Another weekend of College Football is upon us! We have another great slate of games this weekend, and the most exciting part is that Conference play opens up this week for most teams, specifically in the BIG 10 which is going to 9 conference games per year now. Here are my big game picks for the weekend, enjoy!
#12 Georgia at #23 Ole Miss
This is an interesting match-up for two teams that are looking to keep pace in their respective divisions. The Rebels are off to a puzzling 1-2 start on their season after a couple of close losses to Florida State and Alabama. If they want any hope of winning the SEC West Division (with some help) this is a must win game to avoid dropping to 1-3 and 0-2 in conference. Even with the game at home, a win against the Bulldogs will not come easy. Georgia is averaging 185 yards on the ground per game, which helps them chew up a lot of clock. However, they're only scoring 29 points per game, and that's been against some decent, but not great competition. The Rebels on the other hand, are averaging 38 points per game, but have had trouble finishing out in the 4th quarter. We'll see who out-duels the other at QB, Chad Kelly or Jacob Eason? My bet is on Chad Kelly in this one, I don't think Eason has enough composure to finish out the fourth in Oxford! Rebels win a tough one 34-27.
#11 Wisconsin at #8 Michigan State
This will be a fantastic game to watch, and in my opinion, should be where Gameday went this week. Two heavyweight BIG 10 Powers look to gain a step up on the rest of their division. At the beginning of the season, I picked Michigan State to win the East, but I didn't think they'd beat the Irish (quite soundly I might add) and I did not even consider Wisconsin a major threat in the West because of how brutal their schedule was. Well, both teams have surprised me this season, especially the Badgers. They have a tough slate of games ahead of them though. Tyler O'Connor has fairly good numbers with over 400 yards and only 2 picks for the Spartans. However, this game will depend on the defense. These are two of the toughest defenses not only in the BIG 10, but in the nation. This will be a true, grind-it-out grudge match with the ground game. Sparty is ranked 8th in rush defense, while the Badgers are ranked 13th. So controlling the clock and keeping 3rd down manageable will be very important in this match-up. Nothing better than BIG 10 football! I'm going to give the edge to the Spartans in this one, because they're at home and they're more consistent in my opinion. But don't count the Badgers out of the race in the West, they have a very tough schedule, but very good potential to make a run! Sparty beats Bucky 27-17.
#19 Florida at #14 Tennessee
Another chapter in this great rivalry is about to take place down in Knoxville. The Gators are looking for 12 straight against the Vols, which is hardly a rivalry when you have a skid like that. All they hype surrounding Tennessee really points to this game. If the Vols want to win the East and be seriously considered after their slow start, this is a must win game for Butch Jones and crew. Joshua Dobbs will have a tough time against a very fast, very versatile Gator defense, but I still expect them to put up points. On the other side, Florida loses QB Luke Del Rio for a few weeks to injury, so the Gators offense could struggle early on. You can never really predict what will happen in a rivalry game, but I think the Vols will turn it around and take one from the Gators. Look for Florida to keep it close early, but I think Dobbs will finish it out in the fourth. Tennessee 31, Florida 20.
Georgia Southern at Western Michigan
This is probably a game that isn't very high on many people's list, but I think it will be a good game to watch. These are two of the more underrated teams in the country, and they're both looking to stay undefeated. Georgia Southern is the top rushing team in the nation, but I think the balance of Western Michigan will prove stronger. Plus the Broncos are only giving up an average of 77.3 yards per game on the ground. That's a big reason why Western Michigan has two wins over BIG 10 opponents this season already. Broncos win a thriller 34-30.
Penn State at #4 Michigan
Another good match-up in the BIG 10 takes place up in Ann Arbor. Most people aren't going to give the Nittany Lions much of a chance, but when you have on of the best RBs in the conference in Saquon Barkley, you're never out of a game. The Wolverines' toughest game so far this year was last week against Colorado, which isn't the most impressive non-conference opponent. I'm anxious to see how both of these teams open up conference play. If Penn State is going to have a shot of winning at the Big House, they need to run, and run well. If they can win the Time of Possession battle, Penn State could come away with the upset. They will need a couple key stops on defense, but keeping Barkley going and keeping the ball AWAY from Michigan's offense is very important. I think the Nittany Lions will make it tough early on, but fall too far behind to keep thier rushing attack up. This will also be a true test for Michigan's defense, who have played well against mediocre opponents so far. Michigan 44, Penn State 21.
#7 Stanford at UCLA
Christian McCaffrey looks to add another big game to his Heisman campaign as they travel down to L.A. to take on the Bruins. UCLA hasn't quite started the season as they planned, especially with Josh Rosen throwing 4 interceptions in 3 games. Neither team has scored a lot this season, both only averaging around 27 points per game, so defense will be the focus. We all know that McCaffrey will be all over the field and UCLA's main focus should be stopping him, but watch out for The Trees' speedy and talented wideout, Michael Rector. He's always a deep threat on the outside, and Head Coach David Shaw loves to use him in misdirection jet sweeps when teams focus in on McCaffrey. Stanford has a huge match-up with Washington next week in the North division, so that could be on their minds, but that's really the Bruins only chance. Offensively, they move the ball, but cannot score. Plus thier pass protection is a big reason why Rosen has struggled, they give up a lot of pressure. Stanford's defense is always tough, and I think the Bruins will struggle (like thier Rival Trojans did) to move the ball. Stanford stays focused and unbeaten 33-17.
