Front Seven: Previewing the weekend's best college football games
The Front Seven wonders what in the wide wide world of sports is going on here.
1. Spanning the Globe: No. 3 Mississippi has a couple of major home hurdles to traverse in its quest to the SEC West title. But this week features the Rebels' biggest remaining road challenge at No .23 LSU.
The Bayou Bengals followed a struggle against Florida with a much more convincing triumph against Kentucky last week. But QB Anthony Jennings, back in charge of the offense, figures to have a tougher time against the spectacular Ole Miss defense. Six of the Rebels' pass rushers, dubbed the Landsharks, have recorded at least two sacks, led by freshman DE Marquis Haynes with 6.5.
If Jennings is able to find his primary deep threat, WR Travin Dural, he isn't likely to get past Rebels' S Cody Prewitt often. The Tigers' ground game, featuring TBs Leonard Fournette and Kenny Hilliard will need to help, but they can expect frequent collisions with Ole Miss LBs Deterrian Shackelford and Denzel Nkemdiche.
Rebels QB Bo Wallace would like to get things moving early to neutralize the hostile crowd in Baton Rouge. Some quick connections with WR Laquon Treadwell would do the trick, but the Tigers' defense paced by LBs Kwon Alexander and Kendell Beckwith has shown improvement.
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2. Constant Variety: The complexion of the Pac-12 South race changes on a weekly basis with five of the six teams still in the division hunt. A bit of clarity could emerge this week, with No. 21 USC's game at No. 19 Utah topping the marquee. Trojans QB Cody Kessler is coming off the best passing day of his career, though it came against Colorado, the lone team in the division not in contention.
Kessler will be up against the Utes' much more formidable defensive front, featuring DEs Hunter Dimick and Nate Orchard. If his protection holds, USC WR Nelson Agholor should benefit, but a big assist will be required from TB Javorius Allen.
Utah did little to answer its ongoing QB competition in its win at Oregon State, with neither Kendal Thompson nor Travis Wilson separating himself. TB Devontae Booker, however, turned in a stellar effort and will be needed again as he challenges LB Hayes Pullard and the Trojans' run stoppers.
3. Thrill of Victory: No.1 Mississippi State takes the field for the first time since the win against Auburn two weeks ago that vaulted it to the top of the rankings. The Bulldogs take to the road to meet Kentucky, a squad that has made major strides this season but took a huge step back last week against LSU.
Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott and TB Josh Robinson will look to exploit a Wildcats defense that might still be feeling its youth. LBs Josh Forrest and Khalid Henderson must play their assignments well to keep the one-two backfield tandem in check.
QB Patrick Towles and his UK offensive teammates had their own struggles. A strong early drive would be a huge boost, but that's easier said than done against LB Benardrick McKinney and the opportunistic Miss State defense.
4. Agony of Defeat: No. 6 Auburn, meanwhile, hasn't been seen since the Mississppi State loss. The Tigers look to bounce back this week back on the Plains as they host South Carolina. The Gamecocks' early win against Georgia seems like a long time ago.
The good news for Auburn is QB Nick Marshall and Co. played reasonably well in Starkville after a catastrophic first quarter. They'll try to avoid the early hole this time and get RB Cameron Artis-Payne and WR D'haquille Williams in space often.
The Gamecocks' defense, whose stars from last year are now earning NFL paychecks, hasn't done much damage in opposing backfields in 2014, but LB Skai Moore has been a steady stopper. South Carolina QB Dylan Thompson lacks the firepower to keep up in a track meet, so he'll need help from TB Mike Davis to control the clock. The Auburn LB corps led by Cassanova McKinzy will try to keep them both under wraps.
5. Human Drama: No. 12 Ohio State is slowly climbing the rankings since the preseason injury to QB Braxton Miller led to an early loss to Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes hope to stay on track in a prime-time showdown at Penn State. Freshman QB J.T. Barrett isn't quite the dual threat a healthy Miller can be, but his decision making has progressed on a weekly basis. He has 20 scoring throws to go with his four rushing TDs, allowing TB Ezekiel Elliott as well as WRs Michael Thomas and Devin Smith to utilize the entire field.
The Nittany Lions' defense, anchored by LB Mike Hull, has been solid, allowing only 15.2 points a game. Penn State's most glaring troubles are on the other side of the ball, where they've produced only two TDs in their three Big Ten contests. The problems begin up front with a line that isn't opening holes or protecting QB Christian Hackenberg. Buckeyes' LB Joshua Perry and DE Joey Bosa want to see to it the Lions' struggles continue.
6. Athletic: No.14 Arizona State's convincing win against Stanford kept it front and center in the tightly-bunched Pac-12 South picture. The Sun Devils face another potentially difficult cross-divisional test at Washington.
ASU might regain the services of QB Taylor Kelly. But if any lingering effects from his foot injury limit his mobility against DT Danny Shelton and the Huskies' tough defensive front, successful backup Mike Bercovici could be called upon again.
Whoever takes the snaps for the Sun Devils will count on TB D.J. Foster to keep the Washington at bay. Huskies' QB Cyler Miles was intercepted for the first time a week ago at Oregon, so he'll look to keep his throws away from Sun Devils S Jordan Simone. The TB duo of Lavon Coleman and Dwayne Washington could also help the Huskies' cause.
7. Competition: No. 25 West Virginia doesn't get long to celebrate its big win against Baylor. The Mountaineers' road through the hotly contested Big 12 resumes at Oklahoma State, where the Cowboys are in need of a rebound victory after being overwhelmed by TCU.
Though QB Clint Trickett and WR Kevin White earned due credit for their role in the Mountaineers' victory, the defensive effort turned in by DE Shaquille Riddick and Co. were just as instrumental. They'll turn their attention this week to Oklahoma State QB Daxx Garman, who has been under duress of late and unable to utilize top WRs Brandon Sheperd and David Glidden.
The leaks sprung by the Cowboys' pass defense, meanwhile, could manifest themselves again unless DE Emmanuel Ogbah can turn up the heat.
