Curator & Coach - Week 8

Curator’s Game of the Week
Clemson @ Pitt

It’s a pretty lackluster week for big games. But some good football is still out there .

I’m picking this one because there’s more here than this game is getting credit for. Clemson is the butt of many jokes despite being 4-2 with one of those losses coming to the #1 team in the nation. Pitt broke the Top 25 , finally, with critics pointing at that loss to Western Michigan.

​Clemson has struggled with injuries and the loss of Trevor Lawrence, et al to last year’s NFL draft. But they are still winning football games. They’re still led by Dabo Swinney and they’re still a tough team. They’re still in a fight for the Atlantic Division and they need this win.

Pitt is fighting off challengers from atop the Coastal Division. That lone loss is what’s keeping them out of the playoff conversation right now. If they can continue winning and get some help they may find their way into that conversation yet.

​These two are better teams than advertised. Expect this one to be better than expected.

Coach’s Game of the Week
​Oklahoma State @ Iowa State

​The rankings would have you believe that this game should be no contest and the Cowpokes should roll to victory. While I do believe they will finish Saturday undefeated, Coach Gundy’s crew has some work ahead of them this weekend in Ames. RB Jaylen Warren has stepped right in for Carolina Panthers draft pick Chuba Hubbard and the Cowboy offense hasn’t missed a beat as he is rushing for 117 yards a game at the halfway point of the season. The thing that makes this game interesting is the turnover issue. Spencer Sanders has thrown 5 interceptions in their 6 games and the cowboy offense has laid down a tough 9 fumbles (lost 3). Add an extra interception from Shane Illingworth and you get to 9 total turnovers. Too many balls on the ground and in the hands of the defense are absolute killers. The Cyclone offense is still in great hands led by QB Brock Purdy who is completing 74% of his passes. That’s good enough for 2nd best in the Nation. Breece Hall has had no trouble finding pay dirt with 10 rushing TD’s already and both of their losses have come against top opponents. Often overlooked, Iowa State is traditionally good for 1 major upset a year. Watch for this one to be close!

Curator’s Upset Alert
Ohio State @ Indiana

At fist glance you’d be crazy to call this alert. But true upset alerts are supposed to be far-fetched.

But look closer.

​The Hoosiers are coming off a nail biter against Michigan State. A loss is a loss but that game gave them something to build on. They know they can play with a tough opponent. Their goal will be to keep it close and let the psychology of the game be their teammate. They’ll need to play great defense against the run to keep this one close.

Ohio State comes in as the clear favorite but they don’t have much resumé to back that up. They’ve played one decent football team this year...and they lost. They’re highly ranked in the polls due to name recognition.

Prime time in front of a national TV audience? It has the makings of the legendary Tyler Trent game at Purdue. Remember how that turned out for the Buckeyes? Advantage, Hoosiers.

Don’t count Indiana out.

Coach’s Upset Alert
​LSU @ Ole Miss

​Upsets are largely fed by one thing and one thing only. Mentality. It takes a perfect storm of mentality on both ends and I think we just might have such a storm here. Ole miss is riding high having only felt defeat at the hands of Alabama (welcome to the club). No one except Bama has held them to less than 30 points this season, they’re off of 2 exciting wins and they all managed to escape Knoxville last week without any serious golf ball or mustard bottle related injuries. Life is good in Oxford. Enter Coach O, a man with nothing to lose. A fallen National Champion coach on his dream job deathbed. His entire situation is what I believe is wrong with college football, but that’s a story for another day. Here we see a man who is out to enjoy his last few outings at his dream job and a team who is going to be willing to run through whatever is in front of them for their beloved exiting head coach. The bayonets are fixed on the bayou. Nothing to lose. There’s no holding that Tiger.

Curator’s Picks (21-14)

​OLE MISS OVER LSU
​PURDUE OVER WISCONSIN
NOTRE DAME OVER USC
OKLAHOMA STATE OVER IOWA ST
CLEMSON OVER PITT

Coach’s Picks (21-14)

​LSU OVER OLE MISS
PURDUE OVER WISCONSIN
NOTRE DAME OVER USC
OKLAHOMA STATE OVER IOWA ST
CLEMSON OVER PITT