Week 10 - The Best Games and My Top 5 Heisman Candidates

(Rankings based off CFP Poll)

  1. (14) LSU @ (8) Alabama - After a thrilling game and finish in Death Valley last year, this classic rivalry turns back to Tuscaloosa for a top 25 clash. GameDay is coming for what will certainly be a classic matchup. Both teams are coming off a bye week, with Alabama winning 6 straight and LSU winning 3. LSU’s last loss was to Ole Miss, in what was a crazy game. Ole Miss put up 55, while LSU had only 49. The week prior, however, Alabama beat Ole Miss 24-10. If LSU wins this one, the SEC West will be very interesting. Going back to the Tigers, they are lead by Heisman candidate Jayden Daniels. Daniels has thrown for 2,573 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He also has 520 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. I talk more about him in the Heisman section of the post, so go check that out. The duo of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. is the second best duo in the country, and they’ve combined for 20 total touchdowns. 11 of them come from Brian Thomas Jr., who also has 42 catches for 732 yards. Malik Nabers leads the team, SEC, and the country in receiving yards with 981. He also has 56 receptions. Both have had big games this season, and they can come when LSU really needs it or don’t. It’s shaping up to be the best seasons for both players, and Alabama’s defense is going to have their hands full. LSU is also really efficient on the ground, averaging 213 rush yards per game. Logan Diggs leads the team with 611 yards and 6 touchdowns, all on 105 carries. The duo of Diggs and Daniels in the rushing game is all LSU really needs, as they are really well balanced and have the top offense in the country, averaging 553 yards and 47.4 points per game. They have the second most total points, with 379. They have the most total yards, with 4,423. They face a tough test in Alabama’s defense, which allow only 306.4 yards  game, third in the SEC. They also allow 16.5 points per game, second in the conference. Dallas Turner leads the SEC in sacks with 8. Chris Braswell has 6.5, and has also taken an interception back 28 yards for a touchdown. Both have 2 forced fumbles. Alabama have stopped opponents in their track all season, but a team that did just that of them was Texas. Bama lost by 10, and Jalen Milroe was benched for the USF games, their worst offensive performance this season. Milroe regained his starting spot after that game, and has not looked back since. He’s thrown for 1,617 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He’s also ran the ball into the end zone 5 times. Milroe has been sacked 30 times, sixth most in the country. Alabama averages 366.6 yards per game, 219.5 of those through the air. Alabama’s leading receiver, Jermaine Burton, has 508 yards and 5 touchdowns, but only 23 catches. Those are tied for the most on the team with Isaiah Bond, who also has 360 yards and 3 touchdowns. Burton and Bond do it on less catches, but the important thing is that they get it done. Jase McClellan is the opposite. He has 569 yards, but on 122 carries. That’s a 4.7 yards per carry. McClellan also has 4 touchdowns. Alabama averages 147 rush yards per game. Both McClellan and Milroe should run wild against a bad LSU defense, which allows 395 yards per game. It’s gotten better throughout the weeks, but a thin secondary gets attacked by Milroe and Burton, as Alabama wins, 34-28. Odds: ALA -3.5, O/U 61.5
  2. (5) Washington @ (20) USC - In a stacked Pac 12, whoever wins this game will determine who plays in Las Vegas this December. Going back to the start of the second half of the Colorado game, USC has not played well. They gave up 27 points to Colorado, beat Arizona in triple overtime, then lost 2 straight to Notre Dame and Utah. Last week, USC beat Cal by one after Cal couldn’t complete a two-point conversion. But because one of their two losses is out of conference, USC is second in the Pac 12 at 5-1 in conference play. Washington is the only undefeated team in the conference at 5-0. Whoever wins this game will jump up to top of the Pac 12 standings. Going back to USC, the reason they’ve been playing this bad has been the defense. They allow 421 yards per game and 32.6 points per game. However, it feels like they give up more. Against Cal, they allowed 49. 48 to Notre Dame, and 41 to both Arizona and Colorado. USC’s defense needs to step up, because Washington has one of the best offenses in the country. They average 501 yards per game and 40.4 points per game. They yards per game are fifth in the country, while the points per game is ninth. Michael Penix Jr. leads the country in passing yards, with 2,945. Second is Caleb Williams, who has 2,646. It’s going to be fun to see these two top offenses go back and forth. Penix has also thrown 24 touchdowns to 6 interceptions, while Williams has thrown 25 touchdowns to 4 picks. Williams has also ran the ball into the end zone 9 times, while Penix has not done that yet. The two quarterbacks are practically identical, the same in stats like QBR, completion percentage, and yards per pass. However, Caleb Williams has been sacked 24 times to Penix’s 5. USC’s offensive line has been able to open up holes for the running backs to run through, as Marshawn Lloyd has 99 carries for 766 yards and 8 touchdowns. He leads the Pac 12 in rushing yards, but only by 3. Austin Jones also has 5 rushing touchdowns. Washington doesn’t have the same success when it comes to running the ball. Dillon Johnson has 87 carries for 430 yards and 6 touchdowns. Washington doesn’t run the ball as much as USC, but that’s because they’re great in the air. I’ve already brushed over Michael Penix Jr., and I talk more about him in the Heisman section of this post, so go check that out. Rome Odunze leads the Pac 12 in receiving yards, with 907. That’s fourth in the country. Odunze also has 51 catches and 7 touchdowns. Ja’Lynn Polk completes the dynamic duo, with 46 catches for 836 yards and 7 touchdowns. Jalen McMillan, who’s had an up and down injury, which included him coming back for Oregon and Stanford before coming out, and is nearing a return. Hopefully he can go in this one, because the more fire power Washington has, the better. However, Germie Bernard has been a bright spot while McMillan has been out. Henry has 20 catches for 274 yards, 1 touchdown, but 2 rushing touchdowns. USC also has a good pair of receivers, but not as well as Washington. Tahj Washington has 35 catches for 711 yards and 5 touchdowns. Brenden Rice has 39 receptions for 519 yards and 9 touchdowns. Zachariah Branch has been a do it all player, with 1 receiving touchdown, 1 rushing touchdowns, 1 punt return touchdown, and 1 kickoff return touchdown. He’s also only a freshman. Washington’s defense isn’t as bad as USC’s, and isn’t bad, but could use some room for improvement. For example, last week against Stanford, they allowed 33 points and 495 yards. Stanford isn’t good in pretty much every measure of the game. They allow 400 yards per game, but 20.6 points per game, which is what really matters. They points per game allowed are fourth in the Pac 12. USC’s bad defense is a really big struggle, and if things can’t get fixed, Alex Grinch should be fired. The defense breaks again, and Washington wins, 47-43. Odds: WASH -3, O/U 77.5
