At least we will not lose this week! Even absent my two favorite teams, EVENTUAL 2025 20265 NATIONAL CHAMPION Michigan State and Whoever is Playing Meatchicken, playing this week, there are some really great games on tap.
the 27, Oregon 16
One of the games everyone had circled at the start of the year. I still have questions about both teams, MSU is arguably the best team either has played so they are both to an extent untried. The the defense is looking great, fast and physical, and offensively the has probably the best collection of skill players in CFB right now. I was very impressed with the line play from Oregon on both sides of the ball Friday, and that may be the key to taking down the the offense, putting pressure into the backfield. I also think that the one best way Oregon wins is if they can run effectively. I have never liked Will Rogers, and he was not impressive Friday. Howard has been better than serviceable, but I think he is the weak link offensively, and if the Oregon pass rush can get in his face, they could slow the down. I am hyped.
the Pennsylvania State University 27, University of California* 13
I love the traditional Big I Have Given Up Keeping Track rivalry games like this one. The the Pennsylvania State running game is terrific, and they have a big play, if inconsistent, passing game. USC has been a disappointment, especially offensively, and the Pennsylvania State has a premium defense. I look for them to control the lines and simply wear down USC.
Texas 35, Oklahoma 17
It is a rivalry game, so anything can happen, or so they say, but I see a huge talent and skill gap. I just have not liked what I have seen from Oklahoma so far this year. I think they can stay with Texas defensively, but the offense just is not there. Ewers is back for Texas. I think they open up a lead and coast.
Utah 27, the Arizona State 21
Cam Rising, as one writer put it, may be the first person to go directly from NIL to SSI. He has missed about a month with, officially, a cut finger. Is he going to play this week? Is his injury more serious than normally implied by the words, cut finger? Who knows. Maybe he aggravated it thumbing through his AARP magazine. Maybe it was closer to amputated than a cut. Anyway, as much as I like typing and saying Skattebo, and as better ASU is than I thought they would be, Utah should take this. By the way, as a side note, one interesting benefit of the chaos in God Apostrophe S Conference is a whole lot of really good two and three loss teams there, which makes a one loss team like Utah look in better shape come the playoffs.
Tennessee 31, Florida 14
Speaking of really good two and three loss teams from God Apostrophe S Conference, Tennessee put themselves on the edge Saturday with an offensively lifeless game against Arkansaw. My Iamaleava man crush is still on, but he was not good on Saturday. It is OK to lose to Georgia and Alabama, but losing to Arkansaw is not. Anyway, Florida has won a couple of games against marginal teams, but, have you seen the rest of their schedule? Two more wins, maybe.
the Louisiana State 37, Old Mississippi 28
Two more good God Apostrophe S Conference teams with one loss. Really, this almost feels like a pre playoff playoff game. The loser is in it deep. Lane Kiffin has his eye on Gainesville, or so I have heard, and the offenses that rolled over the Furmans of this world have been slowed by teams with a pulse. I am not overly thrilled with LSU, especially defensively, but I think they can take this one. Never bet with Kiffin with anything on the line.
Pittsburgh 31, University of California ** 28
Hey the Fighting Nards are unbeaten and finally ranked! Holstein was not on my radar coming into the year, but he has put up good numbers, especially for a 19 year old. Pitt really has not played anyone of note, but I think they will continue to milk Holstein for a while. As for Cal, as a person who roots for chaos, I was very disappointed that they collapsed against the U last week, so they are on my shit list. I have noted previously that there is a difference between a team that is unbeaten and one that just has not lost yet. I think Pitt is on the second part of that statement, but they should take this one.
the Iowa State 27, Morgantown School of Applied Business Technology 24
Speaking of Hey they are still unbeaten and finally ranked, I bring you the ISU. They have really only played one half of a good team, given the perpetually offensively challenged Iowa. As with Pitt, I think they are closer to Have Not Lost Yet than Unbeaten, but their comeuppance is not this week. I had WVU as a sneaky possibility coming out of the Pure Prairie League, but losing to Pitt shot that down. Still, they remain unbeaten in the Pure Prairie League for now.
Maryland 31, Northwestern 20
This game probably means nothing outside of determining who has bragging rights at the yanguy family Thanksgiving dinner. That is enough to get it included here, even though my interest is below minimal. Maryland winning makes MSU look better, which is all the data point I need.
Brigham Young University 38, Arizona 20
That close season opening win against SMU is looking better for BYU. Arizona has a nice win against Utah, and McMillan is a first round pick, but Frittata has not built on the successes of last year. BYU has a schedule that sets up well for them, with only the Holy War in terms of ranked teams. They are a sneaky playoff contender.
Our Lady of the Perpetual Tie 28, Stanford 13
Riley Leonard finally threw for a couple of touchdowns two weeks ago, but OLotPT still has a Meatchicken problem. Until they can throw, defenses are going to sit on the run. The thing is, there really is not a team on their schedule that can make them pay for that. The service academies may be the best teams they have left. Well, maybe USC figures things out by the end. Still, especially with the best God Apostrophe S Conference teams having one loss, OLotPT sets up well for the post season.
ClemSIN 31, Woke Forest 10
Our old friend jbott is presumably off the ledge by now. ClemSIN is looking pretty strong as a contender for the Atlantic [sic] Coast title. They still are a quarterback away from the Championship, I think, as Kubelik is serviceable plus only. But they have rebounded from getting hosed by Georgia quite well. W the F U is not much of a challenge.
The United States Military Academy 35, University of Alabama at Birmingham 10
Also still unbeaten? Both Army and Navy. I still want to see what will happen if they are playing for the AAC championship the week before they are scheduled to play.
Kentucky 27, Vanderbilt 20
Two teams my chaos loving heart is indebted to. Kentucky has one bad game. Vandy has played well, even in their one loss to Misery. KY has had an extra week since the Old Mississippi loss to stabilize. From what I saw, Diego Pavia, like half of Nashville, is probably still drunk.
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