Week one of college football was one every fan could possibly want it to be. Plenty of upsets and closes games to keep your adrenaline going until the next Saturday. There are a few differences in this week's poll compared to last week. It is a new week and a new breakdown of the AP top 25 games of week two.
Washington State at #25 USC
Line: USC by 15
Score Prediction: USC wins 34-20
USC did not impress me when they played Hawaii last week. They managed to force a lot of turnovers, but struggled with the two quarterback system they were running. Washington State proved last week against Auburn that they are a much better passing team than they are given credit for. I do not see the Trojans covering the spread. It is possible, but I think this will be an offensive battle that will be won by USC because of their defense's ability to force turnovers. This game could be closer than expected and a upset is very possible. If Washington State can force their own fair share of turnovers we may have a ball game. I have USC winning comfortably, but I also am putting them on upset alert.
SouthEastern Louisiana at #24 TCU
Line: TCU by 43
Score Prediction: TCU wins 52-13
TCU suffered a disappointing loss to LSU in week one. That game was actually not as big of a defensive battle as I thought it would. A lot of FCS schools have pulled off some upset this past week, but this will not be one of them. TCU has a better offense than I expected and their defense will always be impressive with Gary Patterson as head coach. I do not predict TCU to cover the spread. It is hard to believe Gary Patterson would risk injury to his players in order to run up the score, but of course you never know and the spread could be covered. If SE Louisiana wants to win this game they must do what Eastern Washington did so well over Oregon State and that is dominate on offense. An upset is highly unlikely in this game. TCU will win big.
Buffalo at #23 Baylor
Line: Baylor by 27
Score Prediction: Baylor wins 49-24
I was actually very impressed with Buffalo this past week. They scored 20 points on Ohio State and ultimately their performance was nice enough for the AP to drop Ohio State back to number three. While they played nicely, Baylor will win this one in a blowout. I am not predicting Baylor to cover the spread because if Buffalo can score 20 on Ohio State, they can score at least that many points on Baylor. I feel like the Bears' offense will be a little too much for Buffalo behind running back Lache Seastrunk. Buffalo will need to slow down Baylor's offense and have high offensive production against them to pull the upset. Is an upset possible? Yes. Will it happen? No
Southern Miss at #22 Nebraska
Line: Nebraska by 28
Score Prediction: Nebraska wins 41-13
Normally I would not predict a team that only beat Wyoming by 3 points to cover the spread. Wyoming has a great passing offense that gave the Cornhusker's defense trouble. In this case, I predict Nebraska to cover the spread because they are playing Southern Miss which has now lost 13 games in a row because of last week's loss to Texas State. This week will be 14 in a row. Southern Miss has a chance of upsetting the Cornhuskers because they to have a high powered passing attack. Nebraska's rushing effort led by quarterback Taylor Martinez will be to much for the Golden Eagles to handle, and I predict a victory in favor of the Cornhuskers. It could be a closer game than one might believe if Nebraska plays poorly on defense which will provide Southern Miss with their only opportunity to upset.
Tennessee Tech at #21 Wisconsin
Line: Wisconsin by 45
Score Prediction: Wisconsin wins 56-14
Wisconsin displayed one of the most lethal offenses in the country this past week. They were very balanced in both their pass and run game. They also shutout Massachusetts. It is for this very reason that I do not believe there will be an FCS upset between these two schools. Tennessee Tech will have to play tremendously on defense to slow down Wisconsin. I like Tennessee Tech's ability to score so I predict Wisconsin will win big, but not cover the spread. The chances of an upset are very low.
#20 Washington does not play this week.
Syracuse at #19 Northwestern
Line: Northwestern by 10
Score Prediction: Northwestern wins 28-10
Northwestern is another team who showed great balance in their offense last week. Syracuse is also not a team to underestimate after playing a close game with Penn State. I believe Northwestern will win and cover the spread because of their ability to dominate the time of possession. If their defense can stop Syracuse they will eliminate any possible ability of an upset. If Syracuse can force turnovers and keep Northwestern off the field, they can win this game. I do not think an upset will occur in this game, but it is still very possible so I am putting the Wildcats on upset alert.