  3. (12) Missouri @ (2) Georgia - Georgia is looking for that coveted three-peat, while Missouri wants a chance for their first trip back to the SEC championship game since 2014. Starting with the Bulldogs, and everybody knows their story. Two straight trips to the CFP National Championship, winning both of them. A stifling defense that would shut down opponents, and the best tight end in college football on offense. They had a new quarterback this year, and that’s Carson Beck. People wondered how the transition would be from Stetson Bennett to Beck, but Beck has shined. He’s thrown for 2,462 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He’s also ran for 3 touchdowns. Beck won a championship both years, but didn’t contribute. I would call this Georgia’s first real test, even though they dismantled a ranked Kentucky team, but we only saw one really good game out of them. Beck can prove himself in a truly ranked matchup, but he will be once again without Brock Bowers. Bowers is that too tight end in college football, with 41 catches for 567 yards and 4 touchdowns, leading all tight ends in the SEC in those stats. He’s second in those stats in the country. Bowers had an incredible season last year, and missed only last week’s game. In the win over Florida, Beck didn’t struggle, throwing for 315 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ladd McConkey, who’s missed most of the season, had 6 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. With Bowers out, look for McConkey to get a bulk of the targets. After Bowers, the leading receiver is Dominic Lovett, who has 35 catches for 365 yards and a touchdown. He’s gotten better every week, so maybe he could go for more than 100 yards this week for the first time. Georgia doesn’t lack a rushing game either, as Daijun Edwards has 95 carries for 556 yards and 8 touchdowns. Kendall Milton has 4 touchdowns as well. Georgia’s main skill is their defense. They allow only 272 yards per game and 15 points per game. The yards per game allowed are second in the SEC, while the points allowed are first. Georgia is lacking in the sack department, as they have only 16. That’s the bottom half of the SEC. However, they have 9 interceptions, tied for second in the conference. A complete flip of Georgia’s defense, Missouri has 7 interceptions and 24 sacks. They allow 338 yards per game and 23 points per game. Mizzou’s strength isn’t defense though. Their offense averages 443 yards per game and 34 points per game. Both are top 5 in the SEC. Brady Cook has thrown for 2,259 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 3 picks. He’s also ran for 5 touchdowns. His main target has been Luther Burden III. He has 61 catches for 905 yards and 6 touchdowns. His yards are fifth in the country. Paired with Theo Wease Jr., Cook has no shortage of good players to throw to. Wease has 36 catches for 449 yards and 5 touchdowns. Just like Georgia, Missouri can run too. Cody Shrader has 149 carries for 807 yards and 9 touchdowns, tied for the lead in rushing touchdowns in the SEC. He’s second in yards. Missouri gives up more yards and points than Georgia, while you could claim that their offense is better. But defense wins champions, but Missouri doesn’t go down without a fight. Georgia wins, 31-28. Odds: UGA -15.5, O/U 55.5
  4. (9) Oklahoma @ (22) Oklahoma State - Bedlam is one of the greatest Big 12 rivalries, and it’s a shame that this might be the last one where both teams are a member of the Big 12. This game will feature two of my Heisman candidates, so go check them out there, because I’ll go into more depth about them there. Oklahoma State has a generational talent at running back. Of course, I’m talking about Ollie Gordon II. Gordon has 141 carries for 1,087 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s leads the country in rushing yards, and has had 3 straight weeks with 200 all purpose yards. His best game came against West Virginia, when he ran for 4 touchdowns. Gordon has turned this Oklahoma State team around. In a crushing defeat to South Alabama, Gordon had 3 rushes for 12 yards. That was the last game where Mike Gundy stopped playing all three quarterbacks, and without that weird carousel, Alan Bowman has been able to shine. He’s thrown for 1,580 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 5 picks. He obviously isn’t the best, and a top end game manager at best, but he’s a good one. Bowman has also contributed to the turnaround of OKST. The Cowboys now sit as one of the 5 teams tied for the top spot in the Big 12. Whoever wins this game will be tied with whoever wins the Kansas State-Texas game and if Iowa State beats Kansas. Oklahoma State’s only conference loss came to Iowa State, while they upset Kansas State. OKST doesn’t play Texas, so if both Oklahoma State and Kansas State win, they should be at the top of the Big 12. Oklahoma destroyed Iowa State by 30, but fell last week to Kansas. OU lost by only 5, but had a chance to win the game at the end. When you turn the ball over 3 times, you can’t expect to beat your opponent. They did also force 3 turnovers, but the offense, specifically Dillon Gabriel, struggled. Gabriel went 14/19 for 171 yards and a pick, but did run for 3 touchdowns. The conditions were bad last week, but still the worst game of Gabriel’s season. Gabriel has thrown for 2,300 yards, has 27 total touchdowns, and 4 picks. He’s the second Heisman candidate in this matchup. Henry also has 300 rushing yards. Hopefully Gabriel can bounce back, especially because he let an extremely talented receiving corps down. Andrel Anthony is still out for the year, but the group is still good. Jalil Farooq has 36 catches for 449 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Nic Anderson has 405 yards and 8 touchdowns on 17 catches. Drake Stoops leads the team in catches with 40, and also has 5 touchdowns. OU also has a nasty duo at running back. Tawee Walker and Marcus Major are the perfect example of running backs spitting carries. Walker has 76 carries for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Major has 78 carries for 308 yards and a touchdown. Going back to Oklahoma State, their defense is going to eventually be the reason why  they lose a game. They let up 409 yards per game and 24.4 points per game. OU’s is slightly better, letting up 370 yards per game and 19 points per game. That game that Oklahoma State losses due to their defense is this win. Oklahoma bounces back, 36-30. Odds: OU -6, O/U 61.5
