Rutgers at Washington

Friday, October 10
6:00 PM PT, FS1

Washington’s comeback win against Maryland could prove to be a turning point for its program. The Huskies’ victory against the Terrapins was their first Big Ten road win under Jedd Fisch.

This week, they host Rutgers in Seattle, hoping to get revenge for their loss last season. The key for UW in this matchup is to keep Demond Williams Jr. going.

Williams Jr. led three touchdown drives at the end of the Maryland game, but struggled the previous seven quarters.

The Scarlet Knights average 39 points a game, and Athan Kaliakmanis has leaped ahead this year. Kaliakmanis has thrown for 1,399 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions.

RU also has a solid halfback in Antwan Raymond. They feature three receivers who have at least 326 yards receiving. KJ Duff leads the group with 420 yards receiving, a solid number; he’s also added three touchdowns.

This Rutgers team is very different then the squad the Dawgs faced a year ago; they switched to an offensive identity. The Scarlet Knights’ defense is ranked 80th in points allowed per game.

It feels like the win in College Park should propel Washington forward.

“Propel” was always better than Gatorade.

Washington 38, Rutgers 24

Stanford at SMU

Saturday, October 11
9:00 AM PT, The CW

If Ben Gulbranson can play like he did two weeks ago, Stanford could play SMU tough. Gulbranson is starting to find his flow; his passing yards have gone up in each of his first five games.

The Cardinal are 1-1 in the ACC, and last week feels like a well-timed bye. Frank Reich had a 5-1 record coming off bye weeks in the NFL. This may prove beneficial because the Mustangs are solid.

SMU’s record would look a lot better, barring the double overtime loss against Baylor. Mustangs’ quarterback Kevin Jennings should be coming in confident after throwing for 285 yards and four touchdowns a week ago.

SMU has the 25th-best passing attack in the nation. If Micah Ford could find productivity on the ground, it would protect Stanford’s defense. They rank 133rd in pass yards allowed per game.

Luckily for the Tree, SMU ranks dead last. They are the two worst pass defenses in the nation. Ford has rushed for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

Both defensive units are in the bottom half of the country in points allowed per game; the Mustangs rank 75th, while the Cardinal rank 105th. The 18-and-a-half-point spread feels disrespectful, but SMU is the better team.

The Mustangs domesticate the Tree.

SMU 45, Stanford 35

Washington State at No. 4 Ole Miss

Saturday, October 11
9:45 AM PT, SEC Network

It feels like Washington State’s starting to get an identity under Jimmy Rogers, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready for Ole Miss.

The Cougar defense struggled against North Texas and Washington, but has proven consistent against lesser competition. The Rebels do not qualify as lesser competition.

If the Cougs are going to compete against Ole Miss, they’ll need to improve on the ground. Washington State ranks 131st nationally in rushing yards per game.

They’ll need the ground game to do enough to take pressure off of Zevi Eckhaus. Eckhaus can do some things if given time.

For Ole Miss, the key is not to overlook the Cougs. The Rebels are more talented at probably every position on the field, and should win this game going away. But Penn State should’ve won last week, also.

Trinidad Chambliss has done a marvelous job filling in for Austin Simmons at quarterback. Chambliss has thrown for 1,033 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He’s also added 266 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

On defense, Mississippi allows 18.8 points per game. Even if Gardner Minshew was playing, WSU doesn’t have enough in this one.

Tony bites Butch.

Ole Miss 42, WSU 17

No. 22 Iowa State at Colorado

Saturday, October 11
12:30 pm PT, ESPN

This feels like the game where the Kaidon Salter experiment ends. Colorado has never found their rhythm under Salter; their only victories have come against Delaware and Wyoming. He threw three interceptions in the first half a week ago.

This matchup should prove tricky for the Buffs. Iowa State is coming off a tough loss against Cincinnati. The Cyclones fell behind early last week, so they’ll be ready to go in Boulder.

