[2024] Week 10 - Matchup of the Week

SageBow · June 24

A great Week 10 showdown among two first round caliber players. #13 Oklahoma sent Alabama back to Tuscaloosa with a 31-24 overtime win. Let's check out this week's matchup!

Week 10 Matchup of the Week

OT Deolis Francisco, SR, CMU vs DE Reggie Newton, SR, BUFF

From one instance of trench warfare to another, this time it's a MAC party. This Thursday night, 5-3 CMU takes on 5-3 Buffalo and these two guys will be the highlight. On one end, 5* left tackle Deolis Francisco, a 6-4, 294 manimal taking on Coach @anonemuss's Reggie "The Fig" Newton. Lets chop it up!

Through Week 9, Francisco has been as advertised. 7 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed. He's the heart and soul of this Chippewas offensive line, and one of the more battle tested offensive tackles in the country. To date he's taken on Southern Miss's Jacob Onwaulu, Fresno State's Robert Tasini, and Akron's Datone Dozier, all NFL level guys, and not allowed a single sack. Newton stands as the last NFL level edge rusher that Francisco will face in the regular season, so if anyone can break this impenetrable wall, it's got to be The Fig.

Frankly, it's been an up and down year for Reggie. 23 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, but only 4.0 sacks, the production just hasn't really been there. This Bulls defensive line is no joke however. DT Tyler Winslow is one of the best in the country, and DT Pasoni Lanning is having a career year. If Francisco gets too locked into his head to head match up with Newton, these two defensive tackles will bring havoc onto the CMU offense. If Newton doesn't bring it, Francisco's going to have the chance to crash down and help this offense. There's a reason this physical game is won in the trenches.

Prediction - Francisco stonewalls Newton. He's arguably the best pure pass blocking book end tackle in the nation, and he proves it against a top 10 edge rusher.