Week 2 Predictions
Last week was…well it was a week. However, we march on because you know what they say, we didn’t lose, we just ran out of time. I may have gone 3 for 7 this week, but we’re still above .500 on the year, so I will proudly pick 7 more games this week (maybe I’ll stay away from Clemson this time…).
Last week’s results
• 3/7 correct
• 9/14 for the year
o Surprise: Clemson laid an egg on prime time. They may be the best team outside of the redzone, but they were deathly allergic to the endzone in Durham.
o Best game: Colorado vs TCU was nothing short of phenomenal. The defenses left a lot to be desired but the offensive performances by both TCU and Colorado were great. Colorado is grabbed the headlines due to winning the game and, of course,Deion, but TCU’s offense looked great too.
o Disappointment: South Carolina’s offense. I thought this was going to be the strong suit for the Gamecocks, but they ended up with -2 rushing yards, 9 sacks, and only 14 pts on the scoreboard.
Now to this week’s slate.
Nebraska at (22) Colorado
For the first time since 1996, Colorado has sold out season tickets and presumably will sell out the first home game under Coach Prime. This excitement is well warranted as a highly doubted team due to a high scoring affair in a victory against (17) TCU. Now, Nebraska took part in a match that couldn’t have been more opposite, losing 13-10 to Minnesota. Is TCU’s defense that bad? Is Colorado’s defense that good? We’ll find out at noon on Saturday. I think Colorado is for real and Saturday will give the defense it’s chance to rebound from last week.
Colorado 35 Nebraska 21
(23) Texas A&M at Miami
Last year we thought this would be a “measuring stick” matchup to see if either of these teams were college football playoff contenders…turns out neither team made a bowl game. This year, the game is the same, but we’re measuring something totally different – can these programs bounce back under their current leadership. I think this game will be a lot more exciting than last year, and I think the outcome is different. Despite not having a homefield advantage (even at home…), I think Miami pulls this one out.
Miami 23 Texas A&M 21
Cincinnati at Pitt
Cincinnati is in their first year in the Big 12 and without star coach Luke Fickell. This matchup is exciting for me because it There is a lot of unknowns with the two programs. Is Pitt going to be an ACC contender this year? Can Cincinnati play a Power 5 schedule? Will Cincinnati fall off without Fickell? Florida transfer Emory Jones will matchup with Boston College transfer, Phil Jurkovec in what has the chance to be one of the better games of the weekend. I think Jurkovec and the Panthers edge this one out.
Pitt 31 Cincinnati 24
(20) Ole Miss at (24) Tulane
The Tulane Green Wave were the darlings of college football last year as they made a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time since 1940, beating USC and Heisman winner Caleb Williams. However, I think without star running back Tyjae Spears, this tide will ebb against offensive juggernaut Ole Miss. Look for Quinshod Judkins and this offense to channel their inner Billy Idol and Rebel Yell to victory.
Ole Miss 38 Tulane 22
(19) Wisconsin at Washington St.
Wisconsin had one of the most exciting offseasons in a long while, bringing in the Luke Fickell, changing the offense from the classic pro-style to the modern spread, and getting Tanner Mordecai out of the portal to run the offense. However, the bread and butter of this team is still the running game as BraelonAllen and Chez Mellusi ran for a whopping 298 yards on 30 carries (for all you math nerds out there, that’s about 10 yards per carry). I think Wisconsin hands the Pac-12 their first loss of the season in blowout fashion.
Wisconsin 42 Washington St. 17
(10) Notre Dame at NC St.
I thought this was going to be one of the better matchups of the week, but after NC St’s performance against UConn (yeah, in football) I think this could get ugly quick. Notre Dame has handled business in their first two matchups, and they will look to make a statement in their first Power 5 matchup. Hartman and co. look to rib the pack in a blowout victory.
Notre Dame 45 NC St. 21
(11) Texas at (3) Alabama
This game is going to be awesome. Last year’s matchup was great, and had it not been for an injury to Quinn Ewers, Texas probably would’ve won the game. Now, Texas has QB depth and a similar vertical attack offense to last year (minus star Bijan Robinson) and Alabama has two defensive backs that are listed as “day-to-day” on the injury report. I think Texas steals one from Tuscaloosa in a classic.
Texas 33 Alabama 30 *OT victory
