Week 13(ish) Predictions

      Welcome to Week 13 Football fans, aka Rivalry Week! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving, because now it's time to kick your feet up and watch lots and lots of football. This is always my favorite football weekend of the year, and even with Covid-19 spiking, I'm hopeful for a fun and safe weekend. We've got some great games to watch this weekend, and here's all the things you need to know about them. Enjoy!

Week 12(ish) Record: 9 - 6

Overall Record: 45 - 23

#13 Iowa State at #17 Texas

     A spot in the Big XII Championship is on the line as the Cyclones travel to Austin to take on the Longhorns. Texas has fought back into the Big XII picture posting three straight wins since dropping back to back games against TCU and Oklahoma in early October. The Cyclones are riding one of their best conference records in school history, losing just to Oklahoma State on the road by 3. The true kicker of this game is how Texas has not played a game since November 7th. A BYE week and postponement against Kansas has given the Longhorns extra time to rest and prepare. They will need to be ready though, because QB Brock Purdy and RB Breece Hall has this ISU offense humming. They blanked K-State 45-0 last week and have a very balanced offense. Texas is strong against the run, but Hall is a different beast to tame. I like the Cyclones to win down in Austin, Matt Campbell has something special cooking! Iowa State beats Texas 38-31.

Stanford at Cal (The Game)

     A couple of winless PAC-12 teams line up in this one, but records don't usually matter in a rivalry as old as this one. Neither team has found much of an identity yet this year, but one thing is for sure, the defenses are a mess. Games like this usually come down to the turnover battle, and Stanford has the edge there as Cal QB Chase Garbers has 3 interceptions through just two games. The Trees win this one in a very messy game 30-26.

#15 Oregon at Oregon State

     Staying out with the PAC-12, I'll take a look at a winning team in this game. The Ducks found themselves back a bit further than they wanted in the opening week of the CFB Playoff rankings, but with a stylish win over their rival, they could vault themselves toward the top 10. The Beavers are typically irrelevant when it comes to PAC-12, but they always love to play Oregon tough and try to spoil their plans. Oregon State has been able to put up some points this season, scoring an average of 26.7 points per game, so the Ducks will be tested again on defense. Oregon should just hand the rock to CJ Verdell and get out of the way though. He'll carry them to another victory in this rivalry. Ducks 37, Beavers 21.

#2 Notre Dame at #19 North Carolina

     The last big challenge for the Irish before a likely rematch with Clemson in the ACC Championship comes this weekend in Chapel Hill, NC against the Tar Heels. Despite the consistent efforts and texts from my uncle, I still haven't hopped on the Notre Dame Bandwagon. The Irish have looked impressive this season though, averaging nearly 38 points per game with a dynamic rushing attack and a sturdy defense that will give up some yards, but not many points. UNC on the other hand, they score a lot. Their high powered offense is led by one of my favorite young QBs to walk, Sophomore stud Sam Howell. He's thrown for 2,631 yards and 23 TDs so far this season. This is complemented by Javonte Williams' 10 rushing TDs and 868 yards on the ground. The Irish have a talented running back of their own in Kyren Williams. He has 10 TDs on the ground with 777 yards this year. Needless today, this game is going to be a shootout. It's always fun to see the upset, but I'll give the nod to Ian Book's experience and the Irish. Notre Dame 41, North Carolina 36.

#4 Ohio State at Illinois (Battle for the Illibuck)

     The Turtle Trophy is on the line as the Buckeyes travel to Illinois after holding of the comeback of Indiana last week. The Illini dominated my Huskers in Lincoln last week and look to force more turnovers with Ohio State in town. Brandon Peters will likely have the start again as he threw for 205 yards and a TD against the "Blackshirts" last week. He was helped out by the 5 turnovers Illinois got, and their defense now has 13 on the season. Justin Fields had an uncharacteristic 3 interceptions against the Hoosiers last week, and was constantly under pressure. I doubt he'll be under as much siege as last game, but he will still need to take care of the ball, especially when trying to run against the Illini linebackers. I think Ohio State should have a solid performance though, and they win the Illibuck Trophy 48-21.

Maryland at #12 Indiana

     The real Turtles of the BIG 10 missed their shot at upsetting the Buckeyes a couple of weeks ago due to Covid, and were off last week as well. Tualia Tagovailoa had the Terps' offense humming in early November though. He'll look to restart that fire against a very tough Hoosier defense. One that forced 3 interceptions against Justin Fields and the Buckeyes last week. They will bounce back quick in my opinion, especially with the way Michael Penix Jr. has been playing. He threw for a career-high 491 yards and 5 TDs last week. Maryland ranks 78th in pass defense in the nation and 9th in the BIG 10, so he should have another big day. Hoosiers get back on track with a 38-20 victory.

Texas Tech at #23 Oklahoma State

     The Cowboys are likely out of Big XII Title contention after the blowout loss in BEDLAM last week, and now have to come home to a Red Raider team coming off of a BYE and looking for another upset. There should be plenty of offense in this one as neither defense has performed well recently. The QB battle is my big key to watch in this game, as TTU's Alan Bowman and OSU's Spencer Sanders look bounce back after both throwing an interception with no TDs in their previous games. Oklahoma had a hangover after the Texas loss earlier this season, and I think they might have another one here. I haven't bought into their success in recent years, so I'm putting my guns up and riding with the Red Raiders. Texas Tech wins 37-31. Wreck 'Em!

Kent State at Buffalo

     Now this might be a game many of you brush past, but this #MACtion match-up is one you should check in on during commercial breaks if you don't have a multi-game setup like myself. The Golden Flashes are just two seasons removed from a year in which they only had 1 conference win, and now they're rolling the competition. They've posted 60+ in their last two games and are averaging a staggering 616 yards per game on offense. The Bulls are looking for revenge after a 3 point loss a season ago to the Flashes, and they have a pretty dynamic offense of their own. They're led by Junior RB Jaret Patterson, who has 8 TDs so far this season. This one is expected to be a barn burner, and I'm going to pick the Flashes. Not really sure why, but they're riding a hot streak and I think it's going to continue. Kent State defeats Buffalo on the road 53-44.

Mississippi State at Ole Miss (The Egg Bowl)

     One of the biggest rivalries in the South takes place this weekend in Mississippi as the Bulldogs take on the Rebels. This game was decided by a missed PAT last season, thanks to Ole Miss Wide Receiver Elijah Moore celebrating the (near) game tying TD with a dog peeing in the endzone celebration. Yes, he acted like a dog peeing in the endzone... God Bless College Football! Anyways, the 2020 matchup features two brand new coaches for each program in Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach. Two of the most interesting and outspoken coaches in the country, this can only be entertaining. There have been ESPN experts saying "first one to 60 will win the Egg Bowl", and I kind of agree with them. This one is going to be a shootout, as both teams have dynamic offenses that are starting to come together and very terrible defenses. I think Lane Kiffin's team has the offense figured out a bit more than Mike Leach's squad, so I'll give the nod to the Rebels. Ole Miss 55, Mississippi State 42.

#22 Auburn at #1 Alabama (The Iron Bowl)

     This game has gotten a little more interesting since Nick Saban tested positive for Covid-19 the other day, and won't be on the sidelines to coach this game. Outside of that this should just be another stepping stone for the Tide on their way to another College Football Playoff birth. To be fair though, we've seen some interesting things happen in the Iron Bowl before, so things could get a little exciting. Auburn QB Bo Nix would need to play well though, and the Sophomore has hit that slump hard in his second year under center. He's just 1 pick away from tying the 6 he threw as a Freshman, and the offense overall has not helped him out much. Mac Jones for Bama looks to pad his Heisman-like stats even more against the Tiger defense that gives up an average of 402 yards per game. Tide Roll 36-17 even without Saban.

