Hey football fans, I hope you're ready for another week of football predictions! This post had to be done a little earlier because of the Huskers' game on tonight at Illinois. However, there are some other good games to watch Friday night, so I probably would've put this post up early anyways. Here are my predictions on the big games this weekend, enjoy!
#14 Miami at Duke (Friday)
The Hurricanes are looking for their first major win of the season as they travel to Durham, NC to take on the sneaky Blue Devils. Duke is 4-0 so far this season and has been playing surprisingly well, especially on defense! They're giving up an average of 261.5 yards per game and just 15.3 points. They've held down some fairly efficient offenses so far this season in Northwestern, Baylor and North Carolina. If the Hurricanes think their #14 ranking will win them the game in this one, they are sorely mistaken. The Canes are playing in only their third game of the season, and while their offense has looked good, the defense still needs some work. They are giving up an average of 389.5 yards per game, with 286.5 of that coming through the air. Logan Woodside and the Rockets of Toledo torched them for nearly 350 last week, and Duke QB Daniel Jones already has 904 yards on the season with a 62% completion rating. The one concerning stat for the Blue Devils that may play into Miami's favor is that Jones has been sacked 9 times already this season. Miami has a lot to prove with their 14th ranking on the line, and I'm not sure they can do it. Duke is playing really good football right now, and I like the Blue Devils at home. Watch the running backs in this match up, whoever can get their ground game going first and keep it, likely wins this game. Mark Walton for Miami has 352 yards and 3 TDs through 2 games and Shaun Wilson has 349 yards and 5 TDs through 4 games. I'm taking Duke at home though, Blue Devils take down the Canes 37-33.
#5 USC at #16 Washington State (Friday)
Sam Darnold vs. Luke Falk, two of the best QBs in the nation will face off under the lights in Pullman, WA. This game has some interest because USC has not looked quite as strong as everyone imagined coming into this season, especially when they've given up back to back 300 yard passing games. Surely Luke Falk and company can take advantage of that right? Wazzu is 3rd in the nation for passing offense with an average of 432.5 yards per game. Falk has 1,378 yards, 14 TDs, 1 pick and an incredible 76.9% completion rating so far this season. He has been sacked 10 times already though, and had to leave the Boise State game for a good part of the game, so USC will be looking to keep him under pressure. It's clear that Falk can light up any defense though, and a reeling USC secondary struggled against a decent, but not great, Cal offense last week. Looking at the other QB, Sam Darnold has been good, but not quite what everyone expected coming into this year. He has 7 picks through 4 games this season, and has been sacked 7 times compared to just 6 last year. In my opinion, this game will come down to which defense steps up. The Cougars, who aren't normally strong on defense, have been fairly solid this year against sub-par competition. USC has faced some tougher offenses, but have been gashed for lots of yards, and Mike Leach loves to rack up the yards. Redzone efficiency will be crucial in this game, and that's where I think USC has the edge. They will be able to use their ground game more effectively in the Redzone, and I expect Ronald Jones III to have a big game to take some of the pressure off of Darnold. I would love to see Luke Falk and Wazzu cause the upset, but USC has too much talent across the board to let that happen. Trojans run away with this one late, 46-30.
#7 Georgia at Tennessee
The Bulldogs are coming off a big win at home over the other bulldogs (Mississippi State), but now they have to travel to Rocky Top for a big battle in the SEC East. The Vols will be looking to get back on track after their stunning loss to Florida two weeks ago and a sub-par performance against UMass last week. I really don't think this game will be a very fun one for Tennessee, but they have the ability to give Georgia a run for their money. The only way to do that is to give the ball to John Kelly as much as possible. He is the feature play-maker for the Vols, and has accounted for over 600 yards and 6 TDs so far this season. Their offense runs through him because Quinten Dormandy has not been very impressive (or helpful at times) at QB. Georgia's run defense is incredibly stout however, and they held Mississippi State to just 177 on the ground last week, even though they're a team that averages nearly 270 per game. John Kelly could have a tough time finding holes this weekend in the nation's 18th best rush defense. Looking at the other side with Georgia's offense against Tennessee's defense, this should be an easy pick. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel will lead the ground game as Jake Fromm looks more and more comfortable commanding the offense. I don't expect Georgia to have too many problems in this game. Bulldogs bring the bark and the bite to win 34-14.
#24 Mississippi State at #13 Auburn
One of the few ranked match-ups we have in week 5 takes place down in the SEC West. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are looking to rebound against the very quietly high-ranked Tigers of Auburn. I think I talked up the Bulldogs a little too much last week, because right after that, Georgia demolished them. Auburn hasn't done much this season, their biggest moment is arguably losing 14-6 to Clemson, so it's hard to imagine what all they'll bring to the table in this game. The numbers for both teams are surprisingly similar across the board, so taking care of the ball will be crucial in this one. Both teams can score, and have play-makers at the QB position. Nick Fitzgerald is still one of my feature players to watch in the nation, because this Junior is an incredible football player. He's the second leading rusher for the Bulldogs and has improved on his completion percentage from a year ago when passing. Auburn has a stingy defense, but I have faith in Fitzgerald and crew to bounce back after last week. Bulldogs pull out a good one on the road, 24-20.
