College Football Predictions 2011: Predicting the Best Games of Week 3

It's safe to say that last week I underestimated just how good the games were going to be.

I picked four different games: South Carolina-Georgia, Notre Dame-Michigan, USC-Utah, and Alabama-Penn State.

I knew the games would be good. I didn't know that a couple of them would turn out to be classics.

With the exception of the Alabama-Penn State game, all of the games came down to the last minute, if not second.

Unfortunately, I went 3-1 due to Michigan's miraculous comeback vs. Notre Dame. I underrated Denard Robinson's impact on that game.

This week, I'll try going 4-0. I might avoid Michigan games from now on due to Denard Robinson's presence.

The four games that I'll be picking are the following: Ohio State vs. Miami, Oklahoma vs. Florida State, Tennessee vs. Florida, and Michigan State vs. Notre Dame.

With Oklahoma at Florida State being the clear marquee game of the weekend, one can only hope it's nearly as good as the Notre Dame-Michigan thriller of last Saturday night.

Ohio State vs. Miami

This game is pretty funny on paper.

You have numerous players on both teams that are suspended due to infractions and violations.

Miami had eight key players suspended for their season opener at Maryland. Two of them will remain suspended come Saturday vs. Ohio State. Those two will be Olivier Vernon and Ray-Ray Armstrong.

Ohio State has their own problems with suspended players, namely starting running back Dan Herron.

Ohio State defeated Miami in 2010 by a score of 36-24. Don't be fooled by the score.  In a game in which Jacory Harris threw four interceptions, Miami was never really in the game from the very start.

Jacory Harris will once again lead the 'Canes in an effort to knock off the 17th ranked Buckeyes. This time it'll be at Sun Life Stadium.

The keys to this game are the following.

- Will Jacory Harris be able to efficiently manage the game and sprinkle in a big play here and there?

- Will the Ohio State Buckeyes defense, with only four starters returning from last year, be able to shut down the 'Canes attack?

- Can Ohio State's offense run efficiently with a QB making his third career start and Jordan Hall making his first appearance of the season?

This game will likely come down to who makes the least mistakes. Both teams should rely heavily upon their run games. The 'Canes have one of the most inconsistent QBs in the nation in Jacory Harris; the Buckeyes have an extremely inexperienced QB in Joe Bauserman.

This game will be a close one. I do believe Harris won't screw up enough to lose the game for the 'Canes.

Miami in an upset.

Prediction: Miami over Ohio State 

Michigan State vs. Notre Dame

In a game that would have been highly anticipated if....wait I said that about the Notre Dame-Michigan game last week.

Alright, you get the point. In the preseason, this game looked really interesting.

Now, it's a game between a ranked opponent and a team desperately avoiding a terrible start after going into the season as a Top 25 team.

Michigan State hasn't faced any tough opponents so far this season. They've walloped their first two opponents by a combined score of 72-6. Those first two opponents were Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic.

Notre Dame entered the season as a ranked team. They proceeded to lose a close game to USF at South Bend. They proceeded to lose a heartbreaker in an instant classic to the Michigan Wolverines.

The Irish get another chance this week to prove they're not an overrated team.  The question is, will they rise to the occasion this time?

I can't believe I'm doing it again, but I'm going with the Irish.

They're 0-2 and they're playing in South Bend. I have a hard time believing that with their backs against the wall they will go 0-3. They have too much talent for that.

With two battle-tested games against legit opponents, I expect Rees to cut down on his turnovers. I expect Rees to go to Floyd, and accomplish going to Floyd without turning it over in the worst situations possible.

It'll be a close game, as Michigan State is no joke. They have an experienced team led by QB Kirk Cousins.

I just feel the Irish will win this in a close game. Irish by three.

Prediction: Notre Dame over Michigan State

Tennessee vs. Florida

If this was '97, there is no question this is the game of the week.

It's 2011, and these teams are riding on tough times.

Tennessee hasn't won a conference championship since '98. Florida hasn't been the national contender that it was during the Meyer/Tebow years since last season.

Florida comes into this game as the 16th-ranked team in the nation. Tennessee enters this game looking to go 3-0 for the first time since '04.

Florida has won the past six matchups in this rivalry.

Don't expect it be to different this time around.

Are the Volunteers an improved team under the tutelage of Derek Dooley? Yes. Are they a good team with sophomore Tyler Bray taking snaps? Yes.

Is it enough to offset the Gators' talent level? No.

John Brantley is a mediocre quarterback. He'll continue being a mediocre quarterback in his senior season with the Gators.

The problems will come in containing RB Chris Rainey, who is an absolute threat rushing and receiving the football. He is the only player in the nation that leads his team in both rushing and receiving.

Where could this game go wrong for the Gators? If Tyler Bray hooks up with WR Justin Hunter. Hunter is 6'4" and he leads the SEC with 16 receptions for 302 yards and a few TDs.

Florida has an inexperienced secondary, starting two freshman and two sophomores against the likes of UAB and Florida Atlantic.

Would it surprise me if Tennessee won this game? No.

However, as many holes as the Gators have, I just can't see it happening at the Swamp in 2011.

Oklahoma vs. Florida State

Can a game get much bigger than the one that will take place Saturday night in Tallahassee?

Oklahoma enters this game as the No. 1 team in the nation, while the Seminoles enter as the No. 5 team in the country.

The Sooners are three-point favorites, despite playing at Doak Campbell.

The question is will Florida State defeat Oklahoma?

In a game that should be every bit high-scoring, I don't see the Seminoles having enough firepower to upend the Sooners.

In some games this weekend, it'll come down to the team that makes the least amount of mistakes. An example of this is the aforementioned Ohio State at Miami game.

This game will come down to the team that has the better offense.

Oklahoma has one of the best offenses in all of college football.

They have the top QB-WR duo in Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles. Hell, both of these players are the top players at their positions at the moment.

FSU will give a spirited effort, but their lack of playmakers outside of EJ Manuel will end up costing them.

Prediction: Oklahoma over FSU