NCAA Football: Week Two Predictions and Scores

Welcome back to the second week of the college football season! The first weekend was full of great games with exciting finishes. Hopefully week two is just as good and we find a little more out about each and every team.

If you are new to my predictions... I pick the winners and scores of all games in the top 25 (AP Poll) and pick a handful of games outside of the top 25 that may also be intriguing. Feel free to disagree with my predictions and leave yours below.

Last week wasn't great, I went 19-7 but I figured the first week would be one of the worst. Well, enjoy the slideshow and predictions!

Thursday Night: Clemson (1-0) at No. 15 Georgia Tech (1-0)

This game seems like a clash of two very good ACC teams. However, Clemson may be dealing with a bit of a rebuilding year and GT is a ready to win now team. Neither team was extraordinarily impressive the first week but GT seems to be the better overall team.

I think both teams will score points but GT and running back Jonathan Dwyer will have a big game. Clemson has struggled on defense the last few years and I think it continues Thursday night.

Winner- Georgia Tech 35-24

Syracuse (0-1) at No. 7 Penn State (1-0)

Syracuse did look much better than they have in years last week vs Minnesota but this week will be a different story. Penn State has a ton of offensive weapons but their line needs to really step up and play better. The running game was a bit weak vs Akron last week but I think the Nittany Lions will pound the ball for over 165 yards this week.

Look for Penn State to blitz Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus a ton to force him to make quick and poor decisions. I don't think this game will be very close when the final whistle blows.

Winner- Penn State 36-13

No. 19 North Carolina (1-0) at Connecticut (1-0)

North Carolina struggled for a little while last week vs the Citadel but got it together early second half. From that point on, UNC dominated the game and looked like one of the more talented ACC teams.

The Tarheel's success this season rides on T.J. Yates' arm and if he struggles, so will UNC. Connecticut on the other hand is not nearly as talented as the past couple of seasons and I expect UNC to dominate both sides of the ball. Quarterback play s huge and UNC has a big advantage.

Winner- North Carolina 31-10

Stanford (1-0) at Wake Forest (0-1)

This is a very interesting game and will tell a lot about where each team will be this season. Stanford has improved drastically each and every game under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Wake Forest has been a very solid team the past few seasons and are looking to keep their future a positive one.

Stanford's running game is led by Toby Gerhart who runs the ball 110% every single time. He has a ton of strength and I think his running ability in this game will be key for the Cardinal. Wake, on the other hand, needs to run the ball much better than they did against Baylor in the first week. Riley Skinner can't carry the entire load of the offense and I think they will do a better job of balancing the pass and run this weekend.

Traveling across the country is a disadvantage no doubt, and I can't see Wake starting 0-2.

Winner- Wake Forest 23-20

Fresno State (1-0) at Wisconsin (1-0)

Last season these two teams played an incredible and thrilling game that Wisconsin ended up winning. This year, Fresno State is looking for revenge in the Badgers' backyard.

This game will be another physical, in the trenches battle that may be tied or close throughout. Fresno State's team is built on the run game this year and look for them to expose a somewhat weak Badgers defense. Wisconsin's offense played a very solid game last week against Northern Illinois and I expect the offense to out play the defense again,

Winner- UPSET ALERT: Fresno State 28-27

Iowa (1-0) at Iowa State (1-0)

Iowa is without their star running back (Hampton) and this is a big loss for a team very reliant on the running game. Iowa's quarterback Richard Stanzi is more than capable of winning the game for the Hawkeyes but I think that scare last week vs Northern Iowa was much more than that.

Iowa State will have a lot of confidence going into this game and their passing game may catch Iowa on their heels at time. This will be a low-scoring game that could very well be decided on field position.

Winner- UPSET ALERT: Iowa State 17-14

Troy (0-1) at No. 1 Florida (1-0)

Some people are warning UF that Troy may cause them some problems if they do not take them seriously; I however, do not see it that way.

If Troy lost to Bowling Green on the road, there is no chance they challenge UF much. Tebow will lead the Gators to another big victory and defensive stand out Brandon Spikes will put a damper on anything the Troy offense tries to run.

Troy is a very strong program and is definitely admired for the brutal schedule it often times plays but I don't get why people think this will be even somewhat close.

Winner: Florida 44-10

Marshall (1-0) at No. 14 Virginia Tech (0-1)

Marshall is getting better and better but Virginia Tech is a team that they do not want to play after a tough loss last weekend to Alabama. Tyros Taylor is going to explode in this game and the Hokies' defense will be ready to impress the home crowd.

Marshall does have a ton of talent at quarterback and receiver so watch for the Thundering Herd to throw around 40 times. Quarterback Brian Anderson is not afraid to let loose and sling the ball all over the field but VT has too much speed on defense to let it happen too often.

Winner: Virginia Tech 37-14

Arkansas State (1-0) at No. 22 Nebraska (1-0)

Nebraska put on a clinic last weekend against the Florida Atlantic Owls when they wiped the floor with them 49-3. Arkansas State also put on a show of their own as they beat Mississippi Valley State 61-0. This may not be as big of a cake walk as Nebraska fans think.

Arkansas State has a very balanced and talented offense that can challenge Bo Pelini's defense. Nebraska has a good offense of their own and expect big things this year from running back Roy Helu Jr. The Cornhuskers should win this game but if they think Arkansas State will be a Sun Belt team like FAU, they are badly mistaken.

Winner: Nebraska 31-14

No. 2 Texas (1-0) at Wyoming (1-0)

Colt McCoy and the Longhorns travel to Wyoming this weekend, and although this shouldn't be a close game, Wyoming is a much improved team.

Having said that, Texas should cruise here and rest McCoy in the fourth quarter if they are smart (Sam Bradford anyone?) to prevent any injuries from possibly occurring.

The Texas offense is too balanced and has far too many weapons. The defense is too quick and strong up front for Wyoming to contain.

Winner: Texas 50-14

Houston (1-0) at No. 5 Oklahoma State (1-0)

Both teams have explosive offenses with very consistent quarterbacks.

Zac Robinson for the Cowboys is a much bigger threat with his feet and this should play a factor in this game. Dez Bryant should have another big game and I think Houston will struggle to stop Oklahoma State's offense.

Houston also has a great offense particularly through the air. Houston quarterbacks always put up big stats but they will need a huge effort from their defense in order to win on Saturday.

Winner: Oklahoma State 39-24

No. 9 BYU (1-0) at Tulane (0-1)

BYU is coming off a huge win over the Oklahoma Sooners, and this Cougars team knows that they are in the driver's seat for a possible BCS shot.

Max Hall leads BYU at quarterback and he is a tremendous talent that will be far too difficult for Tulane's defense to figure out.

Tulane got smothered in their opening game against Tulsa and this game should be very similar. Way too much Cougs here.

Winner: BYU 45-9

No. 16 TCU (0-0) at Virginia (0-1)

TCU has not played a game yet but Virginia has, and it wasn't pretty!

The Cavaliers lost to William and Mary this past weekend and many are calling for the coaching staff to be fired. TCU returns a strong defense and should be fairly talented on offense as well. The rushing attack should be huge in this game and look for TCU to disappoint some more Cavalier fans.

Winner- TCU 24-10

No. 18 Notre Dame (1-0) at Michigan (1-0)

This game is perhaps the most intriguing game of the weekend besides the USC at Ohio State game. The entire world is curious to see if Notre Dame is for real and if Michigan's team chemistry has been affected.

Both teams cruised to victory in week one and this sets up a very interesting game. Jimmy Clausen's arm is the X-factor because if he is accurate and mistake free, the Irish should win but if he makes mistakes and gives the Wolverines solid field position, the opposite will happen.

Notre Dame's defense stepped up last week and I am curious to see if Michigan's offense will confuse the Irish at all. Michigan's offense has to play clean and smart and their defense has to limit Clausen and his dangerous weapons at receiver. I just think Notre Dame has a little too much for Michigan but it will be close.

Winner: Notre Dame 24-17

UCLA (1-0) at Tennessee (1-0)

Last year people were stunned when the Vols were upset at the Rose bowl by the UCLA Bruins. This year is a new year and Tennessee is under a new leader, Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin, love him or hate him, has this team playing hard and well. Although their opening opponent was very weak, it is hard to say they did not look impressive.

UCLA also looked impressive against an up and coming San Diego State team but their lack of offense still seems to be the main problem. Kevin Prince did look impressive in his debut but I don't think the offense is where the staff wants it yet. The defense is fast and plays very hard, especially up front.

I think the task of playing at Tennessee is just too much and I think Eric Berry will make a huge play in this game that will completely change the momentum of the game.

Winner: Tennessee 27-17

Eastern Washington (1-0) at No. 10 California (1-0)

One of the most impressive teams last weekend was no doubt the Cal Bears. They didn't just beat the Maryland Terps, they pounded them. Jahvid Best only had a handful of carries and he still rushed for over 135 yards and two TDs.

The key to the Bears offense this year is not Best, it is their quarterback.

Riley is a talented guy with a good arm but in the past he has made far too many mistakes in close games.

This game, however, will be a disaster.

Eastern Washington will lose here, badly.

Winner: California 56-10

Florida International (0-0) at No. 4 Alabama (1-0)

If this was basketball, FIU would have a shot, but it's not. The Crimson Tide are a talented group of guys and are very well coached. The running back, Mark Ingram, is battling flu-like symptoms but they won't need a big game from him anyway. I wouldn't be surprised to see FIU be shut out on Saturday or possibly held to one field goal.

Winner: Alabama 40-3

Vanderbilt (1-0) at No. 11 LSU (1-0)

Last weekend many people, especially LSU fans, were expecting a blowout win over the Washington Huskies; however, as I mentioned in my last prediction, Washington plays really hard and would keep it close a while.

I was very impressed with LSU's quarterback Jordan Jefferson but I was less than impressed by the Tiger's defense. Jake Locker had plenty of time to pass and Huskies' receivers also had a ton of space to work with. I do think LSU will improve from their week one trip.

Vandy is an interesting team and it is hard to know what to expect from them this season. They dominated Western Carolina in the opener but WCU isn't anything special either. Zac Stacy is a solid running back and if he is able to run the ball somewhat effectively, this may open up the secondary of LSU.

I think LSU will play well in their home opener and Vandy will struggle to stop LSU's speed.

Winner: LSU 35-17

Idaho State (0-1) at No. 13 Oklahoma (0-1)

Luckily for Bob Stoops and company they will not need injured Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford this Saturday. Idaho State is not a good football team and Oklahoma will demolish them.

Idaho State lost last weekend to Arizona State 50-3, expect something around the same for this game. The Sooners running backs will go wild.

Winner- Oklahoma 52-6

South Carolina (1-0) at No. 21 Georgia (0-1)

Georgia played a very good team in Oklahoma State last weekend and they did a fairly nice job considering they lost their three best players to the NFL.

Joe Cox didn't look very good but he did show some potential. The Georgia running game was wonderful either but I thought the defense played very well.

South Carolina has a terrible offense and a very good defense. You would think a Spurrier-coached team could find some offense but the quarterback play at South Carolina just is not improving. If the Gamecocks can come into Athens and stun the Bulldogs than people should take notes but I just don't think they have enough offense.

Winner: Georgia 21-10

Bowling Green (1-0) at No. 25 Missouri (1-0)

Danario Alexander played like the new Jeremy Maclin last weekend in Missouri's huge win over Illinois. Missouri looked very impressive on offense but more surprisingly, the Tiger's defense was outstanding. They made Juice Williams look below average and their defensive line caused a ton of problems.

Bowling Green knocked off a very good program in Troy and proved to its fan base that they are ready to win this year. Their quarterback Tyler Sheehan had a big night and Missouri needs to take note of this. BG can pass efficiently and have a pretty decent defense.

Missouri at home is the smart and right pick.

Winner: Missouri 33-17

Mississippi State (1-0) at Auburn (1-0)

Auburn and Mississippi State are both rebuilding right now and are headed in the right direction. Both teams won convincingly last weekend but both teams played very bad teams. Auburn's quarterback Chris Todd played a pretty solid game and passed for over 250 yards for the Tigers.

Mississippi State's starting quarterback threw for less than 97 yards and to me that is a telling sign about their offense. Not many weapons around and they need to run a very conservative game plan. Both teams will play sound defense but I believe the Tigers have more weapons on the offensive side of the ball.

Winner: Auburn 17-9

No. 24 Kansas (1-0) at UTEP (0-1)

Todd Reesing and the Kansas Jayhawks won impressively last weekend 49-3 over Northern Colorado and this week I expect more of the same.

UTEP does have some speed and playmakers but overall Kansas has a far superior team.

Look for Todd Reesing to throw over 300 yards and look for the sometimes questionable Jayhawks defense to step up and force some turnovers in the second quarter.

Winner: Kansas 33-17

SE Missouri State (1-0) at No. 23 Cincinnati (1-0)

Cincinnati stunned a lot of America with how dominantly they beat Rutgers last weekend, including me. I picked Rutgers to win in a very close battle and, boy, was I wrong. Tony Pike is an outstanding quarterback for the Bearcats. Look for another huge game this weekend again SE Missouri State.

SE Missouri State won their opening game against Quincy 72-3, and may come out fairly confident at the start of the game. Cincinnati has speed, consistent quarterback play, and is very well coached. This should be a blowout after the first quarter.

Winner: Cincinnati 42-16

Miami (OH) (0-1) at No. 12 Boise State (1-0)

Boise State is coming off of a very emotional win over the Oregon Ducks and a let down is sometimes what follows a big win. However, Miami (OH) is not a strong team at all and the Broncos should have no problems winning this one.

The Broncos have a great passing game and a very stout defense. Miami (OH) has none of those and will have trouble moving the ball on that blue turf.

Winner: Boise State 52-7

No. 17 Utah (1-0) at San Jose State (0-1)

The Utah Utes opened their 2009 season just as they ended their 2008 season, with a win. San Jose State was handled by the USC Trojans and are coming into this game a bit bruised.

Utah has a very strong offense with a lot of speed. The defense was a little weak at times against Utah State but it is still an above average group that can cause turnovers at anytime. San Jose State's offense was okay with their first string quarterback but if he is unable to play, they will have trouble moving the ball. All in all, Utah should win rather handily.

Winner: Utah 40-14

No. 3 USC (1-0) at No. 8 Ohio State (1-0)

This game is being called the "Collision in Columbus" and certainly has a huge impact on the BCS. Ohio State is coming off a nail-biting win over Navy, while USC is coming off a blow-out win over San Jose State.

The keys to this game will be Pryor's ability to pass the ball and USC's ability to pressure him. OSU's offensive line struggled at times against Navy. It better wake up because USC has one of the best o-lines in the country.

USC's key on offense is giving freshman quarterback Matt Barkley enough time to make smart decisions and find the open target. USC's receivers and running backs are good but Barkley has a ton of pressure on him to deliver.

Something tells me this is OSU's year and last year's pounding courtesy of the Trojans has caused them nightmares they are ready to get rid of. Pryor's mobility will cause USC's young defensive unit problems and it may be too difficult to overcome on the road.

I love USC, I breathe USC but this year I think will be different. I HOPE I am wrong!

Winner: UPSET ALERT: Ohio State 28-24