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

[JeffAtlanta]

It is just too hard to keep Mississippi talent instate. Alabama, Auburn, FSU, UF, Tennessee and LSU all cherry pick the state for all the playmakers. Only a few blue chips ever stay in state.

The facilities at the two Mississippi schools are also far below those at other SEC schools.

To turn either Mississippi program around, they will need a big name that is a big time recruiter and a big money raiser. Until then they will just continue the cycle of having a new coach every 4 t 5 years.

[LisaMalia]

You know you're getting old when you're watching the BIG GAME with your 11 month old granddaughter, while your son and daugher in law go to a game party with your daughter and her hubby.

Loved every minute of it though, although my little Ava Malia conked out at about 9pm, and left Grandma to watch the game all alone. It was fun while it lasted, and she can even say "Bucks", though it sounds somewhat like "ducks".....:)

My daughter is not letting me grow old gracefully, as I'm going up to do the Heinygate thing with her and her hubby on Sat. for this weeks game.

GO BUCKS!!!!!!

[MikefromOhio]

yeah!

I'll more than likely be babysitting my nephew on Saturday during the game.

My brother and his wife are going to be there too.

[rockthecasbah]

Congratulations to the Buckeyes on a decisive win. I hope you guys win out

[phoenix0468]

BTW Mike, Washington only covered the spread because Ty obviously had a bundle riding on the game and thus kicked a useless on sides kick, LOL.

[MikefromOhio]

What do you guys think? :)

[MikefromOhio]

Let's try this again:

[mainepatsfan]

Now you've done it.

[MikefromOhio]

:)

[lepton]

"Makes one wonder if Texas at this point is really the #2 team. I think that USC has reloaded better than Texas at this point."

USC and Texas deserved to be in the title game - no argument about that...but I think that it was reasonably likely that if OSU had played them at the end of the season that they would have smacked either of them around.

We'll see over the next couple of weeks whether Texas was weeker than expected, or OSU just ate a good team. By mid season, expect OSUs defense to be a lot stronger than it is now.