Nebraska at #24 Iowa (The Hero's Game)

     Normally I'd be pretty jazzed about this game (and I still am), but the performance at Memorial Stadium was a straight up gut punch from the Huskers. This team clearly has very little motivation to improve, and it's becoming very frustrating to watch. Nonetheless, I am ready to hurt again and will give you my keys to victory for Nebraska. Hopefully they'll follow them this week. First and foremost, Nebraska NEEDS to stop the run. Iowa is going to line up in the I-formation, hand the ball to Sophomore RB Tyler Goodsen and run him to the left, then the right, then the left two times, the right once, the left again and then the right two more times. Iowa has figured out they really only need to pass when absolutely necessary, and at that point they could still probably run it and be better off. Nebraska started the season with a fairly stout run defense, but that was blown wide open after receiving their blackshirts last week. The Illini rushed for 285 yards last week, and had two backs go over 100 yards thanks to multiple gashing runs. Luke McCaffrey will likely get the start again, which is the right decision in my opinion, but I do want to see Martinez. If Mills is still unable to play, why not have both QBs out there to run the option and RPOs with each other? Nebraska leads the nation in QB rushing attempts, so why not have them both in there and pound the rock. It is obvious Nebraska cannot pass the ball downfield, so Iowa is going to load the box. This is a great time to use your two best rushers and confuse the Hawkeye defense as much as possible. Iowa is not a team that makes many mistakes, so Nebraska drastically needs to cut back on the penalties and turnovers. Unfortunately I'm not sure Scott Frost has this team prepared and I think Iowa is going to win their 6th straight over the Huskers. Nebraska makes me sad with a 34-21 loss. I really hope this one doesn't get out of hand, and I hope even more that the Huskers prove me wrong. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#8 Northwestern at Michigan State - The Wildcats are coming off of a big win against the Badgers where they have all but claimed the BIG 10 West Division Title for the second time in three years. Pat Fitzgerald will have this team focused though, and that suffocating defense will hold down the Spartans. Wildcats win in East Lansing 30-14.

Penn State at Michigan - Not many people expected this to be a BIG 10 bottom feeder matchup earlier in the year, but here we are with the Nittany Lions at 0-5 and the Wolverines at 2-3. Both teams are a complete mess this season and I honestly don't know who to pick. I'll go with Michigan just so we get another year to make fun of Harbaugh before he gets the ax. Try to keep your eyes away from this train-wreck, but still watch because it's a train-wreck. Wolverines 33, Nittany Lions 28.

Rutgers at Purdue - The Boilermakers are likely still steaming after the horrible offensive pass interference call that took away their game-winning TD in the final minute against Minnesota last week, but Rutgers is just as pissed about their overtime upset against Michigan being spoiled at the last minute. Both teams are looking for some thing to prove and both can sling it all over the field. Look for some points in this one, but I'll take the home team. BoilerUp to a 38-33 victory.

LSU at #5 Texas A&M - The Aggies are sitting just outside of the playoff picture right now, but will look to put up some style points over the final few weeks of the season. LSU is still a mess and I expect Kellen Mond to make quick work of Bo Pelini's defense. Aggies win 40-20.

Kentucky at #6 Florida - Last time the Wildcats were in Gainesville they snapped a losing streak to the Gators that dated back to 1987. That won't happen this time around and if you're betting I would take Florida to cover easily. Kyle Trask is the real deal at QB and he should have a big night. Gators win big with a 54-21 blowout.

Utah at Washington - Since the Apple Cup (UW vs. Wazzu) was cancelled due to Covid-19, we get the Utes and Huskies for our primetime game. The PAC-12 doesn't get as much love as they deserve in College Football, but they have some good games out West. I'm hoping this one provides us some entertainment, but I'll take the Huskies and their defense. Washington 35, Utah 28.

Thanks for reading my Week 13(ish)/Rivalry Week Predictions! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving and are now ready to kick back and watch some football. Also, since it's hate Iowa week... GO BIG RED & BEAT IOWA!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 12(ish) Reflections

      Howdy Football Friends, let's get this over with. As many of you are aware, the Huskers lost 41-23 against the Fightin' Illini from Illinois, and unfortunately it is now my duty to give y'all a recap and analysis. This was honestly one of the worst football performances I've witnessed, especially by Nebraska. The comments from the press conference on Monday made things even worse, which I did not know was possible. There's a lot to break down, so let's dive in. Enjoy... if you can.

     Coming off of their first win of the season and wearing the freshly handed out, Blackshirt jerseys, I really thought Nebraska would come out with some momentum and be ready to win their first set of back to back BIG 10 games since 2016. Clearly I was wrong. Illinois brought the pop early and often, dominating the line of scrimmage and time of possession. This was also aided by the 5 turnovers given to them by the Husker offense. It's clear Nebraska was in no shape or form ready to play this game, and that was capped off by Monday's press conference where Captain wideout Kade Warner said the team wasn't motivated or energized at practice the week before, and admitted he and the other wideouts especially weren't even running full speed on their routes. I've got a full analysis in my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below.

GOOD - Collin Miller is okay and looking to make a full recovery. About the only good thing from Saturday comes from one of the scariest moments when Senior LB Collin Miller was carried off on a stretcher early in the 4th quarter. Scott Frost said on Monday the injury is a Spinal Concussion which will likely sideline Miller for the remainder of the season. Luckily he's not expected to have any permanent damage and was able to attend practice to be with his teammates and support them. I certainly wish him a speedy recovery and am glad to hear he's doing well.

EXPECTED - McCaffrey struggles and turnovers. To preface this, I am a big proponent of keeping McCaffrey as a focal point of the offense moving forward, especially if Frost thinks he's the future of this program. With that being said, the Redshirt Freshman did not play well, especially when throwing the ball. This is going to happen from time to time, and I've said it before, but he'll need to work out the kinks of being a starter if it's truly his job moving forward. Adrian Martinez is also one of the more talented players on this roster however, and with Mills being injured, I wouldn't mind seeing Martinez in the backfield with McCaffrey. It's clear the Huskers will not having any form of a passing attack in 2020, so if you're going to run, you might as well run with your best. There's nothing in Frost's playbook that's going to drastically change from the basic shotgun handoffs, QB draws and RPOs, so you might as well have all your best playmakers on the field.

Looking at the turnovers, that was my primary key to victory in this game. Illinois has been one of the best turnover teams in the last few years in the BIG 10, and they proved it again on Saturday with 5 takeaways from the Huskers. Some were literally handed to them (like on the first play of the game), but this is still an outrageous issue for Nebraska that needs to be fixed immediately. The Huskers have had 22 and 21 total turnovers in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Through just 4 games in this season Nebraska has 10 turnovers. Some of the interceptions are inevitable with poor QB play and a lack of a consistent passing attack, but for a team that runs so much, fumbles are not something Frost can keep living with. Especially when many are caused from miscommunication on handoffs or poor ball security by the QBs who he recruited SPECIFICALLY for running in his offense.

BAD - Everything? I honestly don't exactly know where to start with this category, especially since I'm trying to find a new issue to pick on. To take a stab at it, I want to point your attention to Monday's press conference in which multiple players including Captain WR Kade Warner admitted to not going full speed and being lackadaisical in practice during the week leading up to the game with Illinois. As a fan, football coach and former football player myself, this ticks me off more than anything. There are two sides to this coin, so we'll start with the players. In the past three years, they've had to overcome quite a bit of changes in their program and culture. They've had games canceled and odd seasons. But most importantly they have become comfortable being a bad team. It's clear some of these athletes walk around campus like they are royalty, and that's because they're treated like it. Frost and his staff have built a culture that celebrates the players as Greek God equivalents at UNL, despite just winning 10 games in the past 2.5 seasons. From an outside perspective it seems like some members of the team don't necessarily care about the wins as long as they're still treated like the royalty they're told they are day in and day out. I truly hope that's not the case, but when players are giving half-assed efforts in practice after nearly giving up their only victory in the last calendar year, there's a culture change needed...again.

The other side of the coin is back to Scott Frost and the coaching staff. I agree that the players are the ones on the field making things happen, but that all comes from knowing what to do and being prepared. I have yet to see a fully prepared Husker team under Scott Frost, and with the recent comments about practice I can understand why. When I coached 3rd and 4th graders earlier this fall it was even more eye opening compared to my playing days on how many things from practice translate to a game. There were times I had to really harp in on some kids to get focused and take what we're doing seriously so they could be ready for the games. If I can do that with 9-year olds, there's absolutely no reason Frost can't kick his players into high gear when he sees them slacking. That's one of the main roles as a coach, to keep your team focused and working to the best of their abilities and make sure they're prepared week in and week out. There needs to be some fire in this football team if they're going to win any games moving forward, and that starts with the Head Coach. If I were playing for or coaching the Huskers, I'd be ticked off more than anyone in the state of Nebraska. This team is comfortable with losing and that's got to change.

     There's not much else to say about that Husker performance, other than that it needs to be forgotten quick. It'll be interesting to see who Nebraska's extra crossover game ends up being later this year, especially with Penn State falling to 0-5. That would not be a fun re-match, but the bigger fear is probably getting torched by ex-Husker QB Noah Vedral and the Scarlet Knights from Rutgers. Both are possible and both are nightmare scenarios for Frost. Time to shape up and get this team in high gear. Or at least out of reverse.

