Category: Week 10

Clemson (7-0) vs Notre Dame (6-0) Game Preview

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Why Clemson Will Win

Notre Dame has one of the nation’s best pass defenses. It has allowed just two touchdown passes so far, hasn’t given up more than 260 yards to anyone, has limited the deep plays, and …

It hasn’t played anyone other than Louisville’s Malik Cunningham who can throw a forward pass reasonably well, and it certainly hasn’t seen anything like what’s coming.

Trevor Lawrence was out against Boston College, and all DJ Uiagalelei did was complete 30-of-41 passes for 342 yards and two scores to go along with 25 yards on the ground and a touchdown. He handled the pressure of the comeback win just fine, the Tiger offensive front continues to be a killer, Travis Etienne is only the greatest running back in ACC history – at least yardage-wise – and …

It’s Clemson. The program is used to massive games like this, and when it’s focused, forget it.

And again. along with the issue of not facing too many great quarterbacks, has Notre Dame actually beaten anyone?

Duke, USF, Florida State, Louisville and Georgia Tech are all almost certainly going to finish with losing records, and Pitt might have to push for a winning campaign. Miami, and arguably Boston College and/or Wake Forest as all as good or better than anyone the Irish have deals with so far.

Why Notre Dame Will Win

Is anyone on Clemson healthy?

Lawrence is out as he battles through the coronavirus, star defensive tackle Tyler Davis has a nagging ankle problem, linebackers James Skalski and Mike Jones are out, and the team was generally beaten up after the BC game.

Meanwhile, the Irish have been building for this moment with a bunch of semi-interesting battles with vastly inferior teams.

Yeah, okay, so Notre Dame hasn’t dealt with a killer schedule yet, but in this crazy season with wild upsets and strange performances left and right, the team has done exactly what it was supposed to do against mediocre competition. It was sort of challenged by Louisville, but not really, and that’s it.

The team has been terrific from the start. It played an okay schedule, and it’s just that good – the two things can be true at once.

The six games until now allowed the passing game time to develop a little more, the running attack continues to be great, and outside of 17 first quarter points against Florida State, the D hasn’t allowed much of anything.

The Irish are allowing just 98 rushing yards per game, and the pass rush should be a bother for Uiagalelei from the start.

What’s Going To Happen

Which side of history do you like?

Is this going to be one of those home statement moments for Notre Dame, like the classic 1988 “Catholics vs. Convicts” win over Miami, the 1993 epic over Florida State and Charlie Ward?

Or is this going to be about Clemson rising to the occasion once again? What did it do after it’s close-call win over North Carolina last year? It rim-rocked Florida State by 41.

What did the Tigers do after surviving a mega-scare from Syracuse in 2018? It beat Wake Forest by 60.

Notre Dame is very, very good, but it hasn’t been flashy.

It has the toughness on the lines, the run defense has been outstanding, and at some point, Ian Book will get credit for being a solid above-average quarterback.

But not it has to step up to the big-time against a Clemson team that might be banged up, but will rely on Etienne, a good-enough game from Uiagalelei, and a brilliant performance from a defense that’s going to be challenged by the coaching staff after a bad first half last week against BC.

Enjoy Round 1. The second time around will come in the ACC Championship with a College Football Playoff spot on the line.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Clemson vs Notre Dame Prediction, Line

Clemson 30, Notre Dame 24
Bet on Clemson vs Notre Dame with BetMGM
Clemson -5.5, o/u: 52
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 5

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Wyoming vs Colorado State Prediction, Game Preview

Wyoming Cowboys vs Colorado State Rams prediction and game preview.

Wyoming vs Colorado State prediction and game preview.

Wyoming vs Colorado State Broadcast

Date: Thursday, November 5
Game Time: 9:00 pm
Venue: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, CO
Network: CBS Sports Network

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Wyoming (0-0) vs Colorado State (0-0) Game Preview

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Why Colorado State Will Win

Call it the first game problems.