#18 UCLA does not play this week.
#14 Notre Dame at #17 Michigan
Line: Michigan by 3
Score Prediction: Michigan wins 31-13
Although Notre Dame is ranked higher, Michigan is the favorite in this game. I truly think Michigan will win big in this game. Notre Dame's quarterback Tommy Rees impressed me last week, but Michigan's quarterback Devin Gardner impressed me even more. Obviously this game could go either way especially if Notre Dame's defense shuts down Gardner. This is going to be a great game, but I think Michigan will pull away with it in the Big House. The Wolverines will need to show up on defense in order to make it a dominating victory which I am not completely convinced they can do. Notre Dame has a great defense that is led by their defensive linemen so that makes the game even more interesting. Michigan will cover the spread, but this game could get close easily.
West Virginia at #16 Oklahoma
Line: Oklahoma by 20
Score Prediction: Oklahoma wins 31-10
Oklahoma's freshmen quarterback Trevor Knight really impressed me. West Virginia almost lost to William and Mary and Oklahoma had a 34 point victory last week. An upset is possible because West Virginia is capable of scoring a lot of points, but I think Trevor Knight will be the key to the game. I think Oklahoma will cover the spread and may score more than I predicted them to. I still am putting the Sooners on upset alert. Trevor Knight is still a young quarterback who is capable of making mistakes along with a young Oklahoma defense. The upset is not likely though so do not be surprised to see a dominating victory.
#15 Texas at BYU
Line: Texas by 7
Score Prediction: Texas wins 38-14
I may have gotten a little carried away in the score prediction. Regardless, I believe Texas is one of the most underrated teams in college football right now. Texas has finally found a steady quarterback in David Ash and established a very nice run/pass balance. The Longhorns have one of the defenses in the country this year led by Jordan Hicks and Jackson Jeffcoat. BYU lost to Virginia in week one which is not a terrible upset by any means. It still was an upset in which BYU played poorly in almost every aspect of the game. The game is at BYU so an upset is not out of the question. The Cougars are also a very good passing team which may cause trouble early in the game. After reviewing this game closely, I am giving a huge advantage to Texas and I am giving BYU little to no chance of beating them.
#13 Oklahoma State at UTSA
Line: Oklahoma State by 26.
Score Prediction: Oklahoma State wins 49-10
Oklahoma State and Mississippi State play a great game last Saturday. The Cowboys pulled away with it in the second half but did not establish a dominate passing game. I was still very impressed with quarterback J.W. Walsh's ability to pass and run the ball. UTSA is not as bad as people believe they are, but I predict a dominating victory. If UTSA wants to win this ball game they will have to shut down the passing game and force Oklahoma State to run the ball. Considering that Oklahoma State ran the ball pretty well with the read option, I do not think an upset will occur. Anything can happen especially since the game is at UTSA. The spread will be covered and the Cowboys will win in dominant fashion.
#12 Florida at Miami, FL
Line: Florida by 3
Score Prediction: Florida wins 20-17
This is going to be one of the most interesting games of the week. Florida is a tough SEC team, but I have noted that I expect Miami to make it to the ACC Championship game. I have Florida winning the game, but Miami very well can pull the upset. Florida played a weak offensive game against Toledo in week one. Miami showed a very solid rushing attack behind running back Duke Johnson in their game against FAU. In order for Miami to win they will have to find a weakness in a stingy Florida defense. Since it is a home game for the Hurricanes the crowd must be a factor. Turnover margin will be crucial for both teams and there has to be some big plays down field. Gator quarterback Jeff Driskel needs to throw well in this game so Florida can survive the upset. This is the type of game that could come down to a last second field goal. Florida is on upset alert in this game.
