Last week: 8-1
It's a sneaky good Saturday for college football. Only one spectacular game, but some that make you step back and say, oh yeah, that's pretty good.
Oregon State at Michigan, Noon ABC
Jim Harbaugh gets his first win as the Wolverines' head coach.
Michigan 24, Oregon State 20
Houston at Louisville, Noon ESPN3.com
Louisville had a tough opener last week in Atlanta against Auburn. Houston is a good team that beat Pittsburgh in a bowl last year, but won't have enough on the road to beat the Cardinals. Look out for Lamar Jackson, who will start at QB for the Cardinals. He was a surprise revelation last week. Reggie Bonnafon might still play some, but Bobby Petrino has said Jackson will start.
Louisville 38, Houston 20
Wake Forest at Syracuse, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
ESPN has Syracuse as a 4.5-point favorite but I am picking Wake. The Demon Deacons piled up 591 yards of offense last week. It was against Elon, yes. But the offense was just so, so abysmal last year that this has to be a good sign, right? Meanwhile, the Orange pasted Rhode Island, 47-0, but lost QB Terrel Hunt for the season with a torn Achilles. Eric Dungey is SU's new QB.
Wake Forest 20, Syracuse 17
Minnesota at Colorado State, 3:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network
The Rams are a good team that won 10 games last year but the Gophers' defense is the real deal and gave No. 2 TCU all it could handle last week.
Minnesota 24, Colorado State 17
No. 19 Oklahoma at No. 23 Tennessee, 6:30 p.m. ESPN
The Sooners won last year at home, but I think the Vols turn the tables on them this year and get one of the big wins for Butch Jones as he sets forth on his third year in Knoxville. I am concerned, though, about the UT defense, which let Bowling Green score 30 points last week.
Tennessee 41, Oklahoma 38
No. 7 Oregon at No. 5 Michigan State, 8 p.m. ABC
The Ducks beat Eastern Washington (EWU) last week but allowed 42 points. The Spartans downed Western Michigan but allowed 24 points. This could be a high-scoring affair, but I like MSU to win at home. Last year, Oregon won at home, 55-30. This year, MSU has the seasoned QB in Connor Cook, whereas last year the Ducks did with Marcus Mariota. Oregon appears to have a good QB in EWU transfer Vernon Adams Jr., but I like for Sparty to get this done.
Michigan State 40, Oregon 36
No. 14 LSU at No. 25 Mississippi State, 9:15 p.m. ESPN
Mississippi State and QB Dak Prescott announced their arrival on the national stage last year by running over LSU in Baton Rouge. The Bulldogs got to tune up last week against Southern Miss, while the Tigers did not get to do the same against McNeese State because of inclement weather. I think that could make a small difference. The cowbell-ringing Bulldog fans will witness a second straight victory over LSU.
Mississippi State 31, LSU 27
No. 20 Boise State at BYU, 10:15 p.m. ESPN2
BYU won a thriller last week at Nebraska on a Hail Mary, thrown by backup QB Tanner Mangum after Taysom Hill went out with a fractured foot (he is out for the year). Boise State held on for a home victory over Washington. Without knowing a ton about Mangum (he did complete 7 of 11 passes for the one TD and no picks), I am picking the Cougars in a slight upset (Boise State is a slight favorite but BYU is receiving votes in the latest polls); I like them to use the momentum from last week and get a little revenge from last year's loss to the Broncos on the road.
BYU 28, Boise State 26
ACC upset alert
Pittsburgh at Akron, 6 p.m. ESPN3.com
The Zips upset the Panthers last year in Pittsburgh and have the returning talent to do it again, this year in Ohio. What's more, Pitt looked anything but sharp last week in struggling past Youngstown State at home, 45-37 (pat myself on the back for a nice upset alert pick last week). The Panthers also lost reigning ACC player of the year, RB James Conner, for the year to a knee injury. Qadree Ollison filled in nicely for Conner vs. the Penguins with 207 yards rushing. The Panthers get back WR Tyler Boyd from a one-game suspension. Still, watch out Panthers.
No. 9 Notre Dame at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ABC
UVa's offense vs. Notre Dame's defense: The Virginia offense had a hard time getting much going last week vs. UCLA, especially in the run game, and it likely won't get any easier this week with the Fighting Irish coming to town for the first time in their history. Notre Dame shut down Texas last week to the tune of 163 total yards in a 38-3 victory. This isn't your father's Texas, but still. Impressive. If the Cavs can't get the run game rolling better than last week, then they should take some more shots in the passing game. Matt Johns had a decent showing against the Bruins and seems to have a connection with WR Canaan Severin, who had five catches. The weather is expected to be rainy, though, which could make passing the ball more difficult. As always, watch UVa in the red zone. Oftentimes, the team moves the ball well between the 20s, but can't score six.
Notre Dame's offense vs. UVa's defense: The Virginia defense did pretty well in the first half last week but seemed to break down more as the game wore on. Notre Dame QB Malik Zaire was almost flawless last week, completing 19 of 22 passes for 313 yards and three TDs. Starting running back Tarean Folston was lost for the year with a knee injury but C.J. Prosise, a running back out of
Woodberry Forest who is from Petersburg, filled in nicely, compiling 98 yards. Receiving-wise, Will Fuller was a weapon, grabbing seven balls for 142 yards and two scores. Notre Dame racked up 527 yards on the Longhorns. The Virginia defense can only do so much in the game. It will need the offense to have its back.
Pick: Virginia should fare better than Texas. The Longhorns made a bowl last year, but have been blown out in three straight games dating back to last season. They finished up the 2014 season with 48-10 and 31-7 losses to TCU and Arkansas, respectively. UVa might very well be better than Texas right now. The Longhorns were on the road, but this is Virginia's home opener and that should give the Cavs some energy. All things considered, the 'Hoos are not bad at home under Mike London. They are 4-1 in home openers under him and 4-5 at home under him against top-25 teams, according to the official game notes. It should be noted that three of those home-opener wins came against Richmond and William & Mary. The other came against BYU. The loss came against UCLA last year. The 4-5 mark is actually pretty good considering London is just 11-29 in the ACC. Three of those wins came against No. 22 Miami (2010), No. 12 Georgia Tech (2011), and No. 21 Louisville (2014). I can't seem to find the other one. So either the notes are wrong, or UVa is using a different poll than AP (or maybe I am overlooking something). Either way, three wins still is pretty good. I can't see an upset in this one, though Virginia might play better than last week, and should surely be fired up for Notre Dame, but I don't think the Wahoos will get lucky. The Irish will keep their luck.
Notre Dame 41, Virginia 20
It's a sneaky good Saturday for college football. Only one spectacular game, but some that make you step back and say, oh yeah, that's pretty good.
Oregon State at Michigan, Noon ABC
Jim Harbaugh gets his first win as the Wolverines' head coach.
Michigan 24, Oregon State 20
Houston at Louisville, Noon ESPN3.com
Louisville had a tough opener last week in Atlanta against Auburn. Houston is a good team that beat Pittsburgh in a bowl last year, but won't have enough on the road to beat the Cardinals. Look out for Lamar Jackson, who will start at QB for the Cardinals. He was a surprise revelation last week. Reggie Bonnafon might still play some, but Bobby Petrino has said Jackson will start.
Louisville 38, Houston 20
Wake Forest at Syracuse, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
ESPN has Syracuse as a 4.5-point favorite but I am picking Wake. The Demon Deacons piled up 591 yards of offense last week. It was against Elon, yes. But the offense was just so, so abysmal last year that this has to be a good sign, right? Meanwhile, the Orange pasted Rhode Island, 47-0, but lost QB Terrel Hunt for the season with a torn Achilles. Eric Dungey is SU's new QB.
Wake Forest 20, Syracuse 17
Minnesota at Colorado State, 3:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network
The Rams are a good team that won 10 games last year but the Gophers' defense is the real deal and gave No. 2 TCU all it could handle last week.
Minnesota 24, Colorado State 17
No. 19 Oklahoma at No. 23 Tennessee, 6:30 p.m. ESPN
The Sooners won last year at home, but I think the Vols turn the tables on them this year and get one of the big wins for Butch Jones as he sets forth on his third year in Knoxville. I am concerned, though, about the UT defense, which let Bowling Green score 30 points last week.
Tennessee 41, Oklahoma 38
No. 7 Oregon at No. 5 Michigan State, 8 p.m. ABC
The Ducks beat Eastern Washington (EWU) last week but allowed 42 points. The Spartans downed Western Michigan but allowed 24 points. This could be a high-scoring affair, but I like MSU to win at home. Last year, Oregon won at home, 55-30. This year, MSU has the seasoned QB in Connor Cook, whereas last year the Ducks did with Marcus Mariota. Oregon appears to have a good QB in EWU transfer Vernon Adams Jr., but I like for Sparty to get this done.