Colorado at UCLA
Both of these teams are coming off tough losses to teams from the PAC-12 North with Washington trouncing the Buffs in Boulder and UCLA being run over, around and through by the Stanford Cardinal on the road. Both teams were gashed constantly by their opponents ground game, Colorado gave up 254 on the ground to the Huskies and UCLA gave up 405 to Stanford. This is a good stat to look at because Colorado RB Philipp Lindsay has 446 yards on the ground thus far in the season, so look for the Buffs to exploit that weakness in UCLA. The Bruins rushing attack doesn't have much traction, but Josh Rosen keeps that offense humming. The Buffs held Jake Browning to just 160 with 1 TD and 1 pick last week, but with Rosen averaging around 450 per game, that could be tough to stop. The primary factors in this game are those two play-makers for each offense. If Colorado focuses their game through Lindsay, I think they'll have the edge because they are playing much better defense overall compared to UCLA. However, if they allow Rosen to stay comfortable in the pocket, he'll do a lot more damage than Browning ever could've done. One other factor is Buffs QB Steven Montez. The Sophomore is extremely accurate, posting a 70.3% completion rating, but was constantly under pressure last week, leading to 3 picks against the Huskies. I don't think UCLA's pass rush is scary enough to push him around too much, so I'm taking the Buffs on the road. I think UCLA's season is starting its iconic downward spiral, and a home loss to Colorado could kick it into overdrive. Buffs 47, Bruins 34.
#2 Clemson at #12 Virginia Tech
This is easily the game of the week, and with good reason. The reigning champs take their unbeaten record on the road yet again to face the scarily, and mysteriously dynamic Hokies. Everyone thought this team was going to take a step back after Jerod Evans left after last year, but true Freshman Josh Jackson has been incredible this season, and has potential to be one of the best VA Tech has ever seen. Jackson has yet to face a defense as formidable as the Tigers' though. Clemson has already shut down the reigning Heisman winner, so there's no reason they should be scared of a little Freshman right? The Tigers are only giving up an average of 227 yards per game, so Virginia Tech will be in a slug-fest to pull out a victory in this one. The advantage? The Hokies get to play at home, under the lights. Blacksburg, VA is never a place you want to play as a top 10 team, but especially as the national game of the week. The Hokies live up well to the hype, and I have no doubt the freshman will impress tonight and hold his own against the Clemson defense. However, Jackson isn't the only QB in this game. Tiger QB Kelly Bryant has looked better and better each game, but is still a little in accurate at times. Luckily his receiving corps is good enough to cover up some of those mistakes, but Virginia Tech's stingy secondary won't make anything easy. Tech is almost always one of the best pass defenses in the nation, so look for Bryant to have to make plays with his feet. Both QBs will have to use their legs quite a bit in this one, especially with the expected heavy dose of pass rush coming their way. I honestly like the Hokies in this one. Again, I just think a night game in Blacksburg as the #2 team sounds like a bad idea. Clemson's defense is their best chance, we'll see if they can crack the level-headed freshman! Hokies pull the upset 31-28. I think this has the potential to be one of the best games all season!
Nebraska at Illinois (Friday)
The Huskers have a short week and travel to Champaign to take on the Fighting Illini. Nebraska lost in Champaign two years ago as they failed to have any offensive production throughout the entire game (sounds familiar). Two new teams will be taking the field this time as the Huskers have Tanner Lee at QB and Illinois has Junior Chayce Crouch. Crouch and Lee have very similar numbers with around 52% completion rating and more picks than TDs. Hopefully Lee can start to flip that around, but as I've been saying all season long, it all starts up front. Offensive line improvement is crucial to the success of any team, especially Nebraska. Lee has been sacked 6 times already, and a couple of his picks have been due primarily to being hit as he throws. The lack of a run game without Tre Bryant picked up a bit last week as the Huskers unleashed their 1, 2 Punch with Mikale Wilbon and Devine Ozigbo. Look for Ziggy to have another big role in this game, but Wilbon will get his touches as well. With so many injuries still plaguing Nebraska, depth could be an issue yet again. It looks like David Knevel and Stanley Morgan will start at RT and WR respectively, hopefully giving Tanner Lee a little more help. The key for Nebraska in this game is to get the ground game going early and keep it running throughout the game. Illinois has been giving up an average of about 185 on the ground per game, so there are weaknesses to attack in their front seven. On the defensive side of the ball, pressure on the QB is still the big issue for the Huskers. Illinois has already given up 7 sacks so far this season, and putting pressure on a lackluster QB will make it very difficult for the Illini to move the ball. The defense has shown great improvement since the second half of Oregon and have only given up 17 points themselves over the past 10 quarters. Hopefully that trend can continue tonight. The Blackshirts will need to watch out for the two Mikes in Orange & Blue however. RB Mike Epstein and WR Mike Dudek are the lead weapons on offense and will be heavily focused on in this game. I think the Huskers will come out with a decent performance, establish a strong ground game and run away with this one late to wear out Illinois. Hopefully Tanner Lee can get a good confidence building game on the road before heading into Wisconsin, and the Blackshirts will continue their improvement! Huskers win it 33-20 on the road!