#17 Arkansas vs. #10 Texas A&M
The Razorbacks stroll into this Prime Time game with an unbeaten record and a chance to compete for the SEC East division on thier mind. They're not rushing as well as they have used to, but defense has been the name of the game. Just a couple weeks ago they knocked off the Horned Frogs in Ft. Worth. That game became a shoot out towards the end, but the Hogs are giving up only 98 yards on the ground per game. For A&M, their offense has been improving, and Trevor Knight has looked pretty solid with 830 yards passing 5 TDs and 2 picks so far this year. The Aggies defense will have to really step up if they want to take down the Hogs though. These two teams have been known for thier defenses, with good reason, but I think a shootout takes place down in Arlington. Lots of pass rush to pressure the QBs, but I think Arkansas comes away with the W. Austin Allen is more accurate than Trevor Knight, and turnovers cost the Aggies. Razorbacks win it 40-33. Maybe a third straight overtime game??
#20 Nebraska at Northwestern
This is one of the most underrated Rivalries in the BIG 10 conference. Year in and year out, these two games produce some of the best games to watch. Northwestern has not played well this year, and I expected them to make a run at a conference title. Starting 1-2 has definitely pissed with Wildcats off, and there's no better team for them to seek vengeance on than our Huskers. Northwestern's defense has proven to be as tough as last year, only giving up an average of 14 points per game. Sadly for the purple faithful, they only average 17 points per game on offense and have not been able to move the ball well against mediocre opponents. Justin Jackson and Solomon Vault are two very deadly weapons for the Wildcats, but Sophomore QB Clayton Thorson has struggled to get them the ball. He's only completing 49% of his passes so far this year, which will be helpful for Nebraska's secondary. The Blackshirts have stepped up and played well so far this season, but heading into conference play, they'll need to rise to another level. Freedom and Ross will be needed to provide pressure against a young and struggling offensive line. If we can keep pressure on Thorson, our secondary will be able to get a couple of takeaways and keep the ball away from Jackson and Vault. On offense, Nebraska needs to keep a balanced attack. Northwestern's defense is very well coached, and they have tremendous speed. Tommy's run threat will be key in keeping the middle of the field open. Look for the Huskers to throw it deep with a healthy receiving corps as well. I consider this a rivalry game, and I will never say Northwestern is a guaranteed win. Nebraska will have to come out sharp, if they want the victory. I see a tough match-up tonight, but the Huskers will take over the fourth quarter and finish the game out. Nebraska wins it 38-20.
I hope you all enjoyed my picks for this week, and have a fantastic, football filled Saturday! I'm excited to see all the alternate uniforms from various teams today, especially Nebraska's Icy White & Chrome uniforms. They will look fantastic for about the 5 minutes from the tunnel to kickoff, but then the turf of Northwestern will destroy them! I'm ready for a great game nonetheless! GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Week 3 Reflection
Hey everyone, sorry for the late post, I've been extremely busy in the first half of this week! This post will have my reflections on the Huskers' big win against Oregon as well as my concerns with the growing epidemic of players dropping the ball before the goal line on sure touchdowns! Enjoy reading!
Nebraska's big match-up with the Ducks lived up to the hype! I had such a blast at the game and Memorial Stadium was rocking!! The Huskers played really well and were able to come away with a thrilling 35-32 victory. This was definitely the most balanced game the Huskers have played this season, especially considering the Huskers rushed for 228 yards and threw for 200. Both Tommy and Ozigbo had 95 yards rushing a piece and a TD. Obviously, everyone remembers Tommy's fantastic 34 yard run to give Nebraska the lead at the end of the game, but his toughness is what impressed me. Obvious cramping issues as well as a few hard hits caused him to leave the game for a bit late in the 3rd Quarter. I was very nervous with him on the sidelines and knew that we needed him if we wanted to win. I know Husker Nation was very excited to see him come back into the game and lead us to a fantastic 4th Quarter victory. Overall, the offense played really well throughout the game. I said all week that we needed to average 10 points per quarter if we wanted to win, and Langsdorf was able to stick pretty close to that. There were a few drives that concerned me, especially because we were moving so well. The first was late in the 2nd Quarter where Nebraska was driving straight down the field by running the ball right down Oregon's throat with Newby, Ozigbo & Tommy. However, once we got into the redzone, we tried a backwards pass to RB Mikale Wilbon, who fumbled, leading to an Oregon TD on the next play. I am a big fan of Mikale & he's a good friend and is very talented, but there's no reason to interrupt the rhythm of your offense by giving the ball to Mikale when Ozigbo & Newby have driven you down the field. There's a reason they are the top two backs for the Huskers, so we need to feed them. I understand wanting to give guys breaks and other guys touches, but when you have a chance to tie the game heading into half time, you don't mess with the system. You can work him into the game at other times. The other drive that frustrated me was late in the 3rd Quarter and into the 4th. Again, Nebraska was grinding the ball on the ground, chewing up a ton of yards and a ton of clock. Ozigbo was averaging around 6 yards per carry on that drive. But then, once we cross into Duck territory, Langsdorf dials up three straight plays to drop back and pass. When you can wear a team down by just running all the way down the field, you don't take a break to pass for a play or two. That once again ruins the rhythm and puts you behind the chains. Once again, I understand the need to spread the ball around and keep it balanced, but you don't need to fix something that isn't broken. Sometimes Football is as simple as running the exact same play over and over until they stop it. To me, it was pretty clear Oregon couldn't stop it!
