Showdowns set in both Pac-12 divisions
What to watch in Week 8 of the college football season:
No. 12 Oregon at No. 23 Washington
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC Danny Sheridan’s line: Oregon by 21⁄2
Although more than a month remains of the college football season, this weekend could settle both divisions of the Pac-12. Oregon (5-1, 3-0), the one league member that can still cling to a modicum of a chance to reach the College Football Playoff, will look to stay two games clear of the field in the loss column and all but sew up the North. The Huskies will need help to chase down the Ducks even with a win, but last week’s performance was encouraging.
After a puzzling power outage at Stanford two weeks ago, Washington (5-2, 2-2) bounced back with an offensive explosion against Arizona. Both QB Jacob Eason and RB Salvon Ahmed got involved in the 51-27 romp. But the Ducks are also finding their wings, hanging 45 points on Colorado after struggling a bit against the stout defenses of Stanford and California. Oregon QB Justin Herbert is up to 17 scoring throws with just one pick, making extensive use of TE Jacob Breeland.
Prediction: Despite playing at home, Washington will continue its pattern of inconsistent play. The Huskies will do some good things, but not enough to overcome the Ducks’ more numerous weapons.
Oregon, 34-20
No. 25 Temple at No. 19 SMU
Saturday,
ESPN2
Danny
SMU by 7
The American Athletic Conference has a classic good news/bad news scenario. The 3:30 p.m. Sheridan’s ET, line: league now has multiple members ranked in the top 25, but unfortunately a couple of them must play each other. The Mustangs (6-0, 2-0), who enjoyed a week off since joining the coaches poll for the first time in over 30 years, now tries to stay in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl. The Owls have already toppled two ranked opponents on their home field this season.
SMU’s win against neighborhood rival TCU, snapping a seven-game skid in the series, brought the team to the attention of poll voters. A huge rally to overtake Tulsa in the Mustangs’ most recent outing got them into the top 25. The driving force is former Texas transfer QB Shane Buechele, whose big-play targets include WRs Reggie Roberson and James Proche. Temple (5-1, 2-0) isn’t quite as explosive, but its opportunistic defense helped home victories that knocked Maryland and Memphis out of the polls. QB Anthony Russo relies on ball control with help from RBs Re’Mahn Davis and Jager Gardner.
Prediction: The Owls aren’t quite as reliable when they leave Philadelphia. The experienced Mustangs should avoid the miscues that aided Temple’s biggest wins.
SMU, 37-24
No. 18 Baylor at Oklahoma State
Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox Danny Sheridan’s line: Oklahoma State by 3
Two Big 12 squads remain unscathed at the midpoint of the campaign. For Oklahoma, that was expected. The surprise is Baylor (6-0, 3-0), seemingly well ahead of schedule in coach Matt Rhule’s rebuilding project. The Bears have been somewhat fortunate in a couple of close calls, but they’ll try to keep finding ways to win as they venture to Stillwater. The Cowboys (4-2, 1-2), who’ve had a couple of weeks to stew over a loss to Texas Tech, don’t figure to be accommodating hosts.
Baylor has certainly exhibited a flair for the dramatic, topping Iowa State with a last-second field goal and outlasting Texas Tech in an overtime track meet. QB Charlie Brewer leads the attack, but future star Gerry Bohanon might provide the occasional change of pace. The Cowboys would be equally comfortable in a high-scoring affair. They have outstanding playmakers like WR Tylan Wallace and RB Chuba Hubbard to help out freshman QB Spencer Sanders.
Prediction: Here’s where Baylor’s luck runs out. Sanders still shows he’s a freshman on occasion, but the week off should have given all of the Cowboys time to regroup and put together a complete performance at home.
Oklahoma State, 44-31
No. 17 Arizona State at No. 14 Utah
Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Danny Sheridan’s line: Utah by 131⁄2
This clash for first place in the Pac-12 South probably deserves a wider audience. Then again, TV schedule makers can be forgiven if they didn’t anticipate this game being a firstplace showdown in the division. Both the Utes and the Sun Devils (5-1, 2-1) will still have work to do, but the winner will have a big leg up.
The Sun Devils have shown remarkable adaptability, able to prevail in a defensive slugfest like the game at Michigan State or a shootout like last week’s back-and-forth duel with Washington State. The clash with the Utes’ stiff defense figures to resemble the former, though the development of freshman QB Jayden Daniels has been evident as the season has progressed. Utah (5-1, 2-1) has regained the services of senior RB Zack Moss, who’d been out with a shoulder injury, in last week’s romp past Oregon State. He’ll be needed against the ASU defense, and QB Tyler Huntley will have to provide some air cover as well.
Prediction: Though Utah will be in friendly territory, there doesn’t figure to be many big plays. That could serve to take the crowd factor away and help the visiting Sun Devils to a hard-fought victory.
Arizona State, 20-13
No. 16 Michigan at No. 7 Penn State
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC Danny Sheridan’s line: Penn State by 71⁄2
Both of these Big Ten East challengers face future dates with Ohio State, so it goes without saying that this is a virtual must-win for each. In theory, the Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0) have some margin for error since they enter without a loss, but they can’t afford to let this prime-time opportunity in front of their raucous fans slip away. If the Wolverines (5-1, 3-1) can somehow get out of State College with a “W,” the narrative of another season of underachievement would suddenly get turned on its head.
Neither team has been particularly effective putting up points against Big Ten-caliber defenses. That’s a bit more understandable in Penn State’s case with first-year starter Sean Clifford at quarterback. His attack has gotten a boost from freshman RB Noah Cain, who made pivotal plays in the win at Iowa a week ago. Wolverines QB Shea Patterson got a needed tuneup against Illinois to regain confidence from his encounter with Iowa. He’ll have to be at his best in these hostile environs.
Prediction: The Wolverines’ defense is good enough to keep it close for a while, but the Nittany Lions will eventually build a multi-score advantage and put it on ice.
Penn State, 27-10