Week 4 Predictions

      Happy Saturday College Football Fans! We have quite the slate of games to watch today and I've got the full breakdown for the keys to watch. This week features six ranked v. ranked matchups across the nation and some could have some major playoff implications. With my travel schedule to Europe this week my predictions will be short and sweet due to the time crunch. Read on and enjoy the games today!

Week 3 Record: 13 - 5

Overall Record: 49 - 12

#4 Florida State at Clemson

     The ‘Noles survived a scare and some nasty weather up in Chestnut Hill last week, and now travel to Death Valley to take on the Tigers. Clemson is still struggling with their identity though, and FSU is a playoff team in my book. Seminoles win impressively in Death Valley 27-17.

#16 Oklahoma at Cincy

     The Bearcats host the Sooners for their first taste of Big XII Football. The Sooner defense has looked good so far this season, and Dillon Gabriel is putting up crazy numbers. I like Oklahoma to win 34-20 on the road.

Auburn at Texas A&M

     An under the radar SEC West game but could be an interesting one to watch. This will be Auburn's first test while A&M is looking to bounce back into the spotlight after the Miami loss a couple weeks ago. I like the Aggies at home, but protecting the QB will be a big factor. Texas A&M beats Auburn 33-24.

#19 Colorado at #10 Oregon

     Coach Prime and his Buffaloes will have a big test as they play their first conference game of the season in Autzen Stadium against the Ducks. Bo Nix has been sensational this year and will be looking to put up big numbers against the Buffs defense. Shedeur and the Buffaloes offense will be without star wideout Travis Hunter, but can always seem to put up points. This should be a good one but I'm high on the Ducks this year and I say Oregon wins it 38-21 behind a big Bo Nix performance.

#22 UCLA at #11 Utah

     Chip Kelley and the Bruins were a bit of a surprise upset for the Utes last year, so revenge is certainly front of mind in this one. Utah's offense has struggled to get going this season with star QB Cameron Rising still injured, but their defense has been lights out. Defense wins championships and PAC-12 conference games. Utah gets revenge on the Bruins 28-13.

BYU at Kansas

     There's a strong argument that this should be a ranked v. ranked matchup as well, but the Cougars play their first Big XII conference game on the road in Lawrence against the Jayhawks. They pulled off a big upset win against Arkansas last week while Kansas has been able to keep opponents at an arms length all season. This will be a fun QB battle to watch between Kedon Slovis (BYU) and Jalon Daniels (KU), but I'm sticking with the Jayhawks at home. A good game between the Big XII blues as Kansas wins it 33-30.

#15 Ole Miss at #13 Alabama

     The QB situation in Tuscaloosa is not ideal for a championship program, but nonetheless the Crimson Tide are still trying to figure things out. Lane Kiffin and the Land Sharks (officially still Rebels but not as cool) will look to torch the Bama defense like Texas did a couple weeks ago. I'm anxious to see how close this gap has become across the SEC and Bama, but I'm taking the tide to win 30-27.

Arkansas at #12 LSU (Battle for the Golden Boot)

     The trophy of two states stacked on each other in the shape of a boot is at stake as the Hogs travel to the (real) Death Valley. LSU made a big statement against Mississippi State on the road last week, so look for Jayden Daniels and the Tigers to continue imposing their will on opponents. Tigers chomp the Pigs 38-10.

UCF at Kansas State

     The last Big XII newcomer to begin their conference play is the Knights of UCF. They can put up a lot of yards and points, but the mid-west defense of the Power Cats might slow them down a bit. Unfortunately for K-State, QB Will Howard is questionable to play and their offense may not keep pace in a shootout. I think they bounce back from the Mizzou loss last week and the Wildcats win at home 23-17.

#14 Oregon State at #21 Washington State

     The Beavers and the Cougars square off for the first ever time as ranked opponents. The remaining members of the PAC 12 (now officially known as the 2-PAC) are undefeated so far this season and have looked very impressive in the early stages. Two very different styles of football will be played in this one, so if you're interested in learning some different strategies this is one to watch. Oregon State will pound the rock and own the line of scrimmage, they rank 14th in the nation for rushing. Wazzu will air it out with Cameron Ward as they rank 3rd in the nation in passing. Both defenses will have a handful and this could be one of the best games of the day. It's a difficult pick but I'm going with the Beavers and the ground game on the road in a 27-24 gritty win.

#24 Iowa at #7 Penn State

     A classic BIG 10 slugfest under the lights in a White Out in Happy Valley. Two of the nation's top defenses will look to impose their will in a game where crossing into the redzone could be difficult, let alone scoring touchdowns. Penn State is looking to solidify themselves as the top dog in the BIG 10 and it comes with a big performance against the Hawkeyes. Nittany Lions show up big for the White Out and beat Iowa 27-10.

Rutgers at #2 Michigan

     The Wolverines get their head man back as Jim Harbaugh has finished his 3-game suspension. Rutgers has started well this season with a 3-0 record, but Michigan is ready to roll now that BIG 10 play begins. Wolverines 34, Scarlet Knights 14.

Oklahoma State at Iowa State

     The Pokes were smacked by Southern Alabama last week while the Cyclones have lost two straight games due to a severe lack of offense. Not sure what to expect in this one but I think the Cowboys have more firepower (not saying much) so I'll take them to win 30-21 on the road.

