The past three weekends of college football have each delivered a stunning top-10 upset to shake up the College Football Playoff and conference standings. Now Week 10 is here and everyone is hoping Saturday’s matchups will do the same.
Week 10 of the season features an SEC East clash between No. 8 Georgia and No. 6 Florida. The excitement doesn’t end there. Kansas and Kansas State will battle it out for the Governor’s Cup. Meanwhile, TCU and Oklahoma State will be exchanging blows in a conference battle with explosive potential.
There will be plenty of compelling matchups this weekend for football fans to enjoy. Now let’s take a look at the burning questions that will capture Week 10’s most prominent college football games.
Can Georgia’s offense end its woes against No. 6 Florida’s defense?
The Bulldogs’ offense isn’t firing on all cylinders lately. Fromm is coming off a 35-yard performance on 12 pass attempts in a win over Kentucky just a week after he committed four turnovers in the upset loss to South Carolina.
Georgia needs Fromm to be more than the proverbial game manager. It needs him to hit a few plays deep down the field, execute on play-action throws and to navigate Florida’s dangerous pass rush. The Bulldogs’ CFB Playoff hopes are on the line this Saturday and it will be up to Fromm’s arm to either save them or sink them.
Who steps up in the Sunflower Showdown?
Kansas State enters on a stretch of dominance in the Sunflower Showdown with 10 consecutive victories. It’s also coming off a thrilling victory over Oklahoma. However, Les Miles is building a program that could change Kansas’ fortune.
The Jayhawks have shown an ability to fight in big games this year, including a last-second loss to Texas. Running back Pooka Williams Jr. is capable of taking over a game and Miles’ experience in marquee matchups will help this roster. Kansas State is the favorite, but don’t be surprised if Kansas surprises in the Sunflower Showdown.
Can TCU’s defense find a way to contain Cowboys’ offense?
The Horned Frogs upset Texas in Week 9 with the help of four interceptions. If they want to pick up a big win on the road in Stillwater, it will require the defense to step up once again wih another tough test.
TCU must find a way to limit Chuba Hubbard’s explosive runs. The sophomore leads the country in rushing yards (1,381), ranks second in rushing touchdowns (16) and fourth in yards per carry (6.4) among players with 150-plus carries. If Hubbard breaks off big plays early, it opens up the play-action attack and Tylan Wallace will scorch the Horned Frogs’ secondary. So, it will be critical for TCU to stop Hubbard.
Will No. 15 SMU keep its undefeated season alive vs. No. 24 Memphis?
The Mustangs are back in the national spotlight and a ranked clash with Memphis is the perfect showcase for both programs on ESPN’s College GameDay. SMU brings more talent to the table, but the Tigers can put up plenty of points on their own.
Surprisingly, the Tigers enter as a six-point favorite and the game is expected to be a shootout. Both defenses will allow some big plays on Saturday with Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell and SMU receiver Reggie Roberson the special weapons on each offense. If Mustangs quarterback Shane Buechele avoids mistakes, it can be enough for SMU to move to 9-0 and inch closer to a top-10 spot.
Can USC’s receiving corps lead the Trojans to victory over No. 7 Oregon?
Oregon rebounded from its season-opening loss to Auburn and climbed back into the CFB Playoff picture. If the Ducks want to keep their title hopes alive, though, their secondary must find a way to stop one of the nation’s best receiving corps.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyler Vaughns and Michael Pittman Jr. face a secondary that allowed 406 yards through the air in Week 9. Oregon won’t be able to cover all of them and USC’s freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis thrives at the L.A. Coliseum with a sharp 5-1 TD-INT ratio and a 178.7 quarterback rating. While it might take some big performances, USC’s receivers can help pull off another top-10 upset.