Week 15(ish) Predictions

      Welcome to the final week of a very crazy regular season of College Football! For the most part we've made it here in one piece, and I think that's something to celebrate. There's a great slate of games to watch this weekend, but the big news of the week is obviously the BIG 10 conference changing their rules yet again to allow Ohio State to play in the Conference Championship game despite not having played the originally required 6 games. I'll discuss this and all the games to watch this week below, enjoy!

Week 14(ish) Record: 11 - 6

Overall Record: 66 - 35

BIG 10 Rule Change Decision

     We were all expecting it, so it was of no surprise when the BIG 10 Conference decided to change its rules to allow Ohio State to play in the BIG 10 Championship against Northwestern next week on December 19th. This change was made since Ohio State was unable to play six games during the horribly planned BIG 10 football season due to three cancelations, leaving the Buckeyes at 5-0. First of all, yes the Buckeyes are the best team in the BIG 10 East since they were able to hold off Indiana in their head to head matchup. Secondly, this (like most everything else in CFB) is a financial decision where Ohio State would bring in more money for the conference rather than the Hoosiers. I'm not necessarily upset or disputing either of these characteristics of the situation. My grievances are with the BIG 10 Conference as a whole and their handling of everything during the 2020 season. The revised and adjusted scheduled created back in August, which I was a big fan of, had a number of well planned out protocols and helpful features for what would've been probably the safest version of a 2020 season short of cancelling everything all together. Then, six days later, they did just that, expecting the rest of CFB to follow suit. This was not an easy decision by any means, but what makes the situation so bad is the fact they did not stick with it. The conference realized how much they were missing out on financially and decided to smash an 8 week football season into the middle of an ongoing CFB season that did not originally include them. Now to continue changing the rules only to favor themselves when needed is just flat out pathetic, especially when ridiculing Nebraska for simply wanting to play when the game against Wisconsin cancelled. And separate of wanting to play, the Huskers (and everyone else) just wanted to know what the plan was when things inevitably went sideways. The BIG 10 wasn't prepared then, and they certainly aren't now, but it doesn't matter when you can change the rules to fix whatever problem you created in the first place. Again, I'm not surprised or even that upset with the decision, I'm more upset with the incompetent planning and forward thinking abilities of the "leaders" in the BIG 10.

#9 Georgia at #25 Missouri

     The Bulldogs travel to Columbia to take on the Tigers this weekend in one of the few ranked v. ranked matchups we have. Mizzou has a balanced offense, but senior RB Larry Roundtree III has been hot lately with back to back games of 160+ yards and 3 TDs in each. He averages 5 yards per carry, but will face a tougher task running against the Bulldogs defense. Georgia's defense has struggled at times this year, but they've always been good against the run, giving up just an average of 75 yards per game on the ground. I still think UGA is ranked too high at #9, but they're playing much better in recent weeks with the QB change to JT Daniels, so I'll give them the nod in this game. UGA beats Mizzou 34-21.

Illinois at #14 Northwestern

     The Wildcats have a slated date with the Buckeyes for the second time in three years at the BIG 10 Championship, but in-state rival Illinois is never one to shy away from causing an upset. The Illini have struggled to slow down opposing offenses, but Northwestern has struggled to put up points. The Wildcat defense however is one of the best in the nation, and I think Pat Fitzgerald will have this team ready to play before they look ahead to Ohio State. Peyton Ramsey and this offense get a chance to get some reps in against a lackluster defense before facing off against the Buckeyes. Wildcats 24, Illinois 10.

Utah at #21 Colorado

     The PAC-12 is a complete mess with so many games cancelled in their short season, but the Buffs could finish with a 4-0 record in this crazy year. Crazier yet, if the Bruins are able to upset the Trojans in the Battle of LA, Colorado would be the PAC-12 South Division winner. Unfortunately due to having their game against Arizona State cancelled from Covid-19, they do have to rely on UCLA winning because somehow the PAC-12 was able to screw up their conference rules even more than the BIG 10. Regardless, there's a game to be played and the Utes are never an easy win. Ex-Gamecock QB Jake Bently hasn't panned out for Kyle Whittingham, but maybe they'll have some confidence after their first win. Defensively though, they have to deal with Buff's RB Jarek Broussard who's averaging 6.4 yards per carry. I'll take Colorado in this one but it will be entertaining to watch them go undefeated and still possibly not win the division. Buffaloes 30-24.

