Week 10 was one to forget. Our lineup stumbled to an 89th-place finish out of 91 entries, totaling just 60 points. Oklahoma’s passing attack completely fell flat with only two points, and while Ohio State’s defense did their part with a solid 20, it wasn’t nearly enough to save the week. The good news? There’s always another chance to rebound and climb the standings. Week 11 brings a fresh slate and another shot at cracking that top tier for the $100 prize. As always, download the Squad Blitz app and make sure to select Walk-On Redshirts as your referral. Let’s build the lineup that gets us back on track.
Passing:
Indiana ($175)
Did you see what Julian Sayin did to the Penn State defense last weekend? I am taking the stance that Penn State is defeated and has no interest in playing this game. They are ready for their season to be over, and now Fernando Mendoza is coming to town. Mendoza is one of the Heisman front-runners and has thrown for over 2,100 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Surratt may not be Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but they should have a strong day against this Penn State team.
Virginia ($165)
Chandler Morris is not afraid to sling the rock. I think he will need to have a strong day on Saturday because Wake Forest is going to play this game close. Morris has Virginia on the verge of making the playoffs, but they cannot lose another game. Wake Forest is a vastly improved team with a top-40 passing defense. Tommy Castellanos found success last week throwing just 16 times for 271 yards. Florida State blew out Wake Forest 42–7. Virginia could win in a similar fashion if they can get jump-started quickly.
Rushing:
BYU ($155)
If BYU is going to find a way to beat Texas Tech, they are going to do it on the ground. BYU is expecting running back LJ Martin to suit up on Saturday, which should help their ground game. Martin is the team’s leading rusher with 789 yards, averaging six yards per carry. The other reason we chose BYU is because of Bear Bachmeier. The freshman quarterback has struggled through the air at times this year but has been a consistent threat on the ground. Bachmeier has over 400 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Texas Tech has one of the best defensive fronts, led by David Bailey. BYU can’t win this game through the air, so they will have to break through the strongest part of the Texas Tech defense.
Washington ($170)
Luke Fickell just found out he can stay around for another year, meaning he can breathe a sigh of relief. Washington’s rushing attack has not been as lethal as many expected, but this is a chance for them to break out of their shell. Jonah Coleman has only 643 yards after many expected him to easily clear 1,000 this year. He does have 13 touchdowns to his credit. Demond Williams has over 400 yards and has topped 50 yards in six different games. We are taking a chance that Washington will rely heavily on the run game and find a way to win that way. Wisconsin’s rush defense is top-25 in the nation, so there is a chance the Huskies may have to rely a little more on the passing attack on Saturday.
Defense:
Oregon ($230)
This Oregon play is my favorite for the weekend. We already know Iowa will struggle to throw the ball. Mark Gronowski has fewer than 1,000 passing yards, and we are in November. Iowa does have a formidable rushing attack, but if Oregon can take away any threat of a pass, they should have a good chance to limit Iowa’s ability to run the ball. The forecast is also calling for winds upwards of 30 miles per hour, which will make throwing the ball even tougher. Oregon’s rushing defense ranks 31st in the country. While they are not the best, they do have a strong defensive front, and players like Bear Alexander should be able to clog the middle against this Iowa offense.
Recap:
Passing: Indiana ($175), Virginia ($165)
Rushing: BYU ($155), Washington ($170)
Defense: Oregon ($230)
Total: $895
This week’s lineup leans on a mix of offensive balance and defensive stability. Indiana and Virginia both have high-upside passing matchups, each led by quarterbacks capable of lighting up the scoreboard against vulnerable defenses. On the ground, BYU’s power rushing duo of LJ Martin and Bear Bachmeier should keep Texas Tech honest, while Washington looks to rediscover its offensive rhythm behind Jonah Coleman and Demond Williams. Defensively, Oregon feels like the safest and strongest anchor, especially facing an Iowa team that can’t throw and will be battling tough conditions. At $895 total, this lineup has the potential to bounce us right back up the leaderboard.
