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SALT LAKE CITY — BYU and Utah are looking to get back in the win column after losses away from home. Could you also use a bounce-back week? Don't forget to make your picks here.
Arkansas (3-3) at BYU (4-2)
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
The Cougars return to Provo looking to right the ship against the Razorbacks, with both teams surprisingly unranked coming off of losses.
Why Arkansas will win: This is not the Arkansas team that went 9-4 last season, with wins over ranked Texas and Texas A&M teams, but it's still an SEC team. The Razorbacks are 3-3 through six games this season and have lost three in a row — though all to ranked teams.
The Razorbacks lost by just 2 points to then-No. 23 Texas A&M in Week 4, but lost by double digits to No. 3 Alabama two weeks ago and No. 16 Mississippi State last week. Quarterback KJ Jefferson is taking care of the ball with nine touchdowns to one interception, and running back Raheim Sanders is getting it done on the ground with five scores on 695 yards.
Why BYU will win: The Cougars dropped out of the Top 25 after losing to unranked Notre Dame as the No. 16 team in the nation. The offense struggled with just 280 total yards against the Fighting Irish, and Jaren Hall threw just his second interception of the year on the opening play of the game.
Injuries continue to impact BYU but also give under-the-radar Cougars chances to prove their worth. Against Notre Dame, it was Kody Epps and Christopher Brooks leading the receiving game and running game with 100 and 90 yards, respectively, and three scores between them.
Betting line: Arkansas -1.5
Over/under: 66
No. 3 Alabama (6-0) at No. 6 Tennessee (5-0)
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. MDT (CBS)
It's a Top-10 matchup in the SEC, and only one team will stay undefeated.
Why Alabama will win: An elite offense and an elite defense. The Crimson Tide is averaging 44 points and 504 yards of offense through six wins and allowing just 12.5 points and 250 yards to its opponents.
2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young leads the team with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions, but the Crimson Tide have also faced just one ranked team all season — then-No. 20 Arkansas in Week 5 — who is now unranked. The question remains if Young will play after sustaining an injury to his shoulder; he did not play last week.
Why Tennessee will win: The Vols have three Top-25 wins already this season, including a 40-13 blowout at then-No. 25 LSU last week.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker is still perfect on the season with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions, and receiver Jalin Hyatt has five touchdowns through the air. Alabama's staunch defense will face its greatest test yet against Tennessee's offense that averages almost 47 points and 550 yards.
Betting line: Alabama -7.5
Over/under: 65
No. 15 NC State (5-1) at No. 18 Syracuse (5-0)
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. MDT (ACC Network)
Can the Orange keep its undefeated season alive against the Wolfpack?
Why NC State will win: The Wolfpack don't have any ranked wins this season, but it does have a 10-point loss to No. 4 Clemson, followed by a statement win over Florida State last week.
Quarterback Devin Leary has 11 touchdowns and four interceptions, and the defense has allowed more than 20 points just once: to the Tigers.
Why Syracuse will win: Quarterback Garrett Shrader is putting on an impressive passing display with 10 touchdowns and just one interception so far this season, and running back Sean Tucker has five touchdowns on 546 yards.
The Orange are winning games by an average score of 38-14, but the meeting with the Wolfpack will be its first ranked matchup of the season.
Betting line: Syracuse -3
Over/under: 43.5
Utah State (2-4) at Colorado State (1-4)
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. MDT (CBSSN)
The Aggies are looking to build off last week's win against Air Force and win consecutive games for the first time this season when they visit the Rams.
Why Utah State will win: The offense is averaging just 20.3 points per game but has found its footing under new signal caller Cooper Legas.
Running back Calvin Tyler Jr. is up to 505 yards on the season and looking to quickly increase his scoring output after scoring just once so far. Meanwhile, receiver Brian Cobbs has four touchdowns this season on 473 yards through the air.
Why Colorado State will win: The Rams got their first win of the season last week, defeating Nevada 17-14 on the road.
The offense is averaging just 12 points per game and will need a big boost from the home crowd to keep up with an Aggie offense finding its footing under new signal caller Legas.
Betting line: Utah State -11
Over/under: 46
No. 7 USC (6-0) at No. 20 Utah (4-2)
Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. MDT (FOX)
The undefeated Trojans take on the preseason Pac-12 favorites in Salt Lake City this week.
Why USC will win: While Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams' start in California has been impressive, the Trojans have yet to play a ranked team during their 6-0 run in 2022.
Williams has been spinning it out west with 14 touchdowns to one interception, with running back Travis Dye and receiver Jordan Addison helping out with six touchdowns each.
Why Utah will win: Despite the impressive individual numbers, the team stats for Utah and USC are almost identical, both averaging right around 40 points on offense and allowing 19 on defense.
The Utes will look to put on a similar defensive effort that held the Oregon State Beavers to 16 points two weeks ago, who in turn held the Trojans to just 17 points in Week 4. Cam Rising and the Utah offense put up 42 points against the Beavers and will need another complete two-way performance at home this week.
Betting line: Utah -3.5
Over/under: 65
Make your Pick'em predictions here.