It’s been a pattern for a whole lot of teams across college football in this wacky and crazy season – they’re just not right in the first game. Fresno State wasn’t sharp in its opener, and it looked and played far, far better than Colorado State in last week’s 38-17 win. Now it’s up to the Rams to start playing stronger.

The passing game wasn’t bad against the Bulldogs, and the offense was able to move reasonably well. Now it’s going against a Wyoming team that hasn’t been consistent so far. It couldn’t run against Nevada, and it lost, it ran well against Hawaii, and won.

The Rams should be able to hold down the Cowboy ground game as long as it doesn’t give up the big plays through the air like they did against the Bulldogs.

Why Wyoming Will Win

Now that’s the Wyoming defense we all know and love.

The Cowboys couldn’t do enough to stop the Nevada passing game, but it bounced back fast with a great day in a 31-7 against Hawaii. The defense didn’t allow the Rainbow Warriors to get anything going down the field with their passing game – averaging just 4.2 yards per throw – and now it’s going to swarm all over the Colorado State passing attack.

Can the Rams run? Any Steve Addazio team is going to try running the ball, and it’s not going to be able to do it effectively against the Mountain West’s best run D.

What’s Going To Happen

Here’s the problem – Wyoming is a homer.

It lost at Nevada, was great in Laramie against Hawaii. Last year it went 6-0 at home – including against Colorado State – and lost its last five road games including all in the Mountain West.

Here’s the other problem – Wyoming has beaten Colorado State four times in a row.

The Cowboy formula of Xazavian Halladay running well, the defense getting into the backfield, and doing all the little things right should keep this close. However, after getting its bad opener out of the way, the Rams will fight this out with a decent day from the passing game fo rate home win.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Wyoming vs Colorado State Prediction, Line

Colorado State 26, Wyoming 23
Bet on Wyoming vs Colorado State with BetMGM
Wyoming -3.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Nevada vs Utah State Prediction, Game Preview

Nevada Wolf Pack vs Utah State Aggies prediction and game preview.

Nevada vs Utah State prediction and game preview.

Nevada vs Utah State Broadcast

Date: Thursday, November 5
Game Time: 7:00 pm
Venue: Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV
Network: FS1

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Nevada (2-0) vs Utah State (0-2) Game Preview

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Why Nevada Will Win

Anything interesting happening in Nevada other than shot at the Wolf Pack going 3-0 for the first time since the Colin Kaepernick era back in 2010?

The passing game has been outstanding, ripping through Wyoming’s great defense for 420 yards, and taking back the Fremont Cannon from UNLV with 350 yards. Utah State doesn’t have the offense to keep up.

The Aggies have generated a mere 418 yards of total offense and 20 points in the first two games, both blowout losses. There’s no downfield passing game, the team is dead last in the Mountain West in both total offense and total defense, there haven’t been any takeaways, and …

Why Utah State Will Win

To be very, very fair, Utah State hasn’t been any good so far, but that’s partially because it faced Boise State and San Diego State – arguably the Mountain West’s two best teams.

Those two defenses are killers. Nevada’s defense is just okay.

The Aggies have enough offensive talent to be better, Jaylen Warren is a good back who hasn’t had any room to move yet, and the pass rush should finally get going a little bit.

What’s Going To Happen

Nevada is going to have the ball for forever.

Utah State’s offense would like to control the tempo with its spread style, but it didn’t work in the first two games – again, that’s partially because the opposing defenses were so strong. Nevada, though, and QB Carson Strong are keeping everything moving.

The Wolf Pack are keeping the ball for close to 35 minutes a game, the offense will be efficient from the start, and it’ll be a third straight win to make an early statement in the Mountain West race.

However, Nevada is good. It’s not Boise State or San Diego State. Utah State won’t get blown out.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Nevada vs Utah State Prediction, Line

Nevada 37, Utah State 17
Bet on Nevada vs Utah State with BetMGM
Nevada -17, o/u: 56
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 2

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Big Ten Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 10

Big Ten college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 10 of the season.

