There’s Nothing Quite Like College: Week 3

Its time once again for ESPN College Football Pick ‘Ems: Week 3 edition. My total stats for the season are 77 points, for a percentage of 84.7% and a rank of 40,764 with a total record of 10-6.

10) Oregon Ducks over Tennessee Volunteers

When are the Ducks going to play real competition? Clearly it seems unlikely to happen until Pac-12 conference play starts. I guess the school wanted multiple tune up games, because the Volunteers are not very good.

9) Wisconsin Badgers over Arizona State Sun Devils

Risky road pick here, yet I think the Badgers have the talent to survive a challenge by a ASU squad looking to prove themselves this weekend.

8) South Carolina Gamecocks over Vanderbilt Commodores

After last week’s game USC will be looking to get their season back on track. Vandy just isn’t good enough to stay in this game, although upsets are always possible.

7) Louisville Cardinals over Kentucky Wildcats

Teddy Bridgewater is a Heisman candidate. Kentucky football has a sad tradition of causing Kentucky students to chant “When does basketball start?” The pick is pretty obvious here.

6) Auburn Tigers over Mississippi State Bulldogs

I’m going with the fact that the Tigers have taken 10 out of the last 12 in the series from the Bulldogs. That’s good enough for me to go with them in addition to Auburn being the home team.

5) Penn State Nittany Lions over UCF Nights

This is in Happy Valley so I’m going with the home team, especially since PSU plays well in front of their large crowds. Also UCF’s record against power conference competition is awful. This should be a good, hard fought contest.

4) Alabama Crimson Tide over Texas A&M Aggies

Look give Nick Saban time to plan and what you end up with is that national title game where the Tide slaughtered Notre Dame. I fully expect the Crimson Tide to get revenge against Johnny Football this season, even if it is on the road-which is the only reason I ranked this lower than the others.

3) Ole Miss Rebels over Texas Longhorns

While I’m wary about the Rebels’ chances on the road Texas looked awful last week against BYU. If the Rebels run the ball as well as the Cougars did they should win and keep that Top 25 ranking.

2) Iowa Hawkeyes over Iowa State Cyclones

Yes I know the game is at Ames but the Hawks have the rushing attack to steamroll ISU just like UNI did. The question is whether or not Iowa’s shaky inexperienced QB can avoid making costly makes like he did against NIU. And if ISU’s young defense can make the necessary stop to get a win at home and avoid falling to 0-2. We’ll find out-too bad I’ll be at work during the game.

1) Nebraska Cornhuskers over UCLA Bruins

The Cornhuskers will avenge last season’s loss to the Bruins in what should be another high scoring game with plenty of offense and very little defense. This is a great Pac-12 versus Big Ten match up.

There’s Nothing Quite Like College

Sure I love the NFL and I tune in on Sundays during football season. However my first love is college football, even though the NCAA angers me from time to time and only recently are they going with some type of playoff system for the first time ever. Anyways I engage in ESPN’s College Pick’em, where you choose who will win out of 10 match ups every week. I’ve been playing it since 2009, and so every weekend I will blog about who I think will win and why. Also you rank the match ups from 10-1, with 10 being the most certain about and 1 being the least. So here we go….

 

10) Alabama Crimson Tide over Virgina Tech Hokies

Sure this is an away game for ‘Bama, yet they are the best team in the nation. Hands down. They will probably end up facing off against Ohio State for the title game this season. The Hokies are good at home but they are coming off losing some of their top running backs and the program has lost some of its luster. This shouldn’t be close.

9) Cincinnati Bearcats over Purdue Boilermakers

Look this could be a close game, yet I like Cincy’s chances at home. Its funny how both schools are only 180 miles apart, yet they are in different conferences. I just think that the Bearcats are the more talented of the two.

8) Oklahoma State Cowboys over Mississippi State Bulldogs

Another home team pick here, yet I honestly think the Cowboys will eke out a good, solid victory over a MSU squad that made a bowl game last year and was a surprise in the SEC. I like the idea of a Big 12-SEC matchup, as its one conference known for high school offenses against a conference that prides itself on hard hitting defense.

7) LSU Tigers over TCU Horned Frogs

The Tigers should be a contender in the SEC, while the Horned Frogs move to the Big 12 last season did not result in the success some expected. This is one of the games of the weekend that I am really looking forward to, but I expect the better squad to win here.

6) Penn State Nittany Lions over Syracuse Orange

Going with the home team here, plus the fact that the Orange are breaking in a new coach. I just think that the Nittany Lions will be fired up this Saturday, and that they will be looking to make a statement early in the season.

5) Boise State Broncos over Washington Huskies

Yes I’m biased here since I like the Broncos, yet I think they win another close one against a Huskies team that has given them trouble in the past. Too bad this is a late night game as this is a quality match up I want to see.

4) Brigham Young Cougars over Virgina Cavaliers

Despite BYU going on the road here they have the defense necessary to steal this game from a Cavaliers team looking to rebound from a disappointing season last year.

3) Northwestern Wildcats over California Bears

Sure this is a road game for the Wildcats, yet they are expected to contend in the Big Ten and will steal one on the road against a Bears squad that is rebuilding.

2) Northern Illinois Huskies over Iowa Hawkeyes

Look I know that the Hawks won this match up last season, yet I can’t trust a squad that is breaking in a new QB. Where as Jordon Lynch leads a Huskies team that went to the Orange Bowl last season. Hawks badly need a win this weekend to avoid the fanbase going into doomsday mode early.

1) Clemson Tigers over Georgia Bulldogs

Honestly I have no idea who will come out on top in what could easily win Game of the Weekend. Both teams have Heisman candidate worthy quarterbacks behind center and each are expected to be contenders in their conferences with national title game hopes.