(Yes, I know this is a day late, and I missed the Houston-Cincinnati game. Don't @ me)
Last Week: 20-3
Season: 25-9
(Home Team Listed Last)
Friday
#21 Baylor 50, Rice 17 (8:00 PM, ESPN)
The Bears have beaten their first two opponents (Northwestern State and SMU) 55-7 and 40-13, respectively. The Owls have lost their first two games (at Western Kentucky and Army) 46-14 and 31-14. You know how this will (probably) go.
Saturday
South Carolina State 14, #5 Clemson 35 (Noon, ACC Network)
Okay, maybe it's about time we start worrying about Clemson. They won both of their first two games by just six points. The key word there is "won", but they do need to perform better if they want to go back to the National Championship. This week provides another seemingly easy test.
#2 Florida State 38, #10 Louisville 42 (Noon, ABC/ESPN3)
The first marquee match up features two ACC teams with young, talented quarterbacks. FSU redshirt freshman Deondre Francois and UL sophomore Lamar Jackson are both Heisman hopefuls who will put on a good show Saturday. I'm going with my man Lamar and the Cardinals.
Ohio 23, #15 Tennessee 32 (Noon, SEC Network)
Always be weary of MAC schools. Tennessee had trouble with App State in Week 1, but cruised past Virginia Tech last week. I expect this Saturday's contest to be somewhere in the middle, with the Bobcats keeping up early but the Vols pulling away late.
North Dakota State 24, #13 Iowa 37 (Noon, ESPN)
North Dakota State is no ordinary FCS foe. They've won multiple consecutive National Championships and have knocked off FBS teams before. However, Carson Wentz is starting for the Philadelphia Eagles right now, not the Bison.
Georgia State 10, #9 Wisconsin 44 (Noon, Big Ten Network)
The Badgers avoided a potential let down after their upset of LSU, and look to be a contender in the competitive Big Ten race. They shouldn't have any problems with 0-2 Georgia State, who have lost by double digits to Ball State and Air Force.
#25 Miami 32, Appalachian State 27 (Noon, ESPN)
Miami is only favored by 3.5 points, and for good reason. The Mountaineers almost knocked off Tennessee Week 1, and face another Top 25 opponent this weekend, this time at home. I could see an upset, but I think Brad Kaaya and the Canes will escape with a victory.
#1 Alabama 32, #19 Ole Miss 35 (3:30 PM, CBS)
Ole Miss has been a thorn in Alabama's side the past couple of years, beating them in 2014 and 2015. They've already suffered a loss this season (to Florida State), but Rebels senior quarterback Chad Kelly had experience beating the Tide.
Colorado 24, #4 Michigan 48 (3:30 PM, Big Ten Network)
The Wolverines, who've dominated thus far, need to avoid an upset in a "trap game" of sorts versus a team that's much better than the first two they played. I think they will avoid that "trap", and fly high into conference play.
#22 Oregon 47, Nebraska 35 (3:30 PM, ESPN)
This is another potential upset, as Nebraska has a strong offense led by dual-threat quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr., but I think the Ducks win what will surely be a high-scoring game between two teams who scored at least 43 points each of the first two weeks.
#17 Texas A&M 28, Auburn 24 (7:00 PM, ESPN)
This should be a good game (I mean, it's between two above average SEC teams, so it'll be hard fought). However, Texas A&M is definitely better than Auburn, having beaten UCLA already this season (Auburn lost to an under-performing Clemson ball club).
Mississippi State 17, #20 LSU 32 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
This should be another strong SEC match up, although both teams already have losses on the season. While LSU lost to now-#9 Wisconsin the first week of the season, Mississippi State fell to South Alabama.
North Texas 10, #23 Florida 42 (7:30 PM, ESPNU)
The Gators have disposed of UMass and Kentucky, and should do the same against North Texas, which is like the seventh or eight (or 14th) best team in the state of Texas (their at least worse than SMU, whom they lost to in Week 1).
#12 Michigan State 32, #18 Notre Dame 33 (7:30 PM, NBC)
This is another must-see games on a weekend filled with them. I could see this one going either way, but I'll go with Notre Dame, at home with quarterback Deshone Kizer, whose seen as a legit top NFL prospect, getting the victory.
North Texas 13, #24 Arkansas 29 (7:30 PM, SEC Network)
In another game with a lesser team from the state of Texas (I don't know if they're better or worse than North Texas, but I'll say better), newly-ranked Arkansas shouldn't have much problem with the Bobcats.
#16 Georgia 28, Missouri 17 (7:30 PM, SEC Network)
I don't know what in the world was going on with Georgia last Saturday, when they sweated past Nicholls (an FCS school) 26-24, but hopefully (for them) they will return to "normal" this weekend against Mizzou, which is not an FCS school.
#3 Ohio State 38, #14 Oklahoma 32 (7:30 PM, FOX)
Urban Meyer's Buckeyes should be very well prepared for this primetime match up. Meyer chatted with former OSU offensive coordinator Tom Herman, whose Houston team beat Oklahoma Week 1, and Oklahoma's backup QB decided to call OSU's defense "basic" on radio.
Portland State 12, #8 Washington 52 (8:00 PM, Pac-12 Network)
I still don't know much about the hyped Huskies, but they're 2-0 so far (with blowouts of below average teams), and they play FCS opponent Portland State this weekend, so I probably won't know any more about them next week.
USC 34, #7 Stanford 38 (8:00 PM, ABC)
A Saturday night meeting of these two Pac-12 teams from Southern California should be entertaining. Two of the best skill players in college football face off (USC receiver Juju Smith-Schuster and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey), and I'll give McCaffrey the edge.
#11 Texas 42, California 39 (10:30 PM, ESPN)
Wild things happen in late-night games out west, and Texas has already won a wild game this season (an OT victory over Notre Dame), so I'll go Longhorns over Bears in a game that comes down to the last few minutes (or overtime).
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