Here are three teams on upset alert in week 10 of the 2020 college football season.
*Spreads are according to TeamRankings as of Tuesday night.*
Iowa Hawkeyes (-6.5)
Iowa Hawkeyes (0-2) vs Michigan State Spartans (1-1)
When: Saturday, November 7 | Noon EST
Watch: ESPN
Michigan State got off to a very unexpected start this season when they lost to Rutgers 38-27. They bounced back by beating a ranked Michigan team 27-24. Their 1-1 record is pretty expected, but the way they got there is not. After just two games, it could be tough to tell if both games the Spartans played have been flukes, or if they are finding a groove after an early loss. They’ll face a winless Hawkeyes team Saturday.
Iowa has lost their two games by a total of five points. They started the season with a loss to Purdue. The total was 24-20, and the Hawkeyes led for a majority of the game. They were up 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter when they were outscored 10-3 in the final 15 minutes. In their second game, Iowa lost to Northwestern 21-20. Like their first game, they had the lead in this one as well. They were up 17-0 after the first quarter against the Wildcats. Iowa could be 2-0, and lingering on that thought could affect the Hawkeyes this Saturday.
22 Texas Longhorns (-6.5)
22 Texas Longhorns (4-2) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (4-2)
When: Saturday, November 7 | Noon EST
Watch: ABC
West Virginia is 4-2 through their first six games of 2020, and they’ll get a chance to really improve with a win over a ranked Texas team. The Mountaineers are coming off of an impressive 37-10 win over Kansas State. West Virginia didn’t allow a point in the second half of the game, and it is also the third time this season where the Mountaineers scored at least 37 points. Another notable stat from this team is that quarterback Jarret Doege has thrown for over 300 yards in three consecutive games with a total of six touchdowns and one interception in those contests.
Texas has shown glimpses of getting back where they used to be, but they also accumulated some loses along the way. The Longhorns started their 2020 campaign 2-0 before losing back-to-back games and sitting at 2-2. They have since won two in-a-row, including a 41-34 win over a sixth ranked Oklahoma State team. This could show the potential Texas has, but they have won some big games and then lost soon after before. This could happen to the Longhorns again against West Virginia this Saturday.
Virginia Tech Hokies (-15)
Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2) vs. 25 Liberty Flames (6-0)
When: Saturday, November 7 | Noon EST
Watch: ACC Network
Liberty is now 6-0 and in the AP Top 25. The Flames won their first two games by a combined eight points, but have won their past four games by at least 17 points. This includes a 38-21 win over Syracuse. The Flames will get another chance to beat a Power 5 opponent in Virginia Tech. This is a big one for Liberty, as a win can keep them in competition for a New Year’s Six bowl. The Flames still have North Carolina State and 15 Coastal Carolina on their schedule.
Virginia Tech is 4-2 so far this season. They are coming off of a 42-35 win against Louisville. That was the third time this year that the Hokies have allowed over 30 points in a single game. They are 2-1 in those games, but it may not be a pace that the Hokies can keep up with. Seeing that Liberty put up 56 points last week, the Flames’ offense and Hokies’ defense could be a key factor in this game.
Featured Image Courtesy of burntorangenation.com
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from TGH writers along with Tommy.