Great Players About To Go Nuclear: 20 For 2020 Offseason Topics No. 11

20 for 2020, 20 key offseason topics: No. 11 The college football players who are already terrific, but are about to go to another level.

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20 for 2020 key offseason topics: No. 11 The college football players who are already terrific, but are about to go to a whole other level.


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They were among the best players in college football in 2019, but they either flew a bit under the radar or they didn’t become household names. That’s about to change.

The perfect player who fits the description was on last year’s list. Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard is back, but he’s an established superstar. These five are on the verge of being there.

5. QB Sam Howell, Soph. North Carolina

He’s not all that big, and he’s not all that mobile, and he doesn’t have the biggest arm, but as a true freshman, he showed it.

Originally a key part of Willie Taggart’s 2019 Florida State recruiting class, Mack Brown and company swooped in and flipped Howell to be the main man to run the North Carolina offense. In a rebuilding job, the hope was for the true freshman to be ready right away, and then let him work through his mistakes as the team matured and the talent started to come in.

Instead, Howell came out rocking, bombing away for 245 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening win over South Carolina, and hitting Miami for 274 yards and two scores with no picks in either one.

The Tar Heels won both games, and the season was off and running.

There were a string of losses the middle of the season, but Howell handled himself like a seasoned pro in close game after close game.

There were a few multi-interception games – the two in the loss to Appalachian State were a problem – but he only threw seven picks on the season and had two or more touchdown passes in every game.

He needs to be more consistent, he took a few too many chances, and there were too many misfires in key moments, but for a true freshman to hit 61% of his passes for 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns with just seven interceptions in his first year, he wasn’t bad.

NEXT: The best pass rusher you probably don’t know, Part 1

Pac-12 College Football Recruiting: Team Rankings, Top Players, Biggest Strengths, What’s Missing

How did all of the Pac-12 teams do this recruiting season? Here are the recruiting rankings for the conference, along with the stars for each team, top players, and biggest strengths. – Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews – Every Team’s Star Recruit – …

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How did all of the Pac-12 teams do this recruiting season? Here are the recruiting rankings for the conference, along with the stars for each team, top players, and biggest strengths.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews

Every Team’s Star Recruit
Recruiting Class Strengths
What’s Missing From Each Recruiting Class
2020 All-Pac-12 Recruiting Team
Recruiting Team Rankings


Every Pac-12 Team’s Star Recruit

Arizona

QB Will Plummer, 6-2, 205 – He might not be all that big, but he’s a big-time passer with a live arm and the mobility to be what the Kevin Sumlin offense wants.
Key Schools In The Running: Oklahoma State, Colorado, Oregon State

Arizona State

WR Johnny Wilson, 6-6, 230 – An interesting target with the size to grow into a tight end, and the athleticism to be a matchup nightmare as a wideout. Oregon had him, and the Sun Devils flipped him.
Key Schools In The Running: Oregon, USC, Tennessee

Cal

RB Chris Street, 5-9, 195 – Very, very shifty and fast through the hole, he’s a home-run hitter who can be used as a receiver and have plays designed to get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways.
Key Schools In The Running: Arizona State, Utah, USC

Colorado

RB Ashaad Clayton, 6-0, 200 – Really, really fast with the size to bring a little bit of power, he’s more of a home-run hitter than a workhorse. The New Orleans native isn’t just a track guy playing football, though.
Key Schools In The Running: Florida, LSU, Kansas 

Oregon

LB Justin Flowe, 6-3, 225 – And go ahead and add Noah Sewell as the No. 1A star of the Oregon class. Sewell is the big-hitting run-stuffer on the inside, and Flowe is the all-around playmaker on the outside with the hybrid pass-rushing ability to be terror from the start.
Key Schools In The Running: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia

Oregon State

QB Chance Nolan, 6-3, 200 – The JUCO transfer has great size, excellent mobility, and the experience to step in and start right away. However, he has only three years of eligibility.
Key Schools In The Running: Utah, UCLA, Oklahoma State

Stanford

OT Myles Hinton, 6-7, 310 – The son of former NFL star Chris Hinton is going to John Elway’s school – Chris was taken one pick after Elway in the 1983 NFL Draft. Myles is a big-body athlete with the talent and smarts to go along with the frame.
Key Schools In The Running: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State

