We are like a coach’s white board today with X’s and O’s going in all sorts of directions. We are zigging and zagging across the country for the best college football games and like a coach tells me we are devoted to “the process.” So, while we look at all the diagrams with the plays going in so many routes giving us our “process” and guidance, we head to the College Football Preview-Week 7.
College Football Preview-Week 7
Georgia (6-0) @ LSU (5-1); Saturday 3:30pm ET CBS
This is a make-it or break-it game for LSU. The Tigers are playing well. They are a legitimate contender in the SEC West even with the one loss. But a second loss, and it is time for the annual “process” of talking about second-tier bowl games. The Tigers have been real, so far. They beat Miami and Auburn away from home. They have been mostly mistake-free through the first five weeks of the season. Quarterback Joe Burrow has thrown for 1,214 yards and has been an amazing surprise for the Bayou Bengals after having thrown all of 11 passes in his entire Ohio State career. But, and this a big but, the offense may have been exposed in the loss to Florida. Burrow had his first two interceptions of the season and was sacked five times. He doesn’t have to be spectacular, but he must, must, must be mistake-free.
Georgia is undefeated, but welcome to the regular season, Bulldogs. After running up big time stats against the likes of Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee and conference games the likes of Tennessee and Vandy, they are getting their first real road test. Putting the competition aside for a moment, and that is not easy to do, quarterback Jake Fromm has thrown for a 72% completion rate five times this season. Do it Saturday afternoon against a LSU defensive secondary stacked with future NFL draft picks and his name will join the Heisman contender list next week.
Washington (5-1) @ Oregon (4-1); Saturday 3:30pm ET ABC
After zigging down to Baton Rouge, we will also be zagging up to Eugene for a game that goes a long way in determining the Pac 12 North “process.”
Very little has come easy for the Huskies this season. Even when they were three touchdown favorites against a winless UCLA team, they were having to hold on in the closing 90 seconds for a seven-point win last week. Still they have won five in a row. The defense has been inappropriately getting the headlines for the success. Yes, they are 13th in the country in overall defense but it is a full 70 yard per game gap between the Huskies and the top spot. Washington gave up 400 yards of offense to UCLA last week because they continue to have a hard time getting into the offensive backfield.
It is the offense that is truly carrying “the process” for them. Jake Browning is averaging 10 yards per completion the last two games and has only one interception in the last three contests. Myles Gaskin is averaging just over yards per carry for the season.
Oregon’s season needs to be divided into two segments. They played San Jose State, Portland State and Bowling Green in the out of conference schedule. All numbers are skewed as a result. But look at what quarterback Justin Herbert has done with his 76% completion rate in Pac 12 play and it is a different view. Even in a seven-point loss to Stanford, he threw for 327 yards. He is the best quarterback in the conference for a reason. The rush defense is good, giving up just over 100 yards per game. Can the pass defense slow down Browning? Can Washington’s pass defense get near Herbert? How “the process” shakes out will send the Pac 12 North zigging and zagging.
Wisconsin (4-1) @ Michigan (5-1); Saturday 7:30pm ET ABC
Back to our zigging and zagging on the board and we are in the Midwest. Do they zig or do they zag in the Midwest?
This is a huge undertaking for the Badgers. They seem to have recovered from the bump against BYU with wins against Iowa and Nebraska. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook had his best game of the year versus the Hawkeyes, completing 77% of his passes and throwing for three touchdowns. Running back Jonathan Taylor is not getting the Heisman love he was earlier in the season. He is still third in the country in rushing and averaging just under seven yards per carry and 170 yards per game behind a huge offensive line.
It will not be an easy “process” this week. Michigan has the third best overall defense in the country. They are giving up less than 100 yards per game on the ground and 134 passing. As for the Wolverines offense; Well, Shea Patterson, this is what the Michigan fans have been wanting from you. The 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns are all well and good, but Michigan fans need the big win in a meaningful game and that is what you are there for. And you get to get to play against a Wisconsin pass defense that gave up 407 yards to a winless and woeful Nebraska team and is 100th in the country in yards per play. The Wolverines have Michigan State and Penn State in the ensuing weeks so this is a big step in their conference title “process.”
Colorado (5-0) @ USC (3-2); Saturday 10:30pm Fox Sports 1
Yes, we zig, (or are we zagging now), back to the West Coast for the Saturday finale. Rub your eyes again if you have not been paying attention all season. Colorado really is undefeated, and USC really is struggling.
The Buffaloes are the only unbeaten team left in the Pac 12. In full disclosure, their “process” to get there has not been that tough. The combined record of their opponents to date is 6-21. Still, that is no reason to overlook them. Their offense is the epitome of zigging and zagging. It is one of the most exciting in the nation to watch. Quarterback Steven Montez is the epitome of a dual threat. He is rarely dropping back and waiting. Fourteen hundred yards passing, 11 touchdowns in the air, another two on the ground and a 75% completion rate tell you what you need to know. Receiver Laviska Shenault is his go-to guy with 708 receiving yards already and six touchdown receptions.
USC’s offense has finally shown up in “the process.” They scored 63 points over the last two games, after struggling most of the early season. They are also coming off a bye so they have had time for the mid-season nagging bums and bruises to heal. Freshman quarterback JT Daniels has been what you expect a freshman to be…inconsistent. The yards are there but the results are not. He has four touchdown passes and three interceptions. He is spending a lot of time scrambling for his life as the SC offensive line has given up 13 sacks this season. Now they are facing Colorado defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson who has five sacks already this season.
“The process” goes like this. USC either gets back on track or the growling over head coach Clay Helton continues. Colorado continues its unlikely run or gets exposed now that it is facing the tougher competition in the conference.