SMU at TCU

     A Dallas-Ft. Worth rivalry takes place today as the Mustangs and Horned Frogs square off. The big question in this game is if the SMU band will plant more grass seeds on the TCU field. Both teams will be high-flying in this game, so I would expect some points. It could be re-named to the Sonny Dykes Bowl as SMU was his former team prior to the Frogs, but I think his current team wins this one. 44-37 in a barn burner deep in the heart of Texas.

#3 Texas at Baylor

     Speaking of the Lone Star State, the Longhorns were a bit sleepy against Wyoming last week, we'll see if they come out a little more jazzed against in-state rival Baylor. The Bears have not beaten an FBS opponent in their last 7 games, but do love to spoil Texas' fun from time to time. Hook 'Em 34-17.

Cal at #8 Washington

     If you haven’t watched Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies yet, you’re doing College Football wrong. This team has Playoff power and they are fun to watch. Huskies win big after dark 45-10.

#6 Ohio State at #9 Notre Dame

     The Marcus Freeman Bowl features two teams really looking to make a statement early in the year. Ohio State offense is starting to pick up, but Notre Dame has Sam Hartman at QB and they've been very strong this year. I'm a big fan of Hartman and I expect a big night out of him under the eyes of Touchdown Jesus. Fightin' Irish win 33-28.

Louisiana Tech at Nebraska

     Heinrich Haarberg is starting at QB and that's all I needed to hear! The Blackshirts should have another strong performance and RB Anthony Grant is now the focus. Huskers win big at home 31-14.

Thank you for reading my abbreviated gameday predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 3 Reflections

      Matt Rhule and the Huskers finally got their first win of 2023 with an impressive performance at home over the Huskies of NIU. Unfortunately, with the breaking injury news today, the 35-11 victory came with a pretty steep cost as Nebraska's top two running backs are now out for the remainder of the season. Gabe Ervin Jr. dislocated his hip and Rahmir Johnson dislocated his shoulder. It certainly puts a damper on a much needed win for the Huskers, but there are still many bright spots to talk about and build upon. I've got a full break down of the game with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories along with highlights from around the nation. Read on and enjoy!

     The Huskers can add one into the win column after their 35-11 victory against the Huskies of Northern Illinois. With Jeff Sims injured late in the Colorado game, Heinrich Haarberg got his first start as QB1 for the Huskers. The homegrown kid from Kearney made the most of his start leading the Husker offense to a season-best 382 total yards of offense and 35 points. The Husker defense was standout throughout the game and even held NIU to a field goal after a Husker fumble on the 5 yard line. A late minute TD against the second team gave NIU 11 points following the successful 2 point conversion, but a big tip of the cap to the defense in this one. Here's my full breakdown below.

GOOD - Heinrich Haarberg and the Blackshirt Defense. As mentioned above, the Blackshirts nearly pitched a shutout, but a look into the numbers truly shows how dominant this defense has been. Tony White's 3-3-5 system has been causing headaches for all opposing offenses this season, and it was in full force on Saturday. The Huskers held Northern Illinois to just 26 yards rushing and 4 of 15 on third downs. The Husky passing game was bogged down by a large number of drops by their receivers, but it was also limited due to the pass rush of the Huskers. Nebraska had 3 sacks and 4 passes deflected in this one. The defense looks to be a unit that isn't messing around this year. Tougher challenges to come, but they're certainly going to keep the Huskers in games all year long.

Moving to the offensive side of the ball, Heinrich Haarberg had a very impressive debut leading the Husker offense. First and foremost, he caught the snaps! There was the fumble deep inside Husker territory, and a couple of throws where he didn't read the coverage well, but overall his play earned him another start if not the QB1 spot for Nebraska. My favorite play of his was on the opening drive with a read option. The defensive end was left unblocked to the read and with him sitting on the outside edge it should have been an easy give to the running back. However, Haarberg noticed the defensive tackle blowing up the guard for Nebraska and that a handoff would've resulted in a loss and possible fumble, so he made a secondary read, pulled the ball and made a move on the end to run around the edge for a first down. He also had a few decisions throughout the game where he threw the ball away to avoid a sack and didn't put it in danger. Last, but not least is that he ran TOUGH. Multiple times (probably to the coaches' dismay) Haarberg opted to run over a defender by lowering his shoulder rather than sliding. He commented after the game that Nebraska fans want a QB who runs like that and he wants to be that guy. A great performance by Haarberg and hopefully not the last one we see from him.

EXPECTED - Offensive line struggles. My feelings about the Husker O-line are no secret to anyone who knows me or reads the blog, but it's frustrating knowing exactly where the issues will occur before a play starts. Multiple plays were blown up within the first few seconds as the Husker linemen were pushed into the backfield and a lot of pass plays resulted in Haarberg scrambling. There were some nice downfield blocks later in the game on run plays, especially when the Huskers go heavy with 6 linemen in their power run formation, but they're few and far between. Following the scripted series of plays on the opening drive for a touchdown, the Huskers next four drives were fumble, punt, punt and punt, including two 3-and-outs. In total there were 4 three and outs for the Huskers. It all starts up front and this is a unit that needs to be better if the Huskers want to win more games.

