Sep 5, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Louisiana Monroe Warhawks running back DeVontae McNeal (28) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) and defensive tackle Sterling Bailey (58) during the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
- Welcome to Week Five of The Lowe Down.
The latest weather model shows Hurricane Joaquin, a Category 4 storm, stalling out over the Bahamas and turning northeast. But that doesn’t mean the East Coast of the United States won’t be affected by this powerful storm.
Heavy rain and wind will batter the Southeast this weekend and will likely play a major role in the outcome of the Alabama/Georgia and Notre Dame/Clemson games, among others. Yeah, yeah, who knew that a hurricane could be the wildcard in determining which team or teams possibly doesn’t make the College Football Playoff, but that could easily be the case when four of the country’s top teams hook up in Athens and Clemson.
If you’re not going to attend one of these rain-soaked dandies this weekend, get your beverage/s of choice ready, grab the food off the grill, sit back, relax and enjoy the show — all while staying dry wherever it is you choose to stay dry at.
Last week’s record was 16-4, bringing the yearly record to 63-15. To the games we go…
@MattLowe777
Friday, October 2
Memphis (4-0) at South Florida (1-2) 6:00 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, warm, win
South Florida football has been in a tailspin ever since Jim Leavitt left the program in an ugly exit following the 2009 season. Following an 8-5 season in 2010, USF has a record of 15-36 since 2011. And that’s puzzling considering the talent pool in Florida and the resources at South Florida. Conversely, Memphis is a program on the rise under head coach Justin Fuente. Fuente and the Tigers won 10 games last season and tied for the AAC conference title. This year, behind a dynamic offense — led by quarterback Paxton Lynch — that misdirects defenses to death, the Tigers seem poised for even bigger things. Memphis rolls here.
The Lowe Down: Memphis 41, South Florida 23
In other Friday games:
Connecticut 13 at BYU 34
Saturday, October 3
Texas (1-3) at TCU (4-0) 11:00 a.m. CT Weather Forecast: Sunny, warm
Only Tennessee has had tougher luck when it comes to closing out games.
Like the Vols, the Longhorns have dropped two heartbreakers through their first four games. But Texas’ misfortunes have come in back-to-back weeks in a one-point loss to Cal — in which senior kicker Nick Rose shanked a missed PAT that would’ve tied the game — and a three-point loss to Oklahoma State — punter Michael Dickson’s mishandled snap inside his own 10-yard line wound up gift-wrapping the game-winning field goal for the Cowboys.
The one thing Texas has going for it is redshirt freshman dual-threat quarterback Jerrod Heard. Heard has provided the offense with a major spark since replacing Tryone Swoopes as the team’s starter. He’ll need to perform at a high level in Fort Worth however to keep up with a TCU offense that’s scoring at will (51 points per game) behind the right arm of Trevone Boykin and the tremendous play of wideout Josh Doctson, who is coming off an 18-catch, 267-yard performance against Texas Tech.
The Lowe Down: Texas 41, TCU 51
No. 23 West Virginia (3-0) at No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0) 11:00 a.m. CT Weather Forecast: Partly cloudy, light wind
Just how good is West Virginia after wins over Georgia Southern, Liberty and Maryland to open the year? Well, your guess is as good as mine.
But I do know this: the Mountaineers are playing well behind an offense, led by quarterback Skyler Howard, tailbacks Rushel Shell and Wendell Smallwood and wideout Shelton Gibson, that’s averaging 543.3 yards and 41 points per game, and a 3-3-5 defense that currently leads the country in points allowed (7.7).
But those stats seem to be skewed considering the competition.
Oklahoma has won every meeting between these two schools since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, and quarterback Baker Mayfield (1,062 passing yards and 10 TDs; two interceptions), bruising tailback Samaje Perine and wideout Sterling Shepard form a dynamic trio for the Sooners. Combine that with an opportunistic defense and the home crowd, and Bob Stoops’ bunch gets it done at home.
The Lowe Down: West Virginia 23, Oklahoma 31
No. 13 Alabama (3-1) at No. 8 Georgia (4-0) 2:30 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Rain, strong wind
In case you haven’t heard, heavy rain and wind should pound Sanford Stadium all afternoon long as Hurricane Joaquin storms up the East coast. Anytime rain/wind is involved in a football game it becomes the great equalizer. And when I say “equalizer,” I mean it really limits what teams can do execution-wise, especially on offense.
We’ve heard all offseason how good Alabama’s front seven is on defense, and this is the time for guys like A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, Denzel Duval and Reggie Ragland to back that talk up by playing well against a rugged Georgia rush offense that features Nick Chubb, one of the nation’s top players. If the Bulldogs are able to crank up the ground game with Chubb, it will take a lot of pressure off Greyson Lambert when UGA goes to the air.
