Week 11 Predictions

     We've hit mid-November and these final weeks of the season have a lot of chaos awaiting teams. Welcome to Week 11 of College Football friends and thank you for your continued support as the Huskers push me closer and closer to the edge. I've had a long week thinking about the moves made by Husker Football following their loss to Illinois and will discuss those in my analysis. This post will recap Week 10 a bit but also give my predictions on the games this week. There are some sneaky matchups and this is the time of year that upsets happen more than ever. Let's get to it!

     Nebraska lost their fourth straight game at Illinois on Friday night last week 24-13, not looking very competitive throughout the entirety of the game rather than the 4th quarter. Once again, the Huskers out-gained their opponent by 50 yards and held the ball for nearly 4 more minutes than the Illini. Red zone scoring was an issue along with 2 missed field goals. Following the game, Nebraska fired Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen, moving play-calling duties to the Assistant OC/Quarterbacks Coach Glenn Thomas. I've got all my thoughts broken down below with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD analysis.

GOOD - Not much, but I'll say Jacory Barney Jr. The Husker wideout was one of the few bright spots on a dismal offensive performance last Friday night. He caught 6 passes for 93 yards and a surprise touchdown on a pass that most Husker fans thought would be picked. Barney emerged out of the coverage with the ball and scampered for a 51-yard touchdown on a terribly planned pass from Colandrea that somehow had two Husker receivers in the same spot along with three Illini defenders. Barney made a couple plays in the return game as well, dodging defenders for 54 yards of punt returns on 3 opportunities with a long of 26. Would love to utilize him as a weapon more in this offense, but he does struggle to get separation from defenders at times.

EXPECTED - Unprepared team & firing Dana Holgorsen. I had this game as an L from schedule release as this team never performs well on Friday night or on the road. Not sure if that's part of the Husker curse, but it's just never good football if you find Nebraska on a Friday night road game. With the OC firing, this is the "expected" move, but what does it fix? First off, Holgorsen is one of the few coaches on staff with extensive play-calling experience. If you look at the rest of your offensive coaching staff, you have the former OC who was demoted to TE coach for failing at this job, and a group of your RB, WR and OL coaches who have never called plays at a P4 level or at all. You land on the assistant OC/QBs coach who does have P4 play-calling experience a few years ago at Arizona State, but nowhere near the level of experience Dana Holgorsen has, so why are we expecting this to be better? In the press conference earlier this week he said Matt Rhule may be involved in the play-calling mid-game, which is a whole other disaster waiting to happen. I understand that a "change" needed to happen, and as a head coach with a spiraling team, firing the OC is the move you make to save yourself for a bit longer, but this is like putting a bandaid on a broken leg. The offense has issues, but a new coordinator will not magically fix this steam and we're also not getting a new OC until the offseason. Expected move, not the right one.

BAD - Vibes. Fans are over it, they're pretty much done with this team. I'm sure many of my fellow Huskers reading this felt that pit in their stomach that I did when they kicked off Friday night, knowing we were in for three hours of pitiful football. Watching the Huskers line up for a 4th & 1 with a 5-wide empty set and Jacory Barney Jr. running a negative drag route instead of staying at the first downline was almost soul-crushing. This team is poorly coached, they do not know how to finish game and frankly, they look worse than some of the G6 teams I've watched this season. No knock to the G6 schools, because I love every college football program team in the nation, but if you're a BIG 10 team with the resources that Nebraska has, you should never have an on-field product that looks like this. It's unacceptable when you continue to ask fans to give more to this team and nothing is changed or improved upon year after year. Penalties are still a major issue in year 4, basic route concepts look foreign to these receivers and simple coaching decisions like running the ball on 4th & 1 with a running back who is averaging 4.6 yards per carry in the game are ignored. Bad vibes all around with the Husker Football program. Is it beyond repair?

Week 10 Thoughts:

- Shockingly, the CFP Committee rankings are still completely unexplainable. ACC with little to no respect, SEC teams inflated by wins against very mediocre teams, BIG 10 teams falling because of bye weeks and for the love of God, will someone please rank New Mexico?! They are the best G6 team and deserve a shot.

- 24 team playoff is official and conference championships are gone. Expected result but the bigger question are why conferences exist at this point?

- Georgia is back on the track and speeding up, big statement by the Bulldogs on the road.

- Strong comeback from the Hurricanes, but a big win for the Irish.

- Holy War lived up to they hype. Both BYU and Utah are playoff caliber teams, Cougars just need to cut down on the mistakes.

- Bama & Tennessee roll, I wish there was a way to see which of them is better and should be ranked higher.

- Lane Kiffin and the Tigers have Texas, at Tennessee and Arkansas to finish. Playoff hopes are thin even with 3 straight wins.

- Oregon stomps Ohio State and both teams are going to be on the bubble for the Playoffs.

- UCLA is rolling, looking forward to their final three games.

- Texas Tech survives a shootout with West Virginia. Great game and QB Thomas Castellanos has given a much needed boost to the Red Raider offense.

- Michigan State wins their first BIG 10 game under Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan is in shambles. Couldn't happen to a better place.

Week 10 Results: 13 - 12

Overall Results: 152 - 99

Week 11 Predictions:

Duke at #7 Miami

     The Blue Devils kick off the day by traveling to Coral Gables to take on the Hurricanes. Miami is fresh off their first loss of the season, and against Notre Dame the offense really struggled until late in the game. Duke brings in the #11 total defense and #5 scoring defense, allowing just 13 points per game. Darian Mensah has plenty of people to throw to on the Miami sideline, but losing Malachi Toney is clearly a big issue for this offense. Mensah faces off against the team he ditched in the offseason for a bigger paycheck, so an upset from Duke would be a fabulous story. While I think they're very capable, Miami has enough talent to outlast the Blue Devils. Hoping for the upset, expecting the chalk. Miami wins 27-21.

 

#13 Wake Forest at SMU

     One of the best games of the day kicks off in Dallas as the Demon Deacons take on SMU. Kevin Jennings has yet to lose a home ACC game for the Ponies, but Wake Forest is looking for another shot at Miami in the ACC Championship. I had SMU picked to go back to the playoffs this season, meaning this is a must-win game. The Syracuse loss a couple of weeks ago really hurt SMU, but it may have woken them up as they dropped 51 on Virginia Tech last week, much more like what we expected from the offense this year. On the Wake Forest sideline, they're on pace for the best season in school history, led by the resurgence of Gio Lopez. The Demon Deacons average 43.3 points per game and have stomped everyone in their way. This one may be a bit closer, but the SMU defense has been proven to be vulnerable and Wake needs to make a statement to the committee. Give me the Deacs for a big time win against my favorite Ponies. Sorry SMU, but I like Wake Forest to win 33-28 on the road.

Northwestern at #20 Ohio State

     The Wildcats enter the Horseshoe, looking for their first win in Columbus since 1971. Chip Kelley will be without his starting quarterback again as Aidan Chiles is still battling an upper-body injury. The Wildcats struggled last week without Chiles, going 1 of 11 on third down. Ohio State was throttled by Oregon, exposing some serious flaws. Regardless, I think Ohio State has enough talent to mange this game. Buckeyes win at home 31-10.

#8 Tennessee at Texas A&M

     The Vols continue to impress and prove me wrong. My preseason prediction is in play if they lose out, but I don't think they're dropping 3 in a row with this defense. The offense still has major issues, but with a defense that owns a +6 turnover margin is always going to keep you in the game. Lucky for them, Aggieland is in disarray with Texas A&M sitting at 4-5. The Aggies could be going from a playoff appearance to missing a bowl game with Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas left on the schedule. Marcel Reed and the offense are abysmal and Reed loves to throw to players in opposite jersey colors. I don't trust Tennessee all the way still, but they should win here 30-17.

#22 Missouri at #1 Georgia

     Once again we're looking at an overhyped Missouri team who won't have many wins outside teams below .500 win percentage. Somehow they're ranked despite a comprable BIG 10 counterpart like Wisconsin with the same record and a win over ranked USC and similar losses to ranked programs like Notre Dame, UCLA and Iowa. Regardless, Georgia is on a warpath since their Auburn loss and I paid the price for picking against them last week. Won't make the same mistake twice. Bulldogs roll past the Tigers 45-3.

#18 USC at #9 Indiana

     Coming off a bye week Indiana has a lot to prove after falling 5 spots in the rankings. USC was one of my BIG 10 Playoff picks, they still have a path to the playoff, but this is a must win. The Trojans offense can put up big numbers with QB Jayden Maiava, but the Hoosier defense is not one to trifle with. Josh Hoover is available to play, but there is question on if he will start as he continues to battle injuries. USC will need to convert a lot of third downs in this game, luckily they rank 15th in the nation at just a shade under 50% conversion rate. USC always struggles on the road under Lincoln Riley, and Cignetti's defense at home is hard to go against. Give me the Hoosiers in a statement win to the CFP Committee 24-17.

Michigan at #16 Oregon

     The Wolverines are in grave danger of missing a bowl game in Kyle Whittingham's first season, and have to end their season with road trips to Oregon and Ohio State along with UCLA at home in between. The Ducks have had a resurgence after the road loss to Illinois, looking to potentially earn their way back into the playoffs with a path through the BIG 10 Championship. Dylan Raiola has woken up for 593 and 5 TDs over the past two games, giving a big boost to the Ducks' offense. Michigan's only solace this season has been their defense, holding teams to 16.2 points per game, but the offense is scoring just 19.6. There are a number of stories of team rifts coming from Ann Arbor, so give me Oregon to keep winning and get back in the playoff picture. Ducks 31, Wolverines 17.

FAU at Tulsa

     A couple of teams in the middle of the pack of the American square off with FAU and Tulsa. Much like North Texas and UTSA will be putting up points on the board, be careful not to blink for too long or you could miss a score. Both teams dropped 60 last week and the quarterbacks have been dealing. FAU's Caden Veltkamp has nearly 2,800 yards passing with 27 TDs and just 5 picks. Baylor Hayes of Tulsa has nearly 1,700 pass yards to his name with just 2 picks. This should be a fun one to watch but I'll go with the Golden Hurricanes at home. Tulsa wins 45-42.

#19 Ole Miss at Oklahoma

     Two teams who were unable to live up to the hype this season clash as the Sooners look to get bowl eligible and the Rebels want to rebound after a 35-point loss to Georgia. Oklahoma looked much better with the offensive coordinator change, putting up a 20-play drive that took up over 13 minutes on the Gators. They also had no turnovers, but Trinidad Chambliss presents other challenge for their defense. Oklahoma's defense has stepped up to the challenge for most every offense this year, and I think they can do it one more time. This game is moved to Sunday because of the FAA flight grounding, so we'll see what impact that has on the game. Oklahoma 27, Ole Miss 24.

Oregon State at #24 Boise State

     College Gameday is (finally) going back to visit a G6 campus and they will feature the Boise State Broncos hosting the Oregon State Beavers. Earlier this season this game looked to be the deciding factor in a PAC-12 team locking up the G6 Playoff bid, but with back-to-back losses out of their bye week, Oregon State is searching for a path back to winning ways. Their once potent offense has mustered just 22 and 21 points in the past two weeks, struggling with turnovers and third down conversions. Boise State survived a scare on the blue turf a couple weeks ago from Texas State, but poured it on against Colorado State. The Beavers need to strike quickly in this one to build a lead, but I'm not sure it will be enough. QB Braden Atkinson is out, giving Malik Murphy the start. Beaver WR Jessee Legree and Boise RB Dylan Riley are the players to watch. Lots of points in this game, but Boise comes out on top 45-38.

