College Football 2011: Predicting the Winner of Every Week 3 Game

There were some great games in Week 2—notably Arizona State versus Missouri and the triple overtime thriller featuring Iowa versus Iowa State.

However, the first ever night game at the Big House (and new biggest attendance record holder) Michigan versus Notre Dame has to take the prize for the best game of Week 2. The Wolverines, down 24-7 heading into the fourth quarter, rallied to score 28 points in that quarter, including 14 points in the last 72 seconds of the game to win 35-31.

Let’s turn our attention to Week 3 now. We’ve got 64 games involving 112 teams from the FBS and 16 teams playing schools from the FCS.

The game of the week has to be Oklahoma at Florida State as it will change the look of the top five and set the stage for the BCS run for the 2011 season.

Eight teams are idle this week: Air Force, East Carolina, FAU, Middle Tennessee, Oregon State, Rice, Rutgers and Utah State.  Teams listed second (ie: LSU vs.  Mississippi State) are the home team.

Here are my predictions for the winners of every Week 3 college football game.

LSU vs. Mississippi State

Does any defense look tougher than LSU’s right now? Mississippi State will be no pushover in this SEC matchup, but the Tigers will pull out the win, making their case for a No. 1 ranking whether or not Oklahoma beats Florida State.

Winner: LSU

Boise State vs. Toledo

Toledo gave Ohio State a bit of a run for their money in Week 2, but the Broncos should easily hand them their second loss in a row.

Winner: Boise State

Iowa State vs. Connecticut

The Cyclones had an exciting triple OT win against Iowa in Week 2, while the Huskies struggled in their loss to Vanderbilt.

Winner: Iowa State

Akron vs. Cincinnati

I’m thinking Akron will be outmatched by the Bearcats and Cincy will be looking to bounce back from their loss at Tennessee with a win against the Zips (IMO, the silliest name for a team in the entire NCAA).

Winner: Cincinnati

North Texas vs Alabama

No discussion needed here. The Crimson Tide will crush North Texas.

Winner: Alabama

Stanford vs. Arizona

This game will feature two of the most exciting quarterbacks in FBS football in Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Arizona’s Nick Foles. 

Arizona was dismantled by a good Oklahoma State team in Week 2, while Stanford rolled against a perennial underachiever (Duke).  The Cardinal should have no problem beating the Wildcats.

Winner: Stanford

Arizona State vs. Illinois

ASU is a tough one. Sure they look very very good this year. But they are still ASU and could still, as I said to a friend on Friday night “pull an ASU,” which is to say—they can take all their potential and throw it out the window on penalties and mental mistakes and a total team implosion.

After all, we’ve all seen the Sun Devils do that before.

However, it won’t happen this week against the very mediocre Fighting Illini.

Winner: ASU

Troy vs. Arkansas

Arkansas is looking like a force to be reckoned with in the SEC equation and should easily dispatch Troy.

Winner: Arkansas

Arkansas State vs. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech all the way. This Hokies team is good, and while they may not be the best in the ACC (and then again, maybe they are), they are certainly the team favored to win this game by a large margain.

Winner: VA Tech

Northwestern vs. Army

Northwestern is 2-0,  having beaten Boston College and Eastern Illinois. Army is 0-2 and looks to be 0-3 by the time the weekend is over.

Winner: Northwestern

Auburn vs. Clemson

Auburn has issues, but I believe the Tigers know how to win.  Clemson has a brutal schedule with Auburn this week, Florida State next week and VA Tech the week after. Whether they can recover from a probable three game slide remains to be seen.

Winner: Auburn

Buffalo vs. Ball State

Buffalo has a slight edge in this game, and can take advantage of the wreckage left behind by South Florida’s decimating win over Ball State in Week 2.

In other news, I find it amusing that Buffalo is the Bulls, while the NFL team is the Bills.

Winner: Buffalo

Stephen F. Austin (FCS) vs. Baylor

Look for Robert Griffin III and his Baylor Bears to easily dispatch the gang from Stephen F. Austin.

Winner: Baylor, by a landslide.

Duke vs. Boston College

Duke, having just been thoroughly spanked by Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal, is unlikely to suddenly develop a winning football program before heading to Boston to take on the BC Eagles.

Winner: Boston College

Wyoming vs. Bowling Green

Bowling Green stomped Morgan State this past week, and Wyoming is 2-0 against suspect opponents.  I have no idea, people.

