Without a competent running game to compensate for any defensive issues against a steady MTSU offense, UAB will fold in the Conference USA title game in Murfreesboro.
BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES 2018 FULL
Will UAB's offensive line be short-handed again? Middle Tennessee took full advantage in a 27-3 victory last week and racked up a season-high 12 tackles for loss. Prediction: Appalachian State 41, Louisiana 28 That balance will propel the Mountaineers to the Sun Belt title.
App State QB Zac Thomas should provide a larger impact than his 106-yard day in the regular-season meeting since Louisiana's pass defense has struggled all year. Louisiana ranks 101st nationally in points allowed per game on the road, and Appalachian State owns the nation's second-best mark at home. Louisiana (7-5) at Appalachian State (9-2), Saturday, Noon ET Prediction: Buffalo 24, Northern Illinois 20
BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES 2018 MAC
But we can't trust Northern Illinois -one of nine FBS offenses to average fewer than 20 points -to score enough anyway in the MAC title game. Buffalo must throw the ball effectively to navigate the Huskies, and junior QB Tyree Jackson has cooled off immensely since a torrid start. Only Clemson has showcased a better run defense than NIU, which has allowed 2.6 yards per attempt in 2018. It should be tight, but the Cardinal can sneak out a rivalry win to close the regular season on Costello's arm. Since the Cardinal will likely be searching for holes against Cal's terrific run defense all night, Stanford needs that streak to continue. Costello has quietly posted four straight 300-yard passing games. Liberty should be able to outlast NSU even if the defense struggles, as usual. However, the visitors have only topped 300 offensive yards once on the road this year.
Liberty's defense is typically a mess, so Norfolk State certainly has a chance to snatch an FBS win. Prediction: Marshall 27, Virginia Tech 24
10 defense, the Hokies will fall short unless the running game duplicates the performance from Week 13's win over Virginia. This is 2018 in a nutshell for the Hokies: Are you confident they're going to beat Marshall? Virginia Tech tentatively scheduled this makeup game for bowl-eligibility purposes. Marshall (8-3) at Virginia Tech (5-6), Noon ET Fortunately for the Gamecocks, Akron hasn't cleared 400 yards since the season opener against Morgan State. South Carolina's defense has taken a dramatic turn for the worse, surrendering 500-plus yards in three straight games against FBS competition.
Prediction: NC State 41, East Carolina 14Īkron (4-7) at South Carolina (6-5), Noon ET His home finale will be a productive one. NC State QB Ryan Finley ranks 21st nationally at 8.3 yards per attempt and has 21 touchdowns to eight picks. Heading into the regular-season finale, only Colorado State and Oregon State have a lower touchdown-to-interception ratio than East Carolina's pass defense. ISU's talent edge should eventually win out, but a hot start from Drake's aerial attack could make it interesting.Įast Carolina (3-8) at North Carolina State (8-3), Noon ET However, the Cyclones have allowed a completion clip of 69 percent with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions over the last three games. 23 Iowa State (7-4), Noon ETĮxpect a pass-focused offense from Drake since it averaged fewer than 100 rushing yards this season while Iowa State ceded only 3.4 yards per carry.