Wisconsin at #16 Iowa

     The Bronze Cow is up for grabs this weekend as the Hawkeyes host the Badgers. Wisconsin has fallen off quick after early success, and Graham Mertz is going through all the kinks of starting as a Freshman. Iowa has won 5 straight games since losing their first two and should win some sort of award for being the only BIG 10 team to not have a game cancelled due to covid. This should be a classic BIG 10 slugfest with rugged defense and a ground & pound attack from both offenses. I certainly would look to the under on this money line, as the Badgers give up just 12.3 points per game and the Hawkeyes give up 17.3. I have one key factor to watch in this game, but it's very specific. I think QB play on 3rd down will be the difference maker in this one. The winning team must be able to convert third downs and they'll likely be third and long with stout defenses stopping the run. Wisconsin's defense is 1st in the nation in opponent third down conversions under 24 percent and their offense converts third downs at a rate 10 percent higher than the Hawkeyes, so the nod goes to Wisconsin. Badgers win the cow 16-10.

#17 North Carolina at #10 Miami

     The Tar Heels and Hurricanes square off in what should be a really interesting game to watch down in South Beach. Both offenses bring a lot of firepower, so I would expect a lot of big plays and points in this one. It's all about the QB battle here as Sophomore Sam Howell and Senior D'Eriq King duel it out. Both of these QBs rank in the top 20 for passer rating in the nation, so I'm expecting a show. Starting with Howell, I've been saying it since I saw him play last year, he's a baller. He's thrown for more than 3,100 yards this season with 26 TDs and just 6 picks. Complimented by Michael Carter's dominance on the ground, Howell has this Tar Heel offense averaging 41.1 points per game. His counterpart, D'Eriq King has been one of the most under the radar players in the nation on a team that has gone completely unnoticed since their loss to Clemson back in early October. King has been tough for opposing defenses to slow down this year, throwing for 2,334 yards and 20 TDs while adding another 467 and 4 TDs on the ground. He extends plays out of the pocket as well as anyone in College Football and will be a steal of a draft pick next April in my opinion. For now though, he's going to ball out in college, and I'm giving him the nod. Sam Howell is certainly on his way, but I think this game will show you why some attention should be given to D'Eriq King. Canes 37, Tar Heels 34.

Appalachian State at Georgia Southern

     This may not be one of the highlight games of the day, but never discount two 7-win Sun Belt teams looking to finish the season strong. Both squads have lost two of their last three, so a win in this game would be a lot of confidence heading into bowl season. The Eagles of Georgia Southern love to run the ball, but haven't been quite as dominant as usual in that category. They do take very good care of the ball though, ranking 24th in the nation with a +7 turnover margin. The Mountaineers have struggled with turnovers lately, and I think that will be their demise in this one. I'll take the Eagles in a 28-21 upset.

#15 USC at UCLA

     The Trojans and Bruins meet up in the Rose Bowl for the annual Battle for LA game. There are some high stakes in this one as the Trojans need a win (or a Colorado loss) to confirm their spot in the PAC-12 Title game. UCLA is on the rise though, as Chip Kelly and his QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) have this very balanced offense averaging 430 yards and 32.6 points per game. The Trojans have been playing solid defense lately, but I would expect some points in this one. Especially with USC's Kedon Slovis throwing the ball all around the field with 10 TDs and just 2 picks on the season. This should be a really interesting one to watch, but I honestly like the Bruins in this game. I can feel an upset brewing and I think Chip Kelly and UCLA are going to start making some noise around CFB. UCLA beats USC in the Battle for LA 33-28.

Virginia at Virginia Tech (Battle for the Commonwealth Cup)

     Not much as gone well for the Hokies as of late, losing their last four games after starting 4-2, but just about everything has clicked for the Cavaliers who have won their last four games after starting 1-4. I wouldn't expect much (if any) defense in this game, so first team to 35 points probably wins it. UVA is lead by dual-threat QB Brandon Armstrong, who's accounted for more than 2,300 total yards and 16 TDs this season. The Hokies best option on offense is running back Khalil Herbert, with 1,020 yards and 7 TDs on the ground. The Cavaliers ended a 15 year drought in the rivalry a year ago, and I think they'll start building a streak of their own. Virginia beats Virginia Tech for the Commonwealth Cup 40-35.

Navy at Army

     For the first time in 77 years, the Black Knights of Army will host Navy in West Point due to Covid-19. On paper this looks to be a lopsided game, but never underestimate the competitiveness in this rivalry. Neither team throws the ball much, so it's all about who can stop the ground game and who can get it going. Army has played really well this year, and ranks 7th in scoring defense. Navy has experience though, with Seniors Dalen Morris (QB) and Nelson Smith (RB) leading the way for the Midshipmen on offense. One thing is for sure when you get this rivalry, the uniforms will be badass! Anyways, I've got the Black Knights with a 24-14 victory. GO ARMY BEAT NAVY!