Winner: Wyoming

Utah vs. BYU

Utah, having been narrowly defeated at USC in the first Pac-12 game ever, heads back to home, or, rather, homish to face BYU in Provo in what Utahans call “The Holy War.”  Neither team is as strong as in recent years and the game, like any rivalry is a tossup. Utah, having fought long and hard against Montana State (?!) and USC, will succumb to the Cougars.

Winner: BYU

Presbyterian (FCS) vs. California

 It would serve Cal right if they were to lose, sullying the image of the Pac-12 (;-) ) with an FCS opponent. However, they will not lose.

Winner: Cal

Central Michigan vs. Western Michigan

Heck, I don’t know. The two schools are interchangeable in my mind. So, let’s flip a coin…

Winner: Central Michigan

Colorado State vs. Colorado

Colorado took Cal to the rails in Week 2, and has an 0-2 record. Colorado State, playing arguably weaker opponents is 2-0.

Winner: Colorado

Eastern Michigan vs. Michigan

Michigan, hot off the heels of its exciting win over Notre Dame, will ride the wave and easily crush Eastern Michigan.

Winner: Michigan

UCF vs. FIU

FIU got its first ever victory over a BCS opponent when it topped Louisville in Week 2.  UCF completely dominated Boston College.

Winner: UCF

Tennessee vs. Florida

Tennessee will eventually climb back into the ranks of BCS title competitors, as will Florida.  However, Florida is a lot closer to this feat than the Vols are.

Winner: Florida

Oklahoma vs. Florida State

Easily the game of the week, the Sooners travel to Tallahassee to take on the Seminoles in a game with deep BCS title implications.  I’m not sure if I think FSU will win or if I just want them to win so bad it is coloring my judgment.

Winner: Florida State

North Dakota vs. Fresno State

Fresno State got pounded by both Cal and Nebraska, but they are not as dismal a team as their 0-2 record would indicate.

Winner: Fresno State

Coastal Carolina vs. Georgia

After losing to Boise State in the opener, Georgia faced off against South Carolina in Week 2. Unfortunately, after four valiant quarters of play, they came up three points short.  This Georgia team is better than their 0-2 record would indicate and they should easily dominate Coastal Carolina.

Winner: Georgia

Kansas vs Georgia Tech

Both teams are 2-0 but Kansas has played stronger games than GA Tech has.

Winner: Kansas

Hawaii vs. UNLV

Last night on Facebook, one of my high school friends wondered if he was the only one who thought our high school team (Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas) could beat UNLV.  He is not. Many of us think that. Heck, I think I could put together a group of my girlfriends and we could beat UNLV while wearing stilettos.

Winner: Hawaii

Houston vs. Louisiana Tech

Houston will easily win this game.

Winner: Houston

Idaho vs. Texas A&M

Texas A&M, with all the “move to the SEC” brouhaha will not be distracted by the Vandals.  While a win over the Aggies would be amazing for the Idaho program, it is highly unlikely.

Winner: Texas A&M

South Carolina State (FCS) vs. Indiana

How many times do I have to say it? Indiana is a basketball school. South Carolina State, at 1-1, has a better chance of emerging victorious than the Hoosiers do.

Winner: South Carolina State

Pittsburgh vs. Iowa

Iowa fought a tough but ultimately losing battle versus Iowa State in Week 2.  Pitt is off to a 2-0 start, but has yet to play a BCS team.

Winner: Iowa

Kent State vs. Kansas State

Kansas State is far from a football powerhouse, but the Wildcats should easily overpower the Golden Flashes.

Winner: Kansas State

Louisville vs. Kentucky

There’s trouble in Louisville, that’s for sure. Last weekend’s shootout with FIU was not a game the Cardinals were supposed to lose.

Winner: Kentucky

Nicholls State (FCS) vs. Louisiana Lafayette

Last week, a commenter mentioned that I don’t know much about smaller programs. This is truth (which, for the record, I also stated in my article).

Winner: Louisiana Lafayette

Louisiana Monroe vs. TCU

TCU bounced back from their loss to Baylor in Week 2, thoroughly beating Air Force. Louisiana Monroe is just no match for the dominance of the Horned Frogs.

Winner: TCU

Marshall vs. Ohio

Both teams come into this game with Week 2 wins. Only Marshall has faced real competition (Week 1 vs WVU).

