EL ASSICOOOOOOOOOOO
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Do It Again Shift
- Texas-Michigan: This is THEE helmet game of the week, and a helluva helmet game it is. But Michigan struggled mightily with Fresno State last week, and it was more of a reflection of the Wolverines than it was the Bulldogs. It’s too early, but there is some scratchiness in Ann Arbor with respect to Alex Orgi being the guy. For the Michigan ground game to work, they need to have a JJ McCarthy type that you have to at least respect, and if Texas doesn’t respect Orgi, then this could go south in a hurry for the defending champs.
- Georgia Tech-Syracuse: The Jackets confirmed to a certain degree that the result in Dublin wasn’t a fluke with a 35-12 win against Georgia State last week. Now let’s see how they can replicate their early season results against another team in the same tier of the same conference. But it won’t be a cakewalk, Syracuse is always game in the dome.
- Pitt-Cincinnati: Without a shred of irony: the Pitt offense behind Zachary product Eli Holstein looked great against Kent State last week, putting up just 570 yards of total offense. Like Georgia Tech, this week will be a good barometer as to whether or not that was a flash in the pan or who they are.
- Oklahoma State-Arkansas: Continuing the “replicate it” theme, Arkansas dropped 70 – SEVENTY – on UAPB last week. Yes, that’s a SWAC school and a not particularly good one at that, but 70 points is 70 points and it’s a damn hard thing to do. Let’s see if they can continue that level of play, if not the point total, against a P4 opponent. On the flip side of the ball, will Mike Gundy be able to resist his natural instinct and ride Ollie Gordon and keep the Arkansas off the field? Or will he send it and we get a hell of a shootout?
EL ASSICO SHIFT
- Iowa State-Iowa: There was entirely too much football breakdown in the first shift. Let’s liven things up a bit. ¡UN DOS TRES CUATRO!
- Baylor-Utah: Our first real look at both Utah and Baylor, though the real takeaway will be how competitive does Baylor look? Dave Aranda’s seat is getting pretty warm as the Waco braintrust want to paint over that millennial gray and replace it with some shiplap (GJ Kinney).
- Cal-Auburn: Auburn is likely to win, but worth seeing what Cal running back Jadyn Ott can do against the Tigers’ defense. That may very well be a canary in the coal mine situation for Auburn for the rest of the season’s outlook.
- Idaho-Wyoming: SP+ is calling this one a toss-up after the Vandals gave Oregon everything they wanted and more last weekend. Worth keeping an eye on if the back end steps out from the other games and you want a finish.
Primetime Shift
- Nicholls-LSU: Win one for John Emery.
- Colorado-Nebraska: I am legally required to include this game.
- App State-Clemson: “0-2? The only man I owe anything to is Jesus.”
- Virginia-Wake Forest: Should be a pretty fun game. Worth watching if for no other reason than Wake’s slow mesh is such bullshit (complimentary).
Robert Kekaula/Mike Leach Memorial Shift
- Texas Tech-Washington State: The RKMS is unseasonably full of heaters this week, including the Mike Leach Bowl between the Red Raiders and Cougars, made even better by the fact that it should be a pretty good game. Swing your sword.
- Mississippi State-Arizona State: Jeff Lebby’s first real test as Bulldogs head coach is a late kick out in the desert against an ascendent Sun Devils program. Not sure what else you need to know.
- Oregon State-San Diego State: Not a conference game, but an alliance game between the last remnants of the PAC and a Mountain West school. Jonathan Smith is departed from Corvallis, and I will give a free koozie to anybody who can guess who is the head coach of the Beavers in the comments. Regardless, SP+ is calling this one a virtual toss-up.
- Liberty-New Mexico State: The plan? New Mexico State drags the game out as long as possible so that it extends into Sunday, and reserve a chair in the corner of the endzone for Jerry Falwell, Jr. to watch from.