December 17 - 27 Bowl Predictions

      Hello Football friends! It's been a couple of weeks, but Bowl Season is upon us and I certainly couldn't leave you all hanging without giving my predictions. These will be very minimal predictions until we get to the bigger games due to time constraints, but please enjoy and watch for some crazy games. I apologize for missing the Conference Championship weekend for predictions, but those all shook out kind of how we expected.

Rivalry Week Record: 8 - 8

2021 Season Record: 133 - 76 (63.6%)

Bahamas Bowl

Middle Tennessee vs Toledo - Rockets win 34-21.

Tailgreeter Cure Bowl

Northern Illinois vs Coastal Carolina - Can't go against my Chanticleers, but this one is close 28-27.

RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl

Western Kentucky vs Appalachian State - WKU wins it for the community 35-24.

PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl

UTEP vs Fresno State - Both good teams but Fresno State is deadly. Bulldogs 38-14.

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

UAB vs #13 BYU - UAB can put up points, but the Cougars put up more. BYU 42-28.

LendingTree Bowl

Eastern Michigan vs Liberty - Flames torch them 33-17.

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel

Utah State vs Oregon State - Beavers big with their ground game in a ridiculous bowl name 38-21.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

#23 Louisiana vs Marshall - The Ragin' Cajuns are hot and win this 31-21.

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Old Dominion vs Tulsa - Hurricanes 24-21.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Kent State vs Wyoming - Cowboys 40-35 since they're familiar with the field.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

UTSA vs #24 San Diego State - Tough draw and should be a good game, but MEEP MEEP all day! Roadrunners edge out the Aztecs 27-24.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Missouri vs Army - GO ARMY for obvious reasons. Black Knights win it 28-14.

Frisco Football Classic Presented by Ryan

North Texas vs Miami (OH) - North Texas 30-24 because they're in the home state.

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl

UCF vs Florida - Who's the best team in Florida? Probably not the Gators, Knights win 33-28.

EasyPost Hawai'i Bowl

Memphis vs Hawai'i - Rainbow Warriors at home is tough. Hawai'i wins 36-28.

TaxAct Camellia Bowl

Georgia State vs Ball State - Georgia State 23-21.

Quick Lane Bowl

Western Michigan vs Nevada - We all know I'm going with the Wolfpack! Nevada 35-21.

Military Bowl Presented by Peraton

Boston College vs East Carolina - Golden Eagles 35-21.

Enjoy the games and watch for more predictions to come! Also be sure to watch the NCAA Volleyball National Championship game and cheer on the Huskers. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Rivalry Week Predictions

      Happy Thanksgiving Football fans and welcome to the best weekend of the year! Food, family, friends and football, there's nothing better. Plus we have an incredible slate of games this weekend with a lot on the line. This post will highlight all the big rivalry games of the week and all the impact they will have on the College Football Playoffs. I'm going to skip over my reflection of the Husker game last week because it's all the same issues, bad special teams, questionable play calls and just a frustrating one-score loss. We'll see if things can change this week, but you've got to read the predictions to find out!

Week 12 Record: 11 - 4

Overall Record: 125 - 68

#9 Ole Miss at Mississippi State (The Egg Bowl)

     We start our rivalry weekend tonight with the Egg Bowl as the 9th ranked Rebels travel to Starkville. On paper, both teams shake out to be pretty even. There should be a lot of points going up on the board as these QBs can light it up. Rebel QB Matt Corral has 3,100 passing yards with 19 TDs and just 3 picks. Will Rogers for the Bulldogs nearly doubles that with 34 TDs and 8 picks to go along with more than 4,100 yards in the air raid attack. This is always a bitter rivalry and there's an outside shot at a New Year's Six Bowl for Lane Kiffin's squad. You know Mike Leach and the Bulldogs are itching to spoil that, so I'm taking Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl 37-35.

Washington State at Washington (The Apple Cup)

     Despite an up an down season, the Coogs have a shot at representing the North division in the PAC-12 Championship. They need a little help from the Beavers tomorrow, but first they need to beat the Huskies in Seattle. Washington State hasn't won in Seattle since 2007 though, and the Huskies have a 7-game win streak in this rivalry. Washington is favored in this game, but are on a 3 game skid, losing some close games to Oregon, ASU and Colorado. Their defense has kept them in games, giving up just 21 points per game on average. Unfortunately for the Cougars, they always fall short against the Huskies and that will keep them out of the PAC-12 Championship yet again. Huskies win the Apple Cup yet again 26-17.

Boise State at #21 San Diego State

     The Broncos can end up with a 3-way tie atop the Mountain West Mountain Division if they knock off San Diego State and Air Force and Utah State walk out of the weekend with victories. The Aztecs are the toughest of the three matchups this weekend, as they rank #21 in the nation and can lock up the West division with a win here. Both teams have two of the toughest defenses, ranking 10th & 11th in scoring defense in the nation. Former Husker RB Greg Bell leads the rushing attack for the Aztecs, averaging nearly 5 yards per carry and with 7 TDs so far on the season. Boise State will look to expose the weak pass defense of SDSU as the Broncos average 263.5 yards per game through the air and the Aztecs give up 236.4 on average. This should be a close one down to the wire, but I think Boise State edges this one out. Broncos win to make things interesting in the West Division 27-24.

#2 Ohio State at #5 Michigan

     This rivalry never needs any extra fire, but we've got plenty of it as the winner goes to the BIG 10 Championship and has an inside track to the College Football Playoffs. Traditionally, this is where Jim Harbaugh's team falls short in horrendous fashion as the Buckeyes often run wild in this game. Michigan will have a tough task slowing down the Buckeye offense as they rank first in the nation and average 47.2 points per game. The Buckeye defense has improved tremendously throughout the season, giving opposing backfields major headaches by giving up just 103 rush yards per game on average. Michigan lives by their run game as Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum lead the 15th best run game in the country. This game will come down to how well Cade McNamara can throw the ball though. He's going to be under pressure and likely behind on the scoreboard because of how fast the Buckeyes score. Last but not least the Wolverines defense needs to slow down the trio of NFL-caliber wideouts in Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Unfortunately for Michigan, that's not possible and neither is beating Ohio State for Jim Harbaugh. Buckeyes win big again 42-20.

