Potential Trap Games: Week 9

Story posted October 27, 2017 in CommRadio, Sports by Benjamin Ferree

As the college football season enters Week 9, the College Football Playoff picture is as complicated as ever. Over the past couple weeks, the college football world has been shaken up by numerous upsets, including seeing Oklahoma, Clemson, Washington State and Washington all go down. This week, a number of top 25 teams will be heading on the road in “trap” games that could change the entire makeup of the college football season.

No. 16 Michigan State at Northwestern – 3:30 p.m.

In the next three weeks, Michigan State will face off against two teams ranked inside the top 10. The Spartans will welcome No. 2 Penn State into East Lansing and will then travel to the Columbus to take on No. 6 Ohio State.

These two games will define the season for Michigan State as they find themselves right in the heart of the Big Ten race following its upset victory over Michigan three weeks ago.

But before the Spartans welcome Penn State into Spartan Stadium they have to travel to Northwestern.

Last season, the Wildcats defeated Michigan State and will look to upset Michigan State at Ryan Field, which is always a tough place to play. Since beating Michigan, the Spartans have struggled.

Michigan State beat Minnesota by three on the road, and last week Michigan State struggled at home, only beating Indiana by eight points.

Northwestern is more than capable to pulling an upset with a weapon like Justin Jackson in the backfield.


No. 3 Georgia vs Florida – 3:30 p.m.

The Gators have been anything but spectacular this season. Florida as embarrassed in its first game against Michigan, converted on a Hail Mary to beat Tennessee, only beat Kentucky by one point.

The Gators have also lost their last two games to No. 23 LSU and Texas A&M by a combined three points.

No. 3 Georgia has been the direct opposite of the Gators this season. The Bulldogs have the nation’s third-best defense in terms of yards allowed per game and only allow an average of 12.6 points per game.

Georgia went on the road and gave No. 9 Notre Dame its only loss of the season. The Bulldogs have dominated the rest of their schedule, winning games by an average of 29 points.

Comparing these two teams an upset looks improbable. Florida’s offense ranks 102nd in the country and Georgia bolsters one of the best defenses in the country.

The Bulldogs are also loaded with weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Freshman Jake Fromm has looked elite after taking over for Jacob Eason and the combination of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in the backfield is almost impossible to stop.

This game is a rivalry and it will be played on a neutral field. Florida does not have much to play for this season, and is a team that has been involved in countless close, thrilling games this season, and nothing would make the Gators season like taking down their rival and ruining Georgia’s plans of making the College Football Playoff.

No. 15 Washington State at Arizona – 9:30 p.m.

No. 15 Washington State has already been a victim of the madness that is college football this season. The Cougars were embarrassed by California in a game where Washington State turned the ball over seven times.

This game most likely ended the possibility of Washington State going to the College Football Playoff, but the Cougars are still fighting for a chance at the Pac-12 championship.

Arizona is also looking for a chance to take home the Pac-12 championship. The Wildcats have a 5-2 record and are 3-1 in conference play.

Arizona averages 514 yards per game this season and scores an average of 43 points every game.

Washington State’s defense is going to challenge the explosive offense of the Wildcats. Washington State ranks seventh in the country in total defense.

Luke Falk also leads the Washington State offense and other than the game against California where he threw five interceptions the senior quarterback has been exceptional, as Falk has thrown for 2,483 yards this season.

Last season the Cougars embarrassed the Wildcats, 69-7. Arizona will certainly be looking for revenge in some Pac-12 after dark action.

 

Ben Ferree is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him email ferreebenjaminc@gmail.com.