UCLA

QB Parker McQuarrie, 6-7, 208 – Is he it? Is he the quarterback who’s going to make the UCLA offense work under Chip Kelly? He’s not a runner, but he’s got the pro-style size and arm.
Key Schools In The Running: Wisconsin, Miami, Minnesota

USC

WR Gary Bryant, 5-11, 165 – A tall, thin target with great hands and the quickness to be used as a runner from time to time. He could be a kick and punt returner if needed, but he’ll mostly be a deep threat receiver.
Key Schools In The Running: Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oregon

Utah

CB Clark Phillips, 5-10, 187 – With a good frame, great quickness, and the ability to attack the ball with the hands to be used as a receiver if needed – he won’t drop picks. After originally choosing Ohio State, Utah plucked him away.
Key Schools In The Running: Ohio State, UCLA, Notre Dame

Washington

DE Sav’ell Smalls, 6-4, 244 – The Huskies landed the superstar. The Washington native has the NFL size to go along with the unstoppable pass rushing ability to instant step in and produce. He’s going to be the main man for the new era of UW football.
Key Schools In The Running: Florida State, Clemson, Georgia

Washington State

QB Jayden De Laura, 6-1, 190 – He signed on when Mike Leach was still the head man, and now the Hawaii native should grow into Nick Rolovich’s quarterback. He might not be all that big, but he’s deadly accurate and can run.
Key Schools In The Running: Ohio State, USC, Hawaii

Recruiting Class Strengths
What’s Missing From Each Recruiting Class
2020 All-Pac-12 Recruiting Team
Recruiting Team Rankings

NEXT: Pac-12 Recruiting Strengths

Pac-12 Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 14

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 14 of the Pac-12 season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 14 of the Pac-12 season.


How are the Pac-12 predictions so far?
Straight Up: 56-27, ATS 39-37, o/u: 47-28


Click on each game for game preview & prediction

Friday, September 22

Washington State at Washington

4:00 FOX | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Oregon -19.5, o/u: 65.5
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Saturday, September 23

Oregon State at Oregon

4:00 Pac-12 Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Washington -7.5, o/u: 63.5
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Notre Dame at Stanford

4:00 FOX | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Notre Dame -16.5, o/u: 48
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Colorado at Utah

7:30 ABC | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Utah -28.5, o/u: 49.5
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Arizona at Arizona State

10:00 ESPN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Arizona State -14, o/u: 59.5
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Cal at UCLA

10:30 FS1 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: UCLA -1.5, o/u: 51
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– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

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Oregon vs. Oregon State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Oregon vs. Oregon State fearless prediction and game preview.

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Oregon vs. Oregon State fearless prediction and game preview.


Oregon vs. Oregon State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 30
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Network: Pac-12 Network

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Oregon (9-2) vs. Oregon State (5-6) Game Preview

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Why Oregon State Will Win

Jake Luton, get this passing machine up and running and don’t stop taking chances down the field.

Oregon State’s passing game hasn’t always been perfect, but it’s not screwing up. Luton has not thrown three picks on the year, and the only times he’s been off was in a strange game against Washington, at Hawaii early on, and against Utah. Against everyone else, he’s been able to prove he can bomb away.

He threw for over ten yards per pass in the wins 54-53 loss to Washington State has week, he came close to 13 yards per throw in the win over Arizona, and he was on fire against UCLA.

How did Oregon lose to Arizona State? Jayden Daniels averaged 12.4 yards per pass, came up with a massive late throw, and ended up with three touchdowns and no picks.

As good as the Duck defense has been throughout the year, it’s allowed three touchdowns passes in four of its last five games and gave up eight yards or more per pass in three of them.

Luton has to be fearless. With the way Oregon is about to play, and with Beaver bowl eligibility on the line, this is no time to be timid.

“Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released

Why Oregon Will Win

Justin Herbert threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona State, but now his pro potential is being questioned, there’s some concern about his mettle to handle the big moment, and …

Whatever. He’s might not have been perfect against ASU, but when he was on, he showed off the arm, the power, and the ability that few quarterbacks can bring to the table.

Everyone saw the loss to the Sun Devils, but the brilliant against USC seems to have been blown off, the dominance against Arizona should get more credit, and even though he hasn’t been Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa this season, he’s been a rock with 220 yards or more in every game.

Oregon State just got hit for 606 yards by Washington State’s Anthony Gordon.

