Week 9 Predictions

     Hello football fans and welcome to another week of college football predictions from yours truly! We've got a very interesting set of Week 9 matchups to watch, including my Huskers trying to get back on track against the Boilermakers at home. There are some key games across the BIG 10 and a number of other potential upsets, so let's dive right into my predictions. Enjoy!

Week 8 Record: 11 - 2

Overall Record: 84 - 48

#6 Michigan at #8 Michigan State (Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy)

     We'll kick these predictions off with the game of the week up in East Lansing as the Wolverines take on the Spartans. Both are looking to stay undefeated as they head into the November gauntlet that involves Ohio State and Penn State. Michigan is known for falling short in these games, so all eyes will be on Jim Harbaugh not to screw this up. You can expect a lot of ground and pound from both teams in this game, as the Spartans rank 32nd in rush offense while Michigan ranks 5th. Kenneth Walker III for Sparty averages 6.6 yards per carry and leads a very balanced offense. Michigan is especially run-heavy this year, but with Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins who wouldn't be? This should be a very entertaining game to watch, but I'm leaning toward the Wolverines. I think they will make a couple more plays on defense with their speed. Plus it will be really fun to watch them go undefeated only to lose to Ohio State and not go to the BIG 10 Championship. Wolverines 31, Spartans 26.

#9 Iowa at Wisconsin (Battle for the Heartland Trophy)

     The BIG 10 slate continues as we have a clash for a bronze cow in the West Division. Iowa travels to Wisconsin after their BYE week, looking to get back on track after the beat down by Purdue a couple of weeks ago. Wisconsin handled Purdue last weekend, holding them to just 206 yards and 13 points with 5 turnovers. It's unlikely to see Iowa have that many issues turning the ball over, but this is almost certainly going to be a defensive slug match. The Badgers allow just 53 yards per game on the ground while the Hawkeyes allow 89. The worst part is that neither offense is very good, so it's hard to say who has the edge. I'll give this one to Wisconsin at home. They win the Cow 21-17.

Texas at #16 Baylor

     They Bears have stayed quiet in the Big XII despite their close loss to Oklahoma State, but are right in the mix as they inch toward the conference championship birth. They host the Longhorns today with the 19th best scoring defense waiting for them. Texas averages 41.6 points per game, ranking 9th, so this should be a fun battle to watch. Despite the numbers, offense usually reigns supreme in the Big XII, so expect a fast-paced, potential barn-burner in this one. Texas is going to feed Bijan Robinson, so the Bears have their work cut out for them. However, I'm giving them the edge since they're at home, and the Longhorn secondary is easy to pick apart. Baylor QB, Gerry Bohanon has thrown for over 1,500 yards with 12 TDs and just 1 pick so far this season. I think he'll have a big day and show that Baylor is a true contender in the conference this year. Sic 'Em as the Bears win 38-33.

#1 Georgia vs. Florida (The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party)

     Meeting up at their traditional neutral site in Jacksonville, the Dawgs and the Gators square off in an SEC East battle. Ultimately, this one doesn't mean much other than Florida could knock Georgia down a peg but still have a path to the CFB Playoffs. The Dawgs defense is unbelievable this year, giving up just 6.6 points per game. They've all but won the SEC East division and will be looking to give Florida some payback for last season's 44-28 smacking. Their offense is slowly improving, but the defense should handle things and force turnovers. Dawgs win 34-20.

Boston College at Syracuse

     A couple of middle-of-the-pack ACC teams square off as the Eagles and Orange meet in the dome. Statistically, these teams are fairly even, but the Eagles are on a three game skid. Syracuse has lost multiple close games, but finally beat Virginia Tech on the road last week. They're ground game with Sean Tucker will be the difference maker as he averages over 6 yards per carry and already has 10 TDs on the season. The Orange win this one 31-24.

#10 Ole Miss at #18 Auburn

     The Rebels and Tigers meet up in a game needed to keep pace with Alabama in the SEC West Division. This game will feature a talented QB battle between Matt Corral and Bo Nix. Auburn has a solid defense, but their offense lacks the weapons around Nix to make regular plays into big plays. Corral is practically the entire offense for Lane Kiffin. It should be a fun game to watch, but I'm going to give the nod to Auburn with their defense playing at home. Turnover are key in this game! Auburn 33, Ole Miss 31.

#12 Kentucky at Mississippi State

     The Cats are coming off their BYE week and having sit on their loss to Georgia for two weeks, I'm sure they're ready to play. They're taking on the Pirate and Mississippi State. The Bulldogs spoiled Texas A&M's season at the beginning of this month, but haven't done much otherwise this year. Kentucky should get back to their winning ways in this one, especially if they get the ball in the hands of Wan'dale Robinson. He's averaging 11.6 yards per catch and has 5 receiving TDs so far this season. Cats beat the Dogs 37-35.

#19 SMU at Houston

     Probably an under-the-radar game for most, but the Mustangs are 7-0 and the Cougars are 6-1. Both unbeaten in conference play so far this season and looking to keep pace with Cincy. Houston had to battle in an overtime win against ECU last week, but has a tough defense that gives up just 17.3 points per game. They'll be tested in this one though as SMU averages 42.7 points per game and loves to air it out with Junior QB Tanner Mordecai. He's thrown for 2,320 yards with a nation-leading 29 TDs and just 7 picks so far this season, torching teams for over 300 yards in 4 of their last 5 games. Houston's offense isn't quite as dynamic as it used to be, and Dana Holgorsen and crew could find it hard to keep pace later in this one. This is slated to be an even matchup, but I like SMU to pull away late. Mustangs win this one 38-28.

#20 Penn State at #5 Ohio State

     Up until their last couple games, the Nittany Lions looked like potential playoff contenders, let alone BIG 10 Championship contenders. However, falling short in Iowa City and a 9-overtime loss to Illinois following a BYE week is a good way to drop out of the conversation quickly. The buckeys have done nothing but win since losing at home to Oregon, but they're really only won against not-so-great (actually pretty bad) teams. They will finally be tested with a stout defense from Penn State. Luckily, they have practically a NFL roster for wide receivers and should be able to move the ball fairly well and put up points. Defensively, they will need to keep the pressure on Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson. Keeping the ball away from Dotson will keep the Nittany Lions' offensive series short and sweet, so C.J. Stround can toss it up and let Chris Olave go up and get it. Buckeyes win this one 34-17.

UCLA at Utah

     In a battle for the PAC-12 South Division, the Bruins look to claw their way back in while Utah looks to bounce back from their stumble against the Beavers. Both squads lost close games last week to the state of Oregon, but now need to rebound as Arizona State is looking at a fairly manageable schedule on their way to the PAC-12 Championship. UCLA's offense has been consistent all season, but the defense has really struggled to slow opponents down. Utah has not shown the defensive prowess we've come to know them for, but any Kyle Whittingham team at home is tough to beat. This should be a good one to watch late in the night. Utes win it 33-24.

