🏈 🔵 Will Ohio State & Penn State Survive West Coast Road Trips In Week Seven?
The Buckeyes' talented receiving corps will face off against Oregon's top-20 pass defense in primetime on Saturday. Let's get you ready for the best-on-best matchup!
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My College Football Stock Report
Trending Upwards 📈
Tre Harris
Wide Receiver, Ole Miss
Jaxon Dart, the SEC’s leading passer, is paving a path of explosivity for the Rebels largely due to Tre Harris’ dominance on the outside.
Through six games, Harris has already caught 52 passes for an astounding 885 yards.
The gaudy, 6’3” target is averaging 17 yards per snag, and he’s accounted for five touchdowns on the campaign.
His total yardage production is more than 60% higher than the SEC’s second-leading pass catcher in Andrew Armstrong from Arkansas.
Washington’s Offense
After stalling in the red zone throughout its 21-18 loss to Rutgers, Jedd Fisch’s pro-style offense is now humming at Washington.
The Huskies posted 27 points against Michigan’s stingy defense, highlighted by Will Rogers’ 271-yard display through the air.
Washington didn’t just beat the Wolverines narrowly; it wore defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s unit down through attrition.
Fisch’s pass-first system picked up 23 first downs, tallied a 45% conversion rate on third-down, and outgained Michigan 429 to 287 in total yardage.
Now, at 4-2 combined with a top 10 win over the reigning national champions, the Huskies’ season seems to be heading in a direction of consistency.
Wade Woodaz
Linebacker, Clemson
Dabo Swinney’s bunch quietly re-entered the top 10 on Sunday afternoon after cementing a four-game winning streak in a 29-13 victory over depleted Florida State.
The Tigers have allowed just 27 points combined in their last two outings, largely due to linebacker Wade Woodaz’s presence in the middle.
Against the Seminoles, Woodaz ripped off 10 total tackles, five solo hits, and one tackle for a loss as Clemson’s veteran anchor.
Woodaz has consistently filled the stat sheet all season for the Tigers, and aside from his 36 tackles to kick off his junior campaign, he’s also forced two fumbles and recorded an interception against Stanford.
Trending Downwards 📉
Alabama’s Secondary
Kane Wommack’s pass defense allowed 439 passing yards against Georgia, but after an early 28-0 edge nearly slipped away, Alabama managed to escape with a win two weeks ago.
The Crimson Tide’s secondary struggled once again to signal caller Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt, but this time, the scoreboard reflected the defensive woes.
Pavia completed 80% of his throws for over 250 yards through the air and 13 yards per reception.
Alabama’s pass defense currently resides at No. 61 nationally, allowing over 10 yards a completion and 208 per game.
If Wommack’s unit remains incohesive, the Crimson Tide will likely have to win by way of a shoot-out in several upcoming affairs to remain in College Football Playoff contention.
Cade McNamara
Quarterback, Iowa
At halftime in Columbus last weekend, Iowa entered the locker room trailing 7-0 with an upset possibility still looming.
However, after the break, Hawkeyes’ quarterback Cade McNamara surrendered three turnovers to Ohio State’s opportunistic defense.
The Buckeyes turned the costly mistakes, in the form of two fumbles and an interception, into 21 points and four-straight touchdown drives.
McNamara failed to complement Iowa’s effective rushing attack, making Kirk Ferentz’s crew completely one dimensional.
The Michigan transfer threw for just 98 yards in 14 completions, helping Iowa pick up only 10 first downs all afternoon.
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Best Position Battle Of The Weekend
Ohio State’s Wide Receivers vs. Oregon’s Defensive Backs 💪
Between Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State has had no shortage of talent at wide receiver over the last half-decade.
However, the Buckeyes may hold claim to their most complete corps yet with Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate leading the way on the outside.
Smith, a true freshman, and Egbuka currently rank No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, in receiving yards among all Big Ten targets.
Oregon, on the other hand, ranks No. 18 in total pass defense, with the Ducks allowing just 162 yards per game through the air.
Dan Lanning’s best cover corner, Washington transfer Jabbar Muhammad has been the Big Ten’s most reliable commodity in the backend through the season’s halfway point.
Muhammad leads the conference with six passes defended in five matchups. Despite Muhammad’s dominance in coverage this year, he’s aware Ohio State’s pass catchers pose a different type of challenge.
“They’re all explosive,” Muhammad said on Tuesday. “They all make 50/50 balls look more their way than others. They’re good at the catch point as well, as in their routes, so we’ll have to be on our Ps and Qs and go in there and compete.”
Hot Prediction Heading Into Week Six 🔥
Penn State Wears Down USC By Double Digits 🤯
The Nittany Lions’ potent one-two backfield punch in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen has lived up to high expectations in Andy Kotelnicki’s new system.
Singleton was a late scratch in last week’s bout with UCLA, but through four games, he’s tallied 408 rushing yards on 7.7 yards per carry.
His bruising counterpart, Allen, has accounted for 367 yards on five yards per rush. The dynamic duo make Penn State the nation’s No. 18 rushing attack, with over 217 ground yards per bout.
USC’s front seven has struggled to consistently defend the run through five games. The Trojans are giving up 4.96 yards per carry, ranking No. 87 nationally in rush defense statistics.
If the Nittany Lions are forced to throw the ball against a loaded box, quarterback Drew Allar has proven the ability to effectively stretch the field in Kotelnicki’s system.
Allar ranks ninth nationally in passing yards per completion, with 15.06. The Ohio native has hit on 71% of his throws, while also boasting the nation’s No. 5 total QBR.
On paper, Penn State should be able to grind USC’s defense down with its run-first attack and allowing Allar to stretch the field when needed.
Given USC’s recent struggles, I see Penn State coming into the Los Angeles Coliseum and ousting the Trojans 27-17.
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Don’t sleep on Washington’s defense either. Michigan struggled to move the ball against Steve Belichick’s unit!