After a couple weeks without this weekly article, I'm glad to be back and bring you the top 4 matchups of the week. From Yankee Stadium to Stillwater, it should be a good week of college football. #4- Iowa State @ Texas- The first of two thrilling Big 12 games this week, the Longhorns and Cyclones will try to keep their Big 12 Championship Game hopes alive. Coming off a much-needed win on the road at Texas Tech, a game which saw Sam Ehlinger throw a game-winning touchdown pass with :20 seconds left, the offense proved its still as strong as when they took down Oklahoma. However, its defense still has questions. That should be a positive for Iowa State as they're experiencing an inconsistent season. Highs included taking down now #7 West Virginia, however, they also lost to TCU. QB Brock Purdy has been terrific, making the QB v.s Defense matchup here important in each teams' quest for victory.
#3 Syracuse @ Notre Dame- For the first time since 2012, this annual meeting between the two features two teams both posting 8 win records and top 15 rankings. This year's showdown will take place in a Yankee Stadium, in the snow, most likely resulting in a game decided by running and defense. Unfortunately for Syracuse, this isn't their strong suit. In previous games against Western Michigan, N.C State, North Carolina they gave up at least 37 points and 500 yards. However, because of their punting, they often have very good field position to start drives; on average, their offense starts at the 37 yard line for drives. Notre Dame, has looked strong all season, led by Safeties Drue Tranquill and Alohi Gilman who have limited opponents to an average of 18 points per game. Make sure you tune into this one, it'll be a good one.
#2 Cincinnati @ UCF
This Group of 5 matchup might not seem like a good one from afar,it will impact college football in many ways. First, UCF is ranked #11 in the country and riding a 22-game win streak, hoping to clinch a spot in the college football playoff and become the first non-Power 5 team to ever do so. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is also having a good year, riding a record of 9-1. Behind QB Micheal Warren II, a duel-threat QB with a lot of speed, they should be a headache for UCF, who hasn't faced a whole lot of competition in the AAC. Simply put, whoever wins this should win the AAC West title and continue to make a run for the college football playoff.
#1 West Virginia @ Oklahoma State
Once again, we return to the Big 12. Considering that this one will be played in Stillwater, a place where Texas fell and Oklahoma nearly did too, don't count out the Cowboys just yet. QB Taylor Cornelius has been consistently finding weak spots in the opposing secondaries and their running game has helped out in many ways as well. West Virginia also boasts an offense on fire as Heisman candidate Will Grier and dependable WR David Sills regularly connect for many points a game. While West Virginia is heavily favored, it seems an offensive shootout is the most likely scenario. *Texas fans should be heavily rooting for Oklahoma State. If the Cowboys win and the Horns win out, West Virginia would have 2 Big 12 losses along with Texas, heading into the game v.s Oklahoma. Then, it would be a win-win situation for Texas to get into the Big 12 title game. If the Mountaineers lose, they would have 3 Big 12 losses and Texas gets in. If the Sooners lose, they'd have 2 big 12 losses and since Texas beat them back in October, Texas would play in the title game.
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