Ten College Football Games You Must See In Week 2
This Saturday will shape the college football landscape in many different ways. Basically, some of the biggest bowls in January will be shaped by the outcomes of the games played on September 11th.
The week began with the classic battle between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Boise State Broncos in what surely will have some BCS consequences in a few months. But, this Saturday there are numerous games that will knock teams out the the title hunt in four quarters as even one loss can be the difference between playing for a nice BCS Bowl consolation prize and getting a shot at eternal glory.
With the NFL kicking off on Sunday, it could shape to be very lazy days for football-loving Americans this weekend, and that most certaintly is a good thing.
10. #21 Auburn Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs
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X- Factor
Can freshman sensation running back Michael Dyer repeat what he did in the opener against Arkansas State?
If this kid performs on the national scene Thursday night, it will not be long before he becomes a household name. It will also go along way to show if "war eagle" will be spreading its wings all season in the SEC.
Why Mississippi State can win:
The Bulldogs are at home for a second consecutive week, and despite losing four of five at home to these Auburn Tigers, Dan Mullen’s spread offense looked great against Memphis. Plus, they have enough talent to not just challenge for a bowl bid, but also upset at least once SEC team. If they can control the tempo of the game they can win it.
Why Auburn should win:
Cam Newton has a bevy of options on offense whether it is his runners, (Dyer & McCaleb) or his wide receivers (Adams, Carr, & Fannin). This defense will be tested, but a solid O-Line will enable Newton to move the ball with ease in the fourth quarter which will be the deciding factor. Auburn will show the entire country if they are for real, and will foreshadow what to expect down the line when it comes time for the "Iron Bowl" with the "Nicktator."
FINAL SCORE: AUBURN 30 MISS ST 24
9. South Florida at #8 Florida Gators
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X- Factor:
If the Tallahassee native B.J Daniels can play like he did against the Noles last season, then it would be no shock that he could single handily knock off the Gators. Daniels is similar to Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech, and is a threat to run the ball against this speedy Gators D.
Why USF could win:
Right now the Gators are still working things out on offense and seem to just being going through the motions without Tim Tebow. The lack of a true running game may cost the Bulls, however they have of eapons at receiver to keep things close. If they can create turnovers than it could be a close game to many's suprise in Gatorville.
Why Florida will probably win:
On paper this is still a mismatch, however this will be a nail biter if John Brantley has thirteen bad snaps. The USF defense cannot stop Gator running backs Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody, and the mighty Gator O-Line, so by the fourth quarter the Bulls should be exhausted.
FINAL SCORE: FLORIDA 27 USF 17
8. Iowa State Cyclones at #9 Iowa Hawkeyes
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X- Factor
Since 2008 Outback Bowl against South Carolina, Jewel Hampton has not had a carry in College Football. Coming off a torn ACL which sidelined him in 2009, and a one game suspension last week; Hampton is itching get back on the field to bust one loose against the rival Cyclones. Expect 10-plus carries for Hampton and a TD in his debut.
Why Iowa State has a chance to win:
Quarterback Austen Arnaud and running back Alexander Robinson are quite the dynamic duo for a team that is just average. Arnaud combined for 362 yards in the season opening win over Northern Illinois, however the Hawkeyes are a huge test as they are arguably the toughest defense in the nation.
The Cyclones motivation also comes from history as they served as spoilers in 2002 when the Hawkeyes only regular season blemish was to Seneca Wallace and the Cyclones, much to Bob Sanders and Dallas Clark's dismay. This interstate battle is the Super Bowl for the Cyclones who are always sick of the Hawkeyes getting the publicity.
Why Iowa will win:
QB Ricky Stanzi has more than enough weapons on offense to put points on the board, however it all comes down to the defense for this team. The best front four in all of the land, plus two All-American caliber safeties in Brett Greenwood and Tyler Sash make Iowa nearly impossible to score on.
Adrian Clayborn ignited the Cyclones fires with comments saying the Hawkeyes are the only football team in the state. And, on Saturday they should be the only winning one.
FINAL SCORE: IOWA 27 IOWA STATE 10
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7. Stanford Cardinal at UCLA Bruins
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X- Factor:
Wide receiver Ryan Whalen only had four catches for 64 yards in the opener over Sacramento State, however, he will be facing tougher competition against this Bruins defense. Kansas St. running back Daniel Thomas ran for over 200 yards against this Bruins D last week, so expect Stanford to commit to running the ball early on and then to open up the play action pass to Whalen. Also look for at least one long bomb from Luck.
Why UCLA could win:
As bad as its defense played against Kansas State, it is much more talented on paper. The D-Line must perform much better or else LB Akeem Ayers will have to carry this team on his back. The Stanford defense is not impressive by any means, so if UCLA can convert on a few more third downs, the game could come down to a kick which favors the Bruins and All-American Kai Forbath.
Why Stanford should win:
Jim Harbaugh is as good of a coach as it gets these days winning primetime games. This is a huge one for Stanford in order for it to compete for the Pac-10 title. Look for Luck to torch the Bruins secondary in what will become a shootout.
FINAL SCORE: STANFORD 31 UCLA 24
6. #7 Oregon Ducks at Tennessee Volunteers
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X-Factor:
The quarterback for the Vols Matt Sims faces a stingy Ducks defense in what will be his first national TV game. The son of former QB great Phil, Matt is not expected to have his top two targets: Gerald Jones and Demetrius Moore. If the Vols have any chance to keep this game within single digits, he will have hold onto the ball and play mistake free football.
Why Tennessee has a shot to win:
They have a stellar defense that can limit the big play from Barner and James. However, they need to find a way to score TDs and not FGs against this Ducks defense. If they can somehow get in the endzone and get things going in the first half, than they will be singing "Rocky Top" all night long.
Why Oregon should win:
Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James are arguably the two most explosive runners in the nation and they just happen to play on the same team. Derron Thomas may make a few mistakes in this one, but he is too athletic to just fall apart in front of a 102,000 crowd in Neyland Stadium.
FINAL SCORE: OREGON 30 TENNESSEE 19
5. #22 Georgia Bulldogs at #24 South Carolina Gamecocks
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X- Factor:
At 6’4", WR Alshon Jeffrey will most likely be matched up against Brandon Boykin who is just 5’9". Jeffrey must be able to create some separation or at least be able to come up with key third down receptions from quarterback Stephen Garcia. If not it could be a day for the 'Dawgs, and a crushing blow for the Gamecocks.
Why Georgia can win:
Wide Receiver Kris Durham has been around for what seems like forever, and he is still producing for the Bulldogs. However, UGA has to find a way to effectively run the ball. Carlton Thomas and Caleb King need to combine for at least 150 yards in order for the Bulldogs to pull this off. This is a big game as is everyone this season for Coach Richt.
Why South Carolina can win:
UGA wide receiver AJ Greene is out for the next three games so this already star-studded secondary of SC will make it that much tougher for QB Aaron Murray. Running back Marcus Latimore is a heck of a frosh and this offense finally looks to have somewhat of a consistent punch.
FINAL SCORE SOUTH CAROLINA 24 GEORGIA 20
4. Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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X- Factor:
Oh, what a shocker Denard Robinson! Well, Michigan is going to live and die by his shoelaces, and he better be able to avoid tacklers because it is a big difference playing on artificial turf compared to natural grass. If Robinson can do half as much as he did in the opener, then Michigan has a great shot.
Why Michigan can win:
The Michigan defense really stood out to me in the opener. Their linebacking core played great and they swarmed to the ball seemingly on every play. On offense, they have Robinson who seems to be the best thing since Brady (a joke, just one game). The front seven of the Irish is much stiffer than UCONN’s, however the secondary is still a question mark. Robinson threw a good ball in Week 1, and if he pulls off an encore, than the Big Ten has to take notice of a new team in the hunt.
Why Notre Dame can win:
The Irish will always have weapons to put up points on offense, it will just always be up to the defense to come close to matching them. Standout linebacker Manti Te’o had a solid opener with six tackles, but it was Ethan Johnson who’s two sacks was the difference. Expect more punishment up front and a big play on defense to be the game changer.
FINAL SCORE: NOTRE DAME 28 MICHIGAN 27
3. #18 Penn State Nittany Lions at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
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X-Factor:
Forget Trent Richardson and Robert Bolden. This game will come down to Penn State running back Evan Royster and his ability to run the ball against the Tide D. He struggled to find many holes against Youngstown State which is not good since Bama is just a tad better .
However, his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield is what separates him from almost any back in America. He must have a few big yards after the catch or else Bolden will get rolled over by this Tide defense.
Why Penn State can pull off the upset:
They are as well prepared of a team as it gets and should provide a close game. This linebacking core at Penn State is arguably just as good if not better than Alabama’s. There is not much tape on Bolden for Bama to look at, so he will rise to the occasion and avoid any dumb turnovers. A upset would be a shock, but not of colossal proportions.
Why Alabama will win:
Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson have become household names over the past year with the Tide's title succes. Bama’s biggest advantage of this game is will be Julio Jones. He needs to continue to develop as a receiver with his big ability to go down and come up with the big catch. He has such quickness and strength, but he is not completely sound, and his play in this game will go a long way in the result.
Breakdown:
Greg McElroy has not lost a game since high school, meanwhile Robert Bolden just graduated from it.
However, the rest of this Penn State team is not that young; especially on offense. The WR/RB corps are both filled with veterans. The defense is fairly young, however their linebackers are always among the tops in the nation.
It is up to Richardson and Eddie Lacy to come through in the primetime. The offensive line is elite and McElroy has top level receivers to throw the rock too However, they will live and die by Julio Jones big plays in this game. The PSU secondary does not get tested often because of how much pressure they put on opposing QBs, however defending the Tide’s WRs will be the key matchup in this one.
FINAL SCORE: ALABAMA 24 PENN STATE 14
2. #17 Florida State Seminoles at #10 Oklahoma Sooners
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X-Factor:
Why not choose the No. 1 X-factor in all of America?
G-5 aka Greg Reid not only is the best punt returner in the nation, but he start at corner and also play a bit of offense as well. He is as explosive as any player in America regardless of position and whether he brings back a kick for a score or not, just giving Christian Ponder great field position will be vital in this crucial game.
Why Oklahoma can win:
Landry Jones must avoid throwing any picks because of how opportunistic this FSU D will be in 2010. FSU has struggled mightily at stopping the run, so DeMarco Murray better be able to gash the Noles for over 100 yards. Murray can catch the ball out of the backfield, so he helps Jones when he gets pressured.
FSU is going to have to run the ball with success to win, however OU has a stacked front seven with two safeties (Carter & Proctor) who can come up and smack you in the mouth.
Why Florida State can win:
This defense finally looked its normal self in the opener against Samford (there is something about this defense). They may never be as good as they were in the 90s, but they are taking one step at a time to return to glory under Jimbo Fisher. Linebackers Nigel Bradham, Kendall Smith, and Christian Jones are all top talents.
The D-Line better show up again and allow these guys to roam the sidelines against Murray. They must come off the edge and be able to put relentless pressure on Landry Jones or else their secondary will get lit up by Ryan Broyles.
Breakdown:
Oklahoma is now 62-2 at Memorial Stadium since 2002 losing to only TCU (Rhett Bomar was their signal caller at the time) and Oklahoma State. If the Noles want to pull off the upset and give their program the biggest win in the past five seasons, they better win the battle of at the line of scrimmage.
The best O-Line in the ACC is led by Rodney Hudson. They have a slew of backs who can carry the rock: Ty Jones, Jermaine Thomas, and Lonnie Pryor. The three-headed monster will have holes to run through, they just need to take advantage of them.
OU’s defense is still nasty despite the poor effort against Utah St, but their biggest disadvantage is their lack of talent at corner. Bert Reed and Taiwan Easterling are water bugs who are great route runners that can make the OU secondary pay the price. If this game comes down to kicking, look for the Seminoles to come out victorious with Dustin Hopkins’s strong leg.
FINAL SCORE: FLORIDA STATE 31 OKLAHOMA 30
1. #12 Miami Hurricanes at #2 The Ohio State Buckeyes
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X- Factor:
CB Brandon Harris will be matched up with DeVier Posey for the majority of the day, and if the Canes want to pull the upset off they better hope Posey is limited for the majority of the day. Terrelle Pryor against this Canes secondary is one of the best matchups we will witness all season long.
It is an underrated matchup because everybody is pointing to the front seven of Miami against the Buckeyes offensive line. Pryor may be running for his life all day long because of the speed that the Canes posses.
Why Miami can win:
Jacory Harris has the ability to make it rain all game long. He has arguably the best receiving corps in the nation matched up against a very good Buckeyes secondary. If Harris’s O-Line gives him the time to set his feet and avoid throwing on the run, then this game will be much closer than the experts think.
Why Ohio State can win:
Daniel Boom Herron and Brandon Saine better be able to move the chains on crucial third and threes or else this Hurricanes team will expose the much loved Buckeyes. Luckily Pryor has Olympic speed and can put on a show and take it to the house on any given play.
Another reason why the Buckeyes have an advantage in this game is because of the difference in the coaching staffs. OSU is elite as it gets as Jim Tressel is 18-2 in the past 20 home September games.
Breakdown: Pryor will have a few dazzling runs early on, but the Canes will eventually load up the box and just make Pryor beat them with his arm. The Buckeyes have one of the top O-Lines out there, so if Miami gets their fair share of shots on Pryor, then maybe Miami is just better?
Miami however only has two road victories against Big Ten schools since 1999, so this is unfamiliar territory for them. Despite this being the rematch since the 2003 BCS National Championship, these two programs are still considered to be elite. Say what you want about the Canes, but this year they look to be talented and legit as ever. Miami will go as far as Jacory Harris can lead them. The same can be said for the Buckeyes though their defense and special teams can take them to the highest of all highs- the BCS National Championship.
Miami has title aspirations but they need to reach their first ever ACC Title Game first. This is the first big step for both of these programs on making their mark to the start of the 2010 season.
FINAL SCORE: MIAMI 27 OHIO STATE 24 (2 OT)
Feel Free To Discuss
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
