It’s Week 7 of the college football season.
Remember, I use my own rankings, not that bias crap that ESPN and the AP, put out there. https://welikesportzpc.com/2023/10/09/college-football-top-25-week-7-edition/
We have two Top 5 teams playing each other in their rivalry game.
We have a not one, but two games, between Top 25 opponents.
We have Trophy Games this week.
We have teams looking to stay unbeaten.
We have teams looking to bounce back after close loses, and butt whippings.
I’m going to give you my predictions on the biggest games of the weekends, the teams that should be on upset alert, and what you need to know, right now.
The Game of the Week
#5 Oregon Ducks (5-0) at #3 Washington Huskies (5-0).
Game time: Saturday, at 3:30 PM (EST) on ABC.
It has been a long time since this rivalry game, has meant this much, in terms of the National Championship and College Football Playoff picture.
This heated rivalry is 123 years old. The teams first played on December 1st, 1900. This will be the 115th game played. That was back before the “Pac-12” even existed. It was then known as the PCC (The Pacific Coast Conference). There are some incredible and historical moments in this rivalry.
In the 1962 game, Washington Huskie fans RAN ONTO THE FIELD AND TACKLED Oregon player Larry Hill, as he attempted to catch the game winning touchdown.
In the 1994 game, Oregon freshman Kenny Wheaton took an interception by Washington QB Damon Huard, 97 yards to the house, to pull off a 31-20 upset. It also snapped the Huskies 5-game winning streak.
From 2004 to 2015, Oregon beat Washington 12 straight times. The longest streak in history.
The Huskies would break that streak in 2016 by dropping a big, fat, 70 burger on the Ducks, in Eugene. Winning by a score of 70-21.
Bring up the name Rick Neuheisel, to an Oregon Ducks fan, and watch their face turn red and steam come out of their ears.
The 2023 edition of this rivalry; is shaping up to be another one for the ages. Both teams are led by Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback with Michael Penix Jr for the Huskies and Bo Nix for the Ducks.
I give a slight edge to Washington in the passing game. Oregon has the better running game by far. The Huskies have the better WR corps overall, though Ducks WR Troy Franklin can hang with just about anyone in country.
Oregon has 18 sacks as a team and can get after the opposing quarterback. Washington has forced 8 interceptions. They can bait the opposing quarterback into making bad throws.
Oregon has won 3 out of the last 4 games, including both games in Seattle.
Prediction: I think this is going to be a high scoring affair, with both QBs putting up numbers. In then end, I think the Ducks running game and defense will be key. Give me the Oregon Ducks to got into Husky Stadium and beat Washington 42-35.
The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh
#10 USC Trojans (6-0) at #19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-2).
Game time: Saturday at 7:30 PM (EST) on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
The first meeting in this rivalry was on December 4th, 1926. The game has been played every single year, except during World War 2 and the “Covid Year”.
The now famous “Jeweled Shillelagh” was introduced in 1952. It was donated by the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Los Angeles.
For each victory a jewel is added to the club. If it’s a USC win, a ruby trojan head with the year and score is added. If it’s a Notre Dame win, an emerald shamrock with the year and the score is added. It’s one of the coolest trophies in college sports.
Notre Dame is coming home after a brutal three game stretch where they played 3 straight ranked teams. Ohio State at home. Duke and Louisville on the road. They went 1-2 in that stretch. They lost to the Buckeyes on the final play of the game. They beat Duke in the final minute of the game, and they caught a butt kicking against Louisville.
USC is coming into town after barely hanging on to beat Colorado in Boulder, and needing to go to triple overtime to be Arizona at home. They simply haven’t looked as good the last two games.
USC has their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams, playing as well as he did last season. This year though, Notre Dame has counter with graduate transfer quarterback Sam Hartman. The edge at QB does go to the Trojans though.
Fighting Irish HB Audric Estime came out of the Louisville game limping. If he can’t go or isn’t a full go, then freshman Jeremiyah Love will tote the rock. No matter who it is, they’ll be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the country. USC HB Marshawn Lloyd has had some success as well. The edge in the running game goes to Notre Dame.
The USC defense just plain can’t tackle at all. They leave gaps so big; you can drive a John Deere through them. That said, they can get to the quarterback. They have 22 sacks on the season and have forced 8 fumbles. Notre Dame has 11 forced fumbles and 6 INTs, plus they can actually tackle in space. Edge goes to the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame has won 4 out of the last 5 games against USC. They’ve won the last 3 straight games when playing at home.
