Hot or Not? Week 3 Championship Heat Check
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Hot or Not? Week 3 Championship Heat Check
Well, good people, Week 3 of the college football season was definitely an interesting one. To be
honest there was no separation at the top as the main contenders through the first two weeks all
struggled in some way. Although each of those teams was ultimately victorious, their efforts moved
them back towards the pack. Some programs have descended further from being a top program as the weight of preseason expectations combined with reality have firmly set in.
This is only a weekly look, not a prognostication of the ultimate endstate. As this season wears on this list will eventually become sharper in focus as true contenders show their mettle. The first third of the season is upon us (good Lord, can you believe we’re already at that point?) and the list is just as muddled now as it was coming into the first game. So, let’s get after it.
Hot:
NO ONE! The three teams in last week’s assessment all struggled to win. Instead of creating further
separation from the simmering teams, they all regressed in some way to join them.
Simmering:
1) Georgia – the Dawgs inability to put its foot on the neck of an inferior foe saw them down 11 at
the half. Georgia played like we all thought they could in the second half to avoid disaster
against South Carolina. That’s the version of Kirby Smart’s Georgia we all want to see. Like, all the time. Up next: UAB
2) Florida State – Talk about messing around and finding out…. the Seminoles blew most of a 21-
point lead and only survived because Boston College shot themselves in the foot more than
Yosemite Sam. 18 penalties, a missed extra point and failed 2-point conversion doomed BC from
pulling off a shocking upset. Maybe FSU was looking ahead to this weekend. Up next: at
Clemson
3) Texas – They’re back…to almost being the Texas of old we loved so much. A 21-point fourth
quarter made the score look respectable, but Texas found themselves tied with Wyoming
through three quarters. At home. Having way more talent helped in the end, but this type of
effort has come to be expected from the Longhorns. They got away with it this time. Up next: at
Baylor.
4) Michigan – I’m sure the Wolverines are excited to get their fearless leader back. After a mistake-
filled game against Bowling Green, Michigan now gets to show how good they really are with
Jim Harbaugh returning from a 3-game suspension. Is he the missing link, or is this team just an
above-average team who’s played with their food for almost a month? Up next: Rutgers
5) Ohio State – the Buckeyes finally put some serious points on the board and played smothering
defense against the FBS career leader in passing yards. After a “meh” opening three games, the
real Ohio State will stand up this weekend. A trip to South Bend, IN awaits in matchup between
heavyweight programs on a weekend with multiple big-time games. This one is probably the
biggest. Up next: at Notre Dame
6) Notre Dame – in a tune up prior to this weekend’s slugfest, the Irish eventually took care of
Central Michigan. Sam Hartman was superb again and has emerged as the difference maker
Notre Dame has needed for years. Is their defense good enough? We’ll see Saturday. Up next:
Ohio State.
7) Washington – the Huskies held Michigan State scoreless until the fourth quarter and Michael
Penix threw for almost 500 yards. This is a good team. A very good team. In what is a loaded
PAC 12, this may be the best overall team. Up next: Cal
8) USC – the Trojans were off last week, so no movement here. USC gets another tune up before
taking on the Prime phenomenon. Up next: at Arizona State
9) Oregon – after a closer-than-expected win against Texas Tech in Week 2, the Ducks returned to
scoring form against a completely overmatched Hawaii squad. Bo Nix is playing very well, and
the defense is very good. They do commit too many penalties, though. They have college
football’s biggest story in town this week. They should win by a wide margin as the Ducks are
the more talented team. Up next: Colorado
10) LSU – Aside from one bad half of football in Week 1, the Tigers are proving to be a very potent
team. They destroyed Mississippi State on the road in a game that was never in doubt. This was
the type of showing Tiger fans have been clamoring for. Jayden Daniels helps cover up a suspect
offensive line and the defense is starting to play together. They face a reeling Hogs program in a
game that is always entertaining in some way. Up next: Arkansas
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Ice Cold
1) Alabama – even with a win, the Tide fell further away from relevance. In a pathetic 17-3 snoozer
over USF, we figured out the Tide a) has a bad offensive line, b) doesn’t have a quarterback who
can cover up mistakes, and c) are not the juggernaut they used to be. A dreaded players-only
meeting followed this game, just a week after multiple Alabama players talked about how they
were now pissed off after losing to Texas. This isn’t a team that strikes fear in anyone. Nick
Saban’s biggest test comes this week. Can he coax a winning showing out of this squad against a
ranked opponent? Up next: Ole Miss
Watch List
1) Colorado – the Prime Time Buffaloes are still here because they keep winning. Losing your best
player going into your toughest game yet isn’t a good way to move up the “Heat Check” board. I
think the magic will start to dissipate this week. Up next: at Oregon
2) Ole Miss – the Rebels thumped Georgia Tech in a tune up game before taking on Alabama. Nick
Saban is at his weakest point ever, but can the Lane Train take advantage? Ole Miss has a very
balanced offense as Jaxon Dart continues to prove he’s one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks
in all of football. Dual-threat quarterbacks give Saban trouble. If the Rebel defense, coordinated
by the former Tide defensive coordinator, can shut down the Tide offense, this could be must-
see TV this weekend. Up next: at Alabama
3) Penn State – I really hate to put the Nittany Lions and James Franklin on a good list, but they are
playing very well early in the season. The defense has been stout and offensively they seem to
finally have a quarterback who can run their system well. Their annual “White Out” game is this
weekend. You know, if it’s that cool you should do it every weekend…. Up next: Iowa
So, there you have it. After this weekend, we’ll be one third of the way through this season. There will be more movement on this list as we go forward, and that’s why we love college football. Noteworthy contests will start happening more as we move into October. Injuries will always be a factor, so which program can endure losing key players and not get untracked on their championship run? These next few weeks will tell. For now, sit back and enjoy. And root for chaos because it’s fun. Just no chaos for the Dawgs.
UGA 2021 & 2022 Back-to-Back National Champions Flag
Bulldogs Welcome The Blazers To Town
Top-ranked Georgia will face its third non-conference opponent of the season and complete a four- game homestand with UAB coming to Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2). The 2023 Bulldogs return nine players with starting experience on offense, including junior C Sedrick Van Pran and All-American and John Mackey Award winner junior TE Brock Bowers, who was the 2021 and 2022 leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.
Junior QB Carson Beck is in his first year as the starter. He played only in the first three quarters in the first pair of games after the Bulldogs built substantial leads. In the SEC opener against South Carolina last Saturday, he helped rally the Bulldogs from a 14-3 deficit while the defense blanked the Gamecocks in the second half. Georgia’s offense got a big boost with the return of senior RB Daijun Edwards who missed the first two games with a knee injury. In his first career start, Edwards ran for a career-high 118 yards on 20 carries with one touchdown versus the Gamecocks.
About UAB
The UAB Blazers (1-2), coached by former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, are coming off a 41-24 home loss to Louisiana. After a scoreless first quarter, the game was delayed one hour and 51 minutes due to weather. Then, Louisiana struck for 24 points in the second quarter and cruised to a victory. Earlier this year, UAB beat N.C. A&T 35-6 and lost at Ga. Southern 49-35. UAB is averaging 30.3 points per game while allowing 32.0 ppg. Against the Ragin’ Cajuns, quarterback Jacob Zeno finished 27-for-38 for 280 yards and one TD with two INTs. Also, he netted 52 rushing yards despite being sacked seven times.
Bulldogs Again Among The Leaders In Scoring Defense
Since the arrival of Kirby Smart in 2016, the Bulldogs have featured talented defenses and twice led the nation in Scoring Defense. This season, Georgia is ranked third nationally allowing only 8.0 points/ game. Glenn Schumann is in his second season as the Fain & Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator. Also, the 2023 defensive staff features Will Muschamp (co-Defensive Coord.), Fran Brown (DB), Tray Scott (DL) and Chidera Uzo-Diribe (OLB). The Bulldogs return 12 players who have starting experience from a group that ranked fifth nationally in 2022 allowing opponents only 14.3 points per contest.
The Bulldogs carried a shutout to the fourth quarter during their first two games of 2023 and allowed just 10 total points. UT Martin scored a TD with 6:39 left in the contest. Ball State kicked a field goal with 9:05 remaining. In game three, South Carolina was blanked in the second half. After scoring 14 points in the first half, USC’s second half possessions ended with three punts, once turned it over on downs and two on interceptions. Last year, Georgia shut out four teams in the second half.
The Bulldogs are +5 in turnover margin, which ranks tied for eighth nationally. All six turnovers forced this season have been interceptions.