🏈 🔵 Does Penn State Have An Edge Across The Line Of Scrimmage Against Ohio State?
Beaver Stadium will play host to its first top-five matchup since 1999 this Saturday with Ohio State coming to Happy Valley.
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My College Football Stock Report
Trending Upwards 📈
Kane Wommack
Defensive Coordinator, Alabama
After surrendering at least 24 points in each of Alabama’s first four SEC matchups to begin the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa, defensive signal caller Kane Wommack righted the ship in a 34-0 rout over Missouri.
The Crimson Tide held Tigers’ gunslingers Brady Cook and Drew Pyne to a combined 12.15 quarterback rating on 24 total attempts. The battered quarterback room threw for just 72 yards and three interceptions, resulting in 14 Alabama points.
Against the rush, Alabama held Missouri to just 4.3 yards per carry behind linebacker Jihaad Campbell’s eight-tackle outing.
Following the Crimson Tide’s bye week this Saturday, Alabama has a night game with No. 16 LSU looming to stay alive for playoff contention.
Isaiah Nwokobia
Safety, SMU
Mustangs’ safety Isaiah Nwokobia led SMU’s stout defense with a 13-tackle day in a gutsy 28-27 overtime victory against Duke.
Nwokobia flew across all levels, from the secondary and into the box, picking up eight solo stops and one additional pass deflected.
SMU’s defense will face its most potent conference test this season with No. 18 Pitt coming to town.
The Panthers’ starting quarterback, Eli Holstein, ranks seventh among all ACC passers with 1,805 yards and 17 touchdowns while completing 64% of his air attempts.
Jarquez Hunter
Running Back, Auburn
Hugh Freeze’s ball club righted the ship after four-straight losses last week behind Jarquez Hunter’s legs in a 24-10 win over Kentucky.
Hunter received 23 carries for 278 yards on the ground. The Mississippi native’s 12 yards per carry resulted in two touchdowns, including a 45-yard score to start the fourth quarter.
Auburn will attempt to continue its newfound momentum at home against Vanderbilt this weekend, who recently fell 27-24 to Texas.
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Trending Downwards 📉
Kyle McCord
Quarterback, Syracuse
Despite sitting at No. 2 among all ACC passers with nearly 2,500 passing yards, Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw five interceptions and completed just over 54% of his passes in a 41-13 loss to Pitt.
McCord’s first three drives resulted in picks, including two returned for touchdowns, to give Pitt an early 17-0 edge.
The Ohio State transfer still managed to throw for 321 yards, but his efforts didn’t amount to any drives finding the end zone through the air.
Illinois’ Offense
After posting a 50-point outburst against Purdue and grinding down Michigan the week afterward, Illinois’ attack sputtered in a 38-9 loss to No. 1 Oregon.
Bret Bielema’s run-heavy attack didn’t stack up against Ducks’ rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and Co., who stifled the squad’s five leading rushers 132 yards on 32 carries.
The Illini’s lone touchdown of the afternoon came on a 16-play, 95-yard drive in typical Bielema fashion.
Illinois’ offense now ranks No. 12 among all Big Ten squads and will attempt to get back on track against Minnesota.
Best Position Battle Of The Weekend
Ohio State’s Offensive Line vs. Penn State’s Defensive Line 💪
The fourth top-five matchup of this year’s college football calendar hinges largely on the health of the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions in the trenches.
Ohio State backup left tackle Zen Michalski struggled last week against Nebraska in place of Josh Simmons, who will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Michalski allowed two sacks and two additional quarterback pressures before leaving late in the second half with a lower-body injury. As the week continues to wane, Buckeyes’ head coach Ryan Day believes his status is doubtful.
“I would say it’s trending that Zen is not going to play, but we’ll keep evaluating it,” Day said this week. “I think we’ve got a pretty good plan moving forward.”
As for his plan, Day will likely slide left guard Donovan Jackson to tackle, leaving Luke Montgomery or Austin Siereveld as viable replacements inside.
The shuffled offensive line will have to stave off interior disruptors Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas on the inside, all while adhering to Beaver Stadium’s nose.
On the edge, Penn State pass rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton’s status is still unclear after exiting last week with a groin injury.
Hot Prediction Heading Into Week 10 🔥
South Carolina Upsets Texas A&M In Primetime 🤯
Shane Beamer’s crew trounced Oklahoma 35-9 in Norman two weeks ago courtesy of two early defensive scores and careful quarterback play from LaNorris Sellers.
The Gamecocks tallied nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss, holding the Sooners to just 291 total yards on the showing.
Beamer’s bunch generated four turnovers, but this week, they face a different beast in Texas A&M, which ranks No. 17 nationally in plus-turnover margin.
The current No. 8 unit nationally hasn’t dropped a matchup since falling to Notre Dame in week one, but the Aggies were on the ropes early and often against LSU last Saturday night.
Texas A&M was outgained in nearly every offensive statistical category by the Tigers, and with a second-straight primetime road game approaching, I expect the Williams-Brice Stadium crowd to wear Mike Elko’s team down.
I’m picking the Gamecocks to pull off a program-defining win, which will consequently send shockwaves across the race to Atlanta for the SEC title bout.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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