#3 Alabama at Auburn (The Iron Bowl)

     The Tigers host the Tide as the Iron Bowl takes place with low key stakes. Alabama has already wrapped up the SEC East, so this game is to ensure they keep pace for the College Football Playoffs. Auburn QB Bo Nix made some news this week by making comments suggesting the SEC officials favor Alabama, so there's probably a bit more of a target on his back than normal. On the other side, Bryce Young seems to have this offense humming now, and needs another big stat line to keep pace with C.J. Stroud for the very underwhelming 2021 Heisman race. I've got Alabama rolling big in this one 45-21.

Oregon State at #11 Oregon

     The Beavers and the Ducks meet in Eugene for a rivalry game that once again carries some weight to it. More than just bragging rights in the state, the winner of this game is likely playing for a spot in the PAC-12 Title game. Oregon was demolished by the Utes in Salt Lake City last week, and despite coming home, Oregon State is hungry to be back in the spotlight. The Beavers have a very stingy defense and their run game doesn't give opposing offenses much time to utilize during their possessions. The Ducks could not stop the rushing attack of the Utes last week, so B.J. Baylor will likely give them a lot of headaches with his 6.1 yard per carry average, 1,200 yards and 12 TDs. The Beavers won last year's meeting in a surprise, so Oregon won't be caught off guard in this one. I think Anthony Brown will have a much better game, but Oregon State has a big statement to make and I think they do that in this game. THE BEAVERS win this one in Eugene 33-30.

Penn State at #12 Michigan State (Battle for the Land Grant Trophy)

     The Nittany Lions have lost some close ones this season, but have a chance to finish the season with a big win over rival Michigan State. The Spartans are trying to quickly forget the beat down they received from the Buckeyes in Columbus last week, but all hopes of a BIG 10 Championship and CFB Playoffs are done. They will look to get Kenneth Walker III back on track as he had just 6 carries for 25 yards last week. Sparty does much better when they control the pace of the game, and that's done by Walker getting his yards. Penn State have been solid against the run, holding opposing teams to an average of about 130 yards per game on the ground. Sean Clifford will need to use his possessions wisely though, and convert on third down. The Nittany Lions have struggled in this area, and they've struggled to win the close games. This one could come down to the last minute, but I think Michigan State bounces back and wins a close one over Penn State. Sparty 31, Nittany Lions 27.

#14 Wisconsin at Minnesota (Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe)

     The Badgers can lock up yet another BIG 10 West division crown with yet another win over the Gophers. Wisconsin has dominated this series as of late, losing just once since 2004. They have the top ranked defense in the land, and have won seven straight since starting the season 1-3. The Gophers have been up and down, but ultimately lost their shot at the BIG 10 a couple weeks ago in the loss to Iowa. This one should be a classic BIG 10 slug fest as both teams have a heavy focus on the ground game. Wisconsin's offensive line is dominant, and they lead the way for a rising star in freshman RB Braelon Allen. He's averaging a staggering 7.6 yards per carry and is very difficult to bring down as the Huskers found out last week when he ran through an absurd number of tackles on his way to the endzone (multiple times). This game will certainly be decided by who can slow down the opposing run game, and I trust the Badgers more than the Gophers. On Wisconsin as they win 27-17.

#10 Oklahoma at #7 Oklahoma State (BEDLAM)

     We've got BEDLAM in Stillwater, Oklahoma this weekend and this year's edition has CFB Playoff implications. The Sooners are in need of a statement win to rebound from the Baylor loss a couple of weeks ago while the Cowboys want to keep edging toward that top four ranking with a win here and in the Big XII Championship. The Pokes don't put up as many points as usual, but their defense ranks third in the nation as they give up fewer than 15 points per game on average. Oklahoma likes to score, and their dynamic offense led by QB Caleb Williams will certainly tests the limits of the Pokes' defense. The Sooners have struggled against teams with strong defenses, so this could be the year for Oklahoma State. They haven't won BEDLAM since 2014. A win by the Sooners would solidify their spot in the Big XII Championship game, which they have not missed since it was brought back in 2017. Oklahoma State is essentially playing to see who they want their opponent to be in the Big XII Championship, as their spot has been locked in. If they win, Baylor would get in (as long as they beat Texas Tech) because they have the head to head over Oklahoma. As usual the Cowboys give me another headache when making their pick, but in honor of my roommate Nate traveling to Stillwater for Thanksgiving with his family today, I'm taking the Cowboys in a surprising BEDLAM upset! Oklahoma State wins 30-24.

#16 Iowa at Nebraska (Hero's Game)

     Despite a 5 game losing streak and a 6 win/loss difference to Iowa, the Huskers come into the game favored by 1 point. This both excites and worries me as it's looking like a very tasty glass of Kool-Aid to guzzle down. The Hawkeyes have NOT been an impressive team this season. Their defense has been solid and consistent, but the offense is abysmal. However, unlike the Husker offense, Iowa doesn't often times shoot themselves in the foot, knee, stomach, arm and head throughout the game. The Hawkeyes are very consistent and play with few mistakes. The Blackshirts need to slow them down on the ground and force Iowa to pass the ball. Neither QB has been very impressive, but it looks like Alex Padilla will get the start. On the Husker sideline, Adrian Martinez's injured shoulder will keep him out of Senior day as Logan Smothers will make his first start at QB for the Huskers. I'm anxious to see what the offense looks like with him, because Nebraska actually ranks quite high in offensive production, racking up over 450 yards per game on average. Once the Huskers cross the 20 yard line into the red zone however, all production goes out the window. It would be wonderful to spoil Iowa's season a little more and finally stop losing to a team that is more than beatable, but the Huskers always find a way to lose in the worst way possible. I imagine another special teams blunder of some sort will hold this team back, but with Smothers at QB, things could get very interesting on the offensive side of the ball as well. We may see quickly why Martinez was playing as QB1 while injured. I hope they prove me wrong because I hate losing to Iowa, but I have the Hawkeyes winning 26-24. GO BIG RED, please don't make me sad!