Quick hit thoughts from the rest of CFB:

- There's going to be a few of these in this section, but I TOLD YOU SO about Indiana. The Hoosiers gave Ohio State a big run for their money in the Horseshoe on Saturday as Michael Penix Jr. lit up the Buckeye secondary for 491 yards and 5 TDs through the air. Their defense picked off Justin Fields 3 times, but Ohio State was able to prevail and hold the inside track to the BIG 10 Championship.

- On Thursday night the Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa completed yet another comeback victory, but in serious style this time by sending the game to overtime with a game-tying Hail Mary. They then won in overtime with a 96 yard pick six. WILD.

- Purdue was absolutely screwed by the BIG 10 Officials against Minnesota on Friday night with a horrendous offensive pass interference call that took away what likely would've been the game-winning TD pass. They missed some FGs earlier in the game and could've made other plays, but that was a bad call and should not happen. BoilerUp

- After a 2 week hiatus, the Tide were Rolling yet again and should be on their way to another CFB Playoff.

- The Gators struggled early, but Kyle Trask eventually woke up and threw the ball all over the Vandy secondary. Just another 350+ and 3 TD day at the office for the new Heisman front-runner.

- I TOLD YOU SO about Cincy being legit as well. The Bearcats survived a tough road game in Orlando to beat the UCF Knights and sit atop the American Athletic Conference standings. They're at Temple this week and then have an open week before taking on Tulsa in the conference championship. Maybe a BYU - Cincy battle in that open week? We can certainly hope!

- Speaking of the Cougars, Heisman dark horse, QB Zach Wilson had another 4 TD performance as BYU dropped 66 on North Alabama.

- Back in the BIG 10, the Wildcats made me regret not going with my gut on their "upset" win over Wisconsin. The Northwestern defense completely dominated the Badgers and forced 5 turnovers. This defense is legit and if their offense can figure out a rushing attack they have an outside shot at a Playoff spot. Nonetheless, they now have the inside track for the BIG 10 West Division with a very win-able schedule remaining.

- Chip Kelly nearly got his revenge in Autzen Stadium, but the Ducks prevailed with a 38-35 victory. UCLA is gaining momentum again though, watch out PAC-12 South.

- I TOLD YOU SO about the battle of the Bulldogs! Mississippi State nearly upset Georgia between the hedges, but easily covered the outrageous 25 point spread. If you bet money based on my blog this week you probably did pretty well. Georgia is not very good.

- Another overrated team that was exposed on Saturday would be the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. BEDLAM showed yet again who the real Oklahoma team is, and that would be the Sooners. Spencer Rattler threw for 4 TDs in a 41-13 beat down and the Sooners are back in the Big XII title hunt yet again... joy.

- Elsewhere in the Big XII, Iowa State proved they really want that title, and blanked K-State 45-0 at home. Cyclones and Oklahoma rematch would be fun!

- My last I TOLD YOU SO comes with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. They remained undefeated after beating Appalachian State for the first time in program history and are making a push for a New Year's Six bowl game.

- Liberty finally lost and LSU beat Arkansas for the Golden Boot Trophy.

- Last but not least we have a nod to my first every recruiting tour prospect, ex-Husker QB Noah Vedral and his stellar performance against Michigan. The Scarlet Knights fell to the Wolverines in triple-OT, but Vedral was phenomenal with 381 yards and 3 TDs through the air. His lone interception at the end finished the game, but it was nice to see at least one Husker QB who knows how to throw a downfield pass. Seriously, take a look at the highlights, they made me sad they're so good. Also Jim Harbaugh is bad.

Thanks for reading my Week 12(ish) reflections on the Husker game! Now to forget about that and move on to Iowa Hate week. Watch for my prediction post on Friday and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 12(ish) Predictions

 Good morning football fans and welcome to week 12(ish) of the College Football season! For the second week in a row we'll have at least 15 games either postponed or cancelled (17 total) due to Coronavirus, but luckily will still have the Huskers and some interesting games with CFB Playoff implications. This post will have all of the big games on my slate to watch and a couple of sneaky ones you should keep your eyes on. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Week 11(ish) Record: 10 - 3

Overall Record: 36-17

Appalachian State at #15 Coastal Carolina

     The undefeated Chanticleers put their perfect record on the line against Sun Belt powerhouse, the Mountaineers of Appalachian State. The winner of this has an inside track to the conference title as both are undefeated in Sun Belt play. Both teams are surprisingly similar statistically as well. App State averages 32.1 points per game and gives up just 16.9 on average while Coastal Carolina averages 37.9 on offense and gives up just 16.3 on defense. The Chanticleers have a bit more balanced attack on offense, but both defenses are hard to move on. Games like this usually come down to which team will make fewer mistakes. Coastal Carolina ranks better in both turnover margin and penalties this year, so I'm sticking with the Chanticleers! Coastal Carolina stays unbeaten with an important win at home 31-28.

#7 Cincinnati at UCF

     The Bearcats have been rolling through the competition this season, posting a 204 point differential this season. UCF is always difficult to lock down though, and they rank 1st in total offense in the nation yet again. Dillion Gabriel has been lighting up opposing secondaries for 2,774 yards, 23 TDs and just 2 picks so far this season. The Bearcats rank 19th in pass defense and 9th overall, so it will be strength on strength in this one. That's where star players step up, and I like Desmond Ridder to step up big in this game. He's the key component of this offense and is smart with the football. Combined with another strong defensive performance, I think Cincy makes a big statement for the Playoff Committee to consider. Bearcats beat the Knights 40-20.

Mississippi State at #13 Georgia

     The UGA Bulldogs got an extra week to lick their wounds from the Florida loss after their game with Missouri last week was postponed due to Coivd-19. They're back in action today against Mike Leach and the weary Bulldogs from the other side of the conference who also had their game postponed against Auburn. There's a 25 point spread in this game, and if you're using my blog to place bets (good luck), then I would smash the under line on this one. Mississippi State is not playing well and Georgia is supposed to be one of the top teams in the conference, no better stage for an upset. Georgia lost their shot at the SEC Championship and ultimately the playoffs with the loss to Florida and MSU is looking to just get back on track and prove Leach wasn't a bad hire. The true kicker is the Georgia defense. They have been atrocious against the passing attack, and we all know how much the Pirate loves the Air Raid. If you're betting, definitely take the under, and just because I don't think Georgia is very good this year I'm going to take the upset. This one might be a stretch, but Mike Leach usually has one of these a year, why not between the hedges? The Bulldogs in Maroon beat the Bulldogs in Red 38-35.

Iowa at Penn State

     The Nittany Lions have never been 0-5 in their entire program history and Iowa has lost 6 straight to Penn State and hasn't won in Happy Valley since 2004. The Hawkeyes have looked very impressive on the ground in their past two outings, rushing for 461 yards. Sophomore Tyler Goodson is the primary reason for this boost in the run game as Kirk Ferentz has gotten smart and started handing him the ball more rather than have Spencer Petras throw it. Penn State locked down the Husker rushing attack in the second half last Saturday, but Will Levis couldn't quite complete the comeback. He may have earned the starting job though, and with weapons like Dotson, Washington and Freiermuth, their offense won't be shut down completely. However, I like to give the nod to teams who can run the ball when it's going to be a close game, and that nod goes to Iowa. Goodson carries the Hawkeyes to a 23-20 victory.

Kansas State at #17 Iowa State

     The Wildcats travel to Ames for a key game in the Big XII battle. The Cyclones sit atop the conference race with a 5-1 record in the Big XII with K-State right on their heels at 4-2. The Wildcats are looking for a key tie-breaker and have the team to make it happen. Their tire-fire offense is just the type that will peg opponents down to their level. Iowa State has had that issue at times this year, but I think QB Brock Purdy has his sights set on a Big XII Title this year, and few things are going to hold him back. Cyclones get a big game from under the radar RB Breece Hall and Purdy makes some clutch throws late to keep Iowa State in the hunt. Cyclones 34, Wildcats 24.