ISU has a solid offense, but a Top 20 defense. This could prove troublesome because CU only scores 25 points per game. More concerning for the Buffaloes is that they lack offensive identity, ranking 82nd in pass yards per game and 86th in rushing yards.

They have talent at the skill positions, but the offense hasn’t been fluid.

Colorado has three receivers who have at least 228 yards receiving. Omarion Miller leads the unit with 289 yards and three touchdowns. The Buffs also rank near the bottom of the nation in passing and rushing yards allowed.

Rocco Becht is the guy for Iowa State’s offense. Becht’s thrown for 1,417 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions.

No more picking Colorado, they get lost in the storm.

Iowa State 28, Colorado 21

No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon

Saturday, October 11
12:30 PM PT, CBS

There are levels to this college football thing. This may be a Top 10 matchup, but Oregon holds the talent advantage by a pretty wide margin.

The Ducks have looked phenomenal the whole season, including the victory in Happy Valley two weeks ago, and that’s still impressive.

Even though the Hoosiers aren’t getting much love here, they have some solid results this season. They beat Illinois by 53 and won in Iowa City.

If IU is going to pull off the upset, they’ll need Fernando Mendoza to play above the Mendoza line. OK, that was bad. Mendoza’s a dangerous player when he gets in a rhythm. He’s thrown for 1,208 yards, 16 touchdowns, and one interception.

Another thing to consider in this matchup is that Indiana boasts the third-ranked scoring defense nationally. They rank seventh in passing yards allowed per game and 17th in rushing yards.

Louis Moore and Amare Ferrell have three interceptions apiece for the Hoosiers. As long as Dante Moore protects the ball, UO should be able to control the matchup.

The Ducks feature the 39th-best passing offense in the nation; the Hoosiers rank 37th. Stats can lie. The speed and depth of Oregon should prove too much for Indiana.

Oregon lights a stog.

Oregon 34, Indiana 21

No. 15 Michigan at USC

Saturday, October 11
4:30 PM PT, NBC

If styles make fights, then we have a Russian wrestler versus a flamboyant boxer on the field.

Michigan’s led by their brutal running attack, fueled by Justice Haynes, who has rushed for 654 yards, eight touchdowns, and is averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

His productivity is extremely important because the Wolverines have a freshman quarterback in Bryce Underwood. It’s hard to get a read on Underwood because U-M doesn’t ask him to do a lot.

They have the 91st-ranked passing offense and 13th-ranked rushing unit. Michigan’s defense only allows 16.1 points per game.

USC is reliant on its dangerous passing attack led by Jayden Maiava. The Trojans average the third-most passing yards in the country. Maiava has thrown for 1,587 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one interception.

SC’s number one option at wideout is Makai Lemon, who has 589 yards and five touchdowns on the year. Ja’Kobi Lane’s also explosive. He averages 21.4 yards per reception, he has 278 receiving yards.

USC’s defense is pedestrian, and they may not be able to get Michigan’s 13th-ranked rushing offense off the field. Lincoln Riley needs to start winning some big games.

He does so in L.A. this weekend.

USC 42, Michigan 28

No. 18 BYU at Arizona

Saturday, October 11
5:00 pm PT, ESPN2

This game is a test to see where Arizona’s program really is. The Wildcats have already taken a step forward this year, but a win this weekend has them hopping up the stairs.

For BYU, this matchup should prove an opportunity to put another decent win on their resume. The Cougars are led by Bear Bachmeier on offense. Bachmeier had his most explosive game of the year last week throwing for 351 yards against West Virginia.

BYU’s offense is an efficient unit that doesn’t hurt themselves, they rank 19th in turnovers lost. This should prove interesting as UA has a good secondary who get their hands on a lot of passes, they rank 12th with five interceptions. BYU has five as well.

The key to this matchup however, should be Arizona’s offense. If the Wildcats can connect on a few big plays, it could speed up the Cougars Pace.