Quick Hit Predictions:

UTEP at UAB - The Blazers lost to the Roadrunners on a last second TD a week ago, but now get to unleash that fury on the Miners from UTEP. This one won't be pretty as the Blazers torch them 38-17.

North Carolina at #20 NC State - The Wolfpack are looking to make amend for the previous 2 years where the Tar Heels have won by multiple scores. NC State's defense is the difference in this game and they reek havoc on Sam Howell as they win 34-21.

#18 Wake Forest at Boston College - After a chomping by the Tigers last weekend, Wake Forest must win this week on the road in order to solidify their spot in the ACC Title game. Clemson can jump in because of the head to head win if the Eagles can pull off the upset win at home. Sam Hartman bounces back though and the Demon Deacons win the ACC Atlantic division for the first time since 2006. Wake Forest wins 40-24.

Texas Tech at #8 Baylor - As mentioned earlier, the Bears are rooting hard for the Cowboys to win BEDLAM, but they also need to take care of business at home first. The Red Raiders shouldn't pose too much of a threat, especially with the Bears' defense playing as well as they have. Sic 'Em as Baylor wins 35-14.

Florida State at Florida - The Sunshine Showdown is a battle for bowl eligibility as both the Seminoles and Gators are looking for their 6th win. Florida fired Dan Mullen (which is think is a terrible idea) and the team has been spiraling, losing 4 of their last 5. FSU has edged out a couple wins, but I have no idea what this game will be like. Neither team has much defense, but I'll take the 'Noles since they seem to be on the rise and the Gators are more on the fall. Florida State wins 30-27.

#15 Texas A&M at LSU - In what could be Coach O's last game at LSU, the Tigers are battling the Aggies for bowl eligibility. They've struggled in close games, and I expect both defenses to keep this one tight. I'm sure Coach O would like one more game, but it's fitting for his tenure to end in Tiger Stadium. Aggies win 24-21.

Thanks for reading all of my Rivalry Week Predictions and have a Happy Thanksgiving! GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 12 Predictions

      Hello Football readers and welcome to late November College Football! We're in the best time of year as the games have a lot on the line and those big hits are just different in that crisp November air. We've got a great slate of games to watch as the regular season draws to the end and we push toward the Conference Championships and College Football Playoffs. Kick back, relax and let's enjoy some football!

Week 11 Record: 7 - 6

Overall Record: 114 - 64

#7 Michigan State at #4 Ohio State

     I kick off the predictions this week with arguably the biggest game of the weekend as the Spartans and Buckeyes meet in the Horseshoe to ultimately decide the BIG 10 West Division. Michigan is still in the mix, but all eyes will be on Columbus Saturday morning as Sparty tries to knock off Ohio State. Despite both teams putting up fairly similar numbers this season, the Buckeyes are a 19 point favorite in this game. The run game will be a major factor in this game as Heisman hopeful Kenneth Walker III looks to continue his dominant November. The Ohio State rush defense could struggle to slow him down as Walker is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. If Ohio State can force Michigan State into third and long, the game will rely on Payton Thorne's arm. He's been serviceable this season but is certainly not the focal point of the offense for a reason. On the flip side, Ohio State will need to establish more of a run game to keep the pressure of C.J. Stroud as Sparty is likely to blitz. Luckily for Ohio State, the Spartans ranks dead last in pass defense, so the NFL talent wideouts Stroud will be throwing to should have a big day. This is the primary factor to watch because if MSU can't get their ground game going, they can't keep Stroud and the offense on the sidelines. Closer than experts think, but the Buckeyes win this one 31-21.

#10 Wake Forest at Clemson

     The Demon Deacons can clinch a spot in the ACC Championship game with a victory over the reigning 6-time ACC Champion Clemson Tigers. Despite losing to UNC just a couple weeks ago, Wake Forest is still undefeated in ACC play because of a weird setup in their rivalry where due to some scheduling needs, their game in 2019 along with the one a couple of weeks ago took place outside of the conference and did not impact the conference records of each team. This is favorable for Wake Forest as they are looking at fighting back into the playoff conversation, but the only way to do that is by winning out with an ACC Championship. Clemson poses a number of threats to that though, as they still have a top notch defense giving up just 15.3 points per game. The Tiger offense has had a number of issues this year, but have a chance to put up some points against a very poor Wake Forest defense. The Demon Deacons are nearly impossible to stop on offense however, and Clemson let Kenny Pickett and Pitt throw for over 300 yards and 2 TDs on them. Wake has an even more dynamic passing attack, and I think they upset Clemson on the road! Demon Deacons win a fun one 34-28.

Iowa State at #13 Oklahoma

     Over in the Big XII, Oklahoma looks to rebound from their first loss of the season. For some odd reason, the College Football Playoff Committee ranked Baylor ahead of Oklahoma after the victory last week. I didn't know we were back to having head to head victories matter (because it still doesn't matter with Michigan and Michigan State), but whatever. The Sooner offense struggled mightily against the Bears' defense last week. Caleb Williams threw two interceptions, and the team had just 260 total yards. Iowa State battled back late but couldn't overcome Texas Tech last week. The Cyclones have been very inconsistent in 2021. Oklahoma should bounce back a bit quicker and win this game at home 33-28.

