Let’s dive into the sampler platter, shall we?
The world flipped inside out last weekend with Florida State and Utah taking huge tumbles. The stakes only rise as we roll towards November. A Halloween slate is upon us, and it’s time to break it down without any ghoulish puns.
…
GAME OF THE WEEK: NOTRE DAME at TEMPLE
Has Temple ever played a regular season game with higher stakes than this? Philadelphia will be rocking with a split crowd — Notre Dame is always a huge draw in the Northeast — and it will be interesting to see how the home team handles it all. The Owls have quietly picked up wins since opening the season with victories over Penn State (although the shine from that victory has faded since the season wore on) and a quality win at Cincinnati. This will be a huge step up for the Owls, as they welcome a Notre Dame team one loss away from falling out of playoff contention.
…
UPSET SPECIAL: STANFORD at WASHINGTON STATE
Don’t look now, but Washington State might be the sneakiest good team in the country. After imploding week one in a 24-17 loss to Portland State, the Cougars have won five of six, including their last three. Wazzu has won three games this season by seven points or fewer, and all of them were road wins. Luke Falk has been a stud at quarterback, throwing for 2,885 yards so far this season and 26 scores.
A win by Stanford would put it firmly in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12 North, but a win by Washington State would create a manic race for the division crown in November.
…
UNIMPORTANT GAME OF IMPORTANCE: USC at CALIFORNIA
A few weeks ago, this looked like a potential GameDay game. Now it’s a pairing of two teams in desperate need of turning their seasons around. USC put a great first foot forward under Clay Helton, torching Utah’s national title aspirations with a 42-24 win in L.A. While impressive, USC has still won only two of its last five games.
After a hot start, Cal has dropped its last two games. Both teams have the talent, but the consistency seems to have disappeared on each side. Trojan-Bear games tend to be fun, and this year’s edition in Berkeley should be no different, especially with the urgency both teams need to play with.
…
NERDOUT OF THE WEEK: MICHIGAN at MINNESOTA
This game deserved to be on this week’s list, so it’s slotted here. Minnesota was rocked by Jerry Kill’s sudden retirement this week, so everyone is wondering what type of team takes the field in Minneapolis on Saturday. Add in the fact that a legendary trophy, the Little Brown Jug, is on the line, and you have the potential for a highly emotional, exciting game. For Michigan it’s the Wolverines’ first time on a competitive field since they lost to Michigan State a fortnight ago. An interesting mix of subplots surely exists at TCF Bank Stadium this weekend.
…
ODDITY OF THE WEEK: VANDERBILT at HOUSTON
During a time of the season when SEC teams traditionally take it easy with an FCS home game, Vanderbilt is doing just the opposite. The Commodores will travel west to play Houston and one of the hottest coaching commodities in the country, Tom Herman. The Cougars will attempt to keep their undefeated dreams alive, with big-league games looming against Cincinnati and Memphis.