Florida at #11 Kentucky

     The Gators have fallen apart in recent weeks, scoring just 15 points over the past two weeks combined. Kentucky is coming off a tough loss on Rocky Top where their offense was held to just 6 points and they had 3 turnovers. The Wildcats have traditionally fallen quite short in this rivalry, but recently have found success with wins in 4 of the last 5. Florida's once potent offense has struggled, losing 4 of their last 5 on the season and seeing their run game fall apart. Jadan Baugh was running wild in the first half of the season, but since their big win against Ole Miss he has yet to crack 100 yards and has 3 touchdowns in the last 5 weeks compared to the 11 he had in the first 4 weeks. I think Kentucky's defense makes a stand and the Wildcats keep themselves in playoff conversations for another week. Kentucky beats Florida 34-31.

#2 Utah at #23 Arizona

     Fresh off a win in the Holy War, the Utes have a dangerous trip to Tucson, taking on the Wildcats. Arizona has fallen just short in their big games, their only two losses coming against Texas Tech and BYU. They have the challenge of facing all three of the top teams in the Big XII, but they seem to fall short. Offensively, the Quarterback battle in this game is sensational, Utah's Devon Dampier vs Arizona's Noah Fafita. Both of these players bring a different style to their respective offenses, but give opposing defenses headaches. Fafita will pick apart your secondary and is extremely accurate, ranking 3rd in the nation with 73% completion rate. He doesn't turn the ball over much, so Utah shouldn't count on 4 picks today, despite how good their secondary is. Utah's Devon Dampier is a dynamic rusher who averages nearly 5 yards per carry and has seven rushing TDs on the season thus far. Two of those rushing touchdowns came against BYU with 89 rushing yards, so Arizona's defense will have their hands full. The Wildcats struggle against dual-threat QBs, so give me Utah to stay unbeaten on the road, I think they know they what they have to do to win without a let down. Utes 36, Wildcats 24.

#6 Texas at #21 LSU

     The Longhorns travel to Death Valley as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Tigers. Lane Kiffin needs to get a win here to stay in any kind of consideration for the playoffs and not disappoint the fans in his first season. The Tigers have been a bit disjointed at times, especially in the redzone. Last week against Alabama they moved the ball plenty, racking up 457 yards of offense, but had just 13 points to show for it. Texas brings in a tremendous pass rush, but their defense has been vulnerable at times. LSU needs to score points in the redzone if they want to win this week. On the other side of the ball, look for the Tigers to cause havoc in the backfield. They rank 3rd in the nation with 36 sacks, so look for Arch Manning to be under pressure consistently. This is the path to victory for LSU, make him uncomfortable and get back to his mistakes. We know the Texas offense only has a couple quarters of where they put things together, and under the lights in Death Valley is not an easy place to make adjustments on the fly. We'll see if they can do it, because I'm picking them one more time, GEAUX TIGERS! LSU wins 31-28.

UNLV at New Mexico

     Despite lack of attention from the College Football Playoff Committee, New Mexico is one of the best teams in the nation and deserve a fair evaluation for the G6 bid. The Lobos don't have the most dynamic offense, but their top ranked defense allows just 240 yards per game and 10.9 points per game, both best in the nation. Jason Eck has this team extremely well prepared each week and they play with a physicality that is not matched across most of the nation. Their lone loss is on the road in Norman, Oklahoma, and if they hadn't lost their starting QB before the season began, that game may have been a win. Regardless, the Rebels of UNLV have a tough task here. They've lost 2 of their last 3, allowing 113 points in those three games. New Mexico's offense has an opportunity to put up points, but look for them to force a lot of turnovers to get this win. The Rebels are -1 and the Lobos lead the nation at +18. New Mexico continues to show why they are one of the most deserving playoff teams in the nation 27-17.

North Texas at UTSA

     If you like points, be sure to bet the over on North Texas and UTSA. Two high-powered offenses that are no strangers to barn burners this season. The Mean Green average 44.7 points per game while the Road Runners average 33. Both teams are 7-2, looking to stay atop the American. Tayven Jackson, UNT quarter back ranks 3rd in the nation for pass yards, and UTSA just allowed 563 yards and 60 points to FAU last week and North Texas beat FAU 48-41 just a couple of weeks ago. I love my Meep Meeps, but give me the Mean Green to win it 55-49.

#12 Texas Tech at #25 Oklahoma State

     The Red Raiders have a clear path to the playoffs, but it makes a stop in Stillwater for a high-scoring affair with the Pokes. Both teams have dynamic QBs that can make big plays to turn this game. Drew Mestemaker continues to impress with his arm talent, averaging nearly 330 yards per game and already throwing for 29 scores this season. Texas Tech's secondary ranks 136 out of 138 teams. The Big XII has a chance to get 3 teams in the playoffs, but mid-November is when chaos tends to happen. Give me the Pokes in a crazy shootout late night in Stillwater. Oklahoma State 48, Texas Tech 44.

Nebraska at Rutgers

     The Huskers landed ahead of the FAA flight grounding, so they're prepped and ready to square off against the Scarlet Knights for an early day kick. Nebraska fired OC Dana Holgorsen after falling to Illinois as part of a 4-game losing streak where the offense has not scored more than 14 points across those 4 games. Rutgers has been abysmal this season, but Greg Schiano is returning for next season and looking to build momentum. Nebraska is 7-0 all time against the Scarlet Knights, so hopefully they don't ruin that, but I, along with most Husker fans, won't hold our breath today. The Scarlet Knights rank 118th in rush defense, so if Nebraska wants to win this game they need to run the ball, which will subsequently make their fans MUCH happier. Over this 4 game losing streak, Anthony Colandrea (who is well known for his rushing ability), has thrown 163 pass attempts, averaging 40 per game. Any Husker fan you ask and they'll say that's far too many. Interim OC Glenn Thomas will be under a microscope with his play-calling, especially with what I discussed up above. Hand the ball to your backs and run it against the 118th rush defense in the nation. This defense is vulnerable, take advantage and just get bowl eligible. For the Blackshirts, they catch a huge break as the Rutgers' best player is out for the rest of the season. Wide Receiver KJ Duff had ankle surgery and will miss the remainder of the games this year. The Huskers have been torched by some talented wideouts this season, so hopefully this allows the Blackshirts to contain the Scarlet Knight offense a bit more. Watch out for RB Antwan Raymond, he's averaging 5.3 yards per carry. This is the best chance to get your 6th win for the season, so you need to do it Huskers. It won't fix things with a win over Rutgers, but fans will at least be happy in knowing we aren't at the bottom of the conference. Huskers 31, Rutgers 21.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Cincy at Iowa State - A complete toss up between two hard playing teams. Sophomore RB Aiden Flora is my difference maker, especially because Cincy has given up over 230 rush yards in 3 of the last 5 games. Cyclones run wild and are one step closer to a bowl bid. ISU 37, Cincy 31.

Baylor at #10 BYU - Baylor is 2-0 under interim HC Joe Klanderman, but BYU is coming off a tough loss in the Holy War where they gave it away with 4 picks. The Cougars offense was unable to be stopped outside of their own mistakes in that game, so give me a big bounce back for BYU 34-21.

Fresno State at Texas State - Rugged defense versus a high-powered offense. The Bobcats have had back-to-back offensive explosions on the road, and now get to host at home. Fresno may get some stops, but they don't have the offense to keep up. Texas State 38, Fresno State 21.

Washington at Michigan State - The Huskies fell short in their comeback attempt against Penn State and now have to travel to East Lansing against a confident Michigan State that just earned their first BIG 10 win under Pat Fitzgerald. This Spartan team plays tough despite being severely undermanned. Give me SPARTA(ns) for a win against Washington at home 20-14.

Louisville at North Carolina - The Cards have fallen off the map after an early season showcase with those back-to-back losses to Wake and NC State. However, they've won 4 straight since then and now travel to Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels are looking to get bowl eligible. They've lost a couple of close games, and are much more dangerous than folks give them. I like UNC at home over Louisville 36-33.

Minnesota at Penn State - The Gophers have fallen apart late in games the last couple weeks, unable to pull the upset on Indiana or UCLA. All signs point to Penn State after back-to-back wins, which is exactly why I'm picking Minnesota. PJ Fleck has a way of turning this team around at the right moment and I don't think Penn State has things running properly yet. Gophers 26, Nittany Lions 20.

     Thank you for reading my Week 11 Predictions and don't forget to tune into my show Inside Heart Football for all the breakdown of Football across the Heart of America Athletic Conference. We've reached the last week of the regular season and have some fantastic games to watch. Keep up to date with my weekly show and be sure to watch for Week 12 predictions on here next week.

#CFBKnowItAll🏈🧠

Alex Fernando

Week 10 Predictions

      November Football is upon us and this weekend is primed to be one of the best over the past few seasons. A phenomenal slate of games awaits us and my Huskers get to kick us off on Friday night. With the first CFP Rankings released, teams now know what kinds of statements they need to make in order to move up in the rankings. I'll give my thoughts on Nebraska's loss to Washington along with some things from around the nation, then run through the full weekend of games. Let's get into it!

     The Huskers did everything right for 3 and a half quarters for the third game in a row. Out gained Washington by 120 yards, held them to 33% conversion rate on third down and Nebraska was averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Of course, none of that mattered once an opportunity to win the game presented itself, and the Huskers got spooked on Halloween Night. First and goal at the 5 with a chance to go up 11 points and the Huskers turn that into a delay of game, two incomplete passes and a failed QB draw that lost 8 yards, setting up a missed field goal. Washington decided to end the game a different way, utilizing a 12 play, 81 yard drive that featured a 3rd and 15 scramble for a first down and a phenomenal 4th & 18 throw and catch, to take the lead late in the game. Nebraska wanted to twist the proverbial knife a bit more for their fans, so a 48-yard pick six sealed what Husker fans already knew to be a finished game. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD breakdown below, read along if you can stomach it.

GOOD - The Blackout atmosphere. Once again, Husker fans delivered. Memorial Stadium was rocking on Saturday night and with the Blackshirts logo on midfield, the scene was spectacular. Husker fans were ready to move past the previous two botched 4th quarters, and celebrate a special night in Lincoln. I've got some photos posted below and it was very fun to be part of.

EXPECTED - Great 3 quarters, basic strategy ignored and a 4th quarter collapse. As mentioned above, Nebraska owned every major statistic in this game apart from turnovers. Despite two drive killing picks early in the 1st quarter, they didn't do much damage to the Huskers. At halftime Nebraska had 93 rushing yards to Washington's 8, but ignored the run game in the second half. Jamal Rule was the leading rusher with 72 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry, but didn't touch the ball once in the 3rd quarter. When he finally got carries again in the 4th, he helped the Huskers to that 1st and goal at the 5, but instead of having a play ready for your back, the Huskers take a delay of game and were completely unprepared in the red zone. I'm not sure why it still hurts so much watching this team snatch defeat from the jaws of victory week after week when you know how it will end, but we will do it again and again, over and over. That's the Husker way.

BAD - Fans angry enough to throw trash on the field. I've been a Husker fan my whole life, my Mom raised me on Nebraska Football. Never in my life did the thought even cross my mind that the "Greatest Fans in College Football" would get to a breaking point of throwing trash on the field. I don't condone those actions in any way, shape or form (especially since one of my students had part of a beer dumped on her because of this while shooting photos on the sideline), but I understand the frustration level that got us here. The fans have given everything. The fans have continued with unwavering support for decades, simply asking for competent football at this point, not even worrying about championships. They want a program they can be proud of, especially with the extra money being asked of them to support it. The fact that we're at this point, the fans' breaking point, is bad. It's bad for the Huskers, it's bad for Matt Rhule and it's bad for College Football. I'm not sure Rhule can win them back, but we'll see what happens.

