these teams are quite similar. Both are scoring around 40 points per game (UF: 41, MSU: 39.3) and neither team gives up many points either (UF: 16 points per game avg., MSU: 13.5 points per game avg.). I think State's defense is more talented, which could likely be the deciding factor. Dan Mullen now has to taste his own medicine with all of his former players he recruited coming after his new squad. Mississippi State will be quite motivated in this game, and they'll come away with a big statement win. Bulldogs 34, Gators 17. Dan Mullen still won't regret the move to Florida though, this team is on the rise.
Virginia Tech at #22 Duke
Last week, the Hokies were ranked #13 in the nation. Now they are unranked as they travel to Druham, NC to take on the Blue Devils. Virginia Tech was on the wrong side of one of the most historic upsets in CFB history last week as Old Dominion beat them 49-35. Justin Fuente said he liked his team better when everyone said they were bad, so we'll see how they play this week. The big question is how backup QB Ryan Willis will handle the QB1 duties since the stater, Sophomore Josh Jackson, suffered a broken fibula against the Monarchs last week and is out indefinitely. The rest of his team will definitely have to step up and help him though. On the other side, Duke has been playing with their own backup QB, Quentin Harris, for the past couple weeks after starter Daniel Jones suffered a broken collar bone. Harris has not been the most accurate passer, completing less than 50% of his passes, but he does boast a 6:0 TD to INT ratio. Besides, Duke's true strength lies with their suffocating defense. They're only giving up 15.3 points per game and have recorded 9 sacks for the season. Virginia Tech may be fired up after last week's game, but I've got Duke in this one. The Blue Devils are playing really well right now and I see that continuing this week. Duke beats Virginia Tech 30-20.
South Carolina at #17 Kentucky
This is a very interesting game as Kentucky looks to stay unbeaten and keep rolling as an unbeaten team. I never thought I'd see the Wildcats as a potential competitor in the SEC East, but RB Benny Snell Jr. has this team hyped up so far in 2018. The Junior already has 540 yards on the ground and 7 TDs, meaning he's over half way to his third consecutive 1,000+ yard season after just 4 games! Snell is one of the most underrated backs in the country. He's a powerful runner with great vision, and he's averaged over 5 yards per carry each of the last two seasons. The Gamecocks will have a difficult time slowing him down, especially after they gave up 271 yards rushing to Georgia a few weeks ago. South Carolina QB Jake Bentley should cause some headaches though, even for a Wildcat defense that has been surprisingly stout. He'll be looking for his big wideout Bryan Edwards (6'3, 220) a lot in this game, as he already has 3 TD catches this year. This is a tough game to pick, could go either way, but I'm really rolling with Kentucky. They made me regret not picking them last week and I'm on board with how this team is playing. Watch out for Benny Snell as a dark horse Heisman finalists as Kentucky beats South Carolina 31-27.
#19 Oregon at #24 Cal
This is one of the toughest games I had to pick this week to be honest. Cal is one of my sneaky teams this season, with potential to knock off any team and cause some havoc in the Pac-12 North. However, the Ducks are coming off of a heartbreaking loss at home to Stanford, and need a big win to get them back in the race for the division title. Justin Herbert had a great game last week, throwing for 346 yards and completing 78.8% of his passes. With Cal's defense only giving up 170 pass yards per game, he'll have to make smart throws to help his team get the win. The Golden Bear's rank 16th in the nation for total defense, and I think star RB, Senior Patrick Laird will have a big game today. I'm going with my gut and saying Cal wins a tight one at home 33-31. Maybe another overtime game for the Ducks, who knows?
#20 BYU at #11 Washington
This is my upset alert, trap game of the week. The Huskies have a 17 point spread over the Cougars, which I think is insane because BYU has already knocked off a top 5 team (on the road!!!) this season. Washington has one of the most dynamic QB-RB duos in the nation with Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin, but they don't seem to know how to do much with them. Their offense has only mustered up a 27.3 points per game average and Browning has 4 interceptions already this year. BYU plays extremely tough defense and only gives up 17 points per game. The Cougars have a +5 turnover margin and will look to hold down the Husky offense, much like they did to Wisconsin. Washington has one of the nation's best defenses (#17) as well, so I expect this to be a tight, hard-nosed football game. Cougar running back, Squally Canada, has 5 TDs this season, and he's a tough runner to bring down. I only picked Washington for the Pac-12, not the play offs, and BYU is nasty on the road. Cougars win it in another big upset 23-17.
#7 Stanford at #8 Notre Dame
The first of the two top 10 match-ups this week take place in South Bend, Indiana as the Cardinal square off against the Irish. Stanford has won 7 out of the last 9 games in this rivalry, including a current streak of 3 straight. However, the Irish have switched things up at QB, starting Junior Ian Book, who threw for 325 yards and 2 TDs while completing 73.5% of his passes. Notre Dame's running game hasn't been too bad either, as they average over 180 on the ground per game. In a strange twist of events, Bryce Love and Stanford haven't gotten much going on the ground, averaging just 104 yards per game as a team, but their passing attack with K.J. Costello and all of their 9 foot tall wide receivers has been thriving with 264 yards per game. The Cardinal really need to get Bryce Love going soon if they want a shot at the College Football Playoffs, and what better game than now against their rivals? The Irish have struggled at home this season, and gave up 326 yards through the air against Vandy. If Costello can keep slinging the ball out to his receivers, the size advantage could make for some more big plays. This is about the time of year when the Pac-12 starts to implode and keep themselves out of the playoffs, but Stanford showed a lot of fight in last week's comeback win. I think David Shaw has a special squad here and this is a huge resume booster when it comes to the playoffs. The Cardinal win a thriller in front of Touchdown Jesus 33-31.
#4 Ohio State at #9 Penn State
White Out conditions are expected tonight as the Buckeyes travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn State. This BIG 10 East showdown has been one of the best games over recent years, and has the makings of another big game this evening. This is a match-up of two of the best offenses in the nation, and two more potential playoff competitors. Dwayne Haskins has lead Ohio State's offense to new heights this season, throwing for just under 1,200 yards this year with a 16:1 TD to INT ratio and a mind-boggling 75.7% completion rating! Haskins is crazy accurate, and the Buckeyes have no shortage of talent for him to throw to. They're averaging 599 yards of total offense and 54.5 points per game. The Nittany Lions may have a difficult time slowing them down, but keeping pace shouldn't be much of an issue, as they average 55.5 points per game. Trace McSorely is one of the best and most underrated QBs in the nation in my opinion, and his stats are nothing to shake a stick at. He's not as accurate as Haskins, but still has 763 yards and 8 TDs compared to just 2 picks. What really sticks out to me is his poise and sense of awareness in the pocket. When you watch this kid play, it's like he knows exactly where and when the pressure is coming from, and he's always able to slip away. His dual-threat ability has given defenses headaches for years now, and McSorely already has 6 TDs on the ground this year. I think this could be his Heisman moment game and he'll have a breakout performance under the lights. Besides, he's never thrown a pick against the Buckeyes yet, and he's NEVER lost a game at Beaver Stadium! I expect a lot of offensive firepower to be showcased in this game, but secondary play will be very important. I'm anxious to see how Ohio State handles their first true ground attack with RB Miles Sanders averaging 7 yards per carry for Penn State. This may be a bit of a hopeful pick because I think Ohio State has a strong chance to be in the National Title game against Bama, but there's just something about those White Out games at Penn State. You never want to be a visiting team in those circumstances, and I think Ohio State will find out why. Nittany Lions win a BIG game in the BIG 10 East 45-41.
Purdue at Nebraska
Now as a student and fan, I will allow myself to make a prediction on this game. But I have always said that when I need to be unbiased, I would be. So when I step into that press box later today, I will be calling the game simply as a broadcaster. Nonetheless, I want my Huskers to win more than anything, and this should be a very fun game to watch. Both teams have a lot of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Both teams know they should each probably have a better record as well, and they're ready to prove it. Nebraska is searching for it's first win under the Scott Frost regime, and looking to avoid one of the worst starts in program history. The Boilermakers are trying to battle their way back into bowl contention and in the BIG 10 West. Purdue won it's first game of the season last week, knocking off #23 Boston College 30-17. They're lead by a dynamic offense glittered with speed. Freshman stud, Rondale Moore, leads the conference in receiving with 372 yards and 4 TDs. He also has a score on the ground to go along with 132 yards on just 6 carries. I've had nightmares all week of Purdue running the Jet Sweep with Moore and him taking the ball around the edge of our defense for 70+ yard touchdowns. The Blackshirts will need to know where #4 is on the field at all times. They will also need to get some pressure on Purdue QB David Blough. He's taken over as the true starter and has thrown for 868 yards, 6 TDs and just 1 pick... in the past 2 games alone! Nebraska's secondary could have a long game ahead of them. However, there's another side to the ball for the Huskers, and it looks like Adrian will start once again. Nebraska will look to establish a rushing attack in order to take some of the pressure off of Martinez, but I expect Stanley Morgan Jr., JD Spielman and all of the Huskers' wideouts to be used more starting this week. It's obvious Scott Frost and his staff want to get the ball to the edge, so look for a lot of quick passes and rolls to the sideline. I think Nebraska will be fired up this week and finally get the win we've all been looking for. Nebraska 33, Purdue 31. GO BIG RED!
Now for some Quick Hit Predictions on other interesting games this week:
#14 Michigan at Northwestern- The Wolverines are coming off a major win and the Wildcats' best offensive weapon just retired from football, this is easy right? Not so fast my friend! Northwestern is always an unpredictable team and Michigan won't get by quite as easy as last week. They'll win, but it'll be slightly more challenging. Wolverines 34, Wildcats 21.
Boise State at Wyoming- The Broncos have had to sit on their beat down from Oklahoma State for a week now, and Mountain Division Rival Wyoming will feel the full force of that anger. This is always a big game for the Division, but Boise should do well in Laramie. Broncos 47, Cowboys 20.
Iowa State at TCU- The Frogs have fallen off the past couple weeks, losing back to back games against Ohio State and Texas. Iowa State isn't the pushover they once were and this will be a fight to get the win. Close game, but TCU gets back on track with a 35-23 win.
Ole Miss at #5 LSU- Some people are still questioning the Bayou Bengals, and I'm one of them. Their schedule will get a lot worse before it gets better this season (Georgia, Miss. State and Bama in a 4 week span), but a battle for the Golden Boot is never a game you want to overlook. The Tigers are strong against the run, giving up just 91.3 yards per game, but their pass defense isn't quite as good. Ole Miss averages 347.5 yards through the air per game and will be licking their chops to take on the young Tiger secondary that give up 244 yards per game on average in the air. I need some proof out of LSU in this game, so I'll trust them and see where it leads. Upset potential at it's finest, but the Tigers pull out the win 28-17.
Thank you for reading all of my gameday predictions and be sure to tune into 90.3 KRNU with the link above if you want to hear me call the Huskers' game against Purdue. Have a fantastic football Saturday and GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Week 4 Reflection
Yeah... I don't really want to talk about the Michigan game either. But it needs to be analyzed and discussed. It really doesn't seem like things could get much worse for this team and the 2018 season, but I would like to point out that Nebraska still has road games to Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa. Coach Frost said this would be the absolute bottom, so this team better start to turn it around soon. I'll give my analysis and break down of the game an pass along some thought of other CFB News from around the nation. Thanks for reading and be sure to check out my special announcements at the end of the post, enjoy!
Well, that was one of the worst football performances I've ever seen to be honest. Nebraska was beaten in every phase of the game only looked slightly competitive on a handful of plays. Special teams is still making me sick and the offensive line will get us to start Matt Masker at QB with the amount of pressure an hits they give up. This team has been frustrating to watch in recent weeks, especially because they seem to be showing more regression rather than progress. There is a very steep learning curve for this team, and I've acknowledged that from the beginning, but they seem to get worse every game. Against Colorado, the team looked strong, athletic and fired up to play. Against Troy and Michigan they have been extremely flat and it's resulted in a lackluster performance followed by a complete annihilation. This team needs to get that spark back real quick if they want to win any games this season. I'll be gentle on this breakdown, but there's still a lot to unpack.
GOOD- There really wasn't much good in this game if I'm being completely honest. It took me a while to sit and think about it, but the "good" that I found was that Barrett Pickering made his Field Goal. This is big for his confidence and should help him moving forward.
EXPECTED- The expected category goes to how dominant Michigan was at the line of scrimmage against Nebraska, especially on defense. It's clear the Wolverines have a lot more talent on the defensive side of the ball, but the Offensive Line for Nebraska was horrendous on Saturday. The stats have Michigan with 4 sacks and 14 tackles for loss, but I know both QBs were hit and knocked down at least 7 or 8 times on top of the sacks. Michigan's defense is a tough one, but the "Pipeline" made them look like a group of All-Americans (which some may be) on Saturday. Protecting the QB and establishing just a little push will be crucial moving forward. It's already starting to cause issues on the team as RB Maurice Washington missed practice on Monday because he was upset with the line's performance.
BAD- Just about everything was bad in this game, but the Special Teams was a special kind of bad. There were multiple penalties (yet again) on special teams including fair catch interference and a personal foul- late hit. Dumb mistakes all around on Special Teams really put Nebraska in a hole all game long and this issue has gotten worse week to week. Tyjon Lindsay's muffed punt was just a horrible football play from the get go. This needs to be one of the biggest and most pressing issues for the coaching staff to address this week.
Now for some other news around College Football from the weekend:
- Kentucky is one of the biggest surprises of the season, and the defense they played against Mississippi State was very impressive. Watch out for the Wildcats, they have a very favorable schedule that brings Georgia to Lexington in November.
- Stanford won with a crazy comeback, but Oregon looked tough. The Pac-12 North could be a bit more crowded than most of us initially thought, especially if Washington can't find their offense soon.
- Texas' defense is getting better every week. The Red River Rivalry is always a fun game, but hosting West Virginia in early November could be the an upset brewing. They aren't quite back, but Texas is on its way.
- Old Dominion came up with one of the biggest upsets in CFB history. Virginia Tech's defense was torched for over 600 total yards including 495 and 4 TDs through the air. QB Josh Jackson did leave the game with an injury, but he doesn't play defense. Big props to the Monarchs.
- A video of Chip the Buffalo, Colorado's mascot has surfaced of him getting shot in the groin point blank by a t-shirt cannon. As a Husker fan, this is fantastic. As a man, this is brutal to watch, but still quite funny.
- Some sad news out of Chicago has confirmed that Northwestern RB Jeremy Larkin has retired from football. Larkin has recently been diagnosed with cervical stenosis, a narrowing of the upper spine. It's not life threatening, but he will retire from football immediately due to health concerns. Larkin had taken over the lead RB role after Justin Jackson's departure and has done quite well this season, rushing for 346 yards and 5 TDs. This was looking to be a breakout season for Larkin and it's heartbreaking to see a career end for a player who was looking so dynamic. Happy he'll be safe and healthy though, all the best to Jeremy Larkin!
