College Football Predictions, Week 3: 25 Hunches for This Week's Games
Doesn't that picture say it all for more than a few teams this past weekend?
The Oklahoma Sooners welcome in the Florida Seminoles and beat them down like they were, well, Virginia Tech. OK, that was a low blow. Or was it?
Speaking of Virginia Tech, the Hokies apparently took the week off because James Madison came in ruined what should have been as easy week.
Really, Va. Tech—James Madison? You played such a good game against Boise State, did you just forget that you had a game last weekend?
Since we're picking on the ACC, let's continue that trend with Miami not being able to back up their "not if but when we beat Ohio State" guarantee. And here I thought players had learned not to give another team, especially the one playing at home, bulletin board material? Guess not.
What might have been more surprising than those three was Georgia Tech's loss to Kansas who was coming off a loss to North Dakota State.
Could there be even more upsets this weekend? That's why doing this week after week is a lot of fun because we get to predict the weekend of college that will be.
Are you ready? Let's get it...
Over/Under On the Number of Washington State Flags at College Gameday
1 of 25
This is something we see every single Saturday on ESPN's College Gameday. While the boys are talking, somewhere in the background you'll see one or two Washington State flags flying in every camera shot.
So how many show up this Saturday? I'll set the over/under at four. Thoughts??
Wyoming Chomping at the Bit To Face Boise State
2 of 25
If there's one game that you could call a "trap game" for Boise State it's coming this weekend as the Broncos travel to Laramie, Wyoming to take on the Cowboys.
This was a team that went into their bowl game at the end of last season with a 6-6 record and weren't expect to stay with their opponent, Fresno State. Not only did they stay with them, they beat the Bulldogs.
Now I know Fresno State is not Boise State, that much has been proven over the years, but the point remains the same.
The Broncos are coming off a bye week and may be taking themselves too seriously at this point. If they're ready to go for this game, it won't be close. If they're not, the Cowboys could end the "Cinderella" season.
Will the Guns Blare in Lubbock?
3 of 25
The last time the Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders met in Lubbock, Texas, the Red Raiders shocked the Longhorns on a last second touchdown.
This season, with the Longhorns once again ranked inside the top 10, the Red Raiders would love to play spoiler again and could very well do just that.
Taylor Potts has been solid at quarterback throwing for 652 yards and seven touchdowns through two games and has yet to throw an interception.
For the Longhorns, they have an inexperienced quarterback and no Jordan Shipley at wide receiver.
Red Raiders, GUNS UP! Texas Tech pulls the upset.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
They Couldn't Possibly. Could They?
4 of 25
Virginia Tech drops a tough one to Boise State. A great game but not a loss that anyone was going to fault Virginia Tech for. At least not in the polls.
The very next week, while no one was watching, because we all thought we knew the conclusion before it happened, the Hokies dropped a 21-16 decision to James Madison.
After two straight losses they couldn't possibly drop another one at home against East Carolina. Could they? If they don't stop quarterback Dominique Davis who already has eight touchdown passes on the season, it could leave the Hokies scratching their collective heads.
I Hope New Mexico Is Enjoying the Beat Downs
5 of 25
I can't imagine this has been a fun two weeks for the New Mexico Lobos.
In week one, they endured a 72-0 throttling from the Oregon Ducks then returned home to get another beat down from Texas Tech, 52-17.
This week, they get Utah. Anyone see this game going any differently than the other two?
Denard Robinson Will Have over 1000 Total Yards After This Weekend
6 of 25
Is there anyone that doesn't think Denard Robinson is the far and away leader in the Heisman race right now?
The Michigan quarterback has over 880 yards of total offense all by himself through two games. The Wolverines will return home to face UMass after taking down Notre Dame this past weekend in South Bend.
If Robinson can put up over 500 yards on the Irish, just imagine what he's about to do Massachusetts.
Dark Horse Pick of the Week
7 of 25
This might be going way out on a limb and I've been trying to talk myself out of this pick but I just can't. I'll chalk it up to picking Oklahoma to "blow out" Florida State last week.
San Diego State travels to Missouri to take on the Tigers and the way the Aztecs are playing, I think they'll come out with a shocking victory to go to 3-0 on the season.
Over/Under On the Number of Hairspray Cans Used by Kirk Herbstreit
8 of 25
I'll set the over/under at three to start. That's subject to change.
Oregon Will Move to No. 3 in the Polls After a Win on Saturday
9 of 25
Oregon will be back at Autzen Stadium this weekend in Eugene, Oregon against Portland State. With a win, despite what Boise State and TCU do on Saturday, you'll see the Ducks vault above them to the third spot in the polls.
Will the Bruins Ever Get Their Fans Back?
10 of 25
The UCLA Bruins need to get their fans back. Either that or they'll run head coach Rick Neuheisel out of town with torches and pitch forks.
They have dropped their first two games of the 2010 season and it doesn't get any easier with Houston coming to town on Saturday. The only good news they might get is if Case Keenum isn't able to go, but that isn't likely either.
SMU Continues To Improve Under June Jones
11 of 25
Since June Jones took over the head coaching job at SMU, he's immediately turned the program around and took them to their first bowl game since 1984 and finished the season with more wins (eight) since the 1980s.
How much better does it get from here under Jones? Can the SMU Mustangs lead the Houston Cougars and get to the top of Conference USA this season?
They'll continue that improvement at home against Washington State on Saturday.
Air Force Knocked Off BYU, Can They Shock Oklahoma?
12 of 25
The Air Force Falcons all but ended BYU's BCS hopes for the 2010 season and will not travel to Norman, Oklahoma to take on a Sooners team that made Florida State look like a high school team.
If Oklahoma plays like they did against Utah State in the season's opening week, they could be in trouble against the Falcons.
This one is going to be close but the Sooners will pull this one out late.
Cal Goes to Reno and Loses
13 of 25
Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick is slowly racking up yards like Denard Robinson but not quite on the national scale of Robinson.
However Kaepernick as 768 total yards through two games and he will lead the team against the Cal Golden Bears this weekend.
Cal is unbeaten through their first two games but they've come against UC Davis and Colorado and both have come at home. Having to go out on the road against one of the more underrated quarterbacks in college football will prove to be more than they bargained for.
Nevada wins late.
T.J. Yates Has Another Big Day Against Georgia Tech
14 of 25
North Carolina couldn't have opened the season with worse news, losing players to NCAA violations just days before they were to face LSU.
Even with all that going on, the Tar Heels, led by quarterback T.J. Yates, almost knocked off the Tigers.
They will return home to face a team that is coming off a disappointing loss of their own. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lost to a Kansas team that had mustered just three points in a 6-3 loss to North Dakota State the week before.
The Tar Heels are a better team than a lot of people gave them credit for and Yates will have another big day throwing the football.
Who Gets the Worst End of a Blowout?
15 of 25
Simple question and simple answer. Duke plays at home against Alabama and Ohio is on the road at Ohio State.
Who gets the worst end of the blowout?
Battle of the Painted Faces
16 of 25
Gotta love the Georgia fans for this display.
The Bulldogs will be at home to welcome in the 12th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. I know the fans will show up in a big way to try to get their team a win.
You and What Army?
17 of 25
No offense to the men of the armed services because you know I got nothin' but love for you, but when you're playing at home against North Texas, I tend not to be interested.
So wake me when it's over...thanks.
Can the Golden Gophers Finally Expose USC?
18 of 25
Hawaii came close, Virginia even closer. Can the Minnesota Golden Gophers finally expose the Trojans lackluster defense and come away with an upset?
It's the first road game of the year for USC and head coach Lane Kiffin and even though USC has sneaked away with wins so far, they're going to have a rough time of it this Saturday.
It'll come down to who has the ball last, but USC will, once again, sneak away with a victory.
Mark Ingram Returns for Alabama but Plays Sparingly
19 of 25
Defending Heisman trophy winner, Mark Ingram, returned to practice on Tuesday and had absolutely no setbacks, meaning he could be ready to go against Duke this Saturday.
While Ingram will make his return for the Crimson Tide, don't expect head coach Nick Saban to let his back go all that much and especially not against Duke.
They'll need him for their conference schedule so there's no reason to let him do too much.
The Hot Seat Will Get That Much Hotter for Dan Hawkins
20 of 25
After opening the 2010 season with back-to-back road games against Colorado State and Cal, they'll return home to face the University of Hawaii who put up 36 points against USC.
Dan Hawkins has been feeling the heat as the head coach of the Buffaloes and could start to feel it a little bit more after the Buffaloes drop their home opener to the Warriors.
It's a high scoring game with little defense, but one Hawaii wins.
Jake Locker Leads Washington Past Nebraska
21 of 25
No matter how good, or bad, the Huskies are from year to year, a visiting team always has a hard time going up to Seattle and getting a victory.
The Huskers will find that out the hard way as they will visit the Huskies this weekend. Quarterback Jake Locker threw for 289 yards and tied a career high with four touchdown passes, three of which were to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.
Sure, Nebraska is ranked eighth in both the AP and USA Today polls and are unbeaten through two games this season but those wins came against Western Kentucky and Idaho. Doesn't exactly make you say "wow."
This will be Nebraska's first road game and will be a serious test. It will be a back-and-forth battle but the Huskies will use their fans to propel them to the upset.
Purdue Will Miss Wide Receiver Keith Smith More They Think
22 of 25
Purdue's number one slot receiver, Keith Smith, was lost for the remainder of the 2010 season due to a tear in both his ACL and MCL in his right knee.
While Smith's long term future is uncertain, for the immediate future Purdue will replace him with sophomore Antavian Edison.
Nothing against Antavian but he's played in just four games for the Boilermakers. Smith is going to be missed more than they think.
Whether it will affect the offense won't be known until this weekend when they welcome in Ball State and Toledo before starting their Big Ten conference schedule.
A Freshman Quarterback Won't Get It Done for Wake Forest
23 of 25
Riley Skinner gone, Ted Stachitas injured.
So the Wake Forest Deamon Deacons will start freshman quarterback Tanner Price, who led them to a win over Duke, this Saturday.
I wish him a lot of luck against Stanford. Oh yeah, and it's on the road.
But it's good experience right?
Over/Under on Marcus Lattimore Against Furman?
24 of 25
Marcus Lattimore opened a lot of fans'—and coaches'—eyes this past weekend and will continue to do so this weekend against Furman on Saturday.
I'm setting the over/under on his total rushing yards at 175. Any takers?
Could Notre Dame Lose Back-to-Back Games Against Teams from Michigan?
25 of 25
Dayne Crist and the Notre Dame offense gave their team the lead but left too much time for Denard Robinson and Michigan to go down the field and get the win.
On Saturday, the Irish will be in Lansing, Michigan to take on the Spartans of Michigan State.
While the Spartans' defense hasn't looked all that solid through two games, keep in mind that it really didn't need to be that good against Western Michigan and Florida Atlantic.
However, Notre Dame better be ready to play on Saturday. If they're not, it could be a Michigan state of mind in back-to-back weekends.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
