As we finally catch our breath after an exciting first week of football, let’s look forward to the best thing about the season, another week of primetime matchups. This week has just as many, if not more, high-quality matchups as last week, including a bunch in the top 25.
Upset Alert:
#14 Stanford at #6 USC
This game not only brings a high powered offense versus one of the most under appreciated defenses in college football, it also brings what could be a preview of the PAC-12 title game. Sam Darnold, who was one of the preseason favorites to win the Heisman, had a mediocre first game going 23-33 with 2 ints and no touchdowns. Keller Chryst on the other hand had himself a great first week going 14-24 for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns. Stanford is favored in this matchup due to how well the team as a whole is clicking. I understand that their only game was against Rice, but David Shaw will have his side ready for this rivalry game.
Toss Up Game(s):
#13 Auburn at #3 Clemson/#15 Georgia at #24 Notre Dame
These are two of the best games on this week’s slate, and it would be cruel of me to not mention them in this week’s preview. Personally, I feel as if Clemson has this game wrapped up already, but we have seen crazier things happen. Any other week this game at Memorial Stadium would be the Game of the Week. Auburn has pulled off some of the luckiest wins I have ever seen so I hope for the same here.
The other half of this list is Georgia at Notre Dame. The ‘Dawgs’ go to South Bend as 4.5 point underdogs, but Nick Chubb will definitely have something to say about that. As for the Fighting Irish, Josh Adams looks to carry the load as the Irish try to pull the upset and Brandon Wimbush hopes to expand on a great week one.
Game of The Week:
#5 Oklahoma at #2 Ohio State
As the Sooners and new head coach Lincoln Riley visit The Shoe in Columbus, all eyes will be staring at the quarterback battle between two-time Heisman finalist Baker Mayfield and gunslinger J.T. Barrett. As stated by Austin Brown in our Slack group, Baker Mayfield has never lost a road game for the Sooners, but I think that changes this weekend.