“There is no substitute for effort.”- Sonny Dykes

Week 6 of college football begins tomorrow night. Let’s take a peek at what I like.

It all begins with a lone game on CBS Sports Network Thursday Night as winless Sam Houston St skirts the border along I-10 to Las Cruces, New Mexico for a primetime matchup with the 2-2 Aggies of New Mexico St. Aggie Senior QB Logan Fife will hope to win the dual with Sam Houston QB Hunter Watson. Watson vs Fife. Sounds like an Old West dual to me. The flatlander Watson will have the disadvantage being on the road 800 miles WNW at nearly 4,000 feet above sea level. That’s just a foot or two above Houston’s maximum elevation of 150 ft. However, Sam Houston may be hungrier for this one as they have yet to taste victory. One of only four teams yet to still get a win: UCLA, UMass, and Oregon St being the other three.

In terms of the football, I like this New Mexico side and their home field advantage, and I think this will slow the pace of the Sam Houston offense. However, I think that is exactly what Sam Houston Head Coach Phil Longo wants to see. I see this Sam Houston side taking their time and using the offensive line to get this win.

• Fun fact on Phil Longo: The New Jersey native played college ball for East Stroudsburg back in ’87. PSAC fans and readers from last season will be competent on who East Stroudsburg is especially in their relation to the Fighting Scots of Edinboro. Last season, East Stroudsburg beat Edinboro Week 1 and Wilfredo Diaz, now a Minot St Beaver, recorded 22 tackles. It all goes back to the PSAC.

As far as performance on the gridiron goes, the one advantage that I can find between these two is the SH St offensive line run blocking against the NM St defensive line. This advantage will lead to a run heavy approach that will not be in much of a hurry. Sam Houston has no intention of getting in a sprinting match for four quarters. As much as I want to see a high scoring ‘Old West shootout,’ Hunter Watson will not be the reason his team gets their first win. This one will be because of the size, strength, and savviness of the ‘big boys’ and Coach Longo’s timely, clever play calls.

The advantage is only on run blocking. SH in pass protection have been in the bottom 1/3 of all FBS teams, and the Aggies have the Linebackers and EDGE speed to pressure the QB on passing downs.

It’s worth noting that New Mexico St is only going to be four days removed from losing to cross state rival New Mexico this past week. My guess is that they would also not prefer a high scoring track meet and will game plan to create turnovers, win the field position battle, and find some points on special teams when necessary. Head Coach Tony Sanchez is also on the savvy side of things. He will have a trick or two ready.

• Fun fact on Tony Sanchez: He coached at Bishop Gorman High School from 2009-2014. Sanchez went 85-5 and won the state title every season.
  • Bishop Gorman beat Lone Peak this season
  • S Jett Washington Eugene Eider bound

This is a low scoring game and Sam Houston wins somehow, someway. I mean, they have too eventually. Why not tomorrow night? Maybe the kicker Pavon uses that extra altitude to his advantage and makes a long game-winner. Maybe it’s 50-47. I don’t know, but this game through my eyes looks certain to be 22-14 or 22-19. Something in that range. Either way, I’ll be keeping an eye on it.

So that’s Thursday. Let’s move on to what else I like this weekend.

Well, you can’t get to Saturday without a stop in Provo late Friday Night. It’ll be halftime across the valley in the late season Friday Night Lights matchups by the time things get rockin’ in Provo. BYU host West Virginia in a game that kicks at 8:30 locally. The Cougars are undefeated; they are playing well across most fronts and have shown flashes of having some top-level players. This is one to watch.

• McNelly Award Watchlist:
  • BYU CB Evan Johnson

He’s been a right place right guy kind of guy in the defensive backfield for the Cougars so far. Bright young man with good instincts along with crisp DB mechanics.

Another top player is BYU Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier. This young man is sharp and calm for his age and built for durability. He wears #47 if you can believe it. Maybe it’s so he can also fill in at the Willie on third downs. #47 is a good Weak side linebackers’ number. I jest, but the young man is built to play both.