  5. (23) Kansas State @ (7) Texas - Another big game to determine who leads the Big 12, as the Wildcats and the Longhorns face off. Starting with K-State, their two losses at the time were seen as very bad losses, but now the other two teams are ranked, so they could be qualified as quality losses. Those two losses were to Missouri and Oklahoma State, and especially in the Oklahoma State game, Will Howard did not play well. Henry threw 3 picks that game, but did run for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also threw for a touchdown. On the year, Howard has thrown for 1,630 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. He also has 313 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. He’s been battling an injury for pretty much all season, but is healthy for this one. His rushing yards are third on the team, behind DJ Giddens and Treshaun Ward. Giddens has 116 carries for 722 yards and 7 touchdowns. Ward has 87 carries for 460 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kansas State is one of the better balanced teams in the country, averaging 238.6 pass yards per game and 226 rushing yards per yards per game. Giddens is also a great receiver, with 240 yards and a touchdown through the air. K-State’s defense isn’t bad either, allowing 349 yards per game, third in the Big 12, and 16 points per game, tied for first in the conference, with Texas. Texas allows the same amount of points per game, and are slightly better in the yards department, allowing 328 yards per game. Texas also stops the run effectively, allowing only 98 rush yards per game. Texas can turn that around in offense though, as they have the second most rush yards by a player in the Big 12. That’s Jonathan Brooks, who has 923 yards. Henry also has 7 touchdowns on 144 carries. Brooks also has 212 receiving yards. Even though Brooks has more yards than Giddens, Texas next rusher has only 240 yards. With Quinn Ewers still out? Texas has to lean on the running game more. We saw this last week, as Texas had 174 passing yards and 184 rushing yards. Maalik Murphy, who started in place of Ewers, threw for 170 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 pick in the blowout win. Hopefully he can lead Texas into the Big 12 championship and potentially the playoffs. Last week against BYU, Texas had 354 yards of total offense. They average 100 more yards than that regularly, so with Ewers out, Texas’s offensive numbers could start to drop. However, Jonathan Brooks and the Texas defense does just enough for the Longhorns to win, 27-21. Odds: TEX -3.5, O/U 49.5
  6. (19) UCLA @ Arizona - Arizona has been a sneaky good team all season, and are now looking for their second straight top 25 upset on Pac 12 after dark, and their third straight top 25 upset. Since starting the Washington game, Noah Fifita had looked like a future Heisman winner. He’s thrown for 1,211 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 3 picks in only 4 games. He’s also completed 75.8% of his passes. Hopefully he has another big game, and that’s could snowball into something big. However, when you receivers like Tetairoa McMillan and Jacob Cowing, anyone can play well. McMillan has 48 catches for 672 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Cowing has caught 61 passes for 461 yards and 8 touchdowns. Arizona’s offense averages 286 pass yards per game, which is 6th in the Pac 12. Arizona’s defense allows only 342.6 yards per game, but have forced only 8 turnovers. 2 of those are interceptions. They’ve stopped offenses in their tracks, shutting down Washington State and Oregon State. They allowed just 6 points in the blowout win over Wazzu, and 24 to Oregon State. They also slowed down Washington’s offense, holding them to 31 points. That’s still a lot, but the week before Washington scored 59. Arizona’s defense is nothing like UCLA’s, however. UCLA allows 277.5 yards per game and only 63 rush yards per game. That’s the second best in the whole country. UCLA also allows only 15 points per game, which is at the top of the Pac 12. Against Colorado’s red hot offense that’s been electric all season, UCLA held them to 16 points and 242 yards. On offense, things were shaky. UCLA committed 4 turnovers, but put up 28 points. They also committed all turnovers in the first half, showing their dominance in the second. Carson Steele has paved the way for UCLA’s offense all season, with 124 carries for 674 yards and 6 touchdowns. While Dante Moore has been starting, Steele has taken some pressure of the freshman. Moore didn’t play against Stanford for that long because he was injured, but didn’t play at all in the win over Colorado last week. That was Ethan Garbers, and if Moore is 100% and didn’t start last week, I doubt things will change this week. Garbers has played in 4 games this year, throwing for 643 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 picks. UCLA as an offense averages 466 yards, and 216 of those are in the ground. As longs as the ground game can get going for UCLA, they should be able to win this one. I think they can get it working, leading to the 24-17 win for the Bruins. Odds: UCLA -2.5, O/U 50.5
  7. (11) Penn State @ Maryland - Penn State might be called the same team every year, but Maryland certainly is not. Since joining the Big Ten before the 2014 season, they have been at the bottom of the Big Ten. They’ve also only had 3 winning seasons in that time. Two of them, however, have came in the past two years, 2021 and 2022. they got out to a 5-0 start, but have dropped 3 straight. Two losses have been by one score or less, including last week’s loss to Northwestern. Taulia Tagovailoa has been a standout, with 2,200 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He also has 4 rushing touchdowns, tied for the most on the team. He’s tied with Roman Hemby, who’s also the leading rusher. Hemby has 88 carries for 441 yards and the 4 previously mentioned touchdowns. He’s also tacked on 220 receiving yards. Maryland has the third best offense in the Big Ten, while Penn State has the best defense. The Penn State defense allows 234.5 yards per game and 11.5 points per game, while they’ve taken the ball away 16 times. Penn State also has the best rushing defense in the conference, with 584 rush yards allowed all season. That’s an average of 74.3 per game. That’s fourth in the country. On offense, their duo of running backs are carrying this offense. Kaytron Allen has 105 carries for 482 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Nicholas Singleton has 113 carries for 460 yards and 7 touchdowns. Together, they make up the third best rushing team in the Big Ten, with 175 rush yards per game and the team as a whole has 18 rushing touchdowns. 3 of those come from Drew Allar, who has thrown for 1,655 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He has had trouble with consistency, as he’s had 3 games with a completion percentage under 60%. If he can string together a good game in this one, Penn State has a very good shot to win. Penn State has struggled the past two weeks, but prevailed last week to beat Indiana. It’s more of the same this week, as Penn State wins, 34-21. Odds: PSU -8.5, O/U 49.5
