Week 6 Cloud Coverage
Conference play is heating up as we approach the second weekend of October.
It’s hard to believe that we are already in Week 6 of the 2022 college football season, but here we are. The action already kicked off, too, with UCF’s 41-19 win over SMU on Wednesday night in a game postponed because of tropical weather. John Rhys Plumlee threw for 316 yards and 2 TDs as the Knights scored 31 unanswered points after trailing 13-10 at halftime.
There weren’t any Thursday night matchups, but let’s take a look at Friday’s action…
Nebraska at Rutgers, 7:00 p.m. ET, FS1: The Cornhuskers are coming off a victory for interim head coach Mickey Joseph following a bye, while the Scarlet Knights were routed at Ohio State. Anthony Grant (600 rushing yards and 5 TDs) could be in store for a big game for the Huskers, but the Nebraska defense is allowing more than 32 points and 469 yards per game.
Houston at Memphis, 7:30, ESPN2: The Cougars have dropped three of their last four games after their triple-overtime comeback win at UTSA to kick off their season, while the Tigers have won four straight after their 49-23 loss to Mississippi State in their debut. No FBS team has been penalized more than Houston, so its struggles could continue this week.
Colorado State at Nevada, 10:30, FS1: Jay Norvell returns to Reno leading a Rams squad that is winless against a Wolf Pack team that has lost three straight. No matter how anyone spins it, Ken Wilson wants to beat Norvell and vice versa. CSU is dead-last offensively in the FBS at 241.8 yards per game and is coming off a 41-10 home loss to FCS foe Sacramento State. It is likely freshman Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi will get the nod under center with Clay Millen banged-up.
UNLV at San Jose State, 10:30, CBSSN: While the Spartans may not boast an offense like that of the Rebels, they have a road win over Wyoming, a victory against Western Michigan and played Auburn tough. Their pass defense could be the difference in this one, though Marcus Arroyo’s bunch showed a ton of fight last week in rallying from a 17-0 deficit to beat New Mexico 31-20 at Allegiant Stadium.
Okay, we have a big Saturday on tap, folks. ESPN’s College GameDay is headed to Lawrence as the No. 19 Jayhawks—5-0 for the first time since 2009—host No. 17 TCU in a Big 12 game taking the spotlight off Oklahoma-Texas (the annual Red River Rivalry game in Dallas) as well as Texas A&M-No. 1 Alabama.
Conference play is really starting to pick up steam, and there are several marquee games taking place across the country. Let’s take a look at the key showdowns this weekend…
No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas, Noon, FS1:
Expectations weren’t very high for either one of these teams—particularly Kansas, of course—but here we are on the second weekend of October, and the national spotlight is on this battle of unbeatens with College GameDay in town for the very first time. The matchup is the biggest in Lawrence since October 25, 2008, when the No. 19 Jayhawks hosted No. 8 Texas Tech.
We will see two of the best offenses in the country in this one. TCU—coming off a shocking 55-24 upset win over Oklahoma last week that featured touchdowns of 62, 67, 69 and 73 yards—is averaging 549.5 yards per game (second nationally) and 8.3 yards per play (best in the FBS) behind QB Max Duggan; Kansas, meanwhile, is averaging 41.6 points per game behind QB Jalon Daniels.
If Kansas is to continue its Cinderella story, it will need to put a cap on the number of explosive plays from the TCU offense and capitalize on its red-zone opportunities. Kansas has been very good inside the 20 because of Daniels’ mobility and creative play-calling, and the TCU defense has proven to be susceptible in this area.
No. 8 Tennessee at No. 25 LSU, Noon, ESPN:
The Vols were idle last week after their big win over Florida two weeks ago, giving QB Hendon Hooker (shoulder) and WR Cedric Tillman (ankle) time to heal from their injuries, though it is still very questionable whether Tillman will be able to play. Hooker has been outstanding since assuming the starting gig last season, throwing just 2 INTs, completing nearly 70 percent of his throws, and recording 45 scores. His dual-threat ability has helped make this offense explosive, and the Vols will need to be at their best in their first SEC road game of the season.
Meanwhile, Brian Kelly’s Tigers have managed to put their 1-point season-opening loss to Florida State behind them and now have a chance to move to 3-0 in SEC play. It’s a Bayou Bengals outfit that is winning despite not playing the cleanest football, though the major concern this week is keeping up with this Vols offense, which is tied for second nationally in scoring offense (48.5 points per game). The Tigers defense, led by OLBs BJ Ojulari (3.5 sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss) and Harold Perkins Jr., will have its hands full. It’s also asking a lot for this Tigers offense to match the Vols score for score.
No. 11 Utah at No. 18 UCLA, 3:30, FOX:
The Bruins enter this Pac-12 showdown 5-0 for the first time since 2013 after beating Washington last week, but things don’t get any easier with the defending conference champions coming to town. Fifth-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson had 368 total yards and 4 TDs touchdowns in the win over the Huskies, and he is being helped by strong play up front, aided by the addition of former Rutgers O-lineman Raiqwon O’Neal. Chip Kelly has done a really nice job of developing DTR, who faces one of his biggest tests against the Utes defense.
Kyle Whittingham once again has a balanced squad that has soared over the last four games since dropping the opener at Florida. Last week against an Oregon State team that nearly upset USC, the Utes took care of business 42-16 and have increasingly looked like the College Football Playoff contender that many envisioned before the season. Keep an eye on RB Tavion Thomas, who was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection last season (1,108 rushing yards and 21 TDs). He is losing reps to freshman Jaylon Glover but went off on the Bruins for 4 TDs last season.
Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama, 8:00 p.m., CBS:
We finally get the Jimbo Fisher-Nick Saban showdown after their offseason of trading words. Fisher said this week that any animosity between the two is over. “He and I are in great shape,” he said. “We’ve moved on.” Meanwhile, Saban has continued to say that he has no issues with his former assistant.
The Aggies will collectively be trying to move on from an 18-point loss to Mississippi State to further add to their woes after their home loss to Appalachian State earlier in the season. Not exactly what many had expected one year after Fisher became the first Saban assistant to beat the GOAT. For someone known for his offensive aptitude, Fisher’s offense is struggling mightily in his fifth season in College Station.
Both starting QBs for these respective teams are dealing with injuries, as Bryce Young is nursing a sprained AC joint in his shoulder while Max Johnson has a lingering hand issue. Saban insists that the medical staff is going to be very careful with Young, and the Crimson Tide have the luxury of having had backup Jalen Milroe play well against Arkansas (65 passing yards and a TD; 91 rushing yards and a score). Meanwhile, A&M would have to turn to either Haynes King or Conner Weigman. King has struggled with turnovers and lost the starting job already, while Weigman—a five-star pocket passer—is a freshman who has yet to attempt a collegiate pass.
Don’t forget about:
Arkansas at No. 23 Mississippi State, Noon, SECN: The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive win over Texas A&M, and QB Will Rogers has looked really good running Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense. He’s thrown for 1,715 yards and is tied for the most passing TDs in the nation (19). Meanwhile, the Razorbacks have lost two in a row, and QB KJ Jefferson is banged-up. It’s a tough ask of Sam Pittman’s crew to go into Starkville without a healthy Jefferson.
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas), Noon, ABC: These soon-to-be SEC members are finding life to be difficult as they close out their Big 12 tenures. Texas and OU will meet at the Cotton Bowl with both unranked for the first time since 1998. But do not be surprised if this game is one of the better ones of the day. The Sooners are 10-3 against the Longhorns since 2010, but the ‘Horns are favored and could have the game’s X-factor in star RB Bijan Robinson, who is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and will be going up against a Sooners rush defense allowing 198.2 yards per game.
Washington State at No. 6 USC, 7:30, FOX: Lincoln Riley and the Trojans remained unbeaten with their 42-25 victory over Arizona State last week, while Jake Dickert’s Cougars have just one blemish: a 44-41 home loss to Oregon two weeks ago in a game the Cougars led by 12 with less than seven minutes left. ‘SC has an offense putting up 42.2 points per game, and a defense that is very opportunistic. The Trojans are No. 1 in the nation in turnovers gained (15) and committed their first turnover of the season last week—the last FBS team to do so.
No. 16 BYU vs. Notre Dame (Las Vegas), 7:30, NBC: The 4-1 Cougars are trying to stay in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl bid, while the 2-2 Fighting Irish are trying not to drop below the .500 mark. QB Jaren Hall paces the BYU offense, while Drew Pyne has stabilized the Irish offense a bit since Tyler Buchner was lost for the season (shoulder). The Irish are one of the best pass-rushing units in the country, averaging 3.25 sacks per game, but Hall’s mobility could be the difference in Sin City.
My Top 25 after Week 5
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. USC
7. Oklahoma State
8. Tennessee
9. Utah
10. Ole Miss
11. Wake Forest
12. Oregon
13. TCU
14. Kentucky
15. NC State
16. Penn State
17. UCLA
18. BYU
19. Kansas
20. Syracuse
21. Washington
22. LSU
23. Cincinnati
24. Mississippi State
25. James Madison
Heisman Watch: The 5 leading contenders heading into Week 6
*Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud: He has thrown INTs in back-to-back games for the first time since September 2021—a stat that arguably works in his favor considering the frequency in which he throws. His numbers (1,376 passing yards with 18 TDs and 2 INTs) speak for themselves.
*USC QB Caleb Williams: After the OU transfer helped lead a comeback win at Oregon State, he completed 27 of 37 passes for 348 yards and 4 total scores in a win over Arizona State.
*Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei: After his Tigers career began with the highest of expectations, DJU has started to play his best football after an unimpressive ‘21 campaign.
*Michigan RB Blake Corum: The Wolverine once again excelled in a win over Iowa, rushing for 133 yards on 29 carries and scoring a game-clinching 20-yard run late in the fourth quarter. He has rushed for 611 yards and 10 scores this season.
*Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez: The former Cornhusker was dominant in the win over Oklahoma and equally impressive in K-State’s recent victory over Texas Tech. His dual-threat abilities can keep him in this race as long as the Wildcats remain a Big 12 contender.
This week’s best bets
*Kansas +6.5
*Arkansas +9.5
*BYU +3.5
This season: 11-6-1
Cocktail of the week
With the second Saturday of October upon us, let’s turn our attention to the apple cider mimosa. While it is festive for the fall season, it’s still light and crisp enough just in case the weather remains mild in your neck of the woods. The bubbles nicely cut the cider’s sweetness, and the cinnamon sugar rim makes it extra pretty.
Prep instructions:
-Rim a champagne flute with sugar and cinnamon.
-Combine 1.25 oz. brandy and 3 oz. apple cider in the flute. Top off with a dry or extra dry Prosecco or sparkling wine.
-Enjoy this simple yet tasty cocktail!
I hope you all enjoy the weekend action. I have yet to decide if I am going to watch the Lions on Sunday. #OnePride
Follow me on Twitter @Miller_Dave & email me at david.matthew.miller@gmail.com