Thanks for reading my Week 4 Reflections, and now I have two big announcements to make!
1. I will be hosting a radio show again this semester on KRNU2! My show will be named after my blog, College Football KnowItAll and will run from 7 pm to 8 pm on Monday nights. I'll also post the recordings of my shows as well.
2. I will be doing Play-by-Play for the Nebraska-Purdue game on 90.3 KRNU this Saturday! For my Sports Broadcasting game, I'll get to call the game with my classmates, so if you're going to be listening to the game on the radio, be sure to use the link below to tune into our Broadcast!
http://krnu.unl.edu/
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Well, that was one of the worst football performances I've ever seen to be honest. Nebraska was beaten in every phase of the game only looked slightly competitive on a handful of plays. Special teams is still making me sick and the offensive line will get us to start Matt Masker at QB with the amount of pressure an hits they give up. This team has been frustrating to watch in recent weeks, especially because they seem to be showing more regression rather than progress. There is a very steep learning curve for this team, and I've acknowledged that from the beginning, but they seem to get worse every game. Against Colorado, the team looked strong, athletic and fired up to play. Against Troy and Michigan they have been extremely flat and it's resulted in a lackluster performance followed by a complete annihilation. This team needs to get that spark back real quick if they want to win any games this season. I'll be gentle on this breakdown, but there's still a lot to unpack.
GOOD- There really wasn't much good in this game if I'm being completely honest. It took me a while to sit and think about it, but the "good" that I found was that Barrett Pickering made his Field Goal. This is big for his confidence and should help him moving forward.
EXPECTED- The expected category goes to how dominant Michigan was at the line of scrimmage against Nebraska, especially on defense. It's clear the Wolverines have a lot more talent on the defensive side of the ball, but the Offensive Line for Nebraska was horrendous on Saturday. The stats have Michigan with 4 sacks and 14 tackles for loss, but I know both QBs were hit and knocked down at least 7 or 8 times on top of the sacks. Michigan's defense is a tough one, but the "Pipeline" made them look like a group of All-Americans (which some may be) on Saturday. Protecting the QB and establishing just a little push will be crucial moving forward. It's already starting to cause issues on the team as RB Maurice Washington missed practice on Monday because he was upset with the line's performance.
BAD- Just about everything was bad in this game, but the Special Teams was a special kind of bad. There were multiple penalties (yet again) on special teams including fair catch interference and a personal foul- late hit. Dumb mistakes all around on Special Teams really put Nebraska in a hole all game long and this issue has gotten worse week to week. Tyjon Lindsay's muffed punt was just a horrible football play from the get go. This needs to be one of the biggest and most pressing issues for the coaching staff to address this week.
Now for some other news around College Football from the weekend:
- Kentucky is one of the biggest surprises of the season, and the defense they played against Mississippi State was very impressive. Watch out for the Wildcats, they have a very favorable schedule that brings Georgia to Lexington in November.
- Stanford won with a crazy comeback, but Oregon looked tough. The Pac-12 North could be a bit more crowded than most of us initially thought, especially if Washington can't find their offense soon.
- Texas' defense is getting better every week. The Red River Rivalry is always a fun game, but hosting West Virginia in early November could be the an upset brewing. They aren't quite back, but Texas is on its way.
- Old Dominion came up with one of the biggest upsets in CFB history. Virginia Tech's defense was torched for over 600 total yards including 495 and 4 TDs through the air. QB Josh Jackson did leave the game with an injury, but he doesn't play defense. Big props to the Monarchs.
- A video of Chip the Buffalo, Colorado's mascot has surfaced of him getting shot in the groin point blank by a t-shirt cannon. As a Husker fan, this is fantastic. As a man, this is brutal to watch, but still quite funny.
- Some sad news out of Chicago has confirmed that Northwestern RB Jeremy Larkin has retired from football. Larkin has recently been diagnosed with cervical stenosis, a narrowing of the upper spine. It's not life threatening, but he will retire from football immediately due to health concerns. Larkin had taken over the lead RB role after Justin Jackson's departure and has done quite well this season, rushing for 346 yards and 5 TDs. This was looking to be a breakout season for Larkin and it's heartbreaking to see a career end for a player who was looking so dynamic. Happy he'll be safe and healthy though, all the best to Jeremy Larkin!
Thanks for reading my Week 4 Reflections, and now I have two big announcements to make!
1. I will be hosting a radio show again this semester on KRNU2! My show will be named after my blog, College Football KnowItAll and will run from 7 pm to 8 pm on Monday nights. I'll also post the recordings of my shows as well.
2. I will be doing Play-by-Play for the Nebraska-Purdue game on 90.3 KRNU this Saturday! For my Sports Broadcasting game, I'll get to call the game with my classmates, so if you're going to be listening to the game on the radio, be sure to use the link below to tune into our Broadcast!
http://krnu.unl.edu/
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Week 4 Predictions
Hello football fans and welcome to Week 4 of the College Football season! A lot of teams are starting conference play this week and I've got a great slate of games for you all. The first few weeks have not gone the best for me with predictions, but I'm looking to turn it around starting this week. Enjoy my analysis and predictions of all the big games this week!
Week 3 Prediction Results: 4-7
Overall Prediction Results: 14-18
#22 Texas A&M at #1 Alabama
One of just ranked v. ranked match-ups this week in College Football takes place down in "Title Town" as the Aggies take on the Tide. We all know what Bama is going to bring to the table, a dominant defense with an offense that now averages 56.7 points per game. A&M can definitely put up points too though, averaging 44.3 per game and nearly 600 yards of offense. Kellen Mond has a strong grasp of the offense and this team went toe to toe with Clemson just a couple weeks ago. Bama looks to be stronger than Clemson at this point in the season, but this will be the biggest test they've faced so far. The Aggies put a lot of pressure on the Clemson backfield recording 7 tackles for loss. The Tigers were able to find a lot of success through the air however, so I expect Tua to have a big game passing yet again. The key factor to watch will be Kellon Mond against the young Bama secondary. Mond racked up 480 yards and 3 TDs against Clemson, so expect A&M to come out with some deep balls. I'm excited to watch this game and I definitely think the Aggies will break into that 26 point spread. Bama keeps rolling, but the Aggies make this an enjoyable game to watch.
Alabama 47, Texas A&M 31.
Kansas at Baylor
Now this isn't really one of the big games of the week, but it should be interesting nonetheless. Kansas is coming off of two straight wins, including a 55-14 BEAT DOWN on Rutgers last week. Baylor is coming off of a tight loss to a very surprising Duke team last week, and has a big road trip to Norman looming for next week. They could be looking a head just a bit, giving Kansas another opportunity for the upset. Senior QB Peyton Bender is going to be starting for the Jayhawks, but it's their defense I want to talk about. The Jayhakws are only giving up 15.7 points per game and under 300 total yards. The Bears are averaging 500 total yards on offense per game along with just under 40 points, so this will be the area of the game to watch. Kansas has only 5 conference games since 2009, but I think this team is motivated and this is their most winnable game when it comes to the Big XII slate. Baylor is caught sleeping and Kansas wins 3 in a row! Rock-Chalk Jayhawks 34, Baylor Bears 30.
#17 TCU at Texas
The longhorns are really starting to make me mad (as usual). They lost their opener to Maryland when I thought they'd be a motivated team, but then demolished USC at home last week with some very impressive defense. The Horns racked up 3 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last week against the Trojans and held USC to just 14 points, shutting them out in the last 3 quarters. The Frogs are coming off a tough loss to Ohio State last week and could have a bit of a hangover early in the game. Their defense played well last week, but after giving up a few big plays late in the game they couldn't quite keep pace with the Buckeyes. There's a lot of firepower on offense for Gary Patterson's squad, but turnovers were a big issue last week as they gave the ball away 3 times, two of them resulting in defensive touchdowns. Texas will look to replicate the pressure it created last week to keep TCU QB Shawn Robinson frazzled. Texas is a 3 point favorite at home, but I think Patterson will have his team ready to play. TCU bounces back and pulls off a big win in Austin. Horned Frogs win it 33-23.
#7 Stanford at #20 Oregon
The big game of the week takes place in Autzen Stadium, one of the loudest in the nation. The Stanford Cardinal travel up to Oregon to take on the Mighty Ducks. Justin Herbert, the Ducks' QB, has been very impressive this year, racking up 840 yards passing with 12 TDs and 4 picks. He'll face off against a Stanford defense that's giving up just 7.7 points per game and 301 yards on average. This will be the most dynamic QB the Cardinal have faced this season, so they will have a big test. In my opinion however, the biggest test in this game is with the Oregon secondary. The Ducks have given up an average of 226 passing yards per game, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside is healthy and ready to roll today. He only has 13 catches on the season, but 5 of those have been for TDs and he's racked up 324 yards which is good for 24.9 yards per catch! We all know what Bryce Love will do with the Stanford running game, but if the Ducks can't slow down Arcega-Whiteside, this will be a long night. They play-action game will be a big part of the Stanford offense and I expect K.J. Costello to step up and have a big night. Stanford continues their strong start to the season with a statement road win in Autzen. The Trees beat the Ducks 34-20.
#18 Wisconsin at Iowa (Battle for the Heartland Trophy)
The first true test for the Hawkeyes comes to Iowa City for their BIG 10 opener against the Wisconsin Badgers. Of course, Wisconsin is not going to be in a happy mood after losing to BYU at home last week. Iowa has one of the top defenses in the nation, giving up just 8 points per game and 209 yards per game on average. However, they have yet to face a Heisman candidate this season, and Wisconsin RB Johnathan Taylor is just that. Taylor has 515 yards and 5 TDs on the ground already this season, and "struggled" last week with an average of 4.5 yards per carry. Iowa's defense will face a big test with the Badgers offensive line. The key factor to watch in this game is the QB battle of Nate Stanley vs. Alex Hornibrook. Their stats are remarkably similar, 63.2% completion rating for Hornibrook and 63.3% for Stanley, 595 yards passing for Hornibrook and 583 for Stanley. Plus 3 TDs and 2 picks for each. Stanley's completion numbers were inflated due to his performance last week, as he was only completing 52.9% over his first two games this season. Under the lights in Kinnick Stadium is never a fun place to play, but Wisconsin coming off a loss should be just enough motivation to push them over the top. Badgers edge out the Hawkeyes 27-23.
Arizona State at #10 Washington
The Sun Devils lost their first road test against the Aztecs of SDSU, and things won't get easier as they travel up to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Huskies. Washington has been lackluster on offense this season, only averaging 27.3 points per game. For a team with so much experience, they've struggled to find a lot of rhythm thus far. Their defense has been solid however, giving up just 10.3 points per game. Arizona State's offense will have a tough time moving the ball, and if Manny Wilkins still can't get on the right page with his receivers, this could be a very long night and even longer season. Washington's defense shouldn't have many issues tonight, but if they can't find their offense, this could be closer than necessary. Jake Browning needs to stop throwing picks too, he's at 4 so far this year. The Sun Devils have a tough defense as well, so look for that 18 point spread to be a bit closer. Huskies win it 30-17.
Nebraska at #19 Michigan
First off, my realistic prediction for this game is not the best, but as a Husker fan I will give my reasons on why Nebraska can (and will in my slightly biased opinion) win this game! For anyone hoping to see Adrian Martinez today, don't hold your breath. Sources from the team have told me he likely won't see the field until Wisconsin at the earliest, which means it's still BUNCH TIME!! As I stated in my reflection post earlier this week, I was happy with Bunch's performance last week and am excited for him moving forward. He'll need a bit more help from his offense, especially up front on the O-line. Bunch was running for his life almost every other play last week, and Michigan's pass rush is a lot nastier than Troy's. Senior DL Chase Winovich has been reeking havoc on opponents this season with 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack through three games in 2018. Michigan will look to apply a lot of pressure to keep Bunch off balance. The Blackshirts will need to step up and keep the pressure Shae Patterson in this game for Nebraska to have a chance. The Huskers have 10 sacks already this season, so they'll be bringing the heat yet again. Secondary play needs to be better as the Wolverines have a lot of weapons on offense. The last factor to watch will be Special Teams. Nebraska has really struggled this season on Special Teams, but a big play or two in this area could swing this game in the Huskers favor! Coach Devaney's first road test was at Michigan, and he came away with a victory, so why not Coach Frost?! Nebraska wins this one 27-24!
Now for some Quick Hit Predictions on some other intriguing match ups this weekend:
South Carolina at Vanderbilt- The Gamecocks had their game canceled last week due to Hurricane Florence, so I'm sure they're ready to get back to football. However, they have a tough road test against the Commodores and a nasty defense. Vandy is only giving up 13 points per game and QB Kyle Shurmur looks to keep his strong season going against a shaky Gamecock defense. I like Vandy at home in this one, 33-21.
#14 Mississippi State at Kentucky- The Bulldogs have had a solid start to the Joe Moorehead era, but a road trip to Lexington won't be the easiest place to walk away with a win from. The Wildcats are unbeaten as well and the duo of QB Terry Wilson and RB Benny Snell Jr. is enough to give any team some headaches. This is going to be a tight game and I think Kentucky will give State a bit more than they bargained for. Bulldogs fight back late to pull of a tight one, but this could honestly go either way. Mississippi State 30, Kentucky 24.
#23 Boston College at Purdue- The Boilermakers are still looking for their first win of the season as they fell to Missouri by 3 last week, even with David Blough throwing for a school-record 572 yards. This is a sneaky trap game for BC as they're on the road and ranked for the first time since 2008. The key is to lean on AJ Dillon for the Eagles. However, Purdue is a talented team and I think they'll find a way to win. Boiler-Up! Purdue wins 34-27.
#24 Michigan State at Indiana- The Battle for the Old Brass Spittoon takes place in Bloomington, Indiana this year as Sparty takes on the rival Hoosiers. Tom Allen's squad is undefeated and has won some tight games this year. Michigan State has not performed well, but did have a week off to sit with the Arizona State loss. That's going to make the difference and Sparty wins the spittoon 35-21.