The same could be said for Georgia’s D-line. In a pouring rain storm, the matchup in the trenches becomes the key to victory. Like Alabama, the Bulldogs have played well against the run this season, but they don’t have the size that Bama has up front. They do, however, have an athletic front seven, led by outside linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd and end/tackle Sterling Bailey, that’s adept at penetrating and getting off blocks.
Will that parlay into success against an Alabama ground game that features tailbacks Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake and now Bo Scarbrough, a 6-2, 235-pound freshman who has yet to see his first game action following a suspension? It could. And if it does, it will help Jake Coker out tremendously. But I just don’t know if it will be enough to win in Athens.
The Lowe Down: Alabama 20, Georgia 24
No. 3 Ole Miss (4-0) at No.25 Florida (4-0) 6:00 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Cloudy, light wind
Following last week’s amazing win over Tennessee, the Gators are riding a ton of momentum entering their matchup with the Rebels, in The Swamp, at night. Hugh Freeze’s team is all the talk right now, but Florida has the athletes to give the Rebels hell.
One interesting matchup to watch here will be Ole Miss’ talented receiving corps, led by Laquon Treadwell, Quincy Adeboyejo and tight end Evan Engram, squaring off against a talented Florida secondary led by Vernon Hargreaves III and safety Marcus Maye. Hargreaves is considered the top cover corner in America, and he’ll have a chance to prove that Saturday.
Chad Kelly is playing lights out for the Rebels at quarterback, and it was announced this week by head coach Jim McElwain that Will Grier would get his second start of the season over Treon Harris, who returns from a one-game suspension. Expect to see Harris some, but Grier’s ability to throw will be crucial in Florida pulling a potential upset.
The Lowe Down: Ole Miss 26, Florida 23
No. 21 Mississippi State (3-1) at Texas A&M (4-0) 6:30 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Clear, warm
The Aggies were almost tripped up last weekend against Arkansas but somehow, someway, they found a way to win the game. That’s the sign of a good team.
Last year the Bulldogs scored at will against an Aggies’ defense that was still green at a number of positions, and don’t think for a minute that won’t be a motivational tool for John Chavis’ troops come Saturday night.
Auburn did a good job of limiting MSU’s success on the ground last week (56 yards rushing), in particular QB Dak Prescott (14 yards), and that will likely be a focal point for Texas A&M’s D this week.
The Bulldogs aren’t as explosive on offense as they were a season ago, and getting Prescott and co. behind the chains on early downs will only feed right into the hands of pass-rushing terrors Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Outside of LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Georgia’s Nick Chubb, there may not be a more dominating player in the country than the 6-5, 275-pound Garrett.
The Lowe Down: Mississippi State 17, Texas A&M 30
No. 6 Notre Dame (4-0) at No. 12 Clemson (3-0) 7:00 p.m. CT Weather Forecast: Rain, windy
With all the injuries Notre Dame has had it’s hard to believe that the Irish are still rolling along without a blemish on their record. That’s a testament to the depth — and talent — on Brian Kelly’s team.
Freshman quarterback DeShone Kizer has stepped right in for the injured Malik Zaire, and C.J. Prosise has been lights out after replacing stud tailback Tarean Folston. The Irish would likely be a .500 team if it weren’t for Kizer and Prosise’s efforts.
With that said, the buck stops here for Notre Dame. And here’s why: A) Clemson has the athletes to give the Irish problems on offense and defense B) Not many folks are talking about Dabo Swinney’s team this week; so consider this a statement game for the Tigers. C) Clemson has had two weeks to prepare and the game is in Death Valley.
And of course, having the electrifying Deshaun Watson behind center doesn’t hurt either. The Tigers win a classic in the rain.
The Lowe Down: Notre Dame 23, Clemson 26
In other Saturday games:
Iowa 23 at No. 19 Wisconsin 26
Minnesota 23 at No. 16 Northwestern 24
Army 17 at Penn State 30
Pitt 17 at Virginia Tech 30
South Carolina 24 at Missouri 17
No. 22 Michigan 31 at Maryland 10
No. 11 FSU 35 at Wake Forest 10
Boston College 13 at Duke 23
Air Force 24 at Navy 30
No. 1 Ohio State 38 at Indiana 28
Texas Tech 48 vs. Baylor 58 (Arlington, Texas)
San Jose State 17 at Auburn 48
KSU 27 at No. 20 Oklahoma State 35
Arkansas 23 at Tennessee 27
Arizona State 20 at No. 7 UCLA 44
Arizona 26 at No. 18 Stanford 41