There's not too many negative things you can say about a win, but I just know that you cannot waste productive drives like that against teams like Wisconsin or Ohio State. Oregon is a very talented team, but they are very young. They only had 5 returning starters on defense from a year ago, and 4 of them are in the secondary. Their front seven has not played many games together, and that's a big reason why our run game was so successful. If Nebraska truly wants to make a run at a BIG 10 Championship or anything else this year, they need to finish out those long drives and not stall once they reach their opponents 40.
On the Defensive side of the ball, the Blackshirts really stepped up their game. I can definitely tell that the players are really understanding Banker's system now and know where they're supposed to be on each play. The amount of yardage doesn't necessarily reflect how well the defense played on Saturday, but anyone would give up yards compared to points any day. The run defense was not as impressive as I thought they'd be, but Oregon is a very good rushing team, and they love taking the edge with lots of jet sweeps and read options. Tackling was an issue that seemed to hurt the Huskers multiple times throughout the game. I'm sure that will be a big emphasis this weekend at Northwestern. It was tough to see, because it really looked like we had guys pinned on the sidelines and were ready to finish the play, but if you don't wrap hard, the play-makers are going to break free.
Finally, the pass defense (one of the worst in the nation last season) was fantastic on Saturday! The Blackshirts snapped Oregon's 82 game streak with at least 1 passing TD, and they only allowed Prukop to complete 60.8% of his passes. Coming into the game he was completing over 68%, so that's a solid drop. A big factor in that was the pass rush. Ross & Freedom were constantly getting into the backfield causing Prukop to move around in the pocket. It looked like he had some happy feet to begin with, but breaking down the pocket definitely helped the secondary stick with their wideouts. You could tell that the crowd definitely played a factor as Oregon had a couple of communication errors throughout the game. Penalties definitely killed the Ducks as they had 13 for 126 yards. Nebraska had 7, which is still concerning, but there are definitely improvements being made in the football program.
My last topic for the post is the insanity of players dropping the ball before crossing the goal line while running in for a Touchdown. Dalvin Cook from FSU dropped the ball as he ran for the endzone in week one. Clemson's Ray-Ray McCloud dropped the ball at the 1 yard line as he ran into the endzone in week two as well. But the worst is that there were TWO incidents in week 3, only one of which was noticed and called on by the officiating crew. In the Oklahoma-Ohio State showdown, OU return man Joe Mixon got away with one as the officials failed to review his 97 yard Kick return. Had they looked at the film, they would've clearly seen that Mixon dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. Then, later in the evening, Cal RB Vic Enwere dropped the ball at the 1 yard line as he trotted into the endzone against Texas. That TD would've put the Golden Bears up 57-43 with just over a minute left, more or less sealing the game. However, that one was reviewed and saw that the TD was not valid. A Texas player did pick up the ball, but since there was no "immediate recovery", the officials gave the ball to Cal and let them run out the clock. I honestly don't understand how and why this is happening. JUST RUN THE BALL ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ENDZONE!! It's not hard and all the camera-men sit behind the endzone, so you can even get your picture WITH THE BALL once you get to the back. I just laugh every time it happens, but I also pray none of my fellow Huskers are ever stupid enough to do that! Thanks for reading & GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Nebraska's big match-up with the Ducks lived up to the hype! I had such a blast at the game and Memorial Stadium was rocking!! The Huskers played really well and were able to come away with a thrilling 35-32 victory. This was definitely the most balanced game the Huskers have played this season, especially considering the Huskers rushed for 228 yards and threw for 200. Both Tommy and Ozigbo had 95 yards rushing a piece and a TD. Obviously, everyone remembers Tommy's fantastic 34 yard run to give Nebraska the lead at the end of the game, but his toughness is what impressed me. Obvious cramping issues as well as a few hard hits caused him to leave the game for a bit late in the 3rd Quarter. I was very nervous with him on the sidelines and knew that we needed him if we wanted to win. I know Husker Nation was very excited to see him come back into the game and lead us to a fantastic 4th Quarter victory. Overall, the offense played really well throughout the game. I said all week that we needed to average 10 points per quarter if we wanted to win, and Langsdorf was able to stick pretty close to that. There were a few drives that concerned me, especially because we were moving so well. The first was late in the 2nd Quarter where Nebraska was driving straight down the field by running the ball right down Oregon's throat with Newby, Ozigbo & Tommy. However, once we got into the redzone, we tried a backwards pass to RB Mikale Wilbon, who fumbled, leading to an Oregon TD on the next play. I am a big fan of Mikale & he's a good friend and is very talented, but there's no reason to interrupt the rhythm of your offense by giving the ball to Mikale when Ozigbo & Newby have driven you down the field. There's a reason they are the top two backs for the Huskers, so we need to feed them. I understand wanting to give guys breaks and other guys touches, but when you have a chance to tie the game heading into half time, you don't mess with the system. You can work him into the game at other times. The other drive that frustrated me was late in the 3rd Quarter and into the 4th. Again, Nebraska was grinding the ball on the ground, chewing up a ton of yards and a ton of clock. Ozigbo was averaging around 6 yards per carry on that drive. But then, once we cross into Duck territory, Langsdorf dials up three straight plays to drop back and pass. When you can wear a team down by just running all the way down the field, you don't take a break to pass for a play or two. That once again ruins the rhythm and puts you behind the chains. Once again, I understand the need to spread the ball around and keep it balanced, but you don't need to fix something that isn't broken. Sometimes Football is as simple as running the exact same play over and over until they stop it. To me, it was pretty clear Oregon couldn't stop it!