Here are a few quick hits on some interesting match ups over the weekend as well:
Northwestern at #10 Wisconsin- You never know which Northwestern team will show up, but they have not looked good this season. Wisconsin should roll, but it may not be until the second half like they have been. Badgers 37, Wildcats 7.
Vanderbilt at #21 Florida- Vandy disappointed me greatly last week, and now they have to travel to the swamp. Florida upset me and beat Kentucky in a tight one up in Lexington. I would love to see Vandy bounce back, but Florida in the Swamp is too much. Gators chomp the Commodores 30-14.
Indiana at #4 Penn State- The Nittany Lions are coming off a very tough game at Iowa, and Indiana has a stingy defense as well. Will there be any hangover? The answer is no, Penn State should be ready to go, and Saquon Barkely will be unstoppable yet again. Nittany Lions have no issues with the Hoosiers and win it 40-20.
Arizona State at Stanford- The Sun Devils upset Oregon last week, but now have to travel to Palo Alto to a Stanford team that seems to have their season back on track after a recent QB change. K.J. Costello looked very impressive coming in off the bench against UCLA and I think he'll get the nod for the rest of the season. Plus, there's this young man named Bryce Love, and he cannot be stopped. Stanford runs over, around and through the Sun Devils at home, 42-23.
Memphis at UCF- Two dynamic offenses lead by two second year head coaches are set to clash down in Orlando. This game was supposed to be played earlier this season, but had to be rescheduled due to all of the hurricanes. Both teams can put up a lot of points, but I think UCF has the edge on defense. Golden Knights win a shootout at home, 47-39.
South Carolina at Texas A&M- Two forgotten SEC teams with two young studs at QB. The battle between Jake Bentley and Kellen Mond is one that I am really looking forward to this weekend! Bentley is better in the passing game, but Mond can run circles around defenses. I'll give the edge to A&M at home, plus I think their offense has more play makers overall. Aggies 38, Gamecocks 24.
Cal at Oregon- Both teams had tough losses a week ago, so the bounce back will be the key to watch. Cal needs to cut down on turnovers, because throwing 4 picks and losing to USC by 10 says a lot about the team. Oregon just failed to contain Manny Walkins and the Sun Devil passing attack. If Cal can take care of the ball, they have a good shot on the road in this one. Oregon leans on the run game and takes this one though. Ducks 33, Golden Bears 27.
Thanks for reading all my picks and have a great weekend of football! Be sure to subscribe with your email so you can get updates on my blog posts and remember to tune into The 2nd String every Tuesday from 7-8pm on KRNU2 online to hear my and my pal Nate discuss anything and everything College Football! GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Friday, September 29, 2017
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Week 4 Reflection
Hey everyone, I hope you're all having a great week and enjoyed the great games of College Football early on this week! It's been a busy week for me already, but this post will give my reflections on the Husker game this past weekend! I'm also attaching the podcast of my radio show, The 2nd String, with my friend Nate Muhlbach. We discuss all of the big games in College Football and go in depth with the Huskers during the core part of our show! We give a little deeper analysis on the show, so if you're looking for more Husker and College Football news, be sure to listen to the podcasts and listen live on KRNU2 online from 7-8 pm on Tuesday nights! Anyways, onto my game 4 reflections, enjoy!
A much needed win for the Huskers came on Homecoming in the form of a 27-17 grinder. Before I get into all the football analysis, I would love to Congratulate my good friends Shayne Arriola and Laura Springer on their engagement after being crowned Homecoming King & Queen. It was a very fun experience being part of the Homecoming Royalty Court, and even more exciting watching their surprise engagement, especially because that was one of the biggest highlights in this game. Not a lot of flash as the Huskers beat Rutgers, but a decent performance that hopefully has given them some confidence. Overall, there's still a lot of work to be done, and injuries have plagued this team early in the year, but Nebraska fought well in this game.
Starting with the offense, we'll get the bad out of the way first. The offensive line, although dismantled with injuries, is still horrible. They were slightly less horrible in this game, but numerous mistakes, missed blocks and flat out knock backs were still a big issue. The Huskers were able to establish more of a rushing attack, finishing with 197 yards on the ground, so that's a good sign heading into the rest of conference play with tougher defenses on the rise. Devine Ozigbo finally got some significant game action, and he made the most of it. Ziggy finished with 101 yards on 24 carries and received a brunt of the workload in the second half. Mikale Wilbon looked good as well, ripping off a couple of nice runs early in the game and finishing with 78 yards on 15 carries. As for the passing game, it has continued its steady decline into the abyss. There was better protection up front, but still nothing to be impressed by. Tanner Lee still looks extremely uncomfortable in the pocket, continues to hold the ball too long and lock in on receivers from the snap. Plus, the banged up receiving corps has struggled mightily with drops, not helping anyone's confidence. The Tightend position is one that has been extremely frustrating to watch this season. Yes, Ketter and Hoppes have made some nice catches over the first 1/3 of the season, but there have been some really bad drops and terrible whiffs on blocking the edge. That's been a contributor to the lack of run game throughout the season, so we'll see what improvements occur as we move forward in the season. No matter what, this offense will run through Tanner Lee and I suggest anyone who dislikes that find a new team. Stop booing him and start cheering him on! Yes, he's not what we wanted him to be, but he's not going to get there without anyone supporting him.