  8. Texas A&M @ (10) Ole Miss - Texas A&M finally had their first good game for a while last week, and now heading into the month of November, their trying to put that bad month behind them. Last week against South Carolina, Texas A&M shut down the SC offense, holding them to 209 total yards and 17 points. A&M also held the ball for 36 and a half minutes, continuing their dominance last week. It was also their first game in SEC play this year without turning the ball over. Since taking over for Conner Weigman, Max Johnson has played alright. He’s thrown for 1,147 yards, 8 touchdowns m, and 4 interceptions. With the duo of Ainias Smith and Evan Stewart, if Johnson and Texas A&M get hit at the right time, a NY6 could be in their future. Although that’s not likely to happen, the duo is still great. Smith has 33 passes for 570 yards and a touchdown, while Stewart has 37 catches for 506 yards and 4 touchdowns. Smith also has a punt return for a touchdown. A&M averages 266 pass yards per game, 7th in the SEC. But their real threat is on the defensive side of the ball, with 19.5 points per game and 269 yards per game allowed. The points allowed per game is third in the conference, while the yards per game allowed is first. They also lead the conference in sacks, with 33. That’s second most in the country. Right behind the Aggies in total sacks in the SEC is Ole Miss. They have 30, while picking off opposing quarterbacks 9 times to A&M’s 4. Ole Miss is still very alive in the SEC West race, and while they’ve terrorized opposing quarterbacks, they can turn around on offense and terrorize defenses. Jaxson Dart has thrown for 2,080 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 4 picks. He’s also ran for 326 yards and 7 touchdowns. Quinshon Judkins leads the team in rushing yards with 691. He also has 9 touchdowns and 146 carries. He started off slow, but has warmed up to his old self. Dart and Judkins have the third best offense in the SEC, with 474 yards per game and 39 points per game. The Ole Miss offense gets put in its place, as Texas A&M shuts them down early. However, Ole Miss breaks through and comes back for the 27-19 win. Odds: MISS -3, O/U 52.5
  9. Arkansas @ Florida - After 6 straight losses, who can Arkansas bounce back? Also, can Florida channel the energy they had entering the Georgia game, not after it? Starting with Arkansas, they lost star running back Raheim Sanders back in week one, and their season has been pretty much ruined since. He did come back for two games, but didn’t play that well. Whether Sanders plays in this one or not, the rushing game is still probably going to be bad. Last year, Arkansas had the second best rushing game offense in the SEC, at 236.5 rush yards per game. This year, they have the third worst, at 109 rush yards per game. Their leading runner, Rashod Dubinion, has only 260 yards. KJ Jefferson had 640 rushing yards last year, but only has 200 this year. Henry had 9 touchdowns last year, and only 1 so far this year. Jefferson hasn’t been too bad through the air, with 1,547 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 7 picks. However, the last time Arkansas came out onto the field, they scored 3 total points, and it came in the first 3 minutes of the game. They had 200 total yards and 2 turnovers, and just looked bad. It’s hard to come back after that bad of a game, but with another tough opponent, how can the Hogs truly come back and be revitalized? As for Florida, they had a shaky start to the season with the Utah loss, but then upset Tennessee. They had a horrible game in the loss to Kentucky, and just got destroyed in a rivalry game. It was mainly the defense’s fault they lost that game, but at the end of the day, football is a team game. Florida allows 23 points per game and 334 yards per game. They’ve also forced only 4 turnovers, which is a main point of concern. Graham Mertz has thrown 2 picks, which really shows how bad Florida’s defense is at forcing turnovers. Mertz has 2,127 yards, 14 touchdowns, and the 2 interceptions. He’s also ran for 3 touchdowns. His main target has been Ricky Pearsall, who has 50 catches for 718 yards and 3 touchdowns. Florida does most of its damage in the ground, however, as Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne lead Florida’s rushing attack. Johnson has 94 carries for 520 yards and 4 touchdowns while Etienne has 76 carries for 449 yards and 3 touchdowns. Florida’s defense might not’ be looked the best last week or all season, but anything is better than the Arkansas offense. Florida gets it done, 24-13. Odds: FLA -3, O/U 49.5
  10. (21) Kansas @ Iowa State - The third and final game to determine the leaders in the Big 12, upset minded Kansas take on Iowa State and their fierce defense. Even though KU is ranked, Iowa State are the slight favorites. The game is in Ames, so that might contribute to the odds being in Iowa State’s favor. It could also be because of their defense, as they allow only 326.4 yards per game and 20 points per game. That’s first and fourth in the Big 12, respectively. They don’t have that many sacks, with 14. That’s tied for second worst in the conference. They do have 13 picks, second in the Big 12. Jeremiah Cooper leads the conference in picks, with 5. They’ve also forced a 106.7 passer rating on opposing quarterbacks, first in the Big 12. On offense, it’s not the worst, but definitely not the best. Rocco Becht has thrown for 1,700 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 6 picks. He’s also tacked on 2 rushing touchdowns, which is tied for first on the team. He’s tied with Eli Sanders and Cartevious Jones. Sanders has 73 carries for 353 yards and the 2 touchdowns. Jones has 71 carries for 276 yards and the 2 touchdowns. Iowa State still has a bad rushing game, averaging 123 yards, fourth worst in the Big 12. Kansas is the exact opposite, averaging 213.6 rush yards per game, fourth in the Big 12. Devin Neal has 115 carries for 771 yards and 7 touchdowns, including the game winning touchdown run last week. Daniel Hishaw Jr., who also played a big part in the win over Oklahoma last week. He has 80 carries for 488 yards and 8 touchdowns. Last week, Hishaw has 2 touchdowns, including one to put Kansas up two scores early. With Jalon Daniels once again out, the rushing game is going to have to carry the load on offense again. Jason Bean hasn’t been bad, with 1,130 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 4 picks. Regardless of Bean’s play, Kansas still gets it done, 28-17. Odds: ISU -3, O/U 53.5
