I'll try to remember to post this each week for College Football Season through the Bowls. I obviously can't make picks for each game, but I'll usually pick at least five and then rant a bit about some other games.
The second week of college football is typically the most predictable, since very few ranked teams are actually playing each other, most of the games are non-conference, and traditional rivals are either week one or towards the end of the season. This year is no exception. This week there is only one game between ranked teams (USC and Ohio State) and really only one other compelling game (Notre Dame at Michigan). Outside of the first game, the top ten should all win and in the rest of the top 25 there are probably only one or two loses in a couple of trap games.
So here are my second week of predictions. Last week in my Five Predictions I was 4-1 and had the upset by BYU. We’ll see how I do this week.
Game #1: USC #3 at Ohio State #8. After week #1 USC went up one spot in the polls and Ohio State went down, so in the small sample size you have two teams going in different directions. USC was impressive and won against San Jose State (and should have) while Ohio State was not impressive but pulled out a game against Navy. While the Horseshoe will be full, it won’t be as loud, only 10k student tickets sold for the game because there are no students at OSU yet, classes don’t start until the 23rd. While I don’t think it will be like last year, this game will still be largely decided before halftime. Unless both the O-Line and D-line of OSU plays about 100% better than last week, the Buckeyes won’t score much and won’t be able to stop any of the six starting tailbacks for USC (USC’s #6 back would be the starter at OSU this year). USC typically has trouble with a running QB but their defense is too athletic, fast, and big to have enough trouble to matter. USC is currently favored by 7. Close in the first quarter, finished by halftime; take USC +17.
Game #2: Notre Dame #18 at Michigan. Last year was overall pretty terrible for both these teams. Rich Rodriguez brought a new offense (but no players) and a lot of drama (and the depletion of a large amount of funds from Michigan coffers) and then led the Wolverines to their worst season in recorded history (they were not as good as their record indicates) and he currently has the NCAA checking his practice schedule. Charlie Weiss has perhaps finally realized that the machine-maniacal-arrogance he learned from his former boss in New England doesn’t work all that well in college after three really disastrous seasons, with the only bright spot being a win in the Hula Bowl after they were barely bowl eligible. To say both coaches are on the hot seat would be putting it mildly. Both began the seasons with impressive wins against teams that they, in normal years, should beat like they did. But are these teams for real? The Irish are perennially ranked higher than they should be and are again this year. Notre Dame is currently favored by 5. Toss up game, but at the Big House, take Michigan and the points.
Game #3: UCLA at Tennessee. Two rebuilding programs with long proud traditions, a battle of former USC now UCLA Offensive genius Norm Chow against for NFL Defensive genius (and father of the head coach) Monte Kiffen and two very good genius level head coaches in Lane Kiffen (although signing to be the Raider coach may be worth a deduction of a few IQ points) and Rick Neuheisel. UCLA is still very young (only 19 seniors and 59 freshmen on the squad) and very weak at running back and QB is a work in progress, but they did pull the upset last year (and pretty much sealed Coach Fulmer’s doom). However, Lane Kiffen knows UCLA really well and he had more to start with in his rebuilding. Tennessee is currently favored by 9. At Rocky Top, looking for a little revenge, take Tennessee +15.
Game #4: Vanderbilt at LSU #11. In years past this would be a game I would list in the rantings section below. But LSU looked sloppy and unprepared on Saturday night and only late in the game were able to finally put away Washington. The Commodores have put together a good athletic program and their football team was higher ranked than LSU for a good portion of last year. This is a conference game, and Vandy is coming off a good win while LSU lost a practice day traveling after a near upset. It’s at LSU and that always means something. LSU is currently favored by 15. I smell a trap, take the Vanderbilt Commodores and the points.
Game #5: Clemson at Georgia Tech #15. This is the Thursday game that probably no one outside of Georgia or South Carolina will watch since the NFL seasons starts tomorrow as well with a really good game. The Yellow Jackets won their opener against Jacksonville State in a very unimpressive manner and they are playing consecutive Thursday night games (next week against a resurgent University of Miami). Tech played sloppy and had way too many fumbles. Clemson is superior on both lines and their defense matches well against Tech’s passing attack. Look for a back and forth game. Currently Georgia Tech is favored by 5 at home. Upset alert, Clemson +9.
Various Rantings:
Urban Myer of #1 Florida promised to put Tim Tebow under center more this year (it would be embarrassing if Tebow wins another Heisman and a National Championship and still doesn’t go until late in the second round of the NFL draft, so Myer has to help a little bit to make him at least appear to be a possible NFL QB), and this week will be a good time to get all that out of the way against Troy, a poor defenseless 1aa school that should be pummeled by about 50 points, but get a nice check for their troubles.
#2 Texas gets their last scrimmage of the year against Wyoming, but at least the Longhorns can maybe see the Tetons while they are there.
Another nice check goes for Florida International to be used by #4 Alabama as tune up fodder.
#9 BYU is too mature to have a letdown and won’t against perpetual bottom dweller the Green Wave of Tulane.
#10 Cal, off their demolition of Maryland, takes the week off by visiting Eastern Washington a 1aa school with a nice view of the mountains and the fans will have a nice view of the Golden Bears scoring about 50 points.
#16 TCU will get to continue to make the Mountain West’s case to get into the automatic BCS bid system when they travel to ACC (and BCS school) Virginia to face the Cavaliers. Yes, the same Cavaliers who lost to Bill and Mary last week.