Week 9 Thoughts:

- Miami survives, but looks shaky.

- Gophers nearly pull the upset, Indiana looks unsteady as well. Also, back-to-back 60 field goals is nuts.

- Utah flexes, BYU manages. Utes looking the part while the Cougars need to step up.

- Arizona falls short in Lubbock, but what a day from Thomas Castellanos. Red Raiders still in the mix.

- Wake is a very good football team, no matter what the CFP ranks them.

- Sad SMU Ponies and sad Northwestern Wildcats. Raiola throws for 336 and 3 TDs, can Husker fans have anything nice?

- Texas State at Boise was the game of the day, absolutely wild.

- Oregon State fell flat out of the bye but what a win by Fresno State.

- USC stays alive and Ohio State has issues.

- Iowa State is one of the toughest playing teams in the nation. No reason they should be .500 but they may make a bowl. Well done Cyclones.

- CFP rankings favoring SEC teams is no surprise, but still annoying. PLEASE WATCH THE GAMES!

Week 9 Results: 17 - 10

Overall Results: 139 - 87

Week 10 Predictions:

Virginia Tech at SMU

     The Hokies and the Ponies have missed some opportunities this year and find themselves squaring off at 6-2. SMU is coming off a 3 point loss on the road to Syracuse as their run game and defense really struggled. Virginia Tech is off a bye, but riding a two game win streak. James Franklin certainly has VT on a much better path, but a win in Dallas won't be easy. Kevin Jennings has been picking apart opposing secondaries, and the Hokies rank 78th in pass defense, allowing 218 yards through the air per game. Jennings should put up more than that and I think SMU gets back on track with a 30-21 win.

#9 BYU at #3 Utah (Holy War - Battle for the Beehive Boot)

     A 10 AM local time kickoff for the Holy War as BYU travels North 45 minutes to Salt Lake City. This game features two dynamic, dual-threat quarterbacks who always seem to make the big play. Utah's Devon Dampier has 2,269 total yards and 23 total TDs on the season while BYU's Bear Bachmeier isn't far behind with 2,086 yards and 19 total TDs. The BYU defense has shown up in big spots, but have been leaky at times. Utah's defense does nothing but smother opponents, but don't be surprised if the BYU wideouts get free for a big play. I've enjoyed watching both these teams this year, and I think both have playoff caliber if they play at their best level. Toss up choice, but I picked BYU to be in the playoff in my preseason prediction, so give me the Cougars to win 23-21.

#7 Texas at #18 Missouri

     Texas has lost their star running back Hollywood Smothers to a torn MCL going into this game, and Arch Manning won't be the best Quarterback on the field. Mizzou's Austin Simmons out ranks Manning in every category, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards with 16 TDs and just 2 picks. He'll likely face a tremendous pass rush, so look for the Mizzou run game to set the pace. If they don't get going early, it could be along day. As much as I want the upset here, I know Mizzou doesn't win the big games. Hook 'Em with a road win 34-21.

#8 UCLA at Minnesota

     The Bruins aren't getting much respect from the CFP despite their unblemished record, but a conference road win gives them a great opportunity to make a statement. This is also an extremely dangerous spot as we start November, and teams always lose in November, especially on the road. Minnesota just fell short against Indiana last week, but made the College Gameday selection much more interesting than originally advertised. The Gophers were very up and down through October, defeating both Michigan and Iowa but also losing to Purdue in addition to Indiana. Quarterback Drake Lindsey is the engine of this offense, but they're typically slow moving. Up against a UCLA defense allowing just 13.4 points per game, things won't be easy in this one. Minnesota's defense will need to force some turnovers if they want a chance at pulling the upset. November is when ranked teams on the road tend to lose, but I'm sticking with UCLA and their power run game. Bruins 21, Gophers 17.

Texas A&M at #21 South Carolina

     The Gamecocks have new life in the back half of the season, riding a three game win streak since losing in overtime to Kentucky. LaNorris Sellers has some swagger back after throwing for 790 and 8 TDs over those 3 games. He does have 3 picks over those games, and that's really A&M's only chance to pull an upset. The Aggies don't have many takeaways on the season, sitting at a -1 turnover margin. Marcel Reed has really struggled this season, throwing 8 TDs and 8 picks. The Aggies offense will face a heavy pass rush from South Carolina and I don't think they'll keep up with their offense. Lots of points for the Gamecocks as they win 38-20.

#5 Alabama at #14 LSU

     Alabama travels to Death Valley and I can't remember the last time this matchup wasn't a night game. Regardless, the atmosphere will always be rocking in Baton Rouge, especially with CFP opportunities tied to this game. For some unknown reason (other than CFP Committee bias), Bama is ranked 5 with 2 losses. LSU is back at 14, but can jump back into the mix with a win over the Tide. Texas and Tennessee await the Tigers after this one, so still a lot of shuffling to do in the month of November. Alabama has a number of injuries across their team, ranking from star wideout to Ryan Coleman-Williams and defensive back Zabien Brown. They're missing a couple of linemen too, and if those players are unable to play, LSU has a big advantage to focus their attention on Keelon Russell. The Tigers rank 2nd in sacks with 34 on the year, so Bama's front will need to be ready for a heavy rush. Keelon Russell showed he can get flustered quickly with a pass rush against Tennessee where the Vols had 5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in their 16 point win. Offensively for LSU, I expect Lane Kiffin to have a big game plan for this one. Geaux Tigers 27-17.

#23 Oregon at #12 Ohio State

     Somehow we ended up with a ranked matchup for this game, but it's not the top 5 showdown we anticipated at the beginning of the season. Both the Ducks and the Buckeyes have 2 losses, and a third one here is likely to knock them out of the playoffs. Dylan Raiola stepped up last week for 336 yards and 3 TDs against Northwestern, but on the road in the Horseshoe is a different story. Ohio State is coming off a loss to USC where they out gained the Trojans, went nearly 50% on third down conversions and dominated time of possession, but just could not punch it into the endzone. The offense has sputtered a bit since losing Julian Sayin at quarterback, so all eyes are on Luke Fahey to see if he can step up and lead this team down the stretch. Defensively, both of these teams have talent, but tend to give up big plays. I'll trust the Buckeyes at home though to force a couple of turnovers, because they will likely blitz Raiola to rattle him. Ohio State 30, Oregon 21.

#6 Kentucky at #13 Tennessee

     A big time battle on Rocky Top as Tennessee goes dark mode with their black jerseys. The Vols have dominated this series, suffering just 3 losses since 1984. The Wildcats are looking to prove this season is something special, and keep themselves in the SEC and CFP races. Tennessee has proven me wrong a couple of times this season, but I'm still not sure I'm bought in on this team. Their only win against a team with a winning record is against Alabama (which was impressive), but they've struggled to move the ball against better teams. Kentucky's defense isn't their strength though, and if they give Tennessee a short field with a turnover or two it could get away from them quickly. Look for the Vols to put a lot of pressure on Kenny Minchey, meaning he'll need to be accurate and make quick decisions to get the ball out. He does well to protect it though, and there's something special about this Wildcat team. I say they pull the upset on Rocky Top. Kentucky 26, Tennessee 23.

#1 Miami at #11 Notre Dame

     The Irish host the #1 team in the nation as the Hurricanes come into South Bend. Notre Dame needs to win this game if they want a chance at the College Football Playoffs, especially with the committee ranking them at #11. Miami will be without star wide receiver Malachi Toney after he injured his ankle in practice on Wednesday and requires surgery, knocking him out for a few weeks. Notre Dame is very beaten up in the secondary, so this is a massive benefit for them and not having to cover Toney. Miami QB Darian Mensah has plenty of other weapons to utilize, but Notre Dame's run defense allows just 85 yards per game, so some other Hurricane receivers need to step up. Offensively for the Irish, Miami's defense has holes in it and they've allowed 93 points in the past 3 weeks. That's too many points, especially as the road team, so give me Notre Dame to put up some points and the Miami crumble begins. Let's shake things up in the rankings. Irish 31, Hurricanes 21.

#2 Georgia at #10 Ole Miss

     A CFP rematch from last year, Georgia visits the Grove to take on Ole Miss. Trinidad Chambliss torched the Bulldogs for 362 and 2 TDs through the air last year, and is looking to put up similar numbers in from of their home crowd. He'll have to carry more of a load in this one since running back Kewan Lacy is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder at Texas. Georgia flexed their defensive muscles against Florida, but offensively their struggles continue. Gunnar Stockton didn't throw much, but the ground game was cruising against Florida with 217 yards on the ground. If they can establish the run like Texas did against Ole Miss, they should win this game. However, we need to make ranking decisions hell for the committee and an Ole Miss upset would do just that. Give me the Rebels to beat the Bulldogs at home. I believe Ole Miss to be better than advertised and they get the win 34-27.

#19 Iowa at Northwestern

     The Hawkeyes go on the road to new Ryan Field as the Wildcats look to bounce back from their lost at Oregon. Northwestern gave up over 330 yards through the air to Dylan Raiola, but I don't think Hank Brown can put up those same numbers. Iowa's defense will be challenged a bit more if Aiden Chiles is able to go and Chip Kelley has things dialed up. Unfortunately it looks like Chiles won't be available. Perfect let down spot for the Hawkeyes after a big win against Wisconsin, and I want the upset so badly. That's exactly why Iowa will win and I've seen it too many times. This is one of those do-nothing Iowa games that they somehow win 23-17. Hoping for an upset, but I'll go with Iowa.

Michigan State at Michigan (Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy)

     Researchers are collecting urine from tailgaters at this game and honestly that might be the most interesting thing in this matchup. Both Michigan and Michigan State have been very unimpressive this season. The Spartans have lost 6 in a row and a majority of their roster is injured. Michigan just has bad vibes all around, especially after scraping by Rutgers. The Wolverines defense is solid though, and without so many playmakers unable to suit up, they should win this one. Ugly game, Wolverines win 23-10.

Air Force at Army (Battle for the Commander in Chief Trophy)

     Air Force and Army meet in West Point as two of the service academies collide. Both teams lean heavily on the run game, ranking 1st and 2nd in the nation with Army on top. It's true American Football with the triple option attack. Falcons QB Liam Szarka was lost for the season about a month ago due to injury, and although they've done well to keep winning without him, but a road game to Army is not easy. The Black Knights were torched through the air by Memphis, but despite their name Air Force doesn't throw it all that much. I'll go with the home team here, but it should be tight. Army 30, Air Force 24.

Oklahoma at #24 Florida

     The Sooners fired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle after the offense ranks 109th in points per game with 21.9. The Gators were stomped on by Georgia, and the Sooner defense is no slouch, so this could be an ugly game to watch. I don't expect Oklahoma's offense to suddenly wake up though, especially in the Swamp. Give me the Gators at home with a bit more scoring than the Sooners, which shouldn't be too difficult to do. Florida 26, Oklahoma 21.

West Virginia at #15 Texas Tech

     The Mountaineers travel to Lubbock to pit their 5th ranked run defense against the Red Raiders under the lights. WVU Quarterback Michael Hawkins Junior has been sensational all year, accounting for 2,434 total yards and 27 TDs all by himself this season. He's joined by Cam Cook who is currently 9th in the nation with 923 yards on the ground. Texas Tech found some new offensive life with Tommy Castellanos last week, and their defense stepped up big to stop Arizona at critical points in the game. I think they'll fend off the Mountaineers in this one and win 38-21. Guns Up, Wreck 'Em!

