2022 College Football Best Games of the Week: Week 8

2022 College Football Best Games of the Week: Week 8

In this post last week, I mentioned that the games were going to be great and we were in store for potential upsets. Boy, that couldn’t have been more true. Alabama went down to Tennesee in the game of the year, USC fell victim to the dreaded trap game, Penn State got rocked by Michigan, and plenty more. This week, the action slows a little but we are still in store for some fantastic games. As always, I proudly bring you the best games of the week in College Football!

Honorable Mention: Kansas at Baylor, Boston College at No. 13 Wake Forest, Texas A&M at South Carolina, No. 21 Cincinnati at SMU

5) No. 17 Kansas State at No. 8 TCU (8:00 p.m. ET, FS1)

We start our list of the best games of the week in College Football with a defensive powerhouse against a high-octane offense. The Kansas State Wildcats come into the week with the 14th-best defense in the nation, giving up just 16.7ppg. However, they are going to have their hands full with TCU WR Quentin Johnston, who right now is playing his way into being a Biletnikoff Award sleeper. In the last two weeks alone, he has 22 catches for 386 yards and 3 TDs. At 6’4 215 lbs, he must be accounted for at all times. If Kansas State can keep TCU at or under 27 points, this will be closer than some might think.

4) No. 20 Texas at No. 11 Oklahoma State (3:30 p.m., ABC)

Is Texas back? With Quinn Ewers under center, they just might be. Ewers has been solid when he’s been on the field this season, being incredibly accurate with the ball and making all the right reads. He will be tested against an Oklahoma State defensive line that is fifth in the nation in tackles for loss. The Cowboys hung well with TCU last week, but ultimately suffered their first loss of the season in overtime 43-40. There are question marks surrounding Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders and his injured throwing shoulder. If he isn’t 100% or close to it, this could be a long night at home.

3) No. 14 Syracuse at No. 5 Clemson (12:00 p.m., ABC)

This Syracuse Orange team has shocked folks this year. Sean Tucker, who I was very high on coming into the year, has continued his great play from last year and is seeing his draft stock skyrocket, but it is the defense that has people in awe. This Syracuse defense ranks 8th in the nation in total defense, allowing just 268 yards per game and a points-per-game average of 13.2. This Clemson offense is finally hitting its stride, but it will be fun to watch who can get their offense going first.

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2) No. 24 Mississippi State at No. 6 Alabama (7:00 p.m., ESPN)

Last week, Alabama suffered a heartbreaking loss on the road at Tennessee in what will go down as the best game of the year. That hangover can either motivate the Crimson Tide, or they will come out flat-footed. A few things to consider are that this Alabama team is incredibly undisciplined and this secondary is in shambles right now. Will Rodgers for Mississippi State will be chomping at the bits to air it out against this secondary unit. If Alabama doesn’t tighten a few things up, they could be staring down the barrel of a second loss this season.

Our Best Game of the Week: No. 9 UCLA at No. 10 Oregon (3:30 p.m., FOX)

What’s better than a top-ten matchup?

A top-ten matchup in the conference.

Chip Kelly makes another return to Autzen Stadium, where he is 0-2, and 0-3 lifetime since leaving Oregon. However, he brings in a dynamic rushing attack that could net him his first road victory since. Both Zach Charbonnet and Dorian Thompson-Robinson have looked solid for the Bruins, with each man having his moments this season and having a combined yards per carry average of 6.6. Oregon only allows 3.7 yards per carry, and have given up 8 rushing TDs this season, but four of those came against Georgia in the season opener.

For Oregon, this game will ride on the shoulders of Bo Nix. Nix is completing a career-high 70.4% of passes, nearly 10 percentage points higher than his previous record. Nix is averaging 8.3 yards per carry with 5 rushing TDs on the year. While Nix won’t light the world on fire with passing stats, he does have the 10th-best QBR in the nation at 85.6. If UCLA can force Nix to beat them with the long ball, that might prove to be Oregon’s downfall.

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