The Beaver secondary isn’t just giving up big pass plays; it’s giving up the deep ball. Luton and the offensive side have the potential to do big things against the Ducks, but there isn’t enough there, because …

What’s Going To Happen

Oregon will really, really care.

It’s the Civil War against OSU, so of course it’s going to care, but the focus would’ve been a whole lot more on the Pac-12 Championship and the Utah game showdown if the Ducks were 10-1 and coming off a domination against Arizona State.

The Ducks don’t need this game – they’re off to the Rose Bowl if Oregon State wins and Utah rolls on the way to the College Football Playoff – but they’re going to come out hot after last week’s disappointment.

The defense will stuff the Beaver ground game, it’ll hold Luton in check, and Herbert and the Duck attack will get hot early and roll from there.

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Oregon vs. Oregon State Prediction, Line

Oregon 38, Oregon State 14
Bet on this with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Oregon -19.5, o/u: 65.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Get Tickets For This Game

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Must See Rating: 3.5

5: The fried chicken sandwich of your choice (and side)
1: All things Thanksgiving dinner

Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season

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Pac-12 Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 13

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 13 of the Pac-12 season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 13 of the Pac-12 season.


How are the Pac-12 predictions so far?
Straight Up: 53-24, ATS 34-36, o/u: 43-26


Click on each game for game preview & prediction 

UCLA at USC

3:30 ABC | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: USC -14, o/u: 65.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

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Cal at Stanford

4:00 Pac-12 Network | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Stanford -2.5, o/u: 40
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Oregon at Arizona State

7:30 ABC | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Oregon -14, o/u: 52.5
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Oregon State at Washington State

9:00 Pac-12 Network | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Washington State -11.5, o/u: 76.5
Bet on this with BetMGM 

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Utah at Arizona

10:00 FS1 | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Utah -22.5, o/u: 57
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Washington at Colorado

10:00 ESPN | Get Tickets
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
BetMGM Line: Washington -14.5, o/u: 53
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– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

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Oregon State vs. Washington State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Oregon State vs. Washington State fearless prediction and game preview.

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Oregon State vs. Washington State fearless prediction and game preview.


Oregon State vs. Washington State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 23
Game Time: 9:00 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Pac-12 Network
Network: Martin Stadium, Pullman, WA

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Oregon State (5-5) vs. Washington State (5-5) Game Preview

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Why Oregon State Will Win

On a terrific run of three wins in the last four games, the Beavers are a win away from going bowling – seemingly unthinkable two months ago.

How is this all happening?

The defense is cranking up one of the Pac-12’s best pass rushes – it leads the league in tackles for loss – and the offense has found something in each of the recent wins that worked.

It was the D that took over in the win over Cal a month ago that started this run, and it was the passing game that rocked Arizona in a stunning blowout in Tucson a week later.

When Jake Luton and the air show works, this becomes a balanced, effective team that can do a little of everything right.

The key is the ability to work the passing attack down the field and spring big things to the targets on the move. If that works, everything else falls into place. It’s what OSU is 3-1 – only losing in a fun battle with Stanford – when it averaged eight yards or more per pass.

The Washington State secondary allowed 8.6 yards per throw, including getting bombed on by Stanford for over 500 yards and ten yards per pass in last week’s game. However …

“Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released

Why Washington State Will Win

Wazzu is used to getting into battles with lots and lots and lots of passing.

Yeah, Davis Mills of Stanford threw for 504 yards and three touchdowns last week.

And Anthony Gordon threw for 520 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-22 Cougar win.

For all the good things the Oregon State defense does to get into the backfield and hit the quarterback, it’s not helping out the pass D enough. There are way too many big plays allowed, there aren’t enough big plays from the secondary, and the defense is a rumor most of the time on third downs.

Washington State tends to lose when it stops itself. It lost in a wild firefight with Arizona State, but other than that, the other four losses came in the only four games when it lost the turnover battle.

Those losses were the only times all season when the Cougars turned it over two times or more – 12 of the 16 turnovers on the season were in those games – and Oregon State doesn’t do much to force mistakes.

The Beavers are brilliant at not screwing up – they lead the nation in fewest turnovers with a mere four – but they’ve only picked off five passes on the season.

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What’s Going To Happen

The winner of this game goes bowling, and the loser will have a rough time getting to six wins with Wazzu playing Washington next week and Oregon State finishing up with Oregon.

Washington State is a different team at home.