Texas State at Oregon State

     The Beavers flopped in Fresno last week while the Bobcats gave all they had against the Broncos and fell short by just 1 point. I expect the Oregon State offense to wake up here, meaning if you like points you'll want to keep an eye on this one. This could be a late night barn burner in Corvallis. Bobcat running back Torrence Burgess Jr. is a name to watch in this one as he's had two games already this season over 200 rushing yards. Oregon State's rush defense ranks 74th in the nation and they gave up 190 to Fresno State last week. Back-to-back tough road games for the Bobcats, but they'll hold their own to keep it close. Give me the Beavers to win it though, 38-31.

Nebraska at Illinois

     The Huskers highlight a Friday night slate with a road trip to Illinois. The Illini have dominated this series as of late, winning 4 of the last 5. Quarterback Katin Houser has adapted well to the BIG 10, thrown for 1,663 yards with 13 TDs & 5 picks so far this season. The Blackshirts have done well this season to hold opposing offenses to low points and yardage, but will the Husker offense be able to help them out? The Illini rank 79th in total defense, so if Nebraska can't put together some points in this game it could be a long night. Jamal Rule would be a good man to feed in this game, hopefully opening the run game and allowing some play-action opportunities for the Huskers. This offense has to score consistently for any shot at victory, at least 1 score per quarter. Illinois doesn't have a lot of firepower, but I know this team will botch things yet again. Illinois wins 24-17 unless the Huskers can prove me wrong. I'll be hoping!

Quick Hit Predictions:

South Florida at ECU - Both teams have a couple of close losses in the American this season, so we should have a great one between the Bulls and the Pirates. ECU has a tough defense and that's hard to beat at home. I say the Pirates win 30-27.

TCU at #22 Arizona - Noah Fafita couldn't crack the Texas Tech defense in the second half, but should manage against TCU. Wildcats 28, TCU 17.

Iowa State at Baylor - Baylor woke up with Interim HC Joel Klanderman taking over, dropping 41 on my pal Scott Frost. The Cyclones have not quit though and Baylor is vulnerable. Playing at home i think they get the job done 31-21.

Clemson at Syracuse - Very quietly the 'Cuse are piling up upsets and knocking teams down a notch. Dabo Swineey doesn't have many notches left, and I like Syracuse QB Steve Angeli to make some magic happen. Syracuse Orange 24, Clemson Tigers 17.

Arkansas at Auburn - The Hogs would love a win here as Ryan Silverfield slowly works to build the culture. Auburn has been hot and cold this season, but playing at home gives them a big advantage. War Eagle with the Tigers beating the Hogs 33-24.

Oklahoma State at Kansas State - Both teams need a bounce back from a game they likely should've won. K-State is very off kilter this season though, and I like Drew Mestemaker to keep slinging it across the yard. Pokes win 38-28.

Cincy at #17 Houston - Cougars trying to keeping pace in the Big XII, need a win here 34-17. Look for Connor Weigman to have a big day.

Penn State at Washington - The Nittany Lions travel west to take on the dubs in Seattle. Having watched the Huskies in person last week, I don't think they should win this game. However, knowing Penn State, they will absolutely lose this game. Give me Demond Williams to have another big day, this time for a full 4 quarters and Washington win 23-21.

Thanks for reading my Week 10 Predictions and be sure to check out Week 10 of Inside Heart Football, your best source for all things football around the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Lots of big games this weekend including a battle for the North Division Crown between Grandview and St. Ambrose. Enjoy your weekend full of college football and GO BIG RED!

Nebraska Blackshirts logo drone light show.

Nebraska Hesiman numbers drone light show.

Husker fans blackout Memorial Stadium.

Fire twirlers performing on the sidelines.

#CFBKnowItAll🏈🧠

Alex Fernando

Week 9 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 9 of College Football friends and with a full day of games on Halloween, you know we've got some upsets on the way. It's spooky season, especially for top ranked teams as we've had a top 2 team lose in 3 consecutive weeks. This post will highlight all of the big games to watch this weekend along with my analysis and prediction. Thanks for reading along each week and be sure to share with another football friend. Let's see what Halloween Football brings!

Week 8 Thoughts:

- This season is impossible to predict and impossible to know who is really a dominant team. I LOVE IT!

- Scott Frost and UCF upset #2 BYU which means he got a ranked with at UCF before Matt Rhule at Nebraska. Somehow we lost the bye week.

- Bad year to be a top ranked team, lots of parity across the sport.

- Statement wins by Texas & Utah, both teams proved me wrong but are still flawed.

- New Mexico building toward a CFP appearance, don't sleep on the Lobos!

- Big XII race is wide open, don't be surprised if Arizona steps into the spotlight.

- Not sure how Minnesota flipped the script and had the Hawkeyes making mistakes, but I'm all for it. Gophers are holding the Floyd of Rosedale, Paul Bunyan's Axe and the Little Brown Jug (also the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy unfortunately) all at the same time for the first time since 1978. Impressive!

- Classic Lincoln Riley and USC. Had a road to the playoffs in front of them and turned left off a cliff.

- Baylor's Dave Aranda, NC State's Dave Doeren and Sam Houston's Phil Longo join Mike Locksley on the mid-season fired coaches list.

Week 8 Record: 10 - 12

Overall Record: 122 - 77

Week 9 Predictions:

#22 Arizona at #13 Texas Tech

     The Wildcats are out to prove they're a legitimate threat in the Big XII, so knocking off the reigning conference champs would be a good way to show it. Texas Tech is coming off a beatdown at Cincy last week, allowing 427 total yards including 255 on the ground. They were pushed around and the offense couldn't move anywhere. Now they come home to face a dangerous Arizona team with a veteran quarterback and stout defense. Starting with Noah Fafita, the Senior QB is one of the best in the nation at picking apart defenses. He currently owns the 8th best quarterback rating in the nation and is extremely careful with the ball, throwing just 4 picks so far this year. Texas Tech has not been getting the amount of pressure they did last year, and Fafita will pick you apart with 74.2% completion rating, good enough for #2 nationally. On the other side of the ball, Texas Tech can move between the 20s, but scoring in the red zone has become a serious problem. Combine the Red Raiders' 89th ranked red zone offense against Arizona's 5th ranked red zone defense and you've got an upset brewing. I like Arizona to make a statement here, 31-20 Wildcats win.

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

     A bronze bull is on the line as Wisconsin and Iowa meet for the 100th time. It's been a tight series with Wisconsin holding the edge 49-48-2, but Iowa has won the last 4 meetings. This year's matchup looks to be much more like the classic BIG 10 West battles from the mid 2010s, so I would look at taking the under. Both defenses have been extremely tough this year, currently sitting at 13 and 14 in the nation for total defense with Wisconsin ahead again. The offenses are a different story, averaging 28 and 27 points per game with Iowa leading that category. The Hawkeyes are reinserting Hank Brown in to the QB1 role after a disastrous performance last week against Minnesota from Jeremy Hecklinski, featuring 4 Iowa turnovers. Wisconsin looked like the Badgers of old against USC last week, but something about Iowa at home just gives me the creeps. Would love to see Wisconsin beat Iowa, but that also gives Luke Fickell an Iowa win before Matt Rhule which doesn't help me much either. I say the Hawkeyes bounce back, but it will have to be with defense or special teams as they also lost their star running back Kamari Moulton for the rest of the season. Hawkeyes 20, Badgers 14.

Boston College at Duke

     While neither one of these teams will likely be winning the ACC this year, both teams have proven to be frisky when looking for upsets. They're pinned against each other for this week, and while I thought Duke was a dark horse in the conference just a few weeks ago, they've quickly proven me wrong by losing back to back games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina. The Eagles of Boston College have been much better than anticipated this year, leaning on Junior QB Mason Mckenzie. He's thrown for over 1,300 yards with 8 TDs, but does have 7 picks. He's also the leading rusher with 614 yards and 5 more TDs. We'll see if he can keep pace with Duke running back Nate Sheppard's 875 yards and 9 TDs in this one. I've picked Duke a few times and they've let me down this year, I'll take them one more time at home, but will not be surprised with a BC upset. Blue Devils beat the Eagles 27-21.

Auburn at #12 Ole Miss

     The Rebels couldn't quite complete the comeback against Texas, but this offense proved it won't stay down for long. Auburn's defense has been hot and cold this season, especially after giving up over 550 yards to LSU last week. Byrum Brown continues to be difficult to tackle, but so is Trinidad Cambliss and I think he'll have the Rebels' offense moving. Ole Miss 34, Auburn 21.

#17 Florida vs #3 Georgia (World's Largest *Indoor Cocktail Party)

     The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party has been moved indoors to Atlanta while the Jaguars stadium in Jacksonville is under renovations. Georgia gets a bit more home field advantage with this game being played at the Mercedes Benz Dome, but Florida has already taken down a couple of other top teams this season. The Dawgs have been sitting on the Auburn loss for two weeks though, and I think they're going to come out with an edge. Florida still doesn't have the defense to keep an opponent like Georgia down, but the Gators may find a way to put some points up on their own. Georgia flexes 38-20 in the win.

Minnesota at #4 Indiana

     The Gophers head to Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers with college Gameday in attendance. Neither offense looked great last week, but the defenses were solid. I wouldn't expect a lof of fireworks in this one, but it will be a hard-nosed BIG 10 game. The Hoosiers defense is suffocating, allowing just 12 points per game, ranking 2nd in the nation. Minnesota QB Drake Lindsey is what drives this offense, and so his protection is key. Minnesota has allowed just 7 sacks all season, but the Hoosier pass rush is next level. Indiana's offense has struggled as of late, especially with QB Josh Hoover banged up. If Minnesota mucks this one up, PJ Fleck could be primed for quite the upset. However, I don't think they'll be able to move against Indiana's brick wall of a defense. Gophers cover but don't win 27-14.

#20 Northwestern at Oregon

     One of our ranked teams on the road this weekend sets the stage for an interesting game. Oregon's championship hopes are completely crushed after getting worked by Illinois, and QB Dante Moore has shut it down for the year. The Ducks are left with Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas, which doesn't seem to be getting them far. Both teams will look to run the ball, and former Oregon head Coach Chip Kelley will now be calling plays to take down the Ducks as the Northwestern's OC. Aidon Chiles fits so well in this systm, throwing for over 1,600 yards and 12 TDs with just 1 pick on the year. He's taking care of the ball and letting his backs get established with creative run designs. Oregon's strength still lies with the defense's front seven, who is allowing just 3.6 yards per carry. Northwestern has a stable to talented backs, and I think they use the ground game to pull the road upset. Northwesetern wtih a big win out West 27-17.

#6 Utah at Cincy

     Obvious let down spot for both teams, but who will let down more? Cincy upset Texas Tech at home last week while Utah defended their turf against Houston. The Bearcats and the Utes both have rugged rushing attacks, ranking 8th and 12th in the nation respectively. This is much more of an even matched game when you go through the stat sheet, but I'll give Utah the edge with Devon Dampier. This Utes team has flaws, but Dampier can cover some of them up in this game. Utah 28, Cincy 14.