Winner: Marshall

West Virginia vs Maryland

You know, I think Maryland’s uniforms could be so distracting to the opposing team that it could help them win. But not against the balanced attack from the Mountaineers.  The Terps are simply out matched here.

Winner: West Virginia

Austin Peay (FCS) vs Memphis

I’m going to have to go with Memphis on this one. And no, I’m not offering any reasoning.

Winner: Memphis

Ohio State vs. Miami (FL)

Interesting matchup—what is this, the NCAA Sanctions Bowl?  Ohio State’s drama is a little less fresh than Miami’s, so…

Winner: Ohio State

Miami (OH) vs. Minnesota

Neither team is all that good, and in theory I feel like Minnesota should win this game. However, the fact that they are 0-2 means I’m going with Miami.

Winner: Miami (OH)

Michigan State vs. Notre Dame

The UM-ND game was a thriller, but let us not forget—neither Notre Dame nor Michigan are all that good. Michigan State, on the other hand, is good. Notre Dame will start the season 0-3.

Winner: Michigan State

Mississippi vs. Vanderbilt

The bottom of the SEC meets for a conference matchup at Vandy.

Winner: Ole Miss

Western Illinois (FCS) vs. Missouri

This will be a nice little amuse bouche for the Tigers following the ASU game last weekend.

Winner: Missouri

Navy vs. South Carolina

I am not convinced this South Carolina team is as good as they appear. That said, Spurrier is finding a way to win.

Winner: South Carolina

Washington vs. Nebraska

As a Pac-12 fan, I would love to see Washington pull off this win. However, I find it to be an unlikely scenario.

Winner: Nebraska

Nevada vs. San Jose State

Normally I think Nevada would have the edge in this game, but that Oregon game exposed more weaknesses on the Wolf Pack’s part than originally anticipated.

Winner: San Jose State

Texas Tech vs. New Mexico

There is nothing to say about this one. New Mexico has won what, like three games in five years?

Winner: Texas Tech

UTEP vs. New Mexico State

 New Mexico State beat Minnesota, but I’m not sure that is a feat.

Winner: UTEP

Virginia vs. North Carolina

The Tar Heels are looking good and UVA—not as much.

Winner: North Carolina

South Alabama (FCS) vs. North Carolina State

North Carolina State should easily beat this FCS opponent. Is it the REAL season yet where the inter-divisional “cupcake” games are over? Sigh.

Winner: North Carolina State

Northern Illinois vs. Wisconsin

The Badgers should easily win this game—which, by the way,  is taking place at Soldier Field.

Winner: Wisconsin

Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa

I’ve said is before, and I will say it again, I like this Cowboy team and their 27-year-old quarterback.

Winner: Oklahoma State

Missouri State (FCS) vs. Oregon

Seriously, Oregon?  Missouri State? Whatever.

Winner: Oregon

Penn State vs. Temple

JoePa and the Nittany Lions should easily beat the Owls.

Winner: Penn State

Southeast Missouri State (FCS) vs. Purdue

Sigh.

Winner: Purdue

Washington State vs. San Diego State

Washington State is flying high with their first 2-0 start in eons and I’d love to see the Cougars pull this off.  However, I think SDSU is the first “real” team they will face this season.

Winner: San Diego State

Northwestern State vs. SMU

Please, can we be done with the cupcake games?

Winner: SMU

Southeast Louisiana (FCS) vs. Southern Mississippi

Another cupcake.

Winner: Southern Mississippi

Syracuse vs. USC

The ‘Cuse heads into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face USC.  The Trojans should win, will be favored to win, but I’ve been at the past two USC games, and we can’t take anything for granted.

Winner: USC

Texas vs. UCLA

Texas will be seeking revenge for last year’s upset win by UCLA.

Winner: Texas

Tulane vs. UAB

Honestly, I’m 62 or so games into this piece and…

Winner: UAB

Florida A&M (FCS) vs South Florida

This South Florida team is one to be reckoned with and an FCS foe is no match for the Bulls.

Winner: South Florida

Gardner-Webb (FCS) vs. Wake Forest

Wake is a bit hapless, but still they should be able to pull out the win.

Winner: Wake Forest

Indiana State (FCS) vs. Western Kentucky

I’ll make you a promise, when we’re into conference play across the board, I will look into these smaller schools and educate myself.

Winner: Western Kentucky