Week 8
- Freddy
- Oct 17, 2024
- 14 min read
Just this time last week, I was sitting on the other side of the country picking games that I had no intention of watching. The reason? Well, that's for another time. But of course, it ended up being one of the most insane, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, head-banging weekends of college football that we have seen in a long time. To the point where there were so many games that required some form of highlights and the lovely Wheels couldn’t recap them all.
The question though is how do we continue on? How can Week 8 live up to what its predecessor brought? The answer? Another top-5 matchup, a top-11 game, and SEVEN other games with a ranked team heading into hostile territory. You see where I’m going with this? To quote the lovely John James Fisher (ultimate non-ball knower),
“We Ain’t Done Yet!”
ANYWAYS
#6 Miami (-4.5) at Louisville
ABC / 11 AM
Miami looks to erase a couple inexcusable weeks of ball, as they travel to the great state of Kentucky to face a familiar ACC foe in the Cardinals. While a top-10 team, the Hurricanes have pretty much fallen off of everyone’s radar. Uncomfortably close games against both Virginia Tech and Cal-Berkley have a lot of people calling into question if Miami has what it takes to run the table, or if this team will share a similar fate to 2023, losing steam in the second half of the season. Ward has been arguably the top quarterback so far this season, and definitely placed himself at the top of this year’s draft class. The question for me this week revolves around the defense. Prior to their bye week, we saw Miami give up 34 and 38 to VT and Cal, respectively, and no disrespect to either team, but both of those offenses are far below Louisville’s.
As for the Cardinals – this team started off incredibly hot, and at one point, were ranked within the top 15. After a skid, they’re now outside the top-25 with a chance to make a statement at home. In year two of the Jeff Brohm era, the Cardinals are on the cusp of being a solid contender, and actually still have a chance within the conference. Just like their counterpart, I think that the defense will be the face of Saturday’s game. Although it doesn’t seem like much, they’ve been outmatched in any game they’ve played with a competent offense – but at the same time, they haven’t played anyone on Miami's level. In order to stay in this thing, Tyler Shough (26th year) is going to have to move the ball on every possession, regardless if it ends up in a score. The Cardinal offense CAN NOT get caught up into a game with quick three-and-outs or it will be a long day in Louisville. Long drives will be the key to success in order to keep Ward off the field.
Surprise! Got ya with this one. I’m taking the Hurricanes. I’m 0-2 picking the Cards this year, and am not trusting that again. I trust Mario to fix some things over the week off and to take care of business. Miami by more than 4.
Nebraska at #16 Indiana (-4.5)
FOX / 11 AM
Red and White! Red and White! Red and White!
The Fighting Matt Rhules look to continue a promising second year with a trip across state lines to take on top ranked Indiana. Nebraska was about 3 plays away from this being a ranked v. ranked showdown, and I think it’ll have that feeling. Offensively, they haven’t done anything spectacular, ranking outside the top 50 in both passing and rushing yards. That doesn’t mean they’ve been bad though. In fact, it feels as though they’ve done everything needed. The reason for that? The defense is top tier. Ranking 7th in the country in points allowed, allowing 24 points against Illinois a few weeks ago is the definition of an outlier. Outside of that game, they haven’t given up more than 10. Defense is going to have to show up this week, and Raoila may have to also have his true coming out party.
Indiana is 6-0 to start the year, decimating notable opponents such as Charlotte, Maryland, and UCLA. Yes, a joke, but at the same time, it's really not their fault that they’ve had a poor schedule up to this point. With that being said, I think it's notable to look at point differentials and see that they’ve been incredibly impressive up to this point. Cignetti is a proven winner, taking JMU to the heights of G5 ball in a short amount of time. He’s now moved onto a Big 10 program (with about half of his JMU roster) and moving QUICKLY in the right direction. They could win one more game the rest of the year, and I’d say it was a positive year one for the Hoosiers. However, I don’t see that happening. They’re soaring right now and are looking to be contenders by the end of November, with the conference championship in mind.
Unfortunately, I think that Rhule is going to pull off his biggest win in his short time in Lincoln, up to this point. This game is going to be Nebraska’s Defense vs. Indiana’s Offense. I’m excited, and am probably reading this terribly, but let's get it going here.