BAD - Husker wide receivers. Specifically the route running and separation for the wideouts, but overall this is a unit that has really struggled in the early stages of 2023. One of my main coaching points with the High School Wide Receivers I coach is that the race starts at the break in their route. My partner WR Coach Kevin Tims talks about it all the time and highlights how important separation from the defense is what truly allows receivers to make plays. The Husker receiver corps is one of the worst units I've ever seen at creating separation. Fidone is a bit of an exception due to his size, but the rest of the squad is not very crisp with their routes. There were multiple times during the game I saw Husker receivers just start blocking downfield before Haarberg took off to run because they knew they weren't open for a pass. This combined with the poor protection are key factors in the struggling passing game for Nebraska. The lack of star talent is not an excuse, good route-running and footwork is what allows you to get separation. This is an area Nebraska needs to improve on quickly. The lack of open passing routes is a major concern.

     Overall a very good performance by the Huskers and good momentum to build on as they close out non-conference play with Louisiana Tech this coming Saturday. The run game will certainly take a step back without Ervin and Johnson in the mix, but Anthony Grant has proven to be a playmaker before. I'm anxious to see what QB battles there may be at practice this week, and I'm certainly not opposed to seeing Jeff Sims at RB with Haarberg at QB. Could draw up som interesting plays with that combination. Only time will tell as the Huskers turn their sights onto Game 4.

Other thoughts from CFB Week 3:

- Tennessee still has not won in the Swamp since 2003 as Florida dominated the (formerly) #11 Vols 29-16. The Gators looked like a completely different team from the first two weeks. Maybe they'll catch fire?

- Georgia started slow against the Gamecocks but flipped the script in the second half and won 24-14. Still haven't been beaten at home since 2019.

- LSU looked very impressive against conference rival Mississippi State. Wide Receiver Malik Nabers had a career day for the Tigers with 13 catches for 239 and 2 TDs. Most of that was done in the first half!

- Missouri stormed the field after hitting a walk-off game winning field goal from 61-yards to beat K-State. Big upset and big leg by that kicker.

- Watch out for those teams in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State are all part of the undefeated squad in the PAC-12. All teams are putting up big numbers on offense, this will be a fun conference race to watch.

- Speaking of Washington, if you haven't watched Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies yet you're doing football wrong. The Huskies average just shy of 500 yards per game passing, but their schedule is brutal come November. Dark horse team to make a run.

- Notre Dame has looked solid so far this year but with Ohio State next up we'll see a true test to Sam Hartman and the Irish.

- Michigan State has started the process of firing Mel Tucker for cause. Tough look for a program that offered one of the most lucrative college coaching contracts in history.

- West Virginia won the back yard brawl against rival Pitt.

- BYU with a big road win against Arkansas.

- Colorado and Colorado State was certainly the highlight game of the day. The Buffs forced overtime with a last-minute, 98-yard drive to tie the game. They prevailed to a 43-35 double OT victory, but Travis Hunter is the big storyline. He was taken to the hospital after an unnecessary and dirty hit by the Colorado State Safety. It's never great to see a player go down, but especially when its from a bad hit with bad intent. The secondary problem is that the CSU player and his family are now receiving death threats. This is where things from the field start becoming a danger to the public. Certainly hope this gets cleared up soon.

- Despite a weekend with no ranked vs ranked matchups, there was no lacking of excitement. Bama's offense struggled on the road, Boston College nearly upset Florida State with a late game comeback and Texas had a sleepy start against Wyoming.

Thanks for reading my Week 3 Reflections and GO BIG RED! Look for my Week 4 Gameday Predictions later this week. Here's a photo from the pre-4th quarter light show at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Sensational light show put on by Husker Athletics that featured the lighted drones from Volleyball Day. Can't wait to see what else they do this year!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 3 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 3 of College Football! The Huskers are finally at home and although this may not be the biggest weekend of matchups, there are still plenty of games to keep an eye on. I've got the breakdown for all the games to watch and how the Huskers can finally get 1 in the win column on Saturday night. Read on for all my predictions below and GO BIG RED!

Week 2 Record: 16 - 4

Overall Record: 36 - 7

#7 Penn State at Illinois

     The Nittany Lions go on the road to start BIG 10 play against an Illinois team that has not been as good as most predicted this season. The Illini are still my favorite to win the West, but they need to get things organized quick. Penn State coming into this game has yet to face much of a challenge, and with a defense as good as theirs it will be interesting to see if many teams do actually challenge them this year. Offensively for the Nittany Lions, Drew Allar has been a great slot in at QB1, throwing for 529 yards and 4 TDs through the first two weeks. The Jayhawks racked up 277 through the air on Illinois last week, so if the trend continues it could be a big day for Allar. Defensively for the Illini, the passing game hasn't been the only aspect difficult to defend, KU also racked up 262 yards on the ground. I expect Illinois to step up and play this game a little closer, but Penn State has too much firepower to be stoped. Nittany Lions win on the road in solid fashion 30-17.

#14 LSU at Mississippi State

     The Tigers and Bulldogs square off again for a bit of an overlooked SEC West rivalry out in Starkville. This is the second longest running rivalry for the Bulldogs behind the Egg Bowl. Mississippi State survived an overtime thriller against Arizona at home last week as they celebrated their former coach, the late Mike Leach at the game. LSU stomped Grambling as they try to quickly forget about their Week 1 game against Florida State. Jayden Daniels and Will Rogers are the players to watch in this one as both look to put up big offensive numbers. If history has anything to say about this game, then it favors the Bulldogs. Since their victory in 2014, LSU wins two in a row and then Mississippi State takes one back. The Tigers have won the previous two seasons, so it should be Hail State in this one. However, I'm betting against history and I think Brian Kelly has his team ready for a 31-21 win.

