Week 8 Friday Tailgate
Despite not having too many marquee matchups on the schedule, don't overlook Saturday's slate.
Week 8 of the season has already visited Upset City, as No. 14 Coastal Carolina stumbled on the road at Appalachian State on Wednesday night. Mountaineers QB Chase Brice threw for 347 yards and 2 TDs touchdowns, and K Chandler Staton hit a 24-yard FG as time expired for a 30-27 win in front of a rabid crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The week continued with four contests on Thursday night, which saw No. 21 SMU, FAU, Louisiana and San Jose State log wins.
Let’s take a look at what’s on tap Friday evening:
Middle Tennessee-UConn: The Huskies are coming off of their first win of the season against FCS foe Yale, and they’ve been playing much better against FBS opponents. The Blue Raiders, meanwhile, have lost all four of their road games.
Memphis-UCF: After a 2-0 start, the Knights have lost three of four games and are coming off of a 56-21 loss to Cincinnati. Things haven’t been much better for the Tigers, who have also lost three of four after a 3-0 start that included a win over Mississippi State.
Colorado State-Utah State: These Mountain West divisional foes did not play last year because Aggie players protested the firing of then-head coach Frank Maile. This is a key game in the MW Mountain division, and it could come down to special teams. Rams K Cayden Camper is 17-for-21—leading the country in both attempts and made FGs—while Aggies return specialist Savon Scarver has 7 career kickoff returns for a touchdown, tying him for the record with several others.
Washington-Arizona: The Wildcats extended the nation’s longest losing streak to 18 games last week with a 34-0 road setback to Colorado, while the Huskies’ home loss to UCLA dropped them to 2-4 overall. U-Dub QB Dylan Morris has thrown as many INTs (8) as TDs, so ‘Zona has a chance to halt its long losing streak because the Huskies leave a lot to be desired on offense.
Now, onto Saturday’s action:
Cowboys can’t get cycloned
No. 8 Oklahoma State travels to Ames to take on an Iowa State team that many college football observers thought would be in position to capture a Big 12 title down the stretch. However, it’s Mike Gundy’s Cowboys that are hoping for a conference crown after holding the Texas offense to just 1 yard on eight plays (including a turnover) in the fourth quarter last week at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
The Pokes did not need a spectacular performance from Spencer Sanders, who finished 19 of 32 passing for 178 yards with a TD and an INT against the Longhorns. But Gundy admitted after the game that he missed some throws, though he also said it was difficult because the O-Line had protection issues. Against the Cyclones, expect a lot of RB Jaylen Warren as the Pokes try to control the clock.
This should be one of the week’s closest games as the Cowboys have won by small margins each week. Despite ISU not living up to some preseason expectations, the winner of this one likely has the best chance to meet OU in the Big 12 title game. Cyclones QB Brock Purdy has completed 74 percent of his passes and RB Breece Hall is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Turnovers and shoddy special teams have hurt Matt Campbell’s squad in its losses. This seems like a dangerous spot for the Pokes.
Panthers in the spotlight
No. 23 Pittsburgh hosts unranked (!!!) Clemson, and the Panthers control their own destiny in the ACC Coastal division behind the arm of QB Kenny Pickett, who has started to generate some Heisman Trophy buzz in this wacky season. Pickett had a solid 2020 campaign, finishing with 2,553 passing yards and 21 TDs against 9 INTs. But what he has done this year far exceeds that pace. Through six games, he has thrown for 2,114 yards with 24 scores.
Clemson DC Brent Venables will have his hands full on Saturday, but Pickett will need to exorcise some of his Tiger demons. In two previous meetings, he has completed just 47 percent of his throws for 217 yards with 2 TDs and 7 giveaways. He has also been sacked nine times. The Tigers may not be able to blitz as well as they have been able to in the past, but it’s still a Clemson defense. I’d expect a MUCH better performance from Pickett in this one, but questions remain about Pat Narduzzi’s squad unless it’s able to take down a wounded Tigers team—because this is the year to get Dabo Swinney’s team if there has ever been one. Can the Tigers limit the big plays down the field from this Panthers offense?
