I took on a little more challenging slate of games last week and came away 8-0 in my college predictions. On the year, I am now 19-3. Last week, I made my first NFL picks and guessed right on every one except the Cowboys, whom I picked to beat the Chiefs. Overall, I went 6-1. Here are my college picks for this week. I'll make NFL picks later.
North Carolina at Georgia Tech, Noon ESPN
UNC is 1-1 -- loss to South Carolina, win over Middle Tennessee -- and has had two weeks to prepare for the Yellow Jackets' spread option/triple option whatever-you-wanna-call-it-offense. That often bodes well for teams. Virginia beat Georgia Tech two years ago when it had two weeks to prepare. But the Jackets have debuted a new "diamond" formation to add a new wrinkle to their scheme. The Tar Heels probably need two weeks to prepare anyway. Last year, they got slashed at UNC by the Jackets and lost 68-50. Tech is 2-0 with victories over Elon and Duke. I think Georgia Tech edges UNC in Atlanta.
Georgia Tech 35, North Carolina 34
Marshall at Virginia Tech, Noon ESPNU
Like last week's opponent for the Hokies, East Carolina, Marshall is a pretty good team out of CUSA. Virginia Tech was able to get past ECU on the road, 15-10. I think being in Blacksburg will give the Hokies a boost and they get by the Thundering Herd, too.
Virginia Tech 24, Marshall 13
Pittsburgh at Duke, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Not normally an interesting game, but it is an ACC matchup now. And these teams are both in the Coastal Division with UVa and could be the Wahoos' competition to be in fourth place (give or take) in the division. Pitt got blown out by Florida State in Week 1 and then beat a usually bad New Mexico team last week, 49-27. Duke got out to a 2-0 start beating cupcakes N.C. Central and Memphis then got crushed by Ga. Tech last week. UVa plays Pitt next week and Duke in a few weeks so 'Hoo fans might be able to gauge where they stand with both teams after this game. I like the Panthers in a close one.
Pittsburgh 24, Duke 21
Tennessee at No. 19 Florida, 3:30 p.m.
The Volunteers found out all about the speed of Oregon last week. It fared a little better than Virginia on the scoreboard (59-14, Virginia was 59-10) but actually gave up around 100 yards more than the Cavs. Tennessee's defense should fair better this week against the Gators. Florida's offense has been less than impressive in a win over Toledo (24-6) and a loss to Miami (21-16). In addition to the loss to the Ducks, Tennessee has a pair of wins over Austin Peay and Western Kentucky. I think this could end up being one of the better games Saturday. I like Florida to pull it out at the Swamp.
Florida 26, Tennessee 24
Michigan State at No. 22 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Neither team has been that impressive yet but they are a combined 5-1. MSU has wins over Western Michigan, South Florida, and Youngstown State while the Irish have victories over Temple and Purdue and a loss to Michigan. Notre Dame won this game last year 20-3 in its march to the national championship but three years ago, these two played a memorable game in East Lansing when the Spartans faked a field goal and scored a touchdown late to win it. I'm expecting a contest more like that one this year.
Notre Dame 33, Michigan State 30
West Virginia vs. Maryland in Baltimore, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
The Mountaineers have struggled mightily on offense thus far this season but are 2-1. Maryland is 3-0 but struggled last week against lowly UConn in a 32-21 win. In Baltimore, I give the Terps and their improved offense an edge.
Maryland 27, West Virginia 20
No. 23 Arizona State at No. 5 Stanford, 7 p.m. FOX
ASU pulled an upset I called last week at home against Wisconsin, 32-30. At Stanford, the Cardinal have quietly gotten out to a 2-0 record with wins over San Jose State and Army. I think the Cardinal's 'D' comes through and it does enough to slow down the upstart Sun Devils, who are on the road for the first time this season, but it will be close.
Stanford 31, Arizona State 27
VMI at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Virginia's offense has found the sledding tough against a pair of good defenses so far this season in BYU and Oregon. The Cavs need to and should get it going against the Keydets today. VMI is usually not a great opponent and it looks to be especially bad this season. So far, VMI has been shut out by Richmond, 34-0, beat one Division II school, 34-27, and lost to another, 37-24, last week. Hopefully, UVa makes quick work of VMI. There are several things that Virginia should work on this game that it hasn't been able to in its first two games: the running game needs to be more effective, QB David Watford needs to pass downfield more, and he needs to run the ball more, and the receivers need to work on catching passes when given
the opportunity. In general, the offense needs to perform better. The defense got one turnover vs. BYU and zero vs. Oregon. It needs to improve in that department. That was the main goal of new DC Jon Tenuta -- to create more turnovers. No better team to do that against than a bad FCS squad. The Cavaliers have had a bye week to lick their wounds from Oregon and in a week, start ACC play at Pittsburgh with a winnable game. Hopefully VMI gives them an opportunity to work out some kinks, try some new things, and generally tune up for ACC play. I think the offense obviously performs much better than it has in its first two games but will still struggle occasionally and kick a couple field goals (the weather could be an issue as thunderstorms are in the forecast). The defense, I think, will take it upon itself to have a great game and go for the shutout after a bad performance vs. the Ducks.