Minnesota at #20 North Carolina

     The Gophers are looking to make a statement on the road while the Tar Heels are still recovering from their near stumble against the Mountaineers of Appalachian State. I mentioned that might be a trap game for them last week, and it turned out to be much closer than I (or UNC) anticipated. However, Sophomore RB Omarion Hampton carried the team to victory with 234 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. He'll be a force to be reckoned with for the Minnesota defense, especially after the Huskers averaged nearly 5 yards per carry on them. Offensively for Minnesota they've gone to more of a pass heavy attack, but did run for 300 last week. If Kaliakmanis can take care of the football, this could be a dangerous option in this game. UNC is giving up over 300 yards through the air through two games, and Minnesota's WR Daniel Jackson is a big-time playmaker. Regardless, I think Drake Maye and the Tar Heel offense is too much to stop. UNC wins the BIG 10/ACC challenge at home 24-20.

#8 Washington at Michigan State

     A sneaky road game pops up for the Huskies as they travel to East Lansing to take on Sparty at Michigan State. Luckily for UW, the Spartans are preoccupied with some off-field drama as Head Coach Mel Tucker was suspended earlier this week amid a sexual assault accusation. In an effort of trying to keep their program on track, Michigan State has brought back Mark Dantonio to be the team's associate head coach. Personally, I don't think it will make much of a difference as Michael Penix Jr. and the Husky offense will be putting up points. They're averaging 49.5 points through two games this season, and nearly 475 yards passing per game. I think Washington is going to make a statement in this road game. Sparty's defense will be tough, but Michael Penix Jr. continues his Heisman campaign with a big performance. Huskies 38, Spartans 21.

#11 Tennessee at Florida

     The Vols and Gators meet in Gainesville to write another chapter in this SEC rivalry. Last year, Tennessee narrowly escaped with a 38-33 victory. They havent beaten the Gators in Gainesville in 20 years though, so a lot of juju hanging around this one. Florida didn't look great in the season opener against Utah, but had a nice tune up game against McNease State. Tennessee hasn't been tested much yet this year, so Florida's defense will certainly be a wakeup call for Joe Milton and company. However, according to Joe Milton III himself, he can throw the ball a cool 90 yards downfield. I'm waiting to see it happen, but I think the Vols make a statement in this game. This offense will be difficult to stop once they get in rhythm, so I'm taking Tennessee 34-24.

BYU at Arkansas

     Former USC QB Kedon Slovis is slinging the rock for the Cougars now, but he's up against the Big Hot himself, KJ Jefferson. Jefferson has been one of my favorite QBs to watch over the past few seasons (yes, primarily so I can tell everyone he's got that HOG in him). So far this season he's thrown for nearly 400 yards with 5 TDs. Neither BYU nor Arkansas has played much competition yet this year, so this game will certainly tell a lot about both teams. Arkansas has a bit more balanced attack as opposed to BYU's air assault, so expect them to chew up some clock on their drives. I like Arkansas at home, so Woo Pig Sooie as they beat BYU 28-21.

Syracuse at Purdue

     Another BIG 10/ACC Challenge sets up in West Lafayette as the Boilermakers look to get back on track after a win against Virginia Tech last week. The Orange will look to torch the Purdue secondary as they're giving up an average of 323 yards passing per game. Senior QB Garrett Shrader is dangerous in the pocket, so Purdue needs to step up their pass rush big time in this one, they had 3 sacks last week. Offensively, Hudson Card has been solid for the Trainfolk, but feeding RB Devin Mockabee is a better path to victory in my opinion. He's averaging over 4 yards per carry and can help chew clock to keep the ball away from Shrader and Syracuse. Boilermakers surprise some folks and win this on 33-27.

Pitt at West Virginia (The Backyard Brawl)

     Just 75 miles and a lot of bad blood separate these two rivals as Pitt travels to Morgantown, WV to take on the Mountaineers. The Panthers are coming off a narrow loss at home against the Cincy Bearcats and now go back-to-back on another Big XII opponent. WVU should look to run the ball more in this one in order to counter the stingy defense of Pitt. I think Phil Jurkovich has a big night and the Panthers win a close one on the road 30-27.

Colorado State vs Colorado

     An in-state rivalry (now fueled by sunglasses and the shade thrown at them) is set to take place out in Boulder as the Buffaloes host the Rams. There's been plenty of drama this week as Coach Prime took offense to the Rams HC saying he takes his sunglasses and hat off when he talks to "adults". While I understand his point, you have to know anything and everything is going to fire up Colorado. They've got College Gameday coming to town and all the lights will be on Prime Time, just as he likes. Now in terms of the actual game, CSU needs to find some offense quickly. Colorado is going to score a earl and often, especially with their offensive efficiency. Buffs continue the Prime Time show as they win 35-14.

Fresno State at Arizona State

     The Bulldogs now travel to the dessert after an overtime victory against Easter Washington. The Sun Devils are trying to bounce back from their home loss to Oklahoma State, so both teams are ready to get a reset win. Fresno State already took down Purdue on the road with their new coaching staff, they're hoping to do the same against Arizona State. Senior Wideout Erik Brooks is a fantastic receiver for the Bulldogs, and could cause some issues defensively for ASU. I like the Bulldogs to keep winning in a close one 24-21 for Fresno State.