Michigan State 40, Oregon 36
No. 14 LSU at No. 25 Mississippi State, 9:15 p.m. ESPN
Mississippi State and QB Dak Prescott announced their arrival on the national stage last year by running over LSU in Baton Rouge. The Bulldogs got to tune up last week against Southern Miss, while the Tigers did not get to do the same against McNeese State because of inclement weather. I think that could make a small difference. The cowbell-ringing Bulldog fans will witness a second straight victory over LSU.
Mississippi State 31, LSU 27
No. 20 Boise State at BYU, 10:15 p.m. ESPN2
BYU won a thriller last week at Nebraska on a Hail Mary, thrown by backup QB Tanner Mangum after Taysom Hill went out with a fractured foot (he is out for the year). Boise State held on for a home victory over Washington. Without knowing a ton about Mangum (he did complete 7 of 11 passes for the one TD and no picks), I am picking the Cougars in a slight upset (Boise State is a slight favorite but BYU is receiving votes in the latest polls); I like them to use the momentum from last week and get a little revenge from last year's loss to the Broncos on the road.
BYU 28, Boise State 26
ACC upset alert
Pittsburgh at Akron, 6 p.m. ESPN3.com
The Zips upset the Panthers last year in Pittsburgh and have the returning talent to do it again, this year in Ohio. What's more, Pitt looked anything but sharp last week in struggling past Youngstown State at home, 45-37 (pat myself on the back for a nice upset alert pick last week). The Panthers also lost reigning ACC player of the year, RB James Conner, for the year to a knee injury. Qadree Ollison filled in nicely for Conner vs. the Penguins with 207 yards rushing. The Panthers get back WR Tyler Boyd from a one-game suspension. Still, watch out Panthers.
No. 9 Notre Dame at Virginia, 3:30 p.m. ABC
UVa's offense vs. Notre Dame's defense: The Virginia offense had a hard time getting much going last week vs. UCLA, especially in the run game, and it likely won't get any easier this week with the Fighting Irish coming to town for the first time in their history. Notre Dame shut down Texas last week to the tune of 163 total yards in a 38-3 victory. This isn't your father's Texas, but still. Impressive. If the Cavs can't get the run game rolling better than last week, then they should take some more shots in the passing game. Matt Johns had a decent showing against the Bruins and seems to have a connection with WR Canaan Severin, who had five catches. The weather is expected to be rainy, though, which could make passing the ball more difficult. As always, watch UVa in the red zone. Oftentimes, the team moves the ball well between the 20s, but can't score six.
Notre Dame's offense vs. UVa's defense: The Virginia defense did pretty well in the first half last week but seemed to break down more as the game wore on. Notre Dame QB Malik Zaire was almost flawless last week, completing 19 of 22 passes for 313 yards and three TDs. Starting running back Tarean Folston was lost for the year with a knee injury but C.J. Prosise, a running back out of
Pick: Virginia should fare better than Texas. The Longhorns made a bowl last year, but have been blown out in three straight games dating back to last season. They finished up the 2014 season with 48-10 and 31-7 losses to TCU and Arkansas, respectively. UVa might very well be better than Texas right now. The Longhorns were on the road, but this is Virginia's home opener and that should give the Cavs some energy. All things considered, the 'Hoos are not bad at home under Mike London. They are 4-1 in home openers under him and 4-5 at home under him against top-25 teams, according to the official game notes. It should be noted that three of those home-opener wins came against Richmond and William & Mary. The other came against BYU. The loss came against UCLA last year. The 4-5 mark is actually pretty good considering London is just 11-29 in the ACC. Three of those wins came against No. 22 Miami (2010), No. 12 Georgia Tech (2011), and No. 21 Louisville (2014). I can't seem to find the other one. So either the notes are wrong, or UVa is using a different poll than AP (or maybe I am overlooking something). Either way, three wins still is pretty good. I can't see an upset in this one, though Virginia might play better than last week, and should surely be fired up for Notre Dame, but I don't think the Wahoos will get lucky. The Irish will keep their luck.
Notre Dame 41, Virginia 20
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