College Football Crapshoot: Week 2

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Last week was a strong week for The Crapshoot.  It seems ignoring the numbers next to the teams and reading between the lines worked to perfection as The Big Nasty Athletic Dept was spot on about most of its College Football Crapshoot Week 1 predictions.  This week should be just as much fun as last week…although, I don’t know, it doesn’t look like there will be any games of note this week.  Strange.

HERE’S WHAT I KNOW IS GOING TO HAPPEN:

I KNOW that Michigan will defeat Notre Dame in a slugfest.  It won’t be pretty, and it won’t be decisive, but Notre Dame coming off of a big win for its program and traveling to the Big House spells trouble.  Now, calm down, Irish fan.  I’ve still got your kool aid on my desk and, while i have yet to touch it, I’m still strongly considering it.  I feel Notre dame has potential to be a very good team this year.  However I see Notre Dame struggling to defend the unique multi-quarterback option offense that Michigan has found momentum with, and if Michigan can establish their running game early while finding continuity with Tate Forcier, who I think will be a nightmare for Notre Dame to defend.  Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen will struggle to find a comfort zone on the road against an aggressive Michigan D, however Michian needs to be aware of the big play to WR Golden Tate in order to be successful.  Take the under on this one, this figures to be a (quasi) heavyweight title fight.

I KNOW Tennessee (-10) COVERS the spread vs. UCLA

I also know that Lane Kiffin knows something that you don’t know:  Tennessee is pretty good!  With a motivated team and a swagger not seen from the  Vols in quite some time, Tennessee seems to be playing with the same ‘chip on its shoulder’ mentality embodied in their coach.  Jonathan Crompton was shaky last year at best, however with an improved offensive line and a year of significant time under his belt, I expect more poise from the junior.  It also doesn’t hurt that he will be playing at home in front of 65,000+ crazed Volunteer fans.  Crompton can’t win this game by himself, so look to Tennessee to play a sound team game, rough up redshirt freshman QB Kevin Prince, and stack its first impressive W on the board.

HERE’S WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN… 

I THINK USC v. Ohio State will be decided by less than a touchdown.  Many are sniffing for another embarrassing blowout of a Big-10 team, but all this talk of a blowout has begun to reach its tipping point.  Ohio State played Texas tough last year in the Fiesta Bowl (and actually seemed to have had that game won) amidst the same pressure and criticism.  Terrelle Pryor should give USC fits and Ohio State’s defense will have the advantage over true freshman QB Matt Barkley.  This year’s tilt will be in the horseshoe, so The Buckeyes will get a huge boost from its loyal fans.  All these tidbits and I’m STILL taking the Trojans.  USC plays its best against the best and they have one of the best and deepest backs and o-lines in the nation.  Look for Barkley to lean on his backs early in order to quiet the crowd and work himself into the game.  Although I do think Pryor will give USC fits, I don’t see him as an X-factor as the jury is still out on his passing game.  Throw out the Navy game, Ohio State will show up for this one, but so will USC.  Expect a classic…I think.

I THINK Georgia will BLAST South Carolina.  After a sloppy and rare out of conference loss for Mark Richt and The Georgia Bulldogs, they get The Ole Ball Coach and his pathetic offense at home.  This Georgia team received a bit too much praise to begin with, but is now ranked around where it should be.  The Bulldogs still have a solid defense that needs to begin creating turnovers.  Georgia will also get a boost for returning Taleb King.  South Carolina’s pedestrian running game and below-average line should be the perfect remedy to get Georgia back on the beam.  Look for the Bulldogs to win big. 

HERE’S WHAT I’M PROBABLY WRONG ABOUT…

I’M PROBABLY WRONG, but Tulane (+18) will cover against BYU.  The Big Nasty Atheltic Dept showed Tulane some love last week, but Big Nasty giveth, and Big Nasty taketh away.  With a bigtime win on national television against a storied program and media outcry for The Mountain West to be a BCS conference, I figure it’s the perfect time to raise the red flag.  I realize that there many of the players on The BYU Cougars are married, giving them an important edge in maturity, however I am interested to see how BYU handles being a top 10 team for the first time this season.  Tulane QB Joe Kemp looked awful early against Tulsa, but seemed to improve as the game went on.  This is my ‘I’m Probably Wrong’ section, so what the hell, gimme Tulane for this week’s big scare. 

I’M PROBABLY WRONG, but Purdue will win outright at Oregon.  I saw many holes in Oregon’s offense and defense last week, and now with RB Legarrette Blount gone after the punch heard ’round the world, their holes will only increase in diameter.  Purdue runs a spread offense that is somewhat similar to The Boise State offense that Oregon couldn’t get off of the turf.  Although conventional wisdom says Oregon should be more prepared for the spread, Purdue should have some tricks up its sleeve that we didn’t see vs. Toldedo.  Joey Elliot needs to tone down the interceptions (3 INT’s last week) and Ralph Bolden needs to touch the ball at least 20 times and Purdue just may shock the Ducks at home.

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Tags: College Football, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, The Big Nasty Athletic Dept., USC