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Starting to get into the meat of conference play now. There are 7 undefeated teams that are playing against other ranked teams this week. This will be a big week to start to really set up the rankings. Let's get right to the game of the week.
10 Penn State at 4 Michigan 12:00 FOX Mich -7
While it is still unknown whether Jim Harbaugh killed 5 hookers, he will still be allowed to coach...for now. Michigan's defense is only allowing 11 pointe per game but they have played 4 teams ranked 90th or worse in scoring. Only Maryland was a decent offense and they scored 27. Maryland was really the only team that could pass that Michigan has played.
Penn State hasn't played any great offenses either but they have faced teams that can throw the ball. Michigan's defense is about pressure. They don't have the elite DEs like last year but they get good pressure as a team. Penn State's defense is about the coverage. They play very aggressive man coverage and lead the nation in Pass break ups by a large margin.
Michigan loves young QB JJ McCarthy but he's still mostly untested. So far the run game has worked, he's had time to throw and since their opponents haven't scored much, there was no need to do much in the passing game.
Both teams want to run the ball. Blake Corum runs well for a midget. Penn State is the first team Mich has faced that may be able to slow their run game. Penn State's run game has been much improved. Their OC has adjusted his approach (Matt Canada pay attention) and has schemed runs differently. It also helps to have 2 freshman stud RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Singleton has gotten the attention on big plays but right now Allen is the more polished runner.
I really think this game can go either way. If Penn State can give Clifford time, I think plays can be made against an average Michigan secondary. McCarthy has not seen tight coverage like he will vs Penn State. McCarthy has only been pressured on 19% of dropbacks which is 7th best in the nation. He has been able to hold the ball a long time but Penn State has some good pass rushers that won't allow him to sit back there all day.
Michigan's OL is good but not great. If Penn State can slow that run game and force Mccarthy to throw more than Michigan would like then he might make some mistakes. So far he has been hesitant to throw into tight coverage.
19 Kansas at Oklahoma 12:00 ESPN2 Ok -8.5
How can Oklahoma be favored? Because Kansas Qn Jalon Daniels seems unlikely to play. Their bacup Jason Bean started 10 games last year so he has some experience. Kansas has had success with a tricky offensive scheme. Oklahoma's defense has busts all over the place. Still seems crazy Oklahoma is favored by so much with all their struggles.
Minnesota at 24 Illinois 12:00 BTN Minn -6.5
Just highlighting this one to show that Bielema has Illinois ranked after beating up on WIsconsin and getting their coach fired. Have to wonder if Beilema will be lured away to a bigger name team next year.
3 Alabama at 6 Tennessee 3:30 CBS Ala -8
i'd like to point out how ridiculous the polls are. Last week, with an injured Bryce Young, Alabama jumped up to #1. Not surprisingly they struggled a bit with a backup QB so now they drop to 3. Makes no sense at all. If you moved Bama to 1 last week, then shouldn't you still have them 1 since you obviously don't care about the QB situation?
Tenn has lost 15 straight to Bama. This feels like their first legit shot in years. QB Bryce Young is a gametime decision. Obviously that's a huge factor. I think the big story is Hendon Hooker. With a big game here, he could be a top 10 pick next year. I don't think Tenn has the defense to pull off the upset.
8 Oklahoma State at 13 TCU 3:30 ABC TCU -4
last year OK State smoked TCU 63-17. OK state QB Spencer Sanders is just 3 wins away from Mason Rudolph's school record. Booo Hisss. How dare you say something positive about Mason Rudolph you son of a *****!!! TCU is coming off a big win vs Kansas
15 NC State at 18 Syracuse 3:30 ABC Syr -3.5
This is Syracuse's best start since 1987. NC State QB Devin Leary was injured in last week's win vs FSU and is a gametiome decision. Syracuse is improved but mostly untested. Their lone quality win is a 3 point win over Purdue. NC State played Clemson tough in a loss. NC State's backup QB thre just 1 pass in relief vs FSU last week.
4 Clemson at Florida State 7:30 Clem -4
Clemson has loads of talent and they're winning but not really blowing anybody away. They barely survived in 2 OT vs Wake Forest and had a tough one vs NC State. Clemson QB DJ Unpronounceable has huge talent but sometimes you get Jamarcus Russell vibes from him.
16 Miss State at 22 Kentucky 7:30 SECN Miss St -4
Kentucky QB Will Levis is expected to play. MSU is coming off back to back blowout wins against TX A&M and Arkansas.
7 USC at 20 Utah 8:00 FOX Utah -3.5
USC is flashy and Utah is tough. This is the type of game USC has struggled with. Utah has had trouble with mobile QBs. The key could be USC QB Caleb Williams legs. Pac 12 only has 2 unbeatens USC amd UCLA. A USC loss would be bad for the Pac 12. They likely need an unbeaten Champ to get into the playoffs. SEC and Big 10 champ is in. Big 12 is a tougher league and will be ahead of the Pac 12 champ unless that Pac 12 champ us unbeaten.
10 Penn State at 4 Michigan 12:00 FOX Mich -7
While it is still unknown whether Jim Harbaugh killed 5 hookers, he will still be allowed to coach...for now. Michigan's defense is only allowing 11 pointe per game but they have played 4 teams ranked 90th or worse in scoring. Only Maryland was a decent offense and they scored 27. Maryland was really the only team that could pass that Michigan has played.
Penn State hasn't played any great offenses either but they have faced teams that can throw the ball. Michigan's defense is about pressure. They don't have the elite DEs like last year but they get good pressure as a team. Penn State's defense is about the coverage. They play very aggressive man coverage and lead the nation in Pass break ups by a large margin.
Michigan loves young QB JJ McCarthy but he's still mostly untested. So far the run game has worked, he's had time to throw and since their opponents haven't scored much, there was no need to do much in the passing game.
Both teams want to run the ball. Blake Corum runs well for a midget. Penn State is the first team Mich has faced that may be able to slow their run game. Penn State's run game has been much improved. Their OC has adjusted his approach (Matt Canada pay attention) and has schemed runs differently. It also helps to have 2 freshman stud RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Singleton has gotten the attention on big plays but right now Allen is the more polished runner.
I really think this game can go either way. If Penn State can give Clifford time, I think plays can be made against an average Michigan secondary. McCarthy has not seen tight coverage like he will vs Penn State. McCarthy has only been pressured on 19% of dropbacks which is 7th best in the nation. He has been able to hold the ball a long time but Penn State has some good pass rushers that won't allow him to sit back there all day.
Michigan's OL is good but not great. If Penn State can slow that run game and force Mccarthy to throw more than Michigan would like then he might make some mistakes. So far he has been hesitant to throw into tight coverage.
19 Kansas at Oklahoma 12:00 ESPN2 Ok -8.5
How can Oklahoma be favored? Because Kansas Qn Jalon Daniels seems unlikely to play. Their bacup Jason Bean started 10 games last year so he has some experience. Kansas has had success with a tricky offensive scheme. Oklahoma's defense has busts all over the place. Still seems crazy Oklahoma is favored by so much with all their struggles.
Minnesota at 24 Illinois 12:00 BTN Minn -6.5
Just highlighting this one to show that Bielema has Illinois ranked after beating up on WIsconsin and getting their coach fired. Have to wonder if Beilema will be lured away to a bigger name team next year.
3 Alabama at 6 Tennessee 3:30 CBS Ala -8
i'd like to point out how ridiculous the polls are. Last week, with an injured Bryce Young, Alabama jumped up to #1. Not surprisingly they struggled a bit with a backup QB so now they drop to 3. Makes no sense at all. If you moved Bama to 1 last week, then shouldn't you still have them 1 since you obviously don't care about the QB situation?
Tenn has lost 15 straight to Bama. This feels like their first legit shot in years. QB Bryce Young is a gametime decision. Obviously that's a huge factor. I think the big story is Hendon Hooker. With a big game here, he could be a top 10 pick next year. I don't think Tenn has the defense to pull off the upset.
8 Oklahoma State at 13 TCU 3:30 ABC TCU -4
last year OK State smoked TCU 63-17. OK state QB Spencer Sanders is just 3 wins away from Mason Rudolph's school record. Booo Hisss. How dare you say something positive about Mason Rudolph you son of a *****!!! TCU is coming off a big win vs Kansas
15 NC State at 18 Syracuse 3:30 ABC Syr -3.5
This is Syracuse's best start since 1987. NC State QB Devin Leary was injured in last week's win vs FSU and is a gametiome decision. Syracuse is improved but mostly untested. Their lone quality win is a 3 point win over Purdue. NC State played Clemson tough in a loss. NC State's backup QB thre just 1 pass in relief vs FSU last week.
4 Clemson at Florida State 7:30 Clem -4
Clemson has loads of talent and they're winning but not really blowing anybody away. They barely survived in 2 OT vs Wake Forest and had a tough one vs NC State. Clemson QB DJ Unpronounceable has huge talent but sometimes you get Jamarcus Russell vibes from him.
16 Miss State at 22 Kentucky 7:30 SECN Miss St -4
Kentucky QB Will Levis is expected to play. MSU is coming off back to back blowout wins against TX A&M and Arkansas.
7 USC at 20 Utah 8:00 FOX Utah -3.5
USC is flashy and Utah is tough. This is the type of game USC has struggled with. Utah has had trouble with mobile QBs. The key could be USC QB Caleb Williams legs. Pac 12 only has 2 unbeatens USC amd UCLA. A USC loss would be bad for the Pac 12. They likely need an unbeaten Champ to get into the playoffs. SEC and Big 10 champ is in. Big 12 is a tougher league and will be ahead of the Pac 12 champ unless that Pac 12 champ us unbeaten.