Virginia at #14 Wake Forest

     The Demon Deacons are slowly climbing in the rankings, and with the first CFP rankings following this weekend, they'll want to keep on winning. The quarterback battle in this game features Beau Pribula with Virginia and Gio Lopez with Wake. Pribula brings in a little more of a running threat, but he's done well in the passing game this season, throwing for over 1,300 yards with 13 TDs and just 2 picks. Lopez has nearly 2,000 yards with 17 TDs and just 1 pick. They both take great care of the football, so any takeaways these defenses can get are extremely valuable. Virginia has been up and down this year, but Wake Forest's only slip up is an early season loss to Miami. Demon Decons are fresh off a bye and I think they handle business to move up the ranks again. Wake Forest 34, Virginia 17.

New Mexico at San Jose State

     The Lobos are in heavy contention for that G6 bid as I mentioned above, but a let down spot on the road against San Jose State is a dangerous one. The Spartans won this game last year 35-28 which was a contributing factor in keeping New Mexico out of the Mountain West Championship in their 3-way tie at the top. Head Coach Jason Eck quickly reminded his team about that after their big win against NDSU last weekend. The New Mexico defense is phenomenal though, and teams are struggling to do anything against them. They rank 1st nationally in scoring defense, 5th in total defense and 1st in turnover margin. Offensively they'll need to be careful of the Spartan pass rush, because San Jose State 29 sacks this season, ranking 4th in the nation. Look for the Lobos to lean on that defense and senior running back Scottre Humphrey who's averaging 4.8 yards per carry and has 9 touchdowns on the year. New Mexico is still my G6 pick for the playoffs, so I say the Lobos handle the tough road game 24-10.

South Carolina at Oklahoma

     The Gamecocks have new life after the bye with knocking off Tennessee, but now they travel to the Palace on the Prairie to take on the Sooners. Oklahoma's offense is still abysmal, but that defense is tough to move on. LaNorris Sellers is getting back to form, and his gritty run for the game-winning touchdown shows the lack of quit in this South Carolina team. I'm anxious to see what their defense mixes in against Oklahoma's offense, because they've scored just 4 offensive touchdowns in the past 3 weeks. They're 2-1 in those games, but I'm not sure John Mateer is ready for the South Carolina pass rush. They've got 18 sacks so far this season and Dylan Stewart is always looking for more. I trusted Oklahoma too many times and they failed me this season. Give me South Carolina to win 20-17.

#24 Oklahoma State at Iowa State

     Full tilt Halloween matchup as the Pokes are wearing all Orange with skeleton cleats and the Cyclones are in full blackout uniforms. Both teams have been frisky all season with their new head coaches and Oklahoma State is still in the mix with a chaotic Big XII race. They've got just 1 conference loss and with Texas Tech coming to Stillwater in a few weeks, their schedule lines up well to work their way toward the conference championship game. Transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker has translated his game well to the Big XII, throwing for over 2,300 yards with 20 TDs this season and 6 picks. Iowa State's offense was stomped by Arizona last week, but they should be able to move the ball on Oklahoma State. This is a big game if the Pokes want to keep pace, but spooky things happen in Ames. I don't know if they'll have enough firepower to pull the upset, but they'll hang around for a while and Oklahoma State will need some big plays to pull away. Give me the Pokes in a Halloween win 38-28.

Clemson at Florida State

     A decade ago, this would've been one of the biggest games of the season, College Gameday would've been there, and we wouldn't question the primetime slot. This year, it's hard not to give this game a side-eye look. Both teams have really fallen off, and the quality of football is questionable at best. Clemson's offense has been a disaster this season, ranking 116th in total offense and 113th in scoring. Florida State has shown flashes, and their team has talent, but they've been unable to finish out games on the right side of the scoreboard. They gave up double digit leads to Louisville and Alabama, then fell short (due to a questionable holding penalty and a near Hail Mary) to upsetting Miami. Their offense has shown they can score in bunches though, so give me the Seminoles at home with Ashton Daniels in a strong performance. Florida State 27, Clemson 21.

#1 Miami at North Carolina

     Playing as the #1 ranked team on the road has not been easy this season, and with Notre Dame one week away, this is a potential let down game. The Hurricanes always seem to have that one game where they stumble and put themselves in jeopardy in the ACC race. Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney have been unstoppable with 952 yards and 11 touchdowns on 66 catches so far this season between them. North Carolina's defense is improved and will look to slow them down. They need to force some turnovers, but the Miami defense has been vulnerable. If they get an extra possession or two, don't be surprised if Miami gives up some points. I like Miami to stay steady here, Darian Mensah has been too dominant tossing the pigskin this season. Hurricanes beat the Tar Heels 36-24.

#23 Missouri at Arkansas (Battle Line Trophy)

     Another ranked team on the road and this time we've got a trophy on the line! The Missouri-Arkansas rivalry isn't the most heated, but with Ryan Silverfield trying to establish his new culture, a win here would do wonders for his reputation with the fan base. Junior QB KJ Jackson has shown some flashes this season, and the Mizzou defense has been hot and cold. The big storyline of the day is Tiger running back Ahmad Hardy returning to the field for the first time this season. Hardy suffered a gunshot wound in the offseason, and the Mizzou running back has been working to get healthy enough to play again. He was one of the best backs in the nation last year, and with Austin Simmons at QB, he'll have even more room to operate. Give me the Tigers to win the Battle Line over Arkansas 33-21.

Army at Memphis

     A sneaky important game in the American as the Black Knights travel to take on Memphis. If you're betting, I would certainly take the over as these defenses have been giving up points in bunches the last few weeks. Very different styles collide as the Black Knights bring their triple option attack led by Senior QB Cale Hellums. He's got 16 rushing touchdowns with another 3 through the air. Junior QB Marcus Stokes for the Tigers has a different approach to scoring, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 21 TDs this season. This is going to be a shootout, but I like the Black Knights to control things on the ground in the 4th quarter. Army 35, Memphis 31.

Oregon State at Fresno State

     The most electric team in football has a tricky road game against Fresno State tonight. Late night kick and the Fresno fanbase is going with a blackout as the Bulldogs have some badass helmets planned. The spooky tactics won't work against the Beavers though, this team is executing on another level this season. JaMarcus Sheppard has things rolling quickly in Corvallis and they've got their eye on that PAC-12 title and the playoffs as well. Star wideout Jesse Legree re-signed over the bye week with the Beavers, so expect him to have another big night. Fresno's defense hasn't faced an offense like this, and despite Oregon State's defensive struggles at times, I don't think the Bulldogs will keep pace. Oregon State wins in style on the road in a tough environment 38-21.

#2 Ohio State at USC

     Primetime on NBC has become USC's main TV spot, and last week it did not go well. They were stuffed into a bag and beaten down by the Badgers, now they return home to welcome the #2 Buckeyes to the Coliseum. Jaiden Maiava had a very uncharacteristic 2 interception game against the Badgers, and he was constantly under pressure with 5 sacks by Wisconsin. Ohio State has to navigate this game, and the remainder of the season, without their starting quarterback Julian Sayin. Jeremiah Smith is still on the field though, and if you throw it anywhere near him it will be caught. USC's defense under Gary Patterson has not panned out, but this is a must win game if Lincoln Riley and the Trojans want a shot at the playoff. I had them as a Playoff team, I though they would turn the corner this year. Ranked team on the road is not easy and we need a fun upset for the night. Give me the Trojans one more time, beating the Buckeyes to make things interesting 31-28.

Washington at Nebraska

     Halloween in Memorial Stadium means blackout conditions as the Huskers host the Huskies. Washington wearing all whites to try and make a bright spot in the darkness that awaits. The Blackshirts logo is at mid-field and the Huskers have all black uniforms with a script "Huskers" in red on the helmet. Fighting against history, Nebraska is 0-5 all-time wearing black uniforms, but today of all days is perfect to break the curse. Both teams come in a bit banged up and missing some key pieces. Washington QB Demond Williams is likely to play, giving the Huskies a much needed boost on offense. He's struggled a bit this year, but his dual-threat ability always keeps plays alive. Nebraska re-signed Anthony Colandrea yesterday, meaning he better have a breakout game. The Husker offense has been stuck in the mud the last few weeks, struggling especially to run the ball against the BIG 10 defenses. Colandrea has been the leading rusher in 3 of the last 4 for Nebraska, so supporting him from the backfield will be crucial. The Huskies are a very middle of the road defense this season, but with both teams coming off a bye, they've had an extra week to scheme up against Nebraska. The stadium atmosphere is going to be electric and I think the Blackshirts will make some key plays and turnovers to flip this script. Give the Huskers a short field and keep the crowd on your side. Nebraska's offense wakes up a bit and Colandrea leads them to a 31-21 win. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#5 Notre Dame at Navy - A traditional rivalry that dates back to World War II. Navy can sometimes give headaches for the Irish, but Marcus Freeman doesn't mess around much with them. Irish win 35-7.

#19 SMU at Syracuse - Ranked Ponies on the road with a sneaky Syracuse team. Kevin Jennings has the offense back in gear, look for him to have a big afternoon. SMU handles business 37-21.

Kansas State at Colorado - Not entirely sure how Colorado is favored here, but vibes are bad for both squads. I like Colin Klein better than Deion though, so I'll go with K-State despite them making me look like a fool week in and week out. Wildcats over the Buffs 31-27.

Stanford at Louisville - The Cardinal (color) have put a good looking offense together the last few weeks, but cross country travel has never been good for them. The Cardinals (birds) should put up some points here and get their offense moving after the bye. Louisville 38, Stanford 17.

Purdue at Penn State - I really don't know what to expect from either of these teams. Big opportunity for Penn State to get things back on track, but you don't want to mess with the Spooky Train on Halloween. I think Purdue pulls an upset on the way to bowl eligibility. Spooky Train 27, Nittany Lions 21.

Arizona State at #8 BYU - Cougars in a get right spot after stumbling last week. Bear Bachmeier gets this team back on track with some downfield passes to Glasker and Kasper. BYU beats ASU 35-13.

Mississippi State at #11 Texas - The Bulldogs will be without QB Kamario Taylor for the rest of the season and Texas is getting back in a groove. Hook 'Em 42-10.

Texas State at #20 Boise State - Sneaky PAC-12 game late night in Boise, don't sleep on the Texas State Bobcats. Exciting QB battle between Brad Jackson (TXST) and Maddux Madsen (BSU), so we should see quite a few points on the scoreboard. Both offense are complimented well with the run game and this is just an authentic football game to watch. Give me the Broncos at home in a thriller 38-35.

     Thank you for reading my Week 9 Predictions post, and don't forget to watch Week 9 of Inside Heart Football. This is my weekly show for the Heart of America Athletic Conference covering all the games across the Heart and highlighting our Clash of the Week. Check out the best conference in NAIA Football with the link. Have a Happy Halloween and a great gameday. GO BIG RED!

Blackshirts midfield logo for Nebraska's Blackout game versus Washington.

#CFBKnowItAll🏈🧠

Alex Fernando

Week 8 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 8 football fans, and after the carnage of Week 7, who knows what we're in for with the back half of the season. There were 5 (nearly 6) teams in the top 7 that lost last week, and the playoff bubble is filling with a wide array of teams. We've got an under the radar weekend, but there are multiple ranked teams on the road. Lucky for me, the Huskers are on a bye, so they can't hurt me this weekend. Regardless, I'll have my analysis on last week's late night last to Oregon and my thoughts from one of the best weekends in college football we've had in years. Let's get to it!

     Let's rip off the bandaid and talk about Nebraska. For the second week in a row, the Huskers gave up a double-digit lead in the 4th quarter, this time losing to their former quarterback Dylan Raiola. Myself and all other Husker fans who stayed up until nearly 2 AM Central time to watch this game received nothing but yet another gut punch from this team. There was truly nothing very exciting about this game, but there were some good things to build on. Unfortunately, the Huskers are again waiting for bowl eligibility after starting the season 5-0. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD breakdown below.

