By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
It’s the Holy Battle Week within the Large 12.
With Large Midday Kickoff in Provo for the matchup, the eye is on Utah and BYU.
However Arizona State has a noteworthy recreation in opposition to No. 7 Texas Tech. And Arizona performs Houston, needing a bounce-back win.
I preview these three video games right here and supply a “look in” on the different matchups within the Large 12 for Week Eight.
Arizona at Houston
Saturday, October 18
9:00 a.m. PT, FS1
Arizona goes on the highway for an early-morning kickoff in Houston.
Brent Brennan’s group practices at 9:00 a.m., arguably negating any sort of benefit the Cougars might need primarily based on the beginning time. However having the physique clock adjusted is barely a part of the battle.
The Wildcats collapsed within the fourth quarter in opposition to BYU and want a robust exhibiting to place the stumble behind them.
Houston has a stout protection that presents challenges. Willie Fritz’s group is No. 23 nationally in factors allowed per recreation, giving up simply 17.5 per contest.
However Seth Doege’s scheme is efficient and, frankly, Arizona has higher gamers. The offensive line ought to present sufficient time for Noah Fifita to search out an open receiver. And the operating backs ought to take benefit when given their alternatives.
The sport figures to return right down to UA’s potential to deal with Connor Weigman. The Houston quarterback is second on the group in speeding, getting into the matchup with 145 yards speeding and a team-leading 5 scores on the bottom.
Nonetheless, if Danny Gonzales schemes up the fitting appears and his gamers execute it appropriately, Weigman might battle to place factors on the board.
Search for an Arizona victory on this one.
No. 7 Texas Tech at Arizona State
Saturday, October 18
1:00 p.m. PT, FOX
The whole scenario surrounding Sam Leavitt is odd.
Final week, the Solar Satan quarterback was downgraded to uncertain after which dominated out, seemingly out of nowhere. After the sport, Kenny Dillingham described his standing as “week to week.”
However only a few days later, he characterised Leavitt’s standing as “everyday” and the Tempe media is reporting that the redshirt sophomore is prone to begin in opposition to Texas Tech.
All that after Leavitt was noticed carrying a boot. I’m no physician, and I’m not placing one and two collectively, however one thing feels off.
Regardless, Arizona State faces a major problem in Texas Tech. The Pink Raiders have an elite defensive position and an offense that places up factors.
Ostensibly, although, ASU has the gamers to compete. The Solar Devils even have a robust defensive position and weapons on offense. Mix that with a day recreation within the desert, and it’s honest to count on the ultimate rating to be shut.
If Arizona State wins the turnover battle and runs the ball successfully, an upset might occur.
No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU
Saturday, October 18
5:00 p.m. PT, FOX
The Holy Battle.
It’s some of the vitriolic rivalries in faculty sports activities. Whether or not they are going to admit it or not, each fanbases are obsessive about one another. Some even take it too far, after stories surfaced of loss of life threats being made and a BYU fan getting arrested.
That’s loopy and signifies how deep the animosity runs between the 2 teams.
The Utes have dominated the collection over the previous ten video games, successful eight of the contests. However the Cougars have gained the final two and the sport is in Provo.
The matchup to observe is the battle between the 2 quarterbacks. Or maybe extra particularly, the battle between the 2 strains. The Cougars ran throughout Arizona final week, whereas the Utes did the identical factor to Arizona State.
Whichever protection disrupts the opposing quarterback extra usually most likely wins the sport.
If Utah can get BYU into third-and-long conditions sufficient instances, Bear Bachmeier would possibly throw interceptions. On the identical time, if the Cougars include Devon Dampier on the bottom, the Ute offense gained’t be as efficient.
It’s the kind of recreation the place a special-teams play might determine the sport. Or the place an sudden participant could make a play when it’s wanted most.
Lock in, as a result of there are going to be fireworks.
The Remainder of the Large 12
Cincinnati takes on Oklahoma State in Stillwater.
The Bearcats are lastly ranked and deservedly so.
The Cowboys have been horrible the final two seasons, creating blowout expectations for the matchup.
There’s no actual hope of an upset or perhaps a aggressive recreation. It’s the kind of contest the place staying wholesome is the first goal.
TCU hosts Baylor for a conventional Large 12 matchup.
Each groups are 4-2 and stay within the race to make the Convention’s Championship Sport. However the Horned Frogs could be unofficially knocked out with a defeat. There’s no method a three-loss group makes it to Arlington.
In that sense, TCU is taking part in a Playoff elimination recreation. The 9:00am PT kickoff is odd for such an essential matchup.
However not less than it didn’t get the ESPN+ therapy.
UCF takes on West Virginia in Orlando.
This can be a recreation the Knights can’t lose. Wealthy Rodriguez’s group could be worse than even Oklahoma State. And that’s saying one thing.
The unfold is surprisingly slim, with Central coming into the sport favored by only a landing.
If you’re Scott Frost, that may’t occur. You will need to beat these guys by three touchdowns. Finish of story.
Miller covers Faculty Basketball and Faculty Soccer in addition to System 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