Northern Illinois at Nebraska

     The Huskers are looking to get Matt Rhule his first win as he makes his Memorial Stadium debut under the lights against Northern Illinois. The Sea of Red is anxious to get that first win of 2023 and is probably more anxious to see who takes snaps at QB. Jeff Sims has had major turnover issues, but he's still Matt Rhule's guy and I expect him to be running the offense for the Big Red. Hopefully the key word is running today, as the Huskers average over 200 yards per game on the ground. Gabe Irving Jr. should have another big day, complimented by Sims' ability on the ground. Northern Illinois is no slouch team though, and they've won in Lincoln before back in 2017, exactly 6 years ago today. Ex-Spartan QB Rocky Lombardi is the leader of the Huskies, but luckily for Nebraska, he has a number of turnover issues as well. Turnovers are certainly the key to victory in this game, as both defenses have been stout so far this season. Under the lights in Memorial hits different though, and with an aggressive pass rush I think the Blackshirts lock it down just like they have been. Hopefully the run game gets moving and the Husker offense can take care of the ball. Nebraska runs out of a new tunnel today and I think that's good luck moving forward. GO BIG RED as the Huskers beat the Huskies 27-14.

Quick Hit Predictions-

#3 Florida State at Boston College - The 'Noles have a couple of road games on the schedule, and next week's against Clemson is one they've been waiting for. However, they can't forget about the Golden Eagles in a trap game this weekend. I think they take care of business and Jordan Travis continues his Heisman campaign, but don't get caught looking ahead. FSU 38, BC 17. A special sight with the 10th Annual Red Bandanna Team and new uniforms for the Eagles.

Kansas State at Missouri - The Wildcats and Tigers renew an old Big XII Rivalry as they square off in Columbia. Both teams have fairly similar stats to start off from the season, so the QB battle will likely determine this one. I'm giving the nod to Will Howard and the Wildcats. KState 31, Mizzou 24.

South Carolina at #1 Georgia - The DAWGS are going for a 20th straight victory over the Gamecocks, and have the luxury of playing between the hedges. Their pass rush is always formidable and South Carolina has struggled to protect QB Spencer Rattler. I'm taking UGA at home 34-14.

San Diego State at #16 Oregon State - The Beavers are quietly racking up nearly 50 points per game as DJ Uiagalelei has been loving his new home, and despite the Aztecs always being an upset-minded team, the Beavers will be winning this game. Dominant run game and Oregon State wins 40-21.

#19 Oklahoma at Tulsa - The Sooners take a short road trip to in-state foe Tulsa. Not as impressive of a performance last week against SMU for Oklahoma, so this is another opportunity to put up some points before conference play begins. This is the first of two straight road trips, but I think Dillon Gabriel and the Sooners get it done. Oklahoma wins the in-state battle with Tulsa 38-17.

Wyoming at Texas - A seemingly light non-conference game ahead of their final season of Big XII play could be dangerous as Texas comes off their big win in Tuscaloosa over Bama last week. Everyone thinks Texas could officially be back, but Wyoming is not a great team to play during a hangover. Certainly closer than the 29.5 point line if you're betting. Hook 'Em in a tough one. 37-24 Texas.

TCU at Houston - A new in-state Big XII matchup has the Frogs taking the road to take on the Cougars. Houston lost their cross-town rival Rice in double overtime last week, so they will certainly be hungry for a win. Both offenses have a lot of firepower so expect a classic Big XII shootout in this one. I think Sonny Dykes and the Frogs are still dangerous, so give me the Superfrogs as they win 42-34 on the road.

Thank you for reading all of my Week 3 Predictions and enjoy your College Football Saturday! GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Reflections

      The only thing I didn't want to have happen with Nebraska playing at Colorado was to get blown out and look terrible in front of everyone watching around the nation. However, the Huskers found yet another way to disappoint me (and the rest of Husker Nation) as they were trashed by the Buffaloes 36-14. The Deion Show was in full force out in Boulder and despite a strong defensive effort early, the tragedy that is the Huskers offense led the way to the team's demise. This post breaks down the game out in Boulder along with other big highlights from across College Football. As usual, I have everything you need to know about the game broken down into my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories.

GOOD - Husker pass rush. Surprisingly enough, despite the struggles of the team, Nebraska's defense leads the nation with 11 sacks so far this season. Most of the damage came against the Buffaloes as the Blackshirts racked up 8 on Saturday morning. Shedeur Sanders played very well, but he was getting blasted throughout the game by the Husker pass rush. This is an element we have not seen in quite some time from the Huskers, so hopefully it sticks around. The previous highest ranking for Nebraska in sacks for the season was 65th in 2016.

EXPECTED - Colorado's offensive firepower. While the efficiency of their offense dropped at the hands of the Huskers, the Buffs still put up nearly 400 yards through the air and 36 points. Their receivers made big plays when it mattered and Shedeur made all the big throws. Regardless of how you feel about Prime Time and his squad, they can (and will) put up points.

BAD - Jeff Sims and the Husker offense. There's not much else that comes close to this topic. The Huskers have been dominant on the ground, but turnovers and failed drives destroy any positives the run game tries to develop. Jeff Sims has been a particular area of concern as he's accounted for 7 turnovers in just 8 quarters of play. Multiple botched snaps on Saturday had Husker fans (myself included) calling for him to be benched following halftime. He followed it up in the second half with a fabulous TD run, but was otherwise ineffective and inefficient throughout the rest of his time in the game. Personally, this is why I don't think Matt Rhule should have told Casey Thompson to transfer. I understand there is a heavy dose of QB runs in this offense, but the lack of a forward passing attack is very limiting. Especially with an inexperienced receiver corps, this offense needs to find solutions fast.