GOOD - Blackshirts vs Brock Thomas and safety run support. The story changed a bit when Dylan stepped in at quarterback, but for the first 3 quarters of the game, Nebraska's defense was lights out. The Ducks had just 91 total yards going into the 4th and couldn't do anything on the ground. This was yet another masterful performance by DC Rob Aurich and his squad, and holding Oregon to 17 points total should win you most games. Hope to see the Blackshirts keep playing like this as we move into the back half of the season. I also want to shout out the Husker safeties in their run support. Against Oregon last week, Caleb Benning and Dwayne McDougle III racked up 12 and 13 total tackles respectively. Benning came down to meet backs at or behind the line of scrimmage on multiple occasions, putting 5 solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss on the stat sheet. These guys both tackle well in space, and as a former defensive back, I love to see it. Keep it up Blackshirts!

EXPECTED - Colandrea is the offense and a 4th quarter collapse. Starting with the bad, we knew what was coming. There's no other life than pure, unending pain as a Husker fan. Of course Dylan Raiola would come into the game and lead a 4th quarter comeback to rip the hearts out of the fans who once praised him. Of course the Huskers would find yet another way to lose a close game, while making us lose sleep to watch them do so. I truly don't know how many other ways there are to lose a football game, but I'm sure we're bound to find out. However, on the positive side, Anthony Colandrea has more than lived up to the hype. The transfer signal caller accounted for all but 40 of the Huskers' total yards and is responsible for 63.2% of Nebraska's total yards so far this season. He's the second leading rusher on the team and I love how he's always looking to run north & south when he pulls it down. He's a dynamic player and he's won me over, keep doing your thing Anthony!

BAD - 4th Quarter Coaching and no one asking why Nebraska didn't blitz Raiola. Starting with my journalistic frustrations, how did no one as Matt Rhule in the post game press conference about why he chose not to blitz Raiola in the 4th quarter. Oregon made the change to put Dylan Raiola in at QB for the 4th quarter, and the Huskers chose to let him sit in the pocket with little to no pass rush. The Huskers rushed Raiola with just 3 or 4 defenders throughout the 4th quarter and let the Ducks take over the game with their run game and easy 5 yard hitches for Raiola to throw to. Oregon had 2 drives in the 4th quarter, one for 17 plays taking 7:42 off the clock and one for 20 plays taking 5:03 off the clock. Of all the quarterbacks in the nation, how do you not have a plan to beat Raiola. You know him better than anyone and yet you refuse to blitz him and make him uncomfortable? Arguably the easiest game plan to defeat Raiola, yet you avoid it. Back to the journalists, how do you not ask about this? You have one job and that job is to ask what happened in the 4th quarter. Offensive play-calling was not great either, and Husker fans could feel the loss coming all night. The other BAD part of this game was my decision to stay up and watch the whole thing before a 6 AM flight the next morning.

Week 7 Thoughts:

- This weekend is exactly why we don't need a 24 playoffs. These big losses matter, next year they won't.

- BYU's defense showed they're legit, BIG XII should have 2, maybe even 3 teams in the playoffs.

- Tennessee proved me wrong, tip of the cap to the Vols. Impressive defense, but Bama flaws showing.

- Great win for Alex Golesh and Auburn. Big fan of him as a coach and Auburn should be very happy they got him in the coaching carousel last year.

- Big problems brewing in Texas and I'm all here for it. This team looks like they've got a couple more losses coming.

- Ohio State survives by inches as Nick Marsh just steps out of bounds on what would've been a game winning TD pass. However, the Buckeyes have lost their QB for quite a while, potentially the rest of the year.

- UCLA is a team you want to bet on, they are consistent and didn't flinch with a back-up QB now leading the way.

- Oregon State is sensational and just re-signed their star wideout Jesse Legree. Must watch TV.

- Don't sleep on Houston, Wake Forest or Kentucky, dangerous teams.

- Mike Locksley is out at Maryland, the first firing of the year.

Week 7 Results: 18 - 8

Overall Results: 112 - 65

Week 8 Predictions:

#6 Indiana at Michigan

     For the first time in just a few weeks, we have drama in Michigan! Quarterback Bryce Underwood has been benched by new head coach Kyle Whittingham in favor of back-up Tommy Carr. Carr came in for Underwood against Penn State and helped lead the Wolverines to victory. The defense for the Big Blue is still one of the nation's best, so Indiana will be tested for the third week in a row to put up points. Josh Hoover did not play his best against Ohio State, and the mighty Hoosier run game has been lacking a bit, with just 138 yards on the ground between the last two games combined. They'll need to re-establish the run game in this one, but I don't see Curt Cignetti losing two in a row, and I think the Indiana wideouts will be too much. Hoosiers over the Wolverines 31-21.

#8 Texas Tech at Cincy

     The Red Raiders are starting to put the pieces together, demolishing Arizona State last week 53-25. Texas Tech will be leaning heavily on Junior RB J'Koby Williams. He's averaging 7.3 yards per carry with 5 TDs so far this season. He's extremely difficult to bring down, so Cincy will need to be sure with their tackling. The Bearcats are middle of the road in terms of run defense, so if Texas Tech establishes a push up front early, it could be along night for Cincy. This would be a big win for Scott Satterfield, but his teams tend not to perform the best in these big games. Guns Up & Wreck 'Em, TTU 34, Cincy 14.

#18 LSU at Auburn

     Both sets of Tigers are coming off much needed wins in Week 7, but a battle in Jordan-Hare Stadium is never an easy one. LSU has an extremely talented roster built on paper, but Kiffin has yet to get the most out of them. Auburn is riding a big high after beating Georgia, and things may be starting to click for Alex Golesh. LSU has a suffocating run defense though, and they could be the end. Auburn will need some help for the upset, but I'll take them just to spice things up. Auburn wins the battle of the Tigers 26-24.

West Virginia at TCU

     The definition of an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. The Mountaineers offense averages 37.6 points per game while the Horned Frogs allow just 12.2. West Virginia has struggled against higher level opponents, and being on the road makes it even more difficult. Michael Hawkins Jr. has been fantastic this year, fully highlighting what the Rich Rod offense can look like. TCU has a defense that could slow down the WVU offense, but they need to get their offense in gear at some point. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, they do not have any defense, so give me TCU to win at home 30-24.

Western Michigan at Toledo

     Two teams fighting for a spot atop the MAC with big implications on the line. Toledo has Ohio to end the year, but the rest of their schedule is extremely manageable. Western Michigan avoids Ohio, but has a couple tricky games left. This one puts the winner on an inside track toward the MAC Championship. Both teams are led by fantastic quarterbacks, Broc Lowry for WMU and John Alan Richter for Toledo. They take care of the football with just 1 pick each, and do well to get the ball to their weapons. I could go either way on this one, but I like the Rockets at home. It think they have a bit more offense to get this win. Toledo beats Western Michigan to tighten up the MAC race 31-27.

Oregon at Illinois

     The Ducks travel to Illinois as the Illini come out of a bye week. Illinois has been up and down this year, but they're catching a questionable Ducks squad with Dylan Raiola back in the starting lineup. However, he'll be without star wide out Evan Stewart who is out for this game following some potential DUI/reckless driving issues following the Nebraska game. The Oregon offense was completely stuck last week until the 4th quarter. Some of that credit goes to Raiola as he was calm in the pocket and making smart throws. Illinois should do the exact opposite of what Nebraska did and send the blitz on Raiola. He's been known to struggle against heavy pressure and does not have a lot of mobility. Oregon's defense is tough to move on though, and because there is no justice in the world, I'm sure Dylan will start winning. Illinois will be without their starting QB Katin Houser following a broken hand, so that's a tall order for a back-up to come in against Oregon's front. Ducks on the road 27-17.

#2 BYU at UCF

     Bit of a trap game spot for the Cougars of BYU following their big win against Notre Dame, but since they're facing Scott Frost that trap is less of a danger. UCF is coming off a bye week, but has back-to-back losses against Houston and Oklahoma State. BYU's defense was extremely impressive against Notre Dame, holding the Irish at just the right time. As I predicted, their receivers reeked havoc on the Irish secondary, and they'll be looking to do the same against UCF's 104th ranked pass defense. The Cougar offense is in a groove right now, and Bear Bachmeier is tough to slow down once they get rolling. Cougars over the Knights 31-17.

Michigan State at #9 UCLA

     The Bruins held strong against Wisconsin last week and now welcome in a Spartan team who have lost 5 straight, including back-to-back one score losses. Michigan State is rebuilding under Pat Fitzgerald, and with all the injuries they had this season it's really about getting through and focusing on next year. Their run defense is decent, but not any kind of ready for what UCLA will throw at them. Give me another big rushing day for Bam Knights and the Bruins offense as they run away with this one 42-17.

#11 Tennessee at South Carolina

     The Vols have to follow up their big win against Alabama with a trip to South Carolina as the Gamecocks look to get things back on track following a bye. Tennessee needs to keep leaning on their defense, but don't be surprised if South Carolina finds a way to put up a few points. The Vols offense is still struggling though, and a road environment is never favorable to Tennessee. They proved me wrong last week, but I don't think they do it again. Give me the Gamecocks 27-21.

#15 Iowa at Minnesota (Battle for the Floyd of Rosedale)

     The Hawkeyes travel to the Twin Cities as they battle the Gophers for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy. That's right, a 98 lbs. bronze pig is on the line in this classic BIG 10 clash. The Gophers were routed by Purdue before their bye week, and Iowa doesn't make many mistakes. I think Drake Lindsey can make a few big throws to keep Minnesota around for the first half, but not in the second. Iowa will get their run game going as Purdue racked up 305 yards on the ground. Iowa wins the pig 38-17.

Kansas State at Arizona State

     Vibes are bad in Tempe as the Sun Devils have given up big points in their three losses so far this season. Kansas State is coming off a big win in the Sunflower Showdown where QB Avery Johnson threw for 209 and rushed for another 132. His dual-threat ability is so difficult to stop and Arizona State's defense ranks 89th in the nation for total yards allowed. Cutter Boley was benched last week by Kenny Dillingham and things are starting to fall apart for Arizona this season. Give me K-State on the road with a big win for Colin Klein 34-17.

Virginia Tech at Clemson

     Clemson has just 2 passing touchdowns so far this season. Yes, you read that correctly, only 2 touchdown passes and we're in late October. They're still 4-2 and have tremendous talent across their roster. Virginia Tech is 1 win away from being bowl eligible in James Franklin's first season, but the next few games are not easy. The Tigers may not throw the ball much in the redzone, but they love to run it. Sophomore RB Gideon Davidson has 5 TDs on the season and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. The Hokies rank 10th in rush defense though, and if they can limit the mistakes, this would be a big win in Franklin's first year. I'm not really sold on either team, but playing at home with a night game in Death Valley is a big boost for the Tigers. Clemson 30, Virginia Tech 23.

#16 USC at Wisconsin

     The Trojans travel to Badger town as they look to keep pace in the BIG 10 race. The next month will truly show us if USC is legit as Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA are all on the schedule. Lincoln Riley doesn't want to overlook at team like Wisconsin though, the Badgers are tough on defense, allowing just 16.7 points per game. Their offense could use som help however, and a questionable Trojan defense is often one to give up more than they should. The quarterback battle should be the focus as Jaiden Maiava of USC has been impressive, throwing for over 2,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and just 3 picks. He's completing passes at nearly 68% and is currently 3rd in the nation for passing yards. Colten Joseph for Wisconsin is both the leading rusher and passer for the Badgers, totaling over 1,500 yards with 14 total touchdowns. A night game at Camp Randall is always a tough environment, but I'm not sure Wisconsin has the firepower to keep up with USC. Fight on as the Trojans win 35-21.

