AP Top 25 games to watch
By Amie Just
Duke football has a bye week this weekend. There are many AP Top 25 teams in play over the weekend. Here are Ball Durham’s top three games to watch.
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Canes Warning
#3.) No. 6 Texas A&M (5-0) at No. 12 Mississippi State (4-0) (SEC Match up)
People doubted how Texas A&M would do without Johnny Manziel, but the Aggies are still relevant. Some could argue that Texas A&M is better off without him and with Kenny Hill. Texas A&M hasn’t had a bye week yet and is one of just two 5-0 teams in the FBS. Texas A&M has played one ranked team, then-No. 9 South Carolina, and beat them senseless in Week 1. The low on the Aggies’ record is the OT win at Arkansas last weekend. The Razorbacks held its own against the Aggies.
Despite that close game, Texas A&M is ranked in the top ten in several categories. The Aggies sit fifth in the FBS with an average of 401.2 yards passing per game. It is second in the FBS in points for, averaging 51.2 points per game. The defense is ranked thirteenth with allowing an average of just 15 points per game.
Mississippi State shocked the world last week coming away with a win on the road at LSU’s Death Valley. LSU is the only ranked team that the Bulldogs have played… but they are going to be run through the gauntlet three games in a row. They played at Death Valley, host Texas A&M and then host Auburn. The only way that could be worse is if all three games were on the road. Currently, the Bulldogs have allowed an average of 16.5 points per game. The defense will need to go hard all game in order to stop Hill and the Aggies’ offense.
The Mississippi State offense is also going to need to put more points on the board than average if they want to compete. They average 41.3 points per game. Texas A&M has scored less than that only twice on the season. If an upset is possible, this is the week to do it. The momentum gained from last week will be a huge factor going into this one.
Television information: It’s an early, 12:00 ET, kickoff. It will be televised on ESPN.
#2.) No. 3 Alabama (4-0) at No. 11 Ole Miss (4-0) (SEC Match up)
Ole Miss has yet to play a ranked team this season, but in the four games Ole Miss has played (Boise State, Vanderbilt, Louisiana Lafayette and Memphis) the opposing teams have averaged 8.5 points. That sits as the third best in the country. Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace and the rest of the Rebels offense have the No. 13 best passing offense in the country, averaging 335.5 passing yards per game.
Alabama hasn’t played a ranked team yet this season. Quarterback Blake Sims and the Crimson Tide offense No. 12 best passing offense in the country, averaging 335.8 passing yards per game. Yes. That’s a .3 yard difference in passing yards through four games between the two teams. The Alabama defense is also ranked close to where the Ole Miss defense has with points allowed. The Crimson Tide has allowed an average of 14 points per game from its opponents. That mark is ranked ninth in the nation.
Those similarities and other factors are why this one is going to be a heated game in the Grove.
Television information: Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 (ET) and will be televised on CBS.
#1.) No. 14 Stanford (3-1) at No. 9 Notre Dame (4-0) (Non-conference Match up)
Hopefully y’all are at sports bars or have more than one television, because Ball Durham’s number one game to watch this weekend has the same kickoff time (3:30 ET) as the number two game to watch.
Stanford doesn’t have a perfect record. The Cardinal lost in a nail-biter to then-No. 14 USC in Week 2. That loss is behind the team and they have moved on since. Stanford has shut out Army (45-0) and pulled it out against Washington (20-13). Stanford has arguably one of the best defenses in the country. The Cardinal defense has shut out not one but two teams (Army and UC Davis) and has allowed an average of 6.8 points per game over the season. Stanford’s offense averages 247.8 yards passing per game and 165.5 yards rushing per game.
Notre Dame comes into the game with a perfect record, having wins over Rice, Michigan (before this season that would be a notable win), Purdue and Syracuse. The Fighting Irish’s defense has held teams to an average of 11.5 points per game, sitting fourth in the nation. Like Stanford, Notre Dame’s offense isn’t the cream of the crop. The Fighting Irish average 285.5 yards passing per game and 158.8 yards rushing per game. Those numbers are similar to what Stanford averages.
Knowing how the two defenses are so solid, expect a low scoring, defensive battle. Most likely that whoever scores first, wins this one, because that could be the only score.
Television information: Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 (ET) and will be televised on NBC.