2023 College Football - Week 7: How the West was Won
Oct 12, 2023 22:08:59 GMT -6
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Post by Uncle on Oct 12, 2023 22:08:59 GMT -6
There are some solid matchups throughtout the nation in Week 7, but two really stand out and both will go a long way to determining how both "Western" Conferences - the Mountain West, and the PAC-12 - will be won in 2023.
In the Mountain West, Wyoming - fresh off beating #24 Fresno St last weekend - travel to Falcon Stadium to take on undefeated Air Force, with the winner having the inside track to the Mountain West Championship game.
In the Pacific Northwest, it's a battle of Top 10 PAC-12 teams as #8 Oregon travels north to Seattle to take on #7 Washington in the PAC-12 Game of the Year 1.0. While the PAC-12 has more Top 25 ranked teams (7) than any other FBS Conference, this midseason game will certainly set the tone for who the team to beat is...
Friday, 10/13 - Evening Game
Tulane @ Memphis - 7PM ET (ESPN); spread is Memphis -4.5
While Week 7 marks the beginning of football every night of the week (there will be College Football games on Tues/Wed/Thur/Friday nights), Week 7 really begins with some QB's to check out. First off, QB Michael Pratt from Tulane take on Memphis, who sadly will be the toughest test for the Green Wave from here on out. The transfers of Cincinnati, SMU, UCF & Houston have left the AAC pretty bare in terms of viable teams so this matchup of AAC 4-1 teams feels like a mini AAC Championship Game. Pratt is an under-the-radar type of 2024 Draft prospect that doesn't have many games on national TV so if you didn't get the chance to check out the Green Wave during their tremendous 2022 season, here's a chance to check him out during a big game on Friday the 13th.
Saturday, 10/14 - Mid-Afternoon Game
#8 Oregon @ #7 Washington - 3:30PM ET (ABC); PAC-12 Game of the Year 1.0; spread is Washington -3
Last week, College Football gave us the "Red River Rivalry": a bigtime rivalry game between two states separated by the Red River. This week, it's the PAC-12's turn as both Oregon and Washington - rivals battling for the PAC-12 title this season - are separated by the Columbia River. And while the Columbia may separate both states, not much separates the offenses for both teams: Washington is No. 1 in the nation in total offense...Oregon is No. 2. Oregon is also No. 2 in the nation in scoring...Washington is No. 3. Both offenses are led by top 2024 Draft prospects: Bo Nix for the Ducks and Michael Penix, Jr. for the Huskies. While Oregon may have the complete team (although Washington does have some 2024 Draft prospects on defense, too), the game will be played at Husky Stadium, one of the more intimidating environments in all of College Football, which might give the Huskies a slight advantage. Last year's game between these two teams in Eugene was a classic with both QB's playing extremely well, with Nix ultimately being knocked out in the 2nd half which gave Penix, Jr. and Washington enough of an advantage to pull the upset. Viking fans will surely be watching this one as both QB's should be on the Viking's radar in the 2024 Draft.
Saturday, 10/14 - Evening Games
Wyoming @ Air Force - 7PM ET (CBSSN); Mountain West Game of the Year 1.0; spread is Air Force -10.5
The Cowboys have had a solid season with wins over Texas Tech, App St and a ranked Fresno St team - so why are they double-digit underdogs in this one? The answer is because Air Force sports the No. 6 overall defense in the nation and allows just 4.27 yards per-play, which is fewer yards per-play allowed than Georgia, Michigan & Alabama. But Wyoming's defense is no slouch, either, limiting a potent Fresno St rushing attack to just 1.9 yards per-rush last week. The Falcon's triple option rushing attack is hard to defend, but this might be the toughest defense they'll face all season and their QB - who's only attempted 19 pass attempts all season - might have to actually pass the ball to move the football. This one might be the equivalent of a Ravens/Steelers AFC North "slugfest": low scoring...pad-popping hits...and bigtime defense.