Thanks for reading all my gameday predictions and enjoy your Saturday! GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Week 3 Prediction Results: 4-7
Overall Prediction Results: 14-18
#22 Texas A&M at #1 Alabama
One of just ranked v. ranked match-ups this week in College Football takes place down in "Title Town" as the Aggies take on the Tide. We all know what Bama is going to bring to the table, a dominant defense with an offense that now averages 56.7 points per game. A&M can definitely put up points too though, averaging 44.3 per game and nearly 600 yards of offense. Kellen Mond has a strong grasp of the offense and this team went toe to toe with Clemson just a couple weeks ago. Bama looks to be stronger than Clemson at this point in the season, but this will be the biggest test they've faced so far. The Aggies put a lot of pressure on the Clemson backfield recording 7 tackles for loss. The Tigers were able to find a lot of success through the air however, so I expect Tua to have a big game passing yet again. The key factor to watch will be Kellon Mond against the young Bama secondary. Mond racked up 480 yards and 3 TDs against Clemson, so expect A&M to come out with some deep balls. I'm excited to watch this game and I definitely think the Aggies will break into that 26 point spread. Bama keeps rolling, but the Aggies make this an enjoyable game to watch.
Alabama 47, Texas A&M 31.
Kansas at Baylor
Now this isn't really one of the big games of the week, but it should be interesting nonetheless. Kansas is coming off of two straight wins, including a 55-14 BEAT DOWN on Rutgers last week. Baylor is coming off of a tight loss to a very surprising Duke team last week, and has a big road trip to Norman looming for next week. They could be looking a head just a bit, giving Kansas another opportunity for the upset. Senior QB Peyton Bender is going to be starting for the Jayhawks, but it's their defense I want to talk about. The Jayhakws are only giving up 15.7 points per game and under 300 total yards. The Bears are averaging 500 total yards on offense per game along with just under 40 points, so this will be the area of the game to watch. Kansas has only 5 conference games since 2009, but I think this team is motivated and this is their most winnable game when it comes to the Big XII slate. Baylor is caught sleeping and Kansas wins 3 in a row! Rock-Chalk Jayhawks 34, Baylor Bears 30.
#17 TCU at Texas
The longhorns are really starting to make me mad (as usual). They lost their opener to Maryland when I thought they'd be a motivated team, but then demolished USC at home last week with some very impressive defense. The Horns racked up 3 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last week against the Trojans and held USC to just 14 points, shutting them out in the last 3 quarters. The Frogs are coming off a tough loss to Ohio State last week and could have a bit of a hangover early in the game. Their defense played well last week, but after giving up a few big plays late in the game they couldn't quite keep pace with the Buckeyes. There's a lot of firepower on offense for Gary Patterson's squad, but turnovers were a big issue last week as they gave the ball away 3 times, two of them resulting in defensive touchdowns. Texas will look to replicate the pressure it created last week to keep TCU QB Shawn Robinson frazzled. Texas is a 3 point favorite at home, but I think Patterson will have his team ready to play. TCU bounces back and pulls off a big win in Austin. Horned Frogs win it 33-23.
#7 Stanford at #20 Oregon
The big game of the week takes place in Autzen Stadium, one of the loudest in the nation. The Stanford Cardinal travel up to Oregon to take on the Mighty Ducks. Justin Herbert, the Ducks' QB, has been very impressive this year, racking up 840 yards passing with 12 TDs and 4 picks. He'll face off against a Stanford defense that's giving up just 7.7 points per game and 301 yards on average. This will be the most dynamic QB the Cardinal have faced this season, so they will have a big test. In my opinion however, the biggest test in this game is with the Oregon secondary. The Ducks have given up an average of 226 passing yards per game, and JJ Arcega-Whiteside is healthy and ready to roll today. He only has 13 catches on the season, but 5 of those have been for TDs and he's racked up 324 yards which is good for 24.9 yards per catch! We all know what Bryce Love will do with the Stanford running game, but if the Ducks can't slow down Arcega-Whiteside, this will be a long night. They play-action game will be a big part of the Stanford offense and I expect K.J. Costello to step up and have a big night. Stanford continues their strong start to the season with a statement road win in Autzen. The Trees beat the Ducks 34-20.
#18 Wisconsin at Iowa (Battle for the Heartland Trophy)
The first true test for the Hawkeyes comes to Iowa City for their BIG 10 opener against the Wisconsin Badgers. Of course, Wisconsin is not going to be in a happy mood after losing to BYU at home last week. Iowa has one of the top defenses in the nation, giving up just 8 points per game and 209 yards per game on average. However, they have yet to face a Heisman candidate this season, and Wisconsin RB Johnathan Taylor is just that. Taylor has 515 yards and 5 TDs on the ground already this season, and "struggled" last week with an average of 4.5 yards per carry. Iowa's defense will face a big test with the Badgers offensive line. The key factor to watch in this game is the QB battle of Nate Stanley vs. Alex Hornibrook. Their stats are remarkably similar, 63.2% completion rating for Hornibrook and 63.3% for Stanley, 595 yards passing for Hornibrook and 583 for Stanley. Plus 3 TDs and 2 picks for each. Stanley's completion numbers were inflated due to his performance last week, as he was only completing 52.9% over his first two games this season. Under the lights in Kinnick Stadium is never a fun place to play, but Wisconsin coming off a loss should be just enough motivation to push them over the top. Badgers edge out the Hawkeyes 27-23.
Arizona State at #10 Washington
The Sun Devils lost their first road test against the Aztecs of SDSU, and things won't get easier as they travel up to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Huskies. Washington has been lackluster on offense this season, only averaging 27.3 points per game. For a team with so much experience, they've struggled to find a lot of rhythm thus far. Their defense has been solid however, giving up just 10.3 points per game. Arizona State's offense will have a tough time moving the ball, and if Manny Wilkins still can't get on the right page with his receivers, this could be a very long night and even longer season. Washington's defense shouldn't have many issues tonight, but if they can't find their offense, this could be closer than necessary. Jake Browning needs to stop throwing picks too, he's at 4 so far this year. The Sun Devils have a tough defense as well, so look for that 18 point spread to be a bit closer. Huskies win it 30-17.
Nebraska at #19 Michigan
First off, my realistic prediction for this game is not the best, but as a Husker fan I will give my reasons on why Nebraska can (and will in my slightly biased opinion) win this game! For anyone hoping to see Adrian Martinez today, don't hold your breath. Sources from the team have told me he likely won't see the field until Wisconsin at the earliest, which means it's still BUNCH TIME!! As I stated in my reflection post earlier this week, I was happy with Bunch's performance last week and am excited for him moving forward. He'll need a bit more help from his offense, especially up front on the O-line. Bunch was running for his life almost every other play last week, and Michigan's pass rush is a lot nastier than Troy's. Senior DL Chase Winovich has been reeking havoc on opponents this season with 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack through three games in 2018. Michigan will look to apply a lot of pressure to keep Bunch off balance. The Blackshirts will need to step up and keep the pressure Shae Patterson in this game for Nebraska to have a chance. The Huskers have 10 sacks already this season, so they'll be bringing the heat yet again. Secondary play needs to be better as the Wolverines have a lot of weapons on offense. The last factor to watch will be Special Teams. Nebraska has really struggled this season on Special Teams, but a big play or two in this area could swing this game in the Huskers favor! Coach Devaney's first road test was at Michigan, and he came away with a victory, so why not Coach Frost?! Nebraska wins this one 27-24!
Now for some Quick Hit Predictions on some other intriguing match ups this weekend:
South Carolina at Vanderbilt- The Gamecocks had their game canceled last week due to Hurricane Florence, so I'm sure they're ready to get back to football. However, they have a tough road test against the Commodores and a nasty defense. Vandy is only giving up 13 points per game and QB Kyle Shurmur looks to keep his strong season going against a shaky Gamecock defense. I like Vandy at home in this one, 33-21.
#14 Mississippi State at Kentucky- The Bulldogs have had a solid start to the Joe Moorehead era, but a road trip to Lexington won't be the easiest place to walk away with a win from. The Wildcats are unbeaten as well and the duo of QB Terry Wilson and RB Benny Snell Jr. is enough to give any team some headaches. This is going to be a tight game and I think Kentucky will give State a bit more than they bargained for. Bulldogs fight back late to pull of a tight one, but this could honestly go either way. Mississippi State 30, Kentucky 24.
#23 Boston College at Purdue- The Boilermakers are still looking for their first win of the season as they fell to Missouri by 3 last week, even with David Blough throwing for a school-record 572 yards. This is a sneaky trap game for BC as they're on the road and ranked for the first time since 2008. The key is to lean on AJ Dillon for the Eagles. However, Purdue is a talented team and I think they'll find a way to win. Boiler-Up! Purdue wins 34-27.
#24 Michigan State at Indiana- The Battle for the Old Brass Spittoon takes place in Bloomington, Indiana this year as Sparty takes on the rival Hoosiers. Tom Allen's squad is undefeated and has won some tight games this year. Michigan State has not performed well, but did have a week off to sit with the Arizona State loss. That's going to make the difference and Sparty wins the spittoon 35-21.
Thanks for reading all my gameday predictions and enjoy your Saturday! GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Week 3 Reflections
Howdy football fans! This past weekend was rough for Huskers and the BIG 10 alike. I really expected Nebraska to come out on top against Troy, but you've got to credit the Trojans, they came in with a solid game plan and really took it to the Huskers. To everyone freaking out on starting 0-2 for the first time since 1957, just relax. Nebraska is on the right path, but this is a very inexperienced team and with a total system change it's going to take some time for them to really get in the groove. I don't like watching them lose any more than the next fan, but as I've been saying since the hire of Coach Frost, this is a building season that will be full of growing pains. This post will feature my break down and analysis of Saturday's loss as well as some of the other interesting story lines I've seen across College Football. So sit back, read on, and enjoy!
The typical narrative is that a team improves most during the season from game 1 to game 2. Nebraska took that narrative and ran it off a cliff with their performance against Troy on Saturday. Many people have been pushing a lot of blame towards backup QB Andrew Bunch and the lack of explosiveness on offense, but I could not disagree more with that idea. The entire team came out flat, and while the defense played okay, they were nothing amazing, especially when it came to dumb penalties. Special teams was atrocious yet again and the lack of protection made anything on offense hard to accomplish. I'll go through my break down of the game with the Good, Expected and Bad categories again.
GOOD- It can be difficult to find some positives in a game where you really should've beat the other team, but I did see a few things that have me excited for what this team can do. This is with the offensive pace and the receivers. Nebraska was able to use a lot of different packages with 3 or 4 wideouts/tight ends throughout the game. The fast-paced offense allowed the Huskers to run 75 plays against the Trojans, which really kept their defense on their toes. Nebraska racked up 364 total offensive yards and dominated time of possession by nearly 6 minutes. Since the Huskers were able to use a variety of wideouts in their offense, a number of them were able to catch some passes. There were some bad drops, but with 8 different players catching a pass, Nebraska has good things in the making with this offense. Stanley and J.D. need to be the focus moving forward, and I was very happy to see them get a lot of looks from Bunch throughout the game. Not a great day as far as finishing drives on offense, but the basics for high-powered production is there. It'll come together soon, just give it time.
EXPECTED- My expected category is a neutral category where something I anticipated with the game can be either good or bad. This week's expectations were met by the play of Sophomore QB Andrew Bunch. Again, I've heard a lot of talk bashing his performance, but I'm going to explain why he was arguably one of the few bright spots in this game for Nebraska. No, he did not play a great game and I acknowledge that. I also acknowledge the fact that Adrian is a better athlete and probably could've made a couple more plays with his running ability. HOWEVER, Bunch performed quite well for originally expecting to be a 3rd string QB, and his scrambling ability saved the Huskers more times than not. When you have a talent like Adrian Martinez, you have to remember why the backups are the backups. Bunch is clearly not the runner and play-maker Martinez is, but he handled the offense well, made some good throws, and ultimately gave this team a solid chance to win. Breaking down his performance, I'll get the bad stuff out early. Two interceptions and some dangerous throws really showed the inexperience we have at the QB position. I give a bit of a pass on the second pick since it was tipped, but the ball was a bit high for Spielman. The first pick was on a scramble late in the first quarter just after the Blackshirts had come away with their first takeaway of the season. Tough time because of the momentum swing, but I promise you Adrian Martinez would've made the exact same throw. Any young QB would have because he was just trying to make a play and avoid the loss of yardage. I've seen veteran QBs make that mistake by throwing the ball late in a scramble, so I don't look too much into it, that's just a learning moment. The lack of experience will not play into the favor for any of our QBs this season, we need to accept that now. My issue comes with the lack of help Bunch received throughout the game. He only missed 8 passes, 2 of which being the interceptions, and there were at least 3 drops I can remember off the top of my head. The running game was lackluster as Washington (who played very well) would break off an 8 yard run and then immediately be knocked back 3 on the next play. Finally, the protection was similar to the protection from previous years, a.k.a. nonexistent. The interior of the line gave in like the discount paper towels you see on commercials and Bunch did not have much time to let the play develop. For a walk-on's first start where everyone wants to see Adrian, I thought Bunch did exactly what he needed to do and his experienced weapons on offense needed to step up and help him. Besides, his first TD pass to Stanley was in one of the tightest windows I've ever seen. I'm happy with our backup QB situation.
BAD- Now I don't want to go crazy on this section, especially because it's a lot of the same, small detail things from last week. Special Teams is so bad right now I don't even have the words to describe it, so I'm just going to say it needs to be fixed. I've already made the comment to some of my family that one could argue it's worse than when Bruce Reed was in charge of Special Teams under Riley's first two years. Next up is the penalties as Nebraska hit double digits with 10 penalties (slight improvement from 11 against Colorado), but still just as costly. Linebacker Mo Barry was ejected for a targeting penalty that was dumb, but textbook helmet to helmet. Immediately following that was another personal foul on defense, setting Troy up inside the 10 with first and goal. The discipline needs to be a key turning point for this team on the field. Dumb penalties like these will make or break a drive, which is a back-breaker in conference play. The final bad point I turn to is the offense's inability to finish drives. Nebraska had solid field position all game long and even when they were gifted a muffed punt on the 8 yard line, they still couldn't come away with a touchdown. This goes to both the players and the coaches. Execution was poor on offense as discussed earlier, but the play calling is still making me cringe at times. Yes, the playbook was probably a bit more limited with Bunch out there, but he ran the ball well when he had the chance. As I mentioned last week though, my primary issues when it comes to play calling stem from the lack of downfield routes and attacking plays. Our QBs may be young, but Nebraska has some very talented and experienced wideouts. Frost and crew really need to start using them in my opinion. I'm not expecting Bunch or Martinez to go out and throw 35+ passes a game, but the offense needs to open up more. They're too predictable right now, which was a primary issue under Coach Riley. Defenses are loading 8 or 9 guys in the box every play because they know Nebraska won't run anything deep. In my opinion, even if you're not throwing it deep all the time, you need to run some routes vertical down the field. Apart from Spielman's TD against Colorado and 1 Stanley Morgan route against Troy, there is no length to the offense. All of the routes are 15 yards or less, allowing the defense to press and cause those tight windows. Coach Frost needs to start spreading these defenses out and at least make them think that Nebraska has the capability to go deep. That will open up the underneath routes very quickly.
