Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)

WHAT TO WATCH

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GAME OF THE WEEK Michigan (5-1, 3-1Big Ten) at Penn

State (6-0, 3-0): The Wolverines’ new offense is yet to impress against a quality opponent. Here’s an opportunit­y against one of the nation’s best defenses. The Nittany Lions have allowed 19 points in three Big Ten games. Penn State is in the middle of a challengin­g stretch. After playing Michigan at home, trips to Michigan State and Minnesota are next. HEISMAN WATCH LSU’s Joe Burrow, whose performanc­e against Florida further enhanced his credential­s, goes against a middling defense at Mississipp­i State. Burrow was just so-so against the Bulldogs last year. He and the LSU offense are way different than they were then. Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts will try to make the Sooners 8-0against West Virginia since the Mountainee­rs joined the Big 12in 2012. Through six games he’s matched 2018 Heisman winner Kyler Murray’s passing numbers and has surpassed his rushing numbers. Tua Tagovailoa enters Alabama’s home game against Tennessee having thrown for 1,155 yards and 15touchdow­ns with one intercepti­on against three SEC opponents. NUMBERS GAME 7: Total points by which Pittsburgh has won its last three games. 8: Texas wide receivers who have scored touchdowns. 16: Consecutiv­e games Oklahoma has scored at least 30points, the longest streak in the nation. 22: Consecutiv­e games Mississipp­i State has recorded a takeaway, the longest active streak in the nation. 1933: The last year Oregon held its first three conference opponents under 10 points. UNDER THE RADAR No. 18Baylor (6-0, 3-0Big 12) at Oklahoma State (4-2, 1-2): The Bears’ sack-happy defense goes against the highest-ranked offense it’s seen so far. Oklahoma State is coming off an open date and looking to get back on track after losing two of its last three. Temple (5-1, 2-0American) at No. 19 SMU (6-0, 2-0): SMU is 6-0 for the first time since 1982, but only one of those wins was against a team that has a winning record. The Owls have beaten two ranked opponents. Louisiana-Monroe (3-3, 2-0Sun Belt) at No. 24Appalach­ian State (5-0, 2-0): Mountainee­rs have their highest ranking since joining the FBS ranks in 2014. Two of the Warhawks’ three losses are against Power Five teams, and they’ve won both of their Sun Belt games by double digits. HOT SEAT WATCH Kalani Sitake’s BYU Cougars enter their home game against Boise State having lost three straight since the overtime home win over Southern California. That leaves Sitake 22-23in four seasons, 13-19since he went 9-4in 2016. Road losses to Toledo and South Florida in consecutiv­e weeks — games in which the Cougars were favored — have left the fan base squirming.

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