3 underrated games you need to watch in College Football Week 10
Man oh man, college football Week 10 looks to be fun. While there isn’t a cornucopia of ranked matchups at hand, we’ve got a few massive games with massive playoff implications. The first of the big games is #6 Alabama effectively facing the SEC title and playoff elimination traveling to Death Valley to take on a potentially underrated #10 LSU.
Brian Kelly has had the Tigers playing good football since their week one loss to Florida State, and just ran through #11 Ole’ Miss 45-20. This is a pivotal game for Nick Saban and the tide, as they look to avoid missing the playoffs for just the second time.
The second big game is THE big game of the weekend. The #3, defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs in one corner. The newly crowned #1, white-hot Tennessee Volunteers in the other. Hendon Hooker, one of two or three guys currently on the Heisman shortlist, will have a chance to solidify his resume for the best player in college football, while Kirby Smart will look to remind the college football world that it still runs through Athens.
While all college football fans should be tuned in to those games, there are a few more that are worth checking out. From games with conference championship implications to just battles between two good teams, here are three underrated matchups that you should look out for.
1. #23 Oregon State at Washington
Friday 10:30 pm, ESPN 2
In recent years, Oregon State has not only been a bottom feeder in the Pac-12 but one of the worst power 5 teams in the country. That script has flipped though, as the Beavers are ranked 23rd in the country and have a chance to achieve their first 10-win season since 2001. Their rushing attack has carried their offense, led by a trio of backs in Damien Martinez, Deshaun Fenwich, and Jam Griffin.
Martinez got the bulk of the carries in last week’s game against Colorado and proceeded to explode with 178 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, quarterback Ben Gulbranson has provided a breath of fresh air for the Beaver’s offense. After their previous starter, Chance Nolan went down with an injury, Gulbranson took over the job and hasn’t looked back, throwing five touchdowns and no interceptions in his starts.
Washington, however, poses a formidable challenge for Oregon State. Also standing at 6-2, the Huskies haven’t played their best football as of late, but still, have a solid team. The team is led by Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr., who has had an incredible season. He leads the country in passing yards with 2,934 and has thrown 22 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions. He’s a special talent that will be hard for the Beavers to contain, let alone stop.
With no other major college football on Friday night, this matchup should be on every fan’s radar. These are two solid teams that should produce a great game.