#21 Arkansas at #2 Alabama

     The Hogs travel to Tuscaloosa as Alabama looks to clinch their spot in the SEC Championship. The Tide haven't looked like their usual dominance this season, and Arkansas has some talent on offense that can cause headaches for the opponents. Bryce Young has been one of the best in the nation this season though, and the talent should outlast Arkansas in this matchup. Things could be interesting early on, but I would expect Alabama to take control of this game sometime in the third quarter if they don't already have it. Tide Roll as they win 38-21.

SMU at #5 Cincy

     The Ponies and the Bearcats meet this afternoon for possibly the last true test Cincy will face during the regular season. They've had a couple of scares lately, and SMU is not one they should overlook. The Playoff Committee is waiting for a statement game from the Bearcats, so this is their best chance. SMU loves to air it out, averaging just under 280 per game from the passing attack. The QB battle between Tanner Mordecai and Desmond Ridder will be a key factor in this game. Both QBs are very talented and use their experience well. Neither turn the ball over as Mordecai has 10 picks this year and Ridder has just 6. Cincy has a tough defense, but they've shown cracks lately, and SMU will look to take advantage of those. Desmond Ridder is a winner though, and I think he's going to have a big day against SMU's defense. They will struggle to contain him and the Bearcats win this one 34-21.

UAB at #22 UTSA

     The Blazers are looking to upset and torch the Roadrunners as they meet for a Conference USA battle that will determine who wins the West Division. UAB has won the division crown the last 3 years, and claimed the conference title 2 of those years as well. UTSA is the cinderella of 2021 as the Roadrunners are ranked #22 in the nation and unbeaten at 10-0. Both teams have a solid defense, giving up around 20 points per game each. The offenses will have their work cut out for them. UTSA racks up a lot of yards and points, and in true Roadrunner fashion, they're just hard to slow down. I think this offense has a big day and makes a big statement win today with a 33-21 victory.

#9 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech

     A potential trap game awaits the Cowboys as they travel to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders. I think this is a trap game because BEDLAM is on the horizon, and after their victory last week, the Red Raiders are more than happy to play spoiler. This game could turn up quick as both teams can put up points fairly quick. The Pokes have a much better defense, and they've held their last 3 opponents to a combined 23 points. They will create havoc in the backfield and look to force turnovers as the Red Raiders sit at -5 in the turnover margin. Oklahoma State may have a scare early, but they win this game 30-20.

#3 Oregon at #23 Utah

     A likely matchup for the PAC-12 Championship in just a couple weeks takes place early tonight as the Ducks travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utes. This is always one of the best PAC-12 games between these two teams, and this chapter should not disappoint. The Ducks have been winning since their stumble to Stanford early in the year, but their wins haven't been very impressive. Now they have to go into the lion's den essentially as Utah is one of the best teams at home in the last decade. They have a very tough defense and will look to slow down the fast-paced ducks. Anthony Brown will need to be flawless today as Kyle Whittingham and his crew will be vicious. A loss for the Ducks opens the door for the Beavers to sneak into the PAC-12 Championship in their game next week, but I don't think Oregon wants that to happen. The Utes are favored, but I like Oregon as the road underdog in this game. Big win for the Ducks as they edge out Utah 27-24.

Nebraska at #15 Wisconsin

     My beloved Cornhuskers are back in action today after a newsworthy week off where Scott Frost's contract was restructured and nearly the entire offensive staff was let go. This is certainly a step in the right direction for the Huskers, but I don't think it will have a drastic impact on the remainder of this season. I'm still waiting for this team to prove me wrong and win another game this season. Wisconsin poses a tough challenge as Nebraska has not beat the Badgers since 2012. There have been a couple games that game down to the wire, but most with Wisconsin go south fairly quick. Yet again the Badgers have a dominant defense and a nearly unstoppable rushing attack. Their offensive line paves the way as opposing defenses are usually on their heels. The Blackshirts have been a sturdy defense in 2021, holding teams to an average of 20 points per game. They force a lot of field goals, but very rarely have help from their offense to make it meaningful. I'm sure the Blackshirts will play with pride and force Wisconsin to use their passing game more than they'd like, but the true key to victory is Nebraska's offense scoring points. I'm guessing Martinez will be banged up out there, so they won't use their best weapon in his legs, and that means he'll drop back 25-30+ a game to pass. This is never a good recipe for success and with a brick wall sitting in front of the Huskers' run game in Wisconsin's defense, it could be a long afternoon. I hope some of the changes that were made over the BYE week show some hints of progress, but Wisconsin should walk out with yet another victory in the Freedom Game. On Wisconsin as the Badgers win 27-17.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Texas at West Virginia - After losing to Kansas last week, Texas is the centerpiece of conversation. Both squads in this game are looking to keep their bowl eligibility alive. One of my only solaces with Husker football being bad is that Texas is also bad. Unfortunately I think they win this one 30-24.

Virginia at #18 Pitt - The Cavaliers are hoping to get their QB Brennan Armstrong back. He missed the Notre Dame game last week and it was very obvious as their usually dynamic offense racked up just 3 points. Defensively they have to deal with the veteran Kenny Pickett, and that is going to be too much as Pitt wins 40-21.

UCLA at USC - The Battle for LA doesn't have any big implications, but it's certainly a rivalry that never disappoints. The Trojans are looking to move one game closer to bowl eligibility, but Chip Kelley doesn't want to fall behind in this series. UCLA wins a bit of a shootout 38-33.

#11 Baylor at Kansas State - The Bears and their rugged defense upset Oklahoma last week, but now travel to Bill Snyder Family Stadium. K-State is never a great place to come in feeling high, but I like the Bears in this one. The Wildcats will cause headaches for sure, but Baylor's defense rises up again and Gerry Bohanon has another big day as Baylor wins 26-17.