Virginia at #25 BYU

     Bronco Mendenhall returns to Provo as the Cavaliers take on the Cougars. BYU has had a rough October after a hot start to the season, losing to Boise State and Baylor before rebounding last week with a 2-point win over Wazzu. Virginia has ben mowing through the lower ranks of the ACC and Junior QB Brennan Armstrong is a big reason why. Armstrong has 3,220 yards with 23 TDs and just 6 picks on the season. The Cougars rank 85th in pass defense, giving up nearly 240 yards per game on average, so I don't see this game going well. Cavs win it as Bronco Mendenhall wins a game on the other sideline in Provo 35-21.

Fresno State at #21 San Diego State

     A California rivalry ends our night as the Bulldogs travel to SDSU. The Aztecs are unbeaten and looking to keep Fresno State at bay with a victory and big step forward in position for the West division of the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs knocked off my dark horse team Nevada last week with a 2-point victory. This will be a very tough game and could easily go down to the wire, maybe even overtime. Both defenses give up fewer than 21 points per game, but offensively the Aztecs like to keep it on the ground while the Bulldogs air it out. Ex-Husker running back Greg Bell leads the charge for the Aztecs, averaging just under 5 yards per carry and has racked up 5 TDs on the season. Senior QB Jake Haener for Fresno State has thrown for more than 2,500 yards with 22 TDs and just 6 picks. This is a big game for SDSU if they want to keep their hopes of a potential New Year's Six bowl open (if Cincy happens to mess up). However, I like the upset here. Fresno State wins a close one on the road 26-24.

Purdue at Nebraska

     The Cornhuskers come out of their BYE week to host the 4-3 Boilermakers. Purdue is riding a roller coaster after knocking off #2 Iowa and then getting smashed by Wisconsin last week. Nebraska has been close in so many games, but completely fell apart against Minnesota, which was outright hideous. Neither team has a very consistent offense, but the defenses are stout. The blackshirts have been pushed around a bit since their hot start to the season, but this game provides a chance to right the ship. They will possibly face 3 different QBs and need to put multiple defenders around star wideout David Bell on every play. However, Scott Frost has only beaten Purdue once, and that was last season (they nearly came back). Martinez will need to play a complete game in this one, as Purdue give up just 16.3 points per game on average. Samori Toure needs to be involved early and often, as well as Austin Allen. I said after the last game that Nebraska would not win another game this season. I hope they prove me wrong, because I'm saying the Boilermakers will win this one 30-27. Probably because they have a kicker who can hit field goals.

Quick Hit Predictions:

North Carolina at #11 Notre Dame - The Tar Heels don't have enough weapons to help Sam Howell out. Notre Dame wins this, but it won't be very impressive on either side. 31-27 Irish.

#22 Iowa State at West Virginia - An easy trap game for the Cyclones to fall into, and they may for a bit. However, Matt Campbell wants to get them back in the Big XII Championship, so they're going to handle business on the road. Cyclones 33, Mountaineers 23.

Minnesota at Northwestern - Oddly enough, Minnesota sits alongside Iowa at the top of the BIG 10 West. With a very manageable schedule, they could win the division. The first step is not falling asleep at the wheel. Gophers beat Northwestern 31-17.

TCU at Kansas State - The Horned Frogs just cannot get things going this season, and Manhattan, Kansas is never a great place to play. Power-Cats win 28-24.

UTEP at Florida Atlantic - The Miners are 6-1 and looking to keep pace with UTSA in the C-USA West Division. However, N'Kosi Perry is putting up a lot of points with FAU and they win this one 44-23.

Thank you for reading my Week 9 Predictions and I hope you all have a fabulous football Saturday.

GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 8 Predictions

      Hello Football fans and welcome to Week 8 Predictions! I was so frustrated after watching the Huskers last week so I didn't write a post reflecting on the terribleness of the game. I'll give my quick GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD thoughts on the game below before my predictions, but we're all just going to move on and be happy they can't lose this week. Week 8 is a bit slow, but that's when some of the best upsets take place. Read on and enjoy!

GOOD - Austin Allen. THROW THE BALL TO YOUR 6'8 TIGHT END MORE!

EXPECTED - Defensive drop off. The Blackshirts have been carrying the team and keeping them in games all season long, it's going to fade at some point. Minnesota got a good push up front and kept it going.

BAD - Adrian Martinez and the offense. He's had a very good season thus far, but Minnesota was by far Adrian's worse performance of 2021. Completing just over 50% of his passes, Martinez missed a number of open targets. His protection wasn't great as the Gophers racked up a couple of sacks and five tackles for loss. The entire Husker offense just looked out of sorts and out of juice. They were stopped on the 1 inch line and had no rhythm all game. Also, Connor Culp should never attempt a kick again. He doesn't have it any more and there has to be another kicker on this team. HIRE A SPECIAL TEAMS COACH!

Week 7 Record: 11 - 7

Overall Record: 73 - 46

#16 Wake Forest at Army

     The Demon Deacons are looking to go to 7-0 as they travel to West Point to take on the Black Knights. Army hasn't been able to win in October yet this season, losing their last two games to Ball State and a close one to Wisconsin las week. They love to slow the game down and keep the ball away from opposing offenses with the triple option attack. They average more than 38 minutes per game for time of possession, so Wake Forest will need to make sure they score when they do have the ball, because it could only be a few times. With that being said, their offense is quite efficient, led by Sophomore QB Sam Hartman. He's thrown for 1,615 yards this season with 14 TDs and just 3 picks. Wake Forest has given up a lot of yards in recent weeks though, and struggle against the run. That's what Army does best and they've been so close to upsetting ranked teams. This should be a really fun one to watch. Wake edges it out 24-21.

Wisconsin at #25 Purdue

     The Boilermakers toppled Iowa out in Kinnick last week, but now return home with a shiny new number in front of their own name. Wisconsin is typically operating with those fancy numbers, but a rough season has taken theirs away, which means they're more than happy to take away those of other teams. This is a big test for Purdue as they need to backup their performance against Iowa. Wisconsin has the defense to slow things down, but their offense is terrible. The Boilermakers have a solid defense as well, so this could be a low scoring affair. The 3-QB system air raid worked very well last week and I think it will somehow work again. Boiler Up as Purdue fends off the Badgers 24-21.

#8 Oklahoma State at Iowa State

     The Pokes continue to be one of the worst teams for me to make predictions on. Year after year I can never seem to figure them out, but this year they just keep winning. They've been highly ranked before, and traveling to Ames, Iowa typically doesn't help them, especially during spooky season in late October. The Cyclones have not had the stellar season predicted at the beginning of the year, but are easily still in the Big XII mix with a win here today. Spooky season is never the time to travel as a top 10 team, especially to a place like Ames where the Cyclones are in need of a statement win. Upset alert in this one as Iowa State knocks off Oklahoma State 26-23.

#10 Oregon at UCLA

     The Ducks travel to UCLA to face off against former Oregon and current Bruin Head Coach, Chip Kelly. This should be a very fun game to watch as Oregon is looking to fight back toward the College Football Playoffs and UCLA is trying to get over the hump and back to the tops of the PAC-12 world. Both teams have a lot of offense, so I would expect some points in this one. However, I think the Ducks defense has more athletes and a bigger fish to fry with a run at the playoffs on the line. Ducks win it with some big plays on defense 38-34.

