COLLEGE GAME PREVIEWS Week 8

October 19, 2018

Sat Oct. 20th NOON/ET FOX
MICHIGAN (6-1) BY 5 @ MICHIGAN STATE (4-2)
The Wolverines clearly deserve their Top 10 ranking and their QB PATTERSON is looking more comfortable every week. Now he’s using his legs more rather than forcing throws and the team is benefitting. Now that they have their Big 10 W over Wisconsin to brag on it’s time to tackle their in-state rival. But before we hand the Wolverines another W please keep in mind that it is a road game and the Spartans have some nice talent, just not as much. They are a hard team to figure out with some very impressive performances offset by some clunkers. They are a young team, but very experienced from extended playing time for many of their youngsters last season. The Wolverines should handle things, but if Sparty starts strong I think Michigan will have a hard time coming from behind. But I’ll still pick Michigan by less than a TD.
Wolverine prospects to watch include:
#22 KARAN HIGDON RB 5’10/200
#76 JUWANN BUSHELL-BEATTY OT 6’6/310
#3 RASHAN GARY DE 6’5/275 JR* INJ
#90 BRYAN MONE DT 6’4/320
#15 CHASE WINOVICH DE/ER 6’3/255*
#10 DEVIN BUSH LB 5’11/222 JR*
#23 TYREE KINNEL FS 5’11/200

Spartan prospects to watch:
#14 BRIAN LEWERKE QB 6’3/215 JR*
#3 L.J. SCOTT RB 6’1/225
#18 FELTON DAVIS WR 6’4/200*
#81 MATT SOKOL TE 6’5/255
#58 DAVID BEEDLE OG 6’5/325 INJ
#99 RAEQUAN WILLIAMS DT 6’4/295 JR
#5 ANDREW DOWELL LB 6’1/220
#27 KHARI WILLIS SS 6’0/215
#35 JOE BACHIE LB 6’2/230 JR*

Sat Oct. 20th 3:30/ET ESPN
N.C. STATE (5-0) @ CLEMSON (6-0) by 8
I respect the job that DAVE DOERN has done rebuilding the Wolfpack program, but DABO has the horses to beat anyone, including perhaps Alabama. Both teams are rested, coming off a BYE week. But a full weeks practices taking all reps with the starting unit, should help Frosh QB TREVOR LAWRENCE #16 the most. I also think the Clemson D, especially the front 4, will make life miserable for State QB FINLEY. And it’s being played at Clemson. This would indeed be a major upset if Clemson did not win, But I don’t think I see a blowout.
Wolfpack pro prospects to watch:
#15 RYAN FINLEY QB 6’4/210*
#3 KELVIN HARMON WR 6’3/215 JR*
#25 REGGIE GALLASPY RB 5’11/218
#53 TYLER JONES OT 6’3/300*
#91 EURNDRAUS BRYANT DT 6’1/315
#45 DARIAN ROSEBORO DE 6’4/295
#3 GERMAINE PRATT LB 6’3/245*
#14 DEXTER WRIGHT FS 6’1/200

CLEMSON prospects to watch include:
#13 HUNTER RENFROW WR 5’10/180
#28 TAVIEN FEASTER RB 5’11/220 JR
#75 MITCH HYATT OT 6’5/305
#99 CLELIN FERRELL DE 6’5/260 JR*
#90 DEXTER LAWRENCE DT 6’4/340 JR*
#42 CHRISTIAN WILKINS DT 6’4/300 *
#7 AUSTIN BRYANT DE 6’5/265 *
#34 KENDALL JOSEPH LB 6’0/225
#57 TRE LAMAR IB 6’4/250 JR*
#2 MARK FIELDS CB 5’11/180

Sat Oct. 20 7PM/ET ESPN
MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-2) @ L.S.U. (6-1) by 3
This game is critical for both teams. State already has 2 SEC losses and has to get on a winning streak to shoot for a New Year’s Bowl spot. LSU has only the 1 loss and a showdown with ‘Bama in two weeks. They cannot let down in this contest. Their D must play tough to control QB FITZGERALD, because I doubt the LSU Offense is going to score a lot on State’s very talented D. Look for a low scoring slugfest, with a night game in Death Valley being a key to an LSU triumph.
Bulldog prospects include:
#7 NICK FITZGERALD QB 6’4/230 *
#22 AERIS WILLIAMS RB 6’1/220
#86 JESSE JACKSON WR 6’2/210
#74 ELGTON JENKINS OC 6’4/315*
#61 DEION CALHOUN OG 6’3/320
#9 MONTEZ SWEAT OB/DE 6’6/240*
#94 JEFFERY SIMMONS DT 6’4/300 JR*
#4 GERRI GREEN DE 6’4/255
#38 JOHNATHAN ABRAM SS 6’0/210*
#41 MARK McLAURIN FS 6’2/215*

LSU pro prospects to watch:
#4 NICK BROSSETTE RB 6’0/215
#18 FOSTER MOREAU TE 6’6/255
#78 GARRETT BRUMFIELD OG 6’3/300 INJ
#36 COLE TRACY K 6’0/185
#90 RASHARD LAWRENCE DL 6’3/300 JR*
#40 DEVIN WHITE IB 6’1/250 JR*
#29 GREEDY WILLIAMS CB 6’2/185 RSo*
#26 JOHN BATTLE SS 6’3/205

Sat Oct. 20. 7:30PM/ET FOX
OREGON (5-1) @ WASHINGTON STATE (5-1) by 3
Yep, I am taking the boys from Pullman to pull off the upset. Mad genius HC MIKE LEACH had a bye week to get ready for this one and I am sure has cooked up some special delights to throw at the Ducks, who are coming off an emotional OT Win over Washington. The Ducks have superior personnel talent overall, but LEACH gets guys to play over their heads most of the time. Some folks say I do not pick enough upsets, so here you go. A special alert to watch for HERBERT @ QB. He’s the best QB pro prospect in the country. He might be the only Round 1 QB in 2019 if he comes out.
OREGON prospects you should be watching:
#10 JUSTIN HERBERT QB 6’6/235 JR*
#13 DILLON MITCHELL WR 6’1/190 JR*
#27 JACOB BREELAND TE 6’5/245 JR
#97 JALEN JELKS DE/ER 6’6/245
#11 JUSTIN HOLLINS OB 6’5/235
#35 TROY DYE IB 6’4/235 JR*
#7 UGO AMADI S 5’9/200*

COUGARS you should be watching:
#16 GARDNER MINSHEW QB 6’2/215 SR
#32 JAMES WILLIAMS RB 5’11/200 JR
#60 ANDRE DILLARD OT 6’5/305 *
#47 PEYTON PELLEUR LB 6’5/225
#34 JALEN THOMPSON FS 6’0/195 JR*

Enjoy folks many games take on serious impact as he head into the final 4-5 games for many teams. Lots of equity means lots of tight contests.

Pigskin