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College football upset picks: Penn State and 5 teams on upset alert in Week 3

By Cody Williams

Sep 11, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Ball State Cardinals at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Ball State Cardinals at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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College football upset picks Week 3
Cincinnati Bearcats. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/The Enquirer /

College football Week 3 upset alert No. 3: Cincinnati Bearcats

Rank: 8 | Opponent: at Indiana Hoosiers | Time: Saturday, Sept. 18, Noon ET

It’s certainly been two different tales of how the 2021 season has started for the Cincinnati Bearcats and Indiana Hoosiers. For the former, things have gone as expected with blowout wins over Miami-Ohio and Murray State. The latter, however, got torched by Iowa in the opener before rebounding to beat Iowa.

That doesn’t mean the Hoosiers aren’t primed to pull off an upset at home, though. Because even if the Hawkeyes, now ranked as a top-10 team, pushed them around, Cincinnati isn’t going to be able to do the same.

Yes, we could take a lot about the playmaking of Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. that could cause some problems but, for me, it all comes down to the trenches. While Desmond Ridder is mobile, he’s not immune to pressure. And a Cincinnati offensive line that lacks a bit of size and experience could very well get pushed around by a strong Hoosiers defensive front.

This should be a rock fight in which two dynamic quarterbacks, frankly, have a hard time moving the ball. But I trust the Indiana defensive line to find more success throughout four quarters, which could prove to be the difference in the game, either by forcing turnovers or simply not allowing the Bearcats to move the ball.

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