Luke Wysong and Tre Spivey each average over 16.9 yards per reception, and Javin Whatley leads the team with 136 yards receiving.

The Cougs most notable skill players are LJ Martin and Chase Roberts, the duo are veteran leaders at the halfback and receiver positions.

Kalani Sitake is underrated and he’ll have his squad ready to go.

BYU wins a cat fight.

BYU 27, Arizona 17

New Mexico at Boise State

Saturday, October 11
6:45 PM PT, FS1

This game should be an interesting testing ground for both teams.

Boise State isn’t quite the squad they were a year ago, and with two losses, they don’t really have much a chance of making the College Football Playoff as a G6 team. But the Broncos still have a lot to play for.

This week’s matchup against New Mexico is interesting because the Lobos are an upstart team. Even with the loss to San Jose State, UNM could put itself back in the Mountain West race with an upset in Boise.

The key to this matchup should be whether New Mexico can block for Jack Layne. He’s prone to interceptions, but a playmaker when given time. Layne’s thrown for 1,162 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions.

They may consider doubling Braxton Fely. He has 4 TFLs and 3.5 sacks this season. They should also get Damon Bankston a few touches; he’s a tough downhill tackle.

The Broncos need to protect the ball a little better. They rank 97th in turnovers lost, which is very un-Boise-like.

Maddux Madsen is a veteran quarterback, and he should be able to exploit a porous Lobos secondary, ranking 124th in passing yards allowed per game.

Boise State’s still the Best G6 team in the West, and they’re gonna fly.

Boise State 45, New Mexico 17

No. 21 Arizona State at Utah

Saturday, October 11
7:15 pm PT, ESPN

This matchup is intriguing to me. Arizona State enters this contest after a bye week, having won two close matchups against TCU and Baylor previously.

Utah returns home to Salt Lake City in an attempt to rebrand themselves on the National stage, having lost to Texas Tech in SLC two weeks ago.

One interesting storyline in this contest is whether Devon Dampier will be available to play against a team from his home state. Currently listed as doubtful, Dampier led Scottsdale Saguaro to the 2021 “Open State Championship.”

There are two cross-connections between his prep days and ASU’s current coaching staff. He had a nice bounce-back game against West Virginia last week.

The Sun Devils need to match the physicality of the Utes. Utah’s run defense is down a bit this year, ranking 64th nationally. Arizona State may be able to take advantage with their explosive rushing attack, as they rank 20th in rushing yards per game.

If ASU can find success on the ground, it’ll open up space for Jordyn Tyson, who’s probably the best receiver in the West. They’ll also need to find a way to block Utah’s defensive end John Henry Daley, who has 6.5 sacks and 8.5 TFLs.

U of U doesn’t lose at home very often. The MUSS won’t let it happen twice.

Utah 27, Arizona State 24

Utah State at Hawai’i

Saturday, October 11
9:00 pm PT, MW Network

This is a fun game in the Mountain West. The winner of keeps themselves in the middle of the conference title race.

For Utah State, it’s all about offense. The Aggies rank 23rd nationally in points per game. They are led by 52nd-year Senior Bryson Barnes, who’s one of the more underrated quarterbacks nationally.

The former Ute has thrown for 1,143 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one interception. He’s also added 245 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. Braden Pegan is his favorite target with 24 receptions, 369 yards, and four scores.

Hawaii needs the explosive version of their offense to show up. The Rainbow Warriors have scored 23 points or less four times, but also have two games where they scored more than 37 points.

Last week they put 44 in the air against Air Force. The key for the Bows is signal caller Micah Alejado. Alejado’s stats aren’t amazing, but Hawaii is 4-2, he provides intrinsic value. He’s thrown for 1,040 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.

UH is tough to guard because they have seven receivers with at least 143 yards receiving. USU has already played Texas A&M and Vanderbilt on the road, they’ll be ready.

Big Blue runs through a Bow.

Utah State 35, Hawai’i 31