On the flip side, as good as this Clemson defense has been, its offense has not been able to crack the 20-point mark in regulation against an FBS foe, and D.J. Uiagalelei has not been able to seamlessly take over for Trevor Lawrence. The passing game has just been non-existent. The best chance for a Clemson win is to hold this Pitt offense to field goals, because Tony Elliott’s offense has not shown it is at all capable of winning a shootout.
Pac-12 showdown
No. 10 Oregon travels to the Rose Bowl to take on UCLA in what could be the best game left on the Pac-12 schedule. Mario Cristobal’s squad has been living on the edge, winning close games—and then also losing one in its lone setback of the year. QB Anthony Brown needs to get off to a fast start, and this offense needs to find some more explosiveness.
Meanwhile, Chip Kelly’s squad just received perhaps its best performance of the season from QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson against Washington. He went 21-of-26 passing with 2 TDs and added another on the ground, and he will be an X-factor in this one. How will he react to the Ducks’ pressure, especially against a healthy Kayvon Thibodeaux? The Bruins have looked really good at times—and also really average—while the Ducks have yet to look as good as they did in Columbus in Week 2.
Other games to monitor:
No. 16 Wake Forest-Army
Kansas State-Texas Tech
Wisconsin-No. 25 Purdue
LSU-No. 12 Ole Miss
Maryland-Minnesota
BYU-Washington State
Boston College-Louisville
Tennessee-No. 4 Alabama
No. 22 San Diego State-Air Force
Nevada-Fresno State
No. 5 Ohio State-Indiana
USC-No. 13 Notre Dame
Utah-Oregon State
Best bets
As always, I release my picks via Twitter on Saturday morning. But if I have to lean early, I’d go:
Clemson +3
BYU -4
NC State -3
Skinny posts
*With Coastal’s loss earlier this week, we are now down to 10 FBS unbeatens remaining: Wake Forest, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Georgia, Cincinnati, SMU, UTSA and San Diego State…while we have two winless squads: Arizona and UNLV.
*I really despise conference realignment because I am typically resistant to change—stubborn?—in general. But if you are the six schools moving from Conference USA to commissioner Mike Aresco’s American Athletic Conference—Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UAB—you have to feel good about the future of your athletic programs. The AAC announced the acquisitions Thursday, with no date being set for the schools to join. The additions would give the American 14 teams in both football and basketball. Of course, the AAC made the moves following the losses of Cincinnati, UCF and Houston to the Big 12, which sought new members after losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. Ugh. C-USA is now left with eight members, and I’d expect some of those schools to seek residency in the Sun Belt, which has said it is interested in expanding beyond its current 10 football members. Poor C-USA.
*If you don’t like the FBS slate this weekend, there are some intriguing FCS contests on Saturday. No. 1 and defending national champion Sam Houston hosts No. 21 Jacksonville State, No. 3 North Dakota State hosts No. 18 Missouri State (Bobby Petrino’s squad), No. 6 James Madison visits No. 25 Delaware and No. 7 South Dakota State hosts No. 24 Northern Iowa.
Cocktail of the week
Okay, people. This one will knock your socks off. This weekend, we are rolling out the apple cider Old Fashioned. Happy Fall!
*In a rocks glass, combine 1.5 oz apple cider, 2 dashes Angostura bitters and 1 tsp. brown sugar. Stir with a bar spoon until ingredients combine and liquid is not cloudy.
*Add 2 oz bourbon, then continue to stir.
*Add fresh ice, and stir a few more seconds.
*Top with an orange slice, apple slice and cinnamon stick.
Have a wonderful second-to-last Saturday of October, and enjoy all of the games!
Follow me on Twitter @Miller_Dave & email me at david.matthew.miller@gmail.com