Week 4 of the college football calendar is upon us, and to help you organize your Saturday, Mark Schofield and Shawn Spencer tell you what they’ll be looking for in the Pac-12 and CAA clashes this weekend.
CFB Week 3 Film Reviews
Chad Kelly Responds: Ole Miss knocked off Alabama in an SEC West clash last Saturday night. Mark Schofield breaks down the key play in that contest: the 73-yard touchdown pass from Chad Kelly to Cody Core.
Georgia’s Perfect Drive: The Georgia Bulldogs manhandled the South Carolina Gamecocks in an SEC East showdown. The Bulldogs turned in a near-perfect display on offense ‒ especially on the opening drive of the second half, which Schofield broke down in detail.
NCAA Throw of the Week: North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz has struggled with the deep ball at times. Well, not on this throw against North Dakota.
Vernon Hargreaves Dooms Kentucky: Shawn Spencer broke down the play that doomed Kentucky, and highlighted why talented Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III is a likely first-round selection in the next NFL Draft.
Schofield’s Film Previews
Arizona’s Spread Versus UCLA: The Arizona Wildcats clash with the UCLA Bruins in a huge Pac-12 South meeting Saturday night. A key matchup in this game is the Arizona spread offense against the UCLA defense. This article breaks down how the Wildcats operate ‒ and how Bruins nose-tackle Kenny Clark can play a big role in stopping them.
Stony Brook Versus William & Mary: In FCS action, the Seawolves of Stony Brook are off to a 2-0 start and are making noise in the Colonial Athletic Conference. Last week they knocked off defending CAA champion New Hampshire 31-6, and now set their sights on the Tribe. The Seawolves are paced by their running game, and explosive running back Stacey Bedell. But he’ll face a stiff test from the William & Mary defense, keyed by linebacker Luke Rhodes, a preseason Butkus Award candidate.
Playoff Implications
In addition to the Arizona-UCLA matchup, another big Pac-12 game to watch is #19 Utah taking on #13 Oregon in the conference opener for both teams. Oregon needs to keep pace with California in the Pac-12 North, while Utah needs a win to stay tied with the winner of the Arizona-UCLA game in the South Division.
We also have an elimination game in Auburn, as the 2-1 Tigers ‒ 0-1 in the SEC ‒ host the 2-1 Mississippi State Bulldogs, also 0-1 in the SEC. The loser of this game sees their playoff hopes erased.
Heisman Implications
Georgia’s Nick Chubb had another big game this past weekend, gaining 159 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns against South Carolina. But LSU’s Leonard Fournette might be the favorite for the trophy, after his 19 carry, 228 yard, three touchdown day against Auburn.
Two quarterbacks are making noise on the field, moving up the board but at this point are considered long-shots for the Heisman. Ole Miss QB Kelly had a big night in the upset of Alabama, and has completed 47 of 73 passes for 898 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception this season. California quarterback Jared Goff, Schofield’s #1 QB prospect heading into 2015, had a big night in front of a national audience, completing 27 of 37 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns in Cal’s 45-44 win over Texas.
Draft Implications
Scouts will definitely have their eyes on the two big Pac-12 clashes, as well as the battle between Western Michigan and Ohio State. The Broncos talented WR Corey Davis is recovering from an injury, while the Buckeyes offense sputtered last week in their narrow win over Northern Illinois. Quarterback Cardale Jones was pulled from that game but will start this week, and draftniks are curious to see how he responds. Also, Goff’s performance against Texas moved many scouts and draft followers to anoint him the top quarterback in the class, with everyone interested to see how he handles the first conference game of the season.
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