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| (Credit: Jim Brown, US PRESSWIRE) |
The second week of college football action didn't appear to look great on paper, but what came of it were some great contests and one thrilling and memorable upset as UL-Monroe disposed of Arkansas in Little Rock. This week, there are some great looking matchups based upon the name value, and the talent level also. Here's how I see the third week of football shaking down.
Thursday
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. South Florida Bulls (ESPN/WatchESPN, 7:30 PM ET)
It might be Big East football but there are some big implications in this one. It's a major statement game for the Scarlet Knights who have some high hopes this season, and aside from South Florida, are probably the biggest threats to challenge Louisville for the Big East crown. B.J. Daniels (who has seriously been at USF longer than Matt Groethe was) and the Bulls will be a tough matchup though. With that said, I'm picking the boys in scarlet.
Pick: Rutgers
Friday
Washington State Cougars vs. UNLV Runnin' Rebels (ESPN/WatchESPN, 9:00 PM ET)
Pick: Washington State
Saturday
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at #5 Florida State Seminoles (ESPN/WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
If this game were in Winston-Salem, I would put FSU on upset alert because traditionally they seem to lay eggs against lesser opponents. With that said, this game is at Doak, and there will not be a choke.
Pick: Florida State
California Golden Bears vs. #12 Ohio State Buckeyes (WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Ohio State
#13 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (ESPNU/WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Virginia Tech
#16 TCU Horned Frogs vs. Kansas Jayhawks (FX, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: TCU
Western Michigan Broncos vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Minnesota
Arkansas State Red Wolves vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (ESPN2/WatchESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
After giving up over 630 yards to UCLA, don't be surprised if Nebraska takes Arkansas State to the woodshed.
Pick: Nebraska
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Oklahoma State
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Army Knights (CBS Sports Network, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Northern Illinois
Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Illinois
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes (ESPN3, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Miami (FL)
Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)
Pick: Purdue
Louisiana-Monroe War Hawks vs. Auburn Tigers (SEC Network, ESPN3, Gameplan, 12:21 PM ET)
If the War Hawks pull off two consecutive upsets against SEC West teams, then I won't know how to handle myself. That being said, I just can't see it happening, even with how poor Auburn has looked thus far.
Pick: Auburn
Connecticut Huskies vs. Maryland Terrapins (ESPN3, Gameplan, 12:30 PM ET)
Randy Edsall coaches against his former team. The Terrapins looked just awful and skedaddled away from a monumental in Week 1 and throttled Temple last week. This week, I say they fall.
Pick: Connecticut
Prysbeterian Blue Hose vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (ESPN3, Gameplan, 12:30 PM ET)
Pick: Vanderbilt
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles vs. #4 Oregon Ducks (Pac-12 Network, 3:00 PM ET)
De'Anthony Thomas (a.k.a. The Black Mamba, a.k.a. DAT) dazzles again, and Oregon hangs a 60-burger.
Pick: Oregon
Furman Paladins vs. #11 Clemson Tigers (ESPN3, Gameplan, 3:30 PM ET)
Clemson rolls and sets up a Top-10 encounter (spoilers??) against the 'Noles next week in Tallahassee.
Pick: Clemson
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (CBS, 3:30 PM ET)
Don't think it could get much worse for Arkansas? They have the Crimson Tide coming into the house this week. Tide rolls. P.S. You think CBS is regretting not picking UF-Tennessee for the SEC opener?
Pick: Alabama
Masschusetts Minutemen vs. #17 Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM ET)
The Wolverines have not looked very impressive this season (and frankly, neither has the B1G) but they should comfortably beat the new-to-FBS UMass Minutemen.
Pick: Michigan
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. #19 Louisville Cardinals (ABC/ESPN2/WatchESPN, 3:30 PM ET)
Teddy Bridgewater and Charlie Strong face off against the Tar Heels in a matchup that warrants an *UPSET ALERT.* Think the Cardinals will survive though.
Pick: Louisville
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (ESPNU/WatchESPN, 3:30 PM ET)
Pick: Virginia
Boston College Eagles vs. Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Northwestern (!!) moves to 3-0.
Pick: Northwestern
Navy Midshipmen vs. Penn State Nittany Lions (ABC/ESPN2/WatchESPN, 3:30 PM ET)
Penn State couldn't possibly lose again, could they?
Pick: Penn State
Morgan State Bears vs. Akron Zips (ESPN3, 3:30 PM ET)
Akron is coming off a terrible loss to FIU, but I think they fend off the boys from the MEAC.
Pick: Akron
Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Iowa is reeling from a painful loss to in-state rival Iowa State, but I think they beat the Dillon Panthers... oh, I mean Northern Iowa Panthers. (Seriously, have you seen their jerseys?)
Pick: Iowa
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs (3:30 PM ET)
This would have been a terrific matchup back in the days of the good ol' Southwest Conference. Alas, it is a matchup of a formerly known as SEC virgin and a program that's still trying to steer clear of the sanctions that killed them.
Pick: Texas A&M
East Carolina Pirates vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (CBS Sports Network, 3:30 PM ET)
Pick: East Carolina
Miami (OH) Red Hawks vs. Boise State Broncos (NBC Sports Network, 4:00 PM ET)
Be careful, Boise...
Pick: Boise State
Stony Brook Seawolves vs. Syracuse Orange (ESPN3, Gameplan 4:00 PM ET)
Pick: Syracuse
Portland State Vikings vs. Washington Huskies (FX, 4:00 PM ET)
U-Dub takes care of business after a pasting in the Bayou.
Pick: Washington
Florida International Panthers vs. UCF Golden Knights (4:00 PM ET)
Pick: UCF
James Madison Dukes vs. #9 West Virginia Mountaineers (4:30 PM ET) at FedEx Field
'Neers, by a four touchdowns.
Pick: West Virginia
#18 Florida Gators vs. #23 Tennessee Volunteers (ESPN/WatchESPN, 6:00 PM ET)
Big, big game with some big SEC East implications. The Volunteers haven't won a game on the third Saturday in September since 2004 when they beat the Gators, infamously because of an unsportsmanlike conduct call, that was subsequently followed by a 50-yard field goal by James Wilhoit. The controversy won't be there this time, but I think Tennessee ends Florida's seven-game winning streak.
Pick: Tennessee
South Alabama Jaguars vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack (ESPN3, 6:00PM ET)
Pick: North Carolina State
UTSA Roadrunners vs. Georgia State Panthers (6:00 PM ET)
Pick: UTSA
Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Wyoming Cowboys (6:00 PM ET)
The Cowboys are 0-2, and sadly for them, I don't think that the bleeding stops.
Pick: Cal Poly
Ohio Bobcats vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (6:30 PM ET)
Bobcats by ten.
Pick: Ohio
UAB Blazers vs. #8 South Carolina Gamecocks (ESPN3, Gameplan, 7:00 PM ET)
Spurrier keeps the Gamecocks focused looking towards a Columbia vs. Columbia matchup next week. Lattimore rushes for two touchdowns.
Pick: South Carolina
North Texas Mean Green vs. #15 Kansas State Wildcats
Collin Klein is turning into one of my favorite players in the country. K-State wins and preps for a big matchup with the Sooners in Norman.
Pick: Kansas State
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Kentucky Wildcats (ESPNU/WatchESPN, 7:00 PM ET)
Dey s'posed to be SEC? Yes, dey s'posed to be SEC. WKU picks up an "upset" and Joker Phillips' seat gets hotter.
Pick: Western Kentucky
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Missouri Tigers (ESPN2/WatchESPN, 7:00 PM ET)
Mizzou cannot afford a hangover after the loss to Georgia, because if they do have one, they will be 1-3 after next week in a hurry.
Pick: Missouri
North Carolina Central Eagles vs. Duke Blue Devils (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Duke
Nicholls State Colones vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes (7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Tulsa
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. Memphis Tigers (7:00 PM ET)
Memphis is bad, very bad. Middle Tennessee follows up a victory against FAU with a win against the Tigers.
Pick: Middle Tennessee
Delaware State Hornets vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Cincinnati
Rice Owls vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
This could be a fun one. LaTech prevails.
Pick: Louisiana Tech
New Mexico Lobos vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7:00 PM ET)
Bob Davie pulls one out in Lubbock.
Pick: New Mexico
Bowling Green Falcons vs. Toledo Rockets (ESPN3, Gameplan, 7:00 PM ET)
MAC-tion! The Rockets best the Falcons here at home, I think.
Pick: Toledo
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Troy Trojans (ESPN3, 7:00 PM ET)
Pick: Mississippi State
Sam Houston State Bearkats vs. Baylor Bears (7:05 PM ET)
Pick: Baylor
Northwestern State Demons vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (7:05 PM ET)
Pick: Nevada
#2 USC Trojans vs. #21 Stanford Cardinal (FOX, 7:30 PM ET)
USC is too fast and too potent for Stanford who has proven to be dreadful against fast teams in the last few seasons. Barkley throws for four TD and Robert Woods hauls in three of them.
Pick: USC
Florida Atlantic Owls vs. #7 Georgia Bulldogs (ESPN3, Gameplan, 7:30 PM ET)
How Georgia is not ahead of Oklahoma I won't ever understand. Nonetheless, the 'Dawgs take care of business between the hedges.
Pick: Georgia
Idaho Vandals vs. #3 LSU Tigers (ESPN3, Gameplan, 8:00 PM ET)
This one will get ugly in a hurry.
Pick: LSU
#20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. #10 Michigan State Spartans (ABC, 8:00 PM ET)
Two seasons ago, the Spartans pulled off an absolutely unbelievable call to win the game in OT. This time, I think the Fighting Irish will walk into Spartan Stadium, and walk out victorious. East Lansing will be 'Upset City.' I expect Le'Veon Bell and the tandem of Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick to put on a show on the ground.
Pick: Notre Dame
North Dakota vs. San Diego State Aztecs (8:00 PM ET)
Pick: San Diego State
Colorado State Rams vs. San Jose State Spartans (ESPN3, 8:00 PM ET)
Pick: Colorado State
Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Iowa State Cyclones (8:00 PM ET)
The Cyclones excite their fans again after beating Iowa by beating the Leathernecks.
Pick: Iowa State
Ball State Cardinals vs. Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Network, 8:00 PM ET)
Pick: Ball State
Utah State Aggies vs. Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Network, 8:00 PM ET)
If Wisconsin struggles with Utah State, then there might be more problems in Madison than we expected. Don't count on it, though.
Pick: Wisconsin
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (CBS Sports Network, 8:00 PM ET)
Colorado follows up a rough loss to FCS Sacramento State with a L in NoCal.
Pick: Fresno State
New Mexico State Aggies vs. UTEP Miners (8:00 PM ET)
Pick: New Mexico State
#14 Texas Longhorns vs. Ole Miss Rebels (ESPN/WatchESPN, 9:15 PM ET)
Pick: Texas
#25 Brigham Young Cougars vs. Utah Utes (ESPN2/WatchESPN, 10:00 PM ET)
Jordan Wynn just left Utah out of nowhere. I think BYU capitalizes and beats Utah in Salt Lake City in a matchup of teams from the Beehive State.
Pick: Brigham Young
Houston Cougars vs. #22 UCLA Bruins
Life without Kevin Sumlin and Case Keenum has not been too kind to Houston. It doesn't get much nicer this week. The Bruins, especially Johnathan Franklin, pounce on the Cougars in Pasadena.
Pick: UCLA
South Carolina State Bulldogs vs. #24 Arizona Wildcats (10:30 PM ET)
Arizona pulled off a stunner last week, beating Oklahoma State. They'll follow that with a comfy win this week that makes Rich Rodriguez look better than he actually is.
Pick: Arizona
Sunday
Lamar Cardinals vs. Hawaii (Rainbow) Warriors
Pick: Hawaii
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