Looking at the defense, I again want to credit them on a solid performance. It's not a very good stat to boast, but they've given up fewer TDs than Tanner Lee has over the past 10 Quarters! They looked very strong against the run game, giving up only 68 yards on the ground. The pass coverage was better, allowing only 126 yards and coming away with 2 INTs, but the thing I was most impressed with in this game was tackling. Probably the best tackling I've seen yet this season from the Blackshirts, and that charge was lead by Outside Linebacker Luke Gifford. Gifford has been one of the most consistent players for the Blackshirts this season, and he proved it yet again on Saturday with 6 total tackles, 3 on his own and 1 for loss. The secondary tackled better as well, even after losing S Aaron Williams early in the game to a Targeting Penalty. I'm still waiting for more QB pressure, but if the defense is only giving up 1 TD per game as of now, I'm not complaining! Again, lots of room for improvement, but there has been improvement from game 1. Finally, with Special Teams, it was good to see DPE have a little spark back, and Drew is still automatic. We'll see what a short week on the road brings as the Huskers travel to Champagne to take on the Fighting Illini on Friday! Thanks for reading and GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
A much needed win for the Huskers came on Homecoming in the form of a 27-17 grinder. Before I get into all the football analysis, I would love to Congratulate my good friends Shayne Arriola and Laura Springer on their engagement after being crowned Homecoming King & Queen. It was a very fun experience being part of the Homecoming Royalty Court, and even more exciting watching their surprise engagement, especially because that was one of the biggest highlights in this game. Not a lot of flash as the Huskers beat Rutgers, but a decent performance that hopefully has given them some confidence. Overall, there's still a lot of work to be done, and injuries have plagued this team early in the year, but Nebraska fought well in this game.
Starting with the offense, we'll get the bad out of the way first. The offensive line, although dismantled with injuries, is still horrible. They were slightly less horrible in this game, but numerous mistakes, missed blocks and flat out knock backs were still a big issue. The Huskers were able to establish more of a rushing attack, finishing with 197 yards on the ground, so that's a good sign heading into the rest of conference play with tougher defenses on the rise. Devine Ozigbo finally got some significant game action, and he made the most of it. Ziggy finished with 101 yards on 24 carries and received a brunt of the workload in the second half. Mikale Wilbon looked good as well, ripping off a couple of nice runs early in the game and finishing with 78 yards on 15 carries. As for the passing game, it has continued its steady decline into the abyss. There was better protection up front, but still nothing to be impressed by. Tanner Lee still looks extremely uncomfortable in the pocket, continues to hold the ball too long and lock in on receivers from the snap. Plus, the banged up receiving corps has struggled mightily with drops, not helping anyone's confidence. The Tightend position is one that has been extremely frustrating to watch this season. Yes, Ketter and Hoppes have made some nice catches over the first 1/3 of the season, but there have been some really bad drops and terrible whiffs on blocking the edge. That's been a contributor to the lack of run game throughout the season, so we'll see what improvements occur as we move forward in the season. No matter what, this offense will run through Tanner Lee and I suggest anyone who dislikes that find a new team. Stop booing him and start cheering him on! Yes, he's not what we wanted him to be, but he's not going to get there without anyone supporting him.
Looking at the defense, I again want to credit them on a solid performance. It's not a very good stat to boast, but they've given up fewer TDs than Tanner Lee has over the past 10 Quarters! They looked very strong against the run game, giving up only 68 yards on the ground. The pass coverage was better, allowing only 126 yards and coming away with 2 INTs, but the thing I was most impressed with in this game was tackling. Probably the best tackling I've seen yet this season from the Blackshirts, and that charge was lead by Outside Linebacker Luke Gifford. Gifford has been one of the most consistent players for the Blackshirts this season, and he proved it yet again on Saturday with 6 total tackles, 3 on his own and 1 for loss. The secondary tackled better as well, even after losing S Aaron Williams early in the game to a Targeting Penalty. I'm still waiting for more QB pressure, but if the defense is only giving up 1 TD per game as of now, I'm not complaining! Again, lots of room for improvement, but there has been improvement from game 1. Finally, with Special Teams, it was good to see DPE have a little spark back, and Drew is still automatic. We'll see what a short week on the road brings as the Huskers travel to Champagne to take on the Fighting Illini on Friday! Thanks for reading and GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Week 4 Predictions
Hey everybody, it's week 4 in College Football and we have a great slate of games lined up to watch! I'm very excited because it's Homecoming week at Nebraska, and we've had some very fun festivities all week, and hopefully have a good game tomorrow against Rutgers! I was lucky enough to be selected as one of the Homecoming Royalty Candidates this year, which means I will get announced at half time as we walk out onto the field. They will announce the King and Queen once we are on the field, so we'll see what happens! Regardless of the result, it's been an awesome week with great friends and school spirit. Be sure to cheer for me if you're at the game! Anyways, let's get onto my game predictions (I'll cover all of the Eichorst stuff next week in my review).
