College Football Predictions: Week 3

Okay, so we forgot last week. My apologies everybody. Busyness gets the best of you sometimes, and that is what occurred. I will continue to try and keep up the consistency as time goes on and that goes for everything on this blog. Nonetheless, it's the third week of the college football season and the past two have been nothing short of great. This week has a matchup that the world has been waiting for since last November, and several other sneaky good matchups.

Thursday, September 12

#24 TCU vs. Texas Tech - 7:30 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN

Only I-20 separates these two schools from one another and this is a very interesting one to kick things off in Week 3. I think it will be very fun to see a Kliff Kingsbury offense taking on a Gary Patterson defense and in this one, I think offense wins here. Look for Tech wide receiver Jace Amaro to make a huge impact.

Troy vs. Arkansas State - 7:30 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN

Tulane vs. Louisiana Tech - 7:30 PM ET, FOX Sports 1

Friday, September 13

Air Force vs. Boise State - 8:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN

Boise rebounded after one of the biggest beat downs that they have had under Chris Petersen with a 63-14 thrashing of Tennessee-Martin last week. This week they welcome the Air Force Falcons to the blue turf, and the Falcons are nothing to be slouched on. They fly into this game with a 285.5 rushing yards per game average which is 18th in the country. I will cautiously take Boise here because I don't think they lose with the HFA, but it would surprise me not if Air Force pulled off the upset either.

Saturday, September 14

#5 Stanford vs. Army - 12:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network

Perhaps the Cardinal are sluggish to start with the 9AM PT kickoff, but I can't picture the Knights pulling off what would be an absolute stunner.

#7 Louisville vs. Kentucky - 12:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN

Teddy, Teddy, Teddy, can't you see? Sometimes your throws just hypnotize me. Okay, we're done with that from now on. Mr. Bridgewater shouldn't have many problems picking apart Mark Stoops' Wildcats in a game where, apparently, he and the Cardinals aren't a hot enough ticket to sell out in Lexington. Louisville wins big.

Akron vs. #11 Michigan - 12:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network

Tulsa vs. #14 Oklahoma - 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN

Tulsa hasn't looked quite themselves this season. I sense a beat down in Norman, even with Blake Bell at quarterback as Trevor Knight is not in action with an injury.

#16 UCLA vs. #23 Nebraska - 12:00 PM ET, ABC

Brett Hundley and the Bruins will beat Nebraska in Lincoln. Sign, sealed and deliver it on Saturday afternoon. I've liked what I've seen out of both of these teams but I like what I've seen from the Bruins a little more. I think Jim Mora, Jr. gets another signature victory and Bo Pelini's stock at NU continues to dissipate. 

Bowling Green vs. Indiana - 12:00 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN

Western Illinois vs. Minnesota - 12:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network

Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina - 12:00 PM ET, FOX Sports 1

Georgia State vs. West Virginia - 12:00 PM ET

Southern Miss vs. Arkansas - 12:21 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan

Louisiana-Monroe vs. Wake Forest - 12:30 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan

New Mexico vs. Pittsburgh - 12:30 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan

Eastern Michigan vs. Rutgers - 1:00 PM ET, ESPN3

Fordham vs. Temple - 1:00 PM ET, ESPN3

Fresno State vs. Colorado - 2:00 PM ET

I'm taking the Buffaloes to get redemption after last season. This is one of few bold picks this week where it could come back to haunt me. 

Youngstown State vs. Michigan State - 2:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network

This game will not only feature Youngstown State versus Michigan State, but another tough matchup: Michigan State's offense versus the end zone. Okay, we are done with pot shots. Maybe. Give me the Spartans and their sputtering offense in this one, but this will be very, very ugly.

Boston College vs. USC - 3:00 PM ET, Pac-12 Network

Wouldn't it be funny if BC pulled off the upset here? I don't think that stands a chance in hell of happening, though. Then again, I didn't think Wazzou was going to beat USC in their own building last week, so who knows what could happen.

#1 Alabama vs. #6 Texas A&M - 3:30 PM ET, CBS

Oh, yes. I'm taking the Aggies in this game. Here is why: the game is at Kyle Field, which has a tremendous home field advantage for TAMU. Nick Saban has had problems against teams that run spread offenses and against mobile quarterbacks. Brian Johnson, Jordan Jefferson, and Cam Newton all agree. And Manziel too, in case you forgot that the Aggies went into Tuscaloosa and beat the Tide last year. Matchup problems have beaten Saban in the past and I'm not sure this will be any different. It seems as though people are expecting Alabama to drop Texas A&M like their a sack of potatoes in this game, but I don't expect that to happen. There will be points scored in this game, but at the end of the day, I think Manziel lifts the Aggies to victory. Commence world explosion.

Tennessee vs. #2 Oregon - 3:30 PM ET, ABC

Even if it might be for a half, this game will intrigue me lots. Tennessee and Butch Jones get ready for their annual Third Saturday in September meeting with the Gators with a trip to the Autzen Zoo. Marcus Mariota and De'Anthony Thomas await them, and they'll be ready to run right out of the tunnel at the Vols. I do think Tennessee pushes back a little bit and keeps this interesting. In the end though, the Ducks pick up the win.

Nevada vs. #10 Florida State - 3:30 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN

Cal Poly vs. Colorado State - 3:30 PM ET

Georgia Tech vs. Duke - 3:30 PM ET

Mini-upset here, think the Yellow Jackets give David Cutcliffe and the Duke Blue Devils a bit of a surprise in Durham.

Stony Brook vs. Buffalo - 3:30 PM ET, ESPN3

Delaware vs. Navy - 3:30 PM ET, CBS Sports Network

Wagner vs. Syracuse - 4:00 PM ET, ESPN3

Ball State vs. North Texas - 4:00 PM ET

Northern Colorado vs. Wyoming - 4:00 PM ET

Northern Illinois vs. Idaho - 5:00 PM ET

#19 Washington vs. Illinois - 6:00 PM ET
This one might be, in the words of Lee Corso, "closer than the experts think," but Keith Price gets it done at Soldier Field. 

Iowa vs. Iowa State - 6:00 PM ET, FOX Sports 1
The Cy-Hawk Trophy will belong to Iowa City for another year. The Cyclones looked dreadful and while I'm not totally sold on the Hawkeyes, I think that they are better than the folks in Ames. I expect Mark Weisman to be the difference maker.

UCF vs. Penn State - 6:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network

Howard vs. Old Dominion - 6:00 PM ET

Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida International - 6:00 PM ET

Southern Utah vs. Washington State - 6:30 PM ET, Pac-12 Network

#4 Ohio State vs. California - 7:00 PM ET, FOX
Big Ten teams typically have lots of problems on the West Coast. To make matters worse, California nearly beat Ohio State last season in Columbus. Will I be picking the Golden Bears though? I will not be. I wouldn't be surprised to see Cal have a lead for much of this game but in the end, the talent discrepancy between these two will be the difference. But this is all dependent, really, on the health of Braxton Miller.

Kent State vs. #8 LSU - 7:00 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN

Vanderbilt vs. #13 South Carolina - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN

Mississippi State vs. Auburn - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN
Watch out for Malzahn's Tigers as the season progresses. They could present some problems for others with that offense. 

Florida Atlantic vs. South Florida - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
This one honestly is a coin flip. 

Nicholls State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3

Northwestern State vs. Cincinnati - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Even without Munchie, I can't see the Bearcats losing this one.

Massachusetts vs. Kansas State - 7:00 PM ET
Picked, and successfully at that, K-State to take a loss two weeks ago to North Dakota State. Can't see them dropping this one, though.

Memphis vs. Middle Tennessee - 7:00 PM ET

Eastern Washington vs. Toledo - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Big Sky gets the W here. Picking 2-0 Eastern Washington to walk into Toledo and steal a victory from the Rockets. Call it one of the upsets of the week.

Lamar vs. #12 Oklahoma State - 7:30 PM ET

Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama - 7:30 PM ET, ESPN3

Maryland vs. Connecticut - 7:30 PM ET, ESPN3
The Randy Edsall Bowl, in which Edsall's Terrapins beat the Huskies by multiple touchdowns.

Kansas vs. Rice - 7:30 PM ET, CBS Sports Network

#21 Notre Dame vs. Purdue - 8:00 PM ET, ABC
It would probably be funny if the Fighting Irish dropped this one to the Boilermakers. But Purdue has looked bad this season, so give me Notre Dame in this matchup. That D-Line is nasty.

#25 Ole Miss vs. Texas - 8:00 PM ET, Longhorn Network
The time is ticking, Mack.

UTEP vs. New Mexico State - 8:00 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan

Marshall vs. Ohio - 8:00 PM ET, ESPNEWS, WatchESPN

Weber State vs. Utah State - 8:00 PM ET, ESPN3

Western Michigan vs. #17 Northwestern - 9:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network

Oregon State vs. Utah - 10:00 PM ET, FOX Sports 1
Utah boasts a Top 35 defense in the nation and is in Salt Lake City for this Pac-12 contest. Give me the Utes.

Central Michigan vs. UNLV - 10:00 PM ET

#20 Wisconsin vs. Arizona State - 10:30 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
The Badgers have opened up the Gary Andersen era with back-to-back shutouts. Although they were against much lesser opponents, it's still an accomplishment in its own right. WIth that said, they now head out west for their first big test of the season. Keep your eye on Will Sutton, a defensive tackle for the Sun Devils, who you'll be seeing on Sundays next year. Give me the, I think underrated, Wisconsin Badgers in a close, defensive battle that's won on the feet of Melvin Gordon and James White.

UTSA vs. Arizona - 10:30 PM ET, Pac-12 Network