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The SEC has the only two Top 25 battles this week in the FBS, but there are other interesting matchups that fall a bit short of their usual marquee value.
Using the College Football Playoff Committee Rankings as the guide, No. 3 Georgia is a 2.5-point favorite at No. 16 Ole Miss, but a 4.42-point underdog in the Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com. The Rebels snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series when these teams last met in Oxford in 2016. They've only played once since then, with Georgia rolling 52-17 in Athens last year.
Meanwhile, Alabama treks to LSU as a 2.5-point favorite and the computer gives the Tide a little more separation at 4.89 points. Alabama recorded its 1,000th win over Missouri two weeks and enjoyed last week off. Only Michigan has more wins with 1,009. Ohio State (983) and Notre Dame (976) are 3rd and 4th on the list.
The Bayou Bengals also had a bye week after falling 38-23 at Texas A&M.
The undercard includes the Holy War rivalry between BYU and Utah in Salt Lake City. That game, as well as Florida State at Notre Dame, and Clemson at Virginia Tech, fall a bit short on the hype this year. FSU takes a miserable 1-8 record to South Bend, while the Tigers and Hokies are both coming off losses that would have otherwise made this an ACC battle to hang near the top. Clemson is still just one game out after falling to Louisville at home, but Virginia Tech is now 2 games back after the overtime loss at Syracuse.
The Hokies are less than 4 minutes away for the entire season of being 9-0.
FanDuel.com NCAAF odds have BYU by 3.5 at Utah, Notre Dame by a whopping 24.5 over FSU, and Clemson by 6.5 at Virginia Tech. The computer has the Cougars by 0.13, the Irish by 21.09, and the Tigers by 1.77.
SEE: Complete schedule and picks.
This doesn't mean other games are not worth watching. After all, 22 of this week's 50 games have a projected computer margin of 6.71 points or less. Four of those games are under a single point, highlighted by Colorado's 0.06-point underdog status at Texas Tech.
The Dawgs and the Rebels meet for just the second time since 2016, and boy is it a big one.
There’s about to be a mad dash for playoff berths among SEC programs, with Georgia and Ole Miss squarely in the hunt. The Bulldogs continue to look vulnerable, even as the nation’s second-ranked team; too many turnovers and not enough domination based on the depth and talent of their roster. Meanwhile, the two-loss Rebels are coming off their best game of the year, a 63-31 bludgeoning at Arkansas. If Ole Miss can build off its Week 10 performance and upset Georgia, it’ll have the inside track on one of those coveted CFP bids.
Michigan is playing spoiler. Indiana is playing for a spot in the conference title game. Yeah, it’s been a strange year in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers have already handled one Michigan team this month, spotting the Spartans an early 10-point lead before reeling off 47 straight points. Not only is Kurtis Rourke back at quarterback, but the defense continues to play with an opportunistic mindset. The Wolverines keeps fading into obscurity, needing one win in the final three games for bowl eligibility. An upset in Bloomington would show the fan base that Sherrone Moore can fire his players up even when titles aren’t at stake for the first November in years.
No. 11 Alabama and No. 14 LSU at night in Death Valley with playoff survival at stake. It really doesn’t get much better than this in the SEC.
The Crimson Tide and the Tigers have each stumbled twice, so one more loss likely ends their 2024 playoff aspirations. But, like most every year, both are littered with blue-chippers which means a win here could be the catalyst for a hot streak that continues right through November. Neither program has been air-tight on defense this season, so there could be points and a lot of chunk plays. The quarterbacks, Jalen Milroe and Garrett Nussmeier, were up-and-down in October, so it’ll be interesting to see how they perform in this first game of November.
No. 9 BYU is a contender for championships in 2024. This will be Utah’s version of a championship game if it can ruin the Cougars’ perfect season.
The Holy War resumes after a three-year hiatus. BYU won the last meeting in 2021, which means the Utes have had to wait more than three long years for redemption. This has been a positively miserable season in Salt Lake City, but all that will be forgotten if Utah can snap its four-game losing streak in front of the Rice-Eccles crowd. The Cougars have been terrific all year, with signature wins over Kansas State and one-loss SMU. They’re the last Big 12 team without a conference loss, though Iowa State and Colorado are breathing down their necks.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best player with the Maxwell Award. CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel.
Here’s a look at some of last week’s standout performances on offense.
Now that’s more like it, Rebels. Ole Miss, which had been having issues on offense absolutely exploded on Arkansas for 63 points and 694 yards. Dart and his favorite target on the day, Jordan Watkins, rewrote the school record books. The QB completed 25-of-31 for 515 yards, and six touchdowns, five to Watkins. This is the kind of win that can propel the Rebs right back into the College Football Playoff conversation.
