For Week Seven, we stay “local” for a rivalry, ConferenceUSA match between Western Kentucky (3-3, 1-1) and Middle Tennessee (3-3,0-2) sometimes referred to as “100 miles of hate”. This becomes our second edition of this series since we attended last seasons’ 48-21 Hilltopper Victory. MTSU HC Rick Stockstill had to go with QB by committee as starting QB Chase Cunningham suffered a season-ending injury in the previous game.
Keys to Victory
For Saturdays’ game, Cunningham returns. We noted his toughness versus UTSA in that 35-20 loss two weeks ago. He will be facing a very good WKU defense that allows only 115.5 yards rushing per game and totals 14 turnovers to its credit. Middle Tennessee averages only 112 yards rushing per game, so pressure will be on Cunningham literally and figuratively to challenge WKU through the air. He averages 260.6 passing ypg. He’ll need another performance like the one that upset No. 25 Miami when he threw for 408 yards and three TDs. Those three went for 71, 69, and 98 yards. However, his receiver for the first and third, DJ England-Chisolm, hasn’t played since then.
Like WKU’s defense, MTSU can cause turnovers. It’s taken the ball away 12 times, but it “bends” too much allowing 427.3 yards per game. QB Austin Stein leads the Hilltopper offense averaging 352.8 yards with its passing attack and averages 43.8 ppg. It comes off a 31-28 loss at UTSA who had beaten MTSU the week before, a game we attended. The home team will be looking to put on a better performance for its Homecoming against its archrival as an incentive. Figure the Blue Raiders to hang with the Hilltoppers late into the third, but in the end WKU wins in Week Seven by a TD and a FG. We expect a good battle all game long.
The other big game in Tennessee on Week Seven
Nick Saban brings his No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide to Knoxville to face Josh Heupel’s No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers. A 13-point underdog at home has to have the Vols charged up. Bama has gotten by Texas on the road in a close one, and the game last week against so-so A&M went down to the wire. Whether a recovering Bryce Young or with a developing Jalen Milroe, this is where Saban runs out of “luck”. Tennessee QB Herndon Hooker plays well, and HC Heupel has this program in a better direction than the Volunteer teams Saban has historically dominated.
Look at the two schedules these two SEC foes have played to date. Bama has padded points and stats against 2-4 Utah State (55-0), 2-4 UL Monroe (63-7), and perennial SEC patsy Vanderbilt (55-3). Ball State who the Vols defeated in their opener could probably have the same 3-0 record against the same slate. All at home. Whoopee! The Tide struggled against Texas 20-9, Arkansas for three quarters, and home to the final play versus A&M. Tennessee defeated better competition at Pitt, vs Florida, and at LSU. If 13-point underdog Tennessee can’t finally roll back The Tide this season, something is way wrong.
Another “padder” falls in Week Seven
Like Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh padded this year’s schedule with three teams to start that didn’t belong on the same field with his five-star recruits. This silliness has to end. When it came to finally playing other Big Ten competition, but not the best, Maryland gave them a run to fall by seven, not the average of the 48-point margin enjoyed over the three hand-picked opponents. Michigan beat Iowa who has no offense to talk about, 27-14. The Hawkeyes lost 9-6 against Illinois last week. Indiana hung with them until the third with J.J. McCarthy throwing three TD passes.
Enter Penn State into The Big House in Week Seven. The Nittany Lions went to Purdue in the opener and out-played a potent offense, 35-31. They went to Auburn and handed that SEC team it’s worst loss of the season, 41-19. They slipped and fumbled to a 17-7 win over struggling Northwestern two weeks ago. However, their defense continued to improve. Don’t compare the defensive stats of Michigan to those of PSU’s. A “level” playing field hardly existed in any of those games.
This Lion defense is unlike the others
PSU had a week off to adjust and recover from the mistakes made against Northwestern. The Lion defense will bring the pressure, and the secondary coverage far exceeds the talent the Wolverines have faced thus far. It will be an awakening. Michigan will not come close to the 32 points it’s averaged against the three Big Ten teams it’s beaten. Penn State will play better ball control this week and its defense allowing 14.8 ppg will be relentless. Win at the Big House by a touchdown.
Top 25 teams on our 2022 schedule from Week Six to Week Seven
With now No. 3 Alabama’s close win at home over Texas A&M, Georgia came in at No. 1 and Ohio State vaulted Bama to No. 2 with wins over Auburn (42-14) and Michigan State (49-20) respectively. We saw Kentucky, who we will see against UGA, fall to South Carolina without the services of QB Will Levis. Hopefully, the top pro prospect will return healthy before that game to challenge the Bulldogs. The Buckeyes visit Penn State October 29 after the Lions visit Michigan and host Minnesota in their annual “White-out”. No. 4 Clemson jumped past U on M by mopping up Boston College, 31-3. We see the Tigers on November 12 at home for our first time there versus Louisville (3-3, 1-2).
Maybe the pollsters finally see what we’ve been pointing out about non-competitive early season scheduling all along. Anticipate some significant poll changes over the rest of this season. The CFP may result in nothing but surprises. As far as we’re concerned, to the benefit of college football.