Overall, this was a frustrating performance on a number of fronts. Not only did the Huskers lose to rival Colorado, but they did so with another performance that feature more personal trouble inflicted upon themselves rather than the other team. Colorado certainly cranked up their performance in the second half, but they punted 4 straight times to start the game. Nebraska needs to start taking advantage of these situations.

Other thoughts from CFB Week 2:

- Is Texas back? Steve Sarkisian and the Horns went into Bryant-Denny Stadium and beat the tide on their home turf 34-24. Quinn Ewers threw for 349 and 3 TDs on the Tide while Bama QB Jalen Milroe had a couple of bad interceptions that helped tipped things in favor of Texas. Quite the statement for a team about to join the SEC.

- Elsewhere around the Big XII, Utah and Oregon pulled off narrow victories on the road against Baylor and Texas Tech respectfully. These were tough games that came down to the wire, but the PAC-12 came out victorious in both.

- Kansas dismantled Illinois on Friday night and my pick for the BIG 10 West Division Crown is looking a bit shaky after that game. The Jayhawks looked badass in their all black uniforms though!

- The Irish survive a tricky road test agains the NC State Wolfpack and Sam Hartman threw for 4 TDs. Look for him to be in the Heisman mix this year if Notre Dame continues to have strong success.

- The Tar Heels nearly got stuck with an L in their trap game against Appalachian State. They survived with a 40-34 double overtime victory.

- Despite not having star QB Michael Pratt available, the Green Wave hung around with the Rebels of Ole Miss. This team could certainly get back to a New Year's Six Bowl.

- Wisconsin's ground game was shut down for just 91 yards as the Cougars of Wazzu pulled off an incredible upset at home behind the talented Charlie Ward at QB.

- Miami's defense came to play this season, and their offense is starting to find rhythm. Look out for the Hurricanes in 2023.

- The Boilermakers pull one off on the road after a weather delay and Ryan Walters gets his first win as head honcho of the train-people.

- Once again the Cyclones waste a perfect opportunity to shove it to Iowa, but a nod to them for keeping the Hawkeyes below that 25 poitn average.

- Michigan State had a nice win, unfortunately their Head Coach Mel Tucker is now suspended as there is an ongoing investigation.

Thank you for reading my Week 2 Reflections, hopefully the Huskers can take some notes. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Predictions

      Good morning and welcome to Week 2 of the College Football Season! Unfortunately I didn't quite get my predictions done in time for the Illinois-Kansas game, but I had picked the Illini, so that saved me a bit. A very impressive game by Kansas, especially with their "Blackhawk" uniforms. Anyways, I have plenty of other important games for you to know about this weekend, so here are my Week 2 Predictions.

Week 1 Record: 16 - 3

Overall Record: 20 - 3

#10 Notre Dame at NC State

     The Fightin' Irish have their first big test of the season as they travel into the den of the Wolfpack in Raleigh, NC. NC State is always poised to upset top ranked teams, so look for them to put pressure on Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman early and often. Ex-Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong ran wild against UConn last week, rushing for 96 yards and 2 TDs. Notre Dame will need to contain him in the pocket and force him to win with his arm. He's got a strong arm, but the Irish ranked 28th in pass defense last year and are looking to be in a similar ranking position (or higher) this year. Notre Dame and Hartman impress yet again with a 30-21 victory.

Purdue at Virginia Tech

     The Boilermakers lost their opener at home against Fresno State, and now have to travel to Blacksburg, VA to take on the Hokies. Virginia Tech looked strong against Old Dominion, but need to be sharp to win this game. Despite the loss, ex-longhorn Hudson Card looked to be in rhythm, finding Sophomore wideout Deion Burks for 152 out of his 254 passing yards and both TDs. Virginia Tech is not the "DB U" it once was, so they will need to play tight coverage in this one. I'm having a tough time with this game, but it's always hard to win in Lane Stadium, so I'll give the nod to Virginia Tech. Hokies beat the Boilermakers 34-28.

#20 Ole Miss at #24 Tulane

     The Rebels and the Green Wave meet for one of our ranked v ranked matchups of the weekend. Tulane is looking to continue their success from last season, and had an impressive 34-17 win against South Alabama last week. However, they have try and slow down Jackson Dart and the Lane Kiffin passing attack. This could turn into a high-scoring game quickly, and don't forget to watch the Rebels' Sophomore RB Quinshon Judkins who averaged 5.7 yard per carry as a Freshman. this would be a big statement by Tulane, especially to win this at home, but Lane Kiffin's offense is hard to stop. Rebels beat the Wave with a face 43-34.

#23 Texas A&M at Miami

     The Aggies had a number of one score games last season, but Miami was one they actually had a victory in. The Hurricanes are looking to repay the favor on their home turf. There's still a lot of mystery for both of these teams, so this will be a telling challenge on both sides. I think Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke could have a big day, so let's go with Miami winning this one at home 33-28.

Iowa at Iowa State (Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy)

     The annual in-state rivalry between the Cyclones and the Hawkeyes takes place in Ames this year. Iowa State is breaking in a lot of new pieces this year, but had a strong opening game against Northern Iowa. Unfortunately, they never seem to finish this game on the right note, and Iowa's strategy of letting teams beat themselves is a good bet to be seen in this one. I don't think they're getting their 25 point average in this one, but the Hawkeyes win 20-14.