Clemson at #23 Pitt

     The Tigers have essentially fallen off the face of the earth with their 4-2 record, but Clemson still has a path to the ACC Championship, and they can knock off Pitt on the way. Clemson has a tough defense still, it's their offense that struggles. The Panthers rarely struggle on offense, as QB Kenny Pickett has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards with 21 TDs and just 1 pick. This would be a big step for Pitt to show they are a contender. Their defense will be able to come after the Clemson offense, and this could be the game that breaks Pickett out to the front of the Hesiman race. Panthers win a stunner 30-24.

Nevada at Fresno State

     The Wolfpack set up for a battle in the WAC that could decide who wins the West Division. Statistically this is one of the best matchups of the week and should feature an impressive QB battle. My guy Carson Strong has nearly 2,000 yards and 16TDs for the Wolfpack while Jake Haener has thrown for 2,326 yards and 20 TDs for the Bulldogs. Close games like this usually come down to turnovers and the Wolfpack rank 5th in the nation for turnover margin with +9 while the Bulldogs rank 83rd with -2. Nevada wins a big one on the road 34-24.

USC at #13 Notre Dame (Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh)

     The classic rivalry between the Trojans and Irish is renewed as USC travels to take on Notre Dame in South Bend. USC has been up and down this year with the firing of Clay Helton, but this would be a big statement win for the program. Notre Dame has struggled with their youth this year, and the bad loss to Cincy will likely keep them out of the playoffs. This is a rivalry though, and crazy things are always bound to happen. I think USC will try to come out hot, but Touchdown Jesus and the Irish should handle business at home. Notre Dame 35, USC 21.

Utah at Oregon State

     The Utes are on top of the PAC-12 South after a comeback win against Arizona State last week, but travel to Corvallis to take on the pesky Beavers of Oregon State. Those Beavers are actually tied atop the PAC-12 North division with the rival Ducks and will look to keep pace with a big win at home tonight. Neither team is gushing with talent in this one, but the coaching has been terrific and puts these teams in position to win games. One unique stat to watch in this game will be 3rd downs. The Beavers' defense doesn't stop many teams on third down, but Utah doesn't convert many. On the flip side, Oregon State ranks 5th in the nation with a 52% third down conversion rate while the Utes are in the middle of the pack when stopping teams. Whoever can win third down will win this game and I'm running with the Beavers. Something special is cooking in Corvallis! Oregon State 33, Utah 27.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Maryland at Minnesota - The Terps and Gophers meet in Minneapolis and this is an important game to watch as Minnesota is right in the mix to win the BIG 10 West Division. They should be able to run the ball well and handle the Terps. Minnesota wins 30-21.

BYU at Washington State - We have the battle of the Cougars in Pullman, but one team is without a head coach as Wazzu head coach Nick Rolovich was fired earlier this week for not getting his vaccine. BYU wins this on on the road 37-23.

LSU at #12 Ole Miss - The writing is written on the wall for Ed Orgeron at LSU. He will not be returning next season, and it could be very difficult to rally his players for the rest of the year. They'll put up a fight in the first couple weeks, but they will lose this week and fall off. A good battle for the Golden Boot Trophy, but Ole Miss takes this one 44-35.

#22 SDSU at Air Force - The defense of SDSU will win this game, but Air Force is no slouch. Aztecs 26, Falcons 17.

South Carolina at #17 Texas A&M - The Gamecocks are still looking to crack into the upper level of the SEC, but A&M has their fire back. This one gets ugly as the Aggies win 41-20.

I hope you enjoy my Week 8 Predictions, and enjoy the games!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 7 Predictions

      Happy Gameday Football fans, and welcome to CHAIR WEEK! There is a fabulous slate of games today and the Huskers and Gophers get to kick it off at 11 AM in the Battle for the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy. I've got all the breakdown and predictions for you, so read on and GO BIG RED!

Week 6 Record: 6 - 5

Overall Record: 62 - 39

UCF at #3 Cincinnati

     The Bearcats have a 23-game win streak at home on the line as they host the Golden Knights of UCF. Cincy nearly lost their undefeated season in this game a year ago down in Orlando. This one could be fairly lopsided at the end of the day, as I think Cincy is going to roll. This team is ready to compete at the top level and won't be stopped any time soon. Senior QB Desmond Ridder is having a Hesiman-caliber season with more than 1,300 passing yards and a 12:2 TD to INT ratio along with 3 more TDs on the ground. He is extremely efficient with the ball and has a lot of weapons to utilize. Running Back Jerome Ford is a very difficult to bring down, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. I think Cincy comes out an flexes their muscles today. Gus Malzahn will certainly have UCF's offense moving, but they won't be a match for that Bearcat defense. Cincy extends their streak to 24 games at home with a 35-20 victory.

#12 Oklahoma State at #25 Texas

     The Longhorns are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Sooners last week, and now they host the other Oklahoma team with the undefeated Pokes. Oklahoma State hasn't been flashy, but they've played very good defense to hold off their opponents. Texas has a much more dynamic offense though, especially when they give the ball to Bijan Robinson. The young stud at running back for the Horns has nearly 800 yards on the ground this season with 8 TDs. He's also a fantastic receiver out of the backfield and has been proven to be a useful outlet for Texas QB Casey Thompson, who by the way had 5 TDs against the Sooners. Oklahoma State has a lot of offense to slow down with Texas, and I'm not sure they have quite enough to keep up. They rank 8th in the Big XII in total offense, which means they probably can't keep up with Texas in this one. Hook 'Em as the Longhorns win in the battle of ugly orange teams. Texas 34, Oklahoma State 21.

Auburn at #17 Arkansas

     The Tigers travel to take on the Hogs after a beat down from Georgia at home last week. Arkansas couldn't quite complete a 2-point conversion for the victory over Ole Miss and lost 52-51. Auburn's defense will be challenged with Arkansas today, as the Hogs have been very dynamic on offense. Statistically these teams stack up fairly well, so I'm looking to the QB battle and who can take care of the ball. Bo Nix is a tremendous athlete, but does not have many weapons to spread the ball to. KJ Jefferson has quickly become one of college football's favorite players this season, and his rushing ability completely changes how you defend the Arkansas offense. Watch the QB battle in this one, they will make some plays. I'm going with the home team Hogs though. Arkansas wins 33-28.

#11 Kentucky at #1 Georgia

     The Wildcats are 6-0 for the first time in more than 70 years and the Dawgs are now ranked #1 in the nation. This game gives the winner a lead to the SEC Championship and the East Division Crown. Kentucky has a tremendous amount of weapons on offense, but the SEC's leading receiver is none other than ex-Husker Wan'dale Robinson. The Speedster has 527 yards and 4 TDs on the season and will be looking to find the crack in this unbelievable Georgia defense. The Dawgs give up just 5.5 points per game on average and barely over 200 yards. They have 22 sacks on the season, but the Wildcat pass rush is something to watch as well. If they can get pressure on the Georgia QB(s) then this game could get interesting. I still haven't been sold on Georgia's offense, but I think they make another statement today. Dawgs knock off the Wildcats 27-21.