You thought it was tough stopping Ashton Jeanty under normal circumstances? Just wait until Madsen starts carving up defenses on play-action. Jeanty got his numbers in Friday night’s 56-24 dismantling of San Diego State, but Madsen did as well in his best effort of the year. The scrappy sophomore set personal-bests for completions (24), passing yards (307), and TD passes (4), while throwing no picks in a tight effort that’ll force defensive coordinators to respect the Bronco passing attack.
FIU handled New Mexico State Tuesday night, 34-13, to remain mathematically alive for bowl-eligibility. Rivers was the unstoppable star on the outside for the Panthers. The 5-11, 174-pound Chattanooga native shredded the Aggies D on 11 catches for a school-record 295 yards and three of Keyone Jenkins’ four TD passes. Rivers’ 295 yards is the second-most by an FBS player this season.
South Carolina let a game versus LSU slip through their fingertips. Against Alabama, the Gamecocks fell short by two points. However, on Saturday night in front of a wild home crowd, they broke through with a 44-20 win over No. 10 Texas A&M. South Carolina rushed for 286 yards, getting 144 yards and two pivotal TDs from Sanders. Rocket also led the Gamecocks with five receptions for 92 yards to finish with 236 yards from scrimmage.
The Blazers got record-setting performances from Shanks and QB Jalen Kitna in a 59-21 homecoming blowout of Tulsa. Kitna threw six TD passes while Shanks set the single-game school record with 311 all-purpose yards. The 5-8, 180-pound redshirt freshman caught five passes for 153 yards and scored four touchdowns, three as a receiver and one on a 58-yard punt return.
The Sun Devils were primed for a post-bye bump, and that’s exactly what they got in Stillwater. ASU hammered host Oklahoma State, 42-21, behind Skattebo, one of the most versatile playmakers in America. The 5-11, 215-pound battering ram softened the Cowboy D with 153 yards and a TD on the ground while adding four catches for 121 yards and two more scores.
Never count out the Cardiac Canes as long as Ward is leading the huddle. Miami trailed Duke, 28-17, in the second half before the offense erupted for 36 points in the final 22 minutes of a comfortable win. Ward, as he’s done all season, lit the fuse to help keep his team’s record unblemished. The Maxwell Award contender threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns, three to Xavier Restrepo, on 25-of-41 passing.
Washington began the season buried on the depth chart, not getting his first snap until Week 3. However, he’s now the future of the ground game in Waco. Washington has been one of the key pieces of Baylor’s winning streak that reached three games with Saturday’s thrilling victory over TCU. The redshirt freshman set season-highs with 26 carries for 196 yards and four touchdowns, two in the crucial stages of the final quarter.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best defensive player with the Chuck Bednarik Award. CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel.
Here’s a look at some of last week’s standout defenders.
Survive and advance. It’s a motto that’s been working for the Dawgs this season. Georgia got all it could handle from rival Florida in Jacksonville before pulling away for a 34-20 victory. Allen headlined a collaborative defensive effort that helped move his team to 7-1. The 6-1, 235-pound sophomore racked up a team-high eight tackles, his first interception of the year, and two hurries of Gator quarterbacks.
There’s suddenly hope in Chapel Hill that Carolina can finish this season with momentum. Since bottoming out with four straight losses, the Heels have battled back with consecutive routs of Virginia and Florida State. Yeah, UVA and FSU aren’t ACC contenders, but Mack Brown is still pleased with the way his kids are playing. Against the Noles, RB Omarion Hampton scored five times, and Atkinson whipped the FSU blockers to the tune of 4.5 stops behind the line and 3.5 sacks.
The Huskies have had their share of issues in this debut season in the Big Ten, but they remain unbeatable in Seattle. U-Dub ran its home winning streak to 19 games with a victory over USC Saturday night, 26-21. Bruener, the veteran in the middle, was a three-down rock on defense. He not only made a game-high dozen stops, but he also picked off two Miller Moss passes and broke up two others.
It was Separation Saturday in the ACC in Week 10, with SMU and Miami emerging as the favorites to meet in Charlotte on Dec. 7. In the conference game of the week, the Mustangs thoroughly outclassed Pitt, 48-25, to remain unbeaten in league play. Speedy RB Brashard Smith sparked the offense, while Harrison-Hunte was a force on the interior of the D. The former Miami Hurricane had three tackles and a sack to go along with five total pressures and a solid PFF grade of 86.6.
The Buckeyes survived Happy Valley Saturday to remain very much in the hunt for a Big Ten title and a rematch with Oregon. Ohio State allowed just three points on three Penn State red zone trips, the difference in the 20-13 victory. Igbinosun had four tackles and an unreal interception in his own end zone to thwart a Nittany Lion drive. His PFF grade of 90.7 was the highest among all Power 4 cornerbacks in Week 10.