There's not too many negative things you can say about a win, but I just know that you cannot waste productive drives like that against teams like Wisconsin or Ohio State. Oregon is a very talented team, but they are very young. They only had 5 returning starters on defense from a year ago, and 4 of them are in the secondary. Their front seven has not played many games together, and that's a big reason why our run game was so successful. If Nebraska truly wants to make a run at a BIG 10 Championship or anything else this year, they need to finish out those long drives and not stall once they reach their opponents 40.
On the Defensive side of the ball, the Blackshirts really stepped up their game. I can definitely tell that the players are really understanding Banker's system now and know where they're supposed to be on each play. The amount of yardage doesn't necessarily reflect how well the defense played on Saturday, but anyone would give up yards compared to points any day. The run defense was not as impressive as I thought they'd be, but Oregon is a very good rushing team, and they love taking the edge with lots of jet sweeps and read options. Tackling was an issue that seemed to hurt the Huskers multiple times throughout the game. I'm sure that will be a big emphasis this weekend at Northwestern. It was tough to see, because it really looked like we had guys pinned on the sidelines and were ready to finish the play, but if you don't wrap hard, the play-makers are going to break free.
Finally, the pass defense (one of the worst in the nation last season) was fantastic on Saturday! The Blackshirts snapped Oregon's 82 game streak with at least 1 passing TD, and they only allowed Prukop to complete 60.8% of his passes. Coming into the game he was completing over 68%, so that's a solid drop. A big factor in that was the pass rush. Ross & Freedom were constantly getting into the backfield causing Prukop to move around in the pocket. It looked like he had some happy feet to begin with, but breaking down the pocket definitely helped the secondary stick with their wideouts. You could tell that the crowd definitely played a factor as Oregon had a couple of communication errors throughout the game. Penalties definitely killed the Ducks as they had 13 for 126 yards. Nebraska had 7, which is still concerning, but there are definitely improvements being made in the football program.
My last topic for the post is the insanity of players dropping the ball before crossing the goal line while running in for a Touchdown. Dalvin Cook from FSU dropped the ball as he ran for the endzone in week one. Clemson's Ray-Ray McCloud dropped the ball at the 1 yard line as he ran into the endzone in week two as well. But the worst is that there were TWO incidents in week 3, only one of which was noticed and called on by the officiating crew. In the Oklahoma-Ohio State showdown, OU return man Joe Mixon got away with one as the officials failed to review his 97 yard Kick return. Had they looked at the film, they would've clearly seen that Mixon dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. Then, later in the evening, Cal RB Vic Enwere dropped the ball at the 1 yard line as he trotted into the endzone against Texas. That TD would've put the Golden Bears up 57-43 with just over a minute left, more or less sealing the game. However, that one was reviewed and saw that the TD was not valid. A Texas player did pick up the ball, but since there was no "immediate recovery", the officials gave the ball to Cal and let them run out the clock. I honestly don't understand how and why this is happening. JUST RUN THE BALL ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ENDZONE!! It's not hard and all the camera-men sit behind the endzone, so you can even get your picture WITH THE BALL once you get to the back. I just laugh every time it happens, but I also pray none of my fellow Huskers are ever stupid enough to do that! Thanks for reading & GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Week 3 Predictions
Hey football fans, I hope you're all ready for a great weekend of football! There are so many big match-ups this week, and I cannot wait to see how they turn out. Of course, the Nebraska-Oregon game will be my main focus of the day, but definitely look for some good games and possible upsets this week too! Nebraska also has a lot of recruits coming for the Oregon game, so I'll be pretty busy tomorrow before the game. Anyways, here are my picks for this weeks big games, enjoy!
#2 Florida State at #10 Louisville
This is a very intriguing match-up between two hot teams with young QBs running the show. Deondre Francois and Lamar Jackson square off in what I expect to be a fairly close game. The Cardinals are only used to playing in the first half, and the Noles really only step up their game in the second half. I think the victory here is going to depend on the ground game. Louisville needs to get Brandon Radcliff going to assist Lamar Jackson. With DeMarcus Walker causing all sorts of havoc with his pass rushing, if Jackson doesn't have help, Florida State will shut down the Cardinals offense. I am also expecting a lot of big plays on both sides. The Seminoles are down one of thier best play-makers on defense with Safety Derwin James out with a knee injury, so look for the Cardinals to go deep attacking FSU's young secondary. I'm always rooting for the upset, and I think that Lamar Jackson can make it happen. This will be their first true test against a quality opponent, so look for Louisville's defense to step up and play well at home. Lamar Jackson out duels Deondre Francois and the Cardinals upset FSU 38-34.
