Post by Uncle on Oct 22, 2022 6:53:18 GMT -6
We're just getting past the halfway point of the College Regular Season and have just two weekends left before the first CFP Rankings are published on Tuesday, 11/1.
While Week 8 doesn't have quite the slate of games that last week's "Couch Potato Week 7" did as several Top 25 teams have a BYE, there are still some very good games on tap. In Week 7, it was the BIG10, SEC and BIG XII who had their "Game of the Year 1.0" matchups, and now is the ACC and PAC12's turn to have theirs...and because the BIG XII is so deep this year, they get to have their "2.0" game a bit early.
Saturday, 10/22 - Early Afternoon Games
#14 Syracuse @ #5 Clemson - Noon ET (ABC); "The ACC Game of the Year 1.0"
Last weekend it was the BIG10 having their "Game of the Year" during the early afternoon slate, and this weekend it's the ACC. Syracuse hasn't been 6-0 since 1987 (pre Donovan McNabb era) so their start is even more surprising than Tennessee's. While they've played most of their games at home, I don't believe it's a fluke they are ranked in the Top 15 as they hvae 2023 Draft prospects on both sides of the ball (RB Sean Tucker and CB Garrett Williams are two worth keeping an eye on), and they've been getting solid QB play from Garrett Shrader, a transfer from Miss St. On the other side of the field is Clemson, who's already been battle tested and has won 37 straight games at Death Valley. Syracuse does rely on Sean Tucker running the ball and they won't be able to do that too much against a very good Clemson Front 7, but this is where Shrader comes into play and Tucker is a good pass catcher, too. While Clemson is battle tested, I'm not sure they escape the Regular Season totally undefeated and I can see them tripping up at some point and it wouldn't surprise me if it was Syracuse who comes in and continues to surprise the nation here.
#21 Cincinnati @ SMU - Noon ET (ESPN)
Typically this game wouldn't be worth mentioning but there are a few 2023 Draft prospects to keep an eye on here; Cincinnati's QB Ben Bryant and SMU's WR Rashee Rice. Bryant was the QB at Cincinnati before Desmond Ridder took his spot the last two seasons, so he transferred to E Michigan in 2021 and then came back to Cincinnati when Ridder went to the NFL in 2022. Bryant has been having a good year and could be a "dark horse" QB2 prospect on Day 3. Rice is another on the growing the list of recent SMU WR's that get drafted into the NFL following Courtland Sutton, James Proche and Danny Gray. Rice offers a very good package of good size (6'2", 210 lbs), good hands and good athleticism, plus the ability to run a complete route tree - basically the definition of a true "X" WR in the NFL. With no clearcut #1 WR as of now, don't count out Rice as a Day 1 WR prospect and with a bigtime home game vs a ranked team, he could be further climbing up 2023 boards after this one.
Saturday, 10/22 - Late Afternoon Games
#7 Ole Miss @ LSU - 3:30PM ET (CBS)
A sneaky-good SEC West game in the mdidle of the day here as Ole Miss comes in at 7-0 - their best start since the 60's - and in 1st place in the SEC West. Meanwhile, LSU was having a bit of an up-and-down first season under Brian Kelley, but had a statement win last weekend at The Swamp. The Rebels boast one the strongest running attacks in the nation, but I think the buck is gonna stop here against a rejuvenated LSU team that is suddenly looking strong and playing at home in Death Valley. LSU QB Jayden Daniels had his breakout game at The Swamp, too - passing for 3 TD's and rushing for 3 more - and I'd like to see if he can consistently play at that level. It's possible that two Top 10 teams go down - Clemson at home to Syrcause and Ole Miss on the road at Baton Rouge.