#7 Ole Miss at #19 Texas

     Things are trending down for the horns quickly after back-to-back losses against unranked teams. I mentioned a week ago that Oklahoma exposed some big flaws in a very disjointed offense. Now Texas has to face a very determined looking Ole Miss team who won't have to worry about star edge rusher Colin Simmons. He'll be out with a high ankle sprain, giving Rebels' QB Trinidad Chambliss even more room to use his legs. Although Chambliss hasn't been putting up big yards with his legs, he's got 6 rushing touchdowns to go along with the 14 he's thrown through the air. On the other side of the field, Texas QB Arch Manning has all sorts of questions floating around him. He's been inaccurate and clearly struggling to read defenses this season. Texas has been unable to run the ball consistently this season either, and the Rebels held Mizzou to just 39 yards on the ground last week. If Texas can't run the ball to help balance the offense and keep the chains manageable for Arch Manning, this could get ugly for Texas. The Rebels do rank 117th in opponent third down conversions, so there's opportunity for Texas to sustain drives. I think Ole Miss has the better quarterback though, and the offense at Texas has been extremely disjointed so far this year. Horns down as the Rebels come out of Austin with a 30-24 victory.

North Dakota State at New Mexico

     A massive game in the Mountain West as two of the top teams collide. North Dakota State is the new comer to the conference, but they've proven they can play at this level with a 6-1 record in their first year of FBS. New Mexico lost their starting quarterback before the season started and has battled other injuries at that position too, but they're 5-1, looking every bit like the team I picked to go to the playoffs. Two great defenses will be battling in Albuquerque tonight, so protecting the ball is a must. The Lobos lead the nation with 21 total takeaways and a +17 turnover margin. NDSU isn't far behind with 14 takeaways for a +8 turnover margin, so whoever wins that battle likely wins the game. We saw the Bison lose a close one to UNLV a couple weeks ago, struggling to move the ball, while New Mexico had the same issue on the road at Hawaii last week. The Lobos cleaned things up, and coming home to play in the turquoise jerseys should give them a big boost. Whoever put this game on the CW completely missed the mark because this should be one of the best games of the day. Lobos win 20-17 in a defensive grudge match, taking the inside track to the Mountain West crown and possibly the College Football Playoff.

#14 Houston at #10 Utah

     Our game of the week is a late night Big XII matchup between two under the radar teams. When we talk Big XII, most everyone focuses on Texas Tech or BYU, deservedly so. However, I've been on the Houston train all year and this team gets better and better to watch as the weeks go by. Utah has caught my eye too, remaining unbeaten through the first half of the season under the new leadership of head coach Morgan Scalley. He's built a unique, two quarterback system on offense, led by Devon Dampier. His QB counterpart Byrd Ficklin doesn't throw it much when in the game, but loves to run the rock when he gets in. Both QBs can keep the chains moving with their legs, so Houston's defense will have one of their toughest challenges of the year. These two teams are nearly identical with their production on offense, and both defense don't give up many big plays. I look to Houston's QB Connor Weigman as the game-breaker though. The veteran has accounted for a nation-leading 26 touchdowns and does well to take care of the rock with just 2 picks. A night game in Salt Lake City is one of the most upset-prone environments, and technically Utah is favored. However, I've been a fan of what Willie Fritz has building for the Cougars. I've seen some holes in the Utah defense against Kansas and against Colorado the past two weeks, we'll see if Houston can take advantage. Cougars defeat the Utes on the road 31-23.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Pitt at #1 Miami - Pitt can't do much since losing their QB and after nearly being upset last week the Miami offense will look to get back on track. Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney all day as the Canes win 38-14.

Cal at #23 SMU - The Ponies are looking for revenge from last season and the Golden Bears offense is a mess. Pony Up with Kevin Jennings having a big day, 38-20 SMU wins.

Texas A&M at #13 Alabama - Angry Bama at home versus an A&M team with bad vibes. This is another 2 or 3 turnover game for Marcel Reed, give me the Tide rolling with a 48-17 win.

Oklahoma at Mississippi State - If Kamario Taylor plays (and stays healthy in the game), the Bulldogs win. If he does not or gets knocked out, Oklahoma wins. I'll take the Bulldogs, Oklahoma keeps letting me down. Mississippi State 23, Oklahoma 21.

Colorado at Oklahoma State - Pokes defense needs work, but their gunslinger QB is going to light up the Buffs and the scoreboard. Oklahoma State 45, Colorado 24.

Vanderbilt at #12 Kentucky - Will Stein has the Wildcats tied atop the SEC standings with just 4 conference games remaining. Get through Vandy and the Wildcats have a very interesting path toward that SEC Championship game. Wildcats win 36-24.

Thank you for reading my Week 8 Predictions and as always, be sure to check out the latest episode of Inside Heart Football where I break down all the action in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. There's great football all across the nation, so kick back and enjoy your College Football Saturday!

#CFBKnowItAll🏈🧠

Alex Fernando

Week 7 Predictions

      Welcome to one of the biggest weeks of the season football friends, Week 7 is loaded with some great games across the nation. I'll give you a full breakdown of what to expect this weekend and some storylines to watch as we move into the back half of the season. I'll (begrudgingly) give my thoughts on the Huskers' loss to Indiana and what else I took from Week 6 of College Football. We're only half way through the season, but it's been a wild one thus far.

     The Huskers give up an 11-point, 4th quarter lead to the Hoosiers as Indiana comes back to win 20-17 in Memorial Stadium. Nebraska dominated the stat sheet, but gave up a few big pass plays late in the game, once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The Huskers are now 0-31 against ranked opponents since 2016 and this one felt a little more painful than normal. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD breakdown below.

GOOD - Third down defense. The Blackshirts understood the assignment for most of the game and suffocated a very talented Indiana offense. Especially on third down, the defense made their presence felt. Holding the Hoosiers to just 1 of 10 on the money down, Nebraska's 3rd down defense currently ranks at the top of the national standings with opponents converting under 20%. This is a phenomenal number and I've got to tip my cap to new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich and the Blackshirts, those are the types of numbers that can win you BIG 10 games more often than not.

EXPECTED - The collapse & Colandrea's panic. I hate to be negative in this sector of the review, but we all knew exactly what was coming in the 4th quarter of that game. I was hoping it would be different, the Colandrea touchdown run was electric and the Huskers had every opportunity to finish this one off the right way. I've seen it too many times over the last decade, Nebraska just knows how to find a way to break our hearts. I'll have more to say in the next category about the coaching, but giving those two big pass plays at the most crucial time is just par for the course. Colandrea played a great game, but his fourth quarter panic throws were tough to watch. It's easy to tell when he's rushing and the throws get off target in a hurry. He nearly killed Kwazi Gilmer due to his high throws, and once he started, he couldn't stop. Colandrea needs to find a way to settle himself when he gets rushed.

BAD - 4th Quarter Coaching. As mentioned above, the entire stat sheet belonged to the Huskers apart from a few big pass plays. The Huskers struggled to move the ball throughout the second half, but the 4th quarter was an absolute coaching disaster for the Huskers. After dominating time of possession throughout the whole game, the decision was made to throw all over the field in the final frame. The run game wasn't anything to write home about, but it was keeping 3rd down manageable and the clock moving. The run game was barely attempted in the 4th quarter, despite having the lead, and a majority of the pass plays were drop backs withe downfield routes. The Huskers' 4th quarter strategy led by Matt Rhule and Dana Holgorsen was not well executed and allowed Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers to come back and win the game.

Week 6 Thoughts:

- Both Alabama & Georgia showed they're contenders last week, fantastic game.

- Oklahoma exposed a variety of Texas flaws, most notably the lack of big play ability from Arch Manning.

- Jeremiah Smith is playing an entirely different level than anyone else on the field. Just sit back and admire some incredible wide receiver play.

- Kentucky wins back-to-back overtime games by going for 2 in the first overtime after scoring second. Fantastic play design to beat LSU and Will Stein has the Wildcats believing.

- You need to start preparing for UCLA in the College Football Playoff, Bob Chesney has this team primed and ready.

- I still can't tell if Missouri is good or just beating bad teams again, we'll find out this week.

- Houston is about to be a problem in the Big XII, the next couple games are tough, but a favorable schedule after that.

- Oregon State is still the most electric team in the nation, you need to watch the Beavers.

- Bowl bound Boilermakers, you heard it here first. Even with the loss last night.

Week 6 Results: 13 - 10

Overall Results: 94 - 57

Week 7 Predictions:

#4 Ohio State at #5 Indiana

     The BIG 10 game of the week features a rematch of last year's conference championship at high noon in Bloomington. The Buckeyes and the Hoosiers meet for a top 5 matchup in the biggest game ever at Indiana's Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes main strategy is to throw it to Jeremiah Smith and let him beat everyone. It's proven to be a pretty good plan this season, but they will likely need to be a bit more creative against the Hoosiers' defense. Indiana loves to generate a pass rush with just 4 defenders, leaving 7 others in coverage. They rank 3rd in sacks with 20 so far this season, and will look to make Julian Sayin uncomfortable in the pocket. Ohio State has to slow down the Indiana offense which has playmakers all across the field. Wideouts Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker catch just about everything near them, and transfer QB Josh Hoover doesn't miss often. With the complimentary run game and upgraded protection, he's fixed his turnover problems and has this team primed for another big run. Ohio State already has a loss, so this is a big game for them. I would love to see Indiana have a breakout game, but I think the Buckeyes may have a trick up their sleeve. Or Jeremiah Smith will just be insane, either way I'll take Ohio State in a close one. Buckeyes 30, Hoosiers 28.

Florida at #7 Texas

     Both the Gators and the Longhorns are trending down after last week. Florida is falling apart quickly after vaulting into the rankings for beating Ole Miss a few weeks ago. Their defense has been dismantled for 83 points over the past two weeks and with injuries to their QB, this could be tough sledding. They pulled the upset last year, but I think the Texas defense might be too much. The real question is if Arch will start putting up big numbers. Texas needs to in order to have some style points to look at later this season. Longhorns 38, Gators 14.

#16 Mississippi State at #22 LSU

     The Bulldogs started the season hot, but rugged SEC play is looking to take its toll. After the beat down from Alabama, star QB Kamario Taylor is still banged up and unlikely to play against the Tigers. LSU has a number of flaws, but playing at home in Death Valley can certainly help with a few of those. Offensively, Lane Kiffin needs to get this team in order. The wideouts are practically non-existent, and while Sophomore RB Dilin Jones has been effective, he can't carry the full offense. If Taylor ends up playing, Bulldogs have a chance, but I think the Tigers bounce back with a 38-20 win.

Virginia at #24 SMU

     The Cavaliers season has been rocky, especially with the big loss to FSU a couple weeks ago. SMU has been very quietly hanging in the back of the top 25, primarily due to their performances against lesser opponents. They're coming off a bye week and I expect Kevin Jennings to start showing some of the Heisman flashes we've seen over the last couple of years. Pony up for a big win in Dallas 34-21.

