B/R Experts Acknowledge Ultimate School Football Questions for Week 8
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Kenny PickettKeith Srakocic/Associated Press
It’s no longer even the weekend, and Week 8 has already offered some pleasure.
Wednesday evening, Coastal Carolina lost to Appalachian Train and fell from the unbeaten ranks. That consequence might well well merely be the precursor to a wild weekend.
Definite, the slate would now not encompass any matchup between High 25 teams. But the contenders strive and separate themselves from pretenders. Breakout teams and aesthetic stars contain begun to fetch some attention.
And admire we pause every Friday, our college football consultants—David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Morgan Moriarty and Brad Shepard—are sharing their insight on those rising matters.
Amongst the storylines in Week 8, we examined:
- Can Oregon relieve the Pac-12’s School Football Playoff hopes alive?
- Will Pitt descend Clemson?
- How will LSU play after Ed Orgeron’s delayed dismissal?
- Is one other undefeated team headed for a loss?
Let’s secure to it.
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Spencer SandersChuck Burton/Associated Press
Brad Shepard
When it involves “most attention-grabbing” in per week with out a games between High 25 opponents, it boils all of the model down to an unbeaten that might well well suffer an upset.
That screams No. 8 Oklahoma Train heading to Ames to grab on Iowa Train.
I’ve checked milk cartons all season, and there would possibly be now not any signal of Matt Campbell’s Cyclones, who had been in all americans’s High 25 to launch the 365 days. They’ve faltered to a 4-2 launch and have not made a see within the scorching rankings. But right here’s indifferent a right team, of us. When you scrutinize at the Cyclones’ anecdote, they lost by 10 to rival Iowa, which used to be ranked 2nd nationally last week, and by two to No. 20 Baylor.
When you couple those setbacks with an uninspiring 16-10 snatch over FCS powerhouse Northern Iowa, that spells no admire from the pollsters. But it completely’s methodology too early to depend out the Cyclones.
This weekend is a enormous substitute for them to secure a runt bit set relieve. It might well be a hazard zone for Oklahoma Train, however Mike Gundy’s team is getting higher per week, able to lean on what looks to be to be like admire the Extensive 12’s simplest protection and a solid working sport. If quarterback Spencer Sanders begins to are residing as a lot as his doable, the Cowboys can bustle the desk.
The relieve pause of Oklahoma Train’s schedule is no longer in truth too contemptible, rather than a looming matchup with Oklahoma. Originate it thru this one and the Nov. 20 sport at Texas Tech, and the pause-of-365 days matchup in Bedlam can contain national ramifications.
This sport is by some distance doubtlessly the most attention-grabbing of the weekend, even though it will no longer kind a ton of facets and a few explosive scoreboard lights.
David Kenyon
Briefly: I agree, Brad.
While the unfold is larger than anticipated, I’m no longer taken aback Iowa Train (-7 as of Thursday) is appreciated. Those two early losses catapulted the Cyclones out of the national dialog, however September—for whatever reason—has handcuffed Campbell all thru his five-plus-365 days ISU tenure. And, very repeatedly, they’ve improved in October.
Oklahoma Train, within the meantime, looks to contain shaken an unimpressive launch and is using a solid protection. Granted, right here’s no longer an finest matchup for an underwhelming offense. The Pokes have not cracked five yards per snap in four of six games.
Iowa Train will snatch at house. But my corpulent expectation is a slack get to search out out the winner.
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Mario CristobalJed Jacobsohn/Associated Press
Brad Shepard
Whatever slim playoff hopes Oregon has are placing by a feather, however there would possibly be now not any inquire of the Geese contain been dealt a tough hand with the foremost accidents which contain shelved valuable particular person after valuable particular person on a team that—while you ranking—traveled all thru the country and upset Ohio Train.
Alternatively, the UCLA team that beat LSU early within the 365 days would now not scrutinize slightly admire that one, both.
Hundreds of subplots exist too. No one’s blocked Kayvon Thibodeaux repeatedly when he’s been wholesome, and the defensive pause took over the fourth quarter at facets in last week’s narrow snatch in opposition to California. Then there would possibly be the consternation surrounding quarterback Anthony Brown’s wretched performance, inflicting Geese offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead to deserve to defend his starter this week.
The Bruins have not been able to create significant of a fixed passing sport to switch with the one-two working punch of Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown.
With every teams able to bustle the ball and every defenses loaded with skills or at the least producing (UCLA is ninth nationally in bustle protection), this one will advance all of the model down to the quarterbacks. Dorian Thompson-Robinson hasn’t been 100 percent recently, inflamed about his sick non-throwing arm, however right here’s an alternate to upend the Pac-12’s beast.
Peek for him to kind sufficient plays to grab, the grumbles surrounding Brown to secure louder and the Pac-12’s narrow probability at the CFP to spiral down the drain after Chip Kelly’s ideal snatch but in Westwood. Bruins 27-23.
David Kenyon
I part the troubles about Brown. There merely is no longer in truth sufficient explosiveness in this offense to kind it a official high-pause contender originate air the Pac-12.
On this particular Saturday, though, the protection can buoy the Geese. DTR hasn’t played as a lot as his doable recently, and the Thibodeaux-led Oregon pass bustle might well well indifferent place fixed stress on UCLA’s improved, but indifferent weak, offensive line.
Plus, the Geese contain reinforcements on the methodology. Both linebacker Mase Funa and cornerback DJ James are anticipated to play, adding two treasured objects relieve to a protection that has surrendered less than five yards per snap in four consecutive games.
Oregon sneaks out a right victory on the highway.
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Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
Adam Kramer
As irregular as it is to job, I’m a runt bit taken aback Pitt is no longer in truth a larger favourite over Clemson.
The Tigers protection can relieve the team shut in opposition to most opponents, even though Pitt has an offense (and a quarterback) that might well well contemporary problems.
When you are going to need no longer change into mindful of Kenny Pickett, now might well well be the time to total so. His 24 total touchdowns and one interception contain place him squarely within the Heisman Trophy dialogue, albeit a runt bit within the relieve of the favorites. A snatch right here might well well commerce the complexion of that in a shuffle.
The Panthers can also also play a runt bit protection, one thing we noticed last Saturday when they held Virginia Tech to seven facets in Blacksburg.
Clemson right is no longer the the same team offensively, which might well well indifferent advance as no shock given what they lost in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and working relieve Travis Etienne, amongst others. Accidents contain also been brutal. But with two losses and an assortment of shut calls, the Tigers usually are now not trending within the correct route.
Pitt stays firmly within the ACC toddle with a victory.
David Kenyon
Clemson has a championship-caliber protection. Through six games, the Tigers contain ceded a paltry 12.5 facets per sport and simplest 4.4 yards per snap. Opponents are converting third downs at right a 34.5 percent clip, and Clemson’s 27.8 red-zone touchdown rate is mere tenths of a level within the relieve of the juggernaut that is Georgia.
For that diversity of causes, Pitt will doubtlessly contain disaster placing foremost separation on the board.
But develop no longer mistake that for criticism. Pickett is a borderline Heisman contender—thriving in opposition to this model of protection can vault him into the “official” class—and the brutal truth is the Panthers can also simplest deserve to attain 17 to grab.
This Clemson offense is contemptible. If that adjustments, OK. Nonetheless, six games is larger than sufficient evidence to call it what it is.
It’s shut. It’s grotesque. But the hosts will snatch and put Pitt because the team to beat within the ACC. What a abnormal 365 days.
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Michael Clubb/Associated Press
Morgan Moriarty
While news of Ed Orgeron and LSU’s separation following the 2021 season became public after the Tigers’ 49-42 upset of No. 20 Florida last week, that you just can deserve to wonder if LSU avid gamers at the least had an conception that Coach O used to be on his methodology out of Baton Rouge sooner than the sport.
It’d be a runt bit awkward to see Orgeron pull off one other upset this week in opposition to Ole Leave out.
The Rebels are coming off a enormous highway snatch over Tennessee, capped by the team’s having to dodge objects thrown onto the field by a raucous Vols crowd come the pause of the sport. The Rebels’ high-powered offense would, on paper, contain an enormous edge over a depleted LSU protection.
But Ole Leave out’ offense might well well be without valuable particular person quarterback Matt Corral.
He picked up an undisclosed effort after handling 30 carries in last week’s snatch and has thrown for 1,728 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 450 yards and eight scores.
“That’s no longer a stat that I’m concerned about,” Ole Leave out head coach Lane Kiffin recommended reporters of Corral’s carries. “We would admire for that to be a working relieve and no longer our 200-pound quarterback, so he’s no longer in very right form, hasn’t been for the previous two days, so we gotta perceive how we are on accidents. Confidently he’ll play, however I pause no longer feel right about that without lengthen.”
It will no longer be aesthetic if Corral tries to push thru his effort. But if he can no longer slide, Ole Leave out will possible turn to backup genuine freshman Luke Altmyer, who has but to total a pass this season. In that case, LSU can also want a probability.
David Kenyon
While this “plain man strolling” field is no longer in truth conventional—on the total it is an intervening time coach taking on—I’m repeatedly fascinated at the locker room dynamics around a leadership commerce.
Will LSU avid gamers bond and Raise for Coach O!, or will that midseason separation announcement spark an grotesque crawl?
For this weekend, there are two foremost storylines: Corral’s health and whether Ole Leave out can conclude LSU’s counter runs. Final week, Florida had no answer for LSU’s channeling of Marshawn Lynch when they ran the the same play again and again and again and again.
If Corral plays, I will no longer pick in opposition to Ole Leave out. But if he’s out, what an awkwardly immense substitute for the Tigers to launch the publish-Orgeron-however-indifferent-Coach-O era.
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Josh HeupelWade Payne/Associated Press
Adam Kramer
First, let’s talk regarding the mustard.
To the one who introduced a mustard bottle into Neyland Stadium last week, I might well like to take hang of extra. (To be clear, I pause no longer endorse throwing the rest onto the football field, no longer to mention a bottle of mustard, however I right deserve to take hang of why anyone used to be carrying that bottle with them.)
Thanks.
Now, to the inquire of at hand: No. I develop no longer relate Tennessee has a shot in opposition to Alabama. I by no methodology scream by no methodology in this irregular sport of ours, even though the Crimson Tide regarded admire a substantial a quantity of team in opposition to Mississippi Train last Saturday on both side of the ball.
I in truth wager on the Vols in opposition to Ole Leave out, and they did slightly a range of right issues. The truth is, in contemporary weeks, the total product has regarded significant higher. The accidents from that sport, in particular on offense, might well well impact this outcome a immense deal. But regardless of what happens with working relieve Tiyon Evans, O-lineman Cade Mays and QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee will possible be in for a long evening.
That’s nothing new. The Vols contain no longer won this matchup since 2006. That walk continues, considerably without problems.
David Kenyon
I’m extra of a ketchup man myself, anyway. Appropriate kidding. That unnecessarily riled some of you up, though.
In actuality, let’s lean into Dad Joke territory. Tennessee will possible be playing fetch-up in opposition to the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide, who replied correctly after their loss at Texas A&M with an intensive 49-9 victory on the highway in opposition to Mississippi Train.
While some salty Tennessee followers peppered the field with condiments and other objects—a lot like Kiffin’s new favourite golf ball—the protection indifferent struggled to have faith Corral and an assortment of Ole Leave out reserves. I develop no longer envision the Vols flipping the script in Tuscaloosa, main to saucy performances from every Alabama QB Bryce Younger and working relieve Brian Robinson Jr.
All genuine, that’s sufficient. My spouse might well well be so mad I wrote this. Honey, I’m sorry, however I bask in these alternatives.
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Max BortenschlagerBrad Tollefson/Associated Press
Kerry Miller
No longer simplest contain there been several instances of teams winning as underdogs by at the least 30 facets (Bowling Inexperienced over Minnesota and Louisiana-Monroe over Liberty to title two), however there has also been at the least one outright victory by an underdog of at the least 15.5 facets in per week this season.
Thus, that used to be the bottom that it is possible you’ll well well also imagine unfold I used to be willing to grab into consideration.
And after crossing off many of the candidates from that pool, I’ve considerably talked myself into Florida Global winning at house as a 17-level underdog in opposition to Western Kentucky.
I admire me some Bailey Zappe at quarterback for the Hilltoppers, however that WKU protection is about a model of awful. And FIU has a fairly right quarterback of its contain in Maryland switch Max Bortenschlager, who threw for 466 yards and four touchdowns within the Panthers’ most modern sport in opposition to Charlotte. Granted, they indifferent lost that sport ensuing from they, too, contain a protection that is about a model of awful, as it is allowing relating to 37 facets per contest. But in what figures to be a toddle to 50 facets, presumably FIU will get there first.
Modern Mexico +20 at Wyoming can be a viable possibility, as every of those teams are averaging 7.0 facets per sport the previous two weeks. The Lobos did also beat the Cowboys last season. But I cannot in right faith counsel placing cash on Modern Mexico football.
David Kenyon
Kerry, at menace of being incredibly wearisome, same.
The other matchup rate inflamed about is Louisiana-Monroe as a 13.5-level underdog to South Alabama, which lost to Texas Train on the highway two weekends within the past.
But it completely feels wretched to grab ULM following that aesthetic upset of Liberty. Lightning would now not in most cases strike twice for an offense that averaged 15.6 facets within the principle five contests of the season. Possible, obvious. Positively inconceivable.
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Brady HokeTony Avelar/Associated Press
Morgan Moriarty
If I had answered this on Tuesday, I might well contain stated no methodology. But now we contain already considered one undefeated team slide down this week, thanks to Appalachian Train’s upset of No. 14 Coastal Carolina at house! Wednesday evening #FunBelt is the finest, man.
But having a scrutinize at the relaxation of the games this week, there are some curious matchups for the undefeated teams heading into Week 8. No. 16 Wake Forest is 6-0—which is indifferent jarring to write, to be genuine—and faces Army on the highway. The Demon Deacons are right three-level favorites heading into Saturday, and the Black Knights defeated Wake 21-13 the last time these two met in 2016.
In other locations, undefeated Oklahoma Train faces 4-2 Iowa Train on the highway, where the No. 8 Cowboys are seven-level underdogs. Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell has overwhelmed Oklahoma Train right once in his head teaching occupation in Ames, however Iowa Train will get house-field advantage.
No. 22 San Diego Train (6-0) travels to face Air Power this week, and the Falcons are 3.5-level favorites. The last time Air Power defeated San Diego Train used to be in 2009, because the Aztecs contain overwhelmed the Falcons eight straight times since then.
Lastly, unbeaten Cincinnati might well well indifferent contain no problems facing 1-5 Navy, and 7-0 UTSA faces a 2-4 Louisiana Tech team.
I might well well perceive Wake Forest or Oklahoma Train going down this week, facing some good highway tests. If Wake can remain undefeated, the Deacs might well well be the ACC’s simplest probability of getting a team into the playoff advance December.
David Kenyon
Earlier, I highlighted Oklahoma Train’s day out to Iowa Train as Week 8’s most attention-grabbing sport. And, no, I contain now not changed my mind in selecting the Cyclones to hand the Pokes loss No. 1.
Two extra undefeated teams will descend too.
First, as Morgan mentioned, San Diego Train is an underdog at Air Power. It has a immense protection, however SDSU’s touching on sport of quarterback roulette is turning to Lucas Johnson—who has averaged a terrible 4.8 yards per try this season.
And while Louisiana Tech is 2-4, the losses encompass a 35-34 last in opposition to Mississippi Train, a Hail Mary defeat opposite SMU and a 34-27 loss at North Carolina Train. To be clear, last weekend’s loss at UTEP is some distance less defensible. But the Bulldogs will secure relieve heading within the correct route at house and upset UTSA.
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Alonzo Adams/Associated Press
Kerry Miller
If Caleb Williams plays 60 minutes, he’ll fully rack up at the least 309 yards. He used to be sensational in reduction of Spencer Rattler within the Red River comeback. He also successfully shredded TCU’s protection last weekend, and let’s right scream Kansas is no longer in truth Texas or TCU.
Williams will no longer play the total sport, though, ensuing from this one is going to be over by halftime.
No longer simplest that, however I also suspect Oklahoma will pause most of its effort on the bottom, inflamed regarding the Jayhawks terrible 128th within the nation in speeding yards allowed per sport. Williams will possible be to blame for some of those yards, as he’s electrical along with his legs. But this would well well be predominantly the Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray Level to.
In addition to, contemporary historic previous has confirmed that—though Kansas looks admire a team that a Heisman-caliber quarterback would smash—Oklahoma prefers to limit its valuable particular person signal-caller to a light day of work in this sport. Spencer Rattler had 215 total yards in opposition to Kansas last 365 days. Jalen Hurts used to be “held to” 284 total yards in 2019. Kyler Murray got to 371 total yards in 2018, however he in actuality did play deep into the fourth quarter of that closer-than-traditional affair. Baker Mayfield had 266 yards in 2017 and 252 yards in 2016.
That pattern continues with Williams finishing within the 250 vary in an Oklahoma blowout.
David Kenyon
Every shred of Kerry’s evaluation is genuine or logical. Oklahoma will cruise to a snatch, and historic previous has undeniably confirmed Sooners QBs have a tendency to contain smaller manufacturing thanks to an enormous lead on Kansas.
But right here’s no longer a traditional 365 days. The preseason Heisman Trophy favourite wasn’t the backup QB in 2020, within the relieve of Hurts in 2019 or Mayfield in his last two seasons. For the Sooners to fetch progressing, Williams needs the total reps he can take care of.
The unknown is whether head coach Lincoln Riley would give garbage-time snaps to Rattler. Would that be awkward? Or what if Williams has an underwhelming sport, but Rattler lights it up?
My gut feeling is Riley would now not deserve to answer to those questions, and he is aware of Williams needs ride. I’m taking the over.
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