Week 11 was another tough pill to swallow. We finished 93rd out of 95 entries, putting up just 45.5 points in what felt like a Murphy’s Law kind of week. BYU’s rushing attack came in at minus 5.3, Washington managed only 5.7 on the ground, and from there the snowball never stopped rolling. The winning lineup had 148.3, showing just how wide the gap was this time around. The good news is that every week in Squad Blitz is a clean slate. Week 12 is another chance to rebuild, recalibrate, and take a real swing at the $100 dollar prize. Download the Squad Blitz app, select Walk-On Redshirts as your referral, and let’s chase a bounce back lineup.
Passing
Pitt ($175) – Pitt might have the best freshman quarterback in the country, and they’re going up against one of the worst passing defenses in the nation. This is incredible value if I’ve ever seen it. Mason Heintschel took over for Eli Holstein in September and hasn’t looked back. The freshman is averaging 302 passing yards per game with 12 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Notre Dame’s passing defense ranks 88th, allowing more than 230 yards per game. They held Navy to just 22 yards last week and still sit near the bottom of the list.
Duke ($190) – Duke’s record may not reflect it, but Darian Mensah is having a great season. The former Tulane quarterback is approaching 3,000 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Duke is in a strange spot at 5-4, but since they’re 4-1 in the ACC, they still have an outside shot at the playoff. This is a must-win game for Duke. Virginia’s pass defense has been exposed at times this year. Louisville topped 300 passing yards against them, and I expect Duke to do the same.
Rushing
Michigan ($205) – Michigan may be without Justice Haynes, but they continue to pound the rock. Jordan Marshall has stepped in nicely and helped lead the rushing attack. Michigan has rushed for more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns in their past two games. Northwestern ranks 103rd in opposing yards per carry, allowing more than 4.5 per attempt. Michigan’s offense ranks 7th, averaging more than 5.8 yards per carry. Look for Michigan to lean on the run game and wear down Northwestern’s defense.
Penn State ($185) – Did Penn State finally discover its run game? Nick Singleton broke out with his best performance of the year with 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns, plus another score through the air. While Penn State may have lost, I think they found something against Indiana’s defense. Now they travel to face Michigan State. The season may not have gone how Penn State hoped, but they are still playing for pride. I expect them to win this weekend and rely heavily on Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Defense
USC ($190) – USC’s defense has improved since moving on from Alex Grinch. They aren’t a top-10 defense, but they do enough to give their offense a chance. Iowa has four games with fewer than 300 total yards and only one game with more than 400. The Hawkeyes now go on the road after an emotional home loss to Oregon. This feels like a prime letdown spot where Iowa struggles for four quarters. USC’s defense can commit extra resources to the run and force Iowa into uncomfortable situations. I like USC’s defense to shut down Iowa on Saturday.
Recap
Passing: Pitt ($175), Duke ($190)
Rushing: Michigan ($205), Penn State ($185)
Defense: USC ($190)
Week 12’s lineup leans on value and favorable matchups across the board, starting with Pitt and Duke in the passing game, where Mason Heintschel faces one of the nation’s worst pass defenses and Darian Mensah continues his strong season against a vulnerable Virginia secondary. On the ground, Michigan’s rushing attack remains dominant even without Justice Haynes, while Penn State appears to have finally found momentum behind Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen heading into a winnable matchup with Michigan State. Defensively, USC gets the call as Iowa’s inconsistent offense heads on the road in a potential letdown spot after an emotional loss.