#6 South Carolina at #11 Georgia
Line: Georgia by 3
Score Prediction: Georgia wins 27-20
Although the line favors Georgia, South Carolina is ranked higher and most analyst are predicting the Gamecocks. I am predicting the Bulldogs to pull the upset. Georgia is coming off a tough loss to Clemson. A young defense proved just too much for them to handle. I like Georgia in the game because of motivation. Mark Richt is dedicated to win a big game and they need this one. Crowd will be a factor and if Georgia shuts down the rushing attack and can find a way to block Jadeveon Clowney then the Bulldogs will get the win. South Carolina needs to attack this young Georgia secondary and slow down Todd Gurley. Clowney will need to put a lot of pressure on Aaron Murray as well. These are all they key factors for the Gamecocks to win. A game like this could go either way, but I like Georgia's chances even though they are coming off a loss.
#10 Florida State played on Tuesday Night.
UAB at #9 LSU
Line: LSU by 35
Score Prediction: LSU wins 38-17
I like LSU to win big in this one, but not cover the spread. A upset is possible in this game, but is not going to happen. In order for UAB to win they will have to take advantage of a young LSU defense by dominating on offense. UAB head coach Garrick McGee is was an offensive coordinator in the SEC so he knows how to expose an SEC defense. The Blazers just do not have enough all around talent to beat the Tigers in Death Valley. Zach Mettenberger will be way too much for the UAB secondary to handle. I see an interesting first quarter, but after that LSU will control and dominate the game.
Eastern Kentucky at #8 Louisville
Line: Louisville by 40
Score Prediction: Louisville wins 63-7
In all reality, I am giving Eastern Kentucky a zero percent chance to win this game. Teddy Bridgewater, a Heisman candidate, is much too dominate for Easter Kentucky to stop. I think the Cardinals will cover the spread, but Eastern Kentucky preventing Louisville from covering the spread will be the only thing they could take away from this game. Louisville wins big in this one.
Sam Houston State at #7 Texas A&M
Line: Texas A&M by 45
Score Prediction: Texas A&M wins 59-10
Johnny Manziel will be playing the whole game this week and that calls for me to give Sam Houston State zero percent chance to win. This is ultimately a practice game in order to get ready for Alabama. The Aggies may not cover the spread, but will win this game in a landslide. Manziel may not even play in the fourth quarter. If he does not play because the Aggies are dominating or because he gets ejected is something that is to be determined.
San Jose State at #5 Stanford
Line: Stanford by 20
Score Prediction: Stanford wins 31-10
I am giving San Jose State a slight chance to upset Stanford. They are a team that has dramatically improved over the past few seasons and it is possible. Stanford is my favorite to make it to the national title game and I predict the Cardinal to win and cover the spread. It is Stanford's first game of the season so they could be a little sloppy. If the Spartans want to upset they will have to take advantage of weaknesses like that. Stanford is solid on both sides of the ball and I predict a nice victory in their first game.
South Carolina State at #4 Clemson
Line: Clemson by 52
Score Prediction: Clemson wins 65-7
This is yet another game where I giving a top notch team's opponent a zero percent chance to win. Clemson score 38 points on Georgia, I can only imagine how many they will score on South Carolina State. This will be essentially a game to rest players from last weeks game. Clemson wins big against South Carolina State.
San Diego State at #3 Ohio State
Line: Ohio State by 24
Score Prediction: Ohio State wins 45-17
I am not ruling out the possibility of an upset. San Diego State has gone downhill a little since the departure of Brady Hoke, but they are capable of the upset. Ohio State played poorly against Buffalo in some aspects of last week's game. The Aztecs are still a really weak team so the upset will not happen. Braxton Miller will lead the offense on a big scoring run that will result in a nice victory for the Buckeyes.
#2 Oregon at Virginia
Line: Oregon by 23
Score Prediction: Oregon wins 49-6
Virginia was not favored to beat BYU last week, but the Cavaliers won the game. This also a home game for Virginia which gives me all the more reason to give them some kind of chance of pulling an upset. The key for any team to beat Oregon is to slow down their offense. The Cavaliers do not have the depth on defense that is needed to stop the tempo Oregon has. The offense will prove too much for Virginia and Oregon will win big.
#1 Alabama does not play in week 2.
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