College Football Week 2
Posted: September 5th, 2018, 10:24 am
[font=Calibri]Through 1 week:[/font]
[font=Calibri]Local Games: 2-0[/font]
[font=Calibri]Five Others to Watch: 3-2[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Local Games:[/font]
[font=Calibri]No. 10 Penn State vs Pitt – 8:00 PM ABC (PSU -8.5)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Penn State 34 – Pitt 31[/font]
[font=Calibri]Last week I think we figured out that Penn State is going to have some growing pains. They are only playing 2 seniors consistently and are breaking new players and coaches all over the field. My guess is this line would have been in the neighborhood 13 or 14 points if it wasn’t for the late surge by App State in Beaver Stadium. I am not sure what we learned about Pitt and to be completely honest all I have to reference is a few minute highlight I seen on the newscast. At the end of the day, both of these teams are replacing a lot of playmakers. I think the teams are probably pretty close to even but Pitt has a slight advantage at home. Where I think PSU holds an advantage is they had a little more than a dress rehearsal last week that gave the coaches the ability to identify their deficiencies a little better. For that reason, I have Penn State getting out of Heinz Field with a win.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Five Others to Watch:[/font]
[font=Calibri]Duke vs Northwestern – 12:00 ESPNU (NW -3)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Northwestern 27 – Duke 21[/font]
[font=Calibri]Two of the more impressive wins in week 1 were by these teams. Northwestern traveled into Purdue and pulled out a victory while Duke took an Army team that is expected to be a bowl contender this year out to the woodshed. Both of these teams are starting to be discussed as darkhorse contenders in their respected divisions. Not to mention this is a great battle between schools that have academics that are second to none. Clayton Thorson looks healthy enough for Northwestern and Duke’s defensive captain went down in the second half last week with an injury. That along with homefield advantage will be the difference.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Georgia vs South Carolina – 3:30 CBS (UGA -10)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Georgia 30 – South Carolina 13[/font]
[font=Calibri]South Carolina arrived back into the midst of college football relevancy a year or two earlier than expected last year. This was partially due to the better than expected QB play of Jake Bentley. He had another great game last week against Coastal Carolina but this Georgia team just has better players at almost every position. A home crowd will keep the Gamecocks close for a half but ultimately Georgia will take the early lead in the SEC East.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Iowa State vs Iowa – 5:00 FOX (Iowa -4)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Iowa State 17 – Iowa 16[/font]
[font=Calibri]This was one of the games of the year last year in college football. Iowa came storming back late in the second half and won in overtime. Iowa State then rallied to have one of the best seasons in recent history. Both teams lost a playmaker (Wadley for Iowa and Lazard for Iowa State) but bring back a large nucleus. These teams combined last year for 3 wins against top 5 teams and numerous close calls against other top 10 opponents. I really think this game is a toss-up and my advantage tips to Iowa State because I think they are due one after the heartbreak in this game last year.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]No. 2 Clemson vs Texas A&M - 7:00 ESPN (Clemson -12)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Clemson 48 – Texas A&M 20[/font]
[font=Calibri]There is an old saying that if you have 2 quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks. Well, Clemson has 2 QBs. They also have 4 defensive lineman that will probably be drafted in the first 50 picks. They also have almost an entire roster back after a trip to the CFP last season. Kyle Field is one of the most difficult road trips of any teams season but Jimbo has way too much work to do before we will see them competitive in games like this.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]No. 12 USC vs No. 9 Stanford[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Stanford 23 – USC 13[/font]
[font=Calibri]I just don’t think a true freshman playing a game on the road against a top 10 team in week 2 of the season is ever a good recipe for a win, even if it is a potentially generational talent. Being that this game will be played in front of a half full stadium and probably less than 2,000 students, I do think they have a punchers chance. I also have a hard time thinking Bryce Love will be held in check this well 2 weeks in a row.[/font]
[font=Calibri]Local Games: 2-0[/font]
[font=Calibri]Five Others to Watch: 3-2[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Local Games:[/font]
[font=Calibri]No. 10 Penn State vs Pitt – 8:00 PM ABC (PSU -8.5)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Penn State 34 – Pitt 31[/font]
[font=Calibri]Last week I think we figured out that Penn State is going to have some growing pains. They are only playing 2 seniors consistently and are breaking new players and coaches all over the field. My guess is this line would have been in the neighborhood 13 or 14 points if it wasn’t for the late surge by App State in Beaver Stadium. I am not sure what we learned about Pitt and to be completely honest all I have to reference is a few minute highlight I seen on the newscast. At the end of the day, both of these teams are replacing a lot of playmakers. I think the teams are probably pretty close to even but Pitt has a slight advantage at home. Where I think PSU holds an advantage is they had a little more than a dress rehearsal last week that gave the coaches the ability to identify their deficiencies a little better. For that reason, I have Penn State getting out of Heinz Field with a win.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Five Others to Watch:[/font]
[font=Calibri]Duke vs Northwestern – 12:00 ESPNU (NW -3)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Northwestern 27 – Duke 21[/font]
[font=Calibri]Two of the more impressive wins in week 1 were by these teams. Northwestern traveled into Purdue and pulled out a victory while Duke took an Army team that is expected to be a bowl contender this year out to the woodshed. Both of these teams are starting to be discussed as darkhorse contenders in their respected divisions. Not to mention this is a great battle between schools that have academics that are second to none. Clayton Thorson looks healthy enough for Northwestern and Duke’s defensive captain went down in the second half last week with an injury. That along with homefield advantage will be the difference.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Georgia vs South Carolina – 3:30 CBS (UGA -10)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Georgia 30 – South Carolina 13[/font]
[font=Calibri]South Carolina arrived back into the midst of college football relevancy a year or two earlier than expected last year. This was partially due to the better than expected QB play of Jake Bentley. He had another great game last week against Coastal Carolina but this Georgia team just has better players at almost every position. A home crowd will keep the Gamecocks close for a half but ultimately Georgia will take the early lead in the SEC East.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]Iowa State vs Iowa – 5:00 FOX (Iowa -4)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Iowa State 17 – Iowa 16[/font]
[font=Calibri]This was one of the games of the year last year in college football. Iowa came storming back late in the second half and won in overtime. Iowa State then rallied to have one of the best seasons in recent history. Both teams lost a playmaker (Wadley for Iowa and Lazard for Iowa State) but bring back a large nucleus. These teams combined last year for 3 wins against top 5 teams and numerous close calls against other top 10 opponents. I really think this game is a toss-up and my advantage tips to Iowa State because I think they are due one after the heartbreak in this game last year.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]No. 2 Clemson vs Texas A&M - 7:00 ESPN (Clemson -12)[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Clemson 48 – Texas A&M 20[/font]
[font=Calibri]There is an old saying that if you have 2 quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks. Well, Clemson has 2 QBs. They also have 4 defensive lineman that will probably be drafted in the first 50 picks. They also have almost an entire roster back after a trip to the CFP last season. Kyle Field is one of the most difficult road trips of any teams season but Jimbo has way too much work to do before we will see them competitive in games like this.[/font]
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[font=Calibri]No. 12 USC vs No. 9 Stanford[/font]
[font=Calibri]My Prediction: Stanford 23 – USC 13[/font]
[font=Calibri]I just don’t think a true freshman playing a game on the road against a top 10 team in week 2 of the season is ever a good recipe for a win, even if it is a potentially generational talent. Being that this game will be played in front of a half full stadium and probably less than 2,000 students, I do think they have a punchers chance. I also have a hard time thinking Bryce Love will be held in check this well 2 weeks in a row.[/font]