Purdue at #2 Iowa

     The Boilermakers are on the hunt for an upset as they travel to Iowa City to take on the second ranked Hawkeyes. Iowa leads the nation in turnovers and their defense has been tremendous all season long. The offense is a different story however, but they still keep finding a way to win. Purdue comes in off of their BYE week, and has a stingy defense of their own. They've given up just an average of 15.4 points per game this season, but they don't get many turnovers. The Boilermakers have won 3 of the last 4 against the Hawkeyes, and while I don't feel like Iowa's offense warrants the #2 ranking, they make too few mistakes to lose this game. I'm always rooting against Iowa, but they'll win this game 28-20..

#19 BYU at Baylor

     The Cougars were upset at home by Boise State last week, but now have a chance to bounce back against a very good Baylor team. These future Big XII opponents could start an intriguing rivalry with the game today. The Bears offense is led by Gerry Bohanon at QB with more than 1,300 yards, 11 TDs and zero interceptions so far this season. He has a lot of weapons at his disposal, but the most underrated weapon of Baylor is their defense. They rank 16th in the nation for opponent third down conversion, allowing just 30.23% to be converted. The Cougars are in the middle of the pack in terms of converting third down, but the big question is on if they can protect Jaren Hall. The Sophomore has already missed a couple of games due to injury and his lack of rushing against Boise State quickly became an issue. Baylor is sneakily working toward that Big XII Championship and this is a game that helps boost their confidence for more conference games later this year. The Cougars will put up a fight, but I've got the Bears winning this battle. Sic 'Em 33-24.

TCU at #4 Oklahoma

     The Sooners have a new QB1 in Caleb Williams and it could quickly take this team to new heights. Spencer Rattler has struggled all season and after a horrendous start to the Texas game last week, Caleb Williams came in and led the comeback victory. He now faces a TCU squad that has really struggled to slow down opposing offenses. This is the perfect stage for a break out performance and to put the QB battle in the rear view. The Texas game was a good showing, but Oklahoma has the best shot to make the playoffs out of the Big XII other than their in-state rivals, the Pokes. To make matters worse for the Horned Frogs, QB Max Duggan and RB Zach Evans are both questionable with injuries. Oklahoma wins this one 40-24.

#22 NC State at Boston College

     The Wolfpack and BC square off to keep pace in the ACC Atlantic Division. NC State upset Clemson while the Eagles fell short, but this should be a great game to watch. Statistically, there are not many differences between these teams. The RB battle will be fun to watch as both teams get a big push on the line of scrimmage. This is certainly a tough prediction, but I like Boston College at home. Golden Eagles win a close one 26-24.

#18 Arizona State at Utah

     The Sun Devils could practically wrap up the PAC-12 South Division with a win in Salt Lake City tonight, but the Utes are never an easy team to beat. They lost a couple of tough ones to BYU and San Diego State, but still remain unbeaten in PAC-12 play. Cameron Rising has been playing very well at QB for the Utes, taking over the last couple games and racked up 4 total TDs against USC last week. The Sun Devils have a very tough defense though, and I like the style of football they're playing. I went against them once and won't be making that mistake again. Arizona State wins a big one on the road 31-30.

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

     IT'S CHAIR WEEK! The best trophy in sports is up for grabs as the Huskers travel to Minneapolis to take on the Golden Gophers. Nebraska is coming off yet another heartbreaker after losing to Michigan at home in the final minutes of the game last week. Minnesota is coming off their BYE week, but have lost their top two running backs for the season. Tanner Morgan has not been impressive and the Blackshirts should be able to handle the Gopher offense quite easily. On the other side of the ball, Nebraska needs to come out hot on offense. Minnesota has the 5th best rush defense in the nation, so it could be tricky for the Huskers to move between the tackles. Martinez needs to be a factor running out on the edges and the Huskers need to utilize their talent and speed on the sidelines with the passing attack. Road games are never great and the Huskers haven't won in Minneapolis since 2015, but I've got a good feeling today. Nebraska FINALLY takes back the chair and wins this one 38-21. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#21 Texas A&M at Missouri - Little bit of a hangover for the Aggies, but they win 33-21.

Pitt at Virginia Tech - The Hokies have a good defense, but not good enough to stop Kenny Pickett. Panthers win on the road 38-28.

#10 Michigan State at Indiana - Sparty needs more impressive BIG 10 wins and they can get one today if they get their ground game going. Indiana will put up a fight, but Sparty wins 24-17.

#5 Alabama at Mississippi State - You don't want to face Saban after a loss. The Pirate doesn't stand a chance and the Tide Roll 45-17.

#20 Florida at LSU - No shoe throw today, Gators chomp the Tigers 33-21.

#13 Ole Miss at Tennessee - A little Homecoming for Lane Kiffin won't slow him down, and the Rebels rack up the points in Rocky Top. Rebels 42-20.

Air Force at Boise State - The Broncos just had a big upset on BYU, but now they get a stingy defense with Air Force coming to the Smurf Turf. That won't matter, go Broncos as they win 34-17.

Hawai'i at Nevada - No upsets today for my Wolfpack, Carson Strong should have a big day. Nevada wins 44-28.

Thanks for reading my Gameday predictions and GO BIG RED! Time to get the Chair!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 6 Reflections

      Hello football friends! It's been a long week and I really did not want to write this reflection, but I must let my thoughts flow as we try to move forward from the heartbreaking Michigan loss. There are a number of other big happenings from across college football last week, so we'll cover those as well. Read them quick and let's move onto Minnesota. Here's my breakdown of Nebraska and Michigan.

     The Huskers had Memorial Stadium rocking with just a few minutes left in the game. Tied up at 29 and a potential game-winning drive set up to send the stadium in to absolute berserk mode. However, due to a very unfortunate late fumble, the Huskers found yet another way to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. There was questionable officiating throughout the game, and questionable play calling from the Husker offensive coaching staff, but Nebraska still had victory in their hands. This analysis uses my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories to break everything from Saturday night down.

GOOD - Stadium Atmosphere and offensive production. First and foremost, this game had one of the best Husker Football atmosphere's I've ever experienced. I was able to bring one of my best friends, John, to his first ever Husker game and it did not disappoint. A Mizzou grad, John stated the atmosphere in Memorial Stadium was nothing like he's experienced before and far exceeded his expectations. One factor of the game that exceeded my expectations was the 431 total yards of offense by the Huskers. There were a lot great plays by the Husker offense and the unit had a lot of success, especially in the second half. I appreciated the fight in the Husker offense, especially the O-line, which gave up just 1 sack and 4 tackles for loss against arguably the best defense they've faced this year. This was an impressive game with a handful of very well thought out play calls and a fantastic atmosphere.

