Time for our CFB MEGA-PREVIEW!
Let’s take a look @ the biggest games inside and outside of the sunshine state. Some curious lines and news to follow along with this weekend:
Top headlines:
·Six schools -- Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UAB -- have accepted invitations to join the American Athletic Conference, the league announced Thursday. No date has been set for the schools to join the conference, but a source told ESPN that the earliest they could join would be the 2023-24 season.
-I have a feeling that once UCF leaves…we won’t be talking much AAC for a long long time. I do feel kinda bad for USF though…would’ve been nice to see them come along for the ride.
·Florida coach Dan Mullen wouldn't commit to naming a starting quarterback for his team's Oct. 30 game against No. 1 Georgia. Emory Jones started at quarterback during last Saturday's 49-42 loss at LSU but did not play down the stretch as Anthony Richardson led the offense on four straight touchdown drives in the second half.
-Gamesmanship?! Mullen has another week to decide or to tell us…and if we’re being honest…does it really matter?
-This game opened at Georgia -3…what do you think it should be @ now?
Upset alert: (we gave you LSU over Florida last week)
Oklahoma State (8) @ Iowa State- You don’t just waltz into Ames, Iowa and snag a win. I know OSU is unbeaten and Iowa State has 2 losses on the year…but they fell hard to Iowa- no shame in that. And they lost by 2 to Baylor because of a failed 2 point conversion @ the end of the 4th. This team is still really good. Breece Hall is one of the best backs in the country – averaging 170 yards and 2 touchdowns per game over the last 3. OSU – upset alert…
Clemson @ Pitt (23)- Pitt’s only favored by 3 here so it wouldn’t be a massive upset but still, Pitt is in a position to assert themselves as the new kings of the ACC – and they’ve certainly got the QB to do it. CBS Sports names Kenny Pickett as their ALL-AMERICAN starting QB through 7 weeks…21 touchdowns, just 1 INT. Here’s the problem…classic let down spot. This is what Pitt does. So while Clemson isn’t exactly playing a great brand of football – this feels like a game where Clemson plays bully and Pitt plays tight. Keep in mind- only 2 losses for Clemson – Georgia and on the road vs NC State.
LSU @ Ole Miss (12)- Just simply going off the fact that LSU is probably feeling pretty confident after putting up 49 on the Gators. LSU isn’t dynamic but they are physical, the one area Ole Miss seems to struggle with.
In-State Focus:
There’s not one stand-out item for this week if we’re looking @ games…You’ve got FSU taking on UMASS as 35 point favorites. With a win FSU moves to 3-4 on the season and gets one step closer to bowl eligibility, which will feel like a massive victory if they get there. Jordan Travis presumably getting another start for the Noles. Crazy turn of events this season in the state but it seems like Noles fan might be the most confident in the state of Florida!
For UCF, they oddly opened as 3-point favorites against Memphis @ the Bounce House tomorrow night, that was quickly bet down to Memphis -1.5.
Memphis is 4-3 and has lost 3 of their last 4 games, so they are sliding hard and fast, even though they were able to do something UCF couldn’t do – that’s beat Navy. So, its hard to get a beat on what these teams are exactly. 1.5 feels right, 2 teams out of sorts, its basically a toss up.
History is on UCF’s side though- Prior to last season, the Tigers had lost 13 straight games to UCF. They've never won in Orlando (0-5).
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