Cal at Stanford - This is a very old rivalry, but it is very low key this year as neither team has been impressive. I'll always side with David Shaw though, and Stanford wins "The Game" 26-23.

Arizona State at Oregon State - Both teams need help from the Oregon-Utah to stay alive in their respective divisional hunts, but a win in this game is the other key to that crown. Arizona State has been skirting by the last couple weeks after a rough end to October while the Beavers lost 3 games they really shouldn't have. Late at night, up in Corvallis, weird things tend to happen. Beavers win this one 35-28.

Thanks for reading my Week 12 Predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 11 Predictions

Hello Football Friends and welcome to Week 11! Despite the BYE week for the Huskers, there’s been plenty of news around the football team and I’ve got a full break down on that along with Ohio State. I’ll also give my predictions on all the games to keep an eye on this weekend. I’ve got a big post today with all sorts of content, so let’s dive right in!

 

Starting with the Huskers, I’ll give my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD from the Ohio State game. Then I’ll break down the changes to Scott Frost’s contract and the changes to the Husker Football Coaching staff.

 

GOOD – The Husker defense and especially JoJo Doman. The Blackshirts stepped up big once again, and I’ll be honest, I was not expecting them to. I thought they had fallen off after some sub-par performances against the Gophers and Boilermakers, but Ohio State was held under 100 yards rushing and was forced to kick 4 field goals. They did give up 405 passing yards to the Buckeyes, but the Huskers kept everything in front of them and most importantly kept their team in the game until the very end. The defense has performed well for a majority of the season, and one of the leaders on this unit has been JoJo Doman. Earlier this week he announced his retirement from the Huskers as he is likely looking to get healthy before moving onto the next level. Some fans may be a bit biffed by the fact he won’t finish out the season with his team, but he gave more than enough to the Huskers during his career. Especially this year, Doman has racked up 44 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. A great way to end his career at UNL and all the best to him as he hopefully moves onto the NFL.

 

EXPECTED – Special Teams screwing Nebraska over. Of course, immediately after I give Chase Contreraz his props, he goes 1/3 on field goals. A frightening statistic I saw reported over the weekend was that special teams has directly cost Nebraska 37 points this season, and the Huskers have lost all of their games by a combined 42. The 13-yard punts, lack of any ability to set up a return and most importantly the missed field goals are unacceptable when you’re in year 4 of developing a program. There will be some misses or shanks here and there, but the fact that it’s an issue in every game of the season shows it is not being addressed in practice and that’s probably because there is not a designated special teams coordinator on this staff. Mike Dawson may have that title thrown on top of his position at linebackers coach, but it’s clear there’s no focus on the special teams unit.

 

BAD – Husker offense. Apparently the starting QB for the Husker offense has both a broken Jaw (for over a month now) and a high ankle sprain. Props to Adrian for gutting it out, but why the hell would you play an athlete with those kinds of injuries? This cannot be helpful to offensive production and it showed yet again as the Huskers failed to finish drives and missed multiple opportunities to take control of a game that didn’t have much in terms of momentum swings. It was nice to see Samori Toure get the ball as he racked up 150 yards and a TD through the air, but late in the game when the Huskers needed a big drive with points, Toure wasn’t given the ball much. Another star player who doesn’t get the ball enough, Austin Allen, was standing on the sidelines for that dive because there is no offensive game plan to get him the ball despite his incredible athletic abilities. Poor use of talent is a primary reason why the Huskers have struggled so much the last few years.

My thoughts on the restructured contract of Scott Frost are quite simple, it was very obvious. I wasn’t surprised when it was announced that he would return next year, but I’m glad to see Alberts finally holding his feet to the fire. It’s good to see changes to the offensive coaching staff, but I’d like to see a Special Teams Coordinator hired along with a new recruitment staff. We’ll see if this extra year can help change things and turn it around.

 

 

Now let’s get to the game predictions for this week!

 

Week 10 Results: 10 - 5

Overall Results: 107 – 58

 

 

#6 Michigan at Penn State

The Wolverines travel to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions. For absolutely no reason at all they’ve been ranked #6 by the College Football Playoff Committee, ahead of Michigan State at #7 who beat them just two weeks ago. Despite that, Michigan plans to keep pace in the BIG 10 East by rolling through Penn State with their ground game. Hassan Haskins will be the feature back as Corum did not make the trip. He's been tough to slow down this year, but Penn State does have a tough defense. Both teams are giving up around 16 points per game, so the offenses will need to make the most of their opportunities. The difference maker is Penn State’s inability to run the ball. This gives Michigan the edge on time of possession, and as long as they can get pressure on Sean Clifford, they should be able to get out with a victory. Wolverines survive thanks to some big plays on defense 24-21.

 

 

#8 Oklahoma at #13 Baylor

The Sooners haven’t had a terrible amount of competition throughout the season this year, but that changes for the last few weeks as they kick off a Big XII Gauntlet with a road trip to Waco. The Bears stumbled last week against TCU, and need a big win to stay in the hunt for a Big XII Championship. As most matchups in this conference go, I would expect a lot of points. Caleb Williams looks to be the real deal for Oklahoma, racking up nearly 1,200 passing yards and 14 TDs in just 3.5 games. Baylor’s defense struggled mightily against the pass last week and I don’t expect that to change. Sooners win this shootout 47-33.