Virginia 41, VMI 0
North Carolina at Georgia Tech, Noon ESPN
UNC is 1-1 -- loss to South Carolina, win over Middle Tennessee -- and has had two weeks to prepare for the Yellow Jackets' spread option/triple option whatever-you-wanna-call-it-offense. That often bodes well for teams. Virginia beat Georgia Tech two years ago when it had two weeks to prepare. But the Jackets have debuted a new "diamond" formation to add a new wrinkle to their scheme. The Tar Heels probably need two weeks to prepare anyway. Last year, they got slashed at UNC by the Jackets and lost 68-50. Tech is 2-0 with victories over Elon and Duke. I think Georgia Tech edges UNC in Atlanta.
Georgia Tech 35, North Carolina 34
Marshall at Virginia Tech, Noon ESPNU
Like last week's opponent for the Hokies, East Carolina, Marshall is a pretty good team out of CUSA. Virginia Tech was able to get past ECU on the road, 15-10. I think being in Blacksburg will give the Hokies a boost and they get by the Thundering Herd, too.
Virginia Tech 24, Marshall 13
Pittsburgh at Duke, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Not normally an interesting game, but it is an ACC matchup now. And these teams are both in the Coastal Division with UVa and could be the Wahoos' competition to be in fourth place (give or take) in the division. Pitt got blown out by Florida State in Week 1 and then beat a usually bad New Mexico team last week, 49-27. Duke got out to a 2-0 start beating cupcakes N.C. Central and Memphis then got crushed by Ga. Tech last week. UVa plays Pitt next week and Duke in a few weeks so 'Hoo fans might be able to gauge where they stand with both teams after this game. I like the Panthers in a close one.
Pittsburgh 24, Duke 21
Tennessee at No. 19 Florida, 3:30 p.m.
The Volunteers found out all about the speed of Oregon last week. It fared a little better than Virginia on the scoreboard (59-14, Virginia was 59-10) but actually gave up around 100 yards more than the Cavs. Tennessee's defense should fair better this week against the Gators. Florida's offense has been less than impressive in a win over Toledo (24-6) and a loss to Miami (21-16). In addition to the loss to the Ducks, Tennessee has a pair of wins over Austin Peay and Western Kentucky. I think this could end up being one of the better games Saturday. I like Florida to pull it out at the Swamp.
Florida 26, Tennessee 24
Michigan State at No. 22 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Neither team has been that impressive yet but they are a combined 5-1. MSU has wins over Western Michigan, South Florida, and Youngstown State while the Irish have victories over Temple and Purdue and a loss to Michigan. Notre Dame won this game last year 20-3 in its march to the national championship but three years ago, these two played a memorable game in East Lansing when the Spartans faked a field goal and scored a touchdown late to win it. I'm expecting a contest more like that one this year.
Notre Dame 33, Michigan State 30
West Virginia vs. Maryland in Baltimore, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
The Mountaineers have struggled mightily on offense thus far this season but are 2-1. Maryland is 3-0 but struggled last week against lowly UConn in a 32-21 win. In Baltimore, I give the Terps and their improved offense an edge.
Maryland 27, West Virginia 20
No. 23 Arizona State at No. 5 Stanford, 7 p.m. FOX
ASU pulled an upset I called last week at home against Wisconsin, 32-30. At Stanford, the Cardinal have quietly gotten out to a 2-0 record with wins over San Jose State and Army. I think the Cardinal's 'D' comes through and it does enough to slow down the upstart Sun Devils, who are on the road for the first time this season, but it will be close.
Stanford 31, Arizona State 27
VMI at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Virginia's offense has found the sledding tough against a pair of good defenses so far this season in BYU and Oregon. The Cavs need to and should get it going against the Keydets today. VMI is usually not a great opponent and it looks to be especially bad this season. So far, VMI has been shut out by Richmond, 34-0, beat one Division II school, 34-27, and lost to another, 37-24, last week. Hopefully, UVa makes quick work of VMI. There are several things that Virginia should work on this game that it hasn't been able to in its first two games: the running game needs to be more effective, QB David Watford needs to pass downfield more, and he needs to run the ball more, and the receivers need to work on catching passes when giventhe opportunity. In general, the offense needs to perform better. The defense got one turnover vs. BYU and zero vs. Oregon. It needs to improve in that department. That was the main goal of new DC Jon Tenuta -- to create more turnovers. No better team to do that against than a bad FCS squad. The Cavaliers have had a bye week to lick their wounds from Oregon and in a week, start ACC play at Pittsburgh with a winnable game. Hopefully VMI gives them an opportunity to work out some kinks, try some new things, and generally tune up for ACC play. I think the offense obviously performs much better than it has in its first two games but will still struggle occasionally and kick a couple field goals (the weather could be an issue as thunderstorms are in the forecast). The defense, I think, will take it upon itself to have a great game and go for the shutout after a bad performance vs. the Ducks.
Virginia 41, VMI 0
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