Devin Leary's status uncertain as NC State tries to knock off undefeated Syracuse
Posted October 13, 2022 5:00 a.m. EDT
Week 7 of the 2022 college football season has many questions.
WRAL senior multiplatform producer Mark Bergin tries to answer some of them.
What’s your tweet-length take ahead of Week 7 of the college football season?
I’m trying to figure out how to cop one of the fancy chrome North Carolina helmets ahead of the rivalry game against Duke. Who said North Carolina was a basketball state?
What’s the best college football game of the weekend?
No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee (3:30 p.m. ET Saturday, CBS) appears to be the choice, but I still don’t believe the Vols can hang with the Crimson Tide.
“The Third Saturday in October” used to be a legendary rivalry game. However, Tennessee last beat Alabama on Oct. 21, 2006.
Alabama enters Saturday as a 7-point underdog. However, the stage is set for quarterback Hendon Hooker to lead his team to an upset win and propel himself to the top of the Heisman Trophy race.
Tennessee’s offense averages 547.8 yards per game, which ranks first among FBS schools.
It appears quarterback Bryce Young will play Saturday. It comes despite Young missing the Week 6 game against Texas A&M due to a shoulder injury. It’s an injury he sustained during the Week 5 game against Arkansas.
Because of my trust in Alabama during the Nick Saban era, I’ll pick No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU (3:30 p.m. ABC Saturday) due to their offensive explosiveness.
Both teams are 5-0 and average exactly 46.4 points per game. TCU averages 530 yards per game, which ranks third among FBS schools.
Oddsmakers have set the over/under at 68.5 points. Sit back, relax and enjoy the high-scoring football by the Big 12’s two premiere programs this season.
What’s the best ACC game of the weekend?
No. 4 Clemson at Florida State (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC)
Florida State has lost two consecutive games entering Saturday. The 2014 season marked the last time Florida State beat Clemson.
The Seminoles will have their hands full on Saturday night.
For as much criticism as junior quarterback DJ Uiagalelei takes, his 92.5 PFF passing grade in the red-zone ranks first among all Power 5 players. Uiagalelei is completing 64% of his passes and has thrown 14 touchdown passes to two interceptions.
Also, Clemson star defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is cleared to play. He missed the past two games due to a non-football medical issue. Breese, Tyler Davis, Xavier Thomas and K.J. Henry remind me somewhat of the 2018 Clemson team that had three first-round draft picks on its defense line.
This season, the Tigers have allowed just 2.4 yards per carry.
What’s the best ACC game involving a team from North Carolina?
No. 15 NC State at No. 18 Syracuse (3:30 p.m. Saturday, ACC Network)
NC State rallied last weekend against Florida State. A right shoulder injury to quarterback Devin Leary forced him to leave the game late in the third quarter, prompting backup Jack Chambers into action.
The NC State defense stepped up in the second half, which was needed in Leary’s absence. The Wolfpack defense allowed only 93 yards against Florida State in the second half of last Saturday’s game.
Chambers led the Wolfpack to three field goals in relief of Leary. However, Chambers did not complete a pass and only threw the ball once.
NC State head coach Dave Doeren has remained coy about when Leary was due to return. Consider it a bit of chess with Syracuse head coach Dino Babers.
Babers has his team off to an undefeated start, but the Orange have yet to play a ranked team.
Predict the biggest upset this weekend in college football
I’ll take No. 10 Penn State to upset No. 5 Michigan (Noon ET Saturday, FOX) in Ann Arbor.
Neither team has played a ranked opponent. Also, Michigan and Tennessee are the only two teams in all of college football that haven’t trailed yet in the second half.
Plus, Penn State is coming off a bye week.
Freshmen running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are leading a Nittany Lions rushing attack that's averaging 192.6 yards. If they can get going Saturday, it could lead to an upset of Michigan.
Which team will Lee Corso pick during ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast?
First off, I can’t wait to see Corso back on the “GameDay” set after he’s missed the last two weeks because he’s been sick. The show isn’t the same without Corso’s legendary headgear pick at the end of the pregame show, which is the perfect kickoff to the weekend games.
It’s well known Corso loves the Vols’ mascot Smokey. However, Tennessee hasn’t beaten Alabama in the Nick Saban era. I think Corso picks Bama on Saturday, which marks the second time “GameDay” has visited Knoxville, Tennessee, this season.
Predict Sunday’s college football headline
Tennessee joins Arkansas with 0-16 records against Nick Saban as Alabama’s head coach.