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

     One of the greatest sports trophies in the history of the world is up for grabs today in Lincoln as my favorite Huskers take on the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. For those who don't know the legend of how the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy came to be, the now Team Jack Foundation & University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital sponsored trophy originally came to be due to a Twitter argument between the Golden Gopher Mascot (Goldy) and the fake account of ex-Husker Head Coach Bo Pelini. The two suggested a wager be made in order to up the ante on the Nebraska-Minnesota rivalry, and the suggestion of breaking a chair over the loser's back was made, thus prompting the creation of this magnificent trophy. It now serves as a great reminder to donate and support the research being done to fight against childhood cancer, so you really couldn't ask for a better trophy!

     Now as we look to the game, Nebraska comes back home for Senior Day on an upswing after defeating Purdue 37-27 in what was easily their best performance of the season. Minnesota hasn't played football since before Thanksgiving due to a covid-19 outbreak, and will be missing 20 players due to BIG 10 protocols along with star receiver Rashod Bateman who has opted out (again) to declare and prepare for the NFL draft. This gives the Huskers a prime opportunity against an opponent on a downswing to record back to back conference victories for just the second time in three years. Despite not having Batement, the Gopher offense will still feature a lot of RB Mohamed Ibrahim, who rushed for 84 yards and 3 TDs on the Huskers last season... as the #3 running back for Minnesota. Ibrahim is now the feature back, and has done well in that roll, rushing for 817 yards and 13 TDs while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He's easily the most talented back the Blackshirts will face this season, and won't be easy to slowdown, no matter how well the Husker front seven is playing. This means the Husker offense will need to capitalize on their possessions, because Minnesota is going to control the clock with Ibrahim and the run game. Adrian Martinez is playing with a confidence that we haven't seen in roughly two years, so hopefully that carries through today. Mills will hopefully find some holes on the ground, but I've been saying it all season long, Nebraska won't win without a downfield passing attack. There were some great throws downfield against Purdue which stretched the defense back out, allowing for more rushing lanes. There's plenty of opportunities to do that against the Gophers who rank 106th in total defense this year. A balanced attack with some creative play calls from Coach Frost would really put this game away, so hopefully that's what we see. I'm going with my Huskers in this one, because we certainly need that broken chair back in Lincoln. Nebraska 24, Minnesota 21. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

Michigan State at Penn State - The Battle for the Land Grant Trophy features two teams who's seasons ultimately crashed and burned after the first couple of weeks. Penn State has finally broken into the win column after defeating Michigan and Rutgers the past two weeks while Sparty beat Michigan and upset Northwestern but basically got pummeled by everyone else. Nittany Lions are getting back in the groove and they win this one 23-13 behind a big day from Sean Clifford.

#13 Coastal Carolina at Troy - My adopted Chanticleers proved me wrong by beating BYU in a phenomenal game last week and I was perfectly okay with it! The Chants now take on Troy, who's never a simple pushover. However, the Chanticleer defense is playing some incredible football right now, along with Freshman QB Grayson McCall who has 20 passing TDs and just one pick. Another good day a the office and the Chanticleers win 35-17.

#22 Oklahoma State at Baylor - I really don't know why I'm trying to predict another Oklahoma State game, but I guess I just love the challenge. The Pokes are falling apart and the Bears have been oh-so-close in nearly every game this season. It's always the opposite of what i pick when it comes to the Cowboys, but I'll take the Bears in a tight upset 28-24.

Houston at Memphis - The Tigers let me down last week by falling to the Green Wave of Tulane. This week, they face a defense that's practically as bad as their own with the Cougars of Houston. Again, first one to 35 probably wins it, and I will again ride with Tiger QB Brady White. This kid is a winner and won't be going out on a losing note. Memphis 40, Houston 34.

Cal at Washington State - Wazzu is working out some kinks with freshman QB Jayden de Laura, but the ground game with Deon McCintosh has helped with some of those issues. Cal has struggled to run the ball, which has led to Chase Garbers being sacked 15 times in just 4 games. Both teams have been close in tight games this year, but I'm picking Cal to win 30-28.

LSU at #6 Florida - This isn't really going to be much of a game, but there's still some things to discuss with this matchup. One of the first things is to see if the Gators can match the jaw-dropping performance by Mac Jones and the Tide las week on the Tigers in Death Valley. Playing in the Swamp, I would expect some big numbers form Heisman frontrunner Kyle Trask in this game. Gators chomp the reigning champions 48-21.