#10 Wisconsin at #19 Northwestern

     The battle for the BIG 10 West has gone through Wisconsin or Northwestern in the last 4 seasons and it looks to be that way again. Both are unbeaten so far in 2020, so something has to give. I expect a rugged, defensive BIG 10 slug-fest. Both teams have tremendous strength on defense and will hit you in the mouth every single play. Running the ball won't be easy, so this is where the QBs have to make big plays when the time is right. Graham Mertz is the young stud while Peyton Ramsey has experience in this conference as a senior. The Wildcats have played in some tight games this year, making key plays to win. Wisconsin has yet to be tested (on the football field) in 2020 and I like the edge Northwestern has. This is a tough one to pick, but I think Graham Mertz will handle the pressure well. I can see both ways (and will be rooting for the Wildcats), but I'll say the Badgers take this one 27-24. I'm curious to see if Northwestern will run the table after this game and who would win the division if Northwestern is 7-1 and Wisconsin is 6-0. But for now, On Wisconsin.

#14 Oklahoma State at #18 Oklahoma (BEDLAM)

     We've got BEDLAM down in the Big XII and this game has big implications on the Big XII Championship picture. The Cowboys have lost 5 straight to the Sooners but can almost guarantee themselves a spot in the Big XII championship game with a win today. Lincoln Riley and Spencer Rattler may have something to say about that though. Since losing early in the year to K-State and Iowa State, Oklahoma has been racking up points left and right. The Cowboys have the best defense in the conference, so it will be best on best in this game. I don't trust (or like) any one in the Big XII, but Oklahoma wins this game. The Cowboys don't have enough firepower for this one and the Big XII is too cannibalistic for their own good yet again. Sooners win BEDLAM over the Cowboys 38-28.

#9 Indiana at #3 Ohio State

     The other ranked v. ranked match-up in the BIG 10 takes place in Columbus and features the Buckeyes against the Hoosiers of Indiana. Yes, the Hoosiers are in the top 10 and I could not be happier. I knew this team would be deadly this year, but Michael Penix Jr. is even more special to watch than I imagined. Tom Allen has this team ready to play week in and week out, especially on defense. They rank 18th in the nation in total defense and 2nd in turnover margin. Justin Fields and the Buckeye offense have not been tested much at all this season, so look for some hiccups in this one early on. If Indiana can create some havoc and get pressure on Fields early in the game, this one could be very interesting to watch. On offense for the Hoosiers, Michael Penix Jr. should keep you glued to your TVs if the score doesn't already. This man can ball and even though he's a dual threat, I think his passing ability is his best feature. He takes care of the football and is extremely accurate with his passes. Indiana has talented receivers on the edge with Whop Philyor and Ty Fryfogle, but then will hurt you over the middle with a shot downfield to 6'4 TE Peyton Hendershot, who has 3 TDs on the season thus far. Not many people are giving the Hoosiers a shot in this one, but trust me, this team is legit. The 20.5 point spread is definitely one I would go under on, and an upset could be on the horizon in Columbus. I'll be rooting for the Hoosiers alongside my Huskers, but I do think Ohio State edges this one out. Justin Fields has too many weapons and after a mistake or two early in the game I think he'll settle in and have a big day. Ohio State 34, Indiana 24. I would love to see a Northwestern v. Indiana BIG 10 Championship though!

Illinois at Nebraska

     The Huskers are looking for back to back conference wins for the first time since 2016 as the Fighting Illini come to Memorial Stadium. Luke McCaffrey should (and hopefully will) make his second start for the Huskers and look to keep a steady pace for the offense. They'll be up against an underrated defense from Illinois, who loves to force turnovers. They had 3 picks on ex-Husker QB Noah Vedral last weekend and their veteran linebackers will look to cause havoc for Luke in the backfield early and often. Scott Frost needs to open up the playbook for this game, and the offense needs to be on the same page in order to have clean execution in the backfield. On the defensive side of the ball, the newly christened Blackshirts will have their hands full with the Illini rushing attack. Illinois racked up 338 yards on the ground last weekend, and nearly 200 of those came from the QB Isaiah Williams, who is expected to start against the Huskers. Tackling will be key in this game as the Illini have a lot of speed with RBs Chase Brown and Mike Epstein. They've been gashing opponents for 7.1 and 5.4 yards per carry respectively and Senior wideout Josh Imatorbhebhe will cause headaches for the secondary. I think Nebraska has their heads right coming into this game, but it won't be as big of a win as the 16 point spread is predicting. Huskers stand tall in a tight one, but not before giving yet another panic attack to an entire state. Nebraska 28, Illinois 20.

Quick Hit Predictions:

#21 Liberty at NC State - I keep doubting Liberty and they keep proving me wrong. Certainly the Wolfpack can stop the madness right? I'm saying yes as they have 24 sacks on the season and rank 9th in the nation while Liberty ranks 90th in sacks given up with 17 so far this season. Wolfpack 34-28.

UCLA at #11 Oregon - Chip Kelly returns to Autzen Stadium to take on the PAC-12 favorite Ducks. UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a talent, but so is CJ Verdell. If you haven't watched him tote the rock, tune in for just a bit and you'll see why NFL scouts are drooling over the Junior speedster. Ducks win easily 37-21.

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh - The Hokies have fallen short in their past two games against Liberty and Miami, but the buck stops here. Pitt has a stout defense, but I think Khalil Herbert carries VT to victory. Hokies in a close one, 28-23.

LSU at Arkansas - The reigning champs are anything but this season, and should be very careful on the road in this one. The Pigs aren't completely terrible anymore, and that's primarily due to ex-Gator QB Feleipe Franks. He's been torching opposing secondaries, and LSU will likely feel that wrath. Hogs win the Golden Boot 35-31.

Arizona at Washington - The Wildcats and Huskies had to wait an extra week to start their 2020 seasons, but now come in with one game experience to use against each other. Arizona was edged out by USC while Washington was able to hold off the Beavers. I'm not really sure what to read into on this one, but the Huskies have good defense and that's usually a good way to win games. Washington wins 33-21.

#20 USC at Utah - The other mystery game of the week takes place out in Salt Lake City. USC has been able to survive a couple of close ones against the teams down in the desert, but how will they fair against the Utes? Well, since the Utes have yet to play in 2020, no one really knows! I'd love to see an upset, but without any information it's hard to say. Utah usually likes to make things interesting though, so why not. Utes win their season opener 31-28.

Thanks for reading my predictions and I hope you all have a fantastic and safe Saturday full of great football. Also, be sure to tune into 90.3 KRNU or click this LINK to hear my good friend Cody Frederick call the Husker game play by play from Memorial Stadium! GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 11(ish) Reflections

      Howdy football fans! I hope everyone is doing well and still riding the high of the first Husker victory of the season! I had to let the win sink in for a few days before I dug in with my analysis, but now it's time to give my thoughts. This post will have my reflections and break down of the Huskers' win over Penn State as well as my thoughts on the other happenings throughout college football. Be sure to send any questions my way and enjoy!

     I was wrong in my prediction and I couldn't be happier! The Huskers were able to hold on for a 30-23 victory over the Nittany Lions in their first game at Memorial Stadium in 2020. Luke McCaffrey got the nod as the Huskers made a change at QB and sparked the offense to 20 first half points complimented by a nice scoop and score from the Blackshirts to set the mark at 27-6 at halftime. The second half was more of what Husker fans were probably expecting in this one, a dumpster fire on offense and some big drives given up by the defense as Penn State mounted a comeback that looked all too familiar. However, thanks to two impressive goal-line stands by the Blackshirts, Nebraska came away with their first victory in nearly an entire calendar year. My full analysis of the game is broken down into my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below.

GOOD - The Luke-led Husker offense and the two goal-line stands. Starting with the offense, I cannot express my excitement when I saw Luke McCaffrey trot out to start the game. I give my sympathies to Adrian Martinez, and thank him for the incredible leadership he showed in his pre-game speech as well as his demeanor on the sidelines. However, it was a necessary switch in my opinion and I'm glad Coach Frost pulled the trigger. Luke had this offense humming in the first half, moving the ball with great tempo on the first three drives, scoring 17 points. The play calling wasn't anything too special, but it allowed Luke to move around and do what he does best, make plays outside of the pocket. It's clear there's not going to be a very deadly passing attack with this team any time soon, but McCaffrey was able to spread the ball fairly well. Wan'dale Robinson finally got some meaningful touches, and even though they weren't all drawn up very well (4 straight runs up the middle in the goal line was not smart), he made some plays with the ball in his hands. I would expect more touches as they move him and McCaffrey to the edges, stretching opposing defenses. Switching to the Blackshirts, I'll add in some extra props for their first half performance and two turnovers. They were playing like a team that wanted to win and it showed. After a brief collapse in the second half, they stood up when they were needed most, not once, but twice. I truly thought they were going to give up the score and this team would be right back to square one. A tip of the cap to the defense and the pressure they were able to get. We'll see if that can carry over into future games now that the official Blackshirt jerseys have been handed out.

EXPECTED - The traditional third quarter collapse and missing wide receivers. You can set your clocks to it if you want, but the Huskers' regular third quarter collapse is almost a given at this point. There are few games I can recall over the past few years where Nebraska has come out strong following half-time. This is a serious issue that has needed addressing for a while. Frost won't always have a 21 point lead to cushion him, and Penn State showed that 21 points might not even be enough most of the time. The other expected piece of this game was the missing talent at wideout. Yes, Zavier Betts showed off some impressive speed and Wan'dale was involved again, but what happened to Marcus Flemming or the legendary Omar Manning? Neither saw the field to my knowledge on Saturday, and Flemming even led the Huskers in receiving against Northwestern just over a week ago. I really don't understand what the rotation plan is with these guys, especially when you have Kade Warner dropping easy TDs in the endzone. I'm guessing there are some grade or team violation issues, but no matter what it's clear we're not going to involve some of are most talented players in the ways they probably should be.

BAD - Half-time adjustments and playcall confusion. This goes off of my third quarter collapse point, but Scott Frost has been arguably one of the worst second half coaches in college football since taking over at Nebraska. I'm not trying to dig on him, but statistically the Huskers have not scored much in the second half. Their highest national ranking was during the 2018 at 42nd with an average of 14.9 points per game in the second half. The Huskers ranked 60th in 2019 with 13.5 points on average and this season the Huskers have just 6 TOTAL second half points for an average of 2 and a national rank of 124th. For context of 2020, the only teams that rank worse in second half points this season are UMass & Cal with 0, and they've combined to play as many games as the Huskers, (0-2 and 0-1) respectively. Going a little farther, we can look at the percentage of how much Nebraska owns time of possession in the second half compared to their opponents. The Huskers haven't ranked higher than 91st (2019) nationally in this category under Scott Frost and are currently 110th in 2020 with only 44.04% of the TOP going to the Huskers, or just over 13 minutes. This is not a recipe for success, and it's hindered more by the conservative play-calling. There were bad snaps, confusion and bumps in the backfield, but most of the second half was played by conservative and lackadaisical play-calling from the sidelines. I don't recall seeing any jet-sweep motions in the second half and Luke was running more for safety rather than by design. I give some credit to Penn State for making adjustments, but when Nebraska takes off less than 1 minute from the clock following the first goal line stand by their defense (subsequently setting up the second one) then you need to question the adjustments on the Husker sidelines more. This is one of the biggest issues plaguing the team and that's on Scott Frost.

I'm excited to see more of a spark on offense, and the defense is playing very well. Illinois is probably the most win-able game left on the schedule, but the Illini have some playmakers on both sides of the ball. Nebraska needs to keep moving forward with Luke to get him used to the QB1 spot and really needs to open up the playbook. Get the ball to the edge and use their speed. Wan'dale should not be running up the gut more than a few times per game. Hopefully this marks the corner turn Frost mentioned. GO BIG RED!

Quick hit thoughts from the rest of CFB:

- Western Michigan won their game with a fabulous fake spike. There's nothing quite like #MACtion!

- Iowa rolled through the Gophers on Friday night, claiming the Pig (Floyd of Rosedale Trophy) for the 5th straight year.

- Cincy won't stop for anyone and proved it by running a fake punt in the fourth quarter while up by 32 points. Give the Bearcats a shot at the Playoffs!

- Notre Dame didn't have much of a hangover and handled the rival Golden Eagles 45-31 on the road.

- If you haven't watched Kyle Trask throw a football, you better tune into a Gators game soon. The new Hesiman contender had 5 TDs in the first half and 6 by the end of the day as they chomped the Razorbacks in Felipe Franks' return to the Swamp.

- Miami edged out Virginia Tech 25-24 proving once again that there is a VERY sizable gap between Clemson (and Notre Dame this year) and the rest of the ACC.

- Speaking of the ACC, there was quite the barn burner in Chaple Hill as the Tar Heels came back to beat Wake Forest 59-53. I've said it before and I'm sticking to it, Sam Howell is a baller.

- Oregon poured it on in the fourth quarter against the Coogs and are really trying to flex their way into a playoff spot.

- In the BIG 10, we've got some dominating performances, come back wins and some enticing match-ups coming ahead. We'll start with my dark horse Hoosiers who shut-out the Spartans 24-0, breaking all kinds of ceilings for their football program. They'll take on the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe on Saturday in a battle for top spot in the BIG 10 East.

- Purdue couldn't quit knock off the Wildcats who gave up their first points in the second half all season. Northwestern and Wisconsin sit atop the West.

- Speaking of the Badgers, they put up a lot of points in their first game back from quarantine, trashing Michigan 49-11. Graham Mertz wasn't as impressive as his opener, but the Wiscy defense looks to be for real yet again.

Thanks for reading my Week 11(ish) reflections and be sure to watch for my predictions post later this week! GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 11(ish) Predictions

 Good morning football fans and welcome to Week 11(ish) of college football... or at least what's left of it. With 15 games either postponed or cancelled across the nation, including three games featuring a top 5 team, we are left with a bit of a lackluster day in the CFB world. Don't fret though, we have some good games to watch and I've got all the things to watch for and predictions for y'all. Read on and enjoy!

Week 10(ish) Record: 8 - 4

Overall Record: 26 - 14

#9 Miami at Virginia Tech

     The Canes are looking to stay in the hunt for an ACC Championship as they travel to upset-ready Blacksburg, VA to take on the Hokies. Virginia Tech lost a wild one against the Liberty Flames last week, even after they thought they had won the game. QB Hendon Hooker and RB Khalil Herbert lead a dynamic VT offense that averages 37.3 points per game with 465 yards and nearly 280 of those coming on the ground. Miami's rush defense has been stout, giving up an average of 148 on the ground, so that will be a good battle to watch. The true battle of the game will be between the Hurricanes' star QB D'Eriq King and the Hokie defense. King has been one of the best offensive playmakers in the nation this season, racking up 1,831 passing yards, 406 rushing yards and 20 TDs so far in 2020. The Virginia Tech defense has not faired well against opposing offenses, giving up more than 31 points per game. Many experts think this one is going to be close and favor VT to win, but I'm going to flip the script. Miami and VT have both played some tight games in the last few weeks, but I think this one is going to be one sided. I like the Canes to win big and make some noise in the ACC. Miami 38, Virginia Tech 20.

#10 Indiana at Michigan State

     The Hoosiers are red hot and have a delicious upset possibility next week at Ohio State. However, the need to make sure they don't look past Mel Tucker and the Spartans. I still don't think he was the move this program should've gone with, but the Michigan game a couple weeks ago proves he's full of surprises. Neither team runs the ball well, so the secondaries will be tested in this one. If a team can establish a ground game, they'll likely win. However, I look at the two QBs and their turnovers for the keys to this game. Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. has just one pick on the season compared to Sparty's Rocky Lombardi with 5. Indiana is out to prove something this year and they're not letting up for anyone. Hoosiers win big over Michigan State 37-17.

Wake Forest at North Carolina

     Two high-powered ACC offenses clash as the Demon Deacons take on the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, NC. The two Sophomore Sams battle for a leg up in the ACC as both teams look for the top teams to stumble. Nonetheless, this is an important game for the two teams as WF won by 6 last year, holding off a Tar Heel comeback in the fourth quarter. Sam Howell leads UNC with more than 2,000 passing yards to go along with his 17 TDs while Sam Hartman has just 1,253 yards with 4 TDs. He's managed the offense well, and has yet to turn the ball over this season. Both running backs will be fun to watch as well since they often find the endzone. Kenneth Walker III has 11 TDs and a 5 yard per carry average for the Deamon Deacons while Jovonte Williams rumbles in with 14 TDs and a 7 yard per carry average. There should be plenty of points in this game, and as much as I would love to see Mac Brown lose again, I just can't pick against Sam Howell in this one. He's a baller and he's going to have a big game. Heels win the shootout at home 43-33.

