#2 Ohio State @ #3 Oregon
In what is the best week slate of college football that we may have in all of 2024, this game has potential to be the game of the year. Ohio State will travel cross country to play Oregon in what is yet again another big matchup in the new Big 10.
Ohio State comes in as the favorite and for good reason. They have an offense that has showed a lot of potential and scored a lot of points early. Ohio State has won every game by 28 points or more, so this could very well be the first game we see the first-string Buckeyes on the field for the full 60 minutes. The Buckeyes Defense is much of the same from last season, as well as the improvement from the portal in offense. This unit is only allowing 6.8 points a game. Ohio State is a scary team on both sides of the field.
On the other side, Oregon has had their struggles despite being undefeated. In the first two weeks against Idaho and Boise State, the Ducks only won by 10 and three points. However, in their last three games, Oregon has won by three possessions or more. Oklahoma Transfer QB, Dillon Gabriel, has been wonderful this season. He has tallied nearly 1500 passing yards and 14 total TDs. The Oregon Defense going against the OSU Offense will be the key unit matchup in this game. The Ducks have allowed 14 points or less in four of their five games thus far.
This will be the fourth all-time matchup between these two programs. Ohio State won the first matchups, including the 2014 CFP National Championship Game. However, Oregon was victorious in the lone regular season matchup in 2021. This game will kick off Saturday at 7:30pm on NBC.
FINAL SCORE PREDICITION: 35-31, Oregon
#10 Clemson @ Wake Forest
Simply, this is another ACC game for the Clemson Tigers where they are clearly the better football team. The Tigers should dominate Wake Forest on Saturday and probably will.
Wake Forest has not been good. After their Week One victory against NC A&T, the Demon Deacons lost three straight against UVA, Ole Miss, and Louisiana. However, they are coming off a win last week against NC State, 34-30. Wake Forest does not do anything particularly well. Senior QB Hank Bachmeier is a very average ACC signal caller. Defensively, Wake Forest is surrendering 31 points a game, while scoring 30.6 a game on offense.
Clemson must start taking advantage of playing these inferior opponents in conference play. Not just taking advantage as in getting wins but continuing to get better. This team can still compete for an ACC title and a playoff spot. However, the Tigers must improve on offense. Attempting seven field goals like they did last week at FSU is not going to get it done against good football teams. Albeit, Wake Forest is far from a good football team, but Clemson must use these games as steppingstones. QB Cade Klubnik has shown that he can be one of the QBs in the whole country at times this year, but this offense must put it together consistently. On a positive note, Clemson’s defense continues to improve, only allowing 13.5 points a game over their last two wins.
This will be the 90th matchup all-time between these two programs, as Clemson is 71-17-1 vs. Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have not defeated the Tigers since 2008. This game kicks off Saturday at noon on ESPN.
FINAL SCORE PREDICITION: 42-10, Clemson
South Carolina @ #7 Alabama
Things could not be more unfortunate for the Gamecocks in this one. Coming off a 27-3 loss against Ole Miss, South Carolina now must travel to Alabama to play a Crimson Tide team that is coming off a historic loss.
In case you missed it, Alabama lost to Vanderbilt last week. Yes, that Alabama Crimson Tide lost to those Vanderbilt Commodores. They also did not just lose, as they never led for a single second in the game. Vanderbilt won 40-35 and had one of the biggest parties Nashville has ever seen. A week later, Alabama is going to be ready to bounce back. After giving up 40 points and playing extremely undisciplined football, this week against South Carolina seems like one that could ugly quickly in favor of the Crimson Tide.
For South Carolina, I do not see a feasible way where they can win this one. Ole Miss manhandled the Gamecocks up front and Shane Beamer got outcoached by Lane Kiffin. Now, South Carolina is facing better offensive and defensive lines than the Rebels, as well as arguably a better head coach in Kalen DeBoer. QB LaNorris Sellers will have to have a generational day to even keep this game close. This is not about how bad the Gamecocks will play, but rather how much better the Crimson Tide will be than South Carolina.
Alabama is 13-3 all time vs. South Carolina, with the Gamecocks latest win coming in this matchup in 2010. This game will kick off Saturday at noon on ABC.
FINAL SCORE PREDICITION: 63-17, Alabama