Thank you for reading all of my Gameday predictions and I hope you're all excited to kick back and watch some football this weekend. GO BIG RED and win the chair!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 14(ish) Reflections

      Hey Football Friends! I hope you're all doing well and still riding high after a great weekend of College Football and most importantly, a Husker victory! Yes, the Huskers in fact looked like a competent football team for a majority of the day on Saturday, and were able to hold off the Boilermakers for a 37-27 victory. They proved me wrong in my prediction, but I couldn't be happier. I've got your full analysis of the game along with all the other happenings around the nation from a fabulous weekend of football action. Let's get to it!

     Scott Frost has cleared the Purdue hurdle in his young tenure at Nebraska, beating the Boilermakers for the first time as the Huskers' head coach. Nebraska started off hot with impressive defensive stands, some big special teams plays and short fields for an offense that finally put some things together. Purdue made a push late in the game, even pulling to within 7. The Blackshirts stood tall though and the Huskers now have an outside shot at finishing with a 4-4 record. I've got the full break down of the game in my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below.

GOOD - Adrian Martinez and Cam Taylor-Britt. There were a lot of good things about the Huskers' win on Saturday, but Martinez and Taylor-Britt really stood out and made some key plays on their respective sides of the ball to clinch the second win of the season. Starting with Martinez, it's clear his benching helped him reset, and Frost's QB1 looks back to his Freshman self. I am still very much excited by the potential with Luke McCaffrey, but I'm never opposed to a confident AM2 slinging it for the Huskers. He's gained his confidence back, which has helped in his decision making. There were flashes of it against Iowa, but against the Boilermakers, Martinez was lights out. He completed 23/30 passes for 242 yards and a TD while rushing for another 45 and 2 more TDs on the ground. Martinez managed the game extremely well and didn't force many throws he didn't need to make. He used his legs to move up and out of the pocket when necessary, and hit some very nice routes to the open receiver down the field. It's been a while since we've seen him play this smooth, and I hope it's here to stay. Great game Adrian!

Onto the defensive side of the ball, the star is Cam Taylor-Britt. Everyone will remember his leaping pass deflection to stop a Purdue 3rd & 13 conversion with just over 5 minutes left in the game, ultimately keeping the Huskers' 10-point lead intact. However, there were a number of plays Taylor-Britt made throughout the course of the game, and overall he's been great all season. Opposing teams rarely throw to his side due to his tremendous coverage, but if they dare, he's got great awareness to locate the ball and knock it down. Outside of Quarterback, corner is arguably the most difficult position to play in football. Corners are often lined up against some of the best athletes the other team has on their roster and in many cases are left alone on an island to cover them, having to read and react off of a number of keys such as route patterns, WR footwork, QB eyes, the ball and more, all without touching the receiver before the last possible second in order to avoid a costly penalty. Cam Taylor-Britt has sneakily become one of the best corners in the conference in the past couple seasons. It's been great watching him lead this defense and be the spark that fires them up.

EXPECTED - Purdue comeback & solid defense from the Blackshirts. My two expected takeaways from the game may seem like opposites, but there's a reasoning behind both. Starting with Purdue, they're a talented and well-coached team. The have probably the best receiving corps in the BIG 10 West and one of the best in the conference overall with a QB who can throw the ball with few mistakes. Jack Plummer torched the Blackshirts for the second straight year, tossing the pigskin for 334 yards and 3 TDs. They have an experienced defense and shut down the Husker offense for a majority of the second half. Zander Horvath is a problem at RB, but luckily the Huskers were able to keep their lead big enough and limit Purdue's attempts at running. Nebraska can never be trusted to fully close out a game (at least not yet), so it was no surprise when the Boilermakers pulled within 7 mid-way through the 4th. Besides, all of their losses prior to Nebraska were by 7 points or less and often came down to the wire. This game will be a battle again next year.

Looking at the Blackshirts, they played extremely well in this game. There was a bit of bend don't break due to the passing attack catching fire for Purdue, but the Huskers held the Boilermakers to -2 in the rushing column. This was the first time all season the Huskers were able to get consistent pressure. While no turnovers were gained, the Huskers held Purdue to just 3/13 on third down conversions. The defense has played solid all year apart from the Illinois game and a few other quarters, but this time the offense stepped up to take advantage of the defensive effort. The Blackshirts played well and are starting to earn those jerseys back.