EXPECTED - Defense bending, but not breaking. The Blackshirts were certainly challenged on Saturday as the Wolverines have one of the BIG 10's best offensive attacks. The two-headed rushing monster of Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins did not disappoint, racking up 212 yards and 3 TDs between them. The Husker defense gave up the most yards on the season thus far with 459 by Michigan. However, the Blackshirts also held the Wolverines to Field Goals 4 times. This was the highest point total given up by Nebraska this season as well, but I expected a tough challenge in this game and overall I think the Blackshirts faired well.

BAD - First half play calling, misuse of talent and officiating. I'll get the obvious one out of the way quickly, the officials had some very poor calls in that football game. My roommate is an official for high school games and NEVER blames the referees for impacting a game, but on Saturday night he felt that a number of their calls were not only wrong, but negatively impactful to the game. The defensive delay of game, the joint possession, not stopping Martinez with forward progress before the fumble (this one I'm pushing for more than I should be) and a horrendous PI at the end of the first half on a ball that was not catchable. However, regardless of the officiating, the Huskers had numerous opportunities to help themselves and did not. The first would be their opening offensive drive after forcing a Michigan punt. Nebraska marched right down the field and went for it on 4th and goal from inside the 5 yard line. This was the right decision, I am all for this move. The issue I have is the play call and poor use of talent. Multiple times on that drive, the Huskers ran Rahmir Johnson (5'10 185 lbs.) up the middle for little to no gain. They tried it on the goal line without success as well. So for 4th down, they ran the very predictable QB stretch out to the pylon with a Tight End lead blocking. Michigan was ready for it and had 3 defenders ready to stop that. The entire first half was a reflection of that drive and the play calls were very conservative. It opened up a bit in the second half, but the misuse of talent continued to run rampant. Samori Toure, arguably the best wide receiver on the team, didn't catch a pass until the second half. Jaquez Yant was benched for the last quarter and a half of the game for running the wrong way on one play. Worst of all, the best offensive weapon on the team, Adrian Martinez RUNNING, wasn't used other than a few short yardage design runs and a couple of scrambles. This is a recurring issue Frost and his coaching staff has shown and it's costing the Huskers too many opportunities on offense. When you're in the red zone, throw the ball to your 6'8 Tight End. When you need a short gain for a first down, give it to your 230 lbs. running back. When your special teams is playing well, DON'T SWITCH YOUR PUNTER! This was infuriating to watch throughout the game, especially as a coach myself. There's a big difference between the Huskers and my 7th graders, but the principles are the same. GET YOUR TALENTED PLAYERS THE BALL!

Quick Hit thoughts from around CFB:

- Big comeback win in the Red River Rivalry (Showdown) as Oklahoma beat Texas 55-48.

- Arkansas and Ole Miss had a barn burner down in the grove, but the Rebels prevailed as the Hogs missed a game-winning 2-point conversion.

- Boise State upset #10 BYU on the road 26-17.

- Iowa fended off a scare from the Nittany Lions and won at home with a late Field Goal.

- Notre Dame pulled one out of the fire against Virginia Tech, winning 32-29.

- Kentucky is 6-0 for the first time in over 70 years as they rolled LSU 42-21.

- Texas A&M did the impossible and knocked off Alabama 41-38. The Tide haven't lost a regular season game since 2019.

Thank you all for reading my reflections and get ready for my predictions this weekend!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 6 Predictions

      Good morning football fans and happy gameday! There is a fantastic run of games this week as we have multiple ranked matchups including one in the top 5. I've got all my key factors to victory for each team below, I hope you enjoy the predictions. I struggled last week as I went a bit upset crazy, but some of them certainly paid off.

Week 5 Record: 9 - 10

Overall Record: 56 - 34

#6 Oklahoma vs. #21 Texas (Red River Rivalry)

     Now called the Red River Showdown (lame), Texas and Oklahoma meet for the 117th time. Played in the Cotton Bowl, this rivalry game often comes down to the wire. This year's prediction is tricky as I honestly don't think either team is that amazing. The Sooners have been able to hold off upsets in their last few weeks while Texas bounced back after getting stomped by Arkansas, but hasn't played very talented teams. The key factor to watch in this game is the Sooner run defense vs. Bijan Robinson. The Longhorn's star running back has more than 650 yards on the ground with 7 TDs to go with it. He's averaging 6.2 yards per carry and is very tricky to bring down. Offensively for Oklahoma, they haven't looked great this season, but Texas is vulnerable to big plays, giving up 9 plays that have gone for 30+ yards so far this season. I can see some odd things happening in this game, but Oklahoma will likely prevail. They're very good at doing enough to avoid the upset, and I don't think the horns quite have it yet. Boomer Sooner as they win 30-24.

#13 Arkansas at #17 Ole Miss

     Both the Hogs and the Rebels were rolled last week by Georgia and Alabama respectfully. There were some upset calls last week, but it was clear pretty quickly that these teams weren't at that level. This is a very interesting matchup however as both offenses love to rack up yards and points. Both QBs are playing well, but Matt Corral has the edge with more than 1,200 yards and 10 TDs through the air. Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson is a threat on the ground though, racking up 162 yards and 2 TDs rushing just in the last two weeks. The Landsharks will have to slow down the run game early. Corral has revenge on his mind after throwing 6 interceptions in this game a year ago. Ole Miss wins at home 31-21.

#2 Georgia at #18 Auburn

     While I'm not completely sold on Georgia's offense, their defense made me eat my words pretty quick last week. The Dawgs are unbelievable on defense, giving up just 4.6 points per game and 177.8 yards per game on average. Auburn has bounced back since their loss in Happy Valley and Bo Nix has been playing well. Unfortunately none of that will matter when he's getting hit in the backfield nearly every time he drops back to pass. The o-line for the Tigers has been great this season, allowing just 3 sacks all year. But Georgia has 18 total. This is the big matchup of the game and I like the defense to win that battle. Auburn should put up more of a fight than Arkansas, but Georgia wins 24-10.

#4 Penn State at #3 Iowa

     Easily the biggest game of the day, and it takes place in Iowa City. Kinnick is never an easy place to win, but the Nittany Lions usually come out on top. They haven't lost in Iowa City since 2010, and are looking to make a big statement win today. The Hawkeyes are ranked #3 in the nation and it's all due to their dominating defense. They rank 1st in turnovers and points off turnovers in the nation. Their defense is very opportunistic, and overall the Hawkeyes just don't make mistakes. Their offense has not been very impressive this season, and this will certainly be their biggest test of the year. Running back Tyler Goodson should be a focal point of the offense, but QB Spencer Petras will need to make throws in order to win this game. This is where Penn State needs to be aggressive and apply pressure. This will be a true BIG 10 slug fest, and keeping the ball safe is crucial. I like Penn State with the edge though, I think their offense has a bit more juice than Iowa. Nittany Lions beat the Hawkeyes 23-19.

#14 Notre Dame at Virginia Tech

     The Irish were stifled at home last week against Cincy, especially up front, giving up 7 tackles for loss last week. On the road in Lane Stadium at night is not a good way to recover from a loss, especially with the Hokies playing great defense. Virginia Tech has 13 sacks on the year and I think they'll get a few more in this one. Notre Dame needs to try and establish the run to help Jack Coan. This one feels like an upset though, Hokies win 33-28.