Again, this was not a game I expected Nebraska to lose, and missing another bowl game seems almost inevitable now looking ahead to the rest of the schedule. Progress will be made, so don't freak out too much, but this won't be the most attractive looking season for Husker fans.
Now for my thoughts on other games, teams and story lines from around the nation:
- I wasn't on the Tua Heisman train to start the season, but the kid is starting to swing me. I'm going to wait until he gets into the teeth of the SEC schedule, but hosting A&M this weekend should be a solid test.
- TCU played well against Ohio State but could never quite keep the momentum once they got it. Tough loss, but this is a dangerous and fairly young team. They could be in the playoff conversation next year with Will Grier and Kyler Murray moving on from the Big XII.
- Speaking of Ohio State, along with Penn State they look to be the only BIG 10 teams you can hang your hat on at the moment. Iowa has looked strong but conference play will determine who they'll actually be this season. The rest of the conference is up in flames at the moment as 5 of 7 BIG 10 West Division teams lost in the final week of non-conference play, including the big upset of BYU at Wisconsin!
- North Texas pulled off the most amazing trick play/punt return EVER. Go look it up and just enjoy the awesomeness.
Thanks for reading my reflection post on this past weekend of College Football! Be sure to comment about any topics you'd like me to cover and remember to subscribe with your email if you want updates of my posts! Get ready for some more CFB action this weekend as a lot of conference play starts and GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
The typical narrative is that a team improves most during the season from game 1 to game 2. Nebraska took that narrative and ran it off a cliff with their performance against Troy on Saturday. Many people have been pushing a lot of blame towards backup QB Andrew Bunch and the lack of explosiveness on offense, but I could not disagree more with that idea. The entire team came out flat, and while the defense played okay, they were nothing amazing, especially when it came to dumb penalties. Special teams was atrocious yet again and the lack of protection made anything on offense hard to accomplish. I'll go through my break down of the game with the Good, Expected and Bad categories again.
GOOD- It can be difficult to find some positives in a game where you really should've beat the other team, but I did see a few things that have me excited for what this team can do. This is with the offensive pace and the receivers. Nebraska was able to use a lot of different packages with 3 or 4 wideouts/tight ends throughout the game. The fast-paced offense allowed the Huskers to run 75 plays against the Trojans, which really kept their defense on their toes. Nebraska racked up 364 total offensive yards and dominated time of possession by nearly 6 minutes. Since the Huskers were able to use a variety of wideouts in their offense, a number of them were able to catch some passes. There were some bad drops, but with 8 different players catching a pass, Nebraska has good things in the making with this offense. Stanley and J.D. need to be the focus moving forward, and I was very happy to see them get a lot of looks from Bunch throughout the game. Not a great day as far as finishing drives on offense, but the basics for high-powered production is there. It'll come together soon, just give it time.
EXPECTED- My expected category is a neutral category where something I anticipated with the game can be either good or bad. This week's expectations were met by the play of Sophomore QB Andrew Bunch. Again, I've heard a lot of talk bashing his performance, but I'm going to explain why he was arguably one of the few bright spots in this game for Nebraska. No, he did not play a great game and I acknowledge that. I also acknowledge the fact that Adrian is a better athlete and probably could've made a couple more plays with his running ability. HOWEVER, Bunch performed quite well for originally expecting to be a 3rd string QB, and his scrambling ability saved the Huskers more times than not. When you have a talent like Adrian Martinez, you have to remember why the backups are the backups. Bunch is clearly not the runner and play-maker Martinez is, but he handled the offense well, made some good throws, and ultimately gave this team a solid chance to win. Breaking down his performance, I'll get the bad stuff out early. Two interceptions and some dangerous throws really showed the inexperience we have at the QB position. I give a bit of a pass on the second pick since it was tipped, but the ball was a bit high for Spielman. The first pick was on a scramble late in the first quarter just after the Blackshirts had come away with their first takeaway of the season. Tough time because of the momentum swing, but I promise you Adrian Martinez would've made the exact same throw. Any young QB would have because he was just trying to make a play and avoid the loss of yardage. I've seen veteran QBs make that mistake by throwing the ball late in a scramble, so I don't look too much into it, that's just a learning moment. The lack of experience will not play into the favor for any of our QBs this season, we need to accept that now. My issue comes with the lack of help Bunch received throughout the game. He only missed 8 passes, 2 of which being the interceptions, and there were at least 3 drops I can remember off the top of my head. The running game was lackluster as Washington (who played very well) would break off an 8 yard run and then immediately be knocked back 3 on the next play. Finally, the protection was similar to the protection from previous years, a.k.a. nonexistent. The interior of the line gave in like the discount paper towels you see on commercials and Bunch did not have much time to let the play develop. For a walk-on's first start where everyone wants to see Adrian, I thought Bunch did exactly what he needed to do and his experienced weapons on offense needed to step up and help him. Besides, his first TD pass to Stanley was in one of the tightest windows I've ever seen. I'm happy with our backup QB situation.
BAD- Now I don't want to go crazy on this section, especially because it's a lot of the same, small detail things from last week. Special Teams is so bad right now I don't even have the words to describe it, so I'm just going to say it needs to be fixed. I've already made the comment to some of my family that one could argue it's worse than when Bruce Reed was in charge of Special Teams under Riley's first two years. Next up is the penalties as Nebraska hit double digits with 10 penalties (slight improvement from 11 against Colorado), but still just as costly. Linebacker Mo Barry was ejected for a targeting penalty that was dumb, but textbook helmet to helmet. Immediately following that was another personal foul on defense, setting Troy up inside the 10 with first and goal. The discipline needs to be a key turning point for this team on the field. Dumb penalties like these will make or break a drive, which is a back-breaker in conference play. The final bad point I turn to is the offense's inability to finish drives. Nebraska had solid field position all game long and even when they were gifted a muffed punt on the 8 yard line, they still couldn't come away with a touchdown. This goes to both the players and the coaches. Execution was poor on offense as discussed earlier, but the play calling is still making me cringe at times. Yes, the playbook was probably a bit more limited with Bunch out there, but he ran the ball well when he had the chance. As I mentioned last week though, my primary issues when it comes to play calling stem from the lack of downfield routes and attacking plays. Our QBs may be young, but Nebraska has some very talented and experienced wideouts. Frost and crew really need to start using them in my opinion. I'm not expecting Bunch or Martinez to go out and throw 35+ passes a game, but the offense needs to open up more. They're too predictable right now, which was a primary issue under Coach Riley. Defenses are loading 8 or 9 guys in the box every play because they know Nebraska won't run anything deep. In my opinion, even if you're not throwing it deep all the time, you need to run some routes vertical down the field. Apart from Spielman's TD against Colorado and 1 Stanley Morgan route against Troy, there is no length to the offense. All of the routes are 15 yards or less, allowing the defense to press and cause those tight windows. Coach Frost needs to start spreading these defenses out and at least make them think that Nebraska has the capability to go deep. That will open up the underneath routes very quickly.
Again, this was not a game I expected Nebraska to lose, and missing another bowl game seems almost inevitable now looking ahead to the rest of the schedule. Progress will be made, so don't freak out too much, but this won't be the most attractive looking season for Husker fans.
Now for my thoughts on other games, teams and story lines from around the nation:
- I wasn't on the Tua Heisman train to start the season, but the kid is starting to swing me. I'm going to wait until he gets into the teeth of the SEC schedule, but hosting A&M this weekend should be a solid test.
- TCU played well against Ohio State but could never quite keep the momentum once they got it. Tough loss, but this is a dangerous and fairly young team. They could be in the playoff conversation next year with Will Grier and Kyler Murray moving on from the Big XII.
- Speaking of Ohio State, along with Penn State they look to be the only BIG 10 teams you can hang your hat on at the moment. Iowa has looked strong but conference play will determine who they'll actually be this season. The rest of the conference is up in flames at the moment as 5 of 7 BIG 10 West Division teams lost in the final week of non-conference play, including the big upset of BYU at Wisconsin!
- North Texas pulled off the most amazing trick play/punt return EVER. Go look it up and just enjoy the awesomeness.
Thanks for reading my reflection post on this past weekend of College Football! Be sure to comment about any topics you'd like me to cover and remember to subscribe with your email if you want updates of my posts! Get ready for some more CFB action this weekend as a lot of conference play starts and GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Week 3 Predictions
Alright football fans, it's Week 3 for College Football and I've got another great slate of games to analyze and make predictions on! I'll be up in the KRNU Radio Press Box for this game as I will be serving as our spotter for the school's radio broadcast. Thanks for reading and enjoy my predictions!
Week 2 Prediction Results: 6-5
Season Prediction Results To Date: 10-11
BYU at #6 Wisconsin
The Cougars suffered a tough loss at home last week to Cal and will look to bounce back by traveling to Mad-town to take on the Badgers in Camp Randall. This is not the ideal game to "bounce back" with, but you've gotta play who's on your schedule. Wisconsin tends to start slow, but once they find their footing, the Badgers are nearly impossible to stop. Johnathan Taylor has nearly 400 rushing yards and 5 TDs so far this season, in just two games. Alex Hornibrook will have his hands full against a tough BYU defense. The Cougars play with a lot of physicality and really fly to the ball. I think Wisconsin should be steady in this one though, BYU gave up 174 yards on the ground to Cal last week, and Wisconsin is actually a running team! Badgers win 48-23.
#12 LSU at #7 Auburn
The Tigers of the SEC West are set to clash with the other Tigers of the SEC West as Coach O and crew travel to Auburn. LSU really looked impressive in their opener against Miami, but the jury is still out on how Miami will really be this season. This will be a true test for Coach O and the Bayou Bengals in my opinion. Gus Malzhan will have his offense humming as they average nearly 500 yards per game, and I expect Jarrett Stidham to have a big night. Joe Burrow will be in a hostile environment when he steps into Jordan Hare stadium, and I'm not convinced he has full command of the offense yet. This is an intriguing game to watch because both defenses are very tough to break through, with loads of talent across the board. I expect a good fight out of this game, but I think home field advantage wins out. The AUBURN Tigers win it 26-14.
#17 Boise State at #24 Oklahoma State
Expect the scoreboard to light up when these two teams take the field this afternoon, Boise State and Oklahoma State have two of the most high-powered offenses in the nation. Neither team has faced much competition so far this season, but that hasn't stopped QBs Brett Rypien (BSU) and Taylor Cornelius (OSU) from racking up the stats. This will definitely be a quarterback dual type game as Rypien has passed for 667 yards with 7 TDs and 0 interceptions and Cornelius has 728 yards with 6 TDs and 3 picks. The interceptions will be key to watch because Rypien's experience as a starter gives him a significant edge. I think that could be the difference maker and the Broncos come away with a big win in Stillwater! Boise State 50, Oklahoma State 38.
#22 USC at Texas
Two traditional powerhouses stuck in mediocrity meet down in Austin as the Horns take on the Trojans of USC. This is a big game for both teams, not only because of the tradition, but simply because both teams suffered some bad losses early in the year and a win in this game would be a tremendous boost. The Trojans fell to a very good looking Stanford team last week 17-3 and now put JT Daniels on the road again into a tough, burnt orange arena. Daniels, like most true freshmen, really struggled on the road last week, completing just 47.1% of his passes and throwing 2 picks. Texas is still looking for its groove after losing their opening game on the road a Maryland (quite decisively) and then edging out Tulsa last week by 7. I'm still on the Sam Ehlinger train, but he's going to have to grow up quick this week. He really needs to cut back on the mistakes if he wants to keep his starting position, and USC's defense will be coming after him. This is a difficult game to pick because both teams have not impressed much this season. The atmosphere will be tough, but I'll give it to the Trojans on this one (partly because I cannot bring myself to pick Texas twice in three weeks). JT Daniels bounces back and the Trojan defense makes a couple of big plays to seal the victory. USC 34, Texas 20.
#10 Washington at Utah
The Huskies are trying to recover from their Auburn loss, and nothing fixes that like a big conference win. They travel down to Salt Lake City to take on an upset-minded Utah team. The Utes haven't played a lot of great competition yet this year, but their defense has been very impressive thus far nonetheless. They've given up an average of just 8 points in their two games this season and just 143.5 total yards per game. Washington's offense is lead by one of the best QB-RB duo's in football with Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin, so we'll see how tough the Utes defense is quite quickly. On the other side of the ball, Utah QB Tyler Huntley is the name to watch for. He's the big play-maker for the Utes, and he'll be going up against one of the best defenses in the country. Huntley is their best shot to win this game, but I think Gaskin will be too much in the end. Tough game, but Washington gets a big win down in Salt Lake City. Huskies 28, Utes 15.
#4 Ohio State vs. #15 TCU
The final game of Urban Meyer's suspension could prove to be the most dangerous. The Horned Frogs of TCU have looked extremely explosive so far this season and have been waiting for this chance since the Buckeyes bumped them out of the inaugural College Football Playoffs. Ohio State has looked like Ohio State, blowing out their first two (cupcake) opponents and not having any issues. However, a road trip down to Texas in a hostile environment against a well-coached, upset-minded team is a good recipe for chaos. And we all know that there's nothing better in College Football than chaos! The key components to watch in this game are TCU's defensive line and how Ohio State deals with star Wide Receiver KaVontae Turpin. The Horned Frogs have 7 sacks this season already, and the Buckeye's haven't faced a pass rush like this yet in 2018. Look for TCU to bring lots of pressure to keep Dwayne Haskins off balance. On the other side, TCU QB Shawn Robinson has looked good thus far, and an effective ground game should make his life easier against the Buckeyes. The player to watch is #25 in purple however. KaVontae Turpin is arguably the fastest man in College Football. His play-making abilities on special teams makes him the Frogs' most dangerous weapon. Ohio State is going to have a tough time slowing him down. I've been feeling this upset all week long and I think Gary Patterson will have this team ready to go. Don't count out the Frogs yet from the CFB! TCU wins a big one, 37-31.
Troy at Nebraska
Most coaches will always tell you that the greatest improvements for a team are typically made from week 1 to week 2. With the Huskers coming off of a tough loss to Colorado last week, I'm expecting to see this team really bring it come kickoff. Adrian Martinez is going to be a game time decision, so I would expect some Andrew Bunch action regardless of what is decided. I've been torn all week on my thoughts for this. On one hand, I would prefer Martinez to be healthy for Michigan, which would mean resting him. On the other hand, the kid has only played 3 1/2 quarters of football, so get him as much experience as possible. No matter what happens, Nebraska will run the ball like crazy today, especially after racking up 329 on the Buffs last week. This is a game Nebraska should be able to build a lead in, especially if the defense steps up again and continues to play well. Penalties should be a huge focus in this game, and hopefully cut down. There are still a lot of questions for this Husker team, so for now I'm just going to sit back and analyze. Nebraska gets Coach Frost his first victory by beating Troy 38 to 20.