Big Ten college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 10 of the season.

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Results So Far
SU: 7-6, ATS: 6-7, Point Total: 6-7

– Bet on Big Ten football at BetMGM

Michigan at Indiana

12:00 FS1
Line: Michigan -3, o/u: 54

Nebraska at Northwestern

12:00 BTN
Line: Northwestern -4, o/u: 55.5

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Michigan State at Iowa

12:00 ESPN
Line: Iowa -7, o/u: 45.5

Maryland at Penn State

3:30 BTN
Line: Penn State -25, o/u: 63

[lawrence-related id=522199]

Minnesota at Illinois

3:30 BTN
Line: Minnesota -7, o/u: 61.5

Rutgers at Ohio State

7:30 BTN
Line: Ohio State -38, o/u: 64.5

Purdue at Wisconsin

Cancelled

– Bet on Big Ten football at BetMGM

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Michigan vs Indiana Prediction, Game Preview

Michigan Wolverines vs Indiana Hoosiers prediction and game preview.

Michigan vs Indiana prediction and game preview.

Michigan vs Indiana Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
Network: FS1

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Michigan (1-1) vs Indiana (2-0) Game Preview

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Why Michigan Will Win

The Indiana offense still isn’t working quite like it’s supposed to.

It only gained 211 yards in the win over Penn State – most of them coming after 58 minutes of regulation – and the running game didn’t crush like it should’ve against Rutgers.

Joe Milton really is playing well for the Wolverines, throwing for 525 yards and a touchdowns and running for 111 yards and a score in the two games. The running game wasn’t great, but it wasn’t a disaster, the passing game was solid down the field, and there weren’t any turnovers against Michigan State. So what was the problem?

The team has been operating with a quicker tempo, Michigan State kept producing on its key plays, and the time of possession battle was massively skewed. Indiana might be 2-0, but it’s beyond awful on third downs – converting a Big Ten low 26%.

Michigan will have an easier time getting off the field.

Why Indiana Will Win

Do you care about momentum?

Indiana might be a shaky 2-0, but it’s 2-0. It found a way to pull off the upset over Penn State, and got past an okay effort against Rutgers to win.

It’s owning the turnover battle, it’s converting drives into points without fail, and even thought the offense is sputtering a bit too much, it’s still dangerous.

The backfield combination of QB Michael Penix and RB Stevie Scott really is good, the defense has been good enough, and it’s getting a Michigan team that’s about to press in a pressure-filled must-win moment to turn its season around.

But …

What’s Going To Happen

You never, ever, ever, ever, ever mess with a streak.

You think Ohio State has a hex over Michigan? That’s nothing like what Michigan has over Indiana.

The Wolverines have won 24 straight in the series and 39 of its last 40, with the only loss coming all the way back in 1987.

Michigan will convert on its third down chances, Indiana won’t, and this will look a whole lot more like the Minnesota game for Jim Harbaugh’s team than the Michigan State whiff.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Michigan vs Indiana Prediction, Line

Michigan 37, Indiana 24
Bet on Michigan vs Indiana with BetMGM
Michigan -3, o/u: 54
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Northwestern vs Nebraska Prediction, Game Preview

Northwestern Wildcats vs Nebraska Cornhuskers prediction and game preview.

Northwestern vs Nebraska prediction and game preview.

Northwestern vs Nebraska Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
Network: Big Ten Network

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Northwestern (2-0) vs Nebraska (0-1) Game Preview

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Why Nebraska Will Win

The team is certainly rested – and salty – after not being able to play Wisconsin last week. The Huskers weren’t all that bad in the blowout loss to Ohio State – relatively speaking. They lost 52-17, but they were active, the defense was popping, and the running game was working for 210 yards.

