Season record: 18-16
Last week: 2-3 (Arizona State +6.5, Rutgers -3, Clemson/Wake Forest over 60.5, Pittsburgh -3, Tennessee -15.5)
Arizona State delivered a win on Friday night, but it was a rough Saturday as our only winner was the over in the Clemson-Wake Forest game. While Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai is a heck of a player, the Scarlet Knights offense was not up to the task as they fell 42-7. That was also the case for Pittsburgh as they only managed 277 yards of offense. The Panthers were fortunate to win, but they did not cover. Finally, Tennessee also won, but did not close to covering against Florida.
It is a new week. Time to get back on track!
Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) @ #16 Indiana Hoosiers (6-0) | October 19 | 11:00 AM CT | Memorial Stadium
Line: Indiana -6.5 | Total: 50.5
Indiana enters this game undefeated and coming off of a bye. The Hoosiers are ninth in the country in points per game at 41.6.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a force leading the Hoosiers offense. Rourke is completing 73.8% of his passes with 1,752 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.
On the other side, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is making only his second road start of his career. The first was hardly a test as Purdue looks quite overmatched this season. Raiola really struggled against Rutgers as he completed only 13 of 27 passes for 134 yards. He threw an interception and was sacked four times. Sacks were also an issue against Illinois as Raiola was sacked six times in that loss.
The Indiana defense has been a strong unit so far. The Hoosiers are sixth in the nation in total defense, allowing only 255.7 yards per game. They also do a great job in getting after opposing quarterbacks. Indiana has 19 sacks this season, which is 10th nationally.
I am taking Indiana -6.5.
Arizona State Sun Devils (5-1) @ Cincinnati Bearcats (4-2) | October 19 | 11:00 AM CT | Nippert Stadium
Line: Cincinnati -3.5 | Total: 53.5
If you are playing against Arizona State, you better be able to defend the run. Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo has been punishing defenders all season. Skattebo has rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns through six games.
The Cincinnati defense has been leaky against the run this season. Here is what some of the Bearcats opponents have done on the ground: Towson ran for 194 yards, Pittsburgh ran for 196 yards, UCF ran for 196 yards, and Texas Tech ran for 231 yards.
I back the Sun Devils damn near every week and I am doing it again here. Give me Arizona State +3.5.
UCF Knights (3-3) @ #9 Iowa State Cyclones (6-0) | October 19 | 6:30 PM CT | Jack Trice Stadium
Line: Iowa State -13.5 | Total: 48.5
After benching quarterback KJ Jefferson, UCF is searching for answers at quarterback. Freshman EJ Colson got off to a rough start before giving way to Miami transfer Jacurri Brown. The Knights fell short, but Brown provided a spark. Brown completed 13 of 20 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 84 yards.
Iowa State is off to a 6-0 start and coming off a huge road win at West Virginia. The Cyclones have a potent offense behind sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht. Becht maintains a healthy 9.1 yards per attempt. Running backs Jaylon Jackson and Carson Hansen have also provided a punch for Iowa State. Jackson and Hansen have nearly identical stats. Jackson has rushed 60 times for 314 yards, while Hansen has rushed 61 times for 307 yards. Hansen has reached the endzone five times, and Jackson twice.
The UCF defense has been porous at times this season, but they showed improvement last week. The Knights held Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby to only 6.3 yards per attempt and picked him off twice.
Never discount UCF head coach Gus Malzahn as an underdog. With solid play at quarterback, the Knights have enough weapons to compete in Ames.
Running back RJ Harvey averages 6.4 yards per rush and wide receiver Kobe Hudson averages 20.7 yards per catch.
I will take UCF +13.5.
Colorado Buffaloes (4-2) @ Arizona Wildcats (3-3) | October 19 | 3:00 PM CT | Arizona Stadium
Line: Arizona -3.5 | Total: 57.5
This is a matchup of two teams that like to throw the ball. Colorado passes the ball at the third-highest rate in the country (63.51%), while Arizona throws it at the tenth-highest rate (60.4%).
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has put up big numbers this season. Sanders has thrown for 2,018 yards and 17 touchdowns so far.
The Arizona defense has allowed opponents to gain 6.6 yards per attempt. However, we could see that number rise after this meeting with Colorado. Texas Tech averaged 7.4 yards per attempt and BYU averaged 7.6 yards per attempt against the Wildcats in recent weeks.
The Colorado pass defense gets a boost as star cornerback and all-around athlete Travis Hunter is expected to play. However, they have also seen opponents move the ball through the air successfully. UCF had 8.1 yards per pass attempt and Kansas State had 9.2 yards per attempt.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has struggled in recent weeks. Over his last two games, he has one touchdown and five interceptions. With Hunter on the field, Fifita’s mistakes could turn into scoring opportunities.
Give me over 57.5.
#7 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) @ #11 Tennessee Volunteers (6-1) | October 19 | 2:30 PM CT | Neyland Stadium
Line: Alabama -3 | Total: 56.5
It has been a rough few weeks for Alabama. After being upset by Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide had to hold on to defeat South Carolina. This is not much different than what Tennessee has dealt with in recent weeks. The Volunteers were upset at Arkansas and then survived overtime against Florida.
The Alabama defense has been a major source of frustration in recent weeks. Conference opponents are successfully converting 46.8% of third down attempts. Over the last three weeks, their opponents are averaging 437 yards of offense per game.
While the Alabama defense has struggled, their offense is still playing at a high level. The Crimson Tide averages 7.37 yards per play, which ranks eighth nationally. Quarterback Jalen Milroe’s play is weighed heavily in this as he averages 11.2 yards per pass attempt. A big part of that is freshman receiver Ryan Williams, who is averaging 25 yards per catch.
The Tennessee defense has been strong this season. The Volunteers are only allowing 249.8 yards per game, which is second in the country. However, in their loss at Arkansas, Razorback quarterbacks Taylen Green and Malachi Singleton averaged 9.9 yards per pass attempt.
For the Tennessee offense, quarterback Nico Iamaleava still has not put up the big numbers that were expected. In SEC play, he averages only 173.7 yards per game and 6.9 yards per attempt.
Running back Dylan Sampson has been a workhorse for the Volunteers. Sampson has 699 yards on 118 carries this season. Over the last two games, he has score five touchdowns. Sampson was held under five yards per carry against Oklahoma and Florida, so he will need a passing game to complement his efforts.
The Crimson Tide have held up against the run for the most part, limiting rushers to 3.33 yards per carry. That mark ranks 30th in the country.
I am taking Alabama -3.
OUTTA HERE!
Clarknado Sports 