LSU at #16 Kentucky

     The Bayou Bengals are reeling hard after losing at home to Auburn last week. Kentucky needs to hit them early and knock them out. Ex-Husker Wan'dale Robinson is always a big play threat and should be able to shred the LSU secondary, which is giving up nearly 250 pass yards per game on average. Then the Wildcats will look to ground and pound with RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. who is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. LSU's best chance for a victory on the road is discipline. They need to do the little things right like owning the line of scrimmage and giving their QB time to pass. I like the Wildcats in this one though, their defense make some very sneaky plays. Kentucky 34, LSU 21.

#1 Alabama at Texas A&M

     Early in the year this was looked at as the game that may decide the SEC West. Now it's more of a game on how badly A&M will lose. The Aggies have fallen off quick the last couple weeks, falling to Arkansas and Mississippi State. Unfortunately, they're playing Alabama, who has more offense than the Hogs and Bulldogs combined. A&M has struggled to find their own identity for offense, which means Bama will likely live in the backfield most of the game. This one could get ugly quickly. The Tide Roll 37-20.

#9 Michigan at Nebraska

     The Huskers host the Wolverines in prime time at Memorial Stadium. There's nothing more you can ask for than two of the historically best teams in all of CFB battling it out under the lights. The energy in Memorial Stadium last week was incredible and I know the buzz around campus this past week will lead to an even crazier atmosphere. This won't be a high-scoring affair for Nebraska like last week though. Michigan comes in with the 7th best scoring defense in the nation while the Huskers sit just behind them at 12th. Both offenses will be challenged, especially up front. For the Huskers, this will be the best defensive line they've faced all season. Michigan's defense is very fast to the edge and has one of the nation's best pass rushers in Aiden Hutchinson who has 5.5 sacks on the year. Establishing a run game outside of Adrian Martinez is crucial to victory. The other key factor to win this game is forcing Michigan to throw the ball. The Wolverine's run the ball more than 70% of the time, which is one of the highest marks in the nation. Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins are a dominating duo in the backfield, so the Blackshirts have their work cut out for them. If they can force Wolverine QB Cade McNamara to throw in third and long situations, they can slow down this offense and get the ball back to Adrian Martinez. This will be a hard hitting game and dumb mistakes will quickly lose this game. This is a big game for the Huskers to prove they're headed in the right direction and they'll have the full support of Memorial Stadium at night. Michigan has never won in Lincoln, and I'd like to keep it that way. Huskers win 24-21!

GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

West Virginia at Baylor - The Bears are coming off their first loss of the season while the Mountaineers have dropped back to back games to OU and TTU, losing by 3 each time. Oklahoma State was able to slow down Baylor's offense, but I think they bounce back at home as WVU loses another close one. Bears Sic 'Em 28-21.

Virginia at Louisville - The Cardinals nearly upset Wake Forrest on the road last week, but couldn't quite hang on for the victory. For Virginia, Brennan Armstrong has been slinging it, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards already this season to go with 14 TDs and just 4 picks. I think he's going to light up the Louisville secondary as the Cavaliers win 35-21.

Boise State at #10 BYU - The Broncos have had a brutally difficulty schedule this year and it's not getting any easier this week as they travel to 10th ranked BYU. The Cougars are proving everything didn't revolve around Zach Wilson as Sophomore Jaren Hall has stepped in well. The key player to watch is BYU running back Tyler Allgeier as he's averaging 5.6 yards per carry and has 7 TDs so far this season. Allgeier and the Cougars should steam roll this Broncos team that has struggled against the run. BYU 38, Boise State 20.

Thank you for reading all my Gameday predictions and I hope you have a fantastic Saturday!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 5 Reflections

      Hello football fans, I hope you're all having a great week! I personally am still riding high after the Huskers' dominating victory over Northwestern on Saturday night. This post will recap my thoughts and analysis on the game along with the other happenings around the nation. This was a great game to watch, so I hope you all enjoy my reflections.

     The Huskers steamrolled the Wildcats 56-7 in one of the best football performances I've seen in a very long time. I'm not quite sure where it all came from, but wow, Nebraska really came to play on Saturday. A near flawless game was put on as the Huskers went big on the first play and never looked back. Below, I have my regular GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories for my analysis.

GOOD: Everything? I was amazed by the performance of this team on Saturday. We knew the defense would be stout, but other than the blown coverage on a double move rote, Northwestern wasn't able to move the ball. The Wildcats totaled just 293 yards, but just 37 of those came on the ground. The blackshirts dominated the game and set up the offense with lots of opportunities for points. Unlike previous games, the Husker offense (most notably the offensive line) answered the call. Truck-sized running lanes were opened as the Husker backfield ran wild, racking up 427 yards on the ground. 127 of those belonged to Jaquez Yant as the big freshman ran wild. Zavier Betts got in the action early in the second half by taking the jet sweep 83 yards down the sideline for a TD. With this new found run game, Martinez had much less pressure when dropping back to pass, and finished the game with 202 yards and 1 TD through the air. The offensive line gave great protection and some of that was due to the new faces in the game. Freshman Tackle Teddy Prochazka started on the left side and really gave the unit a boost up front. The potential of this team is rising because of games like this. This team looked like a brand new group on Saturday, and I hope that trend continues. There was even an 84 yard punt by the Huskers!

The atmosphere in Memorial Stadium was incredible on Saturday night. The photos don't do it justice, but at the start of the 4th Quarter there was a fantastic Fire & Light show to Thunderstruck by ACDC and I need that every week. That's how you get hyped for the 4th quarter and I was a very big fan of the energy. Great job by the Husker Athletics team on creating such a fun atmosphere. I hope to see more of it against Michigan!

EXPECTED: In all honesty I didn't expect much of what happened in that game. The defense is a given, but the offensive game plan and production was phenomenal. I did expect some better play calls in this game, especially with the rebuilding defense of Northwestern. Nebraska has been building to a big offensive performance, but needed a bit more push from the o-line to open up the playbook. The run game was really well executed and opened up the play-action passes and deep routes the Husker offense was able to run and take advantage of. A fantastic performance not only by the players, but the coaches as well. I give props when I see it and it was nice to see a game plan executed well. Still a long way to go as the games only get harder from here on out.

BAD: The only thing bad about this game was that it didn't happen sooner. There's clearly a lot of talent on this team, and despite Northwestern not doing well this season, 56-7 is always impressive. I'll just remind everyone that it's still BAD that the Huskers don't have a special teams coach.

     This was a great win for the Huskers and hopefully will continue to build confidence in this team. However, Michigan is going to a much tougher mark than the rebuilding Wildcats. Lots of good things to take away from this game, but bigger challenges ahead. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit thoughts from around CFB:

- Georgia SMASHED Arkansas 37-0 and quickly ruined my reaching upset pick. I'm still not completely sold on the Dawgs' offense, but that was an impressive victory nonetheless.