In other Top 25 action among teams on our 2022 slate
Possibly a collegefootballfan.com record this week – nine Top 25 Teams entering Week Seven landed from our schedule. No. 14 Wake Forest (5-1) clubbed Army (1-4) this past week, 45-10. At No. 14, note the improvement on Wake’s defense under returning DC Brad Lambert who spent a few years at Purdue. Last season, The Deacs had to rely on late scores to defeat the triple-option Cadets, 70-55. Army unloads against FCS Colgate (1-4) in Week Seven.
No. 23 Texas (4-2,2-1) humbled Oklahoma (3-3, 0-3) in their annual Red River Shoot-out, 49-0. OU first-year HC Max Venable lost too many players after Lincoln Riley absconded with key talent to No. 7 USC. In a surprise to many, FBS new comer James Madison (5-0, 3-0) of the Sun Belt joined at No. 25 with a 42-20 win over Arkansas State. We will see the Dukes visit Louisville (3-3, 1-2) on November 5. JMU plays at Georgia Southern (3-3) and Marshall (3-2) before we attend that tussle at Cardinal Stadium.
Our other 2022 teams in action
Houston (3-3, 1-1) defeated Memphis 33-32 in American Athletic play last week. The Cougars were supposed to challenge No. 21 Cincinnati (5-1) this year, but they have some catching up to do. We’ll see them a week from Saturday at Navy who seems to have found a running game in their 53-21 victory over Tulsa last week. Frosh Daba Fotana lit up for 159 yards and three TDs. The Mids totaled 455 yards on the ground. If they can continue this, that will key future victories by keeping opponents’ potent, passing offenses on the sidelines. SMU this Friday will be a good test for the Mids to do this.
Texas State pulled off a stunning upset last week over Appalachian State, 36-24. The Bobcats (3-3,1-1) seem to be headed in the opposite direction of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns who we will see them entertain on Thanksgiving weekend. Louisiana is 2-3, 0-3 having dropped three straight games. South Alabama beat them at Cajun Field last, 20-17. (Update: Louisana defeated Marshall Wednesday night, 23-13).
Purdue (4-2,2-1) knocked off Maryland, 31-29. With two Big Ten East opponents already met, the road ahead against five Western teams starts with Nebraska coming to West Lafayette. Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2) fell to No. 9 Ole Miss in SEC play as expected, 52-28. They have a date with No. 1 Georgia Saturday. Anybody’s guess? For the final score, that is. Utah State (2-4) surprised Air Force (4-2, 1-2) in Mountain West play, 34-27. Troy remained hot in Conference USA with a 27-10 Southern Miss. They’ll host Texas State Saturday. Remember they fell to Appy State on a “Hail Mary” pass in Week Three who TSU just beat. Big Sun Belt game for both here.
Other results of interest in Week Six
Notre Dame bested BYU in Vegas, 28-20. Irish now 3-2 and hosting Stanford in Week Seven. Mississippi State hammered Arkansas, 40-17. Better than Bama did. After Kentucky this weekend, Mike Leach’s team visits Nick Saban’s Tide in Tuscaloosa. UConn won a third game under HC Mike Mora beating Florida international 33-12. Maybe Ball State (3-3, 2-1) this weekend? NOT! But UMass and Army lurk ahead for the Huskies. Illinois under Bert Bielema showing new life at 5-1,2-1 now at No. 24 defeating inoffensive Iowa, 9-6. Our friend Dave Hickman roots on his Illini hoping to possibly catch them in Nashville on New Year’s Eve in The Music City Bowl.
In the FCS, we keep an eye on “local” teams we can see possibly in a playoff game. Jacksonville State of the ASUN knocked off Kennesaw State, 35-28, to go 5-1,1-0. They have to contend with Austin Peay in a few weeks, but these Gamecocks seem awfully strong in the Conference before heading to the FBS next year. In the Ohio Valley, UT Martin stands 4-2 ,2-0 beating Murray State badly last week, 45-16. SE Missouri State at 5-1, 2-0 also, but it looks like these two don’t play one another this year. UT Chattanooga (4-1, 2-0) whipped ETSU (3-3, 1-3) in SoConn play. Wins over Mercer and Samford will be needed. Love going to games at UTC.
Games to watch in Week Seven
Of course, aforementioned Alabama at Tennessee and PSU at Michigan fall on our radar like everyone else’s. Here are others: No. 19 Kansas at Oklahoma. The Big Twelve upside-down. Coach of the Year Lance Leipold goes for win No. 6 already. Minnesota (4-1, 1-1) at No. 24 Illinois. How real are these Illini? No.15 NC State (5-1, 1-1) at No, 18 Syracuse (5-0, 2-0). The Wolfpack already fell to Clemson. Cuse heads down on October 22. How sweet are the Orange, really? No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU playing for Big Twelve marbles. No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah. Can Riley get the Pac-12 back into the CFP this year?
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Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: from the fan who’s seen ‘em all! If you enjoy reading our Salvos and Game reviews every week, we know you’ll enjoy reading about our adventure to see every FBS team in action over 30 years. Please link on the title or picture of our cover on the top right sidebar on this or any other page you may peruse to buy your copy and submit a review. Thanks!