#1 Alabama at Vanderbilt
On the surface, this just look like another game for Bama to roll through. However, for those of you who have not had the chance to watch Vanderbilt, this is no cake-walk for Alabama on the road. The biggest names to look are Vandy QB Kyle Shumur and Bama QB Jalen Hurts. Hurts has been improving since his terrific freshman campaign, but still struggles in the passing game at times. His numbers the past couple games have looked good, but he's about to face the number 1 pass defense in the nation! That's right, the lowly Commodores from Nashville are only allowing 95.3 pass yards per game, and have 5 picks through three games. Hurts will have to really take care of the ball in this game, because Vandy's defense is tough, opportunistic and do not give up many points. Their defense will be tested today, but I think the Commodores can hang. Most of that lies with their star QB Kyle Shumur. Shumur has thrown for 703 yards and 8 TDs so far this season, and Bama's legendary defense is sitting at 64th in the nation for pass yards, giving up 224 per game. Expect Vandy to take advantage of that. The spread is 19, but I honestly think this is going to be a close game. I really want to see Vandy pull the upset, but it is still Bama. Commodores keep it tight and prove to everyone they are legit. Alabama 24, Vandy 16.
#5 USC at Cal
Another top ranked team goes on the road this weekend, and that seems to be the theme of the week. The Trojans are traveling up North to take on Pac-12 Rival Cal. The Golden Bears looked improved from a season ago, and new head coach Justin Wilcox is looking for a big signature win during his first season. The Trojans are also coming off a dramatic Double-OT win against Texas at home last week, so we'll see how much that game took out of them. Sam Darnold did not look very impressive against Texas, but still had 397 yards and 3 TDs. Texas put a lot of pressure on Darnold last week, so look for Cal to bring the heat. The big stats in this game are the Trojans averaging 537 yards of offense and 39.3 points per game while Cal averages 433 yards and 31.7 points per game. Both of these teams can move the ball and put up some points, so we'll see how the defenses handle all of this action. My play maker to watch is Cal RB Patrick Laird. As a former walk-on, this kid is arguably the most valuable player on Cal's team. I watched him last week and he is a very tough runner, with 278 yards and 4 TDs on the ground so far, but also a very good receiver out of the backfield. USC will definitely need to watch him in this game. Much like Bama & Vandy, the spread is 17, and I think that's too much for a team playing at home. I think the Trojans stay strong, but Cal keeps it closer than they'd like. Trojans win it 38-28.
#16 TCU at #6 Oklahoma State
This is definitely the feature game of the week, and like most Big XII match ups, should be pretty high scoring! The Frogs and the Pokes have been two of the most dynamic offenses in all of college football so far this season. Both are top 20 in the nation for total offense, and TCU averages 49 points while Oklahoma State averages 54 points. Two stellar QBs in Kenny Hill and Mason Rudolph take the stage looking to light up the scoreboard. One thing to watch in this game is the balanced attack from TCU. The Horned Frogs average 277 yards passing and 230 yards rushing per game. The Cowboys are primarily focused on their passing attack, but when you have Mason Rudolph and one of the nation's best receiving corps, I don't blame them! Rudolph already has 1,135 yards 11 TDs and just 1 pick on the season, but TCU will be the toughest defense they've faced yet this year. The Horned Frogs have been very aggressive this year, holding opponents to just 14.3 points per game on average and under 100 yards rushing. This is going to be a classic Big XII Shootout, but I think the Pokes have the edge. With two teams so evenly matched, it's often defined by the QB play, and although Kenny Hill is playing well this year, it's hard to go against the leading Heisman Candidate. Mason Rudolph keeps slinging it deep to Washington and Oklahoma State wins in a thriller 48-44. This will be a good one!
#8 Michigan at Purdue
Again, this looks a lot like the first couple picks I made on the surface, but a good (not great) Michigan team has to travel on the road against a surging Purdue team under new management. Kicking off BIG 10 play in West Lafayette seems like a cake walk for the Wolverines, but Purdue's offense has already improved from 80th in total offense in 2016 to 44th in 2017 thus far. The name to watch is Redshirt Freshman Wideout Jackson Anthrop. He's become the top target for the Boilermaker offense, especially in the redzone with 4 TDs. Speaking of the redzone, Purdue leads the conference in redzone efficiency scoring on all 13 trips this season, including 10 TDs. Michigan is on the opposite side of that spectrum. They are only 1/10 in scoring in the redzone this season, and QB Wilton Speight is only 1/13 on passes in the redzone. On the other side of the ball, Michigan's defense was expected to drop off after nearly all their starters left, but they have been very solid this year. Only giving up an average of 208 yards per game and 14.7 points per game. The Boilermakers will challenge that, and this could be a one score game. Would love to say Boiler Up on this one, but my upset pick is coming later. Michigan wins a closer one than they'd like, 30-20.
