A VERY Quick Obstructed NCAA Preview-Week 2
Normally I would make my previews during the week, but it was a busy week. So I am going to try to make this a quick preview of the games today.
#17 LOUISVILLE @ NORTH CAROLINA, 12:00, ESPN: Neither team looked impressive last week. Well, North Carolina looked the opposite of that with their home loss to Cal. And Louisville, probably being a benefactor of a few calls going their way barely got a win against the Big Ten cellar dweller Purdue. Though to be fair, Lamar Jackson played well in that game. But this week starts the conference play for both. It seems like what UNC is doing will be a rebuild with numerous key players gone. Louisville still has Jackson. I originally had UNC to win this game with my previews, but not anymore after last week. It actually could be a long game for the Heels, even in Chapel Hill. MY PREDICTION: LOUISVILLE 45, NORTH CAROLINA 24
NORTHWESTERN @ DUKE, 12:00, ESPNU: This is a game that is interesting to me. Duke was one of the few FBS teams who waxed their FCS opponent like they should while Northwestern, a Big Ten West sleeper, had its difficulty with Nevada last week, but won. However, Nevada is still probably way better than a NC Central squad. I don't think Duke will have the same results with Northwestern and think the Wildcats will play far more physical on the Blue Devils. But it will be closer than what people may think. MY PREDICTION: NORTHWESTERN 27, DUKE 23
IOWA @ IOWA STATE, 12:00, ESPN2: Most years Iowa State takes this as their bowl game. They always play Iowa tough, regardless of how good the Hawkeyes are and how bad the Cyclones are. But this year the Cyclones may not be as bad as what many think. Iowa still has a tough squad and can bully the Cyclones, but Iowa State will fight back. The game is in Ames so it could be a fun one to keep an eye on. But I think Iowa's defense may just be too much here. MY PREDICTION: IOWA 24, IOWA STATE 17
WAKE FOREST @ BOSTON COLLEGE, 1:00, ACC: While the expectations aren't high for either school in the ACC, both have started off with wins. And given how both teams play, this may be a physical game with low scoring. It will be decided on who probably runs the ball better. In that case, I think the Eagles have a slight edge on that. MY PREDICTION: BOSTON COLLEGE 13, WAKE FOREST 10
WESTERN MICHIGAN @ MICHIGAN STATE, 3:30 BTN: One of the rarest of ironies is that you are seeing a game where Western Michigan is the one who has went to a New Year's Six game while Michigan State watched home last year. But obviously times changed with PJ Fleck gone. Most people were impressed with how the Broncos hung in there at USC, who is a playoff favorite. Michigan State thumped Bowling Green last week and put some Spartan fans' minds at ease. However, this won't be Bowling Green. However, I think Michigan State still has something to prove here as they want to show last year was a major fluke and beat up on their in-state counterparts. It will be close though. MY PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE 31, WESTERN MICHIGAN 28
PITTSBURGH @ #4 PENN STATE, 3:30, ABC: Needless to say, last year's Pitt team was the spoiler of a few powers, Penn State and Clemson (and it may have prevented the former to claim a playoff spot). However, it does not have that same vibe this year when the Panthers blew a 21 point lead on FCS Youngstown State and had to win in OT. Penn State bludgeoned Akron last week, looking like a favorite of their own. I think the Nittany Lions will have revenge on the mind and will try to do the same thing to Pitt like they did Akron. Not as bad of a beating, but still bad. MY PREDICTION: PENN STATE 41, PITTSBURGH 10
INDIANA @ VIRGINIA, 3:30, ESPNU: Yeah, probably not a game many will look at either, but I like these power 5 games, even if it is among the bottom rung squads. Or will it be that way? Indiana took the fight to Ohio State for 3 quarters before the Buckeyes ran roughshod in the 4th. And Virginia looks to be on the way up. And it seems like with a team like Virginia that is young, they will have more energy to start the year and put up quality fights against teams that may be better than they are. In this case, Indiana. The game is in Charlottesville and I do like what Bronco Mendenhall does as a coach so I will go with the Cavaliers as they are going to get more and more steam each week. MY PREDICTION: VIRGINIA 34, INDIANA 30
NEBRASKA @ OREGON, 4:30, FOX: Another "revenge" match of the home and homes from last year when Nebraska really kick-started the Ducks 2016 swoon. However, a new year has arrived and while Oregon didn't play a juggernaut in week 1, it had a vintage 2010-2014 Oregon feel to them while Nebraska did not look impressive at home to Arkansas State and had to win late. Was it first week "pre-season jitters," or a sign of things to come for both? I think the Ducks are a far better team and are slowly getting physical while Nebraska is in a bit of "rebuild" mode in 2017. And in a venue where it can get nasty in Eugene, it may be a long day for the Huskers. MY PREDICTION: OREGON 51, NEBRASKA 28
