We call them “bold predictions” for a reason. Last week was a disappointment; nevertheless, here we are again. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. As always, we will begin by recapping last week’s predictions to assess how accurate they were or where I may have made mistakes.

Drew Allar Struggles in Debut, West Virginia Covers – We missed the mark on both aspects of this prediction. Drew Allar threw for over 300 yards, and Penn State managed to secure a backdoor cover in the final seconds of the game.

UConn takes NC State to the Wire – UConn kept the game close, but they were never truly in a position to win. They only lost by 10 points, but they didn’t come close to taking the game down to the wire.

Three ranked teams fall to unranked opponents – We came close on this one. Duke and Colorado managed to defeat ranked opponents in week one. If we consider Brett McMurphy’s poll, then #11 Texas Tech should also be counted.

Deion Sanders blown out in debut – I’ll just take my L and move on.

South Alabama tops Tulane – Nope. Not even close.

We shouldn’t give up on making bold predictions just because the first week of the season didn’t go as planned. Persistence is the key to achieving success. With the better matchups in week two, I am confident that we will make accurate picks and see more success this weekend.

Texas beats Alabama by two scores – Bookmark this. Screenshot it. I don’t care. I am standing by this decision. Texas should have beaten Alabama last year and was on the verge of pulling away with the game until Quinn Ewers got hurt at the end of the first quarter. Texas only managed to score nine points after Ewers left the game. Ewers is back and has a year of experience under his belt. Texas may not have Bijan Robinson this year, but I don’t believe they need him. The key for Texas will be their wide receivers. The Longhorns’ receiving corps is led by Xavier Worthy, who is in his third year starting. Jordan Whittington and AD Mitchell are two other threats on the outside who will challenge Alabama’s talented secondary. Another reason I’m skeptical about Alabama in this game is their offense. The offensive playmakers don’t provide enough support to Jalen Milroe, which makes me lack confidence in picking Alabama.

Tulane and Ole Miss combine for 1,000 yards of total offense – If you’re a fan of high-scoring games, Saturday night’s matchup is a must-watch. Lane Kiffin has consistently produced one of the best offenses in college football since taking over at Ole Miss, and this season appears to be no different. He’s bringing back Jaxson Dart at quarterback after he won the competition against Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders. Quinshon Judkins, who registered two touchdowns in his first game, is one of the country’s top running backs. Last season, Ole Miss averaged 496 yards of offense, while Tulane averaged 441 yards. The two schools combined for over 1,100 yards, but it’s worth noting that Ole Miss played an FCS school and scored 73 points. Tulane, on the other hand, is significantly better than Murray State. The Green Wave is led by Michael Pratt, who put up video game-like stats against South Alabama, completing 14 of 15 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Pratt has established himself as one of the better quarterbacks in college football after leading Tulane to victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl last season. Expect both teams to move the ball with ease on Saturday.

Dillon Gabriel throws for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns – In week one, Oklahoma thoroughly dismantled Arkansas State. The Sooners managed to score on every drive except their final one of the game. Dillon Gabriel only played in the first half, where he threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns. However, this Saturday’s game against SMU promises to be significantly more competitive, likely resulting in Gabriel playing the full game. Oklahoma’s defense allowed Arkansas State to move the ball in the first half, but Arkansas State’s mistakes prevented them from scoring. SMU is expected to have opportunities to move the ball against Oklahoma, making it crucial for Gabriel to have a strong game. Keep an eye on him as he looks to make a statement, potentially prompting discussions about his Heisman candidacy.

UTSA starts the season 0-2 – The UTSA Roadrunners were initially seen as contenders for the AAC championship in their first year, with some even predicting them to secure a spot in a New Year’s Six Bowl Game due to the talent they had returning. However, the Roadrunners faced a setback in their first game, losing to Houston with a score of 17-14. Now, UTSA is preparing to host Texas State, a team that pulled off an impressive road victory against Baylor in the previous week. This presents a tough challenge for the Roadrunners. Frank Harris had a rough outing in week one, completing just 50% of his passes and throwing a career-high three interceptions. On the other hand, Texas State’s TJ Finley found success through the air, completing 22 of 30 passes for 298 yards. The key for Texas State will be putting pressure on Harris. Houston only managed to sack him once, yet they still secured the victory. In contrast, Texas State’s defense was much more effective against Baylor, registering three sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Considering these factors, it appears likely that the Bobcats will emerge victorious on Saturday.

Only one of Auburn, Wisconsin and UCF win on Saturday – Without looking, I can identify what these three teams have in common. All three are traveling to the west coast for their games. Wisconsin is covering a distance of 1,300 miles to play against Washington State, while UCF and Auburn are each traveling over 2,000 miles for their games against Boise State and Cal, respectively. Traveling across multiple time zones can disrupt a player’s internal clock and affect their game preparation. The extensive travel can also be physically exhausting for teams crossing the country. Additionally, all three teams are favored by less than a touchdown, making this prediction plausible. Cal and Washington State have demonstrated their ability to score points, while Boise State is expected to have a strong season and remain competitive in the Mountain West championship race.