#17 Mississippi State at #11 Georgia
The Battle of the Bulldogs is about to take place between the Hedges down in Athens. Georgia hosts the red-hot Bulldogs from Mississippi State, and this game will be a lot of fun to watch! Nick Fitzgerald is one of the hottest QBs in all of College Football, and he's probably my dark-horse Heisman at this point in the season. Most people might think I'm jumping on the bandwagon, but I watched him a lot last season after he took over for Dak Prescott and I knew this kid was good. He shredded LSU's defense last week for 268 yards and 4 total TDs. The Dawgs defense will have their hands full with Fitzgerald and this offense, especially with RB Aries Williams averaging 112 yards per game on the ground. Georgia's rush defense has been very good, giving up only 71 yards on average in their first three games, but this is the best offense they've faced this season. Freshman QB Jake Fromm is expected to start in his third game as Jacob Eason still recovers from injury, so look for Mississippi State to bring pressure. Fromm has looked solid in his first couple starts, but this is a very tenacious defense, so he'll need to rely heavily on Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. I think both teams are very solid, and Georgia definitely has a good shot at winning the East, but Mississippi State looks like the team to beat right now. I think they get it done on the road and I'm saying HAIL STATE! Dan Mullins and crew beat Georgia between the Hedges 27-17.
#20 Florida at Kentucky
Florida still has some offensive struggles, but they were able to pull off a fantastic Hail Mary against Tennessee last week. The Wildcats have quietly been playing very good football, and they are not a team I'd want to face, especially on the road. Florida's defense has been struggling over the past couple weeks, especially late in the game. Kentucky doesn't have the most dynamic offense, but Mark Stoops has some play makers and RB Ben Snell Jr. has 272 yards and 3 TDs so far this season. The Gators will have their hands full and I honestly think Kentucky pulls the upset in this one. I don't have too much to say, because I just want to see this game and how it plays out. The Wildcats' defense is only allowing 57 yards on the ground too, so be sure to watch the Florida ground game. The Gators pulled it out of the fire last week, but I think Kentucky wins it at home. Close game, low scoring. UK 23, Florida 17.
#7 Washington at Colorado
Did I say this was the week for top ranked teams to play on the road? Washington travels to Boulder, CO in a rematch of last year's Pac-12 Championship. Again, Washington looks like the heavy favorite, but Colorado has played tough at home, and will be looking to avenge last year's 41-10 beat down. Steven Montez has taken over as QB for the Buffs and Phillip Lindsay already has 378 and 3 TDs on the ground this season. They'll be up against another dynamic Pac-12 duo in QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin. Browning has looked as solid as ever, passing for nearly 800 yards, 8 TDs and just 1 pick. Gaskin has not been used as much as I think he should be, with only 24 carries on the season and 154 rushing yards. He does have 3 TDs on the ground and has a few receptions as well, but if Washington wants to get back to the College Football Playoff and compete, they need to start getting Gaskin the ball. I think Washington should be good in this game, but you always have to be careful of those un-ranked opponents on the road. Huskies win it in a solid performance 38-23.
Rutgers at Nebraska
There isn't much to say with this game either. Nebraska has a lot of questions swirling around after the loss to NIU last week and with Shawn Eichorst being let go as Athletic Director just a couple days ago on Thursday. The best way to forget about all of that is a football game, and the Huskers get to open BIG 10 play on Homecoming with Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 65-0 performance against a D-2 team, but the Huskers will be a different opponent. Even with a rough couple of weeks, Nebraska has the talent to score on anyone and with an improving defense, the Huskers should bounce back this week. The offensive line will be on their 3rd RT with Brenden Jaimes getting his first start after the injury to Farniok last week. Tanner Lee will need to get rid of the ball quickly, and I would really love to see Nebraska start leaning on the ground game. Hopefully Devine Ozigbo will be allowed to play and we can get a bit of a change-up at RB. Defense will need to continue improving, but last week was a big step. They'll need to shut down Rutgers RB Gus Edwards who has 201 yards on the ground this season. Offensive success is crucial in this game, so look for the Huskers to come out firing. I think they'll come out and play better, but with such a crazy week, it'll be a tough game. Husker win it 33-20.
Here are a few quick hits on games I didn't have the chance to break down:
#4 Penn State at Iowa- Iowa is always tough at home, but I think Penn State is legit. Nittany Lions roll to a 48-21 victory.
Notre Dame at Michigan State- The last time this great Rivalry will be played until 2026! This is a good match up, and playing in East Lansing is never fun, but I think Notre Dame is on the rise, and I'll give them the nod on the road. Irish win 28-24.
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas- A Classic Southwest Rivalry takes place at Cowboys stadium this week in the Aggies vs. the Hogs. Aggies are struggling big time and I think the Razorbacks take it with the ground game. Hogs 33, Aggies 21.
UCLA at Stanford- Two teams that have stumbled a bit the past couple weeks. Stanford needs some better QB play, and until that happens I have to go with the Bruins. Rosen looks good on the road, but watch out for Bryce Love. UCLA wins 37-31.