Quick Hit Predictions
#5 Oklahoma at Iowa State- The Cyclones pulled off one of the biggest upsets in 2017 when they beat the Sooners in Norman, with a third string QB. Now that QB (Kyle Kempt) is questionable with an ankle injury and they'll have to lean on RB David Montgomery to get the offense moving after scoring just 3 points in their opener last week. Kyler Murray shouldn't have any issues and OU rolls this week. Sooners 45, Cyclones 17.
#1 Alabama at Ole Miss- The Tide travel to Oxford, MS to take on the "Landsharks" of Ole Miss. Bama is steamrolling everyone even more so now that Tua is in at QB. Ole Miss has struggled to slow down its opponents this season (gave up 41 to Southern Illinois last week), so their only chance to win is keeping pace in a shootout. That's not possible, but they keep it kinda close early on. Bama 45, Ole Miss 20.
Missouri at Purdue- This is a big game for Purdue and the BIG 10. As stated in my Week 2 Reflection post, the BIG 10 has not looked impressive in non-conference play so far this season, and Purdue being 0-2 and losing to Eastern Michigan last week did not help. This is a chance to start turning their season around and get a big win for the conference. The Boilermakers torched the Tigers last season in Columbia, but Drew Lock is looking for revenge. It pains me to do this, but I think the Tigers have this one. Missouri takes revenge and Drew Lock returns the torching. Tigers 42, Boilermakers 24.
Fresno State at UCLA- Could Chip Kelly get his first win as a Bruin this week? It's tough to say because a very tough and well coached Fresno State team walk into the Rose Bowl with plans of racking up some stats. There are a lot of issues in Pasadena, but I think Chip will get his team prepared for this one, UCLA pulls of a key win 30-27.
Thank you for reading my Week 3 predictions and enjoy all of the great games today! Look for me up in the Press Box and GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Week 2 Prediction Results: 6-5
Season Prediction Results To Date: 10-11
BYU at #6 Wisconsin
The Cougars suffered a tough loss at home last week to Cal and will look to bounce back by traveling to Mad-town to take on the Badgers in Camp Randall. This is not the ideal game to "bounce back" with, but you've gotta play who's on your schedule. Wisconsin tends to start slow, but once they find their footing, the Badgers are nearly impossible to stop. Johnathan Taylor has nearly 400 rushing yards and 5 TDs so far this season, in just two games. Alex Hornibrook will have his hands full against a tough BYU defense. The Cougars play with a lot of physicality and really fly to the ball. I think Wisconsin should be steady in this one though, BYU gave up 174 yards on the ground to Cal last week, and Wisconsin is actually a running team! Badgers win 48-23.
#12 LSU at #7 Auburn
The Tigers of the SEC West are set to clash with the other Tigers of the SEC West as Coach O and crew travel to Auburn. LSU really looked impressive in their opener against Miami, but the jury is still out on how Miami will really be this season. This will be a true test for Coach O and the Bayou Bengals in my opinion. Gus Malzhan will have his offense humming as they average nearly 500 yards per game, and I expect Jarrett Stidham to have a big night. Joe Burrow will be in a hostile environment when he steps into Jordan Hare stadium, and I'm not convinced he has full command of the offense yet. This is an intriguing game to watch because both defenses are very tough to break through, with loads of talent across the board. I expect a good fight out of this game, but I think home field advantage wins out. The AUBURN Tigers win it 26-14.
#17 Boise State at #24 Oklahoma State
Expect the scoreboard to light up when these two teams take the field this afternoon, Boise State and Oklahoma State have two of the most high-powered offenses in the nation. Neither team has faced much competition so far this season, but that hasn't stopped QBs Brett Rypien (BSU) and Taylor Cornelius (OSU) from racking up the stats. This will definitely be a quarterback dual type game as Rypien has passed for 667 yards with 7 TDs and 0 interceptions and Cornelius has 728 yards with 6 TDs and 3 picks. The interceptions will be key to watch because Rypien's experience as a starter gives him a significant edge. I think that could be the difference maker and the Broncos come away with a big win in Stillwater! Boise State 50, Oklahoma State 38.
#22 USC at Texas
Two traditional powerhouses stuck in mediocrity meet down in Austin as the Horns take on the Trojans of USC. This is a big game for both teams, not only because of the tradition, but simply because both teams suffered some bad losses early in the year and a win in this game would be a tremendous boost. The Trojans fell to a very good looking Stanford team last week 17-3 and now put JT Daniels on the road again into a tough, burnt orange arena. Daniels, like most true freshmen, really struggled on the road last week, completing just 47.1% of his passes and throwing 2 picks. Texas is still looking for its groove after losing their opening game on the road a Maryland (quite decisively) and then edging out Tulsa last week by 7. I'm still on the Sam Ehlinger train, but he's going to have to grow up quick this week. He really needs to cut back on the mistakes if he wants to keep his starting position, and USC's defense will be coming after him. This is a difficult game to pick because both teams have not impressed much this season. The atmosphere will be tough, but I'll give it to the Trojans on this one (partly because I cannot bring myself to pick Texas twice in three weeks). JT Daniels bounces back and the Trojan defense makes a couple of big plays to seal the victory. USC 34, Texas 20.
#10 Washington at Utah
The Huskies are trying to recover from their Auburn loss, and nothing fixes that like a big conference win. They travel down to Salt Lake City to take on an upset-minded Utah team. The Utes haven't played a lot of great competition yet this year, but their defense has been very impressive thus far nonetheless. They've given up an average of just 8 points in their two games this season and just 143.5 total yards per game. Washington's offense is lead by one of the best QB-RB duo's in football with Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin, so we'll see how tough the Utes defense is quite quickly. On the other side of the ball, Utah QB Tyler Huntley is the name to watch for. He's the big play-maker for the Utes, and he'll be going up against one of the best defenses in the country. Huntley is their best shot to win this game, but I think Gaskin will be too much in the end. Tough game, but Washington gets a big win down in Salt Lake City. Huskies 28, Utes 15.
#4 Ohio State vs. #15 TCU
The final game of Urban Meyer's suspension could prove to be the most dangerous. The Horned Frogs of TCU have looked extremely explosive so far this season and have been waiting for this chance since the Buckeyes bumped them out of the inaugural College Football Playoffs. Ohio State has looked like Ohio State, blowing out their first two (cupcake) opponents and not having any issues. However, a road trip down to Texas in a hostile environment against a well-coached, upset-minded team is a good recipe for chaos. And we all know that there's nothing better in College Football than chaos! The key components to watch in this game are TCU's defensive line and how Ohio State deals with star Wide Receiver KaVontae Turpin. The Horned Frogs have 7 sacks this season already, and the Buckeye's haven't faced a pass rush like this yet in 2018. Look for TCU to bring lots of pressure to keep Dwayne Haskins off balance. On the other side, TCU QB Shawn Robinson has looked good thus far, and an effective ground game should make his life easier against the Buckeyes. The player to watch is #25 in purple however. KaVontae Turpin is arguably the fastest man in College Football. His play-making abilities on special teams makes him the Frogs' most dangerous weapon. Ohio State is going to have a tough time slowing him down. I've been feeling this upset all week long and I think Gary Patterson will have this team ready to go. Don't count out the Frogs yet from the CFB! TCU wins a big one, 37-31.
Troy at Nebraska
Most coaches will always tell you that the greatest improvements for a team are typically made from week 1 to week 2. With the Huskers coming off of a tough loss to Colorado last week, I'm expecting to see this team really bring it come kickoff. Adrian Martinez is going to be a game time decision, so I would expect some Andrew Bunch action regardless of what is decided. I've been torn all week on my thoughts for this. On one hand, I would prefer Martinez to be healthy for Michigan, which would mean resting him. On the other hand, the kid has only played 3 1/2 quarters of football, so get him as much experience as possible. No matter what happens, Nebraska will run the ball like crazy today, especially after racking up 329 on the Buffs last week. This is a game Nebraska should be able to build a lead in, especially if the defense steps up again and continues to play well. Penalties should be a huge focus in this game, and hopefully cut down. There are still a lot of questions for this Husker team, so for now I'm just going to sit back and analyze. Nebraska gets Coach Frost his first victory by beating Troy 38 to 20.
Quick Hit Predictions
#5 Oklahoma at Iowa State- The Cyclones pulled off one of the biggest upsets in 2017 when they beat the Sooners in Norman, with a third string QB. Now that QB (Kyle Kempt) is questionable with an ankle injury and they'll have to lean on RB David Montgomery to get the offense moving after scoring just 3 points in their opener last week. Kyler Murray shouldn't have any issues and OU rolls this week. Sooners 45, Cyclones 17.
#1 Alabama at Ole Miss- The Tide travel to Oxford, MS to take on the "Landsharks" of Ole Miss. Bama is steamrolling everyone even more so now that Tua is in at QB. Ole Miss has struggled to slow down its opponents this season (gave up 41 to Southern Illinois last week), so their only chance to win is keeping pace in a shootout. That's not possible, but they keep it kinda close early on. Bama 45, Ole Miss 20.
Missouri at Purdue- This is a big game for Purdue and the BIG 10. As stated in my Week 2 Reflection post, the BIG 10 has not looked impressive in non-conference play so far this season, and Purdue being 0-2 and losing to Eastern Michigan last week did not help. This is a chance to start turning their season around and get a big win for the conference. The Boilermakers torched the Tigers last season in Columbia, but Drew Lock is looking for revenge. It pains me to do this, but I think the Tigers have this one. Missouri takes revenge and Drew Lock returns the torching. Tigers 42, Boilermakers 24.
Fresno State at UCLA- Could Chip Kelly get his first win as a Bruin this week? It's tough to say because a very tough and well coached Fresno State team walk into the Rose Bowl with plans of racking up some stats. There are a lot of issues in Pasadena, but I think Chip will get his team prepared for this one, UCLA pulls of a key win 30-27.
Thank you for reading my Week 3 predictions and enjoy all of the great games today! Look for me up in the Press Box and GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Week 2 Reflection
Well, the Huskers played a game finally! After a tough, 33-28 loss on Saturday, I had to let my frustrations and thoughts settle down before writing up this post. I think all Husker fans understand that this will be a year full of growing pains, but we're going to need to remind ourselves of that a lot. This really felt like a game Nebraska should've won. The team played really well, made some great plays and the crowd was hyped. But, the Huskers are a young team, and like most young teams, there were some dumb mistakes that ultimately cost us the game. Overall, I'm still a bit conflicted with how I feel toward Saturday, but I do think our team showed a spark and energy that has been missing for quite some time. These are my thoughts and reflections from the Husker game as well as some other big CFB stories from around the nation in Week 2. Enjoy!
Nebraska finally began the Scott Frost era, and unfortunately it started with a sour taste as old rival Colorado came out on top 33-28. After the first 6 minutes of play, Nebraska had two fumbles, the Buffs had a 14-0 lead and I had a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach on where this game might go. The Huskers settled down and played really well throughout the remainder of the game, especially in the second and third quarters. Unfortunately, the game is four quarters long and dumb mistakes really cost Nebraska late. To break down this game I'll go with my Good, Expected and Bad categories.
GOOD- Overall, I think Nebraska played really well on Saturday, and I'm excited for this team's potential moving forward. The running game was a huge focus, racking up 329 yards on the ground with 7 different players running the ball. Martinez looked dynamic running out of the backfield and will be a major weapon for Scott Frost's offense moving forward (barring any significant knee injury). I was very impressed with the offensive line as they opened up holes and pass protected very well. They've been one of the biggest issues in recent years, so it's good to see them step up. Another aspect of the game that really stood out to me was the QB pressure on defense and tackling. Nebraska recorded 7 sacks on Saturday, which is half of the number of sack the Huskers had all last season. Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander really has his group flying to the ball and Nebraska started to look like the Blackshirts of old on some of those drives. This team is going in the right direction and I think they're going to make some games really interesting later this season.
EXPECTED- My expected category is a bit of a neutral section and can be either the good expectations that were met and/or the bad expectations that were met. Sticking with the good, I again point to Adrian Martinez. This kid is a baller and will be one heck of a player as he develops throughout his career. He finished 15/20 passing (75% completion rating) for 187 with a TD and a pick. He had the early fumble and definitely needs to learn how to tuck the ball away, but for his first start, I was very impressed. He makes smart reads and does not force passes. The interception was a freshman mistake with locking into his wide receiver, but he was able to throw a lot of accurate passes. On the negative expectations, I turn to the secondary. I'll give them marks for defending BETTER (key word) against the deep ball, but there are still a lot of issues for a group that gave up 351 passing yards. The defensive backs are a young group, but a lot of them have substantial playing time. They struggle to stay with their receiver and are horrible at setting the edge. This is going to be a key group to watch moving forward, because they'll need to improve quickly before conference play.
BAD- The final category of my breakdown of the game is the bad. I don't want to go crazy in this section since it was only game 1 for Nebraska, but there are a few points that definitely need to be talked about. Special teams is at the top of my list for this category. Numerous penalties, missed field goal (he's a freshman, but still) and poor blocking on returns. The Special Teams units need to really step it up moving forward, because our offense cannot start inside the 20 against Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa if Nebraska wants to compete in those games. Penalties were another big issue, specifically Antonio Reed's unnecessary hit on 3rd and 24 to set up Colorado's winning TD. As one of the few veterans in the secondary, he has to know better than to make a bonehead play like that. Finally, I bring your attention to the play-calling/coaching mistakes. This is nit-picky, and will definitely be fixed with time, but there were a few instances in particular that had me upset. The first was around 7 minutes left in the game when Nebraska was on a drive and just broke into Colorado territory. The Huskers had 4th & 1 and were knocked back a yard when they tried to run with Greg Bell. Bell performed well throughout the game, but in that situation, Ozigbo should probably get the carry in my opinion. He's the bigger back and has more push then anyone else in that backfield. That halted our drive and stopped us from expanding our lead. The next questionable coaching call came just one drive later after Nebraska stopped Colorado on 4th down. The Huskers took over with 5:58 left in the game and the ball at the 50 yard line, with a one point lead. As a team, they averaged over 6 yards per carry, but decided to pass the ball. I know Coach Frost is trying to run his offense, but this is a situation where you need to work down the clock and play to your team's strength. This was Martinez's interception where he didn't see the linebacker sitting on the slant route and ultimately led to the Buffs taking the lead. My final coaching issue comes on the final drive of the game. Martinez is out, so Nebraska has backup QB Andrew Bunch in to run the offense. There's less than 1 minute left in the game and the Huskers started at their 36 yard line. Everyone knows Nebraska has to throw the ball since they're down 5 and need to get down the field as soon as possible. My problem is that every play was a play action pass from the shotgun snap. I personally don't think this was necessary (and somewhat problematic) because it does two things that do not help your offense at this point in the game; 1. It draws your QB's eyes down to execute the run fake, giving him less time to survey the defense and analyze the coverage scheme. 2. It brings your running back into the center of the pocket, making it more difficult and time consuming to help in pass protection on the edge or flex out for a possible safety net pass. Colorado knew the pass was coming and the play fakes really weren't necessary.