#9 UCLA @ #10 Oregon - 3:30PM ET (FOX); "The PAC12 Game of the Year 1.0"
It's the PAC12's turn to put on a showcase game in front of the nation in the middle of the day. Like the BIG XII, the PAC12 is very deep this season and eventually the top teams will play each other, as is the case here. Last weekends USC/Utah matchup ended up being the "Game of the Year 1.0" in the PAC12, but I didn't call it that before the game so it doesn't count. UCLA's offense has been spectacular this season, and like Tennessee, their QB - Dorian Thompson-Robinson - has been having a breakout year. But their success has come at the Rose Bowl and Chip Kelly must venture outside of LA is he's going to have any hope of playing in the CFP, and it's not easy to win at Eugene. Speaking of rejuvenated QB's, Oregon's Bo Nix is having a rejuvenated 2022 season after his rough ride at Auburn and a 2022 Week 1 beatdown by Georgia. But Oregon has a few 2023 prospects on the defensive side of the ball in LB Noah Sewell and CB Christian Gonzalez. This game is a toss-up and the winner gets to be on top of the PAC12 mountain...for at least a week, anyway.
#20 Texas @ #11 Oklahoma St - 3:30PM ET (ABC)
A very good matchup in the BIG XII between two ranked teams, and it's not even the best game in their Conference, a testament to how deep the BIG XII is this year. The Longhorns had a bit of a letdown after their Week 2 near win vs Alabama when they lost to Texas Tech in Lubbock, but they've battled back strong with a blowout win over rival Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown and come-from-behind win over Iowa St in Austin last weekend. And their QB, Q Ewers, is back from an injury he suffered in that Week 2 loss vs 'Bama and playing very well, which puts the pressure off of 2023 Draft prospect RB B Robinson. On the other side, the Cowboys were cruising along as arguably the Conference's best all-around team until they ran into the high-octain offense of TCU last weekend in Forth Worth, and now their backs are against the wall somewhat with a very strong Texas team rolling into town. Mike Gundy likes to preach fundamentals and gritty toughness and the Cowboys will need every bit of that to pull off a win in Week 8.
Saturday, 10/22 - Evening Games
#24 Miss St @ #6 Alabama - 7PM ET (ESPN)
I didn't even want to mention this one as I don't think this will be too close, but it is two ranked team going head-to-head and those are always worth a mention. Miss St just hasn't looked good when they had to play top quality competition this season (LSU, Kentucky, etc) and it took the nation's #1 ranked offense in Tennessee to beat Alabama last weekend, who is playing in Tuscaloosa. While Mike Leech's infamous Air Raid offense could give a few teams problems, the Tide should have no problems here, as long as they don't suffer a hangover from that incredible Week 7 game at Rocky Top. It could be worth seeing if QB Bryce Young - who played just slightly better than Tennessee's Hendon Hooker last week - suffers a letdown, too. If he wants to be QB1 in the 2023 Draft, he needs to consistently show his Week 7 level of play, especially after he suffered a bunch of hard hits vs the Vols.
#17 Kansas St @ #8 TCU - 8PM ET (FS1); the "BIG XII Game of the Year 2.0"
Of all the talk of TCU, Oklahoma St, Texas and Kansas in the BIG XII this season, what isn't so well-known across the nation is that Kansas St is also undefeated in Conference play, and with TCU also undefeated (overall, not just in Conference), the winner of this game takes sole possession of 1st place in the BIG XII which makes this game a "2.0". TCU survived a 2OT thriller at home vs Oklahoma St and won a close game @ Kansas in Week 6, so even though they are certainly battle tested, just like Clemson, sooner or later you'll probably suffer a letdown week. KSU QB Adrian Martinez, a transfer from Nebraska, had the game of his career in an upset win @ Oklahoma a few weeks back so the Wildcats are no stranger to winning big games on the road and they have the nation's 7th best rushing attack behind Martinez and RB Deuce Vaughn, and there's no better gameplan to slowing down a high-octaine offense like TCU has than to possess the ball and keep TCU off the field, which is what K-State will try to do. The key for the Wildcats is to score TD's when they move the ball on offense - they can't drive into the red zoen and come away with only 3 against a Horned Frogs team that will certainly score their fair share of TD's.
QB Matchups to Watch:
Garrett Shrader (Syracuse) @ DJ Uiagalelei (Clemson)
Ben Bryant (Cincinnati) @ Tanner Mordecai (SMU)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) @ Bo Nix (Oregon)
Phil Jurkovec (Boston College) @ Sam Hartman (Wake Forest)
Will Rogers (Miss St) @ Bryce Young (Alabama)
Adrian Martinez (Kansas St) @ Max Duggan (TCU)
While Week 8 doesn't have quite the slate of games that last week's "Couch Potato Week 7" did as several Top 25 teams have a BYE, there are still some very good games on tap. In Week 7, it was the BIG10, SEC and BIG XII who had their "Game of the Year 1.0" matchups, and now is the ACC and PAC12's turn to have theirs...and because the BIG XII is so deep this year, they get to have their "2.0" game a bit early.
Saturday, 10/22 - Early Afternoon Games
#14 Syracuse @ #5 Clemson - Noon ET (ABC); "The ACC Game of the Year 1.0"
Last weekend it was the BIG10 having their "Game of the Year" during the early afternoon slate, and this weekend it's the ACC. Syracuse hasn't been 6-0 since 1987 (pre Donovan McNabb era) so their start is even more surprising than Tennessee's. While they've played most of their games at home, I don't believe it's a fluke they are ranked in the Top 15 as they hvae 2023 Draft prospects on both sides of the ball (RB Sean Tucker and CB Garrett Williams are two worth keeping an eye on), and they've been getting solid QB play from Garrett Shrader, a transfer from Miss St. On the other side of the field is Clemson, who's already been battle tested and has won 37 straight games at Death Valley. Syracuse does rely on Sean Tucker running the ball and they won't be able to do that too much against a very good Clemson Front 7, but this is where Shrader comes into play and Tucker is a good pass catcher, too. While Clemson is battle tested, I'm not sure they escape the Regular Season totally undefeated and I can see them tripping up at some point and it wouldn't surprise me if it was Syracuse who comes in and continues to surprise the nation here.
#21 Cincinnati @ SMU - Noon ET (ESPN)
Typically this game wouldn't be worth mentioning but there are a few 2023 Draft prospects to keep an eye on here; Cincinnati's QB Ben Bryant and SMU's WR Rashee Rice. Bryant was the QB at Cincinnati before Desmond Ridder took his spot the last two seasons, so he transferred to E Michigan in 2021 and then came back to Cincinnati when Ridder went to the NFL in 2022. Bryant has been having a good year and could be a "dark horse" QB2 prospect on Day 3. Rice is another on the growing the list of recent SMU WR's that get drafted into the NFL following Courtland Sutton, James Proche and Danny Gray. Rice offers a very good package of good size (6'2", 210 lbs), good hands and good athleticism, plus the ability to run a complete route tree - basically the definition of a true "X" WR in the NFL. With no clearcut #1 WR as of now, don't count out Rice as a Day 1 WR prospect and with a bigtime home game vs a ranked team, he could be further climbing up 2023 boards after this one.
Saturday, 10/22 - Late Afternoon Games
#7 Ole Miss @ LSU - 3:30PM ET (CBS)
A sneaky-good SEC West game in the mdidle of the day here as Ole Miss comes in at 7-0 - their best start since the 60's - and in 1st place in the SEC West. Meanwhile, LSU was having a bit of an up-and-down first season under Brian Kelley, but had a statement win last weekend at The Swamp. The Rebels boast one the strongest running attacks in the nation, but I think the buck is gonna stop here against a rejuvenated LSU team that is suddenly looking strong and playing at home in Death Valley. LSU QB Jayden Daniels had his breakout game at The Swamp, too - passing for 3 TD's and rushing for 3 more - and I'd like to see if he can consistently play at that level. It's possible that two Top 10 teams go down - Clemson at home to Syrcause and Ole Miss on the road at Baton Rouge.
#9 UCLA @ #10 Oregon - 3:30PM ET (FOX); "The PAC12 Game of the Year 1.0"
It's the PAC12's turn to put on a showcase game in front of the nation in the middle of the day. Like the BIG XII, the PAC12 is very deep this season and eventually the top teams will play each other, as is the case here. Last weekends USC/Utah matchup ended up being the "Game of the Year 1.0" in the PAC12, but I didn't call it that before the game so it doesn't count. UCLA's offense has been spectacular this season, and like Tennessee, their QB - Dorian Thompson-Robinson - has been having a breakout year. But their success has come at the Rose Bowl and Chip Kelly must venture outside of LA is he's going to have any hope of playing in the CFP, and it's not easy to win at Eugene. Speaking of rejuvenated QB's, Oregon's Bo Nix is having a rejuvenated 2022 season after his rough ride at Auburn and a 2022 Week 1 beatdown by Georgia. But Oregon has a few 2023 prospects on the defensive side of the ball in LB Noah Sewell and CB Christian Gonzalez. This game is a toss-up and the winner gets to be on top of the PAC12 mountain...for at least a week, anyway.
#20 Texas @ #11 Oklahoma St - 3:30PM ET (ABC)
A very good matchup in the BIG XII between two ranked teams, and it's not even the best game in their Conference, a testament to how deep the BIG XII is this year. The Longhorns had a bit of a letdown after their Week 2 near win vs Alabama when they lost to Texas Tech in Lubbock, but they've battled back strong with a blowout win over rival Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown and come-from-behind win over Iowa St in Austin last weekend. And their QB, Q Ewers, is back from an injury he suffered in that Week 2 loss vs 'Bama and playing very well, which puts the pressure off of 2023 Draft prospect RB B Robinson. On the other side, the Cowboys were cruising along as arguably the Conference's best all-around team until they ran into the high-octain offense of TCU last weekend in Forth Worth, and now their backs are against the wall somewhat with a very strong Texas team rolling into town. Mike Gundy likes to preach fundamentals and gritty toughness and the Cowboys will need every bit of that to pull off a win in Week 8.
Saturday, 10/22 - Evening Games
#24 Miss St @ #6 Alabama - 7PM ET (ESPN)
I didn't even want to mention this one as I don't think this will be too close, but it is two ranked team going head-to-head and those are always worth a mention. Miss St just hasn't looked good when they had to play top quality competition this season (LSU, Kentucky, etc) and it took the nation's #1 ranked offense in Tennessee to beat Alabama last weekend, who is playing in Tuscaloosa. While Mike Leech's infamous Air Raid offense could give a few teams problems, the Tide should have no problems here, as long as they don't suffer a hangover from that incredible Week 7 game at Rocky Top. It could be worth seeing if QB Bryce Young - who played just slightly better than Tennessee's Hendon Hooker last week - suffers a letdown, too. If he wants to be QB1 in the 2023 Draft, he needs to consistently show his Week 7 level of play, especially after he suffered a bunch of hard hits vs the Vols.
#17 Kansas St @ #8 TCU - 8PM ET (FS1); the "BIG XII Game of the Year 2.0"
Of all the talk of TCU, Oklahoma St, Texas and Kansas in the BIG XII this season, what isn't so well-known across the nation is that Kansas St is also undefeated in Conference play, and with TCU also undefeated (overall, not just in Conference), the winner of this game takes sole possession of 1st place in the BIG XII which makes this game a "2.0". TCU survived a 2OT thriller at home vs Oklahoma St and won a close game @ Kansas in Week 6, so even though they are certainly battle tested, just like Clemson, sooner or later you'll probably suffer a letdown week. KSU QB Adrian Martinez, a transfer from Nebraska, had the game of his career in an upset win @ Oklahoma a few weeks back so the Wildcats are no stranger to winning big games on the road and they have the nation's 7th best rushing attack behind Martinez and RB Deuce Vaughn, and there's no better gameplan to slowing down a high-octaine offense like TCU has than to possess the ball and keep TCU off the field, which is what K-State will try to do. The key for the Wildcats is to score TD's when they move the ball on offense - they can't drive into the red zoen and come away with only 3 against a Horned Frogs team that will certainly score their fair share of TD's.
QB Matchups to Watch:
Garrett Shrader (Syracuse) @ DJ Uiagalelei (Clemson)
Ben Bryant (Cincinnati) @ Tanner Mordecai (SMU)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA) @ Bo Nix (Oregon)
Phil Jurkovec (Boston College) @ Sam Hartman (Wake Forest)
Will Rogers (Miss St) @ Bryce Young (Alabama)
Adrian Martinez (Kansas St) @ Max Duggan (TCU)