- Bama rolled over Lane Kiffin and the Rebels

- Auburn won in Death Valley over LSU for the first time since 1999.

- Kentucky upset #10 Florida with a dominating defensive performance in the second half.

- Mississippi State upset the Aggies 26-22 in College Station, quickly knocking A&M down 0-2 in the SEC.

- Arizona State made a big statement by beating UCLA 42-23. They showed that I definitely should've stuck with my preseason prediction for them. Sun Devils looking good in the PAC-12 South.

- Hanging out on the West Coast, Stanford once again upsets Oregon as they come back to force overtime and knock off the #3 Ducks 31-24.

- Oregon State walked off with a game-winning field goal over the Huskies and is now 4-1 in the North. That rivalry game with the Ducks could decide who wins the North later this season.

- Florida State got their first win of the season, defeating Syracuse 33-30.

- Clemson narrowly avoided a second straight loss as they beat Boston College 19-13.

- Wake Forrest was able to remain unbeaten by edging out Louisville 37-34.

- Miami doinked a game-winning field goal against Virginia at home as the Cavaliers prevail.

- Pitt quickly proved me wrong by racking up 52 on the Yellow Jackets. Watch out for Kenny Pickett and this offense.

- Just 1 week removed from the big upset on Clemson, NC State had to hold off the Bulldogs of LA Tech, winning 34-27.

- I will take one of my two I TOLD YOU SO's right now with the Cincy Bearcats knocking off Notre Dame 24-13 right in front of Football Jesus.

- Oklahoma survives a late comeback from the PowerCats despite a 320 yard, 3 TD passing performance from K-State QB Skylar Thompson. Fun Fact, he had thrown 18 passes coming into this game and walked out with 59 attempts on the season.

- Oklahoma State also remains unbeaten as they knock off the Bears and start to set up an interesting BEDLAM matchup down the road.

- Texas beat TCU and is primed for the Red River Rivalry against the Sooners this weekend.

- Michigan started slow but eventually rolled a not-so-great looking Badger team.

- Penn State got their revenge on the Hoosiers by blanking them 24-0.

- Minnesota beat Purdue on the road by holding them scoreless in the second half. Still not sure what to make of either of these teams.

- Last but not least, I'll take my last I TOLD YOU SO as the Wolfpack of Nevada upset Boise State on the road 41-31.

Thank you for reading my Week 5 Reflections and get ready for more predictions on the way soon!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 5 Predictions

      Good morning football fans and happy GAMEDAY! This week features a lot of fun matchups with multiple in the top 15. There are some major CFB Playoff implication games and important ones for teams to get back into their conference race. I've got all my predictions below, so read on and enjoy October Football!

Week 4 Record: 11 - 7

Overall Record: 47 - 24

#8 Arkansas at #2 Georgia

     We kick off Week 5 with the biggest game of the week as the Razorbacks travel between the hedges to take on the Bulldogs. These unbeaten SEC foes square up for a big battle as the Hogs are red-hot on offense but UGA is an immovable force on defense. The spread favors Georgia by 17 points, but I'm not so sure this will be a three score game. Woo Pig Sooie has been rolling on offense, averaging 480 yards per game and 35 points. Georgia hasn't given up much of anything this year, but they also haven't played an offense this high-powered. This will truly be a challenge for Kriby Smart's defense, but that's not my key to the game. Georgia's offense is the primary factor in this one. They also have yet to be truly challenged other than the Clemson game to start the season, and they did nothing in that 10-3 victory as the defense's pick-six was the deciding factor. JT Daniels has been mediocre and that won't cut it against a Hogs defense that already has 10 sacks and 7 takeaways to their name. Stetson Bennet will actually get the start at QB for the dogs. I'm not completely sold on either teams validity yet, but I know this won't be a very high scoring game. I'll take the dawgs at home, but this one should be close. UGA 27-21.

#14 Michigan at Wisconsin

     The Badgers have fallen apart quickly this season, especially on offense. Sophomore QB Graham Mertz is struggling more and more each game, accounting for 6 interceptions so far this season. The run game hasn't quite developed since Jonathan Taylor's exit two seasons ago, and Wiscy is averaging just 19 points per game. Defensively they're still solid, but Michigan brings in a new kind of challenge with a two-headed rushing monster in Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins. The two have combined for nearly 800 yards on the ground and 13 TDs. The run game is helping with the confidence boost surging in Ann Arbor, but this will be their toughest test yet. Things are starting to spiral for the Badgers though, and I'm not sure they have a QB who can fix it. Michigan fends off the Badgers for a big road win 23-17.

#7 Cincinnati at #9 Notre Dame

     Our other top 10 matchup features the Bearcats against the Irish in South Bend. This will be a really unique game to watch as it's a big test for Cincy who's itching to make a big name for themselves, and the Irish need a resume building win to start playoff talks about them. Notre Dame's defense blew the Wisconsin game wide open last week with a pair of pick-sixes late in the game. Cincy doesn't turn the ball over nearly as much as the Badgers though, and Notre Dame has been flirting with a variety of upsets this season. Desmond Ridder is my key to this game as he can give the Irish defense headaches with the right game plan. Notre Dame has some injuries on offense, and with a young offensive line they could find a number of challenges in this game. Both teams are looking to make a big statement in this one, but I think the experience of Cincy will prevail and they get the big time win they've been looking for. Bearcats with the upset 31-28.

#12 Ole Miss at #1 Alabama

     The Rebels have been putting up some flashy numbers under second-year head coach Lane Kiffin. He'll be facing a familiar foe with Nick Saban, who Kiffin coached with from 2014 - 2017. Ole Miss is starting this season strong, but the Tide will certainly be their first test. Saban has them rolling like usual, but with a lot of youth there's bound to be a few close games. We know both teams can score, so turnovers will be a major factor in this one. The secondaries for both teams will be tested early and often with the high-powered air attacks. Nick Saban is a staggering 23-0 against former assistants, and that's not going to change today. The Tide Roll as Bama beats Ole Miss 37-21.

#3 Oregon at Stanford

     One of my favorite games every season is the PAC-12 battle of Oregon and Stanford. This rivalry in the Pacific Northwest often has a major impact on not only the conference championship, but also the ability of a team from this conference to send a team to the playoffs. Tanner McKee for the Cardinal has been playing very well, throwing for 863 yards and 8 TDs through 4 games. Unfortunately for Stanford, their defense has fallen off from the days of dominance in the Pacific Rim. Oregon's defense however has continued to improve year after year, and could end up being on of the best this season behind star defensive end Kayvon Thibideaux, who should be full-go up at the Farm. Stanford typically likes to play this game pretty tight, but I think Oregon runs away with this one. Ducks win their third straight over the Cardinal with a 38-17 victory.