Now the bad section looks like a lot, but as I pointed out it's just small things that will end up making a big difference in the end. This was the team's first game under a new staff, with a new system and a lot of new faces in new positions. I've been saying all summer that this is going to be a growing season for the Huskers, and that will include a lot of growing pains. I'm very excited about what this team is going to accomplish, even in 2018. They'll learn to win these close games and as I stated earlier, this team is playing with a spark and energy that has been missing for a very long time. Besides, guess what other Husker Coach lost his opening game with the Huskers... Tom Osborne. Just keep the excitement level up Husker fans, big things are coming!
Now for some of my thoughts about some other games and teams around the nation:
- Clemson looked strong, but the Aggies really impressed me sticking with the Tigers. Even with being on the wrong side of a questionable call, Texas A&M still almost won this game and Jimbo is going to cause the SEC West Coaches a lot of headaches in the very near future.
- Ohio State will face their first real test this weekend against TCU, and I kind of like the upset here. Gary Patterson always has tough teams to beat, and don't think they haven't forgotten about the first year of the Playoffs when Ohio State leapfrogged (pun intended) them to get in. The Horned Frogs have a lot of talent and Ohio State better be ready for a fight, they're not playing Rutgers anymore.
- Kyler Murray is one heck of a player at OU, but they took a big hit losing RB Anderson for the season. This opens the door for TCU and WVU in the Big XII, but OU still has a lot of weapons. The Big XII will be a conference to watch this year.
- The BIG 10 has not looked impressive throughout non-conference play and Purdue's loss to Eastern Michigan and Sparty's loss to Herm Edwards and Arizona State are not helping that image.
- Bama looks like an even more unstoppable Bama with Tua at QB. I'm anxious to see if there's anyone in conference that can slow down this team.
Thanks for reading my reflection for Week 2 of the College Football Season and be sure to check back later this week for my game predictions for Week 3! GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
EXPECTED- My expected category is a bit of a neutral section and can be either the good expectations that were met and/or the bad expectations that were met. Sticking with the good, I again point to Adrian Martinez. This kid is a baller and will be one heck of a player as he develops throughout his career. He finished 15/20 passing (75% completion rating) for 187 with a TD and a pick. He had the early fumble and definitely needs to learn how to tuck the ball away, but for his first start, I was very impressed. He makes smart reads and does not force passes. The interception was a freshman mistake with locking into his wide receiver, but he was able to throw a lot of accurate passes. On the negative expectations, I turn to the secondary. I'll give them marks for defending BETTER (key word) against the deep ball, but there are still a lot of issues for a group that gave up 351 passing yards. The defensive backs are a young group, but a lot of them have substantial playing time. They struggle to stay with their receiver and are horrible at setting the edge. This is going to be a key group to watch moving forward, because they'll need to improve quickly before conference play.
BAD- The final category of my breakdown of the game is the bad. I don't want to go crazy in this section since it was only game 1 for Nebraska, but there are a few points that definitely need to be talked about. Special teams is at the top of my list for this category. Numerous penalties, missed field goal (he's a freshman, but still) and poor blocking on returns. The Special Teams units need to really step it up moving forward, because our offense cannot start inside the 20 against Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa if Nebraska wants to compete in those games. Penalties were another big issue, specifically Antonio Reed's unnecessary hit on 3rd and 24 to set up Colorado's winning TD. As one of the few veterans in the secondary, he has to know better than to make a bonehead play like that. Finally, I bring your attention to the play-calling/coaching mistakes. This is nit-picky, and will definitely be fixed with time, but there were a few instances in particular that had me upset. The first was around 7 minutes left in the game when Nebraska was on a drive and just broke into Colorado territory. The Huskers had 4th & 1 and were knocked back a yard when they tried to run with Greg Bell. Bell performed well throughout the game, but in that situation, Ozigbo should probably get the carry in my opinion. He's the bigger back and has more push then anyone else in that backfield. That halted our drive and stopped us from expanding our lead. The next questionable coaching call came just one drive later after Nebraska stopped Colorado on 4th down. The Huskers took over with 5:58 left in the game and the ball at the 50 yard line, with a one point lead. As a team, they averaged over 6 yards per carry, but decided to pass the ball. I know Coach Frost is trying to run his offense, but this is a situation where you need to work down the clock and play to your team's strength. This was Martinez's interception where he didn't see the linebacker sitting on the slant route and ultimately led to the Buffs taking the lead. My final coaching issue comes on the final drive of the game. Martinez is out, so Nebraska has backup QB Andrew Bunch in to run the offense. There's less than 1 minute left in the game and the Huskers started at their 36 yard line. Everyone knows Nebraska has to throw the ball since they're down 5 and need to get down the field as soon as possible. My problem is that every play was a play action pass from the shotgun snap. I personally don't think this was necessary (and somewhat problematic) because it does two things that do not help your offense at this point in the game; 1. It draws your QB's eyes down to execute the run fake, giving him less time to survey the defense and analyze the coverage scheme. 2. It brings your running back into the center of the pocket, making it more difficult and time consuming to help in pass protection on the edge or flex out for a possible safety net pass. Colorado knew the pass was coming and the play fakes really weren't necessary.
Now the bad section looks like a lot, but as I pointed out it's just small things that will end up making a big difference in the end. This was the team's first game under a new staff, with a new system and a lot of new faces in new positions. I've been saying all summer that this is going to be a growing season for the Huskers, and that will include a lot of growing pains. I'm very excited about what this team is going to accomplish, even in 2018. They'll learn to win these close games and as I stated earlier, this team is playing with a spark and energy that has been missing for a very long time. Besides, guess what other Husker Coach lost his opening game with the Huskers... Tom Osborne. Just keep the excitement level up Husker fans, big things are coming!
Now for some of my thoughts about some other games and teams around the nation:
- Clemson looked strong, but the Aggies really impressed me sticking with the Tigers. Even with being on the wrong side of a questionable call, Texas A&M still almost won this game and Jimbo is going to cause the SEC West Coaches a lot of headaches in the very near future.
- Ohio State will face their first real test this weekend against TCU, and I kind of like the upset here. Gary Patterson always has tough teams to beat, and don't think they haven't forgotten about the first year of the Playoffs when Ohio State leapfrogged (pun intended) them to get in. The Horned Frogs have a lot of talent and Ohio State better be ready for a fight, they're not playing Rutgers anymore.
- Kyler Murray is one heck of a player at OU, but they took a big hit losing RB Anderson for the season. This opens the door for TCU and WVU in the Big XII, but OU still has a lot of weapons. The Big XII will be a conference to watch this year.
- The BIG 10 has not looked impressive throughout non-conference play and Purdue's loss to Eastern Michigan and Sparty's loss to Herm Edwards and Arizona State are not helping that image.
- Bama looks like an even more unstoppable Bama with Tua at QB. I'm anxious to see if there's anyone in conference that can slow down this team.
Thanks for reading my reflection for Week 2 of the College Football Season and be sure to check back later this week for my game predictions for Week 3! GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Week 2 Predictions
Howdy football fans and welcome to Week 2 of the College Football season! Yes, for Husker fans it's still Week 1, but since almost everyone else (we feel your pain Iowa State) got to play last week, they're going to be playing game 2. Hopefully the weather cooperates this week as my Cornhuskers take on an old rival, the Colorado Buffaloes. There are a couple interesting match-ups this weekend, but as usual, Week 2 of the College Football season is filled with a multitude of cupcake games. This post will focus on some of the more intriguing games you should all pay attention to and will have my predictions for them. I'll be out at the Stadium early on Saturday working on some social media content for our KRNU Broadcast, so be sure to follow us on Twitter to see all of our pre-game coverage! Enjoy the predictions!
Week 1 Prediction Results: 4-6
#3 Georgia at #24 South Carolina
One of only two ranked match-ups comes from the SEC as the Bulldogs travel one state North to take on the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Will Muschamp has a talented bunch of fighting chickens this year, lead by Junior QB Jake Bentley and the seven other returning starters on offense. They started their season off with a 49-15 win over Coastal Carolina last week, where Bentley racked up 250 yards through the air and 4 TDs. I don't imagine he'll have as easy of a time throwing the ball with the UGA defense lined up on the other side, but Bentley is a tough QB for coordinators to stop. Speaking of difficult QBs, Georgia's Jake Fromm made quick work of the Austin Peay Governors last week, throwing for 157 and 2 TDs while sharing time with backup QB and star recruit Justin Fields. This will be a much harder test for Kirby Smart and his squad, and could definitely be a sneaky upset pick. South Carolina could make some plays early, but I think Georgia will come into this game extremely focused and will come away with the victory. The spread is 10, but the Dawgs beat the Gamecocks 38-20.
Iowa State at Iowa (Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy)
Much like Scott Frost and the Huskers, I'm sure Matt Campbell and the Cyclones would've love to have a game before facing off against an arch rival... but such is life. They Cyclones will travel to Iowa City for their opening game of the 2018 season to take on the always steady Hawkeyes. Iowa topped Northern Illinois last week, making Kirk Ferentz the winning-est coach in Iowa's history, passing his mentor Hayden Fry. As usual, the team looked consistent, but lacked creativity. Nate Stanley did not start off his season well, completing just 11 of 23 passes for 108 yards with a TD and a pick. He'll have to do much better this week as Iowa State will be looking to keep the pressure on him and force more bad throws. For the other side, QB Kyle Kempt has been granted a sixth year of eligibility, so he'll have the opportunity to lead the Cyclones for a full season in his final year of College Football. He's quickly become a QB to watch out for in the Big XII after throwing for 1,787 yards, 15 TDs and just 3 picks with a 63.3% completion rating in just 9 games last season. He'll be without star wideout Allen Lazard who is off to the NFL now, but Junior RB David Montgomery should give him some help coming off of a 1,100+ yard Sophomore campaign. Iowa City is difficult to win in, and this game is usually really close or a blowout. I'm still on the Iowa State train from last year and I couldn't possibly pick Iowa to win two weeks in a row, right?? Cyclones pull off the road victory 27-21.
#2 Clemson at Texas A&M
Even though Jimbo Fisher moved to the SEC, Dabo and the Tigers still can't avoid him. The Tigers hit the road for a very interesting match-up against the Aggies of A&M. One of the most hostile venues in College Football will host the #2 team in the nation, and Jimbo will look to knock off Dabo in a non-conference bout. We all know what Clemson is going to bring to the table; a formidable defense that will live in their opponents backfield, dynamic skill players on offense that can break a game open at any moment and the new feature, 2 QBs that could arguably start on nearly every team in the nation. Kelly Bryant got the start last week (as expected), but shared time with Trevor Lawrence. I wouldn't be surprised to see both QBs play again this week, especially if one is struggling or, the more likely case in my opinion, Clemson is dominating. Bryant brings the dual-threat ability to the offense, giving opposing defense headaches on who to cover in the option game. Lawrence is more of the air attack QB out of the two, with a cannon for an arm. The Aggies defense had no issues with their D-2 opponent last week, but Clemson will be a different story. Jimbo has talent on the roster, especially with Junior RB Trayveon Williams who had over 1,000 yards as a freshman. Sophomore QB Kellen Mond will have his hands full with Clemson's d-line and will likely be picking a lot of turf out of his helmet at the end of this game. There's a 12 point spread for A&M in this one, but I don' think they're quite ready for this level of play after just one game with Jimbo. Give them a couple years and this will be a different match up, but for right now Clemson rolls 35-17. The 12th Man isn't quite as scary as Death Valley anyways, right?
#13 Penn State at Pitt
The Nittany Lions dropped a few spots in the polls after narrowly defeating Appalachian State 45-38 in overtime at Beaver Stadium last week. They also made me worry since I said they would be a good team this year, but hopefully the first game hangover without Saquon is over. They travel to Pittsburgh to take on the rival Panthers for state bragging rights. Pitt struggled last year but could still be riding the Miami upset high as they head into this game. Two years ago they knocked off Penn State in this game, and home field advantage should never be overlooked. As I've stated before, I think Trace McSorley is one of the best players in the nation and much like Baker Mayfield, this kid refuses to lose. This could be tight early on, but Penn State will come out with some fire and McSorley will have a big game to push them over the top. Look for RB Miles Sanders to break loose some more too. Appalachian State held him to only 91 yards last week, but he's not a back who's typically held down for long. Penn State shuts up the doubters with a solid 40-20 victory over Pitt.
#17 USC at #10 Stanford
The best looking game of the week shall take place on the Farm out in Cali. The mighty Trojans of So. Cal travel North to take on the towering Trees of Stanford. USC is led by true Freshman QB JT Daniels who threw for 282 yards and a TD in his college debut last week. However, Stanford is a bit tougher than UNLV. The Cardinal started slow against SDSU last week, but then opened it up for a 31-10 victory. The crazy thing is that 2017 Heisman Runner-up Bryce Love only had 29 yards!! Love didn't do much last week, but K.J. Costello and star WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside were on fire. The duo connected for 226 yards and 3 TDs on just 6 catches. Half of Arcega-Whiteside's catches were TDs. HALF! USC's secondary will have all sorts of headaches with this kid, so look for lots of blitzes to keep K.J. Costello off balance in the pocket. The key stat to watch this game will be third down efficiency, both teams were a bit under 50% on third downs last week. I like Stanford in this one, and I'm anxious to see how the young Trojan team handles the road test. Tighter game than David Shaw might like, but the Trees win it 33-24.
Colorado at Nebraska
The most anticipated game of the week is set to take place in Lincoln, Nebraska (for real this time), as the Colorado Buffaloes travel East to face their old rival, the Nebraska Cornhuskers! This game has enough hype from the old rivalry being renewed alone, but add in the fact the Nebraska didn't even get to play last week? MEMORIAL STADIUM WILL BE BONKERS! True Freshman QB Adrian Martinez will get his first real action and the Huskers offense will be new to everyone. It's nearly impossible to predict anything about Nebraska, but Colorado has played a game, so I'll analyze them. As anticipated, Steven Montez has improved in his second year as a started. What was not anticipated was that he would have more TD passes than incomplete passes to start off 2018. The Buffs put up nearly 600 yards of offense on in-state rival CSU, and Montez finished with 338 yards through the air and 5 total TDs (4 passing, 1 rushing). Virginia Tech transfer, RB Travon McMillian had 103 yards and a TD on just 10 carries and Sophomore WR Laviska Shenault Jr. had 11 catches for 211 yards and a TD. The "Yellowshirts" will have their hands full with this Buffaloes offense. All I know is that Lincoln will be rocking this afternoon and that energy will definitely carry over to the team. Again, my realistic predictions for the season aren't the highest (this is a growing year), but until I'm required to be unbiased, I definitely won't be! This is going to be a fun game to watch, and I've got my Huskers coming out on top, obviously! Nebraska 33, Colorado 28.