BAD - Penalties and more penalties. The Huskers continue to be one of the most penalized teams, ranking 105th in the nation with an average of 66 yards per game from penalties. Nebraska racked up 9 penalties for 107 yards. For context, this is nearly as many rushing yards the Huskers had on Saturday. This continues to be an issue, on both sides of the ball. Luckily, Purdue ranks 91st in the nation and actually bested the Huskers in the yellow flag category with 11 for 126. This was a big factor in the Husker victory as Purdue hurt themselves more than Nebraska did. Most Husker fans were freaking out last week because of a stat that was released saying that there was something like 340+ plays since the last time an opponent was called for holding against Nebraska. Yeah, that's ridiculous and there were probably a number of missed holding calls. WHO CARES?! There's missed holding calls and others in every game. Yes, penalties on the other team is always a benefit for the Huskers, but a bigger benefit is not having penalties of their own, especially those that shut down drives before they even get started. Nebraska needs to fix their own issues before they complain about other teams, and the penalties are one of the biggest issues plaguing this team.

Quick hit thoughts from the rest of CFB:

- The fun kicked off on Friday night when #25 Louisiana defeated Appalachian State for the first time in program history in a very odd way. The Ragin' Cajuns took an intentional safety with 1:46 left in the game, trusting in their defense to hold onto what then became a 3 point lead. App State had a chance to tie it with a field goal in the end but the kick was wide left. The funny thing is that the Ragin' Cajuns had a 4th & 1 from near midfield when they took the safety.

- After a slow start for both Notre Dame & Clemson, they turned on the jets in the second half to demolish Syracuse and Virginia Tech respectively. Both teams now have a week off to prepare for the (sure to be wild) rematch in Charlotte.

- Absolutely nothing was slow about DaVonta Smith and Bama as the Tide Rolled LSU in Death Valley 55-17. Smith only had 8 catches on the night, but that was more than enough as he racked up 231 yards and 3 TDs. The SEC Championship is looking to be a high scoring affair.

- Sparty was nothing more than a bug on a windshield against the Buckeyes Saturday, even without Ryan Day. I think something about not being worthy of their playoff rankings may have upset Ohio State.

- Kyle Trask is making that Heisman push loud and clear with another 400+, 4 TD passing performance against the Vols.

- Iowa State was in no mood for an upset, absolutely demolishing the Mountaineers of WVU 42-6. Look out for Matt Campbell's squad.

- Miami is the quietest 1-loss team I've ever seen, but that's not going to matter much with 2020. Either way, D'Eriq King is ballin'.

- The Sooners locked up a rematch with the Cyclones for the Big XII Title by holding off a late push from the Baylor Bears.

- Who said Indiana was done with Michael Penix Jr. out?? I certainly didn't and the Hoosiers showed why. They locked down the Badgers offense in a rugged 14-6 win. Don't sleep on the Hoosiers and don't sleep on new QB Jack Tuttle.

- TCU pulled a second half upset and I still can never predict Oklahoma State correctly. Oh well, I like the Horned Frogs better anyways.

- Eastern Michigan got their first win of the season by handing Western Michigan their first loss of the season. Gotta love #MACtion.

- Texas ran the ball like K-State wasn't even on the field, racking up 334 yards on the ground and 69 points on the scoreboard.

- The PAC-12 continues to be a disaster as the Ducks were upset by Cal and Stanford rocked the Huskies. UCLA and Arizona State provided some late night entertainment, but at least USC is still unbeaten??

- Penn State apparently likes to win again and dominated Rutgers 23-7.

- Last but not least I close with the best game of the weekend. The Cougars of BYU and the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina met for a battle of the unbeatens with College Gameday after Liberty backed out due to covid-19. This game was put together on Thursday and was absolutely fantastic to watch. My adopted Chanticleers pulled off the victory by puling BYU wide receiver Dax Milne away from the goalline after he caught the ball at the two yard line and fought to win the game on the final play. It was an incredible finish, an incredible game and watch out for my adopted Chanticleers!

Thank you for reading my Week 14(ish) Reflections post and watch for my predictions later this week. It's CHAIR Week for the Huskers as they take on Minnesota in the Battle for the Broken Chair Trophy!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 14(ish) Predictions

      Good morning Football Fans and welcome to regular season College Football in December! Because of Covid-19 we have an extended regular season into the first couple weeks of December before we get to crown conference champions and find out who is going to the playoffs for real. There's a lot of discussion on if Ohio State should be the #4 team or not and it's well warranted due to only playing 4 games. They'll be back to action along with a great slate of games, so let's get onto the predictions!