  11. BYU @ West Virginia - With both teams looking for bowl eligibility, West Virginia has revenge on their mind. Last year, when Kedon Slovis was the quarterback for Pittsburgh, Slovis threw for 308 yards and a touchdown in the rivalry win. Slovis has thrown for 1,716 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, while also running for 3 touchdowns. He’s been carrying the offense, because BYU does not run the ball at all, or well. The whole team has 226 attempts, last in the Big 12. They average 81 rush yards per game, and have 650 total rush yards, both last in the conference. Their leading rusher, however, has 438 yards. That’s LJ Martin, who also has 96 carries and 4 touchdowns. The next closest player to Martin in yards only has 134. No other player has 100 or more rushing yards. West Virginia is the exact opposite of BYU. WVU averages 203 rush yards per game, and 198 pass yards per game. BYU averages 219.4 pass yards per game. Garrett Greene has played in 6 games, and has thrown for 1,340 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He’s also ran for 404 yards and 8 more touchdowns. He has the second most rushing yards on the team, with CJ Donaldson Jr. having more. He has 133 carries for 574 yards and 7 touchdowns. Both defenses are pretty below average, with BYU averaging 391.4 yards per game allowed and WVU allowing 378 yards per game. BYU allows 25.6 points per game, while West Virginia allows 26.5. This should be a grind-it-out type of game, but BYU’s inability to run the ball gives West Virginia the 34-20 win. Odds: WVU -12, O/U 48.5
  12. Virginia Tech @ (13) Louisville - Grant Wells’ injury might have been the best thing for Virginia Tech. VT took care of business against Old Dominion, but that was expected. The next week against Purdue, their offense fell flat on their face. VT only had 286 yards of offense in that game, while Wells got injured in the 4th quarter of that same game. Since then, it’s been Kyron Drones, who’s revitalized this offense. Drones has thrown for 1,236 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 pick. He’s also ran for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns. He does struggle at complete passes, with a 58.6% completion percentage. They’ve won 3 of their last 4, and their last 2. They blew out Syracuse last Thursday, with most of their yards coming in the ground. They had 318 rushing yards, while Syracuse had 0. VT dominated all game, and so did Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten ran for 118 yards last week, and now has 478 yards. He also was 110 carries and 4 touchdowns. VT shut down the Orange, something that they’ve done a lot this season. They’ve allowed only 23 yards per game and 150.6 rush yards per game.  However, they’re going to have a tough task this game against one of the best ACC offenses. Louisville averages 448 yards per game, fifth in the ACC, and 33 points per game, fourth in the conference. They’re also fifth in the pass yards per game and rush yards per game. Jack Plummer has thrown for 2,020 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 picks. His main target has been Jamari Thrash, who’s caught 46 passes for 710 yards and 6 touchdowns. In about 7 games, Jawhar Jordan has 110 carries for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns. All three stats are top 5 in the ACC. All three of these players are reasons why Louisville are having a surprise season. Another reason is their defense. They allow only 18 points per game, which is second in the conference. They also allow 303.4 yards per game, second in the ACC. Third is Virginia Tech, and they allow 316 yards per game. VT also leads the conference in sacks, with 30. They’re going to get after Jack Plummer all game, but Louisville ultimately prevails, 33-17. Odds: LOU -10, O/U 48.5
  13. Miami @ NC State - For Miami, it’s been survive and advance the past couple of weeks, while NC State is coming off a big win in a rivalry game. Two weeks ago, Miami was coming off of two losses. They barely beat Clemson in double overtime, 28-20. The same continued last week, with a 29-26 win in overtime. Miami were favored by nearly 20 points, and once again played down to worst opponents. Tyler Van Dyke struggled a lot last week, throwing for only 163 yards and 2 interceptions. In the year, Van Dyke threw for 1,884 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 8 picks. He’s had his fair share of struggles, but is still a great quarterback. His main target has been Xavier Restrepo. He’s caught 57 passes for 648 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s had 2 quiet games back to back, but can bounce back against a bad secondary. NC State allows 227 pass yards per game. But at the same time, they’ve been able to keep most of their opponents out of the end zone. On offense, Brennan Armstrong was benched a few weeks ago, and the offense hasn’t improved that much under MJ Morris. Armstrong is still the leading passer and rusher for NC State, with 971 passing yards and 286 rushing yards. Morris has 600 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 picks. Their leading rusher, Michael Allen, has 250 rush yards. Delbert Mimms III does have 6 rushing touchdowns though, so that’s a point of attack. Another bright spot has been Kevin Concepcion, who has 42 receptions for 493 yards and 6 touchdowns. Miami has a potentially worse secondary, allowing 234.6 yards per game. If Concepcion can start hot, Miami might fall into another close game. Even if that happens though, Miami still gets it done, 24-10. Odds: MIA -6, O/U 44.5
  14. (16) Oregon State @ Colorado - Colorado, the center of college football, are trying to get back to that early season form after losing 4 of their last 5. Their only win in that stretch was against Arizona State, and it was by 3. Shedeur Sanders has thrown for 2,637 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 3 picks. He has pretty good numbers for a player that’s been sacked 41 times, the most in the country. Colorado has struggled mightily through the running game, with their leading rusher only having 262 yards. That’s Dylan Edwards, but he might be a better receiver, with 230 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. Another big concern has been their defense, and with players like Travis Hunter and Shilo Sanders missing games, it gives some understanding why, but it can always get better. They allow 35 points per game and 475.4 yards per game, both at the bottom two of the Pac 12. Colorado allows 165 rush yards per game, and Oregon State runs for 187 yards per game. Damien Martinez has 119 carries for 763 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Deshaun Fenwick has 400 yards and 4 touchdowns on 71 carries. DJ Uiagalelei leads the team with 5 rushing touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,790 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 picks. These players should run rampant against the bad Colorado defense, while Oregon State shuts down Colorado’s offense, as they have 26 sacks. They should get after Shedeur Sanders all game, and the Beavers win, 35-17. Odds: ORST -12.5, O/U 61.5
