College Football - Live Thread - Week Two

ESPN.com Scoreboard ^ | From September 7th to September 9th

[MikefromOhio]

Week Two – College Football

Week One finally brought some much needed intensity to the summertime months for most of us. It was a relief for some (Ohio State, Notre Dame) and a crushing time for others (Colorado and Cal especially). Now that we’ve seen most every team in action, now we have something to go on other than perceptions when making picks.

As always, all rankings are from the ESPN.com Scoreboard page. I will also list any games of interest (FReepmail me if you want your team included and I will include them from here on out) and any other games listed in my Yahoo league.

GAME of the WEEK

Saturday, September 9th, 2006

(1) Ohio State at (2) Texas (-2.5)

Ohio State’s offense is fine. Their defense remains a question mark. Texas looked ok on offense and their defense is seemingly solid. Might we have another #1 after this week? Yes, probably. While there was quite a bit of holding in the Northern Illinois game, there was more of an issue of the Ohio State defenders getting off of blocks and making tackles. Now sure Garrett Wolfe would PROBABLY start on a team like Texas (he’s that good), NIU doesn’t have the offensive line that Texas does. Going into a hostile environment with a young and unproven defense isn’t quite as bit a hinderance as going in with a young and unproven offense, but Texas as a relatively experienced offense, just a redshirt freshman QB. Assuming he makes no mistakes, which is a hard thing to do in a game like this, Texas will win outright. Ohio State’s offense won’t make very many mistakes either, but their defense is the major question mark of this game.

Ohio State 25 – Texas 22

Thursday September 7th, 2006 (ESPN Thursday Night Game)

Oregon State at Boise State (-8)

This game should be a shootout. Neither team is especially known for defense. And we get to see that horrible blue turf they have in Boise very early this year.

Saturday September 9th 2006 (in ranking order)

(19) Penn State at (4) Notre Dame (-8)

The Prediction:

Penn State 21 – Notre Dame 17**** UPSET ALERT

(4) Auburn (-20) at Mississippi State

Auburn 38 – Miss St. 10

Eastern Washington at (6) West Virginia (NL)

WVU 56 – Eastern Washington 7

UCF at (7) Florida (-23)

Florida 40 – UCF 14

Arizona at (8) LSU (-16)

LSU 32 – Arizona 10

Troy at (9) Florida State (-30)

FSU 55 – Troy 3

Central Michigan at (10) Michigan (-28)

Michigan 35 – Central Michigan 14

Air Force at (11) Tennessee (-20)

Tennessee 43 – Air Force 7

(12) UGA (-3) at South Carolina

UGA 28 – South Carolina 10

(13) Louisville (-40.5) at Temple

Louisville 70 – Temple 3

(14) Iowa (-20) - Syracuse

Iowa 45 – Syracuse 17

Washington at (15) Oklahoma (-17)

Oklahoma 34 - Washington 14

(16) Virginia Tech (-12) at North Carolina

VT 32 – North Carolina 10

(18) Clemson (-2.5) at Boston college

Clemson 17 – BC 14

(20) Oregon (-11) at Fresno State

Oregon 34 – Fresno State 18

Nicholls St. at (21) Nebraska (-20.5)

Nebraska 45 – Nicholls State 0

Minnesota at (22) California (-8.5)

Minnesota 32 – Cal 28*****UPSET ALERT

UC Davis at (23) TCU (NL)

TCU 54 – UC Davis 10

(24) Texas Tech (-7) at UTEP

Texas Tech 59 – UTEP 16

Nevada at (25) Arizona St. (-14.5)

ASU 43 – Nevada 12

20-1 Straight UP
19-2 Against the Spread

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I'll probably change my mind about 4-5 times on Ohio St.-Texas, but for now, I'm going with the Buckeyes. ;^)

[MikefromOhio]

yeah next week will be a fun week...

hell they are all fun weeks :)

the south sections are nice now.

I had a bad feeling going up into those old wooden ones on the south side :)

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

I've gone back and forth.