QB Kurtis Rourke is back in the lineup. The defense continues to look great. All is right in Bloomington. The Hoosiers scored 47 unanswered points Saturday to coast past Michigan State and move to 9-0. Rourke was exceptional, throwing four TDs, and Kamara headlined a D that’s yielded just 34 points in the last three blowouts. Kamara, who followed coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison, had seven stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks to remain atop the Big Ten in TFLs and sacks.
The Red Raiders shocked No. 10 Iowa State Saturday afternoon, going into Ames and handing the Cyclones their first loss of the season. Texas Tech got the winning score from RB Tahj Brooks in the waning seconds, while Rodriguez sparked the defense. The Week 6 Bednarik Award Player of the Week helped stuff the ISU ground game with a team-best 13 tackles, including 2.5 stops for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble.
The Bruins are beginning to feel it as DeShaun Foster’s debut season as the coach enters its final month. UCLA has won back-to-back Big Ten road games to remain alive in the quest for bowl eligibility. In Week 10, the Bruins stunned Nebraska in Lincoln, 27-20, behind another solid defensive effort. Schwesinger is the unquestioned face of the unit, making a game-high 13 tackles Saturday, including a sack and two pass break-ups.
The Maxwell Football Club supports former Alabama and Seattle Seahawks star RB Shaun Alexander in annually naming the top college freshman.
A box score rarely does justice to the impact of a disruptor like Stewart. The box score says the true freshman had a pair of tackles and one sack. The film says he treated the Texas A&M tackles as if they were standing still. Stewart’s nine total pressures tied with Indiana’s Mikail Kamara for most among Week 10 defenders, and his 34% win rate was exceptional. His bend and explosiveness already make him one of the game’s best pass rushers in just his first season.
Oklahoma defeated Maine 59-14 in the only FBS-FCS matchup last week. THere are no such games this week.
FBS schools are 110-6 in such games this season. They are a cumulative 1,910-158 (.924) since we began tracking this in 2003.
In 2024, there were 121 scheduled matchups between FBS and FCS schools with 119 schools playing one such game, while Hawaii and UMass each play two.
This year, 15 schools do not play a FCS opponent and 5 are in the B1G (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC and UCLA). Texas is the only school in the SEC that will not play a FCS program. The same is true for Virginia Tech in the ACC. In fact, Texas and Virginia Tech, along with Michigan and Houston, are repeats from last year's list of schools that played all FBS programs.
2024 FCS wins vs. FBS:
August 24: Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
September 7: St. Francis (PA) 23, Kent State 17
September 7: Idaho 17, Wyoming 13
September 7: Southern Utah 27, UTEP 24 (OT)
September 21: Monmouth 45, FIU 42
September 28: UT-Martin 24, Kennesaw 13
In 2023, FBS schools were 114-4. These were the FCS wins last year:
September 9: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
September 9: Southern Illinois 14, Northern Illinois 12
September 9: Fordham 40, Buffalo 37
September 16: Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23
ARMY - Won 12 straight overall.
Last: Won 20-3 at home over Air Force on Saturday, November 2.
Next: Visits North Texas on Saturday, November 9.
OREGON - Won 15 straight regular season games
Last: won 38-17 at Michigan on Saturday, November 2.
Next: Hosts Maryland on Saturday, November 9.
GEORGIA - Won 28 straight home games.
Last: Won 34-20 over Florida in Jacksonville on Saturday, November 2.
Next: Visits Ole Miss on Saturday, November 9.
TULANE - Won 17 straight conference games.
Last: Won 34-3 at Charlotte on Thursday, October 31.
Next: Hosts Temple on Saturday, November 9.
TEXAS - Won 9 straight true road games (at opposition venue) - tied with SMU.
Last: Won 27-24 at Vanderbilt on Saturday, October 26.
Next: After a bye week, hosts Florida on Saturday, November 9.
SMU - Won 9 straight true road games (at opposition venue) - tied with Texas.
Last - Won 48-25 at home over Pitt on Saturday, November 2.
Next: After a bye week, hosts Boston College on Saturday, November 16.
KENT STATE - Lost 17 straight over-all. Lost 12 straight conference games. Lost 7 straight home games.
Last: Lost 52-21 Western Michigan on Saturday, October 26.
Next: After a bye week, hosts Ohio on Wednesday, November 6.
STANFORD - Lost 13 straight home games to FBS foes.
Last: Lost 59-28 at home to NC State on Saturday on Saturday, November 2.
Next: After a bye week, hosts Louisville on Wednesday, November 16.
TEMPLE - Lost 18 straight true road games.
Last: Lost 56-34 at Visits East Carolina on Saturday, October 26.
Next: After a bye week, visits Tulane on Saturday, November 9.