Northwestern might be playing well so far, but the offense that ripped up Maryland sputtered against Iowa. This isn’t a high-powered Wildcat team, and despite the 43-point day against the Terps, it’s not going to be interested in a shootout.

Nebraska needs to go on a quick early scoring drive like it did to start the Ohio State game. Quick, decisive, and aggressive. Again, it was a blowout loss, but Adrian Martinez looked good on a 12-of-15 day passing and 85 rushing yards with a score.

Why Northwestern Will Win

Peyton Ramsey isn’t Justin Fields, but the Northwestern quarterback has been solid so far, completing 34-of-48 passes for 342 yards and a touchdown and an interception in the two wins.

He’s hitting 71% of his throws – hitting the downfield ones, too – and now he gets to go up against a Husker secondary that allowed Fields to connect on 20-of-21 passes for over 13 yards per throw.

The offense was the question mark coming into the season after a dud of a 2019 run, but the defense was supposed to be great – and it is. The Wildcat linebackers are keeping everything under wraps, allowing just 141 rushing yards in the two games, and this veteran group is used to Nebraska.

What’s Going To Happen

The Huskers won last year 13-10, but lost three of the previous four in the series.

This is a good Nebraska team that really did seem to have a different sort of energy in the Ohio State game, but this Northwestern team is tight. It turned the ball over three times in the first two games, but it’s not getting hit with a ton of penalties, and it showing its typical style under Pat Fitzgerald.

Last week against Iowa, Northwestern got down, but it hung around … hung around … hung around, then got the big mistake it needed, capitalized, and won.

That’s going to be this game. Nebraska will get up fast, it’ll have a lead, but it won’t be able to put it away. Northwestern will come up with the late plays to pull this out.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Northwestern vs Nebraska Prediction, Line

Northwestern 26, Nebraska 21
Bet on Northwestern vs Nebraska with BetMGM
Northwestern -4, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Penn State vs Maryland Prediction, Game Preview

Penn State vs Maryland prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs Maryland prediction and game preview.

Penn State vs Maryland Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Network: Big Ten Network

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Penn State (0-2) vs Maryland (1-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Maryland Will Win

Do the Terps have an offense now?

They couldn’t have been more inept in the opening loss against Northwestern, and they couldn’t have been more unstoppable in the finishing kick in the win over Minnesota.

QB Taulia Tagovailoa was brilliant against the Gophers, completing 74% of his passes for 394 yards and three scores with 59 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Jake Funk rumbled for 221 yards and a score.

They’re not going to do that against the Penn State defense, but at least there’s hope now. They showed the potential that the offense could be a problem in games like this.

Why Penn State Will Win

It’s not like the Terps stopped the Gophers until the fourth quarter.

They were rumbled over by Mo Ibrahim and the Minnesota ground attack, and that’s after giving up 325 rushing yards to Northwestern. They’re dead last in the Big Ten in total defense – and even after the win last week, dead last in total offense, too – with no run D and an inability to avoid giving up long drives – again, until late against Minnesota.

Penn State might have a thin group of running backs, but Sean Clifford can run, the ground game should be able to push no matter what, and the offense will blow past the 400-yard mark overall.

What’s Going To Happen

Maryland is nowhere near as bad as it was against Northwestern, and it was nowhere near as good as it looked late against Minnesota, and it’s about to look more Northwestern-game-like against a desperate Penn State team that’s about to go on a roll. It’ll be the Nittany Lions’ sharpest game yet.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Penn State vs Maryland Prediction, Line

Penn State 47, Maryland 16
Bet on Penn State vs Maryland with BetMGM
Penn State -25, o/u: 63
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 2

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Minnesota vs Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Illinois Fighting Illini prediction and game preview.

Minnesota vs Illinois prediction and game preview.

Minnesota vs Illinois Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Network: Big Ten Network

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Minnesota (0-2) vs Illinois (0-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Minnesota Will Win

The offense is more than fine.