 

 

#19 Purdue at #4 Ohio State

The giant killers are looking for their next victim as the Boilermakers travel to the Horseshoe ready to take down the Buckeyes. I am very much rooting for the Spoilermakers to go 3 for 3 on top 5 opponents this season, but everyone will be looking for it. However, they are playing some fantastic defense, and the Buckeyes did not look very impressive against Nebraska last week. Having attended that game, I was constantly questioning the play call decisions made by Ryan Day and company. Ohio State still racked up over 400 yards passing, but was held to just 26 points, did not crack 100 rushing and only took a couple of deep shots down the field. If Purdue can stifle the Buckeyes run game things could get interesting. Aiden O’Connell will need to keep hold of the rock and play at a high level against an aggressive and fast Ohio State defense. David Bell needs to be the focal point of the offense complimented by the run game with Horvath and Doerue. Unfortunately, I think the talent of Ohio State will outlast the Boilermakers and Ryan Day will be looking to make a statement in this game. I like things for Purdue if they can keep the ball away from the Buckeye offense, but I think Ohio State will win this game 30-17.

 

 

Minnesota at #20 Iowa (Battle for the Floyd of Rosedale)

We stay in the BIG 10 Conference as there is a Bronze Pig on the line in Iowa City. The Gophers and Hawkeyes meet as they battle for not only Floyd, but the top spot in the BIG 10 West as well. This could turn into an interesting game as Iowa has shown their true colors the last few weeks. Minnesota has been up and down all season long. They will be looking to rise back up today as they need to bounce back quickly from their very bad loss to Illinois at home last week. Against Iowa they will need to force the Hawkeyes to pass. Iowa benched QB Spencer Petras last week, so we’ll see if that change is permanent or not. Either way, Tyler Goodsen cannot have a big day if Minnesota wants Floyd to come home with them. Unfortunately, I think this will be one of those dumb games that Iowa wins because of all the mistakes made by the other team. Iowa wins the pig as they beat the Gophers 27-21.

 

 

#11 Texas A&M at #15 Ole Miss

    The Aggies need some help, but still have a shot at the SEC West division. They need to fend off a feisty Lane Kiffin offense in order to do so, but that’s easier said than done. Ole Miss hasn’t played well against teams with a tough defense, but if they can turn this game into a shootout the odds certainly shift into their favor. A&M has struggled to put up points, so this should be a unique game to watch. The Aggies did handle Auburn pretty well last week though, so I’m giving them the edge on the road. Texas A&M wins this one with defense 28-20.

 

 

 #9 Notre Dame at Virginia

The Irish travel to Charlottesville to take on the Cavaliers in a sneaky game that could be dangerous for Notre Dame. Virginia can put up points, and their air attack averages over 400 yards per game. If the Irish get caught in a shootout, things could get ugly. Notre Dame has the better defense in this one, but their offense might not be able to keep pace with Brennan Armstrong's 3,500+ yards and 27 TDs. Virginia's defense needs to step up big if they want to pull this upset. I think they're going to pull it off. A little night game magic and the Cavaliers upset Notre Dame in a barnburner 41-38.

#16 NC State at #12 Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons may not be undefeated any more, but they still have the inside track to winning the ACC. They host a hungry Wolfpack who are always looking for an upset. NC State has one of the best defenses in the nation, ranking 19th in total defense and giving up just an average of 16 points. They'll need to slow down a red hot Wake Forest offense that averages 44.7 points per game, good for second best in the nation. Devin Leary and the Wolfpack offense have been good this year too, putting up 31 points per game. I think Wake Forest is going to bounce back and get this victory at home. Demon Deacons win a thriller 39-35.

Nevada at #22 San Diego State

Out in the Mountain West, the Wolfpack and the Aztecs battle for the top spot in the division. This game should be a fun night cap as it features one of the conferences best offenses against one of the best defenses. Nevada's air raid attack averages over 375 yards per game behind the big arm of Carson Strong. He's thrown for 3,197 yards with 25 TDs and just 7 picks this season. San Diego State has their work cut out for them , but often play some lockdown defense, giving up just 300 yards per game. This could really go either way, but I'm going to stick with my preseason pick and take Nevada to win this game 31-28.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Mississippi State at #17 Auburn - The Bulldogs are looking to play spoiler as they are one game away from bowl eligibility, but the Tigers need a bounce back win from getting thrashed by A&M. Auburn wins it at home 33-21.

West Virginia at Kansas State - The Mountaineers need to turn it on late in the season to reach a bowl game, but taking on the Cats in Bill Snyder Family Stadium is not usually a good way to do that. Both of these teams have been very up and down, but I'll take the home team as K-State wins 24-21.

UCF at SMU - The Ponies have dropped their last two games and now host a Golden Knight Team that could send this game into another shootout. I think SMU hangs on to win this one late, but they need a big performance from QB Tanner Mordecai. Mustangs win 48-41.

Iowa State at Texas Tech - The Red Raiders can get bowl eligible with an upset win over the Cyclones today, but Iowa State is still hanging to a chance of making it back to the Big XII Championship. They need this win to stay in the race and Matt Campbell should have his team ready. ISU 31, TTU 17.

Arkansas at LSU - A Golden Boot is on the line as the Tigers host the Hogs. Arkansas' offensive production has dropped off significantly in the second half the season, and they're going up against an LSU defense that just held Alabama to 20 points. The Tigers are fighting to send Coach O out on a high note with a bowl game, and it starts with this game right here. Tigers win the Golden Boot trophy at home, chomping the Hogs 30-20.

I hope you enjoyed reading all my reflections and predictions. Enjoy your Week 11 of College Football and as always... GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 10 Predictions

      Hello Football Fans and welcome to Week 10! I've decided that until the Huskers win another game, I will just do an abbreviated reflection at the beginning of my predictions post. Basically that means you'll have to wait until next season to read a full Husker reflection post, but it's pretty clear where the issues of this team are. So this post will include a reflection from the Purdue game along with my predictions for all the interesting games to watch this weekend. Enjoy!

     As predicted by yours truly, the Huskers refused to bring their heads to the home game against the Boilermakers last week, and lost 28-23 at home. Poor decision making, play calling and just overall energy led to yet another pathetic performance on the field. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below.