In terms of how this game goes–I’ve been wrong on both of these teams multiple times this season. I delusionally overestimated one and may have underestimated the other. Both teams had question marks to begin the season, and I guessed the answers. I thought BYU would struggle with their QB situation and thought Rich Rod would be wily enough to turn his hat full of wildcards into some wins. It’s possible that I’m wrong on both.

That said, this looks like a three score win for the Cougars.

Moving along to Saturday.

Spoiler alert, I like a lot of the Noon games.

NOON GAMES

The Cyclones are undefeated and on the road in Cincinatti where I expect the Bearcats to put up a fight. Rocco Becht, Jontez Williams, and Iowa St will be up for the scrap.

Wisconsin is at Michigan. The Badgers need this one badly. If there was ever a time to play your best game, it’s this one. Luke Fickell’s bunch will have to in order to win this one. Along with Bear Bachmeier, Wolverine QB Bryce Underwood is another freshman worth watching. At times he’s looked as good as any QB I’ve seen season. Flashes of true brilliance. Not all times of course, but the potential is within him on every play. Bryce could be one of the special ones.

Wisconsin just needs to be better than they’ve been. I hope the Center Jake Renfro is back healthy after leaving injured against Maryland. QB’s Billy Edwards and Danny O’Neil both were banged up in that game. I’m not sure who will start or how healthy they will be.

That said–Michigan will win this game. Not by much. Maybe 21-15.

Impact player:

• Michigan CB Jayden Sanders is on the McNelly Freshman of the Year Award watchlist. #27

Air Force cross the country and conferences for a battle against Navy. The AAC is strong. Navy is one of the reasons why. Air Force is also one of those teams that I delusionally overestimated. I thought this was going to be one of those 10-11-win Air Force seasons. Whoops. Navy should win this one and remain undefeated.

Washington is looking to bounce back with an east coast win at undefeated Maryland. Demond Williams and Jonah Coleman will be up against a stout Mike Locksley squad. Maryland and Washington are both very similar. This is one worth watching especially if you tune in for young talent.

Young QB’s: Maryland Freshman Malik Washington and Washington Sophomore Demond Williams.

Maryland Freshman defensive impact players: Messiah Delhomme and Sidney Stewart

I’m sure there are a few other games during the NOON window that will be worth watching, but these are the specific ones I’m interested in.

EVENING GAMES

Undefeated Texas Tech at undefeated Houston leads off the show. No buildup necessary. This one should be competitive.

Undefeated Miami at Florida St. Good gracious. Why did the Noles have to lose to Virginia? This game still has plenty of juice, but two undefeated teams in this matchup would’ve been sweet. That said–this is one of those nostalgic games that I always want to be close at the end. I’ll take the Canes to stay perfect for the year. A win and I’ll consider them for number one. Florida St will be desperate to wash away the Cavalier orange from their memories with a win and will not make it easy, but I think the Canes pull away late and win by 10. Either way, it’s a rivalry worth watching.

Mississippi St at undefeated Texas A&M. Maroon and white on both sides. Both farm schools with loud home stadiums full of passionate people. Both will be up for this one. Give me the 12th Man at night 24-14.

And the final game I like for the evening games is of course, Tulsa at the Hometown Tigers. One win away from a much-needed bye week, Memphis just needs to win by 1 and move on. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Tigers can win this one by 28 or so but I don’t think they will feel that they have to. The only thing they can’t do is lose. I’ll take the Tigers 30-17.

LATE NITE KICKS

Duke is at Cal at 10:30 if you have the stomach for it. I jest, but it isn’t the most marquee of matchups. Cal is good. I like them to just keep on winning all the way to Charlotte.

So, that’s what I like going into the Saturday Game. It’ll all start Thursday night in Las Cruces. Good luck to all of the collegiates.

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.