College Football Predictions Week 3: Upsets Brewing on the Horizon

In the first couple of weeks of the season, we haven't seen many upsets, but the ones we've seen have been good ones.

Who could've predicted Arkansas would lose to Louisiana-Monroe—at home? That, of course, prompted an unprecedented drop out of the AP poll and will probably stand as the biggest and greatest upset we'll see for the entirety of the 2012 season.

Even though this week may not bring an upset anywhere close to as epic, there still could be a few ahead of us. Here's a look at the teams that are vulnerable.

No. 18 Florida at No. 23 Tennessee

The Gators haven't yet had any challenges like the one they'll face against Tennessee on Saturday—and they haven't been able to win as decisively as the No. 18 team in the nation should.

In the first two weeks of the season, Florida has put up 47 points and has allowed 31—good enough, but considering the way some of the top teams in the nation are blowing inferior opponents out of the water, it's not so impressive. Florida barely got by Texas A&M in Week 2, and after escaping that scare, they're nothing if not vulnerable.

Tennessee, on the other hand, put up the kind of points a top-25 team should put up against a weak opponent. Coming off a 51-13 throttling of Georgia State, the Volunteers' offense is rolling—and it's playing at home.

Pick: Tennessee

No. 2 USC at No. 21 Stanford

You would think that, given the way USC has been playing with Matt Barkley and Silas Redd, this is a team that is incapable of losing. But when you consider the fact that Stanford has beaten the Trojans in each of the last three meetings between these two, you might think again.

The last time USC beat Stanford, Mark Sanchez was under center, and the golden age of Andrew Luck had not yet begun. And even though the Cardinal will have Josh Nunes doing his best Luck impression, and even though USC clearly has the superior quarterback, this is a huge game for Stanford, and it has home-field advantage.

This could come down to just how much of an impact Redd—USC's X-factor—is able to make. It could also come down to whether or not the Trojans falter as they face their first big challenge of the season, against a team that has had their number as of late. 

Pick: Stanford

No. 10 Michigan State vs. No. 20 Notre Dame

The next two weeks are going to be huge for the Irish. After proving much of the football-loving world wrong by starting off 2-0, they now have to face Michigan State and Michigan in succession.

Two ranked opponents and no room for error—at least, if ND wants to hold on to its top-25 status. But after years of doubting the Irish's ability to win a big game, I'm starting to believe that maybe they have their act together once again.

The Irish offense—which was without its starting quarterback in Week 1—has put up 70 points in two games. Their defense has allowed just 27. And even though the Spartans throttled Central Michigan 41-7 in Week 2, they barely squeaked by then-No. 24 Boise State, 17-13, in Week 1. Facing yet another ranked opponent should prove to be just as much of a challenge.

Pick: Notre Dame