Huskers take this one on the road.
South Carolina at Oklahoma (-3.5)
SECN / 11:45
Cocktober hasn’t been off to the start that the South Carolina faithful have been hoping for up to this point. But sometimes we have to remember how there is indeed beauty in the struggle. And that’s what I’m clinging to at this point. Up to this point in the season, the Gamecocks have taken two different top 8 teams to the final buzzer. They are probably three, maybe four plays away from being a ranked, 5-1 team. I think their biggest problem up to this point has been their inability to be consistent with moving the ball. There have been times where they look like lightning in a bottle, and others where Darius Days is leading the charge. No offensive identity translates into needing a defensive staff needing to come up with points and turnovers to keep themselves in games.
Luckily for them, they’re playing an Oklahoma squad who looks worse offensively. I mean watching them so far this season has been the absolute bane of my existence, consistently trotting out a gameplan worse than Texas A&M on September 10, 2022. If South Carolina lacks an offensive identity, I don’t even know what the hell you would call the Sooners. I think Venables has kind of realized that Arnold isn’t great, and would rather put everything on Hawkins Jr., hoping he learns as the year progresses. That’s the only logical explanation I can find. Their defense is about normal for what I would expect it to be. It's nothing great, but it's there. Year 1 in the SEC isn’t going to be kind to them, and I expect the trend to continue this week. Because if there’s any team that can ignite the Cocks, it's this one.
Cocks keep this one within 3.
ABC / 2:30
Two years ago, we got this same exact game in Knoxville. It was brilliant. Cinema, even – and now, we have the chance to run it back. The chance to prove that some sequels are worth watching. Two undefeated, dominant-
teams. Imagine you're 7 again. Santa is still real. All you want for Christmas is the new Air Hogs twin chopper battling set. You wake up, run downstairs, and you get the Traxxas Car set, instead. It’s still awesome, you play with and adore the cars like your life depends on it, but it's not exactly what you were looking for. That’s what we’re getting this weekend.
The Tennessee Volunteers looked like a surging squad with their eyes set on a potential first round bye in the 2024 CFP. That was derailed quickly, with a loss in Fayetteville just a couple of weeks ago. Luckily, they had Florida on their schedule next – the perfect get back game. But instead, they were shut out in the first half, and won in overtime. Two weeks in a row with the offense looking like absolute fungo. The bright side through this stretch? Dylan Sampson. The Vols have found an absolute workhorse, and when combined with their still stout defense, they have the ability to choke fellas (pause?) out and beat them down. Nico is beginning to show his first-year signs, and it seems as though the game is moving a little too fast for him. You look back at their schedule at this point in the season, and you begin to ask the question – Is this actually just a skid, did they get lucky with overrated opponents and are now getting exposed?
Alabama is coming off two of the worst weeks in probably the last 17 ish years in program history. Crazy to think that a bad loss, followed by a close win is the absolute pit bottom – but that’s what it's like to be a dynasty, I guess.
The Tide also suffer from the same pitfalls that their most recent opponent do, only they’re able to bail themselves out due to their level of talent. One drive they’re rolling on all cylinders and moving the ball with ease. Next thing we know, they’re punting for the third straight drive. And that’s not where the troubles stop, because until two weeks ago, this was one of the best defenses in the country. They were up to any task and looked like the same defenses that Saban had thrown out there. But one of the wheels seemed to stop turning around 8:30 PM CST, September 28th (Halftime of the Georgia game) – and it hasn’t corrected itself since. In the last 10 quarters, they’ve given up 92 points, compared to 33 in the first 14. Is it an increase in talent, a lack of focus, or both? Needless to say, they are in a downward trend and need to switch something up, quick.
The question this weekend is who wants to get back on track, more? Who WANTS to stay in contention? This game is a title eliminator. Simple as that. And at this moment in time, I don’t see a way for Tennessee to outscore the Tide. Regardless of their defensive woes, the Vols offense is rough. If they can cut off Sampson early, Vols fans may hit the exits in this one early.
Bama by 2+.
#12 Notre Dame (-11) at Georgia Tech
ESPN / 2:30
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame travel to Atlanta to take on an underrated Georgia Tech squad, in a game where both teams are plagued by big-time injuries.
