College Football's Week Two Predictions

By Nostradamus, College Football expert at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

The fallout of week 1 is still being jeered and cheered throughout our beloved internet world. Don't let all the smack talk and jibberish fool you. There is an old saying that rings true year in and year out:

Nobody is as good or as bad as their last game. 

In College Football, it is even truer. Keep in mind; we are dealing with the psyches of 18 to 23 year old kids. Yes, kids.  In a game that is as physical as football, it is the mental aspect that many times separates a great team from an elite team.

Therefore, as some teams are still licking their wounds, we have others that need to curb their enthusiasm after a week 1 victory and get prepared for week 2 action. 

It will be tough to follow up a solid 8-1 week 1 ATS, but this is my best at trying to follow up a sensational Week 1. The following are the games of note as I see them in Week 2:

Thursday:

South Carolina @ Vanderbilt (+ 7 1/2):  Steve Spurrier is still playing musical QBs with three guys:  Smelley, Garcia, and Beecher.  That means he doesn't have one.  This week, Smelley gets his chance to start.  The Gamecock defense on the other hand is very good.  Jasper Brinkley headlines a unit that completely exposed NC State last week. 

Vanderbilt is fresh off a resounding victory over Miami, OH: a decent MAC squad.  They also have a pretty good stop unit on their side of the ball.  Expect a lot of punting in this matchup, and look for a feisty crowd in Nashville since this is a rare occasion that the Commodores find themselves involved in a Nationally televised contest. 

I will side with the home dogs, and they may well upset the 'Cocks much like they did last year.  On a short week, I will side with taking the short points.

South Carolina 20 Vanderbilt 16.

Saturday:

Texas A&M @ New Mexico (+3):  Mike Sherman entered the fray as the headman at A&M with a resounding thud.  An 18-14 setback to Arkansas State at home.  New Mexico was thumped by TCU to the tune of 26-3.  Needless to say, this is a big game for both teams, and both will likely go through a rough week of practice to prepare for this contest. 

Rocky Long is a proven NCAA football coach.  Sherman had some successful years as the headman of the Packers.  However, if we have learned anything, NFL coaches that have moved over to the college game without any prior college experience have had a tendency to struggle. Both teams are coming off a week in which they struggled mightily on the offensive side of the ball. 

I'll side with the more talented team to come out and pound the ball right at an inexperienced and 'smallish' front seven from New Mexico.  I am going against some of my logic, but I look for the more talented A&M to get Goodson and Lane humming again, and get a much needed win and cover comfortably in Albuquerque.

Texas A&M 34 New Mexico 13. 

Louisiana Tech @ Kansas (- 20 1/2):  La Tech is fresh off an upset win over SEC bowl's game winner Mississippi State.  Kansas won comfortably over what is arguably the worst team in FBS football, Florida International. Considering last week’s games, the 20 1/2 seems like a bundle. 

I really don't have a solid feel on this game, thus I'll stay away, but the reason I mentioned it, is that it looks to be a much more important game for Kansas than anyone imagined before the season started. The 'Hawks need to make a statement in this game and show that they belong in the top 15. They also need to build some confidence before their scrap with South Florida next week. 

Cincinnati @ Oklahoma (-22):  Both teams are coming off resounding victories over FCS schools from last week.  Thus, not much information can be taken from those victories.  This is a statement game for both teams.  Oklahoma is looking to keep up with the Joneses in USC, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, etc.  Cincinnati wants to prove that they are not a fluke.  The Sooners aren't the greatest home favorites, and Cincinnati has shown over the years that they are a solid road dog.  Especially when it is double digits.  I don't think the game will ever be in much doubt, but the 22 points is just too much to give.

Oklahoma 31 Cincinnati 16.

Texas Tech @ Nevada (+ 10):  Graham Harrel started up just where he left off from last year, and Nevada showed that they are ready to compete this year for the WAC title.  This is a scary game for the Red Raiders as they travel to a very tough Mid Major site.  This is some very risky scheduling for a team that is notorious for stacking up creme puffs in their non-conference slate year in and year out. 

The Tech defense showed some holes against Eastern Washington last week, and Colin Kaepernick and Luke Lippincot could take advantage of these 'holes'.  I previewed this game in one of my posts earlier as a possible upset.  I haven't changed my mind. 

Texas Tech has shown in season's past that they are extremely vulnerable on the road and Nevada is extremely tough at home.  I'll call for the outright upset in this one, in a much anticipated shoot out in Reno.

Nevada 44 Tech 41. 

Stanford @ Arizona State (-14):  Jim Harbaugh is solidifying himself as one of the best up and coming coaches.  Their victory over Oregon State last week showed that the Cardinal are much improved this year. 

Arizona State struggled with an outmanned Northern Arizona squad.  However, like I said earlier, no team is as good or as bad as their last game.  Look for Rudy Carpenter to take advantage of a porous Stanford secondary, and the Sun Devils to enjoy a comfortable win against the Tree.

Arizona State 38 Stanford 17.