The passing attack could be a little crisper, and there’s been a problem producing for a full four quarters, but the O isn’t really the problem. The weapons are still there.

Mo Ibrahim leads the nation in rushing yards per game by a mile. It’s only been two games, but he’s averaging 173.5 a game – almost 23 more than No. 2 man, Iowa State’s Breece Hall – coming off a 207-yard, four-touchdown effort in the collapse against Maryland.

The Illinois run defense has been fine, but the secondary has been next-level bad, allowing Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz and Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell to completed 88% of their passes for a combined 619 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging over 11 yards per throw.

But …

Why Illinois Will Win

The Minnesota defense hasn’t shown up yet.

The pass protection might be among the team’s biggest problems, and the team hasn’t been remotely consistent, but the defense has been the biggest issue with its inability to come up with a meaningful stop against Michigan, and collapsing late last week as Maryland did whatever it wanted in the fourth quarter.

The Gopher D has been equally bad against the run and the pass, there’s no pressure into the backfield, and the third down defense has been non-existent in key moments.

But that pass protection – that’s going to be Minnesota’s issue against an Illinois pass rush that’s been among the Big Ten’s best over the first two games.

What’s Going To Happen

Illinois doesn’t have the skill parts in the backfield to do to the Gophers what Maryland did, but it’ll make this a nasty battle on the lines.

Minnesota won’t mess around too much. It’ll have a more balanced attack, the running game will go for a full four quarters, and the passing game will be more explosive with Rashod Bateman and the offense overcoming another rough day from the defensive side.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
20 Most Important College Football Thoughts Ever
Week 10 College Football Schedule

Minnesota vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Minnesota 38, Illinois 30
Bet on Minnesota vs Illinois with BetMGM
Minnesota -7, o/u: 61.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: ANYTHING to take your mind off of …
1: EVERYTHING in the real world

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Ohio State vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights prediction and game preview.

Ohio State vs Rutgers prediction and game preview.

Ohio State vs Rutgers Broadcast

Date: Saturday, November 7
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Network: Big Ten Network

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Ohio State (2-0) vs Rutgers (1-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Rutgers Will Win

The defense really has been solid.

Michigan State couldn’t run at all on the Scarlet Knights, and Indiana only cranked up 347 yards of total offense. The seven takeaways against the Spartans made the most splash, but the ability simply get off the field has been the biggest difference.

Last year’s defense allowed teams to connect on 44% of their third down chances, and this year after two games it allowed just 32% so far. Michigan State converted 7-of-17 chances, and Indiana was held to converting 2-of-11 tries.

The pressure into the backfield has been outstanding, there’s a good pass rush, and Justin Fields won’t be able to feel totally comfortable. But …

Why Ohio State Will Win

The Rutgers offense is still a problem.

It’s scoring – it scored 21 points or more pure three times last year and it has already done it twice in two games – but the O managed just 276 yards against Michigan State and followed it up with 247 against Indiana. The talent and ability just aren’t there to keep up with an Ohio State team that’s rolling.

Penn State has a fantastic defense that’s going to end up statistically being among the three best in the Big Ten. It got hit for 526 yards against the Buckeyes. Rutgers is about to get hit for around that many if the OSU O keeps trying.

Justin Fields has been every bit the Heisman talent he’s supposed to be, completing 87% of his passes for 594 yards and six scores with no picks, averaging close to 11 yards per throw. He might not bomb away against the Scarlet Knights, but if he’s just okay, the offense will be fine.

What’s Going To Happen

How much does Ryan Day want to run it up? If he felt awful about a final unnecessary Buckeye touchdown against Nebraska, what will happen against Greg Schiano?

It’ll be a fast start with a few early scoring drives to make this easy, but the Rutgers defense will keep this from getting totally out of hand. However, the offense just won’t be able to do much of anything unless the D comes up with a slew of takeaways that won’t be coming in bunches.