And I’m going to keep this one short. Because I’m at the point where I want to talk about real ball, and not hypotheticals. Especially with the possibility of Haynes King being out, this game would count as a push on my record anyways. So hear me out right quick.
Notre Dame has been getting by week, after week, with a gross offense and propped up by a spectacular defense. Unfortunately for the Irish, they’re losing guys left and right, having pre-season third-stringers fill in gaps now. That CANNOT be sustainable.
Georgia Tech is currently playing the ‘Oh I don’t know who’s gonna start game’ to throw off Freeman, but it’s going to be King. He is better than their backup, even if injured, by a mile. I am excited to see if Haynes can take advantage of these newfound weaknesses in the ND secondary. Imagine this: Haynes King, former Texas A&M quarterback, plays ND closer than the Aggies do. Sounds about right.
Anyways, assuming Haynes starts this game, give me the Jackets to keep it within 10.
CBS / 2:30
Another game where we can only imagine how fun it would be if a team didn’t absolutely stink, right? Imagine a world where Michigan is a one loss team right now, undefeated in Big10 play and still in genuine contention for the conference championship. This game going alongside Bama / Tennessee would be bananas. Dual screens would be displayed everywhere across this country. But instead we’ve got ourselves another title-eliminator, which could be just as fun? Maybe?
Michigan comes into this game on the back end of a disappointing loss in Seattle and a bye week. I’m sure Wolverine fans everywhere are hoping the week off was a productive time to install some new stuff, but what can you install when you have no passing attack? This team definitely has an offensive identity – and a shitty one at that. This team is perfectly fine with running the ball 30+ times a game, and passing off the play action a handful of times. Only problem is that’s something you do when you’ve got a backup in the game due to injury, trying to stay afloat. The Wolverines are still in contention for something here, but are handcuffed by all three liabilities they have at the quarterback position. I compare their problem as the inverse of a specific NFL team down south. They have one of the worst running back rooms on the planet, with their STARTING guy looking like he wouldn’t be a backup on half the rosters. This inability to run the ball allows opposing defenses to not worry about the rush, and almost entirely rely on passing schemes. The key to beating the Wolverines is simple. Literally just stack the box and wait for whoever is at quarterback to throw you the ball on accident. Because I promise you, it’s coming at some point.
The Illini are looking to rebound after a close victory over one of the worst teams in the conference, a 50-49 shootout over Purdue. This team has been really inconsistent defensively, as some weeks they’ve been pretty stout and dominant (only held PSU to 21 on the road), and other weeks you see defensive fits and schemes getting thrown out of proportion (Purdue, Nebraska). With that being said, I am starting to wonder if their blunder against Purdue was the result of the team focusing on Michigan for the majority of their week off? No idea if that’s even remotely true, but perhaps food for thought. Illinois doesn't have anything spectacular on either side of the ball, but they have a consistent vibe about them. Outside of the PSU game, they’ve dropped at least 4 scores every week, and seem to be getting more comfortable in their own skin. I think that this offense will have opportunities thanks to a Michigan staff who will probably be gassed by the second half. This is a statement game for the orange and blue. If Bielema wants to officially make his splash with the program, this is the week to do so. One more difficult game remains on this schedule (Next week, @ Oregon), and then its favorable matchups in the home stretch.
Taking the home team here. Until Michigan does literally anything offensively, I am not trusting them with a single thing.
#8 LSU (-4.5) at Arkansas
ESPN / 6 PM
This game represents the total opposite of the ALA / TENN & MICH / ILL games, in the sense that – two, maybe three weeks ago, I would have told you that this game was going to be so unimportant and at 12:45 on SEC Network (The Death Slate). Instead, primetime on ESPN!
Sam Titman and the boys roll out a 4-2 squad that is coming off an upset victory of a top-5 Tennessee squad. They have progressed each and every week, and honestly look like somewhat of a competent ball club. Their two losses of the season came at the hands of Alan Bowman (lol) and Nic Scourton. One is understandable, and the other is not. Looking back, I am starting to chalk their week 2 loss to OSU as more of an early season fluke. They started off the year against UAPB and then got punched in the mouth against a real opponent, on the road. They couldn’t quite recover, but have gotten better since. The Taylen Green / Ja’Quinden Jackson combination has been pretty successful up to this point in the season – as long as they keep it on the ground a majority of the time. Green can be solid through the air, but is almost guaranteed to have a couple of WTF moments throughout the course of the game. This is another defensively stout team that I also think has gotten better over the course of the season. They are a large part of their victory over Tennessee a couple weeks ago, as Iamaleava had pressure in his face the entire game.
The Tigers of Baton Rouge (5-1) enter Fayetteville after coming off an emotional game against a top Ole Miss team, where they didn’t lead for a single second, yet came away with the victory. Garrett Nussmeier looked like total dog piss, completing only 43% of his passes. All respect to him though, as he put the team on his back when he was needed the most and got the win. I’m really not sure what to think of LSU, up to this point. They’ve had some very questionable moments, compiled with decisive victories. My keys for the Tigers are simple – limit turnovers, control Green. Easier said than done, of course – but this Arkansas team gets stuff done in a hurry. If LSU isn’t careful, they can be looking down the barrel of a 14-0 deficit quickly, trying to claw themselves back into a game in a hostile environment.
This game is going to be up to the coordinators. More specifically, Petrino v. Baker. Who makes what decisive move that will win the game? This has the chance to be special.
Hogs keep this one within the number. There's a possibility LSU wins this with a late field goal.
ABC / 6:30
Game of the week! Game of the week! Game of the week! This game just REEKS of rat poison. People are saying Texas will dominate. Others are saying Georgia will roll. I actually have zero idea what’s going to happen. In fact, I am looking forward to this being the nail in the coffin and I go 0-8 on the week. Because that’s what I’m feeling right about now.
Up to this point in the season, Texas’ best win is either a BAD Michigan squad, or an even WORSE Oklahoma team. My point here? We really don’t have anything to base this team off of, other than a Texas Offense against a respectable defense in Week 2. We’re now in Week 8, and really do not have any evidence of what the defensive side of the Longhorns really looks like. Albeit, they are first in the country in points allowed (6.3 ppg), but their record up to this point looks eerily similar to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s run to the 155 title – nothing but trash cans. Sark has this offense firing on all cylinders, despite losing a solid majority of their running game. They just look fresh. They look slick. They look like they know what they’re doing. I just don’t know if its all fraudulent.
Lucky for us, every question will be answered in less than 72 hours. The #1 player in the 2020 recruiting cycle, and notorious snapchat user, leads his team from one side of the SEC to the other, in hopes of reclaiming their spot as the top contender in the conference. I mean this entire thing is just crazy, right? We’re really questioning if Georgia will beat Texas, a first year conference foe? My head can’t wrap around it, even as I’m writing this out.
The main problems with Georgia this season have been their inability to run the football, and stop explosive plays. Two components that you’d never imagine coming from a Kirby Smart-led team. If anything, those are the two things that led them to being repeat champs a few years ago, when they had a literal mail man behind center in Stetson Bennett. However, their inability to run the ball has been picked up by Beck having his best season by far – with the team being top 10 in passing yards. Overall, they’re still a solid offense, but lacking the crutch they revolved around for so long. Defensively, they have been getting beaten by average playmakers, guys who aren’t even close to the level of Texas – something that hasn’t happened in years’ past. I feel like I’m kind of just dumping on the Dawgs, and I apologize, but it's warranted. They just don’t seem to be the same team in 2021, 2022, or 2023, for that matter. But you know what the best thing about having the best roster and coaches in America? It can all flip overnight! If there was a single program that could eliminate every deficiency possible within a week’s time frame, it's the Georgia Bulldogs. But I just don’t think this is that week.
Yeah. I’m taking the Whorns. Let’s get nasty.
What’s more impressive – going 8-0, or 0-8? Just want y’all to keep that in mind over this weekend. This is the last GREAT weekend of ball we get for some time, probably until rivalry week, or maybe even conference championships. Enjoy it. Soak it in. Because we go back to two good games and 65 shitters in a week from now.
See y’all Monday for the recap.
--Freddy, proudly cheering for Ohio’s Tate to finish his Peeps already
2029 National Championship Winning Head Coach
2024 Lou Little Trophy Winner
2024 AAA National Champion
Comments