Week 3 Review
Week 3 Observations
1. Heavyweights Struggle
Aside from Alabama, who lost to Ole Miss 43-37 Saturday night, #10 UCLA barely got by an underrated BYU team 24-23, #6 USC was upset by rival Stanford at home 41-31, and #1 Ohio State only beat Northern Illinois 20-13 as both quarterbacks struggled. Which brings me to my next observation...
2. Ohio State's Offensive Struggles
The best team in the nation has not performed well offensively since they showed the potential to be an explosive, multidimensional offense in their first game vs. Virginia Tech. Since then, Braxton Miller has been quiet and neither quarterback has proven himself to be the clear-cut starter. Urban Meyer said Cardale Jones will start this week against Western Michigan, but J.T. Barrett will come in if Jones doesn't perform well. Luckily, the defense picked up the slack last week and Ezekiel Elliott had another 100 yard game. The offense should round into form despite a rocky couple of weeks.
3. The Next Aaron Rodgers?
Cal junior quarterback has been heralded as one of the best in the nation under center this year, seemingly coming out of nowhere (or maybe I just wasn't paying attention). I have even heard that he might be better than Aaron Rodgers was when he was at Cal. Goff was 27 of 37 for 268 yards and three touchdowns in a wild win at Texas last week, 45-44. On the season, he has 898 yards, 9 touchdowns, and two interceptions. It's only Week 4, and I haven't seen Goff yet, but he'll be someone to keep an eye on as the season goes along.
Upset of the Week
Stanford 41, #6 USC 31
My upset pick last week, Stanford went to Pasadena and played tough, physical football to beat the rival Trojans. Quarterback Kevin Hogan was 18 of 23 for 279 yards and two touchdowns, 153 of those yards and one of those touchdowns to receiver JuJu Smith-Shuster (what a name), and running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 115 yards on 26 carries.
Playoff Picks After Week 3
1. Ohio State
Despite an underwhelming victory over Northern Illinois, the Buckeyes still have the most talent of any team in the country and a winnable road ahead. As I said before, their loaded offense will probably shrug off the poor game last week, and the defense is already elite (they have as many defensive touchdowns (one) as their opponents have total touchdowns the past two weeks). Next Game: Western Michigan, Sat., 3:30 PM
2. Michigan State
The Big Ten currently rules my top two. The Spartans were very impressive in a win over Oregon two weeks ago, and they didn't struggle too much with Air Force last Saturday (they won 35-21). Their offense is firing on all cylinders right now. Next Game: Central Michigan, Sat., Noon
3. TCU
The Horned Frogs remain number three after pulling away from SMU 56-37 Saturday night. As they enter conference play, they will be tested more after cruising through the last two games (they got by Minnesota in a close one in Week 1). Next Game: @ Texas Tech, Sat., 4:45 PM
4. Notre Dame
Number four is always the toughest spot to fill. There are many teams who could make a case for this spot, including Ole Miss, who beat the (alleged) best team in the SEC. But I went with the Irish, who are making a strong case for the playoff despite not having starting quarterback Malik Zaire. Looking at their wins so far, Texas and Virginia were more like tasty muffins than cupcakes, and #14 Georgia Tech was a quality foe. Next Game: Massachusetts, Sat., 3:30 PM
Play of the Week
This play easily could have gone horribly wrong, but instead it ended up being one of the defining moments of Ole Miss's statement win over Alabama. The snap was high, Chad Kelly had to corral it and heave it off his back foot as defenders came bearing down on him, it went off of Laquon Treadwell's hands and a defender's helmet, and Quincy Adeboyejo caught it on the run off the carom and ran for a touchdown. What a crazy play.
Week 4 Preview
Game of the Week
#9 UCLA @ #16 Arizona (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
One of two ranked matchups this week, both in the PAC-12 (the other being #18 Utah at #13 Oregon), these two dark horses for the PAC-12 title meet in Tuscon Saturday night. Both teams have strong offenses led by talented young quarterbacks. UCLA freshman Josh Rosen struggled against BYU last week (he threw three interceptions), but on the year, he has 680 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. Arizona sophomore Anu Solomon has played flawlessly (albeit against weak opponents), throwing for 778 yards, 10 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. My Pick: Arizona
Upset Special
Record: 2-0
Texas Tech over #3 TCU (@ Texas Tech, Sat., 4:45 PM)
I'm kind of going for broke here, but I don't feel as strongly about any other potential upsets. Tech's Air Raid offense has been in full effect so far this season, as they have scored 35, 69, and 59 in their three wins. SMU kept it reasonably close with TCU until late in the game last week, so the Red Raiders could pull off a shocker in Lubbock this week.
Upset of the Week
Stanford 41, #6 USC 31
My upset pick last week, Stanford went to Pasadena and played tough, physical football to beat the rival Trojans. Quarterback Kevin Hogan was 18 of 23 for 279 yards and two touchdowns, 153 of those yards and one of those touchdowns to receiver JuJu Smith-Shuster (what a name), and running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 115 yards on 26 carries.
Playoff Picks After Week 3
1. Ohio State
Despite an underwhelming victory over Northern Illinois, the Buckeyes still have the most talent of any team in the country and a winnable road ahead. As I said before, their loaded offense will probably shrug off the poor game last week, and the defense is already elite (they have as many defensive touchdowns (one) as their opponents have total touchdowns the past two weeks). Next Game: Western Michigan, Sat., 3:30 PM
2. Michigan State
The Big Ten currently rules my top two. The Spartans were very impressive in a win over Oregon two weeks ago, and they didn't struggle too much with Air Force last Saturday (they won 35-21). Their offense is firing on all cylinders right now. Next Game: Central Michigan, Sat., Noon
3. TCU
The Horned Frogs remain number three after pulling away from SMU 56-37 Saturday night. As they enter conference play, they will be tested more after cruising through the last two games (they got by Minnesota in a close one in Week 1). Next Game: @ Texas Tech, Sat., 4:45 PM
4. Notre Dame
Number four is always the toughest spot to fill. There are many teams who could make a case for this spot, including Ole Miss, who beat the (alleged) best team in the SEC. But I went with the Irish, who are making a strong case for the playoff despite not having starting quarterback Malik Zaire. Looking at their wins so far, Texas and Virginia were more like tasty muffins than cupcakes, and #14 Georgia Tech was a quality foe. Next Game: Massachusetts, Sat., 3:30 PM
Play of the Week
This play easily could have gone horribly wrong, but instead it ended up being one of the defining moments of Ole Miss's statement win over Alabama. The snap was high, Chad Kelly had to corral it and heave it off his back foot as defenders came bearing down on him, it went off of Laquon Treadwell's hands and a defender's helmet, and Quincy Adeboyejo caught it on the run off the carom and ran for a touchdown. What a crazy play.
Week 4 Preview
Game of the Week
#9 UCLA @ #16 Arizona (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
One of two ranked matchups this week, both in the PAC-12 (the other being #18 Utah at #13 Oregon), these two dark horses for the PAC-12 title meet in Tuscon Saturday night. Both teams have strong offenses led by talented young quarterbacks. UCLA freshman Josh Rosen struggled against BYU last week (he threw three interceptions), but on the year, he has 680 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. Arizona sophomore Anu Solomon has played flawlessly (albeit against weak opponents), throwing for 778 yards, 10 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. My Pick: Arizona
Upset Special
Record: 2-0
Texas Tech over #3 TCU (@ Texas Tech, Sat., 4:45 PM)
I'm kind of going for broke here, but I don't feel as strongly about any other potential upsets. Tech's Air Raid offense has been in full effect so far this season, as they have scored 35, 69, and 59 in their three wins. SMU kept it reasonably close with TCU until late in the game last week, so the Red Raiders could pull off a shocker in Lubbock this week.
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