Nick Bartlett’s 2025 Week 8 SuperWest Fearless Predictions

North Carolina at Cal

Friday, October 17
7:30 PM PT, ESPN

The Golden Bears should not who we thought they had been. After a scorching begin to the season, they’ve seemed extra like their preseason expectations of their final three outings.

If California needs to make a run within the ACC this yr, it should beat North Carolina. The Tar Heels are 2-3, however they haven’t been aggressive in opposition to Energy 4 groups.

Cal ought to have the ability to exploit North Carolina’s porous offense. UNC ranks 119th in factors scored per sport. That is vital as a result of the Bears’ protection has struggled just lately.

Over the past three video games, they’ve allowed 103 factors; within the three video games prior, they allowed 32.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele may also want to enhance his kind barely. He ought to have the option to take action in opposition to a Tar Heels protection that ranks 106th in cross yards allowed per sport.

Sagapolutele may also want assist from Kendrick Raphael, who could wrestle in opposition to UNC’s rush protection, which ranks fortieth in yards allowed per sport.

It seems like Cal’s beginning to slip into their Justin Wilcox methods, and that may show harmful. The Golden Bears will know the place they stand after this contest, and hopefully, it’s with their heads held excessive.

To maintain issues proper in Berkeley, Wilcox has gotta beat Invoice Belichick, and he ought to accomplish that.

California 28, North Carolina 17

Washington at Michigan

Saturday, October 18
9:00 AM PT, FOX

This is without doubt one of the extra attention-grabbing matchups within the Massive Ten this yr. Washington enters this contest with two respected wins in opposition to Maryland and Rutgers, however they haven’t had a defining street victory since getting into the Massive Ten.

Michigan enters this contest after being dealt with by USC per week in the past. This contest ought to function a distinction of types because the Wolverines function the Nineteenth-ranked dashing offense, whereas the Huskies have the Twenty fourth-ranked passing offense.

USC was capable of restrict UM to 109 yards dashing, which is greater than 100 yards under their yearly common. Washington ranks eighth in dashing yards allowed per sport, which can bode nicely for them.

Michigan’s cross offense ranks 93rd within the nation, and so they’ve struggled when their run sport stymies. Bryce Underwood’s an honest quarterback, however hasn’t confirmed himself in an enormous sport but.

Underwood has thrown for 1,210 yards, 5 touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s additionally added 177 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom. Justice Haynes is the Wolverines chief on offense, he’s rushed for 705 yards and ten touchdowns.

UM’s protection permits 18.7 factors per sport. It is a powerful matchup to foretell, however Michigan is just too one-dimensional on offense.

Dawgs in the home.

Washington 31, Michigan 27

Arizona at Houston

Saturday, October 18
9:00 a.m. PT, FS1

This is an important matchup for Arizona.

The Wildcats misplaced a heartbreaker in opposition to BYU in Tucson final Saturday, and they should get proper instantly. If they’ll knock off Houston, they’ll hold themselves within the Massive 12 title race.

For the Cougars, a win right here can be important as a result of they journey to Tempe subsequent week. The important thing to this contest ought to be whether or not or not Noah Fifita can take over.  He can, however he wants assist.

Fifita made an ideal throw on the ultimate play per week in the past, however Javin Whatley dropped the cross.

Houston in all probability has a barely higher crew because of the emergence of Conner Weigman. The Cougars have traditionally been good defensively, however Weigman has supplied them stability on offense.

Final yr, they ranked 133rd in factors scored per sport, and this season they’ve moved as much as 66th nationally. Weigman has thrown for 1,216 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s additionally added 5 touchdowns on the bottom.

Each groups have strong defenses. UA ranks twenty seventh in factors allowed per sport, whereas UH ranks twenty third. Arizona has a very good secondary, rating eleventh nationally in cross yards allowed per sport.

The Wildcats obtained beat down within the blue-and-white Cougar assault, and sadly, they could not have time to recuperate.

Shasta and Sasha catch a wildcat.

Houston 24, Arizona 21

UNLV at Boise State

Saturday, October 18
12:30 PM PT, FS1

In a rematch of final yr’s Mountain West title sport, UNLV has an opportunity to rectify two of its three losses from final season. A win on this contest for both crew provides them a transparent path to the Mountain West Championship.

The most important key ought to be whether or not the Rebels can defend the ball. UNLV ranks fifth nationally with a +1.2 turnover margin. The Broncos are ranked 97th in turnovers, so the Rebels could possibly capitalize.

One other issue to think about on this sport is whether or not UNLV’s protection can cease Boise’s offense. The Broncos scored 21 factors within the fourth quarter final week, and common 465 yards per sport of whole offense, so that they’ll be prepared.

Vegas permits 445 yards on protection per sport, rating 118th in dashing yards allowed per sport and 69th in opposition to the cross. This could show troublesome as a result of Boise State has a balanced offensive assault.

The Broncos rank twenty ninth in passing yards allowed per sport and fiftieth in dashing.

UNLV comes into this matchup undefeated, however they’re projected to lose by two touchdowns. In the event that they’re gonna pull off the upset, they’ll want Anthony Colandrea to overperform.

Boise State’s battle-tested, and on the blue.

The Rebels received’t discover “Blue’s Clues.”

Boise State 38, UNLV 24

No. 7 Texas Tech at Arizona State

Saturday, October 18
1:00 p.m. PT, FOX

Arizona State can save its season with a win on Saturday, however it received’t be straightforward.

Texas Tech is arguably essentially the most improved crew within the nation, and already has blowouts in opposition to Utah, Houston, and Kansas.

Final week wasn’t an correct instance of the Solar Devils, because of the Sam Leavitt damage, however they now have a loss on their Massive 12 resume. The well being of Leavitt could possibly be the important thing to the sport. If his foot doesn’t maintain up, ASU may get rocked.

On the opposite foot, the Crimson Raiders are in an analogous state of affairs.

They’re uncertain if Behren Morton, their beginning sign caller and a pivotal a part of their offense, will play. He’s thrown for 1,501 yards, 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions. If he doesn’t play, Will Hammond will get the nod.

Tech’s nonetheless harmful, even within the absence of Morton. Cameron Dickey’s a superb working again who rushed for 263 yards final week. He’s rushed for 591 yards, eight touchdowns, and is averaging 6.5 yards per stick with it the yr.

Dickey ought to nonetheless show efficient, as a result of the Raiders have a mammoth offensive line averaging 6-foot-5 and 309 kilos.

Tech’s protection can also be stout, rating seventh within the nation in factors allowed per sport. Arizona State wants this one, however Texas Tech is looking for a hoop.

Lubbock burns down the mountain.

Texas Tech 31, ASU 28

No. 8 Oregon at Rutgers

Saturday, October 18
3:30 PM PT, Massive Ten Community

Oregon underestimated Indiana. All of us did.

The important thing for the Geese on this one is to get off to a quick begin in Piscataway. In the event that they fall behind early in opposition to Rutgers, they provide themselves an opportunity of touchdown in a Penn State-esque state of affairs.

UO can keep away from this by profiting from a weak Scarlet Knights protection. RU ranks 94th in factors allowed per sport. Washington scored 38 factors in opposition to them per week in the past.

We’re additionally about to search out out what Dante Moore is manufactured from after throwing for 186 yards, one landing, and two interceptions in opposition to Indiana. Anybody can play when issues are going nicely, however a famous person comes again stronger after a nasty loss.

The working backs may also look to get their two-step in kind. Oregon solely ran for 81 yards in opposition to Indiana.

The Scarlet Knights rely closely on the arm of Athan Kaliakmanis, who has improved tenfold this yr, throwing for 1,785 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Final season he relied closely on slants. This yr, Rutgers averages the Twelfth-most passing yards per sport nationally. Antwan Raymond can also be a strong piece at halfback, he’s rushed for 560 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Dan Lanning’s fiery gaze will scare the Scarlet out’ve Piscataway.

The Geese win massive.

Oregon 42, Rutgers 17

Hawai’i at Colorado State

Saturday, October 18
4:00 PM PT, Spectrum

Hawai’i is quietly placing collectively a formidable marketing campaign. The Rainbow Warriors have received back-to-back video games to spice up their document to 2-1 within the Mountain West.

The Bows in all probability received’t win the convention title, however they may make the championship sport in the event that they proceed to win. Additionally they miss Boise State on their slate.

For Colorado State, it ought to show attention-grabbing to see if they’ll repeat the outcome from final Saturday. The Rams lambasted Fresno State, which shocked everybody.

Jackson Brousseau could also be beginning to discover his rhythm because the quarterback for the Rams. He threw for 144 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions per week in the past. He’ll must have a very good outing as a result of their main rusher Jalen Dupree is out for the season.

Lloyd Avant will in all probability get the vast majority of the carries at backup, he’s rushed for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Marshall also needs to see touches. He completed with 93 yards and a dashing landing final week.

The important thing to this matchup, nevertheless, ought to be whether or not CSU can cease Hawaii’s passing assault. The Bows are sixteenth in passing yards per sport nationally, and Colorado State is 76th in passing yards allowed per sport.

Micah Alejado’s holding it down in Manoa, and the Rams are gonna study on Saturday.

Shaved ice for everybody.

Hawai’i 38, CSU 20

Maryland at UCLA

Saturday, October 18
4:00 PM PT, FS1

If UCLA had been to win the Massive Ten, it could be the School Soccer storyline of the yr.

After a 0-4 begin, the Bruins have received their final two contests, together with a surprising victory over Penn State, which marked the start of the top for the Nittany Lions.

Maryland is within the reverse lifeboat. After a 4-1 begin, and leaping out to a 20-0 lead in opposition to Washington, they’ve fallen out’ve Massive Ten rivalry. They misplaced to Nebraska final week and blew the sport in opposition to UW 24-20.

If the Terrapins are going to compete in opposition to the Bruins, they’ll want somebody to assist Malik Washington. UMD solely has 185 mixed dashing yards of their final two contests. They rank 124th nationally in dashing yards per sport.

Washington has thrown for 1,506 yards, 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s additionally added three touchdowns on the bottom.

For UCLA, it’s easy: play like the brand new you. Nico Iamaleava has began to search out his rhythm the final two outings, throwing for 346 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s additionally added three touchdowns on the bottom.

Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas additionally want to supply consistency at halfback.

It seems like Iamaleava’s rewriting the Bruins script proper now.

It’s time to flip it and reverse it.

UCLA 42, Maryland 27

No. 20 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame

Saturday, October 18
4:30 PM PT, NBC

If that is the final time these two groups play one another, that is the precise method to exit. Each squads want a victory to maintain their School Soccer Playoff hopes alive.

If Notre Dame loses, they’ll doubtless be knocked out of rivalry. As for USC, a loss places them in a near-impossible state of affairs primarily based on their remaining schedule.

The important thing to this matchup ought to is whether or not the Trojans can strain CJ Carr, who’s tied for seventh nationally in quarterback sacks, averaging 3.33 per sport. Carr’s a freshman, and fixed strain could power him into a couple of dangerous throws.

One other issue to think about on this contest is the Trojans dashing assault. Jeremiyah Love and ND’s unit in all probability get extra love, however USC ranks increased in dashing yards per sport. The Trojans rank sixteenth whereas the Irish rank fiftieth.

Notre Dame may also must comprise SC’s passing assault. The Trojans common the second-most passing yards per sport, and has playmakers all around the area.

This ought to be an space of concern as a result of the Combating Irish rank 104th within the nation in cross yards allowed per sport. The Trojans aren’t significantly better, rating 102nd nationally.

All stats apart, that is what faculty soccer was once about, two bitter rivals combating for postseason aspirations. However there’s just one film about Rudy.

Notre Dame retains their desires alive.

Notre Dame 35, USC 30

No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU

Saturday, October 18
5:00 p.m. PT, FOX

It feels to me like this winner of this contest might have a particular season forward. Utah enters this matchup with their solely loss coming in opposition to Texas Tech. BYU enters this sport, after a double extra time scare in Tucson per week in the past.

The important thing to this contest ought to be which quarterback could make some massive throws. Each sign callers rely closely on their toes, with Devon Dampier proving extra explosive.

The Cougars rank thirty sixth in dashing yards allowed per sport, whereas Utah ranks 76th. However the Cougs lack explosive playmakers, which ought to permit the Utes to stack the field.

Utah doesn’t have sport changers in their very own proper, however they really feel a bit deeper on the offensive facet of the ball. Ryan Davis is an rising wideout and Dallen Bentley is a formidable tight finish.

Additionally they have a strong halfback duo in Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers. The Utes rank sixteenth in factors scored per sport, whereas BYU ranks twenty first nationally.

When it comes to protection, each squads are comparable, with U of U holding the slight benefit in factors allowed per sport. Utah ranks eleventh, whereas BYU ranks Twelfth.

The Cougars want to search out productiveness out of a participant like Parker Kingston, to stability out their offense. Morgan Scalley has seen extra explosive playmakers than what BYU has this yr.

“With parting breath we’ll sing that track: A Utah Man Am I.”

Utah 35, BYU 21