Quick Hit Predictions
#18 Mississippi State at Kansas State- The Powercats had to muster up a late comeback against the Coyotes of South Dakota last week, but the Bulldogs pose a much bigger challenge. Star QB Nick Fitzgerald is back for State and he'll give Bill Snyder and the K-State defense. They'll need to step up their game, but playing at home will be a big help. Wildcats keep it close, but we'll be saying HAIL STATE at the end of the day. Mississippi State 38, K-State 24.
Duke at Northwestern- The Wildcats of the BIG 10 own the nation's longest win streak among Power 5 Teams. The Blue Devils are looking to change that as they travel to Evanston, IL today. Duke is always well coached and has a lot of young talent, but Northwestern is one of my sneaky teams in 2018. Clayton Thorson and backup QB TJ Green looked solid in their opener against Purdue, and RB Jeremy Larkin did a very nice job filling Justin Jackson's big shoes after rushing for 143 yards. I'm sticking with the BIG 10 in this game, Northwestern 33, Duke 28.
Cal at BYU- This game is tricky because Cal is on the road. Both teams are on my sneaky radar, and both looked very good last week. BYU smashed Arizona in the mouth and were extremely physical last week. Cal forced four picks last weekend and star RB Patrick Laird had 109 total yards on offense and 2 TDs (1 rushing and 1 receiving). Cal's offense struggled last week, so that concerns me a bit. I'm sure they'll pick it up this week, but BYU at home should be too much. Cougars win a tough one 31-29.
#15 Michigan State at Arizona State- Another interesting game out West is BIG 10's Sparty taking on the Sun Devils of Arizona State. Michigan State had some trouble last week with Utah State, pulling out the win in the final minutes. Arizona State however, has more speed and talent than the Aggies, so Sparty really needs to be ready. They'll also have to prepare for the heat, as it's expected to be over 100 degrees at kickoff... at 9:45 pm Central. Sparky may have a tougher time this week putting up points on a BIG 10 defense, and I think Michigan State's defense will be the key. They will make some big stops and move on from last week. SPARTY beats SPARKY 30-21.
Thanks for reading all my Week 2 Predictions and be sure to watch for me on the field pre-game at Memorial for our KRNU Broadcast! Get ready Husker fans, it's ACTUALLY Gameday. GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Week 1 Prediction Results: 4-6
#3 Georgia at #24 South Carolina
One of only two ranked match-ups comes from the SEC as the Bulldogs travel one state North to take on the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Will Muschamp has a talented bunch of fighting chickens this year, lead by Junior QB Jake Bentley and the seven other returning starters on offense. They started their season off with a 49-15 win over Coastal Carolina last week, where Bentley racked up 250 yards through the air and 4 TDs. I don't imagine he'll have as easy of a time throwing the ball with the UGA defense lined up on the other side, but Bentley is a tough QB for coordinators to stop. Speaking of difficult QBs, Georgia's Jake Fromm made quick work of the Austin Peay Governors last week, throwing for 157 and 2 TDs while sharing time with backup QB and star recruit Justin Fields. This will be a much harder test for Kirby Smart and his squad, and could definitely be a sneaky upset pick. South Carolina could make some plays early, but I think Georgia will come into this game extremely focused and will come away with the victory. The spread is 10, but the Dawgs beat the Gamecocks 38-20.
Iowa State at Iowa (Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy)
Much like Scott Frost and the Huskers, I'm sure Matt Campbell and the Cyclones would've love to have a game before facing off against an arch rival... but such is life. They Cyclones will travel to Iowa City for their opening game of the 2018 season to take on the always steady Hawkeyes. Iowa topped Northern Illinois last week, making Kirk Ferentz the winning-est coach in Iowa's history, passing his mentor Hayden Fry. As usual, the team looked consistent, but lacked creativity. Nate Stanley did not start off his season well, completing just 11 of 23 passes for 108 yards with a TD and a pick. He'll have to do much better this week as Iowa State will be looking to keep the pressure on him and force more bad throws. For the other side, QB Kyle Kempt has been granted a sixth year of eligibility, so he'll have the opportunity to lead the Cyclones for a full season in his final year of College Football. He's quickly become a QB to watch out for in the Big XII after throwing for 1,787 yards, 15 TDs and just 3 picks with a 63.3% completion rating in just 9 games last season. He'll be without star wideout Allen Lazard who is off to the NFL now, but Junior RB David Montgomery should give him some help coming off of a 1,100+ yard Sophomore campaign. Iowa City is difficult to win in, and this game is usually really close or a blowout. I'm still on the Iowa State train from last year and I couldn't possibly pick Iowa to win two weeks in a row, right?? Cyclones pull off the road victory 27-21.
#2 Clemson at Texas A&M
Even though Jimbo Fisher moved to the SEC, Dabo and the Tigers still can't avoid him. The Tigers hit the road for a very interesting match-up against the Aggies of A&M. One of the most hostile venues in College Football will host the #2 team in the nation, and Jimbo will look to knock off Dabo in a non-conference bout. We all know what Clemson is going to bring to the table; a formidable defense that will live in their opponents backfield, dynamic skill players on offense that can break a game open at any moment and the new feature, 2 QBs that could arguably start on nearly every team in the nation. Kelly Bryant got the start last week (as expected), but shared time with Trevor Lawrence. I wouldn't be surprised to see both QBs play again this week, especially if one is struggling or, the more likely case in my opinion, Clemson is dominating. Bryant brings the dual-threat ability to the offense, giving opposing defense headaches on who to cover in the option game. Lawrence is more of the air attack QB out of the two, with a cannon for an arm. The Aggies defense had no issues with their D-2 opponent last week, but Clemson will be a different story. Jimbo has talent on the roster, especially with Junior RB Trayveon Williams who had over 1,000 yards as a freshman. Sophomore QB Kellen Mond will have his hands full with Clemson's d-line and will likely be picking a lot of turf out of his helmet at the end of this game. There's a 12 point spread for A&M in this one, but I don' think they're quite ready for this level of play after just one game with Jimbo. Give them a couple years and this will be a different match up, but for right now Clemson rolls 35-17. The 12th Man isn't quite as scary as Death Valley anyways, right?
#13 Penn State at Pitt
The Nittany Lions dropped a few spots in the polls after narrowly defeating Appalachian State 45-38 in overtime at Beaver Stadium last week. They also made me worry since I said they would be a good team this year, but hopefully the first game hangover without Saquon is over. They travel to Pittsburgh to take on the rival Panthers for state bragging rights. Pitt struggled last year but could still be riding the Miami upset high as they head into this game. Two years ago they knocked off Penn State in this game, and home field advantage should never be overlooked. As I've stated before, I think Trace McSorley is one of the best players in the nation and much like Baker Mayfield, this kid refuses to lose. This could be tight early on, but Penn State will come out with some fire and McSorley will have a big game to push them over the top. Look for RB Miles Sanders to break loose some more too. Appalachian State held him to only 91 yards last week, but he's not a back who's typically held down for long. Penn State shuts up the doubters with a solid 40-20 victory over Pitt.
#17 USC at #10 Stanford
The best looking game of the week shall take place on the Farm out in Cali. The mighty Trojans of So. Cal travel North to take on the towering Trees of Stanford. USC is led by true Freshman QB JT Daniels who threw for 282 yards and a TD in his college debut last week. However, Stanford is a bit tougher than UNLV. The Cardinal started slow against SDSU last week, but then opened it up for a 31-10 victory. The crazy thing is that 2017 Heisman Runner-up Bryce Love only had 29 yards!! Love didn't do much last week, but K.J. Costello and star WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside were on fire. The duo connected for 226 yards and 3 TDs on just 6 catches. Half of Arcega-Whiteside's catches were TDs. HALF! USC's secondary will have all sorts of headaches with this kid, so look for lots of blitzes to keep K.J. Costello off balance in the pocket. The key stat to watch this game will be third down efficiency, both teams were a bit under 50% on third downs last week. I like Stanford in this one, and I'm anxious to see how the young Trojan team handles the road test. Tighter game than David Shaw might like, but the Trees win it 33-24.
Colorado at Nebraska
The most anticipated game of the week is set to take place in Lincoln, Nebraska (for real this time), as the Colorado Buffaloes travel East to face their old rival, the Nebraska Cornhuskers! This game has enough hype from the old rivalry being renewed alone, but add in the fact the Nebraska didn't even get to play last week? MEMORIAL STADIUM WILL BE BONKERS! True Freshman QB Adrian Martinez will get his first real action and the Huskers offense will be new to everyone. It's nearly impossible to predict anything about Nebraska, but Colorado has played a game, so I'll analyze them. As anticipated, Steven Montez has improved in his second year as a started. What was not anticipated was that he would have more TD passes than incomplete passes to start off 2018. The Buffs put up nearly 600 yards of offense on in-state rival CSU, and Montez finished with 338 yards through the air and 5 total TDs (4 passing, 1 rushing). Virginia Tech transfer, RB Travon McMillian had 103 yards and a TD on just 10 carries and Sophomore WR Laviska Shenault Jr. had 11 catches for 211 yards and a TD. The "Yellowshirts" will have their hands full with this Buffaloes offense. All I know is that Lincoln will be rocking this afternoon and that energy will definitely carry over to the team. Again, my realistic predictions for the season aren't the highest (this is a growing year), but until I'm required to be unbiased, I definitely won't be! This is going to be a fun game to watch, and I've got my Huskers coming out on top, obviously! Nebraska 33, Colorado 28.
Quick Hit Predictions
#18 Mississippi State at Kansas State- The Powercats had to muster up a late comeback against the Coyotes of South Dakota last week, but the Bulldogs pose a much bigger challenge. Star QB Nick Fitzgerald is back for State and he'll give Bill Snyder and the K-State defense. They'll need to step up their game, but playing at home will be a big help. Wildcats keep it close, but we'll be saying HAIL STATE at the end of the day. Mississippi State 38, K-State 24.
Duke at Northwestern- The Wildcats of the BIG 10 own the nation's longest win streak among Power 5 Teams. The Blue Devils are looking to change that as they travel to Evanston, IL today. Duke is always well coached and has a lot of young talent, but Northwestern is one of my sneaky teams in 2018. Clayton Thorson and backup QB TJ Green looked solid in their opener against Purdue, and RB Jeremy Larkin did a very nice job filling Justin Jackson's big shoes after rushing for 143 yards. I'm sticking with the BIG 10 in this game, Northwestern 33, Duke 28.
Cal at BYU- This game is tricky because Cal is on the road. Both teams are on my sneaky radar, and both looked very good last week. BYU smashed Arizona in the mouth and were extremely physical last week. Cal forced four picks last weekend and star RB Patrick Laird had 109 total yards on offense and 2 TDs (1 rushing and 1 receiving). Cal's offense struggled last week, so that concerns me a bit. I'm sure they'll pick it up this week, but BYU at home should be too much. Cougars win a tough one 31-29.
#15 Michigan State at Arizona State- Another interesting game out West is BIG 10's Sparty taking on the Sun Devils of Arizona State. Michigan State had some trouble last week with Utah State, pulling out the win in the final minutes. Arizona State however, has more speed and talent than the Aggies, so Sparty really needs to be ready. They'll also have to prepare for the heat, as it's expected to be over 100 degrees at kickoff... at 9:45 pm Central. Sparky may have a tougher time this week putting up points on a BIG 10 defense, and I think Michigan State's defense will be the key. They will make some big stops and move on from last week. SPARTY beats SPARKY 30-21.
Thanks for reading all my Week 2 Predictions and be sure to watch for me on the field pre-game at Memorial for our KRNU Broadcast! Get ready Husker fans, it's ACTUALLY Gameday. GO BIG RED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Week 1 Predictions
It's Kickoff Weekend in College Football and I am so excited for football to be back! There are a lot of great games this weekend and some have already been played with Northwestern beating Purdue 31-27, Colorado rolling CSU 45-13 and Sparty edging out the Utah State Aggies 38-31 in the final minutes. This post will focus on my predictions of Saturday's games all the way through Monday. Unfortunately, I'm still working on getting my radio show started up due to the station being under technology renovations. As soon as we get all that worked out I'll let you know all the details because I cannot wait to get back on air. I know you all can't wait to read my predictions, so enjoy!
#23 Texas at Maryland
Last year, everyone was saying "Texas is Back" with the addition of Tom Herman as head coach. Maryland quickly demolished that idea after they won 51-41 in Austin. This year should be a different story though. The Terps should have fewer QB issues with Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill returning from injuries, but the coaching situation is horrendous. I'm still not sure why DJ Durkin and his staff have jobs right now, but they should be cleaning house any minute now over in College Park. The fallout from OL Jordan McNair's death has exposed a disgusting and degrading culture in the Maryland football program. The off-field issues will destroy this team in 2018 and probably for a couple years after. There's talented kids on the roster, but I doubt anyone has their mind on football right now. Texas on the other hand is looking to hit 2018 with a big stride forward. They had a solid win in their bowl game against Missouri, beating the Tigers 33-16 and return 7 players on each side of the ball from 2017. Sophomore QB Sam Ehlinger will be a force to be reckoned with this year and this should be an easy victory for the Horns. Texas tops Maryland 37-17 and beats the 13.5 point spread.
#6 Washington vs. #9 Auburn
The first top 10 match up of the season will take place down in Atlanta, GA as the Huskies of the Pacific Northwest take on the Tigers of Auburn. This game will be a great opening test to see which of these teams is legit. Washington is an early Playoff favorite and Auburn is pegged as an outside team looking in after their success in 2017. The Tigers have a top notch offense that returns star QB Jarrett Stidham, who threw for 3,158 yards, 18 TDs and 6 picks last season. They'll need to find a new running back now that Kerryon Johnson is off to the NFL, but Gus Malzahn's offense always puts up points. Washington on the other hand, typically does not have any issues preventing points. The Huskies gave up an average of 16.1 points per game last year, ranking 5th in the nation. With 17 returning starters from last year and 9 of them on the defensive side of the ball, I expect Washington to be one of the toughest teams around. On offense, the two headed monster of QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin will cause headaches for every defense. This should be a close game, but I see the Huskies coming out on top. I'm going past the two point spread and I've got Washington beating Auburn 30-20.
