Week 3 Predictions

Week 2 Prediction Record: 7-3

2010 Overall Record: 14-6 (70%)

Friday, September 17

Kansas 24 @ Southern Miss 27. Which Kansas team will show up - the one that lost to FCS North Dakota State, or the one that beat #15 Georgia Tech? Guess is somewhere in the middle. Southern Mississippi is no pushover, and Hattiesburg will be rocking for this game. A young Kansas team on the road = minor upset by the Golden Eagles. But really, I feel like these teams are evenly matched, and I could see this one swing either way.


More predictions after the break.

Saturday, September 18

Georgia Tech 28 @ North Carolina 27. Paul Johnson's crew bounces back against the Tarheels. Here's why: North Carolina's missing more than half their defensive starters and I'm concerned about a young linebacking crew's ability to defend the triple option. Breakdowns will occur, and the Yellow Jackets will capitalize.

Arkansas 34 @ Georgia 24. Arkansas has had trouble with Georgia in the past, but this is the year that the Hogs' defense allows points, but not quite too many points to lose the game. Georgia had lots of trouble with the South Carolina running game, and this week it will be the pass defense's turn to be burned.

East Carolina 13 @ Virginia Tech 34. Many people are pointing to this game as another possible Hokie loss. But it's not happening. Virginia Tech's coaching staff is too veteran to let another heartbreak happen. Here's betting the Hokies dominate start to finish.

Nebraska 27 @ Washington 17. Nebraska has held its last 10 opponents to below 20 points, and 15 of the last 16. Washington could be the team that beats that streak, with veteran QB Locker and WR Kearse taking yards in bunches this season. But can they get in the endzone?

BYU 21 @ FSU 35. BYU struggled mightily against Air Force, and Florida State presents a very different style of offense for the Cougars to defend. (Interesting side point. BYU and Oklahoma switched opponents this week from last week. BYU plays FSU; Oklahoma plays Air Force)

Clemson 24 @ Auburn 37. Clemson follows the ACC pattern of losing a game before the conference season even starts.

Texas 31 @ Texas Tech 30. OK. I really really really wanted to call an upset here. But Texas always finds a way to win (and barring Michael Crabtree's heroics last go-around) and has had little trouble with Tech over the many years the schools have played. (Interesting side stat - TT coach Tommy Tuberville (side note on the side note: Tommy Tuberville's initials are the same as the schools'. Weird.) has never lost a game on his birthday. He will turn 56 on Saturday.)

Houston 38 @ UCLA 21. What happens when a feather flutters toward a wisp of smoke? The answer, when UCLA's putrid offense takes the field against the Cougars' pillow-soft D.


GAME of the WEEK! Iowa @ Arizona
GOTW Record: 2-0 (100%)
The only matchup between two teams ranked in the AP poll is the focus of this week's Game of the Week!
Iowa Offense v. Arizona Defense. Iowa is not the boring, grind-it-out, score 20 points offense of 2009. It is the boring, grind-it-out, score 40 points offense of 2010. Arizona hasn't had to withstand a physical team like the Hawkeyes since... the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska. Iowa -2
Arizona Offense v. Iowa Defense. Arizona's Nick Foles is completing 83% of his passes against inferior opponents. The Arizona offense hasn't faced DE Clayborn and the ferocious Iowa defense, or anything close to it, since... the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska. Iowa -3
Homefield advantage. The 'Zona Zoo is rocking late at night, and the crowd noise could be an issue for Iowa in their first road test of the season. Arizona +2
The stat. Arizona hasn't beaten a ranked non-conference opponent in over 10 years. Iowa -1
The Verdict: Iowa -4.
The Prediction: Iowa 27, Arizona 17.
The Wildcats will do better than their bust in San Diego (How could they do worse???) but ultimately Iowa's power and commitment to the running game will send them back to Iowa City smiling.