Cincy at Pitt

     Both the Bearcats and the Panthers played cupcakes in their openers, so this will be the first chance we get to see who these teams really are. Former Boston College QB Phil Jurkovek was strong in the opener for Pitt, involving 13 different players in the passing game. Cincy has their own transfer QB running the show now, and ex-Gator Emory Jones threw for 345 and 5 TDs in the opener. Luke Fickell may be in Wisconsin now, but I think the Bearcats are still a deadly team. This will be a fun preview as they head into the Big XII. Bearcats win a close one 31-27.

#13 Oregon at Texas Tech

     After a stumble to Wyoming in double overtime last week, most people are writing off the Red Raiders, especially with Bo Nix and the Ducks coming to town. This is a perfect spot for Texas Tech to spoil the day, especially playing at home. Oregon needs to be sharp heading into this one as there will be a lot of points put up in this one. Tyler Shough and Bo Nix should be a fun battle to watch. I'm still high on the Red Raiders this year, but I think Bo Nix is one of the best QBs in the nation that is not being talked about. This is a good stage for him to show off on. Ducks win the shootout with the Red Raiders 50-38.

#19 Wisconsin at Washington State

     The Luke Fickell era has begun in Madison and former-Mustang Tanner Mordecai is at QB1. He struggled in their opener, throwing 2 picks, but the Badgers had two RBs rush for over 140 yards each. Braelon Edwards and Chez Mellusi will be a difficult duo to stop, so Wazzu has their work cut out for them. Offensively, they run through Junior QB Cameron Ward. He shredded the Colorado State defense for more than 450 yards and 3 TDs last week. Wisconsin's secondary will be tested as they don't regularly square off against a passing attack like this one. I like them to win, but don't expect this to be a cake walk. Badgers beat the Cougars 28-24.

Auburn at Cal

     The Golden Bears surprised a lot of experts by beating both the heat and the Mean Green on the road last week. Auburn has ex-Sparty QB Peyton Thorne at the helm, but finding rhythm in a new offense takes time. Both teams were high scoring in the first week, but expect more of a defensive showing in this game. I think Cal performs well and sneaks this one out at home with a couple of key turnovers. Golden Bears win 30-27.

Oklahoma State at Arizona State

     The Pokes travel to the desert to play the Sun Devils in some late night action. Neither team showed much in the opener, but with a new staff in Tempe, anything seems possible. Mike Gundy and the Cowboys always seem to have a new gunslinger ready at QB. This year it's Redshirt Freshman Garret Rangel. This will be a good opportunity for him to show what he's made of, and I bet he has a big night. Pokes win a tough one on the road behind Rangel's arm 33-21.

#11 Texas at #3 Alabama

     The big game of the week features the Longhorns and the Crimson Tide. Texas travels to Bama as they try to avenge last year's 20-19 loss at home. Quinn Ewers was knocked out of this game early last season, but the Longhorn defense was able to slow down the Bama offense and keep it close. The Tide run through Jalen Milroe at QB now, and despite him leading the team in rushing in the opener, the focus for Nick Saban and crew should be on the ground game. I would expect this to be another tight one, and protection around Quinn Ewers will be a factor to watch. Bama always has a formidable pass rush, and playing in Tuscaloosa at night only fires them up more. I've got the Tide at home, but this one will have some points. Roll Tide as they win 34-27.

Nebraska at #22 Colorado

     Old Rivals clash as the Huskers travel to Boulder to take on the Prime Time Buffs. Despite their impressive performance against TCU, I am not one of the college football analysts that believe Colorado is winning the Natty and half their roster will be Heisman finalists. This is a long season, and there's a lot of hype they have to continue to live up to. With that being said, the offensive execution from the Buffs against TCU was damn near flawless. QB Shedeur Sanders put the ball in the right place all game long and if the receivers had snagged a couple of the long balls he probably would've had over 600 yards through the air. Nebraska's defense will be tested early and often in this game, so pressure on the QB will be key. I think coverage sacks are the best chance for that to occur as the Husker pass rush has been non-existant for half a decade. Offensively the game plan is simple, RUN THE DAMN BALL! TCU racked up 262 yards on the ground and averaged more than 7 yards per carry. The Buffs defense is vulnerable, especially with moving the front 7. Jeff Sims need to be a focal point in the ground game and keep the passing game simple with short, underneath routes. Gabe Ervin Jr. needs to have at least 15-20 touches in this game and the Huskers have to chew clock to have a shot to win. The Colorado offense scores fast and you don't want to get into a barn burner in this game. Unfortunately, I have my Huskers losing close in a 27-23 game out in Boulder. I've got my BEAT Colorado shirt on and have high hopes of them proving me wrong, but I think there's still more growing pains for Matt Rhule and company. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#12 Utah at Baylor - The Bears fell at home to Texas State while the Utes rolled the Gators at home. Kyle Whittingham teams rarely have a stumble week so I've got the Utes 36-14.

James Madison at Virginia - The Dukes are in their second season of Division 1 Football and could make a big statement with a win on the road against an ACC opponent. They're a program that wins a lot, so I'm taking the Dukes on the road 31-21.

Texas State at UTSA - The Bobcats upset Baylor at home while the Roadrunners fell once again to Houston by 3. Meep Meep as they bounce back for a win 33-20.

