Last week our lineup finished 12th, which was respectable, but we still ended up 60 points behind the winner. I’m expecting a stronger showing this weekend.
If you haven’t joined Squad Blitz yet, there’s still plenty of time to get in on the action. Squad Blitz is a fantasy college football app where you draft teams, not players. Each contest requires you to pick two passing attacks, two rushing attacks, and one defense. Teams are assigned values, and you have up to $1000 Squad Blitz Bucks to build your ideal lineup.
For example, instead of drafting just Jeremiyah Love, you can draft the entire Notre Dame rushing attack. Sign up today and select Walk-On Redshirts as your referral!
Passing
LSU ($255) – LSU is our anchor this week. Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for 469 yards and two touchdowns through two games, and I believe he’s one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Florida comes into Death Valley fresh off a demoralizing loss to USF. The Gators allowed 269 passing yards to Byrum Brown, and while Brown is a strong player, Nussmeier is the better pure passer. LSU’s deep wide receiver room—including Aaron Anderson, Barion Brown, and others—hasn’t produced a true breakout yet, but I expect that to change Saturday night. Look for the Tigers to lean heavily on the passing game.
Duke ($205) – Darian Mensah faces his old team this week, and he’s been on fire: 723 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception through two games. Duke’s wide receiver unit was a preseason concern, but Cooper Barkate, Que’Sean Brown, Andrel Anthony, and Sahmir Hagans have all stepped up. Tulane gave up 231 passing yards to South Alabama last week. I expect Mensah to post even better numbers in this matchup.
Rushing
Georgia Tech ($180) – The Yellow Jackets’ run-heavy approach makes them a steal at just $180. With Haynes King expected back, Clemson’s defense will have its hands full. King rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the opener against Colorado, and his dual-threat ability makes Georgia Tech dangerous. Running back Jamal Haynes, already over 2,000 career yards, adds explosive playmaking. Clemson’s defensive line has struggled against the run, which sets up Georgia Tech well to control the game on the ground.
Tennessee ($175) – This is a risk, but one worth taking. Tennessee has rushed for 522 yards in two games, while Georgia has allowed just 123 rushing yards total. That said, Georgia’s opponents (Marshall and Austin Peay) weren’t exactly elite rushing teams. Tennessee will rotate multiple backs—Star Thomas, DeSean Bishop, and Peyton Lewis—while quarterback Joey Aguilar also poses a threat on the ground. For Tennessee to have any chance, it must run effectively, and rushing touchdowns could pay off big here.
Defense
USF ($175) – We’re rolling with the Bulls while they’re hot. USF’s defense was the key to last week’s upset over Florida, holding both the Gators and Boise State to under 400 total yards. The concern is that USF hasn’t generated much havoc yet—just one forced turnover and two sacks through two games. Still, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had multiple-interception games last season, and if USF can pressure him into mistakes, this play could pay off. We don’t need them to be dominant—just solid enough not to lose points.
Recap
- Passing: LSU ($255), Duke ($205)
- Rushing: Georgia Tech ($180), Tennessee ($175)
- Defense: USF ($175)
This lineup involves some calculated risks, but that’s the nature of a one-week contest. Playing it safe won’t win you the week. Let us know your lineup in the comments, and make sure to join Squad Blitz for this weekend’s contest!