Thanks for reading all my game picks this weekend and be sure to cheer me and my fellow Royalty Candidates on at Halftime! Happy Saturday and GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
#1 Alabama at Vanderbilt
On the surface, this just look like another game for Bama to roll through. However, for those of you who have not had the chance to watch Vanderbilt, this is no cake-walk for Alabama on the road. The biggest names to look are Vandy QB Kyle Shumur and Bama QB Jalen Hurts. Hurts has been improving since his terrific freshman campaign, but still struggles in the passing game at times. His numbers the past couple games have looked good, but he's about to face the number 1 pass defense in the nation! That's right, the lowly Commodores from Nashville are only allowing 95.3 pass yards per game, and have 5 picks through three games. Hurts will have to really take care of the ball in this game, because Vandy's defense is tough, opportunistic and do not give up many points. Their defense will be tested today, but I think the Commodores can hang. Most of that lies with their star QB Kyle Shumur. Shumur has thrown for 703 yards and 8 TDs so far this season, and Bama's legendary defense is sitting at 64th in the nation for pass yards, giving up 224 per game. Expect Vandy to take advantage of that. The spread is 19, but I honestly think this is going to be a close game. I really want to see Vandy pull the upset, but it is still Bama. Commodores keep it tight and prove to everyone they are legit. Alabama 24, Vandy 16.
#5 USC at Cal
Another top ranked team goes on the road this weekend, and that seems to be the theme of the week. The Trojans are traveling up North to take on Pac-12 Rival Cal. The Golden Bears looked improved from a season ago, and new head coach Justin Wilcox is looking for a big signature win during his first season. The Trojans are also coming off a dramatic Double-OT win against Texas at home last week, so we'll see how much that game took out of them. Sam Darnold did not look very impressive against Texas, but still had 397 yards and 3 TDs. Texas put a lot of pressure on Darnold last week, so look for Cal to bring the heat. The big stats in this game are the Trojans averaging 537 yards of offense and 39.3 points per game while Cal averages 433 yards and 31.7 points per game. Both of these teams can move the ball and put up some points, so we'll see how the defenses handle all of this action. My play maker to watch is Cal RB Patrick Laird. As a former walk-on, this kid is arguably the most valuable player on Cal's team. I watched him last week and he is a very tough runner, with 278 yards and 4 TDs on the ground so far, but also a very good receiver out of the backfield. USC will definitely need to watch him in this game. Much like Bama & Vandy, the spread is 17, and I think that's too much for a team playing at home. I think the Trojans stay strong, but Cal keeps it closer than they'd like. Trojans win it 38-28.
#16 TCU at #6 Oklahoma State
This is definitely the feature game of the week, and like most Big XII match ups, should be pretty high scoring! The Frogs and the Pokes have been two of the most dynamic offenses in all of college football so far this season. Both are top 20 in the nation for total offense, and TCU averages 49 points while Oklahoma State averages 54 points. Two stellar QBs in Kenny Hill and Mason Rudolph take the stage looking to light up the scoreboard. One thing to watch in this game is the balanced attack from TCU. The Horned Frogs average 277 yards passing and 230 yards rushing per game. The Cowboys are primarily focused on their passing attack, but when you have Mason Rudolph and one of the nation's best receiving corps, I don't blame them! Rudolph already has 1,135 yards 11 TDs and just 1 pick on the season, but TCU will be the toughest defense they've faced yet this year. The Horned Frogs have been very aggressive this year, holding opponents to just 14.3 points per game on average and under 100 yards rushing. This is going to be a classic Big XII Shootout, but I think the Pokes have the edge. With two teams so evenly matched, it's often defined by the QB play, and although Kenny Hill is playing well this year, it's hard to go against the leading Heisman Candidate. Mason Rudolph keeps slinging it deep to Washington and Oklahoma State wins in a thriller 48-44. This will be a good one!
#8 Michigan at Purdue
Again, this looks a lot like the first couple picks I made on the surface, but a good (not great) Michigan team has to travel on the road against a surging Purdue team under new management. Kicking off BIG 10 play in West Lafayette seems like a cake walk for the Wolverines, but Purdue's offense has already improved from 80th in total offense in 2016 to 44th in 2017 thus far. The name to watch is Redshirt Freshman Wideout Jackson Anthrop. He's become the top target for the Boilermaker offense, especially in the redzone with 4 TDs. Speaking of the redzone, Purdue leads the conference in redzone efficiency scoring on all 13 trips this season, including 10 TDs. Michigan is on the opposite side of that spectrum. They are only 1/10 in scoring in the redzone this season, and QB Wilton Speight is only 1/13 on passes in the redzone. On the other side of the ball, Michigan's defense was expected to drop off after nearly all their starters left, but they have been very solid this year. Only giving up an average of 208 yards per game and 14.7 points per game. The Boilermakers will challenge that, and this could be a one score game. Would love to say Boiler Up on this one, but my upset pick is coming later. Michigan wins a closer one than they'd like, 30-20.