Week 13(ish) Record: 10 - 6

Overall Record: 55 - 29

#4 Ohio State at Michigan State

     Starting with the aforementioned Buckeyes, they look to shut-up the haters as they travel to East Lansing, MI for just their fifth game of the season. Last week's tilt against the Illini was scrapped due to a small covid outbreak on the Buckeye squad which included Head Coach Ryan Day. He will not be with the team against Michigan State, who is coming off of an upset win against previously undefeated Northwestern. Sparty took advantage of an uncharacteristic 4 turnovers by the Wildcats and QB Rocky Lombardi played one of his best games of the year. That won't be easy to repeat against Ohio State and Justin Fields though. They're itching to get back on the field since their last performance against Indiana wasn't as stellar as some of the analysts would like. They will be out for blood in this game, and I bet they find it. Even short-handed, Ohio State flexes their muscles for the CFB Playoff Committee with a big victory in East Lansing. Buckeyes 38, Spartans 17.

#5 Texas A&M at Auburn

     The Aggies are sitting right behind the Buckeyes and just outside of the CFB Playoff at #5. They have plenty to prove as well after a lackluster performance against the other SEC West Tigers (LSU) last weekend. They take on the Auburn Tigers this week, who are looking to bounce back after being demolished in the Iron Bowl by Mac Jones and his 5 TD passes. Bo Nix has really struggled in 2020, and against a rugged Aggie defense he could be in for another rough outing. The Aggies defense ranks 20th in total defense and will be looking to cause more havoc in the backfield as the Tigers have given up 17 sacks so far this season compared to A&M who have only given up 3. I think Kellen Mond will bounce back with a big game and the Aggies will win this one on the road 34-17.

#15 Oklahoma State at TCU

     The Pokes proved me wrong last week by holding off the Red Raiders, but will still need help from others to get a spot in the Big XII Championship. First of all, they'll need to continue to win out and then have Oklahoma lose a game. TCU stands in the way of the first piece, as the Horned Frogs are always ready for an upset. They've had an up and down 2020 campaign, but Sophomore QB Max Duggan has been solid all the way through. In addition to his 1,370 yards through the air, he's also the team's leading rusher with 409 yards and a combined 15 TDs. The good and bad news for the Frogs is that he's playing well, but he's the vast majority of their offense. This means the Cowboys have one man to focus on to ultimately shut down TCU's offense. For Oklahoma State, their offense sparked up last week behind 236 rushing yards from Junior RB Dezmon Jackson. If they can get that rolling again they should be able to keep Duggan on the sidelines for most of the game. This one could go either way, but I'll take a close win by the Pokes. Oklahoma State 31, TCU 28.

Texas at K-State

     The Longhorns won't have a shot at the Big XII Title, but don't for a minute think Sam Ehlinger won't have his squad ready to ball out against the Wildcats. The do-it-all Senior has accounted for 31 TDs so far this season and is also the leading rusher for the Horns. He'll be up against a typically stingy K-State defense that's had the hinges blown off in recent weeks. The Wildcats will be looking to stop a 4-game skid, and there's always a chance for an upset when you play in Manhattan. I do like Texas in this game though, and I think Ehlinger will have a big day. Don't sleep on the Texas defense either, they're not great by any standards, but they've been playing a lot better in the second half of the season and could be the difference maker in this one. Texas 33, K-State 21. Hook 'Em.

Memphis at Tulane

     If you like offense, this is the game to watch. Both the Tigers and the Green Wave average around 35 points per game with not much defense. Tulane's still trying to figure out how they lost their last game two weeks ago to Tulsa after a game-tying Hail Mary and then game-winning pick-6 in double overtime won it for the Golden Hurricanes. They'll need to be ready to defend the pass again as Senior QB Brady White and the Tigers will look to continue their dominance through the air. White has thrown for 2,602 yards so far this season, with an impressive 24:6 TD to INT ratio. Tulane has the edge in the run game with the two-headed rushing attack of Senior RB Stephon Huderson and Sophomore Cameron Carroll. The duo have combined for more than 1,200 yards and 14 TDs on the season. They're both averaging around 6 yards per carry and are not easy to bring down. Memphis will have their hands full, but I like Brady White to get it done on the road. He's been great his entire career at Memphis and he'll finish the year great. Tigers win this one 34-28 over the Green Wave.

