Heading into the most important weekend of the school football season thus far, there is a multitude of matchups that can pique folks’s curiosity throughout the nation.
The ACC and SEC every have two showdowns involving ranked opponents with one every involving groups among the many prime 11 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. There’s additionally a key conflict within the Big 12 that includes the 2 groups that made the convention championship sport.
Each of those showdowns may come right down to one key matchup that determines the winner and loser. To handle these potential turning factors, listed here are the 5 greatest questions for Saturday:
Who wins the quarterback matchup between Spencer Sanders, Blake Shapen?
Shapen was making his second begin when he outdueled Sanders as Baylor beat Oklahoma State in final yr’s Big 12 championship sport. Shapen threw for 3 touchdowns, whereas his counterpart had 4 interceptions, and the sport was determined by a fourth-down cease by the Bears on the 1-yard line within the closing minute.
Follow each sport: Live NCAA College Football Scores
The matchup in Waco supplies the chance for Sanders to get redemption. He’s been sensible by three begins this season, throwing for 305.3 yards per sport and 10 touchdowns. The competitors will get a lot more durable this week, nevertheless, as Baylor’s protection will probably be stingy. Shapen has been stable for Baylor since assuming the job this offseason. His one bobble got here in a loss at Brigham Young, however he rebounded with a pleasant displaying final week at Iowa State. With each defenses geared to cease the run, the one quarterback that features the very best within the passing sport offers his group a major benefit.
Has Alabama fastened its move safety points?
In the one shut sport we’ve seen Alabama play to date, Bryce Young appeared to have respectable statistics. He accomplished 27 of 39 passes for 213 yards and a landing with out a choose at Texas. Those who watched the sport, nevertheless, noticed him always below duress. Though he was solely sacked twice, the Longhorns had been credited with seven quarterback hurries, and the Tide by no means did, as they prefer to say, roll.
Enter Arkansas, which is averaging 5 sacks a sport. Young and Co. have had a few weeks to retool, however how will the road reply as the extent of competitors is ramped up as soon as once more? If the reigning Heisman winner in opposition to struggles on the street with little time to throw then there is a good probability the Razorbacks can pull a shock.
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Is the Clemson secondary the remedy for what ails the N.C. State passing sport?
With one of many nation’s prime returning quarterbacks in Devin Leary together with two of his vital receivers, massive issues had been anticipated for the Wolfpack aerial assault this season. So far, that hasn’t been the case. Leary hasn’t been unhealthy, finishing 64% of his throws with 9 touchdowns and simply two picks. But general the group is averaging 253.5 passing yards a sport to rank 62nd nationally, squarely in the course of the pack.
Conditions won’t be best for stretching the sector Saturday evening, however Leary and speedster Thayer Thomas will nonetheless wish to take a look at the Tigers’ secondary that was torched for six touchdowns final week by Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman. Leary might not equal these numbers, however absolutely there’s a possibility to get on monitor and that will probably be what’s wanted in opposition to Clemson in Death Valley.
Does Chris Rodriguez’s return repair Kentucky’s working offense?
The numbers for the Wildcats aren’t fairly. They’ve managed simply 81.5 dashing yards per sport and a couple of.4 yards per carry in 4 video games with out their all-SEC working again. That places them nearly on the backside of the Bowl Subdivision in each classes. Until now, these poor outcomes have not stopped Kentucky from beginning unbeaten, nevertheless its hardest take a look at comes at No. 11 Mississippi this week.
Rodriguez, who was suspended for the primary 4 video games, supplies a wanted risk to the bottom assault along with his bodily model. But he isn’t a cure-all. The offensive line goes to should do its half, too. So far, Will Levis has been carrying the Kentucky offense, however his numbers at Florida – the one Power Five opponent on the schedule thus far – had been simply so-so. The Wildcats escaped as a result of their protection arrange one quick scoring drive with an interception and took the lead within the fourth quarter once they returned one other one for a landing. Asking that to occur once more is unrealistic, so a balanced assault is required for a key SEC street win.
How good is Florida State’s protection?
We completely will discover out in opposition to Wake Forest, which simply put up 45 factors in opposition to Clemson with begin quarterback Sam Hartman throwing for six touchdowns. The Seminoles have seemed a lot improved on the defensive aspect of the ball in beginning 4-0. They’re permitting simply 310.5 yards and 18.8 per sport. The secondary has been notably good in slowing down some good quarterbacks in wins in opposition to LSU, Louisville and Boston College. Hartman and his receivers for the Demon Deacons are one other story. He’s going to maneuver the ball and put up factors. But he needs to be slowed down or Florida State is one other disappointing defeat that has come too typically just lately.
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