Appalachian State at #17 North Carolina - The Tar Heels had a big win against South Carolina last week and could have a bit of a hangover early in this one. App State is never a team you want to have a hangover against, but I think the Heels will handle it well. 45-17 North Carolina.

UCF at Boise State - The Broncos were whacked last week by Washington, and now host another high-powered offense. I like the Knights on the road in this one. They get it done on the Smurf Turf 33-23.

Arizona at Mississippi State - The Bulldogs are into their first season without the Pirate at the helm after Mike Leach's passing last December. Will Rogers and the Maroon faithful aren't losing this one. 40-17 Hail State!

UCLA at San Diego State - The Bruins have a lot of new pieces to figure out while trying to slow down a very talented dual-threat QB on the road. This will be a close one, but I think Chip Kelly and UCLA get revenge with a 21-13 win.

Stanford at #6 USC - Old Rivals meet for the final time as PAC-12 foes. The Cardinal don't have much hope of slowing down Caleb Williams in this one, but crazier things have happened. Stanford will put up some points as USC still struggles on defense, but the Trojan offense will have more. Fight On as USC wins 55-31.

Thanks for reading my gameday predictions and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 1 Reflections

      Well... I've avoided writing this long enough. After a week-long reflection I've narrowed down my thoughts on the Huskers' loss to Minnesota. It was another heart-breaker for Nebraska as they found a way to lose a 4th quarter lead and allow Minnesota the opportunity to win the game with a last-second field goal. As usual, I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories broken down for you below along with some highlights and observations from the rest of Week 1 across College Football.

GOOD - Husker Defense and Rushing YPC. Starting with the Blackshirts, they once again gave Nebraska a great chance to win the game up until the last few minutes. I am disappointed they couldn't close things out and gave up that late game touchdown as well as the last-minute drive to allow the Gophers a field goal. However, more often than not, if you hold a team to 13 points you're going to win the game. They held Minnesota to just 55 rushing yards but did allow two 4th down conversions. They will need to stay aggressive if Nebraska's offense continues to take a while to gel. Speaking of the offense, one thing they did very well was run the ball. The Huskers averaged 4.9 yards per carry and probably could've had more if they hadn't abandoned the run in the 4th quarter. Star RB Gabe Irving had just 7 carries but averaged nearly 8 yards per carry while QB Jeff Sims led the team with 91 yards on the ground. The Husker rushing attack was looking great (apart from Anthony Grant's fumble) and needs to be a focal point moving forward.

EXPECTED - Passing game struggles. Coming into the game I highlighted the need for Nebraska to focus on the run game. The offensive line is nothing to write home about, the receiver corps is young and inexperienced and Jeff Sims cannot throw an accurate ball. Unfortunately this led to three interceptions, two of them at very inopportune times. The passing game will not be a strength of this team in 2023, so the simpler Marcus Satterfield can make it the better.

BAD - 4th Quarter Coaching Decisions. The Huskers had multiple chances in the 4th quarter to put this game away and walk out of Huntington Bank Stadium with a victory, but poor decisions late in the game allowed Minnesota to come back and win the game. Throwing three straight passes on a drive early in the fourth when the run game could chew the clock is a poor decision. Having Anthony Grant, who was moved down the depth chart for fumble issues, run the ball in the fourth quarter is a poor decision. Asking Jeff Sims to throw deep over the middle rather than short, high-percentage throws for a potential game-winning drive is a poor decision. I was really hoping for better decision-making from this staff and it's only one game, so hopefully those are coming soon.

Other thoughts from CFB Week 1:

- Colorado has a lot of flash and made a big statement against TCU. I don't think they are the national powerhouse all the sports media outlets are calling them, but their offensive execution was damn near perfect. Should be interesting to watch this team in 2023.

- I said Florida State was a playoff contender of mine and Jordan Travis was a dark horse Heisman candidate, I think I could be right on this one. The 'Noles looked very good on Sunday night, running OVER LSU in the second half to a 45-24 victory.

- Wyoming had a surprising double OT victory at home against Texas Tech, but don't discount the Red Raiders in making a splash this season. Bit of a stumble out of the gate, but this is a young and talented team. Also, the Cowboys are always a tough opponent and will do some damage in the Mountain West.

- Utah was without Cameron Rising, but looked to be in mid-season form as they romped the Gators at home in Salt Lake City.

- The ACC has caught up to Clemson. Duke's defense shut down the Tigers while their offense ran wild in the second half for just shy of 200 yards rushing for the game.

- North Carolina proved to be the true Carolina after routing their Southern counterparts. Drake Maye looks poised for a big year and Mac Brown earned his 100th victory at his second school, the only coach in history to accomplish that.

- Illinois escaped a stumble with Toledo in town and Purdue fell to Fresno State at home. There could be more BIG 10 teams with non-conference issues as we move through September.

- Alabama and Ohio State both have question marks at QB, but Jalen Milroe for the Tide looks to be locking in that QB1 spot. The Buckeyes struggled mightily in their passing game, so we'll see who emerges as QB1 in that offense.

- Penn State and Washington are teams to keep an eye on this season. Veteran experience with a lot of talent.

- Iowa only scored 24 points in their opener against Utah State, so they are currently UNDER the 25 point average that would allow OC Bryan Ferentz to keep his job at the end of the year.

Thanks for reading my Week 1 Reflections and watch for my Week 2 Predictions post on Saturday Morning!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando