After busting through the opening weekend by picking a few great upsets and getting slapped around a little by some teams I respected, Week 2 shouldn’t be quite as exciting right? Wrong – I’m out to win them all. Not as many games as last week, but check out my DirecTV ESPN GamePlan picks if you want some more action. All my games are on Saturday this time around, so no mid-week dancing for me. Enjoy all 7 of my picks! I’m feeling pretty good about these ones.
Saturday’s Games
Connecticut Huskies (-6) @ Temple Owls: (12:00pm EST, 9-6-2008)
The Huskies learned how to win last season. Temple is improved, but they are still Temple. LIke a lot of teams, UCONN’s win last weak wasn’t indicative of how their season will play out. Sure, they won easily (against Hofstra) but they didn’t look good in all aspects of the game. They got a little taste of reality, and I like that. I like that they dealt with it, had a really down game, and still won 35-3. They play stout defense that will slap the Owls in the face at their hyped home opener. I like UCONN to dominate this game on both sides of the ball.
BYU Cougars (-9) @ Washington Huskies: (3:00pm EST, 9-6-2008)
The Huskies are a solid 1st half team – they are just brutal in the 2nd half of just about every game. Oregon was better than many people thought they were going to be, but they weren’t that good. The Huskies are a one-man attack (QB stud Jake Locker), and that doesn’t bode well for their chances against a good Cougar team. The Cougars come in winners of their last 10 games, and believe me, they’ve played tougher road games than they’ll play on Saturday. It wouldn’t stun me if the Cougars took this game by three touchdowns.
Akron Zips (+5) @ Syracuse Orange: (3:30pm EST, 9-6-2008)
Syracuse has some talent, but the Zips can play the game. Akron can throw the all around pretty well with Chris Jacquemain at quarterback. They struggled a bit in the 2nd half against Wisconsin, but the Badgers are a very talented team. I think Akron will find plenty of open places in that Syracuse secondary. The Orange don’t have a rushing attack like Wisconsin does, so they won’t be able to bully the Zips like the Badgers did.
Central Michigan Chippewas @ Georgia Bulldogs (-23.5): (3:30pm EST, 9-6-2008)
The Bulldogs are 4 scores better than the Chippewas. They gave up 21 points last week, and I’m willing to bet they don’t give up half that many this week against Central Michigan. Mathew Stafford looked solid against Georgia Southern, but everyone expected that. The Bulldogs basically did whatever they wanted including take it easy late against their instate opponent. They will obliterated Central Michigan. The Bulldogs were up 38-7 to start the 4th quarter, but Southern scored two 4th quarter touchdowns to bring the game within 24 points. Because of that the Bulldogs lost a few points in the polls as USC went ballistic against Virginia, beating them 52-7, and took the #1 spot this week. I’m guessing the Bulldogs do some scoring in this one and try to get that top spot back in USC’s bye.
Oregon State Beavers (+17) @ Penn State Nittany Lions (3:30pm EST, 8-30-2008)
OSU sure didn’t look very good in their opening game of the season, but they are a better team than that so I’ll take them again. A glutton for punnishment? Maybe, but I like to believe in what I see, and I see a solid team in Beaverville. Offensively they have a lot of playmakers and a quarterback that can deliver the ball. I will take that and 17 points over any Penn State team. The Nittany Lions are overrated, and the Beavers are a good enough team to show everyone exactly that. An upset here wouldn’t stun me.
West Virginia Moutaineers (-7.5) @ East Carolina Pirates: (10:00pm EST, 8-30-2008)
West Virginia allowed 21 points last week to college football’s version of nobody, while the East Carolina Pirates played some damn good football against the likes of the Hokies. East Carolina upset #17 Virginia Tech last week at home, and they’re looking to go 2-0 after facing two ranked teams back to back. Not gonna happen. The Pirates are a good club, don’t get me wrong, but VaTech was the most overrated team in the Top 25. The Mountaineers have something East Carolina has yet to see, an offense that can score on any defense in the nation. East Carolina won’t win a track meet with WV, and that’s what they’ll have to do to win. Remember, West Virginia held Villanova to one score through three quarters last week. Those 2 touchdowns brought this line down from double digits, I’d bet. I’ll take Pat White and his boys.
Maryland Terrapins (-12.5) @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: The Terrapins had a really tough week and their starting quarterback didn’t play well. It won’t always be like that for a very good Maryland team. Luckily for you, and me, that first game is lodged in the minds of bettors and oddsmakers everywhere. Yhatzee for us! Maryland has great talent at receiver, a very tough defense, and a quarterback in Jordan Steffy that’s made a name for himself through his perseverance. I really like their chances against a very mediocre Blue Raider group.
These picks are good ones. Roll with them. Bet ’em. And reap those benefits.