#25 Northwestern at Michigan State

     The Wildcats travel to Spartan Stadium to take on their former Head Coach in Pat Fitzgerald. They bring along QB Aidon Chiles, who spend the previous two seasons at Michigan State. Chip Kelley has this Northwestern offense averaging over 35 points per game and nearly 450 total yards. The run game has been extremely effective and although Sparty is a tough team, they're a bit too banged up to keep pace in this one. It will be a hard fought game, but I like Northwestern to move past their former coach with a win 33-24.

Kansas at Kansas State (Sunflower Showdown)

     It's been nearly two decades since Kansas has won in this series, but could Saturday be a change in the history books? Kansas State is still finding their rhythm with new head coach Colin Klein, but the Jayhawks seem to have some offense with QB Isiah Marshall. The Sophomore is a bit erratic at times, but can also make some electric plays. A couple of key turnovers and KU could pull the upset. They'll need to contain Wildcat QB Avery Johnson as he loves to break out of the pocket and run, but I've picked K-State the last two games and they've failed me. Rock Chalk for the first Kansas win in the series since 2008!

Georgia State at James Madison

     An important game in the Sun Belt East as Georgia State travels to undefeated James Madison. The Dukes had their hands full with Georgia Southern last week, but held on for a 3 point win. Georgia State's lone loss was in a shootout with UCF, but they have otherwise dominated their other games. Both QBs will need to play smart and avoid turnovers, but my player to watch is JMU running back George Pettaway. The senior is averaging nearly 7 yards per carry and has 648 rushing yards and 6 TDs so far this season. Georgia State will have their hands full with him. Dukes beat the Panthers 37-28.

#6 Alabama at #14 Tennessee (3rd Saturday in October)

     The Tide roll into Neyland Stadium for their annual clash with the Vols on the third Saturday in October. Fresh Cigars await the winners as these teams look for an SEC win on Rocky Top. I've been out on Tennessee well before the season started, and having watched their disaster of an offense the last couple weeks, hopefully you're starting to see my reasons why. Running back DeSean Bishop is the lone bright spot, but he can't carry it all game, he'll need help. Their defense is legit though, and with some injuries up front, Bama QB Keelon Russell could be in danger of a few sacks. Luckily, he's quite mobile and I think his legs will be the difference maker here. Alabama showed me something against Georgia last week, let's see if they unleash it on Tennessee. Roll Tide on Rocky Top 34-21.

#13 Missouri at #9 Ole Miss

     The Austin Simmons Bowl is set as the Tigers travel to Oxford, pitting Austin Simmons against his former team and the QB who replaced him last season. I can't yet decide if either of these teams are truly legit contenders. Both QBs are tremendous talents, but the defenses have been shaky and I'm not sure their opponents through the season thus far have been the best quality. This is a game that will show us a lot, and as much as I love a good revenge story, there were many reasons Trinidad Chambliss kept the job when Austin Simmons comes back. I think he'll put them on display and win a close one at home. Ole Miss 33, Missouri 28.

Florida State at #3 Miami

     There's a world that exists where Florida State messes around and wins this game. Miami is known to stumble at random points in the season when no one is looking. This would be the ideal game to upset Miami, especially with Mike Norvell coaching for his job. There is plenty of talent to get the job done for the Seminoles, and Miami's secondary is decimated with injuries. If FSU can score fast and score early, force Miami to win with a comeback, this could get interesting. The Seminoles love to rush the passer and have 18 sacks on the season thus far. Darian Mensah hasn't been under pressure much this season, but look for FSU to make that pocket uncomfortable. Hoping for an upset, but I think Miami pulls away late at home 38-17.

TCU at Baylor

     A rivalry renews as the Horned Frogs and Bears clash in Texas. Baylor is very quietly building a solid resume, just mere inches from an perfect record so far this season. Their schedule finishes with a gauntlet, but if they get by TCU without a scratch, their next few should be fairly manageable. All three of TCU's losses this season are by just 1 score, but the broken down offense has not helped fans rally behind this team. A number of them want Sonny Dykes gone and I think Dave Aranda has some statements to make this season. Sic 'em for a Baylor win 27-21.

Wisconsin at #12 UCLA

     The Badgers travel to Pasadena as UCLA looks to host a BIG 10 matchup without their starting QB. Nico Iamaleava is likely out for the remainder of the season due to an injury suffered in the Oregon game, but the Bruins won't be phased. Wisconsin has played well on defense this year, but they're going up against the nations' best rushing attack. Wayne Knight is averaging 7.7 yards per carry and I think the Badgers could get pushed around in this game. I'm a big believer in Bob Chesney and the Bruins, UCLA wins at home 36-24.

#15 Kentucky at Oklahoma

     Will Stein has this Kentucky team ranked in the top 15 after back-to-back overtime wins against South Carolina and LSU. The Wildcats have battled back in both games and are playing with a lot of confidence. Oklahoma has some confidence coming off the Texas win, and they've still got one of the top defenses in the nation. At the QB position, Kentucky's Kenny Minchey has been playing very well with nearly 1,400 yards with 11 TDs and just 1 pick. Oklahoma's John Mateer has struggled in the early part of the season, but had the Sooners moving in the second half against Texas and was tremendous on that game-winning drive. There are still some tough games on the schedule, but this feels like an Oklahoma team we're forgetting about and they're about to go on a run toward the playoff. Give me the Sooners at home 27-17.

#18 Oklahoma State at #20 Houston

     One of my most anticipated games of the day, Oklahoma State at Houston should be a fantastic game to keep your eye on. This may not be the high-powered shootout we're used to in the Big XII, but there will still be plenty of big plays. Starting with the Pokes, they've got a fast paced offense averaging over 70 plays per game, they're looking for points and lots of them. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has over 1,500 yards with 13 TD but picks. Houston's offense is quite dangerous and has a number of playmakers, but their defense is what you need to watch. They're +4 in the turnover margin on the season and allow fewer than 20 points per game. Once they get a stop on defense, it's a power run game with Re'shaun Sanford II who is averaging over 5 yards per carry. Connor Weigman has been deadly in the red zone, so look for Houston to finish off drive. Cougars with a statement win 31-21.

#21 Wake Forest at Cal

     The Demon Deacons are looking to keep pace in the ACC Championship race and have a favorable schedule to do so. They've got a tricky, cross country road trip for a late night game against the Golden Bears. This is a very dangerous spot for Wake, big upset potential. Virginia Tech found this out last week, falling short by 5. Cal QB Jaren-Keawe Sagapolutele missed last week but is expected to start tonight. He's been inconsistent this season, but does provide a spark to this offense. On the other side, you need to keep an eye on the QB-WR duo of Gio Lopez & Carlos Hernandez. The two of them have connected for 720 yards and 4 TDs so far this season. Cal's pass defense is middle of the road, but will be looking for some picks to add to their 7 so far this season. Wake Forest will need to play a clean game, but I think Jake Dickert keeps this team in line for a tough win out West. Demon Deacons 34, Golden Bears 27.

#2 Notre Dame at #8 BYU

     The biggest game in BYU history as the #2 Irish come to town. The Cougars are missing star RB LJ Martin, but Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has been solid this season. He will test the Notre Dame defense unlike any team yet this season. The Irish have a few injuries on defense, so look for BYU to attack some of the inexperienced areas on the field. Notre Dame's offense has been lacking some explosive plays, but CJ Carr has been dicing up opposing defenses for 16 TDs and just 1 pick. The BYU defense does not rush the passer very well, but they could dial up some blitzes today. This game will show us a lot about each team, especially since their schedules haven't been very challenging. Playing a night game in Provo gives the Cougars a big boost, and I think they're defense is better than folks think. They've been just outside the Playoff Bubble the last 2 seasons, but I think they burst through this year. BYU pulls the upset on Notre Dame and wins 23-21.

Nebraska at Oregon

     Despite Hawaii playing at home, my Huskers have the last kickoff time of the day. My 6 AM flight on Sunday will hit a little different after a 10 PM kick, but we'll be watching no matter what. The Huskers travel to Autzen Stadium and look to go Duck hunting. Oregon looks to have benched Dylan Raiola for this game after his poor performance against UCLA, so Brock Thomas is expected to start. The Ducks' offense has been very lackluster this season, and without Dante Moore the could barely move against UCLA. The Blackshirts have a great opportunity to show they're legit by following up last week with another big performance. Apart from the two big plays, Nebraska's defense performed very well. Oregon will likely have a similar game plan to Indiana, try to establish the run, but look for big plays from their talented wideouts. If Nebraska can stop the run early like they did last week, they'll be able to apply some pressure on the QB. Offensively for the Huskers, Colandrea needs to stay under control. Use his legs to move the pocket and extend drives. Get the ball to your playmakers in space and let them work. This is not a game to throw high or be inaccurate. Oregon's defense already has 8 interceptions on the season, so accuracy is crucial in this game. Their defense hasn't been as good as advertised, but you don't want to give them confidence. Nebraska needs a couple of big plays early to jump on the Ducks and take the crowd out of the game early. The Ducks are more than capable of blowing this game open, so Nebraska cannot unravel. I have to see some significant change in the coaching decisions for me to believe Nebraska will get this win. Matt Rhule has struggled on the road and a late night game on the west coast does not provide a good environment for decision making. The Huskers have enough talent (despite what Dylan Raiola thinks) to win this game, but I don't know if they'll make it happen. Oregon 24, Nebraska 17.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Cincy at West Virginia - Both teams are in desperate need of a bounce back win. Neither defense is very good, so you may want to bet the over. I'll take the Mountaineers with a 36-33 victory.

Auburn at #1 Georgia - Georgia is on a bye next week, so the only chance for Auburn is to catch them unfocused and not paying attention. I doubt Kirby Smart lets that happen, Bulldogs big 38-14.

Arizona State at #10 Texas Tech - The Sun Devils travel to Lubbock after upsetting the Red Raiders in Tempe last year. Neither team has looked great this season, but Tech should handle business here. Wreck 'Em for a 31-21 win.

North Carolina at Duke - The Blue Devils let me down last week and now have a UNC team coming in with rising confidence. Look for a tough defensive battle, but I'm not quite giving up on Duke yet. Blue Devils over the Tar Heels 20-17.

Penn State at Michigan - Neither team has a BIG 10 win yet and neither team has been very impressive this season. It will be up to the QB play in this one, seeing who makes fewer mistakes. I think Michigan's defense is a bit better than Penn State's though, and playing at home always helps. Wolverines over the Nittany Lions 23-20.

UNLV at Air Force - Big battle in the Mountain West as UNLV looks to remain unbeaten in conference play and Air Force looks to insert themselves into the race. Both teams have looked solid this season, but Air Force just lost their star QB for the remainder of the season. Rebels win 28-10.

Washington State at Oregon State - The Beavers are running wild this season, primarily behind the QB-WR connection of Braden Atkinson and Jesse Legree, both leading the nation at their respective positions. Look for more fireworks here in a big win 45-17.

#11 Utah at Colorado - Things are getting bad in Boulder, Utah is about to make them worse. The Utes will look to run all over the Buffs, but more importantly I don't think Colorado will be able to move. Utah 38-10 over Colorado.

New Mexico at Hawaii - Before the season I thought this game may decide who has inside track for the Mountain West title. Now I'm wondering if Hawaii can keep it respectable at home. Lobos big 44-14.

Thanks for reading my Week 7 Predictions and be sure to check out my Week 7 episode of Inside Heart Football for the Heart of America Athletic Conference. I'll be on the call for Peru State vs Mount Mercy today and there's lots of great NAIA games around the Heart to keep an eye on.

#CFBKnowItAll🏈🧠

Alex Fernando