There was the meltdown over the final 19 minutes against UCLA. That’s the only blemish in a 4-1 season in Pullman. In the final home game of the season, the Cougars go out with a win in a terrific game with more than 700 yards or passing and a whole lot of big plays from both sides.

Like it was last week against Stanford, Wazzu’s passing game will be a wee bit better.

Want a 2nd opinion on who to bet in the Oregon State vs Washington State game? Click here to get WinnersAndWhiners.com’s predictions on the side, total, first half, and exotic bets! All Free!


Oregon State vs. Washington State Prediction, Line

Washington State 37, Oregon State 30
Bet on OSU vs. WSU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Washington State -11.5, o/u: 76.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Citizen K
1: Frozen II

Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season

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Pac-12 Predictions, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 12

Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the Pac-12 season.

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Check out all the fearless predictions, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 12 of the Pac-12 season.


How are the Pac-12 predictions so far?
Straight Up: 49-23, ATS 31-34, o/u: 40-24


Click on each game for game preview & prediction 

Stanford at Washington State

4:30 Pac-12 Network | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Washington State -10.5, o/u: 63.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Arizona State at Oregon State

7:30 FS1 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Arizona State -2.5, o/u: 57.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

UCLA at Utah

8:00 FOX | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Utah -21.5, o/u: 52.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

Arizona at Oregon

10:30 ESPN | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: Oregon -27.5, o/u: 68.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

USC at Cal

11:00 FS1 | Get Tickets
BetMGM Line: USC -6.5, o/u: 47.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)

– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

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Arizona State vs. Oregon State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

Arizona State vs. Oregon State fearless prediction and game preview.

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Arizona State vs. Oregon State fearless prediction and game preview.


Arizona State vs. Oregon State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 16
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR
Network: FS1

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Arizona State (5-4) vs. Oregon State (4-5) Game Preview

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Why Arizona State Will Win

The offense is expected to get its guy back with QB Jayden Daniels likely to go after missing the USC game. Now it needs its running back to go off.

Eno Benjamin hasn’t found a whole lot of room for a running game that’s hit the skids. A fantastic goal line runner, he hasn’t rushed for a touchdown in the last three games, and he’s had just 98 yards over the last two games after three straight 100-yard performances.

The Oregon State run defense can be hammered on – allowing 245 yards or more in three of the last five games – and controlling the tempo and the clock is a must. The Sun Devil defense has been getting worse as the season has gone on, and it needs Benjamin and company to keep the chains moving, and it has to come up with a few key takeaways on the road.

ASU is second in the Pac-12 in turnover margin – helped by 16 takeaways – and Oregon State doesn’t force mistakes. The Beavers need to get this into a little bit of a shootout, because …

“Go to the bank!” Today’s top pick of the day just released

Why Oregon State Will Win

The Arizona State secondary is having a few problems.

After starting the season allowing just seven points in each of the first three games – and surviving a few big passing days – the Sun Devils have been hit way too hard by the better quarterbacks on the slate.

They lost in a shootout to Steven Montez and Colorado – giving up 337 yards through the air – and were expectedly hit hard by Washington State. The 477 yards and four scores allowed last week to USC was a problem, and letting UCLA’s Doran Thompson-Robinson to to hit close to 70% of his passes wasn’t okay.

Luton had a rough day against Washington – throwing for 88 yards in the loss – but when he’s on and the deep ball is working, Oregon State wins.

The Beavers are 3-0 when Luton averages 11 yards or more per past, and 1-5 when he doesn’t. Arizona State is 0-4 – all four losses – when it has allowed eight yards or more per pass.

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What’s Going To Happen

Oregon State has been been great on the road lately and awful at home. Playing Utah and Washington in Corvallis has been part of the reason.

The Beaver offense will generate just enough balance and downfield plays to keep the struggling ASU defense on its heels. Neither team does much to control the clock, and at home, the Beaver O will have just a bit more of a spark in what should be a fun game with a whole slew of wild mood swings.


Arizona State vs. Oregon State Prediction, Line

Oregon State 31, Arizona State 27
Bet on ASU vs. OSU with BetMGM, or for latest line 
Arizona State -2.5, o/u: 57.5
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1
Get Tickets For This Game

Must See Rating: 3

5: The Mandalorian (if it came out in 1984)
1: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

CFN Podcast: Who’s No. 4 in the CFP?
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
Predicting The Rest of the Season
Week 12 Expert Picks

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