9 AM – UNC at Miami. I absolutely believe in Miami as an ACC contender and am equally convinced that UNC is a fraud. The QB injury is probably going to be too much. Miami’s offense was a world better against Texas A&M, and the Aggies are probably better than the Tar Heels (or at least in the same ballpark). The U in a walk, 31-13.
9 AM – Northwestern at Iowa. I’m not picking this game because I’ve seen neither team and don’t know much about it. I will say this: Iowa must win this game. If they don’t, their season’s ruined. They must bounce back from the loss at Pitt to beat a Big Ten bottom dweller at home. If they don’t, it will be a long season in Iowa City. Might be anyway.
12:30 PM – Arkansas at Texas. Texas may very well drop a holy beatdown on the Hogs. Texas is much more athletic across the board and I see no way in the world that Arkansas will score much. Horns 48, Arkansas 10.
12:30 PM – Colorado at FSU. Colorado isn’t there yet. They’ve been billed as a potential spoiler for a while now, but they’re much less dangerous on the road than in Boulder. This is the same team that really should have lost to FCS opposition two weeks ago and should have lost at home to a down WVU team last Thursday. That said, FSU has many of the same problems. I’m sticking with the Seminoles at home, but really would not be surprised by nearly anything. FSU 20, CU 17.
12:30 PM – Fresno St. at UCLA. Who is going to show up? Can’t tell, but I’m pretty sure FSU should shut down the UCLA run game, and we know they can’t throw. I think FSU is better than Arizona, so somewhat improved play from UCLA won’t likely help. Bulldogs 30, Bruins 13.
4:00 PM – TCU at Oklahoma. Here we go: a real test for the Sooners. People thought that Cincy game would be close, but I knew better. People seem to be sleeping on this one, and I know better. TCU will give Oklahoma a game and will be, by far, the best opposition the Sooners will see until Texas week. There will still be too much Oklahoma offense: I don’t see how TCU is going to hold OU down, and they’re definitely not winning a shootout. Sooners 41, Horned Frogs 20. But don’t be surprised if it’s a little bit closer than this.
4:45 PM – Alabama at Georgia. There are going to be some flat-out hits dropped in this one. Certainly the best game of the day and a major measuring stick for both teams. Neither side has a particularly strong offense, but I think John Parker Wilson will struggle much more than Stafford in this one, and that will be enough to carry UGA to the home win. Georgia 20, Alabama 10.
5:00 PM – Illinois at Penn State. Penn State should carry the day here. They’ve been strangely competent on offense and Illinois’ D is decidedly unimpressive. The winner of this one has a shot at the Big Ten, the loser is looking at the Alamo Bowl. Nittany Lions 34, Illini 24.
5:00 PM – Virginia Tech at Nebraska. Another game that should see some hitting. I feel Nebraska matches up very well here, as V-Tech doesn’t do enough on offense to exploit Nebraska’s talent deficiencies here. The Nebraska offense will do enough to see the Huskers through at home. Great to see Nebraska playing in primetime: get it done, Bo. Cornhuskers 24, Hokies 13.
September 26, 2008 at 7:30 am
Sooners have got two weeks in a row that will be harder than anyone was probably expecting before the season started, and after that the season really gets started. Holy crap the conference is good this year. I don’t think there are going to be any easy games- at least the Kansas and Nebraska games are in Norman.
September 26, 2008 at 2:48 pm
No doubt about that, huh? What with the events of last night, it’s pretty clear that meaningful college football happens east of the Rockies and south of the Mason-Dixon line. Other than the OU game, I’m most excited to see how Nebraska looks and how the UGA-Bama game comes out. Good day for the game.
With OU’s schedule, it should also be noted that Tech is coming to Norman, which is a very good thing. So the road schedule is pretty light, but that will still include trips to Kansas State and Oklahoma State, which will not be easy. Doesn’t look like A&M will be all that tough a trip this year, but that one can always be a problem. Don’t look now, but next year’s road schedule will include trips to Miami, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Nebraska…..ouch.
September 26, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Yeah, USC was a shocker, but you were right not to be convinced.
The depth in the Big 12 really is amazing. The OSU game is going to be a real bitch- I think they’re criminally under rated, and you’re probably right about K State as well. A&M shouldn’t be a problem at all- but they’ll be a bit more than a speedbump, and playing in college station makes that game three times the risk it would be in Norman.
The rest of the schedule really makes it so that there isn’t a week that can be taken for granted at home, let alone on the road.
Thank goodness we won’t see Mizzou during the regular season.