Prediction: Upset Alert. The Notre Dame running game and offensive line is going to keep the ball out of Caleb Williams hands. The weather is projected to be cold, windy, and it’s supposed to rain all day long. I’m picking the Fighting Irish to add a new emerald to the trophy and beat USC by a score of 35-28.
Bear vs Beaver
#21 UCLA Bruins (4-1) at #14 Oregon State Beavers (5-1).
Game time: Saturday, at 8 PM (EST) on FOX.
The depth in the Pac-12 this season is incredible. It’s the best that I can remember seeing it, in a long time. Any of these teams are capable of beating the other team on any given Saturday.
UCLA freshman QB Dante Moore is taking his lumps. He’s thrown for 9 TDs to 4 INTs, but he’s only completing 53.1% of his passes and has a QBR of 42.6 so far this season. On the other side, Oregon State trots out junior QB D.J. Uiagalelei. He’s thrown from 13 TDs to 4 INTs, and he’s completing 60.5% of his passes, with a QBR of 86.5 this season, which is 7th best in the nation. Edge goes to the Oregon State.
The running game is a wash, as they can both run two-deep at the HB position. The offensive lines are equal across the board. There isn’t a big advantage one way or the other here.
Both defenses can get after the opposing quarterbacks, and are pretty much dead even in the big statistical categories. The Bruins come in with 18 sacks and the Beavers come in with 17. Oregon State has 8 forced fumbles to UCLA’s 7 forced fumbles. Slight edge to the Bruins in the interception category at 8 to 4, over the Beavers. Oregon State is the better tackling team.
Prediction: I think that veteran leadership from QB D.J. Uiagalelei is the difference in this game. Give me the Oregon State Beavers to remain undefeated at home and beat the UCLA Bruins, 35-21.
The Sneaky Good Game
#25 Wyoming Cowboys (5-1) at Air Force (5-0).
Game time: Saturday at 7 PM (EST) on CBS Sports Network.
This is a running teams vs a running team. They’re going to line up and dare you to stop them.
The story coming into this game is the health of Cowboys HB Harrison Waylee. If he can’t play, it’ll be a much tougher game to win.
Wyoming does have the edge at quarterback with Andrew Peasley. He’s completed 69 of 117 passes, for 758 yards, with 9 TDs and only 2 INTs.
It’s hard to root against any of the service academy teams. These young men will be putting their lives on the line to defend our country and freedoms, upon graduation.
I’m a “running game” man, so I’m just looking to possibly a good old-fashioned slugfest.
Upset Alert
NC State Wolfpack (4-2) at #20 Duke Blue Devils (4-1)
Game time: Saturday at 8 PM (EST) on ACC Network.
Duke quarterback Riley was injured on the final play of the game against Notre Dame. High ankle sprains, just plain suck, and take a while to heal. They’re saying that he’s “day to day”, but even if he does play, he’s going to be very limited.
NC State has one of, if not, the best linebacker in the country, in Payton Wilson. The 6’4″, 238 lb, senior has 70 tackles (fourth most in the nation), 3.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 INT. He’s all over the field. He eats ball carriers like Scooby-Doo scarfs down a sandwich.
I see this one getting ugly early and staying that way.
Possible Upset Alert
Miami Hurricanes (4-1) at #12 North Carolina Tar Heels (5-0).
Game time: Saturday at 7:30 PM (EST) on ABC.
Something is just telling me that the Hurricanes are going to go into Chapel Hill, and pull this game out.
Tar Heel QB Drake Maye hasn’t exactly been lighting it up, but the running game has picked up the slack.
There is just a feeling, that is telling me, there’s going to be a strip sack or fumble, that leads to FG win by Miami.
Trophy Game Predictions
The Heartland Trophy – Will be going back to Madison. Wisconsin will beat Iowa, 28-9.
The Fremont Cannon – The cannon will be staying in Las Vegas. UNLV beats Nevada 35-17.
5 Things that I want to see happen.
- Toledo, Ohio, and Mami, OH all get wins.
- Texas State HB Ismail Mahdi, get 150+ yards rushing and 3 total TDs.
- Colorado State DL Mohamed Kamara get 7 tackles and at least 2 sacks.
- Mount Union Purple Raiders to win and remain undefeated.
- Findlay Oilers to get back on track and win at home.
– by Sean McKenzie
Photos courtesy of Wallpaper Cave, ESPN, clutchpoints, nevadasportsnet, hawkeyesmic, statefansnation, athlonsports
Stats courtesy of ESPN and NCAA
WE LIKE SPORTZ SHOW 