No. 4 Penn State at USC – Andrew Paredes @andrewparedess
Saturday, Oct. 12 — Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — Los Angeles, CA
2:30 p.m. on CBS
After going into Week 6 ranked No. 11, USC is now unranked after suffering an upset by Minnesota, where the Trojans blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. The Nittany Lions moved up three spots in the rankings to No. 4 after beating UCLA 27-11, and after No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Tennessee were upset by unranked opponents.
The Trojans are fighting to keep their playoff chances alive. This was supposed to be a fresh start for head coach Lincoln Riley, who hired a brand new defensive staff after a horrifically disappointing 7-5 season last year plagued by offensive line and defensive play issues. The defense has improved and the offense has shown flashes under junior quarterback Miller Moss, but the offensive line has significantly struggled in its last three games. In their losses to Michigan and Minnesota, the Trojans offensive line gave up five combined sacks.
This will be the first road game since its season opener for Penn State, and the Coliseum is one of the hardest places to play in college football. The Nittany Lions should have junior running back Nicholas Singleton, but he is coming off an injury, and as a result, the Lions were held to their fewest yards all season last week against UCLA. If there is a time for the Trojans to get back on track and upset a top-ranked team, it’s now.
Prediction: USC 28, Penn State 24
No. 18 Kansas State @ Colorado – Justin Chen @chen_justin_
Saturday, Oct. 12 — Folsom Field — Boulder, Colorado
9:15 p.m. on ESPN
Alas, it’s that time of the year when conference play ramps up, and with No. 18 Kansas State visiting Colorado, a prime game awaits America.
Both teams come into the late slate fresh off a bye week, and after five games, both are more fine-tuned than last year — especially the Buffaloes.
Colorado junior wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter’s Heisman case keeps on growing as he keeps collecting touchdowns,100-yard games and interceptions alike while senior quarterback Shedeur Sanders also grows his NFL resume. The duo has already led the Buffs to the same amount of wins as last year, with a win against the Wildcats, Colorado is almost guaranteed a top-25 spot.
However, Kansas State won’t make things easy for the NFL-bound duo. On the shoulders of a stout Wildcats defense and a strong run game, Kansas State’s win resume is a strong one with victories over then-ranked Arizona and Oklahoma State. Junior RB DJ Giddens has continued the Wildcats’ long lineage of esteemed backs and will give the Buffs’ defense a run for their money as they allow 156 yards a game.
Coming off arguably the best weekend of college football thus far, Colorado and Kansas State will pick up where everyone left off, and I have the Buffs edging out the Wildcats.
Prediction: Colorado 42, Kansas State, 34
No.16 Utah at Arizona State – Roman Arteaga @itsRoman_20
Friday, Oct. 11 — Mountain America Stadium — Tempe, Arizona
9:30 pm central on ESPN
In these teams’ last meeting, Utah looked unstoppable as they took a 55-3 victory over Arizona State. However, in the history of its head-to-head, Arizona State still has the lead 22-12.
Both teams are leaning on their freshman quarterbacks. Utah is led by Isaac Wilson and Arizona State by Sam Leavitt.
The Utes are coming into this matchup with a very respectable 5-1 record, but are coming off of a 23-10 loss to Arizona. Wilson led the charge with a passing touchdown and two interceptions, but the Utes only put up 10 points against the Wildcats. They will be looking to bounce back and win against the Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils are walking into this matchup 4-1 and coming off of a game that saw them take a close 35-31 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. Leavitt made his presence known last week with four touchdown passes and only one interception. Senior RB Cam Sqkattebo added 186 rushing yards on 25 carries in this game.
Mountain America Stadium will host a hostile environment for the Utes as both teams will bring incredible energy to the game.
All in all, I am going to take the Utes in this one.
Prediction: Utah 31, Arizona State 24
No.17 Boise State at Hawaii – Ian Curtis @Texiancurtis
Saturday, Oct. 12 — Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex— Honolulu, Hawaii
10:00 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network
Heisman hopeful, welcome to Honolulu.
Boise State, led by junior RB Ashton Jeanty, sits at No. 17 in the AP Poll and is in the driver’s seat for a College Football Playoff auto-bid — mostly thanks to Jeanty.
The Frisco, native leads the country in both rushing yards and total touchdowns, with 1,031 and 16, respectively, on 95 carries. The numbers are truly historic considering the last running back to win the Heisman — Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015 — had only 570 yards and nine rushing scores on 93 carries through the same point in the year.
But to keep up the Heisman campaign and keep their playoff hopes alive, the Broncos have to take a trip across the Pacific Ocean to face the Rainbow Warriors.
With a 2-3 record, Hawaii doesn’t look like much of a difficult opponent. But two of those losses — to UCLA and San Diego State — came by three points. While Jeanty may grab the headlines, don’t forget about senior quarterback, and fellow DFW native, Brayden Schager, who ranks third in the Mountain West in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns.
With a 10 p.m. CT start time and it being the last scheduled game of the week, Hawaii games are a travel nightmare and a gambler’s heaven. But this week, it’ll become a Heisman favorite’s newest playground as the Broncos offense pushes them past the Rainbow Warriors.
Prediction: Boise State 45, Hawaii 24