GOOD - Chase Contreraz. I don't know why it took 9 weeks to switch out kickers, but Chase Contreraz stepped in and hit his 33 yard field goal and extra points just like he should despite all eyes on him. There's a lot of pressure with kicker at Nebraska these days, kudos to Chase.

EXPECTED - Defensive downfall. It was only a matter of time before the strain of carrying the team in the first half of the season dug into the defense and the Blackshirts began to fall off. Signs of the grind showed in Minneapolis, but with the Boilermakers holding the ball for nearly two-thirds of the game, it was inevitable. That's more on fault from the offense, but the defense is beginning to waiver.

BAD - Adrian Martinez and the Husker offense. This was easily Adrian's worst performance of the year, and possibly his career. He looked like a completely different quarterback on Saturday, and unfortunately for all the fans in red at Memorial Stadium and beyond, it was not a quarterback who knew what he was doing. Poor offensive line play and predictable play calling didn't help the situation, but Martinez threw 4 interceptions and completed less than half of his passes. There was no run game developed throughout the game and Frost still refuses to use his best weapon on the field, Martinez's legs. This offense has three tough defenses to face the rest of this season and it will not go well.

Now onto the Week 10 predictions!

Week 9 Record: 13 - 5

Overall Record: 97 - 53

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

     The Black Knights and Falcons are set to meet down in Arlington, TX where the Rangers play. Army had a rough October, suffering three straight losses and all in close games. The Falcons also lost a close one recently, falling 20-14 to San Diego State a couple weeks ago. Both teams had a BYE week leading into this, so the extra rest and preparation should make for a good game. It's going to be all ground and pound in this one as both offenses run the triple option and average 400 (Army) and 395 (Air Force) yards per game on the ground. This one should be tight, but I like Army to steal one and bounce back from their three game skid. Army beats Air Force 35-30.

#9 Wake Forrest at North Carolina

     The Demon Deacons have reached their highest ranking in school history with #9 in the opening rankings of the College Football Playoffs. All that really means is they are in prime position to get stuck in the tar as they take on North Carolina in Chapel Hill. I would expect a lot of points on the board in this one as neither team has played much defense yet this year. The QB battle will be fun to watch though, and the Sams square off to see who's the best with the name in the ACC. Sam Hartman for the Demon Deacons has been on fire this season, throwing for nearly 2,500 yards with 22 TDs and just 3 picks so far. Sam Howell has struggled a bit with a young offensive line and weapons around him, but he's still racked up nearly 2,200 yards with 19 TDs. Wake has a very difficult schedule remaining, but they've proven they can find the edge in close games, and I think they get it done. Sam Hartman make some very good decisions with the ball and the Demon Deacons remain undefeated with a 44-38 victory.

#3 Michigan State at Purdue

     Sparty is in with the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, but today they travel to West Lafayette where ranked teams go to die. That scary train whistle off in the distance can mess with your head, so Peyton Thorne and company will need to be ready, as Purdue already has one big upset on the season after knocking off Iowa. This is likely do be a defensive game, as Michigan State gives up just an average of 20.5 points per game while Purdue gives up just 17.1. Both teams have some talent on offense. Purdue will look to the air and wants to get the ball to star wideout David Bell as much as possible. Sparty is going to hand off the rock to Kenneth Walker III. The Junior sensation averages nearly 7 yards per carry and has 14 TDs so far this season. He's given headaches to numerous defenses and often times runs over defenders. The Boilermakers have a few different QBs they could play, but it seems like Aiden O'Connell is starting to take the lead of the team. This is likely to be an interesting game, but I think the ground game being established early gives Michigan State the edge. I want to say BoilerUp, but I think Sparty takes this one 31-24.

Tulsa at #6 Cincy

     Despite the College Football Playoff Committee not giving Cincy any respect, the crew from College Gameday is headed to the Queen City to highlight the matchup between Tulsa and Cincinnati. Statistically, there's not much to this game, the Bearcats are better in all ares. The have the 6th ranked total defense in the nation and one of the best (and most underrated) QBs in Desmond Ridder. He's led this team for the past few years and has done nothing but impress. This season he's accounted for 21 total TDs and could be set up for a Hesiman-caliber performance today. Cincy needs more statement wins to have the colleges that would. Bearcats win 38-10.

#17 Mississippi State at Arkansas

     The Razorbacks have quickly fallen out of the rankings while the Bulldogs have quickly jumped in after knocking off Kentucky last week. On paper, these teams look to be evened out well. They do have their strengths though. Arkansas loves to run the ball, averaging 249 yards per contest, but they'll be up against the 2nd best run defense in the nation. This game will come down to the QB play, and both KJ Jefferson and Will Rogers have had both good games and bad. Rogers is on a bit of a hot streak after throwing for nearly 350 yards last week, so I'm giving the edge to the Bulldogs. This should be a fun one to watch! Mississippi State 36, Arkansas 31.

#11 Oklahoma State at West Virginia

     Despite the head to head win, Oklahoma State has Baylor right on their heels in the race for the Big XII Championship game. West Virginia has bounced back after some tough losses earlier in the season and knocked off Iowa State last week. This is a very important game for the Pokes to not overlook as Morgantown is not always an easy place to win. The Mountaineers have some playmakers on offense, and one person who will get the ball a lot today is running back Leddie Brown. Brown averages 4.6 yards per carry and has 11 TDs on the season thus far. He'll be up against a tough Oklahoma State run defense, but if he can find some lanes, his speed will open up the WVU offense. As usual, Oklahoma State finds themselves in a game that's difficult to pick and I almost always pick wrong with them. However, it's my roommate Nate's birthday and his family has OSU ties, so Pokes win this one 30-24.