#17 Mississippi State at #11 Georgia
The Battle of the Bulldogs is about to take place between the Hedges down in Athens. Georgia hosts the red-hot Bulldogs from Mississippi State, and this game will be a lot of fun to watch! Nick Fitzgerald is one of the hottest QBs in all of College Football, and he's probably my dark-horse Heisman at this point in the season. Most people might think I'm jumping on the bandwagon, but I watched him a lot last season after he took over for Dak Prescott and I knew this kid was good. He shredded LSU's defense last week for 268 yards and 4 total TDs. The Dawgs defense will have their hands full with Fitzgerald and this offense, especially with RB Aries Williams averaging 112 yards per game on the ground. Georgia's rush defense has been very good, giving up only 71 yards on average in their first three games, but this is the best offense they've faced this season. Freshman QB Jake Fromm is expected to start in his third game as Jacob Eason still recovers from injury, so look for Mississippi State to bring pressure. Fromm has looked solid in his first couple starts, but this is a very tenacious defense, so he'll need to rely heavily on Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. I think both teams are very solid, and Georgia definitely has a good shot at winning the East, but Mississippi State looks like the team to beat right now. I think they get it done on the road and I'm saying HAIL STATE! Dan Mullins and crew beat Georgia between the Hedges 27-17.
#20 Florida at Kentucky
Florida still has some offensive struggles, but they were able to pull off a fantastic Hail Mary against Tennessee last week. The Wildcats have quietly been playing very good football, and they are not a team I'd want to face, especially on the road. Florida's defense has been struggling over the past couple weeks, especially late in the game. Kentucky doesn't have the most dynamic offense, but Mark Stoops has some play makers and RB Ben Snell Jr. has 272 yards and 3 TDs so far this season. The Gators will have their hands full and I honestly think Kentucky pulls the upset in this one. I don't have too much to say, because I just want to see this game and how it plays out. The Wildcats' defense is only allowing 57 yards on the ground too, so be sure to watch the Florida ground game. The Gators pulled it out of the fire last week, but I think Kentucky wins it at home. Close game, low scoring. UK 23, Florida 17.
#7 Washington at Colorado
Did I say this was the week for top ranked teams to play on the road? Washington travels to Boulder, CO in a rematch of last year's Pac-12 Championship. Again, Washington looks like the heavy favorite, but Colorado has played tough at home, and will be looking to avenge last year's 41-10 beat down. Steven Montez has taken over as QB for the Buffs and Phillip Lindsay already has 378 and 3 TDs on the ground this season. They'll be up against another dynamic Pac-12 duo in QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin. Browning has looked as solid as ever, passing for nearly 800 yards, 8 TDs and just 1 pick. Gaskin has not been used as much as I think he should be, with only 24 carries on the season and 154 rushing yards. He does have 3 TDs on the ground and has a few receptions as well, but if Washington wants to get back to the College Football Playoff and compete, they need to start getting Gaskin the ball. I think Washington should be good in this game, but you always have to be careful of those un-ranked opponents on the road. Huskies win it in a solid performance 38-23.
Rutgers at Nebraska
There isn't much to say with this game either. Nebraska has a lot of questions swirling around after the loss to NIU last week and with Shawn Eichorst being let go as Athletic Director just a couple days ago on Thursday. The best way to forget about all of that is a football game, and the Huskers get to open BIG 10 play on Homecoming with Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 65-0 performance against a D-2 team, but the Huskers will be a different opponent. Even with a rough couple of weeks, Nebraska has the talent to score on anyone and with an improving defense, the Huskers should bounce back this week. The offensive line will be on their 3rd RT with Brenden Jaimes getting his first start after the injury to Farniok last week. Tanner Lee will need to get rid of the ball quickly, and I would really love to see Nebraska start leaning on the ground game. Hopefully Devine Ozigbo will be allowed to play and we can get a bit of a change-up at RB. Defense will need to continue improving, but last week was a big step. They'll need to shut down Rutgers RB Gus Edwards who has 201 yards on the ground this season. Offensive success is crucial in this game, so look for the Huskers to come out firing. I think they'll come out and play better, but with such a crazy week, it'll be a tough game. Husker win it 33-20.
Here are a few quick hits on games I didn't have the chance to break down:
#4 Penn State at Iowa- Iowa is always tough at home, but I think Penn State is legit. Nittany Lions roll to a 48-21 victory.
Notre Dame at Michigan State- The last time this great Rivalry will be played until 2026! This is a good match up, and playing in East Lansing is never fun, but I think Notre Dame is on the rise, and I'll give them the nod on the road. Irish win 28-24.
Texas A&M vs. Arkansas- A Classic Southwest Rivalry takes place at Cowboys stadium this week in the Aggies vs. the Hogs. Aggies are struggling big time and I think the Razorbacks take it with the ground game. Hogs 33, Aggies 21.
UCLA at Stanford- Two teams that have stumbled a bit the past couple weeks. Stanford needs some better QB play, and until that happens I have to go with the Bruins. Rosen looks good on the road, but watch out for Bryce Love. UCLA wins 37-31.
Thanks for reading all my game picks this weekend and be sure to cheer me and my fellow Royalty Candidates on at Halftime! Happy Saturday and GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
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