  15. Stanford @ Washington State - Just like Colorado, Wazzu started out hot, with 4 wins. Cam Ward hasn’t been playing his best, and they’ve lost 4 straight. Ward has thrown for 2,530 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 3 picks on the year, but all 3 have came in the 4 losses. he hasn’t thrown a pick the last two games, but only 1 touchdown in both. He did run for 2 touchdowns last week. He has 5 rushing touchdowns this year. Even though Ward has struggled the past few weeks, it might be his offensive line’s fault. Ward’s been sacked 22 times this year, third most in the Pac 12, and tied for 17th in the whole country. Through all of this, Ward has maintained a pretty solid number of yards, as Wazzu has the second best passing game in the Pac 12, averaging 347.5 yards per game. Ward is also fourth in yards in the conference. This comes at a cost, as Washington State has the second least rush yards per game, at 88. They also have the second lowest attempts in the conference, at 221. Stanford is the complete opposite. They have 289 attempts for a total of 1,024 rush yards and 128 rushing yards per yards per game. However, their leading rusher only has 215 yards on 38 carries. Three other players have 150+ rushing yards on the season and another has 113. Their main player on offense has been Elic Ayomanor, who has 45 receptions for 737 yards and 5 touchdowns, fourth in the Pac 12. Stanford’s main concern has been the defense, as they allow 37.5 points per game, worst in the Pac 12, and 465 yards per game, second worst in the conference. They’re one of the 7 teams in FBS to allow 300 or more total points this season, and one of the two power 5 teams to do the same. They’ve forced only 5 turnovers and have sacked opposing quarterbacks 17 times, fourth last in the conference. Cam Ward’s going to be comfortable, and leads Wazzu to their first in over a month, 24-10. Odds: WSU -13, O/U 59.5
  16. Illinois @ Minnesota - Minnesota is tied for the lead of the Big Ten West, but Illinois is looking for an upset that would shake up the standings. Starting with Minnesota, their offense has been one of the worst in the Big Ten. They average 315 yards per game, third worst in the conference, and 21 points per game. However, they average the fourth most rushing yards per game, at 174.5. Darius Taylor has ran for 590 yards and 4 touchdowns on 103 carries. He’s been the focal point of this season offense, and another one has been Daniel Jackson. He’s caught 36 passes for 507 yards and 6 touchdowns. The next closest player only has 270 yards. Only one other player has caught a touchdown. As for Illinois, Luke Altmyer has been very inconsistent. He’s thrown for 1,670 yards, fifth in the Big Ten, but 10 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. He has also ran for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’s been sacked 29 times, most in the Big Ten by 10 sacks. The defense allows 28 points per game, third worst in the conference. They also allow the most yards per game, at 396. Minnesota’s offense is going to look good this game, through the air and on the ground. They win, 18-3. Odds: MINN -1.5, O/U 43.5
  17. Iowa Vs. Northwestern - Northwestern has been so much better than most thought so far this year, while Iowa is trying to hold onto their share of the lead in the Big Ten West. Starting with Iowa, we got some pretty big news this week. Brian Ferentz won’t be returning back last year, and that’s a big joy for Iowa fans. The offense has been atrocious so far this season, with 232.4 yards per game, worst in the Big Ten, and 19.5 points, third worst. The yards per game is last in the whole country, and it’s not close either. With both Cade McNamara and Erick All out for the rest of the season, the offense is going to still be pretty bad. Starting in place of McNamara has been Deacon Hill, who’s gotten significant action in 4 games. He’s thrown for 427 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 picks. He’s also completed only 37.8% of his passes, including a game where he went 6/21. Iowa’s defense has carried them, allowing only 14.5 points per game. They also allow 315 yards per game. Iowa is great at stopping the run, allowing only 125.5 yards per game and 6 rushing touchdowns all season.  The same can’t be said for Northwestern, as they allow 164 rush yards per game and 16 rushing touchdowns. Like I said earlier, Northwestern has been a very surprising team, and it showed last week. They upset Maryland, 33-27. Bengals Sullivan had a great game, throwing for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns. He’s thrown for 633 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 picks. He hasn’t started all year, taking over for Ben Bryant before the win over Howard. If Northwestern and channel their momentum from last week into this game, they can pull off the upset. However, Iowa’s defense is too good, and they win, 17-13. Odds: IOWA -5.5, O/U 31.5
  18. Georgia Tech @ Virginia - Both of these teams have been an upset frenzy this year, and Virginia is starting to turn around their season. They started off 0-5, and have gone 2-1 since. However, their only loss in that stretch came last week against Miami. They lost in overtime, 29-26. The week prior, they upset North Carolina on the road. Between Tony Muskett and Anthony Colandrea, Malik Washington has caught 68 passes for 935 yards and 6 touchdowns. The yards are third in the country and first in the ACC, while the catches have the same rankings. Georgia Tech is going to need to double Washington, but they have a bottom five secondary in the conference. They allow 235.6 pass yards per game and allow 8.5 yards per pass. On top of that, they’ve only sacked the quarterback 14 times. GT does most of its damage on offense, as Haynes King has thrown for 2,120 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 picks. He’s also ran for 462 yards and 3 touchdowns. King could jump up into my Heisman rankings next year, as he still has two years left. Virginia has been improving, but their defense only has 7 sacks. That’s the worst in the country, as with too much time for Haynes King in the pocket, Georgia Tech wins, 39-21. Odds: UVA -2, O/U 56.5
  19. James Madison @ Georgia State - James Madison was robbed by the CFP committee, at least in my opinion. They are one of the last 8 undefeated teams left in FBS, and are one of the two unranked teams. However, Liberty was never ranked in the AP poll, and JMU has and still is. They lead the country in sacks, with 39. Jalen Green leads the country with 15.5 sacks, and does it with JMU’s second most tackles. He has 46 of them. On top of the sacks, James Madison is the best team at stopping the run in the country, allowing only 49 rush yards per game. They’ve only allowed 391 this season. They’re not bad in offense either, as Jordan McCloud has thrown for 2,036 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 6 picks. As for Georgia State, their main point of attack on offense has been Marcus Carroll. Carroll has 197 carries for 1,060 yards, and 12 touchdowns. The yards are third, while the carries are first in the country. He should have a big game, but James Madison is too physical up front, and they win, 24-7. Odds: JMU -5.5, O/U 53.5
  20. UCF @ Cincinnati - In a battle of two Big 12 newcomers, they’re both winless in their first season, but someone has to win. UCF looks like the better team, with 2 one score losses in conference. John Rhys Plumlee missed some time with injury, which is a reason why they’re winless in conference play. Plumlee has thrown for 1,108 yards, but 8 touchdowns to 7 interceptions. Plumlee has ran for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns, while RJ Harvey leads the team in rushing yards. Harvey has 126 carries for 712 yards and 6 touchdowns. UCF averages 227 rush yards per game, and 495 yards per game, top of the Big 12. However, UCF allows 402 yards per game, third worst in the conference. The 30 points per game allowed is also on the same slot. Cincinnati’s defense isn’t that better, allowing 28.4 points per game and 375.4 yards per game. It’s not as bad as UCF, but in a conference filled with offense, it’s pretty bad. Cincy got destroyed last week against Oklahoma State, losing 45-13. Emory Jones had another bad game, going 6/16 for 117 yards and a pick. Jones has thrown for 1,600 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He’s completed only 59.7% of his passes. Jones has 441 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, only trailing Corey Kiner in yards. Kiner has 119 carries for 642 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kiner has only 7 more carries than Jones, and it makes you think that if Jones didn’t run as much as he did, would Kiner have 1,000 yards? That’s all a hypothetical, and UCF’s consistent offense leads them to a 24-13 win. Odds: UCF -3.5, O/U 59.5
  21. Houston @ Baylor - You probably guessed it, as this is the “Big 12 Mid Game of the Week” (cue angelic music). Houston and Baylor are both 3-5, but Baylor is 2-3 in conference play. Houston is 1-4 in their first season in the Big 12. On offense, Houston is great, averaging 383 yards per game and 25 points per game. Donovan Smith has thrown for 2,070 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He also has 4 rushing touchdowns. Houston’s past few game have been up and down. They needed a last second Hail Mary to beat WVU, before nearly upsetting Texas at home. They had some momentum coming into the Kansas State game, but their defense got bludgeoned. K-State won, 41-0, either way Houston allowing nearly 400 yards of total offense and 24 first downs. Houston’s degas been bad all season, allowing 416 yards per game and 32.5 points per game. The worse Houston’s defense plays, the worse their offense plays, and Baylor is in the same boat as Houston. The Bears’ defense isn’t as bad as Houston, but still somewhat bad. They allow 398.6 yards per game and 30 points per game. On offense, they average 388.5 yards per game, and a big reason is because of Blake Shapen. Shapen has only played in 5 games, but has thrown for 1,475 yards, 6 touchdowns, and only 1 interception. That first pick came last week in the 30-18 loss to Iowa State. Shapen’s also ran for 3 touchdowns. These teams have the worst defenses in the Big 12, but Baylor squeaks by, 43-31. Odds: BAY -3, O/U 58.5
  22. California @ (6) Oregon - Oregon was supposed to play a close game against Utah, but they did the exact opposite. They scored 35, and only allowed 6. It’s not a big surprise, as Oregon has arguably the best offense in the country. They average 532.6 yards per game, second in the country and first in the Pac 12. They have a Heisman contender in Bo Nix, who’s thrown for 2,337 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 1 interception. I talk more about him in the Heisman candidates segment of this post, so go check that out. But more importantly, Oregon is very balanced. Bucky Irving has 732 yards and 8 touchdowns on 101 carries. He has the same amount of touchdowns as Jordan James, who has 500 yards and 63 carries. Oregon is averaging 216 rush yards per game, ninth in the country. Going back to the passing game, Cal’s secondary are going to have their hands full with Troy Franklin, who’s caught 52 passes for 867 yards and 9 touchdowns. Cal allows 262.6 pass yards per game, so Franklin should have another big game. On offense for Cal, they also run the ball well. Jaydn Ott has 125 carries for 754 yards and 8 touchdowns. Paired with Isaiah Ifanse, who has 70 carries for 365 yards and 7 touchdowns, Cal averages 200 rush yards per game. Cal were so close to upsetting USC last week, and a big reason why was Fernando Mendoza, who threw for 292 yards, ran for 48 more, have 4 total touchdowns, and a pick. Mendoza has only played in 3 games, but has thrown for 648 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Cal allows 406.4 yards however, and Oregon steamrolls, 49-12. Odds: ORE -24.6, O/U 59.5
  23. Jacksonville State @ South Carolina - This might be one of the more unconventional picks on this list, as SEC teams usually steamroll their late season non-conference opponents. However, Jacksonville State is 7-2 in their first year in FBS, while SC is only 2-6. Starting with South Carolina, their running game was improving, but last week it fell flat. In the loss to Texas A&M, they had 33 rushing yards on 28 attempts, and that’s as a team. The whole offense was bad, as they could only muster 209 total yards. Mario Anderson leads the team with 468 yards and 2 touchdowns on 92 carries. SC averages 86 rush yards per game, sixth worst in the country. It’s also worst in the SEC. Jacksonville State is the complete opposite of South Carolina, averaging 217 rush yards per game, eighth in the country. Malik Jackson leads the team with 615 yards. Henry also has 4 touchdowns and 113 carries. JVST averages only 160 pass yards per game. SC is the opposite, as they average 283.4 pass yards per game. Spencer Rattler has thrown for 2,117 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. South Carolina’s defense is also really bad, allowing 435 yards, while Jacksonville State allows only 347.4. JVST are also tied for the fifth most sacks in the country, with 30. I’m picking the upset, Jacksonville State wins, 34-29. Odds: SC -14.5, O/U 55.5
