Chess match: Six coordinator matchups to watch in Week 6

On3’s Mike Huguenin and Matt Zenitz spotlight six games with interesting coordinator matchups each week. The proverbial “chess match” between the coordinators very well could determine the outcome.

Here are the six in Week Six.

Tennessee at LSU

Time/TV: Noon, ESPN
The coordinator matchup: LSU OC Mike Denbrock vs. Tennessee DC Tim Banks
The buzz: Tennessee’s defense has issues; can LSU take advantage? Tigers QB Jayden Daniels may not he 100 percent healthy, but you still have to think he can do some damage with his legs. He has been LSU’s main rushing threat; what does Banks do to counter that? LSU has a nice group of receivers, but they haven’t made as big an impact as you’d expect. Florida hit some big pass plays against the Vols’ secondary, and Denbrock needs to make sure Daniels gets that opportunity.

TCU at Kansas

Time/TV: Noon, FS1
The coordinator matchup: TCU OC Garrett Riley vs. Kansas DC Brian Borland
The buzz: The offense has received most of the attention for Kansas’ 5-0 start, but the defense came up big in last week’s game with Iowa State. But TCU has the best offense KU has seen, and QB Max Duggan is playing particularly well. The Jayhawks have been tough to run on, but the secondary has shown some weaknesses. Look for Riley to try to take advantage.

Utah at UCLA

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., Fox
The coordinator matchup: Utah OC Andy Ludwig vs. UCLA DC Bill McGovern
The buzz: UCLA looks a lot better defensively under McGovern, in his first season as coordinator. The run defense has been excellent. But Utah will be far more, well, insistent on running the ball than previous opponents. For whatever reason, Utes RB Tavion Thomas hasn’t been all that productive since the opener, and Ludwig needs to get him back on track. Thomas ran for 160 yards and four TDs against the Bruins last season. This will be a big test for UCLA’s revamped linebacker corps, with transfer Darius Muasau needing to make sure his impact is felt.

North Carolina at Miami

Time/TV: 4 p.m., ESPN2
The coordinator matchup: Miami OC Josh Gattis vs. North Carolina DC Gene Chizik
The buzz: This matchup features coordinators who have received a ton of heat. Miami’s offense has been a disappointment, and QB Tyler Van Dyke really has struggled. To be fair, UM’s wide receivers are a mediocre group to begin with, and the injury to leading receiver Xavier Restrepo has exacerbated the issue. Look for UM to try to get the running game cranked up. The Hurricanes get RBs Henry Parrish Jr. and Jaylan Knighton back from injuries, and the Heels have been bad against the run. Plus, potentially controlling the clock keeps UM’s secondary off the field – and that’s a good thing because UNC QB Drake Maye figures to pick those guys apart.

Iowa at Illinois

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
The coordinator matchup: Iowa OC Brian Ferentz vs. Illinois DC Ryan Walters
The buzz: Let’s be honest – if you like high-flying pyrotechnics from offenses, absolutely avoid this game. This has the earmarks of a 9-6 contest. This coordinator matchup spotlights the game within the game: Iowa’s offense is horrible and Illinois’ defense has been excellent. The Hawkeyes average 4.3 yards per play, the worst average for a Power 5 team and the fourth-lowest nationally (down with Colorado State, FIU and UMass). Illinois allows just 3.8 yards per play, third-best among Power 5 schools (behind only Alabama and Iowa). Expect Walters to do whatever he can to force Iowa to throw. Heck, you wonder if the Illini play 11 in the box. OK, we’re being flippant – but then again, if you’ve seen Iowa’s passing attack, maybe not.

Florida State at NC State

Time/TV: 8 p.m., ACC Network
The coordinator matchup: NC State OC Tim Beck vs. Florida State DC Adam Fuller
The buzz: NCSU fell flat on its face offensively last week in a loss to Clemson in maybe the biggest ACC game of the season. The Wolfpack need to rebound and not let Clemson beat them twice. NCSU could not run the ball against the Tigers, and Beck has to make sure the running game is revitalized this week; way too much was on QB Devin Leary’s shoulders last week. Conversely, Wake Forest was surprisingly effective on the ground in beating FSU last week and Fuller has to find a way to stifle the run. The injury to DT Fabian Lovett hurts in that respect.