Week 2 CFB Picks

Well, that was quite a first weekend for college football. Upsets galore (seven Top 25 teams went down), comebacks, outstanding performances - just a great weekend of football. Unfortunately, the excitement of Week 1 is a stark contrast to the Week 2 slate (at least, on paper), which may lead to a let down of sorts. But, as we saw last week (and many other times in the past), you never know what could happen.

Last Week: 15-6
Season: 15-6

(Home Team Listed Last)

Friday
#13 Louisville 38, Syracuse 14 (8:00 PM, ESPN2)
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but Lamar Jackson is really good. He had eight total touchdowns in a rout of Charlotte, and I'm looking for him to put on another show this week against Syracuse, who, while not great, is probably much better than Charlotte.

Saturday
Central Michigan 24, #22 Oklahoma State 35 (Noon, Fox Sports 1)
You always have to watch out for those MAC teams. Oklahoma State beat Central Michigan 24-13 last season, and I could see a similar result this time. Regardless of the final margin of victory, the Cowboys should beat the Chips in Stillwater.
Prairie View A&M 3, #20 Texas A&M 49 (Noon, SEC Network)
FCS team alert! I don't know much about Prairie View A&M (I believe they are the Panthers), but I do know Texas A&M beat a ranked UCLA team last week, is at home (one of the homes of the "12th Man"), and has a lot more talent than P.V. A&M.
Nicholls 0, #9 Georgia 52 (Noon, SEC Network)
Two in a row!! I know even less about Nicholls than I do Prairie View A&M, but I do know they will probably at least a few "Leon Sandcastles" to have a chance of shocking star running back Nick Chubb and the Bulldogs.
UCF 17, #5 Michigan 45 (Noon, ABC)
Central Florida will definitely provide more of a challenge for Michigan than Hawaii did (which isn't saying much), but the Wolverines should have no problem with the Knights in the Big House, especially since Blake Bortles is not walking through that door.
Lamar 7, #6 Houston 38 (Noon, ESPN3)
No, Houston is not going up against one guy. However, Lamar still doesn't stand much of a chance against a talented team that showed it belonged in the Playoff picture after an impressive victory over Oklahoma (33-23) last week.
Troy 13, #2 Clemson 32 (12:30 PM, ACC Network)
Again, not one guy. Although, again, they probably don't stand a chance of pulling off the monumental upset. Clemson did struggle with Auburn in a 20-13 victory last week, and they might struggle a little again this week, but there's a reason they're ranked #2 (because they were voted #2).
Charleston Southern 10, #3 Florida State 56 (12:30 PM, ACC Network)
STOP IT WITH THE FCS TEAMS!!! Anyway, where were we? Ah, yes, Florida State showed a lot in a comeback victory over Ole Miss Monday, including the impressive skill set of redshirt Freshman Deondre Francios (and that the last name Aguayo is a good one to have if you're a kicker).
Tulsa 24, #4 Ohio State 52 (3:30 PM, ABC)
Tulsa is better than Bowling Green, Ohio State's Week 1 opponent (or so I've been told), but Ohio State, per usual, has talent everywhere, even if it's inexperienced talent. Ohio State will try to oil the machine as well as possible in advance of next week's trip to Norman, Oklahoma.
Akron 13, #10 Wisconsin 28 (3:30 PM, Big Ten Network)
The Badgers need to avoid a letdown against the Zips after their big upset over LSU last weekend, and while I think that they will avoid being the recipient of an upset this time, their may be some tense moments.
SMU 28, #23 Baylor 48 (3:30 PM, Fox Sports 1)
This Texas battle may turn out to be one of the highlights of a pretty barren college football slate, pitting a team that has been considered by the Big 12 (as part of their expansion plan) against a team already in the Big 12. The current Big 12 team should take this one.
Nevada 23, #18 Notre Dame 42 (3:30 PM, NBC)
Colin Kaepernick isn't walking through that door. The Wolfpack may possibly give the Irish, who are coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Texas, a scare, but Notre Dame won't lose for the second straight week, especially if they KEEP DESHONE KIZER IN AT QUARTERBACK.
Western Kentucky 7, #1 Alabama 42 (3:30 PM, ESPN2)
Western Kentucky once again has a quarterback who can throw the ball a lot (Mike White threw for 517 yards in a 46-14 win over Rice last week), but, in case you haven't heard, this Alabama football team is decent (or so I've heard).
Wofford 13, #19 Ole Miss 38 (4:00 PM, SEC Network)
Wofford is fun to say. It's also yet another FCS school facing a Top 25 FBS program. Ole Miss blew a lead in a loss to Florida State Monday, so they can take out their anger (or whatever feeling) on Wofford.
Idaho 16, #8 Washington 34 (5:00 PM, Pac-12 Network)
Meanwhile, up in the Pacific Northwest, I still don't know how good this much-hyped Washington team is, but I'm guessing they're probably better than the Idaho Vandals. Just a guess, though. Who knows? Maybe not.
Florida Atlantic 14, #25 Miami 40 (6:00 PM, ACC Network)
On the complete opposite side of the country, Miami takes in a matinee against FAU. Brad Kaaya and the Hurricanes shouldn't have much of a problem putting away, like, the seventh or eighth (or 14th, I don't know) best team in Florida.
Louisiana Monroe 14, #14 Oklahoma 40 (7:00 PM)
The Sooners will try to regroup after a loss to Houston and prepare for a meeting with Ohio State against UL-Monroe. They should be able to get in the win column, but it'll be interesting to see what they change after the Houston loss.
UTEP 19, #11 Texas 51 (7:00 PM, Longhorn Network)
This is another intra-state battle withn Texas, one that isn't quite as intriguing. The Longhorns were able to come out with the win in a wild overtime win versus Notre Dame, and while the two-quarterback system worked out in that game, it'll be interesting (as always) to see how it goes.
Arkansas 24, #15 TCU 38 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
This game and Virginia Tech-Tennessee are probably the marquee games of the weekend, which says a lot about the weekend. TCU struggled more than they probably should have against South Dakota State, but Arkansas almost lost to Louisiana Tech, so...
Iowa State 17, #16 Iowa 31 (7:30 PM, Big Ten Network)
Iowa State could give their in-state rival a game (they're definitely no stranger to that), but this Cyclone team doesn't seem to be very good (they lost 25-20 to Northern Iowa last week), and this is a pretty talented Hawkeye team.
Jacksonville State 6, #21 Iowa 47 (7:30 PM, ESPNU)
After an eye-opening loss to Wisconsin, LSU is looking for things to go a lot more smoothly against FCS foe J'Ville State (and they most likely will). Leonard Fournette should have a field day after struggling last week.
Virginia Tech 32, #17 Tennessee 28 (8:00 PM, ABC)
This game is being played at Bristol Motor Speedway, so that's interesting. It also could prove to be an interesting match up, between the upset-minded Hokies and the (overrated?) Volunteers, who barely survived App State last week.
Virginia 20, #24 Oregon 58 (10:30 PM, ESPN)
This isn't necessarily the Oregon of old, but Virginia lost to Richmond by 17 last week, so Oregon doesn't have to be the Oregon of old. The Ducks will cruise to a Pac-12 versus ACC victory in Eugene.