#13 AUBURN @ #3 CLEMSON, 7:00, ESPN: Another return match from last year where the Tigers (both of them) played subpar and the coaching was actually pretty rough to see. A lot has been made of Clemson losing a lot on offense with Watson, Gallman, and Williams all gone while Auburn has been talked as a national sleeper and that will end Alabama's run (again) with Jarrett Stidham at QB. The Tigers (both of them) obliterated their opponents last week in "warm-up" games so it is not easy to get a good vibe on either one. However, I think it will be decided on who wins the trench wars. And I still think that is where Clemson wins out as I still am not sold with Auburn's lines, especially on the defensive side. But it will be a close game throughout. MY PREDICTION: CLEMSON 28, AUBURN 21
SOUTH CAROLINA @ MISSOURI, 7:00, ESPN2: The one thing that impressed me about South Carolina last week was how they were moving the ball against NC State, a defensively sound team. They got big plays on special teams, which is true, but I liked how they did well offensively. On the other end, Missouri put up 70 on Missouri State, but allowed 45 on them. Missouri's defense is in shambles and I don't think the Gamecocks will be a pushover on defense, not with Muschamp as the coach. Odd I am defending him, but it is true. I think the style of football Missouri plays will hurt them in conference play, starting today. MY PREDICTION: SOUTH CAROLINA 42, MISSOURI 28
#15 GEORGIA @ #24 NOTRE DAME, 7:30, NBC: Georgia makes a rare appearance in South Bend to take on what seems to be a re-born Notre Dame squad. Notre Dame did look impressive against Temple but it was Temple so take that into consideration. Georgia handled Appalachian State very well and it seemed like backup Jake Fromm had a grasp on the offense and was far more comfortable than Eason was before he got hurt. Is he mechanically smooth however? No. But the offense clicked better and the Bulldogs defense really stymied the Mountaineers, who many had them putting up a better fight. This game will really show where both programs are I think. If Georgia wins, that means in my eyes, that the Bulldogs are ahead of schedule under Kirby Smart and Notre Dame isn't yet back to football prominence. If Notre Dame wins, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with while Georgia will have questions about if Smart can be that guy. To me, I think it comes down to the 4th quarter and that is where I think Smart still has those issues of calling close games in the 4th. And if Georgia gets too conservative with running the ball, albeit their strength, it may hurt them here. MY PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME 27, GEORGIA 24
#5 OKLAHOMA @ #2 OHIO STATE, 7:30, ABC: Again, another return/revenge match. Ohio State thumped Oklahoma in Norman last year and pretty much took the Sooners and the Big 12 out of the playoff picture. Oklahoma seems bent on getting back to the Playoff and showing they are for real. Of course things have changed, notably for Oklahoma as Lincoln Riley takes over for Bob Stoops. This would obviously be a huge win for Riley who is held in high regard by many. Oklahoma had a warm-up with UTEP and dominated in nearly every aspect. On the other hand, Ohio State had a bit of a fight on their hands with Indiana before pulling away, though the offense was clicking. To me, it will be decided if Ohio State can make some stops like they did last year, but with a young secondary (who I thought played well agianst Indiana but it was Lagow who made some great passes). If the Sooners handle the Buckeyes front seven and Baker Mayfield has a big day, this will be a game that will be very close to the end. I think some doubts are erased about JT Barrett (at least to me) and if he can play well since he did look fairly sharp against the Hoosiers but will he have the same luck with the Sooners defense? But it is in Columbus and at night and I think that place will be rocking. I think win or lose, Oklahoma will gain respect by many after. MY PREDICTION: OHIO STATE 41, OKLAHOMA 38
#14 STANFORD @ #6 USC 8:30, FOX: This is becoming the "forgotten" game and it shouldn't. To me, this IS the game of the week. USC did not look impressive at home against Western Michigan while Stanford has had a week off to get ready. When I saw this game, I thought USC would take it with a bit of a decisive feel to it. Not anymore. I think if the Cardinal can pass like they did against Rice (albeit Rice) the Trojans are in serious trouble. And Sam Darnold has to get better than his showing against Western Michigan (though he played better late in that game). If USC gets off to a slow start, Stanford will win this game. But if the Trojans start off nicely, this will be more of an advantage for them. I think the Trojans will learn from their mistakes from last week and play more inspired against the Cardinal that has a lot of implications for the PAC-12. MY PREDICTION: USC 35, STANFORD 27
BOISE STATE @ #20 WASHINGTON STATE, 10:30, ESPN: Boise State always seems to be in the thick of things, and is a thorn on a lot of PAC-12 teams they go at. Washington State always seems to be one of their major targets they hit the bulls-eye on. But it just seems like the Cougars have a feel they can play physical and punish you as well as play the Air Raid. It is probably why I like Mike Leach as a coach there. I think this is one of the Cougars best years in a long time, probably even better than their Rose Bowl years in 1997 and 2002. I don't think Boise State, albeit still competitive, is on that level they once were. I somewhat like the Cougars in a decisive manner. MY PREDICTION: WASHINGTON STATE 45, BOISE STATE 20
That is it for this week.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