  24. (1) Ohio State @ Rutgers - Ohio State has been dominant all season, while Rutgers has been the surprise team out of the Big Ten. Starting with Ohio State, Marvin Harrison Jr. had another good game. He caught 6 passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns, leading Ohio State to the 24-10 win. Harrison had caught a touch in the past 4 games, and he’s also gotten 100 yards in all 4 of those games. Harrison now has 48 receptions for 889 yards and 8 touchdowns. Noah other player has capitalized of his success this year more than Kyle McCord, who’s thrown for 2,160 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. With one of the best receivers in college football, the second best tight end, and another great receiver, McCord could make a run for the Heisman, but only if he plays phenomenally in the last few games. Emeka Egbuka, who’s missed 3 straight games, will play this week. so Will  TreVeyon Henderson, OSU’s leading rusher. Henderson has 457 yards and 6 touchdowns on 68 carries. He’s only played in 5 games. As for Rutgers, they’re much better at running than passing. They average 179 rush yards per game to 148.4 pass yards per game. Kyle Monangai has 144 carries for 744 yards and 7 touchdowns. He’s tied with Gavin Wimsatt, who also has 362 yards. Wimsatt has thrown for 1,134 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4 picks. Rutgers’ leading receiver, Christian Dremel, has only 294 yards. Both teams have good defenses, but Ohio State’s better balance in offense leads them to the 35-18 win. Odds: OSU -18.5, O/U 42.5
  25. Nebraska @ Michigan State - Nebraska is coming off an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. Michigan State  is just trying to get a win. MSU hasn’t won since September 9th. It’s November. Mel Tucker was fired, and there was a quarterback change. Katin Houser, the new quarterback, has played in all but one of their games, but has only started 3. He’s thrown for 509 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions this season. Last week against Minnesota, he went 12/22 for 117 yards. No touchdowns or interceptions. Hopefully he can bounce back in this one. Through all this turmoil, Noah Carter has looked great. He has 609 yards and 4 touchdowns off 141 carries. He’s third in the Big Ten in rushing yards. As for Nebraska, they’re also really good at running. They average only 132 pass yards per game, but 190 rush yards. Heinrich Haarberg, the starting quarterback, leads Nebraska in rushing yards with 446 yards and 4 touchdowns. Nebraska fumbled the ball 4 times, and 2 of them came from Haarberg, leading him to being pulled out for a drive before Jeff Sims did the same. Hopefully he can hold onto the ball this game. Along with Haarberg, Anthony Grant has 320 yards and 3 touchdowns on 76 carries. Nebraska should run all over MSU, and their defense that allows only 79 rush yards per game shuts down Noah Carter. Nebraska wins, 34-13. Odds: NEB -3, O/U 34.5


My top 5 Heisman candidates 

  1. Michael Penix Jr. - Washington struggled a lot the past two weeks, and while Penix didn’t look his best, he was much better than the Arizona State game. He threw for 369 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He got back to his regular form last week, and has now thrown for 2,945 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 6 picks. He leads the country in passing yards, and with two of the best receivers in college football and Germie Bernard exploding, he’ll have another great receiver to throw to. Washington takes on USC, and with their bad defense, Penix should have even better numbers. 
  2. Bo Nix - In what was supposed to be the game of the week, Nix and Oregon blew out Utah. Nix threw for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns, while tacking on a rushing touchdown. Nix has now thrown for 2,337 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 1 interception. In every game this year, Nix has completed at least 72% of his passes. Nix completed 77.4% of his passes last week. He’s completed 78.3% this year, which is not only the best in his career, but first in the country. Nix should finish out the year strong, and if Michael Penix Jr. slips up, Nix could reach the number one spot.
  3. Jayden Daniels - Daniels had a bye last week, but now has Alabama, who have a very good defense. Daniels has carved up defenses all season, throwing for 2,573 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He’s also ran for 521 yards and 5 touchdowns. Daniels has two top targets, and as long as he feeds those two, LSU can win and Daniels can have a Heisman moment.
  4. Ollie Gordon II - Ollie Gordon is the next greatest Oklahoma State running back. That might be some overhype, but the past 3 games for him have been electric. To not write too much, I’m only going to talk about last week. He had 25 carries for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns, leading OKST to a 45-13 win. Gordon did lose a fumble, but it was the first of the year for him, and the first of his career. Gordon now has 141 carries for 1,087 yards and 10 touchdowns. Out of players that have played 8 games, he’s not the only 1000 yards and rusher so far, but he leads the country, and only one other player has 1000 yards. Gordon also leads the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns, and rushing and receiving touchdowns. He has 11 of them, while no other player has 10. Gordon and Oklahoma State face off against Oklahoma, and if Gordon has another big game, he could rise up.
  5. Dillon Gabriel - Gabriel falls 2 spots on this list after a bad game through the air in the loss to Kansas. The conditions were bad, which was partly the reason why he threw the ball only 19 times. He went 14/19 for 171 yards and 1 interception. That’s his first game when throwing 0 touchdowns and one or more picks in his whole career. However, he did have a good game on the ground, with 64 yards and 3 touchdowns. On the year, he has 2,302 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He’s also ran for 294 yards and 8 touchdowns. Gabriel needs to play better through the air, because he’s a quarterback, not a running back. He and Oklahoma have a big game this week on the road in Stillwater, and if Gabriel plays bad again, he’ll drop off this list.
I BUILT MY SITE FOR FREE USING