Last night when I wrote that, I had Texas winning, but that was before their best defensive back (and their fastest player) was suspended for the game.

I think that gives the Buckeyes the edge right now.

ASk me again tomorrow, I might come up with something different.

[MikefromOhio]

nah, if Miami's defense couldn't shut down FSU completely, Troy won't either.

[MikefromOhio]

maybe, maybe not.

Games like this one tend to stay tight.

[Man50D]

I was watching a Boise State game about three years ago. The sideline reporter told how the grounds crew periodically has to remove dead and inured ducks(not Oregon) from the blue turf because they mistake it for a body of water and attempt a hard landing. Where's PETA when you need them! LOL! except to the ducks.

[Pharmboy]

Look for the Wolverines to blow out Central Michigan. Their outing against Vanderbilt last weekend was disappointing, and if they read the papers about the game they will look to impress this week.

Prediction: Michigan 44 Central Michigan 10

[MikefromOhio]

I don't know...

Central Michigan almost got BC last week.

BC isn't a horrible team either.

If Michigan isn't much sharper on offense, this game will be close.

[Man50D]

I see I'm being redundant. I just saw the dead duck story posted by Mike From Ohio.

[Pharmboy]

Well, you may be right, but I think Henne, Hart and Breaston will want to light it up.

But, your game against the 'Horns is the big one...look forward to it. And good luck.

[MikefromOhio]

well I'm sure the team members will take the wish of good luck.

I'm not doing anything that I did last year. Don't want to screw it up and all :)

[aft_lizard]

A little homer vision on the OSU-Texas game? Emmm, I think OSU's D looked pretty shaky, Texas by 7. I dont think, well to me anyways, PSU beating ND will be much of an upset, I think the Irish are incredibly overrated. Nevada upsetting ASU is my sleeper upset, ASU looked rather weak in there opener and unless Koetter makes some adjustments they will be beaten by a secent Nevada team. Oh and I think California will come out with all guns blazing looking to prove themselves over Minnesota.

[MikefromOhio]

well by ranking and spread it would be an upset....

I've gone back an forth on the OSU so much this week it ain't funny.

I'll probably be thinking some different tomorrow honestly.

And I think Garrett Wolfe would start at Texas anyway....

[Richard Kimball]

Hmmm. I'm pulling for Texas, but I haven't seen anyone pick them. Almost everyone is going for Buckeyes by three, at least all the picks I've seen. Here's my take: As far as distractions, Texas lives with them all the time. Losing Vince Young to the NFL was a big deal, and McCoy can't carry the team like Young did, but he's a pretty good QB. Ohio State has to deal with replacing nine defensive starters, and that's got to be tough, but they still have their killer offense.

I respect both these teams, because they've got the guts to play each other early. Best to the Buckeyes, and prayers for a good game, decided by the players, not the refs, and NO INJURIES.

[OKSooner]

I'll second that. Go Nittany Lions, my second favorite team this week...

[MikefromOhio]

Let me guess, your first is.......

[Bat_Chemist]

Mike, I really appreciate starting this ping list. Using my keen powers of observation I see you expect the favorites to cover the spread in all but your two upsets and one other game...Michigan. Got something against the Wolverines?

I think I'm rooting for OSU in the "big game" this weekend, but only because I think they'll lose to Michigan at the end of the season.

GO NOLES! (And, oh yeah, GO GOLDEN KNIGHTS!)

[GOP_Raider]

That happened a lot more in the early days of the turf, from what I've always heard from people around here.

Looking at it another way, the state of Idaho could probably have their migratory bird hunting season during game days and you'd probably see people tailgating in duck blinds along the Boise River. :)

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

You may well be right. This is without question the toughest game to call this week. I won't be surprised either way, because Ohio St. is breaking in a new defense against a new Texas offense. I'm leaning towards Ohio State because I think their offense is good enough to score against anybody, but it's still a tough call.

[kenth]

BOOMER!