Southern Miss @ Auburn (- 17 1/2):  The Golden Eagles are off a surprisingly comfortable win from last week.  Auburn showed that their defense is ready to rumble this year.  Southern Miss romped for 427 yards rushing and 633 total yards last week.  That won't happen this week. 

I viewed this as a possible upset a few weeks ago, but I'm sure the offensive output by the Golden Eagles has caught the attention of the Tiger coaches.  Damion Fletcher will get some yards, but he'll have to work very hard for them.  The real problem is a green QB going against one of the premier stop units in the country.  The line seems about right, thus I'll stay away, but this one could have some interesting twists and turns to it. 

BYU @ Washington (+ 9):  Ty Willingham's days in Seattle look to be numbered.  Bronco Mendenhall is one of the most overlooked coaches in the country.  Can Ty rally the troops, or are they set on cashing it in this early in the season?  After a resounding defeat to Oregon in week one, this team's psyche has to be fragile, especially when you take a peek at their monstrous schedule that lays before them. 

A solid play in College Football is to always play against an embattled coach, regardless of the line at hand.  Look for BYU to continue their march towards a dream season in convincing fashion.

BYU 41 Washington 24.

Georgia Tech @ Boston College (-7):  Paul Johnson opened his career at Georgia Tech in impressive fashion.  Boston College coach Jagodzinski may have likely never seen a triple option offense before in his coaching career.  The Wreck has the right athletes to run this offense, and nobody coaches it better than Paul.  I'll call for the outright upset as Georgia Tech enters the fray as ACC title contenders.

Georgia Tech 34 Boston College 27.

Central Michigan @ Georgia (- 23):  The Chippewa's weren't exactly impressive in their week one outing.  GeorgiaGeorgia Southern away early and let some late scores make it look closer than it really was.  This has some possibilities of a shocking upset, but since the Bulldogs relinquished their position atop the polls, look for them to be very focused. 

It will be interesting to see how the 'Dawgs front four respond with the loss of stud DT Jeff Owens, but they should be fine.  This looks like another game that the line seems about right, thus I'll stay away.  However, my gut tells me that Georgia makes a statement in this game. put a solid FCS team in

San Diego State @ Notre Dame (- 22):  Yes, I'm sure you are laughing at the fact that the Irish are 'laying' 22 points in this contest.  But, beware, San Diego State just lost to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Chuck Long's days are extremely numbered in San Diego. 

If Notre Dame were to rout anybody, this would be the week.  Look for a much improved Irish squad to score early and often, and shut down a dismal Aztec offense.

Notre Dame 45 SDSU 12.

Oregon State @ Penn State (- 16 1/2):  Interesting.  Oregon State is off a heartbreaking upset loss to Stanford.  Penn State routed Coastal Carolina.  The Beavers have been a good team that travels well outside of conference.  Riley is a solid coach, and we should expect him to have the Beavers ready to play in ... Beaver Stadium?  I like Penn State to outlast Oregon State, but I expect it to be much closer than the 16 1/2 points given here.

Penn State 33 Oregon State 27.

Mississippi @ Wake Forest (- 8):  Another intriguing intra-BCS conference matchup.  Wake pounded Baylor.  Then again, everybody does.  Mississippi struggled a bit with seasonal rival Memphis.  This is a huge game for both clubs that have bowl game aspirations. 

Is Wake ready to win the ACC?  Is Ole Miss ready to challenge the upper half in the SEC?  We shall see.   This is a scary game to handicap, thus I'll stay away.  Should be one of the best games to watch.

West Virginia @ East Carolina (+ 8):  East Carolina is off an emotional win over Virginia Tech.  West VirginiaEast Carolina will not enjoy seeing a plodding offense like they did last week.  The Mountaineers have some defensive holes to fill, which means East Carolina should score some, but likely not near enough. 

Pat White and Noel Devine should prove to be too much for the Pirates.  Look for the 'Neers to bring a solid ECU squad back down to earth.

WVU 42 ECU 23. has their sites set on a National Championship. 

Game of the Week:

Florida @ Miami, FL (+ 21 1/2):  The 'Canes, along with fellow ACC brethren Wake Forest are carrying the ragged flag of the ACC this week.  Both teams need solid showings. 

Miami showed some offensive explosiveness last week, but it is a far cry from the engine that runs down in Gainesville.  The Gators also showed that they might have a vastly improved defense in '08.  Both teams are superlatively talented, but the Gators are more seasoned and have the best QB in the country at the helm while Miami has a green Freshman at the controls. 

The 21 1/2 seems like a bunch, but when you consider that Florida can hang 50 or more on just about anybody in the country, it seems to make sense.  I'll stay away and simply enjoy some of the most talented athletes putting their skills on display in a nationally televised game.  I'll look to see just how improved the Gator defense is, and just how far Randy Shannon has brought the 'Canes along.  This is must see TV, even if it is a blowout.

On a personal note:  Best wishes to all those affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna.  I sincerely wish you and yours safety as these storms that have already hit the Gulf Coast area, and are approaching our friends and family in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.