West Virginia at #9 Iowa State

     The Cyclones can celebrate about locking up a spot in the Big XII Championship game, but there are still two regular season games left on the schedule for one of the newest top 10 members of the CFB Playoff Rankings. West Virginia is primed for an upset though, quietly boasting the 4th best defense in the nation and number 1 in pass defense. The Mountaineers give up just 274 yards and 17.8 points per game on average, while creating a lot of havoc in the backfield with 22 sacks so far on the season. Iowa State has protected Brock Purdy well, giving up just 10 sacks this year. The Cyclones also have Breece Hall, the impressive Sophomore averages 6.3 yards per carry and has 16 TDs on the season so far, so WVU's defense will certainly be tested. This has some major upset potential for the weekend, but I think Matt Campbell has something special with the Cyclones this year. They've got good leadership with Brock Purdy and a stingy defense of their own. Iowa State wins a dangerous one at home 27-23.

#1 Alabama at LSU

     One of the best rivalries in football has one of the biggest point spreads we've ever seen for a defending national champion, and not in a good way. LSU comes in as a nearly 30 point underdog in what looks to be another easy outing for Mac Jones and the Rolling Crimson Tide. The Tigers stepped up a bit on defense last week, locking down Kellen Mond and the A&M offense apart from just a couple of plays. Unfortunately they were unable to get their own offense working, and that doesn't bode well when facing Bama. The Tide rank 3rd in the nation for scoring offense with an average of 48.5 points per game. And even though they lost star receiver Jaylen Waddle for the season a few weeks back, Mac Jones and crew haven't missed a beat. Jones is in the thick of the Heisman race with 2,728 yards and 23 TDs through the air, compared to just 3 interceptions. Senior RB Najee Harris has 17 TDs so far on the ground, and averages 6 yards per carry. LSU's defense is playing a bit better, but no where near good enough to hang around in this game. Tide Roll big over the defending champs, 52-17.

#3 Clemson at Virginia Tech

     The Tigers are looking to punch another ticket to the ACC Championship with a win on Saturday, but the VT Hokies stand in their way. It's never easy to win in Blacksburg, especially at night. The Hokies haven't been great this year, but Senior RB Kahlil Herbert and his staggering 8.2 yards per carry average are always a handful. Unfortunately for Herbert, he doesn't have much help around him, unlike the Clemson offense. With Trevor Lawrence and multiple defensive starters back, the Tigers are prepared to show everyone they are the best team in the nation, and they won't let anyone or anything stand in their way of another showdown with Notre Dame. They will start hot and never look back in this game. Clemson 56, Virginia Tech 10.

#12 Indiana at #16 Wisconsin

     One of only two ranked v. ranked match-ups this weekend takes place up in Madison as the Badgers take on the Hoosiers in a unique BIG 10 Battle. With yet another cancellation last week due to a covid out break on the Gopher squad, we still don't know much about Wisconsin since they've only played in 3 games. Graham Mertz will look to bounce back from his horrendous performance against the Wildcats while the Hoosiers will have to figure out a new QB after their star Michael Penix Jr. tore his ACL against Maryland last week. Both defenses will be the true measuring stick in this one, more specifically on which defense will crack. Both are two fo the best in the conference and love to wear down their opponents. Everyone is leaning toward Wisconsin, but I'm sticking with the Hoosiers. They were my dark horse team to start the year, and I think they have enough talent and firepower to overcome the Penix injury. Look out for Indiana, they're not done yet! Hoosiers win a big one on the road 23-16.

#13 BYU at #18 Coastal Carolina

     College Gameday visits Coastal Carolina this week as my adopted Chanticleers take on the unbeaten Cougars of BYU rather than the Flames of Liberty who canceled due to a covid outbreak. The ability to save this game in the first place was phenomenal in itself, but to set up a ranked v. ranked match-up between two unbeaten teams is even better. Both teams are looking for more respect from the College Football Playoff Committee and their rankings, so this game has some major implications. I've been on board the Chanticleer bandwagon all season, and with the current state of my Huskers it's been nice to have a winning team to root for! Freshman QB Grayson McCall has been spectacular in 2020, throwing for 1,747 yards with 20 TDs compared to just 1 pick. He's complimented by a strong rushing attack in one of the most balanced offenses in the nation. On the other side, BYU QB Zach Wilson is looking to boost his Heisman stock with another big performance. The Cougars haven't played the best competition this year, but Wilson has looked impressive nonetheless with a 74.3 percent completion rating, 2,724 yards through the air and 26 TDs with a couple more on the ground. Both teams are looking to prove something, and as much as I love the Chanticleers, I think BYU is being underrated by the Playoff Committee. I'll be happy either way in this one, and I think this could be one of the best games of the day. BYU wins a fun one 34-30.

Nebraska at Purdue

     A game that was originally slated to be the opener for both teams now opens the month of December as the Huskers travel to West Lafayette rather than hosting the Boilermakers in Lincoln. Jack Plummer is in to start for the injured Aiden O'Connel, but no matter what QB trots out there for Purdue they're bound to have success. Both QBs combined for 304 passing yards a year ago against the Blackshirts and their passing attack is better this year. That's aided by the return of All-American WR Rondale Moore and Sophomore Stud David Bell. Bell has been the new star as Moore still battles injuries, catching passes for nearly 500 yards this season and 7 TDs. He's been nearly impossible for opposing DBs to cover, which does not bode well for the Huskers who have struggled in pass coverage this year. The other threat from the Boilermaker offense is RB Zander Horvath, a 6'3, 230 lbs. monster who's nearly impossible to bring down on the first hit. They don't run him as much as they should in my opinion, but he makes the most of it with a 5.1 yard per carry average. The front 7 of the Huskers need to be ready and wrap hard on their tackles. Switching over to the Husker offense, we're likely to see Adrian Martinez back in the starting roll. He played well at Iowa last week, despite his offensive line doing just about everything possible to get him killed, and I'm excited to watch him. I will again be a major advocate for running both Martinez and McCaffrey in the backfield at the same time. With the lack of support at the RB position, I think it could really open up the offense to have these two running the ball together. Looking to the air attack, there's not much outside of Austin Allen and Wandale Robinson. Robinson needs to touch the ball as much as possible, but predictable play calling and bad snaps to throw off the timing of predictable play calls is likely to occur with Cam Jurgens back at Center. Frost doubled-down on his decision to go with Jurgens, but that could mean we see a number of snaps going haywire again. As always, avoiding turnovers and dumb mistakes are the keys to victory for the Huskers. Look for an emphasis on play fakes in this one, Purdue has struggled against the play action this season. Also look for 3rd Down Conversion rates and TOP, the winner of those, especially in the second half will likely have the victory. I really don't know what to expect from Nebraska any more outside of poor performances, so I'll go with Purdue and pray the Huskers surprise me and prove me wrong. I just want to see some progress and for the head coach to take some responsibility for his team. Purdue 31, Nebraska 27. BoilerUp, but please Go Big Red.

Quick Hit Predictions:

#6 Florida at Tennessee - The Gators are nearly to the SEC Championship, but have a couple more games to get through first. The Vols are always looking for an upset in a rivalry like this, but I doubt they'll be able to keep up with Heisman front-runner Kyle Trask and the Gator's air raid. Gators Chomp again behind another big day from Trask. Florida 44, Tennessee 20.

#19 Iowa at Illinois - The Hawkeyes are on a roll after dropping their first two games of the season, and the Illini are ready to get back to football after having their bout with Ohio State cancelled a week ago. Nothing would be better to watch Iowa be upset by Illinois, and they might have the offense to do it. The Illini run defense is the key to victory though, because Tyler Goodsen is planning to have a big day. I think he will and the Hawkeyes return home with a 34-21 victory.

Penn State at Rutgers - Hanging around in the BIG 10, we've got a game that could possibly determine who squares off against Nebraska in the extra week of the season (Michigan is also in the hunt for that coveted spot). The Scarlet Knights have been playing well in Greg Schiano's first year back, but Penn State just won their first game of 2020 and doesn't want to stop there. The Nittany Lions may have found their rushing attack with Freshman RB Keyvone Lee, so I'll take them in this game. Neither team is very good, so expect this to be a messy one. Penn State wins 26-21.

Boston College at Virginia - Nothing outside of Notre Dame and Clemson really matter in the ACC, but this is an interesting game. The Eagles are looking to restart their offense while the Cavaliers are riding a three game win-streak. Neither team runs the ball very well, so this will be a battle of the QBs. BC's Jurkovec and UVA's Armstrong. Jurkovec has more yards, TDs and fewer picks, so I'll give him the nod. Eagles 35, Cavaliers 27.

Stanford at #22 Washington - With the Ducks losing last week, Washington is looking to represent the North in the PAC-12 Championship yet again. The could be looking ahead to their meeting with Oregon next week, but I don't think David Shaw and Stanford quite have the firepower to break through the Husky defense. Washington 28, Sanford 21.

Baylor at #11 Oklahoma - The Sooners have been red hot since their 1-2 start to the season, but Baylor just ended their losing streak of close games and is ready to upset. The Bears have a solid QB-WR duo between Brewer and Sneed, but I think Spencer Rattler should be okay in this one. Sooners win big behind Rattler 44-21.

Thank you for reading my Gameday predictions and I hope you all enjoy the fantastic CFB Saturday we have before us. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando