College Football Preview: Week Two's Top Matchups

To open this week, I give you the wisdom of the Big Ten's favorite octogenarian:

"Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good."

—Joe Paterno

We can apply this quote directly to the second weekend of action in the 2008 college football season. This week's slate will satisfy your hunger for football, but like a bland dish, won't taste very good.

All of the BCS athletic directors must have gotten together and decided to schedule patsies this weekend in order to give everyone at home a breather on the eve of the first Sunday of the NFL season, because there are very few marquee matchups on Saturday, even for early September. Don't fret, though, as Week Three looks a lot better, headlined of course by Ohio State at USC next Saturday night on ABC.

In the meantime, here is this weekend's college football TV schedule, and, as you watch, just think about all of the edge-of-your-seat action that will be at your fingertips later in the season.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4

South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 8:30 (ESPN)

FRIDAY, SEPT. 5

Navy at Ball State, 7 (ESPN)

SATURDAY, SEPT. 6

Miami (OH) at Michigan, 12 (ESPN)
Ohio at Ohio State, 12 (ESPN 2)
Connecticut at Temple, 12 (ESPN U)
Marshall at Wisconsin, 12 (BTN)
Eastern Illinois at Illinois, 12 (BTN)
Eastern Michigan at Michigan State, 12 (BTN)
Florida International at Iowa, 12 (BTN)
Northern Colorado at Purdue, 12 (BTN)
New Hampshire at Army, 1 (ESPN Classic)
BYU at Washington, 3 (FSN)
Cincinnati at Oklahoma, 3:30 (ABC)
Oregon State at Penn State, 3:30 (ABC/ESPN 2)
Mississippi at Wake Forest, 3:30 (ABC/ESPN 2)
San Diego State at Notre Dame, 3:30 (NBC)
Air Force at Wyoming, 3:30 (CBS College Sports)
Richmond at Virginia, 3:45 (ESPN U)
West Virginia at East Carolina, 4:30 (ESPN)
Texas A&M at New Mexico, 5 (Versus)
South Florida at UCF, 7 (ESPN 2)
Murray State at Indiana, 7 (BTN)
Louisiana Tech at Kansas, 7 (FSN)
Minnesota at Bowling Green, 7:30 (ESPN U)
Miami (FL) at Florida, 8 (ESPN)
Rice at Memphis, 8 (CBS College Sports)
Texas at UTEP, 10:15 (ESPN 2)

FIVE GAMES YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING SATURDAY

Cincinnati at Oklahoma

In case you weren't paying attention, Cincinnati became one of the top teams in the Big East one year ago. Going into Norman to take on the Sooners has to be considered the biggest game in the long, yet unspectacular history of Bearcats football. Win this one, and Brian Kelly's program can cement itself as a permanent force on the national scene.

Now, saying and doing are two different things. The talent assembled by Bob Stoops and Co. is unmatched by almost any team in the country. Plus, they still have a sour taste in their mouths from their last game against a Big East school, a loss in the Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia. Cincinnati goes home disappointed, but I think they make a good game out of their trip to Oklahoma and thus a solid impression on anyone who has not seen them play yet.

Miami (FL) at Florida

Ten years ago, and this game would have been all the rage. But the Hurricanes program has fallen on hard times and is looking to do whatever it takes to rediscover the glory of the past quarter-century (hopefully within the bounds of all NCAA rules and regulations, of course).

What better way to do that than defeating your in-state rival who you unfortunately only play once in a month of Sundays? This will be a real litmus test game for Miami after beating up on hapless Charleston Southern last week.

It is going to take a miracle for them to beat the Gators. But if they can go into the Swamp, stay competitive for the full 60 minutes, and get the attention of prized recruits in the state, I think that will make a huge statement along the lines that the Miami Hurricanes plan on being a player in the ACC in 2008 and a national player again in a couple years.

Oregon State at Penn State

I guess you could say this is a matchup of the old guard against the new kids on the block. In the time since Paterno was appointed head coach at Penn State in 1966, Oregon State has exactly 12 winning seasons, most of which have come in the past decade.

This is a program on the rise, and give them credit for scheduling a tough non-conference road game on the other side of the country. The Beavers are probably looking at an 0-2 start after losing a heartbreaker to Pac-10 rival Stanford on Thursday, but this trip should be a real character-builder. I still don't know what we can expect from Penn State. Putting 66 points up on the mighty Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina is no significant feat.

Ole Miss at Wake Forest

Houston Nutt's debut in Oxford couldn't have gone any better, as the Rebels disposed of Memphis. Paying a visit to Wake Forest will get the team geared up for SEC play, and give the Rebels a true idea of how much they have improved from one year ago.

I don't expect Ole Miss to go into Winston-Salem and take home a victory, but don't be surprised if its performance gets the attention of the talking heads. This squad has already been pegged as a surprise team by many heading into the season.

West Virginia at East Carolina

ECU pulled off the upset of Virginia Tech in a neutral-site contest that featured a fairly even split of Pirates and Hokies faithful. If they can go back-to-back and knock off the Mountaineers in Greenville, I think we have to throw ECU into the ever-growing pool of non-BCS schools making a run at a BCS bowl game.

In Skip Holtz's first two years, the Pirates were undermanned, but kept it close against WVU. Last year, with a much better team, they were blasted, 48-7. Judging by what I saw in the Virginia Tech game, the Pirates can make this a dandy for the second Saturday in a row. But, unlike the Hokies, the Mountaineers actually have some experienced offensive talent who can also step up in key moments and deliver a victory. Pat White and Noel Devine, that would be you.

OTHER POTENTIALLY INTERESTING GAMES

Central Michigan at Georgia

Bowling Green, Utah, and East Carolina all scored one for the little guys last weekend. Now, before you say I am crazy for implying the Chippewas are going to go into Athens and upset the No. 2 team in the country, that is not what I see happening. But, led by quarterback Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan can make a game of it.

Stanford at Arizona State

The Cardinal look to continue the opening-weekend momentum built up with an exciting win at home over Oregon State. It won't be easy down in the desert against a team that is expected to be USC's biggest threat in the conference.

BYU at Washington

There aren't many easy ones on the Huskies' schedule, and it gets worse with a visit from Oklahoma next Saturday. Coming off a 34-point beatdown at the hands of Oregon, they look to at least stay competitive for four quarters this week. For BYU, this is the first serious test on what it hopes is a journey to the BCS. It is the more talented team, but cannot take this Washington squad lightly.

South Florida at UCF

Florida has its "Big Three," but, along with Florida Atlantic and Florida International, USF and UCF are now major players in the recruiting battle in one of the nation's most talented states. Winning this one should help immensely in bringing in new talent this offseason. The Golden Knights don't have the services of Kevin Smith anymore, but are still talented enough to give the Bulls trouble.

UConn at Temple

Temple can obviously look to UConn for motivation. The Huskies have gone from FCS powerhouse to BCS contender in the period of a few years, while, as we all know, the Owls have been stuck in the bowels of college football suckitude for what seems like forever. Temple seems to be making progress under Al Golden, and now would be the perfect time for a big win to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt

The first SEC showdown of the new season will be overshadowed by the NFL's kickoff, but this is still a crucial game. Vandy was impressive at Miami (OH) last Thursday, and has premature hopes of finally ending its long bowl drought. Steve Spurrier has already changed quarterbacks, after just one game. Both teams need this one if they want to qualify for postseason play.

Navy at Ball State

Ball State is one of the dark-horse mid-major BCS contenders, led by star quarterback Nate Davis. Navy's triple-option offense is always fun to watch. If you aren't hitting up a high school game this Friday, stay home to check out this intriguing matchup.