North Dakota State at #13 Iowa
This one is just blind hope for the upset. The Bison would be one of the best teams to do it, especially since they have won five straight games against FBS opponents. Iowa stepped up last week, downing their rivals from Ames 42-3, but once again, I'm waiting until a quality opponent comes to town. NDSU is probably the strongest out of their three non-conference games, but if an FCS team has that title, then Iowa better crush them if they want any meaningful statements to be made. Iowa will continue to consistently move the ball on offense, so the big key in this game is if the Bison can score. They don't have the amazing Carson Wentz at their disposal anymore, so it'll be a tough task. Look for them to keep the ball on the ground and away from Iowa. The Bison may provide a scare, but I'm sure Iowa will squeak away with their W. Hawkeyes 31, Bison 24.
#2 Florida State at #10 Louisville
This is a very intriguing match-up between two hot teams with young QBs running the show. Deondre Francois and Lamar Jackson square off in what I expect to be a fairly close game. The Cardinals are only used to playing in the first half, and the Noles really only step up their game in the second half. I think the victory here is going to depend on the ground game. Louisville needs to get Brandon Radcliff going to assist Lamar Jackson. With DeMarcus Walker causing all sorts of havoc with his pass rushing, if Jackson doesn't have help, Florida State will shut down the Cardinals offense. I am also expecting a lot of big plays on both sides. The Seminoles are down one of thier best play-makers on defense with Safety Derwin James out with a knee injury, so look for the Cardinals to go deep attacking FSU's young secondary. I'm always rooting for the upset, and I think that Lamar Jackson can make it happen. This will be their first true test against a quality opponent, so look for Louisville's defense to step up and play well at home. Lamar Jackson out duels Deondre Francois and the Cardinals upset FSU 38-34.
North Dakota State at #13 Iowa
This one is just blind hope for the upset. The Bison would be one of the best teams to do it, especially since they have won five straight games against FBS opponents. Iowa stepped up last week, downing their rivals from Ames 42-3, but once again, I'm waiting until a quality opponent comes to town. NDSU is probably the strongest out of their three non-conference games, but if an FCS team has that title, then Iowa better crush them if they want any meaningful statements to be made. Iowa will continue to consistently move the ball on offense, so the big key in this game is if the Bison can score. They don't have the amazing Carson Wentz at their disposal anymore, so it'll be a tough task. Look for them to keep the ball on the ground and away from Iowa. The Bison may provide a scare, but I'm sure Iowa will squeak away with their W. Hawkeyes 31, Bison 24.
#25 Miami at Appalachain State
This one has upset written all over it! There are honestly only a couple of scenarios I see playing out that could possibly give the Canes a win. I'm not picking the Mountaineers in this game just because they nearly knocked off Tennessee in the opening weekend, I'm picking the because I've had them picked all year as one of the better teams not in a Power 5 Conference. They finished 11-2 last year & are still my pick to win their conference this year. Mountaineers RB Marcus Cox looks to lead the way. He's already rushed for nearly 250 yards and 3 TDs thus far in the season. If they play half as well as they did against the Vols, Brad Kaaya and crew don't stand a chance. We know the offense for both teams will be clicking, but I don't think Kaaya has much help today. Mountaineers take this one in good fashion, 27-17.
#1 Alabama at #19 Ole Miss
Can Ole Miss extend their win streak to 3 games over the mighty Crimson Tide? Being at home & motivation from their poor second half against Florida State should be more than enough to allow them to compete. Chad Kelly is going to need some help from his ground game if they want to pull the third consecutive upset over Saben's head. Kelly performed very well against Alabama last year, throwing for 341 yards and 3 TDs, so we know they're going to air it out and score some points. However, if they don't have a solid ground game to help chew up some clock, the Rebels won't be able to keep pace. I anticipate this game to look a little like Ole Miss's opener against FSU. I think Ole Miss will have success early on and get a couple stops on the tide, but if they don't control the clock, Bama will start to roll in the second half. I have not had the chance to watch the Tide much yet this year apart from highlights, but their freshman QB Jalen Hurts has looked pretty impressive thus far. We'll see if he has similar success to what Deondre Francois had with FSU. Rebels keep it tight early, but the Tide Rolls onto a 35-23 win.
Colorado at #4 Michigan
I don't expect any crazy Hail Marys to happen in this game, but with that being said, Colorado isn't the terrible team it's known for (sorry, inner Husker coming out there). Last year they were very close to a number of upsets, and now they have their Senior QB Sefo Liufau back from an injury late last season. Not contenders by any means, but this Buffalo team is sneaky, and definitely not one that you should overlook. Neither team has really been tested yet, so this could be interesting to watch with all the offense they've showed the past couple weeks. I doubt Jim Harbaugh will lose at home, at least against CU, but look for this one to be much closer than the spread. I'll take the Wolverines with a 38-33 victory.
Mississippi State at #20 LSU
The Bulldogs rebounded last week with a solid 27-14 win over South Carolina, but a trip to Death Valley proves to be much more difficult. Both of these teams have a tough time finding their offense, especially when it comes to the passing game. LSU needs to get Fournette going to take pressure off of thier horrendous QB issues. State's best chance to win is making them pass. Not easy, but so far, Leonard Fournette has not done much damage this season, partly due to his injury, but partly due to the defensive scheme from Wisconsin. If Mississippi State can hold down the run game and force LSU to pass, they have a good shot at winning this game. LSU doesn't lose many at home, and I don't think this one will be very different, but look for a tight game. One too many turnovers for the Bulldogs and LSU wins at home 21-16.
Pitt at Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are looking to rebound after an INSANE Hail Mary that shouldn't have even happened last week. The Central Michigan upset is still fresh in thier minds, and they would love to right the script against a 2-0 Pitt Squad. The Panthers on the other hand, coming off of a big win against their rival Penn State, look to continue through their non-conference games un-beaten. The key to this game is going to be OK State's passing attack. We know Pitt can run the ball and stop the run, but stopping the pass has been more difficult. They've given up an average of 225 yards through the air, and that's mostly to a mediocre Penn State passing attack. The Cowboys have averaged 270 yards passing through the air, so look for them to find success going deep. Pitt needs to limit the big plays if they want to walk out of Boone-Pickens with a win. I think they do it, and the Pokes are too rattled by last weeks Hail Mary. Panthers win it behind two interceptions 28-20.
#17 Texas A&M at Auburn
Over recent years, offense has been the main strength of these teams. That hasn't changed much as A&M averages 554 yards of offense so far this year and Auburn averages 484. However, even with all the offensive firepower, defense is the key to this match up. In the Aggies opener against UCLA, they put Josh Rosen on the ground 21 times throughout that game. Auburn held Clemson and Deshaun Watson to only 19 points. Both defenses have been very impressive against the run too. Aggies have only given up an average of 78.5 yards rushing per game while the Tigers have given up 108.5 yards. This will make teams rely on the passing attack, which is where I give the edge to A&M. I have two reasons for this, 1. Trevor Knight & 2. Pass Rush. As I mentioned, the Aggies put Josh Rosen on the ground 21 times. That pressure is difficult for any team to handle, especially without a ground game. Texas A&M wins the sack total, and wins the game 42-27.
#12 Michigan State at #18 Notre Dame
Another great rivalry is being renewed tonight in South Bend. The Spartans and the Irish clash again in a match-up with big post season implications. The Irish need to rebound with a key win after their upset loss to Texas in week 1. The Spartans have not looked very impressive yet this year, but only have one game under their belt, and are coming off of a BYE week. We all know that anything can happen in a rivalry game, so this is gonna be a fun one to watch. Defense will definitely decide this one, especially because I don't see Michigan State scoring many points. They will look to shut down the Irish's run game and make Kizer beat them with his arm. I think Notre Dame has enough weapons to hold the Spartans off, and a night game at home is a great way to rebound. Look for Mark Dantonio to get tricky, but I've got the Irish 28-17.
#3 Ohio State at #14 Oklahoma
Two of the biggest names in College Football clash with two of the most dynamic QBs in the nation. J.T. Barrett looks to lead the explosive Buckeyes into Norman and come a way with a victory. Back-up Sooner QB had only good things to say about his teammate Baker Mayfield, saying that he will tear apart the Buckeye defense. I expect a lot of offense between these two teams, and definitely a lot of points. The main focus of this game will be OU's offense. Based off of the Houston game, Ohio State shouldn't have to many issues moving the ball. But can the Sooners move the ball? I think they'll be able to move the ball early in the game, but watch for Baker's decision making on passes. Ohio State's secondary is one of the most athletic, ball-hawking secondaries in the nation. If they get a pick or two on Mayfield, Oklahoma's day and Playoff hopes are done. I think this one will be high scoring, but look for the Buckeyes to pull away with a 45-31 victory. Big Game Bobby can't quite edge out Urban Meyer.
USC at #7 Stanford
Lots of talent for the Trojans, but lots of yards and points put up by Alabama in the opener down in Dallas. I was not able to watch the game, but after seeing the highlights of that 52-6 beat down, I could tell they gave up. If USC wants to win any important games this year, giving up is not an option. They have too much talent to lose all thier big games this year. Speaking of talent, let's not forget to mention one of the best player in the nation in my opinion, Mr. Christian McCaffrey. He is an absolute machine for the Trees, and I expect another great performance from him tonight. On the road up at the Farm, there aren't too many games won, especially when Stanford's rush defense hasn't given up over 100 yards in quite some time. Dating back to the Rose Bowl, they only gave up 48 rushing yards against Iowa, and in week 1 they only gave up 92 to K-State. I think their defense is too much for the Trojans, and McCaffrey brings the Cardinal to a 35-17 win.
#22 Oregon at Nebraska
Here's the pick you've all been waiting for! Nebraska's big home game of the season kicks off at 2:30 against the Mighty Ducks of Oregon... ok, just the Ducks. They hype for this game has had campus buzzing all week long. I'm excited to see it live and I'm even more excited to see us win. Here are my keys to victory for Nebraska!
My first key to victory is first down, on both sides of the ball but specifically on defense. Oregon's offense relies so much on timing and short distances in the middle downs of thier drives, so limiting thier gains on first down is very important. They will try to use a lot of jet sweeps and outside screens to get to the edge and out in space. Linebackers and Safeties are my key positions this week because they will need to hit the edges hard to knock Oregon off thier track. Virginia did a fabulous job early in the game of really hitting up the edges and knocking the jet sweeps back for a loss. On offense, Nebraska needs to stay ahead of the chains. Keeping third down manageable is the most important asset to any football team. A steady run game will be very helpful for Nebraska, and with the Duck's young front 7, there's great potential for a lot of rushing yards today for Nebraska.
My second key is two players Tommy & Royce. Good Tommy = Husker Win, Bad Tommy = Oregon Win. Pretty simple and familiar equation for Nebraska. Both offenses will move the ball and score points, but Tommy and Nebraska CANNOT fall off during the 2nd & 3rd Quarters. I think Nebraska needs to average roughly 10 points per Quarter if they want to come out with this one. Having the ground game will be important because that allows Tommy to use his legs as well. He still throws into very small windows without going through all of his progressions though, so I don't want more than 30 passes. That will work against Fresno & Wyoming, but Oregon and BIG 10 teams will be a step faster and they will pick those passes off. For Royce, its going to be up to Nebraska's front 7 to hold him down. Most people think of speed with Oregon, which they do have, but when I see Royce Freeman, all I see is power. The 230 lb. Junior lives between the tackles and that's what allows Oregon to utilize thier jet sweep. Since he is so effective in the middle, defenses cheat inside and load the box. That's when Oregon goes outside and up and around for a TD. Nebraska's run defense has been impressive under Coach Riley, so we'll see how they contain Freeman.
My final key to victory is the turnover battle. Nebraska has won their last 17 games when they win the turnover battle. When they lose the turnover battle, their record is unspeakable. So far the Huskers are +7 in the turnover margin so far this year. This is a great opportunity to really test Nebraska's secondary. Dakota Prukop has completed 68.8% of his passes so far this year, so getting an interception will be tough. Luckily the Huskers got to practice that 5 times last game!
My final thoughts on this game are on the atmosphere. Memorial Stadium will be rockin' today, especially since this is the 350th consecutive sellout. There's a reason that this is the toughest place to play in the BIG 10 and one of the toughest in the nation. We'll see how the Ducks handle the noise in the Sea of Red! Look for me on the sidelines in the North East corner of the field. Huskers go Duck hunting and win a big one at home in a shoot out! Nebraska 48, Oregon 38. GO BIG RED!!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Mississippi State at #20 LSU
The Bulldogs rebounded last week with a solid 27-14 win over South Carolina, but a trip to Death Valley proves to be much more difficult. Both of these teams have a tough time finding their offense, especially when it comes to the passing game. LSU needs to get Fournette going to take pressure off of thier horrendous QB issues. State's best chance to win is making them pass. Not easy, but so far, Leonard Fournette has not done much damage this season, partly due to his injury, but partly due to the defensive scheme from Wisconsin. If Mississippi State can hold down the run game and force LSU to pass, they have a good shot at winning this game. LSU doesn't lose many at home, and I don't think this one will be very different, but look for a tight game. One too many turnovers for the Bulldogs and LSU wins at home 21-16.
Pitt at Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are looking to rebound after an INSANE Hail Mary that shouldn't have even happened last week. The Central Michigan upset is still fresh in thier minds, and they would love to right the script against a 2-0 Pitt Squad. The Panthers on the other hand, coming off of a big win against their rival Penn State, look to continue through their non-conference games un-beaten. The key to this game is going to be OK State's passing attack. We know Pitt can run the ball and stop the run, but stopping the pass has been more difficult. They've given up an average of 225 yards through the air, and that's mostly to a mediocre Penn State passing attack. The Cowboys have averaged 270 yards passing through the air, so look for them to find success going deep. Pitt needs to limit the big plays if they want to walk out of Boone-Pickens with a win. I think they do it, and the Pokes are too rattled by last weeks Hail Mary. Panthers win it behind two interceptions 28-20.
#17 Texas A&M at Auburn
Over recent years, offense has been the main strength of these teams. That hasn't changed much as A&M averages 554 yards of offense so far this year and Auburn averages 484. However, even with all the offensive firepower, defense is the key to this match up. In the Aggies opener against UCLA, they put Josh Rosen on the ground 21 times throughout that game. Auburn held Clemson and Deshaun Watson to only 19 points. Both defenses have been very impressive against the run too. Aggies have only given up an average of 78.5 yards rushing per game while the Tigers have given up 108.5 yards. This will make teams rely on the passing attack, which is where I give the edge to A&M. I have two reasons for this, 1. Trevor Knight & 2. Pass Rush. As I mentioned, the Aggies put Josh Rosen on the ground 21 times. That pressure is difficult for any team to handle, especially without a ground game. Texas A&M wins the sack total, and wins the game 42-27.
#12 Michigan State at #18 Notre Dame
Another great rivalry is being renewed tonight in South Bend. The Spartans and the Irish clash again in a match-up with big post season implications. The Irish need to rebound with a key win after their upset loss to Texas in week 1. The Spartans have not looked very impressive yet this year, but only have one game under their belt, and are coming off of a BYE week. We all know that anything can happen in a rivalry game, so this is gonna be a fun one to watch. Defense will definitely decide this one, especially because I don't see Michigan State scoring many points. They will look to shut down the Irish's run game and make Kizer beat them with his arm. I think Notre Dame has enough weapons to hold the Spartans off, and a night game at home is a great way to rebound. Look for Mark Dantonio to get tricky, but I've got the Irish 28-17.
#3 Ohio State at #14 Oklahoma
Two of the biggest names in College Football clash with two of the most dynamic QBs in the nation. J.T. Barrett looks to lead the explosive Buckeyes into Norman and come a way with a victory. Back-up Sooner QB had only good things to say about his teammate Baker Mayfield, saying that he will tear apart the Buckeye defense. I expect a lot of offense between these two teams, and definitely a lot of points. The main focus of this game will be OU's offense. Based off of the Houston game, Ohio State shouldn't have to many issues moving the ball. But can the Sooners move the ball? I think they'll be able to move the ball early in the game, but watch for Baker's decision making on passes. Ohio State's secondary is one of the most athletic, ball-hawking secondaries in the nation. If they get a pick or two on Mayfield, Oklahoma's day and Playoff hopes are done. I think this one will be high scoring, but look for the Buckeyes to pull away with a 45-31 victory. Big Game Bobby can't quite edge out Urban Meyer.
USC at #7 Stanford
Lots of talent for the Trojans, but lots of yards and points put up by Alabama in the opener down in Dallas. I was not able to watch the game, but after seeing the highlights of that 52-6 beat down, I could tell they gave up. If USC wants to win any important games this year, giving up is not an option. They have too much talent to lose all thier big games this year. Speaking of talent, let's not forget to mention one of the best player in the nation in my opinion, Mr. Christian McCaffrey. He is an absolute machine for the Trees, and I expect another great performance from him tonight. On the road up at the Farm, there aren't too many games won, especially when Stanford's rush defense hasn't given up over 100 yards in quite some time. Dating back to the Rose Bowl, they only gave up 48 rushing yards against Iowa, and in week 1 they only gave up 92 to K-State. I think their defense is too much for the Trojans, and McCaffrey brings the Cardinal to a 35-17 win.
#22 Oregon at Nebraska
Here's the pick you've all been waiting for! Nebraska's big home game of the season kicks off at 2:30 against the Mighty Ducks of Oregon... ok, just the Ducks. They hype for this game has had campus buzzing all week long. I'm excited to see it live and I'm even more excited to see us win. Here are my keys to victory for Nebraska!
My first key to victory is first down, on both sides of the ball but specifically on defense. Oregon's offense relies so much on timing and short distances in the middle downs of thier drives, so limiting thier gains on first down is very important. They will try to use a lot of jet sweeps and outside screens to get to the edge and out in space. Linebackers and Safeties are my key positions this week because they will need to hit the edges hard to knock Oregon off thier track. Virginia did a fabulous job early in the game of really hitting up the edges and knocking the jet sweeps back for a loss. On offense, Nebraska needs to stay ahead of the chains. Keeping third down manageable is the most important asset to any football team. A steady run game will be very helpful for Nebraska, and with the Duck's young front 7, there's great potential for a lot of rushing yards today for Nebraska.
My second key is two players Tommy & Royce. Good Tommy = Husker Win, Bad Tommy = Oregon Win. Pretty simple and familiar equation for Nebraska. Both offenses will move the ball and score points, but Tommy and Nebraska CANNOT fall off during the 2nd & 3rd Quarters. I think Nebraska needs to average roughly 10 points per Quarter if they want to come out with this one. Having the ground game will be important because that allows Tommy to use his legs as well. He still throws into very small windows without going through all of his progressions though, so I don't want more than 30 passes. That will work against Fresno & Wyoming, but Oregon and BIG 10 teams will be a step faster and they will pick those passes off. For Royce, its going to be up to Nebraska's front 7 to hold him down. Most people think of speed with Oregon, which they do have, but when I see Royce Freeman, all I see is power. The 230 lb. Junior lives between the tackles and that's what allows Oregon to utilize thier jet sweep. Since he is so effective in the middle, defenses cheat inside and load the box. That's when Oregon goes outside and up and around for a TD. Nebraska's run defense has been impressive under Coach Riley, so we'll see how they contain Freeman.
My final key to victory is the turnover battle. Nebraska has won their last 17 games when they win the turnover battle. When they lose the turnover battle, their record is unspeakable. So far the Huskers are +7 in the turnover margin so far this year. This is a great opportunity to really test Nebraska's secondary. Dakota Prukop has completed 68.8% of his passes so far this year, so getting an interception will be tough. Luckily the Huskers got to practice that 5 times last game!
My final thoughts on this game are on the atmosphere. Memorial Stadium will be rockin' today, especially since this is the 350th consecutive sellout. There's a reason that this is the toughest place to play in the BIG 10 and one of the toughest in the nation. We'll see how the Ducks handle the noise in the Sea of Red! Look for me on the sidelines in the North East corner of the field. Huskers go Duck hunting and win a big one at home in a shoot out! Nebraska 48, Oregon 38. GO BIG RED!!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
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