#13 Auburn at #14 Texas A&M

     Our only ranked versus ranked matchup of the week takes place in College Station as the Tigers look to get a big win on the road and keep pace with Alabama in the SEC West. A&M isn't quite out of the race due to their head to head win over the Tide, but they will need this win and some help if they're to make it to the SEC Championship. This should be a very fun game to watch as both teams have solid defense and offensively have talent that can certainly light up the scoreboard when needed. Bo Nix has been playing very well at QB for the Tigers this season, throwing for 1,764 yards with 9 TDs and just 2 picks. He's also added another 4 TDs on the ground, so A&M will certainly have to watch him outside of the pocket in the red zone. The Aggies will look to cause a lot of havoc in the backfield as their d-line is one of the nation's best. They have 24 sacks on the season so far as a defense, and the offensive line for Auburn has given up just 9, so this will be a tough battle. Could be a close one, but I like Auburn to edge things out. I think the talent and experience Bo Nix has will lead them to victory. Tigers 34, Aggies 28.

Boise State at #23 Fresno State

     I'm telling y'all, there's some good games in the Mountain West that have been going on this season. This personally has been one of my favorite conferences to watch this year as there are so many teams fighting for that top spot in the conference. Boise is having an uncharacteristically tough season at 4-4, but they've shown they can hang with top teams both winning and losing some close games. Fresno State however is on a roll, and they've recently beaten two of the best teams in the conference on back-to-back weeks. Boise will put up a fight on the road, but Fresno at home will be too much. Bulldogs beat the Broncos 33-27.

UTSA at UTEP

     The Roadrunners and Miners are set to do battle late Saturday night and you may want to tune into this one. This is a battle for the top spot in the West Division of Conference USA, and the Roadrunners are looking to remain unbeaten and get one of those fancy little numbers by their name. They have a hyper-charged offense, scoring nearly 40 points per game, led by Senior QB Frank Harris. Harris has nearly 1,800 yards through the air on the season with 16 TDs and just 3 picks. His dual-threat ability gives teams headaches and helps to balance out UTSA's offense, which averages almost 450 yards per game. UTEP will have their hands full in this one. They have a tough defense, but often fail to put high point totals on the board. If they can slow UTSA down to their pace, they can pull of the upset, but I've got the Roadrunners running away with this one 40-21.

#5 Ohio State at Nebraska

     I'm going to be honest, this one won't go well today. It rarely does when the Buckeyes visit Memorial Stadium, but the wheels seem to be falling off for the Huskers as this season moves toward the end and I'm not confident these players and coaches are remotely ready for what Ohio State brings to the table. Their defense has been completely dominant since losing to Oregon, and each week that passes just gives more chemistry and experience to Freshman QB CJ Stroud. He has a list of NFL talent around him including Garrett Wilson, Jaxson Smith-Njigba and the famed Chris Olave. All of these receivers average at least 16 yards per catch. Garrett Wilson will not be playing though, so this does help the Huskers out a bit. Despite the Blackshirt's confidence and strong performances this season, Ohio State is at another level, they will have a field day against the Husker secondary. Offensively, Nebraska needs to to establish the run, get the ball to their playmakers and not turn it over. Unfortunately, that's competent football and we all know how this season has gone. I'm hoping the performance by Adrian kicks up a few notches from last week, but if he doesn't run and the Buckeyes get pressure on him early and often, this one will be over quick. I'm hoping we break 20, but I don't think Nebraska is keeping this game within the 14.5 spread. Buckeyes roll 45-20.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Texas at Iowa State - Both teams are in need of a pick me up, but the Longhorns are on a 3 game losing skid and there's few things that would ease my Husker pain than Iowa State extending that to 4 games. Cyclones win it with defense at home by slowing down Bijan Robinson, 30-21.

Liberty at Ole Miss - Hugh Freeze returns to the grove as Liberty takes on Ole Miss. That's really the only headline for this game. There will be points galore with these offenses, but Matt Corral and the Rebels light it up 52-24.

LSU at #2 Alabama - The Tide are going to make a statement and their opponent in this one will not be able to keep pace. Alabama 38, LSU 17.

San Jose State at Nevada - The Spartans are looking to fight in the West division of the Mountain West Conference, but Nevada should have few problems against a pass defense that ranks 48th. Carson Strong lights it up and wins it 35-21 for the Wolfpack.

USC at Arizona State - The Trojans are looking to spoil the Sun Devils season more while they are looking to keep pace with Utah in the South. ASU's offense has been very underwhelming this year, but I think their defense holds on for them. Forks up as they win 28-17.

Thanks for reading my gameday predictions and I hope you all have a fabulous Saturday. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 9 Predictions

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

Week 8 Record: 11 - 2

Overall Record: 84 - 48

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

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

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

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

Texas at #16 Baylor

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

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

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

Boston College at Syracuse

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

#10 Ole Miss at #18 Auburn

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

#12 Kentucky at Mississippi State

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

#19 SMU at Houston

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

#20 Penn State at #5 Ohio State

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

UCLA at Utah

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

Virginia at #25 BYU

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

Fresno State at #21 San Diego State

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

Purdue at Nebraska

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

Quick Hit Predictions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 8 Predictions

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

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

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

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

Week 7 Record: 11 - 7

Overall Record: 73 - 46

#16 Wake Forest at Army

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

Wisconsin at #25 Purdue

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

#8 Oklahoma State at Iowa State

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

#10 Oregon at UCLA

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

Clemson at #23 Pitt

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

Nevada at Fresno State

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

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

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

Utah at Oregon State

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

Quick Hit Predictions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 7 Predictions

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

Week 6 Record: 6 - 5

Overall Record: 62 - 39

UCF at #3 Cincinnati

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

#12 Oklahoma State at #25 Texas

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

Auburn at #17 Arkansas

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

#11 Kentucky at #1 Georgia

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

Purdue at #2 Iowa

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

#19 BYU at Baylor

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

TCU at #4 Oklahoma

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

#22 NC State at Boston College

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

#18 Arizona State at Utah

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

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

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

Quick Hit Predictions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando