College Football: Maryland, Arizona, and Eight Other Underrated 2-0 Teams
The first two weeks of the 2010 college football season are in the books, and they have definitely been interesting to see.
The majority of the top teams this season are undefeated as we enter Week 3. In fact, the AP Top-16 in the country all have zeroes in the loss column.
But what about the 2-0 teams that aren't ranked, or not receiving the hype they deserve?
That's what this list is for. Let's take a look at 10 under-the-radar 2-0 college football teams that have the chance at running the tables in 2010.
Maryland
1 of 10
The Maryland Terrapins went 2-10 in 2009 and headed into their opening game as huge underdogs to the Navy Midshipmen, who went 10-4 last season and gained a win against Missouri in the Texas Bowl, but the Terrapins came out of the game with a huge 17-14 win.
Navy outdid Maryland in nearly every category on the field, but when the Midshipmen got within Maryland's 20-yard line, the Terrapins went to work. Not to mention that Maryland got this win while only completing two of five passes for 11 yards, while the rest of the damage was done on the ground.
The following week, the Terrapins beat Morgan State 62-3, holding the opponent to a total of 85 offensive yards and gaining 370 offensive yards of their own (221 of that rushing).
While the rest of the season remains unwritten, Maryland is one of the few ACC teams that are successfully unbeaten going into Week 3.
Arizona
2 of 10
The AP No. 24 Arizona Wildcats placed second in the Pac-10 in 2009, and are coming full force in 2010 in pursuit of their first ever Rose Bowl appearance.
Arizona's superb offense is back this season, led by quarterback Nick Foles.
The star quarterback completed 32 of 37 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns in their season opener at Toledo, resulting in a 41-2 blowout. The following week against Citadel, Foles went 17 of 22 for 214 yards.
With a solid defense intact and the duel rushing force split between Nic Grigsby and Greg Nwoko, the Wildcats just might be the real deal in the Pac-10 this year.
The rising team will face its first big challenge this Saturday at home against the AP ranked No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes.
California
3 of 10
The California Golden Bears are off to a great start as usual.
Cal always seems to start the season off strong, sneak into the rankings around Week 3, and drop off the radar about midseason. But putting the past behind, the 2010 Cal team could be the sleeper in the Pac-10.
Week 1 featured a 52-3 win over UC Davis, as to be expected. In this game, the Golden Bears limited their opponent to 81 total offensive yards, while gaining 517 yards of their own. Of those offensive yards, starting quarterback Kevin Riley threw 258 of them, and three touchdowns.
Week 2 for California was an early welcome game to future conference foe, the Colorado Buffaloes. In what many thought would be a good game, the Cal team proved people wrong.
California went on to beat the Big 12 team, 52-7, with Riley throwing four touchdowns to make seven total on his season already.
If the Cal Bears can prove recent history wrong and ride their momentum throughout the whole season, the college football world could see them contending for the Rose Bowl crown in January.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Air Force
4 of 10
The Air Force Falcons took down Northwestern State 65-21 in Week 1 with an outstanding performance on the offensive side of the ball. The Falcons gained 616 total yards off the lesser defense, 437 yards on the ground.
But it is what the Falcons did in Week 2 that puts them at under-the-radar status.
Air Force was able to take down the mighty BYU in a Mountain West Conference game before the Cougars bolt for independent status.
The Falcons rushed for 409 yards against BYU in their 35-14 win.
A big underdog win such as this makes one wonder of they are able to take down the conference giant TCU on October 23, but they first have to manage a game against AP No. 7 Oklahoma this week.
Kansas State
5 of 10
The Kansas State Wildcats are among two other teams in the Big 12 North that have started off the 2010 season 2-0, and they did it in spectacular fashion.
In the Wildcats' home opener they welcomed the UCLA Bruins, in which they held underdog status. Kansas State went on to snag a 31-22 win over the Bruins in a game where they dominated both sides of the ball.
The Big 12 team went on to rush 313 yards on the struggling Pac-10 team, all while holding UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince to 120 yards on nine total completions.
Week 2 saw a 48-24 win over Missouri State in a game that was almost statistically evenly matched, but the Kansas State defense held the opponent to fewer scores.
Oklahoma State
6 of 10
The Cowboys started their 2010 campaign with a 65-17 win over Washington State. While playing the Cougars was considered by many an easy win, which it was, they still played a BCS team for an out of conference game, unlike many other Big 12 conference mates.
Quarterback Brandon Weedon completed 22 of 30 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns, but it was Cowboy running back Kendall Hunter who stole the show. Hunter rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
The Cowboys' Week 2 performance was also unmatched in a 41-38 win over the Troy Trojans. Weedon, a former New York Yankees minor league pitcher, threw for 348 yards while Hunter rushed for 257 yards for his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game.
If the Oklahoma State defense can limit its opponents scoring after allowing Troy to score 38 points, the Cowboys could go far this season.
Missouri
7 of 10
In Week 1, the Missouri Tigers took down the Illinois Fighting Illini 23-13.
The Tigers defense came in full force against the Fighting Illini, allowing only 81 passing yards and snagging three interceptions. Not to mention completely shutting out the Illinois offense in the second half.
Tigers' quarterback Blaine Gabbert had a successful game, throwing for 281 yards and two touchdowns in a much needed out of conference win.
Missouri's Week 2 game against the McNeese State Cowboys went much smoother, gaining an easy 50-6 win. Tigers running back Henry Josey was the star of the game with 112 yards and three touchdowns, after having only a 10-yard game in Week 1.
East Carolina
8 of 10
The East Carolina Pirates opened the season as one of two teams in Conference USA that are 2-0, the other team being conference superpower, Houston.
The Pirates started their 2010 run with two conference games, a 51-49 win over Tulsa and a 49-27 win over Memphis.
Starting quarterback Dominique Davis has already accrued 627 yards and eight touchdowns on the season in a very pass-happy offense.
The Pirates take on an 0-2 Virginia Tech team this Saturday after the Hokies lost to FCS team James Madison in Week 2.
Texas A&M
9 of 10
The Aggies start the season off 2-0, along with every other school in the Big 12 South, looking to climb the ladder to the top.
Texas A&M ran over Stephen F. Austin 48-7 in Week 1, followed by 48-16 win over Louisiana Tech in Week 2.
The Aggies have what it takes on the offensive side of the ball, with quarterback Jerrod Johnson calling the plays. Johnson starts the season with two consecutive 300-plus yard games (322, 349), all while completing 68 percent of his passes. Not to mention rushing for 50 yards against Louisiana Tech.
The offensive power doesn't stop at quarterback though. Running backs Jeff Fuller and Ryan Swope each have 100-yard games under their belt, making for a very explosive offense for the Aggies.
Clemson
10 of 10
The ACC isn't getting much love right now after some key losses in the first two weeks, but Clemson is holding strong with a 2-0 record.
The Clemson Tigers gained a 35-10 win over North Texas and a 58-21 beatdown on Presbyterian in Week 2.
Tigers' running backs Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper both racked in 100-yard games against North Texas. While they have to rely little on quarterback Kyle Parker being more of a rushing team in the first two games, he has still been solid throwing four touchdowns thus far.
While an argument can be made against the Tigers for playing rather weak teams in the first two weeks, it isn't impossible to see the team rally up some wins within the conference this season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
