Week one was quite successful with Duke and UConn proving to be the only snag towards a perfect record. I’m looking for some more help from the big conference favorites in week two. Without further ado, onto the week two picks.
Nebraska (-8 ½) @ Wake Forest
The only potential hold up here is that the game is on the road for the Huskers. Nebraska was impressive last weekend (albeit against Nevada), but more importantly Wake Forest struggled in a losing effort to a Boston College team that just isn’t that good. The Huskers are for real this year, and they prove it in this one.
Prediction: Nebraska 31 Wake Forest 17
Alabama (-3 ½) @ Vanderbilt
Again, a road game for the favorite, but Alabama is a much better team than Vandy. The impact of a coach like Nick Saban will be evident here. I’m somewhat surprised to see the line this close. The Tide defense should be able to hold Vandy, and the ‘Bama offense will take care of the rest.
Prediction: Bama 28 Vandy 17
Boise State (-3) @ Washington
Road favorite number three in the Chauncey Willingham special of the week. The Huskies’ performance last weekend isn’t enough to sell me on this team; Syracuse is just that bad. Boise St. will be looking for a signature win to boost the resume on the journey to another undefeated year and this is might be their best chance. An inspired Broncos team comes through against a typically enigmatic Willingham squad.
Prediction: Broncos 34 Washington 24
Georgia (-3 ½) v. South Carolina
Georgia looked real sharp last week in a game against Oklahoma St. that many thought they would lose. Matthew Stafford had a big game, leading a very underrated offense to a 35 point performance. Even more impressive was the defense, which kept a high powered OSU offense to just 14 points. The matchup could decide the SEC East, which might keep it close, but I just don’t see it.
Prediction: Georgia 27 South Carolina 14
Texas (-9) v. TCU
Maybe the riskiest pick of the set this week. Texas looked terribly against Arkansas St., leaving the game in doubt late into the 4th quarter. TCU will play inspired, looking to knock off the in-state power along with hopes of boosting their campaign as this year’s mid-major darling. This is Texas though, and the Longhorns are much better than what they showed last weekend. There’s too much power on offense and too much speed on defense for the Longhorns to struggle for a second straight week.
Prediction: Texas 31 TCU 21
Obligatory Notre Dame Prediction of the Week: Notre Dame (+17 ½) @ Penn St.
Last week was ugly in every possible way; the offense couldn’t get anything going, the defense let Tashard Choice run free. One would easily think that the struggles would continue; another new quarterback facing a solid defense and a potentially high-powered offense. However, Anthony Morelli’s inconsistencies in big games could keep the Irish in this one, and if the offense can develop some momentum early on it could be a close game. I see a close game going into the 4th quarter, but another loss for the Golden Domers
Prediction: Penn St. 21 Notre Dame 17
Last Week: 5-1
Overall: 5-1
Yikes… not so good this week. 2-4 brings be back to earth with a 7-5 record overall.
Bob, You can’t expect the upsets of the century this year. That was a solid but not great Penn State team that took the Irish behind the woodshed. I wish I could be wrong here, as I did last week, but its just not that good of a team. Trust me, I’m as frustrated as the next guy, but that’s just the way things will be this year.
robert,
1. you did not have the advantage of seeing clausen play in high school.
2. as for charlie, he was out of his element in trying to take on the persona of rich rodriguez of west virgina for one game.
3. the nd d looked great against gtech until the nd o left them exhausted.
4. charlie’s game plan, on the other hand, left the nd oline and nd’s entire o hung out in alien territory.
5. with clausen, it is back to the classic weis offense, with much more talent and depth at all positions than charlie had in 2005 and 2006.
6. defying all the prognoticators, including you, nd pulls of another upset of the century at happy valley against a fine penn state team that goes on to win the big 10- nd 49 penn state 14.
7.remember, there will be a big east ref crew, not some bigoted crackers from the acc, as at the gtech game, and not a big 10 crew led by that crook dennis lipski.
8. notre dame has always been about miracles. however, an honset ref crew is the crucial factor in this game.
9. we are certain that you will not mind being wrong on this prediction.
enjoy the game,
bob gilleran