#6 Oklahoma at Kansas State

     Coming off their first loss of the season, the Power Cats return home to take on the other Oklahoma boys. The Sooners were able to fend off West Virginia with a last second field goal, but K-State is known for upsets in Manhattan. Spencer Rattler has been very mediocre this morning and a number of OU fans have been calling for his backup to step in and run the show. We'll see how Rattler handles a Wildcat defense that will be looking to rebound after a subpar performance against the Pokes last Saturday. Offensively, K-State will look to ground and pound as they've attempted fewer than 80 passes all season. Deuce Vaughn is the feature back and he's averaging just over 5 yards per carry. The Sooners never travel well to Manhattan and are really struggling right now. Prime pickings for an upset as K-State gets a big win 33-21.

#10 Florida at Kentucky

     Both of these teams are looking to keep pace with Georgia in the SEC East, which means the loser is unlikely to win the East division at the fo the year. The Gators are likely the best challengers of the dogs, but Kentucky has a few tricks up their sleeve. One of their tricks is ex-Husker receiver Wan'dale Robinson. He's already caught more than 400 yards in passes, which has nearly surpassed each of his two season totals at Nebraska. It's nice (and very sad) to see a team properly utilize his skillset and give him the ball in good places to let his skillset go to work. This offense will certainly test the Gators, and Lexington is becoming a more difficult place to win. However, despite their growing pains, Florida is still putting up nearly 550 yards per game. Dan Mullen will have his team ready in this one, but it should be fun to watch. Florida 35, Kentucky 24.

#21 Baylor at #19 Oklahoma State

     A potential Big XII shoot-out takes place yet again in Stillwater as the Cowboys host the Bears this week. Both teams had big wins last week against other Big XII foes, and want to start separating themselves from the rest of the conference. Both defenses have been tough this year, but I think there will be plenty of points in this one. Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon has thrown for over 800 yards with 7 TDs this season and Spencer Sanders leads the Pokes. The run game is a key factor in this game as both run defenses will be up against talented backs who are not easy to bring down. Senior RBs Abram Smith (Baylor) and Jaylen Warren (OSU) are averaging 7.2 and 4.9 yards per carry respectively and will be a focal point of both offenses. This will tell us a lot about both teams, but I like Baylor on the road for this one. OSU proved me wrong last week, but I don't think they will this week, even though they are one of the teams that regularly cause me prediction headaches. Bears Sic 'em 35-31.

#22 Auburn at LSU

     The annual battle of the SEC West Tigers is set in Death Valley this year as Auburn travels to LSU. Neither team has looked very impressive yet this season, and there are a number of other teams in the conference starting to rise up the ranks. Both offenses have talent and can put up points. This game will be won on defense and who can get stops and cause turnovers. Tank Bigsby, the Auburn RB should be a focal point as they will look to ground and pound to keep the ball away from LSU. The home team Tigers have struggled to get teams off the field on third down and I think that will be the difference maker. Auburn allows just under 35% of third downs to be converted on defense and I think they will win this game in Death Valley for the first time in 1999. Upset in Death Valley! Auburn 28, LSU 21.

Arizona State at #20 UCLA

     This game could easily be the primary deciding factor in who wins the PAC-12 South. The Sun Devils travel to Pasadena to take on UCLA and I'm a bit conflicted. I've had UCLA as my dark horse to win the South and challenge Oregon. However, in my pre-season predictions I said Arizona State would win the South. Sun Devil QB Jayden Daniels is talented, but has been turnover prone, throwing 3 picks compared to just 2 TDs so far this season. For the Bruins, Dorian Thompson-Robinson has done very well, throwing for 9 TDs and just 1 pick. This should be a really good game to watch and could go either way. I'm going with my dark horse and taking UCLA. They've shown they can put up points and I think Arizona State's offense won't quite be able to keep up. Bruins beat the Sun Devils with an extra score late 34-21.

Northwestern at Nebraska

     Homecoming at Nebraska features one of the best matchups every year in the BIG 10. This game is almost always a nail-biter as the Wildcats and Huskers often end on big plays late in the game. Northwestern has really struggled this year, on both sides of the ball. Their defense is rebuilding from losing lot's of talent from last year's team. However, Pat Fitzgerald always has this team ready to play, especially in Lincoln. Offensively, they will look to run the ball with Sophomore RB Evan Hull who's averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Luckily, the Blackshirts don't give up much on the ground and have been dominant on the defensive side of the ball. I anticipate a low scoring affair, and it will likely be a one score game. The Husker offense still needs to establish a run game outside of Adrian Martinez, because if there's one strength of the Wildcat defense, it's their secondary. They will have tight coverage on the receivers, which will force Martinez to hold the ball longer. That leads to sacks because the o-line doesn't give much protection. The run game is a major factor in this game. Last but not least, Northwestern ranks in the top 5 of punt returns in the nation. They have had returns over 50 and 60 yards along with multiple over 20, 30 and 40. With the horrendous special teams unit for Nebraska, I can almost guarantee a score in that phase of the game by the Wildcats. Huskers hang on for the victory though, because I'm not picking against them on my Mom's Birthday/my 1/2 Birthday! Nebraska 24, Northwestern 17. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

Indiana at #4 Penn State - Revenge is on the mind for the Nittany Lions as the Hoosiers come into Happy Valley. Michael Penix Jr. has not been able to take care of the ball much this season, so unfortunately I think Penn State rolls in their revenge game. Nittany Lions 38, Hoosiers 21.

Nevada at Boise State - Yet another game I'm torn on as I had Nevada as a dark horse in the Mountain West to win it all and this is the matchup I have for the championship. The Wolfpack will need to keep pace with Fresno if they want a shot at the title and they're in the tougher division. This is almost a must-win game for them and I think Carson Strong gets it done. Wolfpack upset the Broncos at home 36-33.

Boston College at #25 Clemson - The Tigers have fallen quickly from the ranks of the top and now they host the red-hot Eagles in Death Valley. Clemson has really struggled to move the ball on offense, and I think BC will certainly put up points. However, the Tigers aren't losing two in a row and certainly not at home. They give BC their first loss 31-21.

Minnesota at Purdue - The Gophers are struggling this year and are becoming very hard to predict with. Purdue gets star wideout David Bell back and Minnesota's pass defense is their weakness. Boiler Up as they beat the Gophers 34-21.

Texas at TCU - The Horned Frogs have yet to play a Big XII game this season, but get to host a hot Longhorn offense for their first one. This one is likely going to be a shootout and that favors Texas. Hook 'Em as Texas beats TCU 42-31.

Texas Tech at West Virginia - The Red Raiders were quickly embarrassed by Texas last week while WVU lost to OU on a last second field goal. The Mountaineers should bounce back quicker and beat the Red Raiders 34-21.

Pitt and Georgia Tech - The Yellow Jackets nearly knocked off Clemson and completed blew out UNC. Pitt has been in a lot of tight games, but usually fends-off Georgia Tech. Not today! Georgia Tech gets the upset at home 30-28.

Mississippi State at #15 Texas A&M - The Aggies were ran over, around and through by the Hogs last week, and now they welcome in the high-flying offense of the Pirate, Mike Leach. Will Rodgers could have a very big night picking apart this defense, but I think the Aggie pass rush gets things back on track. Aggies 31, Bulldogs 21.

Thank you for reading my Gameday Predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando