CFB DeptHITS: Thursday, October 10
Getting caught up on the big news from around college football as we gear up for week seven. Initial SEC availability reports are out...get what you need to know.
We make hundreds of tiny tweaks and edits to our live 134 depth charts every day. This feature is designed to call out the “big” ones from around the landscape and provide a little more color. In this edition, we’ll focus on the week seven SEC Availability Reports released last night and give you a primer heading into those six head-to-head matchups…Enjoy.
Memphis ::: DB Tahj Ra-El has had a tumultuous time in Memphis after his transfer in from Old Dominion. He left the team early on this season only to return after the injury to Kourlan Marsh opened up playing time. He is now reportedly taking a redshirt and re-entering the Portal.
Arkansas ::: QB Taylen Green was banged up pretty good in that massive week six win over Tennessee. He is "day-to-day" but has a full bye week to recover and get back out there against LSU in week eight. It is believed to be a very sore bone bruise.
Liberty ::: WR Reese Smith appeared to have been injured on the final draft of Tuesday night's week seven showdown with FIU. He has another bye week coming up in week eight to heal up.
|||||| SEC AVAILABILITY REPORT BREAKDOWNS
Vanderbilt ::: S CJ Taylor is the big name added to the Commodores initial availability report. He is "questionable" for week seven against Kentucky. Other contributors on the defense are also listed "Q", including: LBs Bryan Longwell and Langston Patterson, along with DL Yilanan Ouattara.
LSU ::: WR CJ Daniels added to week seven report as "questionable" and is dealing with some sort of injury. LB West Weeks not expected to make it back as he is listed "doubtful" and back RB Caden Durham is now "probable" and expected back this week against Ole Miss. DB Zy Alexander is not listed and appears ready to return.
Ole Miss ::: WR Tre Harris and DL Princely Umanmielen are the big names as "questionable" on the initial availability report for the Rebels. Both may be game-time calls. Primary backup RB Matt Jones is "doubtful" and is unlikely to play, meaning we'll see more of Ulysses Bentley IV in week seven.
Tennessee ::: WR Dont'e Thornton was listed as "questionable" on the first availability report released by the SEC. Both Squirrel White and Bru McCoy are listed, but are probable for week seven. S John Slaughter is not listed and should make his return for the first time since week three.
Florida ::: WRs Eugene Wilson III and Aidan Mizell are both not listed on the initial availability report and are cleared to play week seven. DB Asa Turner was injured in week one and hasn't played since. He appars on the road to recovery as he is listed as "questionable". Starting LT Austin Barber found his way on the report as "questionable" also.
Mississippi State ::: DL Kedrick Bingley-Jones was left off the initial availability report, indicating he'll re-join the rotation for week seven against Georgia.
Georgia ::: Both DL Christen Miller and Mykel Williams are not listed on the initial week seven availability report indicating they will both play week seven against Mississippi State.
Oklahoma ::: The big WR in this OU offense will remain out, including Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson and Andrel Anthony. Deion Burks is listed as questionable. LB Dasan McCullough is not listed on the initial report and could mean he is ready to make his '24 debut.
Texas ::: QB Quinn Ewers is officially "probable" for Red River and appears fully ready to return. P Michael Kern was added to the list as questionable and could possible miss the showdown with Oklahoma.
Alabama ::: LB Justin Jefferson is not listed on the initial availability report indicating he will play week seven. Meanwhile, Kobe Prentice is an addition with a "questionable" tag.
South Carolina ::: WR Jared Brown finds himself listed as "out" on the week seven SEC availability report and the Gamecocks will be without their top receiver against Alabama.
|||||| THURSDAY NIGHT MODEL SIMULATIONS
When we said the Model is a work-in-progress, we meant it. And, it is taking an early beating in the two weekday games thus far in week seven (0-4, -5 UNITS). That said, it’s a long week with a lot of games and we have a “spray the board” mentality around here. We’ve also made some slight adjustments to account for the really, really bad defenses (ie: NM State) and taking into account a bad offense is only as bad as the horrific defense they are playing. So, with three games on the slate tonight, let’s get this turned around heading into a busy Friday and Saturday in week seven:
Coastal Carolina at James Madison, 7:30 PM ET
No plays in this one as Vegas is right in line with the Model on this one. If we had to lean one way or the other, it would be JMU -9.5 and OVER 60.5.
Middle Tennessee at Louisiana Tech, 8:00 PM ET
The Model really, really likes Louisiana Tech in this one. Looking closer at it, it is more of an indictment on the Blue Raiders, than it is an endorsement of the Bulldogs. MTSU has certainly played better competition, even hanging in there somewhat against Memphis two weeks ago before a bye week. The Dogs also come off a bye following three close losses by 10-, 7- and 7-points. One thing that jumps at us is the Bulldogs defense limiting big plays. Sure, they’ve done it against some lackluster offenses, but MTSU probably fits in that same mold.
PLAYS: Louisiana Tech (-4.5) at 3 UNITS — UNDER 49.5 at 1 UNIT
UTEP at Western Kentucky, 8:00 PM ET
Another no play here as WKU really could break this one open and the model as this as just a +0.5 advantage for UTEP getting the points. The lean would also be on the OVER but we are staying far away from it.
That’s our show for today. We hope you’ve enjoyed it enough to give us a subscribe and/or help spread the word. Thank you.