#17 West Virginia vs. Tennessee
My dark horse playoff team starts their season in Charlotte, NC against the mighty (not really) Volunteers of Tennessee. The Vols are under new management with head coach Jeremy Pruitt taking over for the recently removed Butch Jones. There's still a lot of talent on Tennessee's roster, so Pruitt has a lot to work with. The steep learning curve will cause for a rebuilding year on Rocky Top however. West Virginia returns arguably the top offense in the nation, led by Heisman hopeful, Quarterback Will Grier. He has two All-American caliber wideouts in David Sills IV and Gary Jennings Jr., who both had over 1,000 yards last year. Leading rusher Justin Crawford is gone, but Kennedy McKoy had nearly 600 yards on the ground in a backup role last season, so watch for him to have a breakout year. West Virginia should look crisp today and their experience will help them roll Tennessee. They'll smash the 9.5 point spread and beat the Vols 40-21.
#14 Michigan at #12 Notre Dame
The Wolverines and Fightin' Irish renew their rivalry for the first time since 2014 as Michigan travels down to South Bend. Both teams are looking for a big, resume building win to start off their season. Both teams return 9 starters on defense, so expect a tight battle in this one. Offensively, it's all about the QB play. Brandon Wimbush should improve in his second year as a starter, but his completion percentage is still concerning. He was below 50% in 2017, and backup QB Ian Book should be ready to step in if Wimbush still struggles. Michigan's defense will be relentless, especially up front with preseason All-American Rashan Gary. Junior Linebacker Devin Bush is also a force to be reckoned with, so Wimbush will really need to be sharp. On the other side, everyone is anxious to see how Ole Miss transfer QB, Shae Patterson, looks under Jim Harbaugh's pro-style offense. Patterson is a dual-threat QB, so we'll see how Notre Dame handles his ability to move the pocket. Touchdown Jesus and the Golden Domes will be rocking tonight, but I'm going to disappoint my uncle and pick the Wolverines. I think they're an under the radar team and I like the BIG 10 to get a big win this weekend. The Irish keep it tight, but Michigan edges them out 24-20.
#8 Miami at #25 LSU (Sunday)
This is arguably a must-win game for both teams down in Arlington as the "U" takes on the Tigers from LSU. The Hurricanes are out to amend the sour end to last season, where they lost their final 3 games after starting 10-0. They bring back 7 starters on both sides of the ball, so look for the Turnover Chain to be broken out again this year with lots of returning experience. LSU on the other hand could be playing to keep their coach. Coach O was a questionable hire in my opinion, but after two scholarship QBs left during the off season, the Tigers are left with Ohio State grad-transfer Joe Burrow. LSU's defense is always tough, but their offensive struggles could be the downfall in this game. I'm not really sure what to expect from either team this year, but I'm standing behind my thoughts on Coach O. Mark Richt of Miami will out coach Ed Orgeron and the Hurricanes knock off the Tigers by 7. Miami wins 27-20.
#20 Virginia Tech at #19 Florida State
Willie Taggart gets a warm welcome into the ACC as the Hokies travel down to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles. Deondre Francois has been named the starting QB for FSU, but Sophomore James Blackman is very well established after playing every game last year after Francois' injury. The key will be to protect the QB this year, as the 'Noles have given up 36 and 32 sacks in each of the past two seasons respectively. Virginia Tech had 32 last season and gave up only 14.8 points per game on average. They return just 5 starters from that defense, but the Hokies are always full of young talent. Speaking of young talent, the player to watch is VA Tech QB, Josh Jackson. He had nearly 3,000 yards passing as a Freshman with a 20:9 TD to INT ratio. He'll have a strong sophomore season and as strong opening game. This one has a 7 point spread, but I've got it closer than that. Hokies spoil Taggart's opening day 34-31.
Akron at Nebraska
The Huskers open their season with the defending Mac East Division Champions. The Zips did not end their season well as they lost to Toledo in the MAC Championship 45-28 and then were blown out in the Boca Raton Bowl by Lane Kiffin and his fighting Owls 50-3. They're walking into what will be the most hyped and rocking stadium in the nation at Memorial Stadium. Husker Nation is ready to start the Scott Frost era and Lincoln will be electric tonight. True Freshman Adrian Martinez is making the start at QB and he has a lot of weapons at his disposal. Wideouts Stanley Morgan Jr. and J.D. Spielman are two of the best in the BIG 10, so look for them to get a lot of looks early as the offense finds its footing. There will be a lot of new faces for Husker fans to watch, so be ready to break out your rosters. Nebraska has a 26 spread in their favor for this game, but with all the first game jitters and inexperience, it'll be a little tighter. Solid win for Nebraska and the Scott Frost era starts off with a 37-20 victory. GO BIG RED!
Quick Hit Predictions
Northern Illinois at Iowa - The Hawkeyes are always a question mark team when facing non-conference opponents, and Northern Illinois is no slouch. They have a tough defensive line that will put a lot of pressure on Nathan Stanley today. Iowa will need to find a ground game quickly, but they should be able to pull this one out. Hawks win it 30-17.
Cincinnati at UCLA - Chip Kelly gets his debut against the Bearcats of Cincy. Wilton Speight is the new QB for the Bruins and will look to lead a high-powered offense in the new era of UCLA. Kelly looks to be ready to be back in football, and there's no way he's losing his opener. UCLA 38, Cincy 20.
Louisville vs. #1 Alabama - The Tide have QB drama all over the place with everyone asking who will start, Tua or Jalen? It doesn't matter. The only QB drama you need to know about is that Louisville does not have Lamar Jackson any more. He would've been their only shot at knocking off the Tide, but without him Bama will roll, no matter who starts under center. The Cardinals can attack Bama deep, but they won't have much time with that fearsome front 7 of Bama. Tide 40, Cardinals 17.
BYU at Arizona - Pac-12 after dark starts the season with a really intriguing match-up for Kevin Sumlin's Wildcat debut. Kahlil Tate will look to torch the record books once again as the Cougars of BYU visit. The Cougars are experienced, bringing back 7 players on each side of the ball, including Senior QB Tanner Mangum. This could be a tight game and will definitely be a fun one to watch. I think the Wildcats are a dangerous team this year, and Kahlil Tate will be the difference maker. Arizona beats BYU 39-28.
Thanks for reading my GAMEDAY predictions and welcome to the 2018 College Football Season! Be sure to subscribe to get updates on future posts and stay tuned for details on my upcoming radio show. It's football time folks, GET HYPED!
#CFBKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
#23 Texas at Maryland
Last year, everyone was saying "Texas is Back" with the addition of Tom Herman as head coach. Maryland quickly demolished that idea after they won 51-41 in Austin. This year should be a different story though. The Terps should have fewer QB issues with Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill returning from injuries, but the coaching situation is horrendous. I'm still not sure why DJ Durkin and his staff have jobs right now, but they should be cleaning house any minute now over in College Park. The fallout from OL Jordan McNair's death has exposed a disgusting and degrading culture in the Maryland football program. The off-field issues will destroy this team in 2018 and probably for a couple years after. There's talented kids on the roster, but I doubt anyone has their mind on football right now. Texas on the other hand is looking to hit 2018 with a big stride forward. They had a solid win in their bowl game against Missouri, beating the Tigers 33-16 and return 7 players on each side of the ball from 2017. Sophomore QB Sam Ehlinger will be a force to be reckoned with this year and this should be an easy victory for the Horns. Texas tops Maryland 37-17 and beats the 13.5 point spread.
#6 Washington vs. #9 Auburn
The first top 10 match up of the season will take place down in Atlanta, GA as the Huskies of the Pacific Northwest take on the Tigers of Auburn. This game will be a great opening test to see which of these teams is legit. Washington is an early Playoff favorite and Auburn is pegged as an outside team looking in after their success in 2017. The Tigers have a top notch offense that returns star QB Jarrett Stidham, who threw for 3,158 yards, 18 TDs and 6 picks last season. They'll need to find a new running back now that Kerryon Johnson is off to the NFL, but Gus Malzahn's offense always puts up points. Washington on the other hand, typically does not have any issues preventing points. The Huskies gave up an average of 16.1 points per game last year, ranking 5th in the nation. With 17 returning starters from last year and 9 of them on the defensive side of the ball, I expect Washington to be one of the toughest teams around. On offense, the two headed monster of QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin will cause headaches for every defense. This should be a close game, but I see the Huskies coming out on top. I'm going past the two point spread and I've got Washington beating Auburn 30-20.
#17 West Virginia vs. Tennessee
My dark horse playoff team starts their season in Charlotte, NC against the mighty (not really) Volunteers of Tennessee. The Vols are under new management with head coach Jeremy Pruitt taking over for the recently removed Butch Jones. There's still a lot of talent on Tennessee's roster, so Pruitt has a lot to work with. The steep learning curve will cause for a rebuilding year on Rocky Top however. West Virginia returns arguably the top offense in the nation, led by Heisman hopeful, Quarterback Will Grier. He has two All-American caliber wideouts in David Sills IV and Gary Jennings Jr., who both had over 1,000 yards last year. Leading rusher Justin Crawford is gone, but Kennedy McKoy had nearly 600 yards on the ground in a backup role last season, so watch for him to have a breakout year. West Virginia should look crisp today and their experience will help them roll Tennessee. They'll smash the 9.5 point spread and beat the Vols 40-21.
#14 Michigan at #12 Notre Dame
The Wolverines and Fightin' Irish renew their rivalry for the first time since 2014 as Michigan travels down to South Bend. Both teams are looking for a big, resume building win to start off their season. Both teams return 9 starters on defense, so expect a tight battle in this one. Offensively, it's all about the QB play. Brandon Wimbush should improve in his second year as a starter, but his completion percentage is still concerning. He was below 50% in 2017, and backup QB Ian Book should be ready to step in if Wimbush still struggles. Michigan's defense will be relentless, especially up front with preseason All-American Rashan Gary. Junior Linebacker Devin Bush is also a force to be reckoned with, so Wimbush will really need to be sharp. On the other side, everyone is anxious to see how Ole Miss transfer QB, Shae Patterson, looks under Jim Harbaugh's pro-style offense. Patterson is a dual-threat QB, so we'll see how Notre Dame handles his ability to move the pocket. Touchdown Jesus and the Golden Domes will be rocking tonight, but I'm going to disappoint my uncle and pick the Wolverines. I think they're an under the radar team and I like the BIG 10 to get a big win this weekend. The Irish keep it tight, but Michigan edges them out 24-20.
#8 Miami at #25 LSU (Sunday)
This is arguably a must-win game for both teams down in Arlington as the "U" takes on the Tigers from LSU. The Hurricanes are out to amend the sour end to last season, where they lost their final 3 games after starting 10-0. They bring back 7 starters on both sides of the ball, so look for the Turnover Chain to be broken out again this year with lots of returning experience. LSU on the other hand could be playing to keep their coach. Coach O was a questionable hire in my opinion, but after two scholarship QBs left during the off season, the Tigers are left with Ohio State grad-transfer Joe Burrow. LSU's defense is always tough, but their offensive struggles could be the downfall in this game. I'm not really sure what to expect from either team this year, but I'm standing behind my thoughts on Coach O. Mark Richt of Miami will out coach Ed Orgeron and the Hurricanes knock off the Tigers by 7. Miami wins 27-20.
#20 Virginia Tech at #19 Florida State
Willie Taggart gets a warm welcome into the ACC as the Hokies travel down to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles. Deondre Francois has been named the starting QB for FSU, but Sophomore James Blackman is very well established after playing every game last year after Francois' injury. The key will be to protect the QB this year, as the 'Noles have given up 36 and 32 sacks in each of the past two seasons respectively. Virginia Tech had 32 last season and gave up only 14.8 points per game on average. They return just 5 starters from that defense, but the Hokies are always full of young talent. Speaking of young talent, the player to watch is VA Tech QB, Josh Jackson. He had nearly 3,000 yards passing as a Freshman with a 20:9 TD to INT ratio. He'll have a strong sophomore season and as strong opening game. This one has a 7 point spread, but I've got it closer than that. Hokies spoil Taggart's opening day 34-31.
Akron at Nebraska
The Huskers open their season with the defending Mac East Division Champions. The Zips did not end their season well as they lost to Toledo in the MAC Championship 45-28 and then were blown out in the Boca Raton Bowl by Lane Kiffin and his fighting Owls 50-3. They're walking into what will be the most hyped and rocking stadium in the nation at Memorial Stadium. Husker Nation is ready to start the Scott Frost era and Lincoln will be electric tonight. True Freshman Adrian Martinez is making the start at QB and he has a lot of weapons at his disposal. Wideouts Stanley Morgan Jr. and J.D. Spielman are two of the best in the BIG 10, so look for them to get a lot of looks early as the offense finds its footing. There will be a lot of new faces for Husker fans to watch, so be ready to break out your rosters. Nebraska has a 26 spread in their favor for this game, but with all the first game jitters and inexperience, it'll be a little tighter. Solid win for Nebraska and the Scott Frost era starts off with a 37-20 victory. GO BIG RED!
Quick Hit Predictions
Northern Illinois at Iowa - The Hawkeyes are always a question mark team when facing non-conference opponents, and Northern Illinois is no slouch. They have a tough defensive line that will put a lot of pressure on Nathan Stanley today. Iowa will need to find a ground game quickly, but they should be able to pull this one out. Hawks win it 30-17.
Cincinnati at UCLA - Chip Kelly gets his debut against the Bearcats of Cincy. Wilton Speight is the new QB for the Bruins and will look to lead a high-powered offense in the new era of UCLA. Kelly looks to be ready to be back in football, and there's no way he's losing his opener. UCLA 38, Cincy 20.
Louisville vs. #1 Alabama - The Tide have QB drama all over the place with everyone asking who will start, Tua or Jalen? It doesn't matter. The only QB drama you need to know about is that Louisville does not have Lamar Jackson any more. He would've been their only shot at knocking off the Tide, but without him Bama will roll, no matter who starts under center. The Cardinals can attack Bama deep, but they won't have much time with that fearsome front 7 of Bama. Tide 40, Cardinals 17.
BYU at Arizona - Pac-12 after dark starts the season with a really intriguing match-up for Kevin Sumlin's Wildcat debut. Kahlil Tate will look to torch the record books once again as the Cougars of BYU visit. The Cougars are experienced, bringing back 7 players on each side of the ball, including Senior QB Tanner Mangum. This could be a tight game and will definitely be a fun one to watch. I think the Wildcats are a dangerous team this year, and Kahlil Tate will be the difference maker. Arizona beats BYU 39-28.
Thanks for reading my GAMEDAY predictions and welcome to the 2018 College Football Season! Be sure to subscribe to get updates on future posts and stay tuned for details on my upcoming radio show. It's football time folks, GET HYPED!
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Alex Fernando
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