College football is now in full swing. There are always things to watch every week of the season. Here are 5 things to watch in college football week 9.
1. Oregon at Utah
Two one-loss teams will match up this week with both still having a chance to make the Pac-12 Championship. Oregon rebounded from their loss to Washington with a win over Washington State. The Ducks still have a great offense, which averaged 47 points per game and their defense remains solid. They can put pressure on teams fast. They will likely be favored against Utah, but they shouldn’t take the Utes lightly.
Utah lost to Oregon State earlier in the season, but have had some nice wins too. Last week, they defeated USC in a big upset win. Their defense has been the strength of the team, as they allow just 15 points per game. They don’t have the most talented offensive attack, especially with starting quarterback Cam Rising out this season. Former walk-on Bryson Barnes has battled tough and is undefeated as a starter. It will be a physical battle with some big implications, so it is well worth watching.
2. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
A unique rivalry game will happen in week 9 in “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” between Florida and Georgia in Jacksonville. Georgia enters the game undefeated, but haven’t been as dominant as in past years. They also haven’t been tested by a quality opponent yet this season. Their defense allows just 14 points per game, to show that they are again the strength of the team. The offense has had some bumps in the road, but still have found a way to average 41 points per game.
Florida has had their ups and downs this season, but are 5-2. Their offensive play has improved, specifically their passing offense with quarterback Graham Mertz and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall impressing. They are scoring 29.1 points and allowing 20. Florida is a little outmatched in this game, but anything can happen in a rivalry.
3. Texas Quarterback Situation
Texas has just one loss this season and still has a lot on the line. Last week, they were able to defeat Houston by a score. What was impressive about the win was that starting quarterback Quinn Ewers had to leave the game with an injury. Maalik Murphy entered the game and led the team to victory. Ewers was seen wearing a sling due to his shoulder injury.
In week 9, Texas plays BYU. Murphy is expected to start. If he plays well, he will continue to fill in for Ewers. His skillset is different, as he is also able to use his legs a bit more than the other quarterbacks on the roster. If he struggles, the college football world may get to see Arch Manning in his first meaningful action. Without Ewers, the game against BYU may be closer than originally thought.
4. Duke at Louisville
The ACC has plenty of teams vying to play in the ACC Championship Game against Florida State, who seem like they are well on their way to getting there. Duke is 5-2 after week 8, but lost their first conference game of the season to Florida State. They need to get things back on track fast to make a run at the ACC Championship, but it won’t be easy with starting quarterback Riley Leonard injured. Their defense will have to hang on for the Blue Devils if Leonard can’t play, as they allow just 13.9 points per game.
Louisville also has one conference loss and the two teams will meet this week. The Cardinals are 6-1, with their lone loss coming in an upset to Pitt. Jeff Brohm has done a great job getting the offense to average 34.1 points per game, but the defense has also been solid, giving up 20.6 points. A win in this game would get the Cardinals back on track and would have them in a race with North Carolina for the second spot in the ACC Championship Game.
5. Can Clemson Get Things Right?
Clemson has had a bad season by their standards so far this year. They have lost games to Duke, Florida State and Miami, which sets them up terribly for the rest of the season. The Tigers have struggled with turnovers, specifically in the red zone and it has cost them dearly. With a tough schedule remaining, there is a chance that the Tigers lose four games in a season for the first time since 2011. So they really need to get things back on track fast.
In week 9, the Tigers play NC State. The Wolfpack are 4-3 and have some issues moving the football. NC State does have several talented players on their defense and could make this game a defensive battle. If they do that, they could fare like Miami did and steal a win late after Clemson had a double-digit lead. It will not be an easy game for Clemson. So can Dabo Swinney turn things around and right the ship or will the regression continue?
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/college-football/5-things-to-watch-in-college-football-week-9-4/2023/10/22/
