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  • Top 3 College Football Games to Watch for Week 9.

    A collage of various college sports team logos displayed on a black background.

    It’s been an exciting start to Week 9 already, as 2 games have gone into overtime and exciting finishes.

    Western Kentucky beat Louisiana Tech 28-27, and Missouri State beat New Mexico State 24-17.

    Some sad news, as the Auburn Tigers have lost starting center Conner Lew for the season with a torn ACL. Lew is going to be a Day 1 starting center in the NFL next season. Good luck to him, as we all wish him a speedy and full recovery.

    That news actually bumped their game with Arkansas off my list. It’s still one of the more under-rated game and isn’t being talked about enough, IMO.

    I went 2-2 in my picks last week.

    I am 12-7 for the season.

    So, without further ado, HERE are the Top 3 games you should watch (in no particular order).

    1) #18 South Florida Bulls (6-1) at Memphis Tigers (6-1).
    Game starts at 12:00 PM (Noon) (EST) on ESPN2.

    Logo of South Florida Bulls and Memphis Tigers with a football field background.

    That’s right. One of the best games this week, is from the AAC (American Athletic Conference). The Bulls are ranked and in the driver’s seat for the G5 spot in the college football playoffs. Memphis is coming off an absolutely embarrassing loss to UAB last week. Both teams are highly motivated.

    The USF Bulls are simply put, “The Byrum Brown Show”. They go as he goes. He’s thrown for 1,695 yards, with 16 TDs and 5 INTs. He’s added 99 carries, for 475 yards, with 6 TDs. He leads the team in passing and rushing. On defense, they’re led by LB Mac Harris. He’s 2nd on the team in tackles (56) and 1st in sacks (5.5). He’s also has 3 forced fumbles and an INT.

    Memphis has a dual-threat QB of their own. Brendon Lewis has thrown for 1,337 yards, with 8 TDs and 4 INTs. He’s added 86 carries, for 440 yards, with 7 TDs. I know, it’s weird seeing Memphis not have gaudy passing yards, but this is a running team. HBs Sutton Smith and Greg Desrosiers Jr have a combined 869 yards rushing, and 11 TDs between them. The defense forces mistakes and turnovers, as they have 10 INTs, 7 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries.

    Prediction – The loss to UAB will have the Tigers playing of their toes. USF is battle tested. I’m going to go with the better quarterback. Give me the USF Bulls to win 35-31.

    2) Houston Cougars (6-1) at #24 Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2).
    Game starts at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN2.

    Logo of the Houston Cougars on the left and the Arizona State Sun Devils on the right, with a split background.

    The winner of this game could end up tied for 2nd place in the Big-12 or in 2nd all alone. While it was expected that ASU would be competing for the conference title again, nobody saw the Cougars being here, at this point in the season.

    Cougars transfer QB Conner Weigman has managed to stay healthy this season. He’s thrown for 1,380 yards, with 11 TDs to only 2 INTs. They balance it out with HB Dean Connors. He has 115 carries, for 538 yards, and 4 TDs. It’s a feisty defense that has 17 team sacks, 6 INTs, and 11 forced fumbles.

    The talk of the Sun Devils offense is about the Leavitt-Tyson connection. QB Sam Leavitt has thrown for 1,358 yards, with 9 TDs and 3 INTs. WR Jordyn Tyson has 57 catches, for 628 yards, and 8 TDs. What’s not talked about is HB Raleek Brown, and the balance he brings. 110 carries, for 642 yards, with 3 TDs. The defense has 21 team sacks, with 14 coming from the defensive line. They get to the QB quick and often.

    Prediction – It’s been fun watching the Cougars go on this run. I think they simply run into a better team on Saturday. Give me the Sun Devils to win 27-21.

    3) #15 Missouri Tigers (6-1) at #10 Vanderbilt Commodores (6-1).
    Game starts at 3:30 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    Graphic featuring the logos of the Missouri Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores, set against a background of football imagery.

    It’s been a wonderful season for both teams so far, but somebody’s run is about to end here. The loser of this game is officially out of the SEC conference title picture.

    Yes, QB Beau Pribula has thrown for 1,617 yards, however, he has 7 INTs to his 11 TDs. This is a running, ball control offense. HB Ahmad Hardy has 139 carries, for 840 yards (3rd in the nation), with 11 TDs (2nd in the nation). DE’s Damon Wilson and Zion Young, have a combined 10.5 sacks, and get pressure off the edges.

    Vanderbilt is led by QB Diego Pavia (my Heisman Trophy frontrunner). He’s thrown for 1,569 yards, with 15 TDs to 4 INTs. He also has 77 carries, for 438 yards, with 4 TDs. He’s the heart and soul of this team. This is a gap sound defense, that gets pressure from multiple positions, as they have 20 teams sacks.

    Prediction – I think this is going to be a close football game. Somehow, someway, I believe Pavia will make just enough plays to give the Commodores the win. I’m taking Vandy 24-21.

    – by Sean McKenzie.

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    Stats and information courtesy of…..NCAA and ESPN.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, nytimes, and ESPN.

  • College Football Recap and Helmet Stickers for Week 8.

    A collage of various college football team logos, featuring prominent teams such as UCLA Bruins, Michigan Wolverines, and Texas Longhorns, arranged in a grid format.

    What an incredible week of college football we had on Saturday.

    We had MAJOR Top 10 upsets!!!

    It all started on Friday night, when the Louisville Cardinals upset (then #2) ranked Miami Hurricanes, 24-21. DO NOT look deep into this one, as it took QB Carson Beck throwing 4 INTs for it to happen.

    The Arizona State Sun Devils knocked off the (then #7) Texas Tech Red Raiders, 26-22, in game that came down to the wire.

    The UAB Blazers upset the (then #22) Memphis Tigers, 31-24, in a game that nobody saw coming.

    As I said in my Top 3 Games to Watch article, the best game of week, was between (then #13 and #20) Notre Dame and USC. The Trojans had no answer at all for the Fighting Irish’s running game, as ND won 34-24.

    Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, and Oregon, all took care of business, and got wins, to stay in the Top 10.

    Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Florida Gators have fired Billy Napier. Billy Gonzales has been named the interim head coach.

    So, without further ado, here are your Week 8 College Football Helmet Stickers.

    (Team) UCLA Bruins.

    Logo of the UCLA Bruins featuring a bear mascot and the team name.

    After starting the season 0-4 and firing their (now former) head coach Deshaun Foster, the Bruins have won 3 straight games. Not just any games either, they’re conference games. The UCLA Bruins are currently 3rd in the Big Ten, as they defeated Maryland 20-17.

    They needed something to jump start this program, and it’s working out quite well so far in the month of October, as interim head coach Tim Skipper, has this team playing hard and rolling.

    (Offense) Jeremiyah Love, HB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

    A Notre Dame player, wearing a purple jersey with the number 4, celebrates while running on the football field, holding a ball in one hand, with fans in the background.

    Jeremiyah Love was my #1 rated HB coming into the season, and he showed again, exactly why.

    The Trojan defense had no answer for him at all. He ran through them, around them, and any other adjective you can think of.

    He had 24 carries, for 228 yards, with a touchdown. He added 5 catches for 37 yards as well.

    (Defense) Treylin Payne, LB, Texas State Bobcats.

    Headshot of a smiling young male athlete with curly hair, wearing a red jersey.

    The Bobcat senior had an incredible 24 total tackles, in a 37-40, double overtime loss to Marshall.

    Who would you give a helmet sticker to?

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, CBSSports, and on3.