#10 USC @ #21 Notre Dame - 7:30PM ET (NBC Peacock); spread is Notre Dame -3
Part 4 of Notre Dame's midseason gauntlet of tough, primetime games. Part 1 ended in a loss to Ohio St...part 2 ended with a squeaker of a win @ Duke...Part 3 ended up with Notre Dame knocked out of the Playoffs as Louisville punched them in the mouth last week..and now the Fighting Irish get to host the #1 team in the nation in scoring and the consensus #1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft. While USC's defense will ultimately be the thing that keeps them out of the CFP at some point this season, Notre Dame just looks like a team that needs a bye after 3 straight weeks of tough, primetime games.
#25 Miami @ #12 North Carolina - 7:30PM ET (ABC); spread is North Carolina -3.5
Similar to the USC/Notre Dame game, this game between two ranked teams feels like a game between 2 teams going in opposite direction. The Hurricanes had a completely inexcusable last-second loss to Georgia Tech at home in Week 6, failing to kneel down at the end and allowing the Yellow Jackets a sliver of hope which they took. Miami gets no reprieve as they travel to Chapel Hill to square-off against a red-hot Tar Heels team with QB Drake Maye starting to play up to his QB2 2024 Draft status. On top of that, Maye gets a new "toy" as the NCAA reinstated WR Tez Walker this week, a star-WR transfer who the NCAA deemed ineligible at the beginning of the season. Miami HC Mario Cristobal needs a big win here to wash away the taste of last week's stunning defeat and keep the Hurricanes in the hunt for a spot in the ACC Championship as a loss here would certainly knock them out of the running in the ACC with FSU, North Carolina and Louisville all undefeated.
#18 UCLA @ #15 Oregon St - 8PM ET (FOX); spread is Oregon St -3.5
I mentioned earlier that Air Force is the No. 6 team in the nation in yards-per-play allowed. Know who the No. 1 team is? The Bruins of UCLA, fresh off of an impressive defensive effort against Washington St in Week 6. Their only loss was a road game against an equally tough defense in Utah, and Oregon St is another tough home team, whipping Utah in Week 5 in Corvalis. UCLA FR QB Dante Moore has thrown 3 INT's over his last two games and if he continues to turn it over, that will spell doom for the Bruins on the road.
In the Mountain West, Wyoming - fresh off beating #24 Fresno St last weekend - travel to Falcon Stadium to take on undefeated Air Force, with the winner having the inside track to the Mountain West Championship game.
In the Pacific Northwest, it's a battle of Top 10 PAC-12 teams as #8 Oregon travels north to Seattle to take on #7 Washington in the PAC-12 Game of the Year 1.0. While the PAC-12 has more Top 25 ranked teams (7) than any other FBS Conference, this midseason game will certainly set the tone for who the team to beat is...
Friday, 10/13 - Evening Game
Tulane @ Memphis - 7PM ET (ESPN); spread is Memphis -4.5
While Week 7 marks the beginning of football every night of the week (there will be College Football games on Tues/Wed/Thur/Friday nights), Week 7 really begins with some QB's to check out. First off, QB Michael Pratt from Tulane take on Memphis, who sadly will be the toughest test for the Green Wave from here on out. The transfers of Cincinnati, SMU, UCF & Houston have left the AAC pretty bare in terms of viable teams so this matchup of AAC 4-1 teams feels like a mini AAC Championship Game. Pratt is an under-the-radar type of 2024 Draft prospect that doesn't have many games on national TV so if you didn't get the chance to check out the Green Wave during their tremendous 2022 season, here's a chance to check him out during a big game on Friday the 13th.
Saturday, 10/14 - Mid-Afternoon Game
#8 Oregon @ #7 Washington - 3:30PM ET (ABC); PAC-12 Game of the Year 1.0; spread is Washington -3
Last week, College Football gave us the "Red River Rivalry": a bigtime rivalry game between two states separated by the Red River. This week, it's the PAC-12's turn as both Oregon and Washington - rivals battling for the PAC-12 title this season - are separated by the Columbia River. And while the Columbia may separate both states, not much separates the offenses for both teams: Washington is No. 1 in the nation in total offense...Oregon is No. 2. Oregon is also No. 2 in the nation in scoring...Washington is No. 3. Both offenses are led by top 2024 Draft prospects: Bo Nix for the Ducks and Michael Penix, Jr. for the Huskies. While Oregon may have the complete team (although Washington does have some 2024 Draft prospects on defense, too), the game will be played at Husky Stadium, one of the more intimidating environments in all of College Football, which might give the Huskies a slight advantage. Last year's game between these two teams in Eugene was a classic with both QB's playing extremely well, with Nix ultimately being knocked out in the 2nd half which gave Penix, Jr. and Washington enough of an advantage to pull the upset. Viking fans will surely be watching this one as both QB's should be on the Viking's radar in the 2024 Draft.
Saturday, 10/14 - Evening Games
Wyoming @ Air Force - 7PM ET (CBSSN); Mountain West Game of the Year 1.0; spread is Air Force -10.5
The Cowboys have had a solid season with wins over Texas Tech, App St and a ranked Fresno St team - so why are they double-digit underdogs in this one? The answer is because Air Force sports the No. 6 overall defense in the nation and allows just 4.27 yards per-play, which is fewer yards per-play allowed than Georgia, Michigan & Alabama. But Wyoming's defense is no slouch, either, limiting a potent Fresno St rushing attack to just 1.9 yards per-rush last week. The Falcon's triple option rushing attack is hard to defend, but this might be the toughest defense they'll face all season and their QB - who's only attempted 19 pass attempts all season - might have to actually pass the ball to move the football. This one might be the equivalent of a Ravens/Steelers AFC North "slugfest": low scoring...pad-popping hits...and bigtime defense.
#10 USC @ #21 Notre Dame - 7:30PM ET (NBC Peacock); spread is Notre Dame -3
Part 4 of Notre Dame's midseason gauntlet of tough, primetime games. Part 1 ended in a loss to Ohio St...part 2 ended with a squeaker of a win @ Duke...Part 3 ended up with Notre Dame knocked out of the Playoffs as Louisville punched them in the mouth last week..and now the Fighting Irish get to host the #1 team in the nation in scoring and the consensus #1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft. While USC's defense will ultimately be the thing that keeps them out of the CFP at some point this season, Notre Dame just looks like a team that needs a bye after 3 straight weeks of tough, primetime games.
#25 Miami @ #12 North Carolina - 7:30PM ET (ABC); spread is North Carolina -3.5
Similar to the USC/Notre Dame game, this game between two ranked teams feels like a game between 2 teams going in opposite direction. The Hurricanes had a completely inexcusable last-second loss to Georgia Tech at home in Week 6, failing to kneel down at the end and allowing the Yellow Jackets a sliver of hope which they took. Miami gets no reprieve as they travel to Chapel Hill to square-off against a red-hot Tar Heels team with QB Drake Maye starting to play up to his QB2 2024 Draft status. On top of that, Maye gets a new "toy" as the NCAA reinstated WR Tez Walker this week, a star-WR transfer who the NCAA deemed ineligible at the beginning of the season. Miami HC Mario Cristobal needs a big win here to wash away the taste of last week's stunning defeat and keep the Hurricanes in the hunt for a spot in the ACC Championship as a loss here would certainly knock them out of the running in the ACC with FSU, North Carolina and Louisville all undefeated.
#18 UCLA @ #15 Oregon St - 8PM ET (FOX); spread is Oregon St -3.5
I mentioned earlier that Air Force is the No. 6 team in the nation in yards-per-play allowed. Know who the No. 1 team is? The Bruins of UCLA, fresh off of an impressive defensive effort against Washington St in Week 6. Their only loss was a road game against an equally tough defense in Utah, and Oregon St is another tough home team, whipping Utah in Week 5 in Corvalis. UCLA FR QB Dante Moore has thrown 3 INT's over his last two games and if he continues to turn it over, that will spell doom for the Bruins on the road.
... and neither is this Chris guy.