#2 Notre Dame at Boston College

     The Fightin' Irish knocked off top ranked Clemson last week but now have to regroup after their celebration to square off against the pesky BC Eagles on the road. Boston College nearly upset the Tigers before Notre Dame did, but couldn't hold their lead after halftime. They do have former Irish QB Phil Jurkovec leading their offense though, and he's been tremendous this season. He performs really well when under pressure in the pocket, standing in and making big throws. This has him with 2,083 yards and a 15 to 4 TD to INT ratio. The Eagles don't score much though, and that could be a problem if Notre Dame gets rolling. Star RB Kyren Williams has 10 TDs so far this season and averages nearly 6 yards per carry while QB Ian Book has more than 1,500 yards through the air with another 258 on the ground, scrambling at just the right moments to give opposing defenses head aches. The last time Notre Dame knocked off a #1 team they lost to Boston College the following week. I don't think that'll happen this time around and the Irish win 34-20.

#23 Northwestern at Purdue

     Two unbeaten BIG 10 West Teams clash as the Wildcats and Boilermakers look to find the inside track to the BIG 10 Championship with a win over the other. Both have looked strong early in the season, but Purdue got an extra week off after their game against Wisconsin was cancelled last week. Rondale Moore will be a game time decision yet again, but WR David Bell has been torching opponents for the Boilermakers in their first two games. He's got 243 yards and 4 TDs in just two games, but will be tested against a tough Northwestern secondary that ranks 24th against the pass and already has 8 interceptions on the year. The Boilermakers do have a monster of a RB with Zander Horvath though. The 6'3, 230 pounds Junior averages 5.4 yards per carry and does not go down easy. Northwestern's strength on defense is definitely at the Linebacker position, as Blake Gallagher, Paddy Fisher and Chris Bergin are numbers 1, 2 and 3 for tackles on the team. They'll look to put up a wall to set up Peyton Ramsey and the Wildcat offense. He'll need to play well and keep Purdue at arms length to win this one. Should be an interesting game, but I like the Wildcats on the road in a rugged 27-23 win. Northwestern has yet to give up any second half points this season!

Arkansas at #6 Florida

     One of the few SEC games to be played today features the Razorbacks and the Gators down in the swamp. This one is probably off the radar for most, but for Arkansas QB Feleipe Franks, this game has been circled on the calendar for a while. The ex-Gator is having a solid season thus far with 1,428 yards, 14 TDs and just 3 picks. His replacement has been on fire though, with 1,815 yards and 22 TDs with just 3 picks. Neither team has great defense, but Florida's has been improving and I like the Gators. Maybe a slow hangover after beating Georgia for the first time in three years, but they'll get the job done. Gators win this one 37-21.

#13 Wisconsin at Michigan

     The Badgers are finally a back in action after cancelling their previous two games, and they get to travel to a reeling Michigan team. The Wolverines have dropped their last two games after pounding Minnesota (who appears to be horrible) in the season opener. Joe Milton has not been extremely efficient in the passing game, but the Wolverines have plenty of talent to run the ball with. They'll be up against the Wisconsin defense though, and even though they've been off for a few weeks, they are always tough to move the ball on. This is a tough game to get a read on statistically, but motivation wise I give the edge to Wisconsin. Everyone is wondering if they're able to come back and I think Michigan might be down for the count on this season. We'll see how this shakes out, but I've got the Badgers 28-14.

Penn State at Nebraska

     Another battle of two teams with similar records takes place in the BIG 10, but in this one they're both looking for the first win of the season. The Nittany Lions roll into Lincoln with their worst start since 2001 while the Huskers look to avoid yet another 0-3 start under Scott Frost. Penn State comes in with a tattered defense that gives up 36.3 points per game. The Blackshirts aren't much better at 36.5 points per game, but their run defense has been fairly stout overall this season. The Nittany Lions have no rushing attack and have confirmation that their leading rusher from 2019, Journey Brown, won't be returning after medically retiring earlier this week. They do however have some dangerous receivers in Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington. The two of them have combined for 8 TDs on the season and look to feast on the spotty Husker secondary. The Blackshirts will need to get a lot of pressure on Sean Clifford in this one, and it can be done. He's already been sacked 13 times through three games. On the offensive side, Nebraska is still a mess. The Penn State defense hasn't played well this year, but they have talent. Defensive End Shaka Toney will look to pressure the QBs of the Huskers while Safety Lamont Wade holds down the secondary. The Huskers lack of a passing attack will continue to be their demise and if Wandale Robinson doesn't get many touches again you can chalk up a Husker loss already. I'm really trying to be positive here, but the inconsistencies of the Husker offense doesn't bode well for this game and I'm not sure things will be fixed by 11 AM. I do hope to see more of Luke McCaffrey as he's proven the QB1 spot fits him well. If Nebraska can jump out to a quick start in this game, they have a chance at pinning Penn State down quick. Unfortunately penalties and mistakes will continue to plague this team no matter what, and until a downfield passing attack is developed, there is no hope of winning a game like this. Penn State handles the Huskers and wins 27-14. Should be interesting seeing 4 QBs in one game for two teams.

Quick Hit Predictions:

#20 USC at Arizona - The Wildcats are playing in their first game and the Trojans are amped after their comeback. Kedon Slovis lights it up and the Trojans win 30-21.

Louisville at Virginia - Two bottom dwellers in the ACC, but an interesting game nonetheless. Both had a week off to prepare for this one, and it should be interesting as these teams have made it tight against tougher opponents. I like the Cards in this one, Javian Hawkins is just too much fun to watch. Louisville wins 38-36 on the road.

Colorado at Stanford - The Buffs won a shootout with UCLA last week, but Stanford poses a different task. It's hard to read these teams after just one game, but I like Stanford when they play on the Farm. They struggled to score points against Oregon, but the offense moved the ball. Stanford 31, Colorado 21.

Middle Tennessee at #16 Marshall - On the 50 year anniversary of the tragic plane crash that took the lives of so many Marshall football team members, The Heard plan to honor them with a special game. There's no way they lose this one and The Heard Thunder on. Marshall 34, Middle Tennessee 14.

#11 Oregon at Washington State - The Ducks handled business against Stanford and now travel to Wazzu. The Cougars aren't as much of an upset threat without the Pirate himself, but never underestimate the PAC-12 at night. Ducks 37, Coogs 24.

Thanks for reading my gameday predictions and I hope you all enjoy this incredible Saturday full of sports. We've got The Masters, a full slate of College Football and a Terence Crawford fight tonight. My predictions for the Masters are either Tiger Woods or John Rahm to win it all! Should be a good day and hopefully the Huskers can pull things together, GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 10(ish) Reflections

      Here we are yet again Husker fans, the pit of despair. Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but after another frustrating performance where the Huskers took themselves away from victory with numerous penalties, poor execution, tackling and a number of other issues, it's hard not to be very upset this week. This post will break down the Huskers' loss at Northwestern as well as my thoughts on some other big games and happenings from around the nation. Be sure to post or send me any questions you'd like me to answer. Otherwise just read on and keep your heads up Husker fans, maybe we'll have a new QB1 on Saturday! #TEAMLUKE

The Battle of the NUs once again came down to the wire as the Wildcats knocked away a fourth down attempt at the endzone by the Huskers with just a few seconds left. After looking at the stat sheet, you wonder how Nebraska lost 21-13 after out-gaining the Wildcats 442 to 317 on offense and picking off Peyton Ramsey twice in the first half. The Huskers also doubled the Wildcats on first downs (28 to 14) and won the time of possession battle by nearly 5 minutes. The inevitable second half collapse was highlighted by two redzone interceptions, poor tackling and dumb penalties. Nebraska falls to 0-2 for the second time under Scott Frost. My full breakdown of the game is below with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories.

GOOD - The Lukes and Husker defense. Luke McCaffrey needs to be QB1 moving forward for the Huskers. I have nothing against Adrian Martinez, and he's clearly a talented kid, but the Husker offense is different when McCaffrey takes the snaps. There's a new energy and as shown by the last two drives of the game, they can move the ball down the field with some consistency and rhythm. Obviously he has work to do and improvements to make before he's leading this team to victory on a regular basis, but I've seen enough to believe that Luke McCaffrey gives Nebraska the best chance to win.

The other Luke I'm giving kudos to is Linebacker Luke Reimer. In his first game of 2020 the sophomore standout recorded a team-high and career-high 10 total tackles with 7 solo, 1 sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. The linebacker unit got a big boost from Reimer and he's clearly going to be a playmaker for the Blackshirts. As for the rest of the unit, I'll give them kudos for playing a solid game. Tackling got sloppy late in the game, but for the most part they were quite stout and forced two first-half turnovers to help the struggling Husker offense in every which way. Once the offense gets things together, the Huskers can win games if the defense plays like this. I will warn that tackling needs to improve drastically or a number of players will be getting more targeting calls with the poor form and efforts I've seen on some of these hits.

EXPECTED - Dumb mistakes/penalties and offensive struggles. Once again the Husker offense was the best defense on the field as they continue to stall their own drives with penalties and negative plays. The Huskers had a number of false start penalties to start drives yet again, which could have been influenced by the change in center since Cam Jurgens did not make the trip due to injury. Regardless, it seems that negative plays on first downs is a staple of this Scott Frost offense as the Huskers had penalties on each of their first three drives and 4 out of their first 5. Nebraska finished the game with 9 penalties, 5 of which were on offense and 4 out of the 5 were false starts. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the key to victory for this Husker offense is consistency and rhythm, and right now there is none. The lack of a passing attack again proved to hinder their ability to move the ball as the Huskers completed just barely over 50% of their passes and didn't use some of their best weapons at all during the game. Marcus Flemming led the team in receiving while Wan'dale Robinson touched the ball just 4 times and the legend of Omar Manning proves to be just a legend thus far as he didn't even see a target despite all the hype around his return to the field. The rushing attack is decent, but Martinez still leads the way rather than Mills. It was good to see Mills get the bulk of the carries though. Regardless, running a QB draw every 3 plays is entirely too predictable, just as the RPOs have been leading to the low completion rates with tight coverage. Everyone knew this would be a battle against a rugged and experienced Wildcat defense, but for the Huskers to go just 3 for 6 in the redzone with two picks when it comes to scoring points of any kind is more than just a disappointment at this point. Mike Riley had won 16 games at this point compared to 9 for Frost. The blame needs to shift from one to the other for the rest of Husker Nation.

BAD - Play-calling. This is my biggest issue with the Husker offense, not only this season, but the entirety of the Scott Frost era in Nebraska. There have been a few games (or at least parts of games) where exceptions can be given, but for a man who learned from one of the best offensive-minded coaches in Chip Kelly and averaged 48.2 points per game with a UFC team that lead the nation in scoring back in 2017, the offensive production at Nebraska under his tenure is downright pathetic. Now I'm not expecting all of those numbers to translate seamlessly to the BIG 10, that's not going to happen. However, Nebraska has been going in the wrong direction in some key stat categories. Starting with points per game, the Huskers scored an average of 30 in 2018 (Frost's first season) compared to 28 in 2019 and just 15 points on average this year (granted this is only a 2 game sample). Switching gears to Redzone efficiency, this is probably the most telling stat. Nebraska ranked 26th in the nation by scoring points 88.6% of the time once they reached the redzone in 2018. This number fell off a cliff and then some in 2019 as the Huskers ranked 115th in the nation with a redzone scoring conversion rate of 74.5%. Through the two games of 2020 the Huskers sit at 66.7% scoring on just 6 out of 9 trips to the redzone. These issues are a combination of problems within the Husker offense, but there's no bigger issue than poor play calling in my opinion. I've mentioned time and time again how predictable Frost's offense has been as I'm able to call out plays while sitting on my couch. Play-calling also factors in not getting the ball to key playmakers. Through 2 games this year Wan'dale Robinson, arguably the best offensive weapon for Nebraska, has just 10 receptions for 81 yards. He's been given very little space to work in and they're not calling his number on many plays. A look back to Omar Manning, the star receiver recruit who was supposed to change this offense tenfold. He didn't receive a single target in the game against Northwestern. JD Spielman was drastically underused and under-appreciated during his time in the Frost offense. There are playmakers on this unit and Frost needs to show his $5 million dollar creativity and get them the ball. QB Draws and RPOs cannot be the focal point of the offense for a winning team.

Ultimately, this is a difficult season all around. The best we can hope for is improvement, but that hasn't quite happened yet in my opinion. I probably sound a bit negative in my reflections, but there have been some nice things to see, like a fairly stout run defense through two games, an improved kicking game and some young players starting to step up. As mentioned before, I have full respect for Martinez and what he's done for this team, but I think it's time Luke get's a shot at QB1 and they need to let him work out the kinks. The offense looks and feels better when he's in, so let's see it full send. GO BIG RED!

Quick hit thoughts from the rest of CFB:

- The return of MACtion was everything we could all hope for! Some close games, some blowouts and even a power outage to liven up our Wednesday night last week. We can only hope for more moving forward.

- If you haven't been paying attention to Heisman-hopeful Zach Wilson and the BYU Cougars, you should start. This team is red hot with an 8-0 record and one of the most dynamic offensive attacks in the nation. They're threatening for the CFB Playoff Wilson's 30 TDs on the season are a big reason why.

- Miami survives a scare from the Wolfpack as D'Eriq King continues to improve his draft stock with video game-like stats (and moves). Watch that man play football, it's fun.

- Another player to watch is Hoosier QB Michael Penix Jr. He's got Indiana off to a 3-0 start after knocking off Michigan for the first time since 1987. They could give the Buckeyes a pretty good game on November 21st in Columbus.

- Speaking of the Buckeyes, they're doing their thing, rolling teams. As odd as it may sound, their next two games (at Maryland and home for Indiana) may be the toughest part of their schedule. Both of those teams are red hot and looking for a big upset to shake up things in the BIG 10 East division. Definitely keep watch on these next two games for Ohio State.

- Rounding out the conversation of the three teams leading the BIG 10 East, Maryland has hit their stride with transfer QB Taulia Tagovailoa. He alone has accounted for 748 total yards and 8 TDs in their last two games and helped the Terps score 80 points in two weeks. They host the Buckeyes this Saturday in what could be a high scoring affair.

- Elsewhere in the BIG 10 Minnesota and Iowa both got their first wins by rolling Illinois and Michigan State respectively. Penn State and Michigan both had the works brought to them by Maryland and Indiana while Wisconsin is still looking to be healthy enough to play a game.

- Moving over to the Big XII, it's chaos as usual. The Pokes survive a scare in Manhattan while Texas and OU look to get back in the conference title picture. Iowa State is sneakily sticking around the top with just one conference loss and Kansas is just all kinds of bad.

- The big game of the week in the SEC was Florida and Georgia, but it wasn't much of a game. Just as I predicted the Georgia defense was torched all afternoon by the Gator passing attack as they dropped 38 points on the Bulldogs in the first half alone. They finished with a 44-24 victory and Kyle Trask had nearly 500 yards with 4 TDs. Gators all but clinch the East.

- I've said it before and I'm sticking with it. Cincy is damn good and they should get a shot at the CFB Playoff. This team can play ball and I don't care who their opponent is, it will be a good game.

- In addition to MACtion coming back, this past weekend also marked the return of the PAC-12. While a couple of games had to be cancelled due to covid-19, we had some fun with an early morning (9 AM Pacific Time Kick) comeback win for the USC Trojans against the Sun Devils. Oregon handled their rival Stanford at home and the rest of the conference did stuff but it doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things *shrugs*.

- Last but not least we look to South Bend for what was easily the game of the weekend. #1 Clemson falls to #4 Notre Dame as the Irish win 47-40 in a double OT thriller. Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei was incredible with 439 passing yards and 3 total TDs, but Ian Book and the Irish got the last laugh as they torched the Clemson defense for more than 500 yards. The Tigers did have some injuries to key players on that side of the ball, but I'll give ND some credit. They showed out and are making their case to get into the CFB Playoff. Unfortunately they'll likely have to face Clemson again in the ACC Championship and you never want to play a team twice in once year. Oh, and the fans at the game rushed the field to violate all sorts of social distancing guidelines, so hopefully there's not a coronavirus outbreak at Notre Dame (again), but I would be the least bit surprised.

Thanks for reading my Week 10(ish) reflections on the Husker game and all of the happenings of CFB from this past weekend. Stay safe and be sure to watch for my predictions post later this week.

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 10(ish) Predictions

 Good morning football fans and welcome to week 10(ish) of college football! Husker Football is back again this weekend (THANK GOD) and we have a great slate of games for predictions. Last week was a bit rough, so I'm hoping to bounce back today. There are a lot of games to predict, so I'll get right to it, read on and enjoy!

Week 9(ish) Record: 8 - 6

Overall Record: 18 - 10

#23 Michigan at #17 Indiana

     A spicy BIG 10 East match-up kicks off our Saturday as the Wolverines travel to Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers. Indiana has come out hot this season, upsetting Penn State in the opener and holding off a sneaky Rutgers team on the road. They now take on Michigan who's coming off a brutal loss to their "Little Brother" Michigan State. Jim Harbaugh is now 1-5 against Sparty and the Buckeyes. This is an important game for Harbaugh to cool off his seat while Indiana is looking to turn some more heads across the conference. I'm a big Hoosier fan this year, and I really like how Tom Allen has this defense smashing teams in the mouth. Michael Penix Jr. is a dangerous dual-threat QB which was a major problem for the Wolverines last week. However, Harbaugh usually bounces back quick after a loss and will be looking to prove a point in this one. This is a tricky game, but I can't bring myself to join the Harbaugh wagon again. Michigan may come out strong, but I refuse to back down on my Indiana dark horse pick and the Hoosiers squeak this one out 27-23.

Arizona State at #20 USC

     One of the first PAC-12 showdowns we get features the South Division favorite Trojans hosting the Sun Devils. There's not much to say about these games as we haven't seen them play yet and have very little information to go off of. However, USC's Sophomore star QB, Kedon Slovis, threw for over 3,500 yards with 30 TDs and just 9 picks last season. Arizona State's pass defense ranked 115th a year ago, so I think we can see where this is going. USC lights of the scoreboard with a great performance from Slovis for a 37-21 victory.

#8 Florida vs. #6 Georgia

     The Gators and Bulldogs meet in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party Rivalry with an inside track to the SEC East crown on the line. Georgia has won the last 3 meetings, including a 7 point victory last year. This year however, the Gators are lead by a red hot offense scoring 42 points per game on average. They could hit a wall with the Bulldog defense that gives up just 16.2 points per game. UGA did give up over 400 yards and 4 TDs through the air against Alabama a couple of weeks ago though, so Kyle Trask and star wideout Kyle Pitts will be salivating at this one. I think Trask is better than Mac Jones at Bama and I think Florida is better than Georgia. Gators chomp the Bulldogs 36-20.

#14 Oklahoma State at Kansas State

     Both the Pokes and the Wildcats were leading the Big XII Conference, and luckily they both lost last week so this game still gives the winner a leg up. Unfortunately, the loss by Oklahoma State to Texas likely knocks the Big XII out of Playoff contention. Nonetheless, this is an important game for an inside track on winning the conference and both teams have the talent to bounce back quick. K-State is a very balanced team that doesn't make mistakes often and loves to keep opposing QBs on the sidelines with long drives. Oklahoma State has a lot of speed though and Sophomore QB Spencer Sanders should bounce back quick after a rough showing against Texas. K-State also gives up nearly 275 yards through the air per game on average and the Pokes have a lot of talent on the edge. Oklahoma State 31, K-State 17.

Stanford at #12 Oregon

     Stanford and Oregon are the prime-time game for the PAC-12 and the always deliver in this rivalry. The Cardinal will look to knock off the Ducks once again as Oregon looks to jump into some Playoff consideration. The Ducks will have to replace star QB Justin Herbert while David Shaw and crew will be looking to bounce back from a uncharacteristic 4-win season from a year ago. Oregon will likely give the ball to Junior RB, CJ Verdell, who averaged 6.2 yards per carry a year ago. Ducks win 34-21.

#1 Clemson at #4 Notre Dame

     The game of the week is a top 4 match-up set to take place in South Bend, Indiana. The Fightin' Irish host the top ranked Tigers in a major ACC tilt with heavy Playoff implications. Clemson will again be without star QB Trevor Lawrence, so the massive freshman, DJ Uiagalelei will get his second start. He performed well against Boston College last week, throwing for 342 yards with 2 TDs and adding a third one on the ground. The defense of Clemson did not play very well last week however, and that won't end well if they have a similar performance against the Irish. Notre Dame hasn't impressed too much until the last couple weeks when they've blown out Pitt and Georgia Tech. Senior QB Ian Book has thrown for more than 1,200 yards with 7 TDs and just 1 pick while sophomore RB Kyren Williams averages 5.7 yards per carry out of the backfield. The Tiger defense will need to shut down the run and get pressure on Ian Book early in the game. On the other side, Notre Dame's defense is no slouch, but hasn't faced much offensive prowess yet this season. They will be up against one of the most dynamic and talented offenses in the nation with the Tigers in this one. Amari Rodgers on the edge is a coverage nightmare for any defense, and Travis Etienne is the best running back in the nation in my opinion. He can run and catch out of the backfield and has the breakaway speed to make a defense look like they're running in wet cement. My Uncle Joe isn't going to be happy about this, but Etienne and the Tigers will have a big night in this game and Clemson wins 31-21.

Nebraska at Northwestern

     The Huskers are back in action after an unexpected BYE week and travel to Chicago to square off against their BIG 10 West rival, Northwestern. The Battle of the NUs is one of my favorite rivalry series in the BIG 10 for the Huskers as it's always a great game. Northwestern is looking to continue their strong start to the season and take a commanding 3-0 conference record. The Wildcats are heavy on the run this year, but ex-Hoosier QB Peyton Rdamsey knows how to spin it, especially against the Huskers. Ramsey racked up more than 350 and 2 TDs through the air in Lincoln last year when playing with Indiana, and I think Pat Fitzgerald could look to take advantage of that early in this game. With the Husker secondary depleted due to targeting suspensions, I think Northwestern will come out throwing the ball early in the game a bit more than they have been previously. Nebraska will need to stop the run when it comes though, because the Wildcats won't shy too far away from pounding the rock. On the offensive side for the Huskers, rhythm and execution are the key components to victory. Adrian Martinez and the Husker offense will look to run early, but against Northwestern's stout defense they will have to develop a passing attack at some point. Star wideout recruit Omar Manning will be suited up for his first game as a Husker, and hopefully we'll be able to see at least 1 deep ball and maybe a couple passes longer than 7 yards throughout the game. My biggest issues with the Husker offense during Frost's tenure is the lack of downfield passing and the predictability of plays. Northwestern is not a team that makes many mistakes and they will come out and smash you in the mouth when you play them. The Wildcat defense is giving up just 70 rush yards on average after 2 games. Scott Frost says the Huskers are ready to turn a corner this week, but I need to see proof. I hope they prove me wrong in this one, but I'm taking the Wildcats in a 24-17 win. The team with the fewest penalties and last possession of the ball will likely win this game. Let's see it happen Huskers, I don't want to be right on this one!

Quick Hit Predictions:

West Virginia at #22 Texas - Both teams are coming of big wins against the top teams in the Big XII conference, and now square off against one another in Austin, TX. The Mountaineers are a a sneaky 4-2, and the winner of this game would have an inside track to fight back into the conference championship picture. I hate Texas, and I think WVU could make this interesting, but QB Sam Ehlinger is the difference maker in this game. Hook 'Em for a 35-28 victory.

Michigan State at Iowa - The Hawkeyes are looking to avoid a brutal 0-3 start as Mel Tucker and the Spartans look to continue momentum from their big win at the Big House. Two teams with traditionally stout defenses and bruising rushing attacks have been anything but this season. Iowa's offense has been atrocious with new QB Spencer Petras, and their running game is nonexistent. Michigan State is still figuring out who they are with Mel Tucker at the helm, but they have experience under center with Junior QB Rocky Lombardi, and I think that's the difference. Sparty beats the Hawkeyes 27-21.

Maryland at Penn State - The Nittany Lions have fallen out of the rankings after their 0-2 start but will look to bounce back against Maryland. The Terps have momentum after their comeback win against Minnesota last week, led by Tauila Tagovailoa. He's a very talented QB, but so is Sean Clifford. It's been a roughs start to the season, but with the help of star WR Jahan Dotson I think the Nittany Lions outplay the Terps and win this game 45-21. Look for DE Shaka Toney to have a big night.

#25 Liberty at Virginia Tech - The Flames are ranked #25 after their 6-0 start but this should be short-lived. They have not played much talent and the Hokies should take care of business in this one. Senior RB Khali Herbert will be the player to watch in this one as he leads the VT rushing attack with 803 yards and 6 TDs so far this year. Hokies 42, Flames 17.

South Alabama at #15 Coastal Carolina - If you haven't jumped on the Chanticleer Bandwagon with me yet, you better hurry up because seats are filling up fast. These fighting roosters were projected to finish last in the Sun Belt and near the very bottom of FPS as a whole to start the season. Now they're unbeaten and looking to make a crack at a big bowl game. Sophomore Jaguar QB Desmond Trotter is a dangerous dual-threat, but won't have much help against a defense that gives up just 305 yards and 18 points per game on average. Chanticleers win big 48-17.

Thank you for reading my Gameday predictions and hopefully we can celebrate a Husker victory later today! Enjoy your football Saturday and as always... GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando