Week 10 is yet another example of why the College Football regular season is unmatched by all other team sports. Both highly-ranked Clemson and Georgia got beat by Notre Dame and Florida to go along with Indiana whooping on Michigan. Week 11 is a little big funky with 10 games postponed or canceled but that doesn’t mean we don’t have several games flying under the radar that will shock and awe.
Marquee Matchup
#13 Wisconsin vs. Michigan: Now please bare with me I do realize this is not a huge game on paper given the fact that the Wolverines already have two losses. However, Michigan needs this game so badly especially the head coach and that combined with the Badgers haven only played one game after a Covid-19 pause, could make for an intriguing matchup. And let’s be honest this will be the highest rated College Football game of the week. Freshman Graham Mertz got out of the gates fast in Wisconsin’s first and only game of the season going 20 for 21 throwing 248 passing yards with 5 TDs. Here’s the thing, Mertz is still in protocol so it’s up in the air if he actually plays. Which makes this prediction more difficult and so in all likelihood, it will literally come down to just that. Michigan will be either super hungry to stop a two-game slide or their confidence is shot and coach Harbaugh has lost the locker room. My hunch is Martz won’t play so that’s should tell you who the pick is to win.
The Pick: Michigan 23 Wisconsin 19
Under The Radar
#13 Miami vs. Virginia Tech: The Hokies lost a heartbreaker to a rising program in Liberty at the buzzer last week and now look to rebound against their coastal division rival. The Canes had to mount a fourth-quarter comeback to get past N.C. State. It’s not a stretch to say Miami has the far better quarterback in D’Eriq King. Last week Miami’s defense and special teams struggled to do much of anything positive and if that effort is repeated, the Hurricanes will leave Blacksburg will an ‘L’. Besides V’Tech’s wide-margin victory over Boston College, the rest of the outcomes win or lose have been very close. The way this ACC matchup generally goes year after year lends itself to some drama in the closing minutes and it should be no different this time around.
The Pick: Miami 37 Virginia Tech 34
Saturday Upset Special
Army will defeat Tulane as a 4.5-point dog on the road.
Hardcore Barnburners
#23 Northwestern vs. Purdue: Both teams come into this Big Ten scarp unbeaten and one team will leave unblemished after the weekend.
#19 SMU vs. Tulsa: The AAC has delivered fans some of the funniest matchups this year and with the over/under total points set at 64, there’s no reason to believe it won’t be a high-scoring back and forth affair.
Against The Spread
South Carolina is scrappy enough to lose to Ole Miss but not by the 11-points Las Vegas is claiming.
Take it to the Window
#10 Indiana will beat Michigan State by at least the 7-point spread.
Quick Hits Recap
-Notre Dame’s huge win over Clemson halted the Tigers 36-game winning streak. It was the 9th time in the storied-Irish tradition they defeated an AP Poll #1 team.
-The 47 points Notre Dame put on Clemson are the most given up by a #1 ranked team since 2007.
-Indiana’s convincing 38-21 win over Michigan marked the first time the Hoosiers beat the Wolverines dating back to 1987.
-Pigging back off the stat, the Hoosiers are ranked in the Top-10 for the first time since 1969.
-Florida’s standout QB Kyle Trask became the 1st quarterback in SEC history to throw for 4 touchdowns in 5 straight contests.
-Ohio State Buckeye QB Justin Fields stayed hot by throwing for 316 passing yards and had 6 TD’s in a 49-27 win over Rutgers.
-Miami’s QB D’Eriq King became the only player to throw for 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions with multiple teams in the FBS over last 25 years.
-Cincinnati extended their home winning streak to 18 on the back of RB Gerrid Doaks who rushed for 184 yards and a TD in a 38-10 landslide over Houston.
Written by Chris Carlson Host of The College Ball Show Podcast available at blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio or TheGruelingTruth.Net
Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio
