Hey everybody, I hope you're all ready for week 3 of College Football!! Now I know there are not a lot of big games this week, but I think there are a few interesting match-ups that could turn some heads. Besides, you never know what's going to happen any given Saturday! Here are my interesting games to watch this weekend and my predictions, enjoy!
#25 UCLA at Memphis
Most of you might wonder why I'm even making a pick on this game and assume that Josh Rosen will pick apart the Tigers in an easy, blowout win. I think this could be a closer game than most people think. The Tigers finished 8-5 last year and had an extra week to prepare for this game since their match-up with UCF was canceled and rescheduled last week. Having that extra week should definitely help Memphis as they didn't overly impress in their 37-29 win over UL-Monroe in week 1. Senior QB Riley Ferguson is high on a number of expert's NFL draft boards, but is still fairly unknown to most of the nation. He didn't look strong in the opener, throwing for just 97 yards 0 TDs and a pick on a 40% completion rating. However, he threw for nearly 3,800 yards last year along with an impressive 32:10 TD to INT ratio, so he could just be shaking off some early season rust. The other part of this match-up that I like is the time. This game is an 11 am kick Central Time, which means it's going to feel like 9 am to the Bruins traveling from LA. Morning games can sometimes cause a team to come out sluggish, but throwing a two hour time zone difference could make it even more difficult for the Bruins to wake up early on in this game. One factor to watch in this game will be the Memphis rushing attack against the Bruins rush defense. UCLA has given up an average of 331.5 yards on the ground through just two games, and the Tigers had 319 yards rushing in their lone game against the Warhawks. The dynamic duo of Sophomore RBs in Patrick Taylor Jr. and Darrell Henderson combined for 300 on their own along with 3 TDs. Look for the Tiger's ground game to be a big factor in this one, they will be able to control the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of Josh Rosen. For UCLA, the key will be forcing tough 3rd down situations. Memphis was in the middle of the nation last year, ranking 64th in 3rd down conversions with right around 40%. If they Bruins defense can get some key stops, they can prevent the upset. I think Josh Rosen and crew will be fine, but look for Memphis to put up a fight. The spread is 3, so expect a close game. UCLA 36, Memphis 31.
#23 Tennessee at #24 Florida
A key SEC East showdown will take place in The Swamp as the Vols travel to Gainesville to take on the arch rival Gators. Usually this game has big implications on who will win the SEC East, but with Florida having so many suspensions (9), its hard to imagine that this will be one of the major games in the East this year. Nonetheless, anytime these two teams battle, it's always fun. If there's any saving grace for Florida, it's that they've had an extra week to prepare for Tennessee as they had to cancel their game last weekend from Hurricane Irma. Hopefully this extra time has given Malik Ziare some time to learn the offense a little more and develop some more chemistry with his offense. The Gators could not move the ball against Michigan in their opening game, and were it not for Wilton Speight throwing two easy pick sixes, Florida probably wouldn't have scored. Tennessee on the other hand mounted a phenomenal comeback (much to my disgust) against Georgia Tech in their opener, and came away with a 42-41 2OT win! Vols QB Quinten Dormandy has looked good so far thus season, throwing for 415 yards, 4 TDs and just 1 pick through two games. I think the difference maker could be Tennessee RB John Kelly. Kelly has been a big part of the Vols offense with over 200 yards and 4 TDs this season, so watch for them to ground and pound against the Gators. I'm sure they'll make it a little closer than necessary because it's Tennessee and Florida, but the suspensions are still too much for the Gators. Vols win it 29-20.
#18 Kansas State at Vanderbilt
This one has potential to get interesting. Kansas State will have their first true test as they travel to Nashville to take on the Commodores. The 18th-ranked Wildcats have blown out their two previous opponents, but again, they've played Central Arkansas and Charlotte. Vandy hasn't played much competition yet either, but Junior QB Kyle Shurmur is not someone you want to play very often. Shurmur has thrown for 498 yards and 7 TDs with a very impressive 76.1% completion rating. The Wildcats were one of the worst in pass defense a year ago, so we'll see how well they hold up against Shurmur and company. I think Vandy is a much tougher team than most people think, and they could cause a lot of teams headaches this season. Both teams have solid QBs with lots of weapons, so defense will be the key to victory in this game. K-State RB Alex Barnes is tough to bring down, so the Commodores will have wrap up and make sure tackles. It's hard to predict this game since we really haven't seen much from either team, but I'll go with the home team. I wouldn't be surprised either way, especially with Bill Snyder coaching in a game. Commodores win a good one at home, 43-38.
Kentucky at South Carolina
Another SEC East battle that most people probably will overlook. The Wildcats travel to Columbia, SC to take on the red-hot Gamecocks. The Wildcats have been a sneaky team over the past couple years, and they'll be bringing a powerful run game along with them on the road. Sophomore RB Benny Snell Jr. rushed for over 1,000 in his Freshman year, and already has 170 so far this season. South Carolina has only given up an average of 133.5 rushing yards, so Snell could have a tough time breaking free. The big story in this game lies with the Gamecock's Sophomore QB Jake Bentley. Bentley has been fantastic this season, throwing for 402 yards, 4 TDs and 1 pick. He has completed 61.4% of his passes and really commands the offense well. I think his play will lift South Carolina over the Wildcats, but look for Kentucky to get pressure. Bentley has already been sacked 4 times this season, so protecting him will be key for South Carolina. I think this will be a fun one to watch, but Bentley leads the Gamecocks to victory! South Carolina 37, Kentucky 28.
#3 Clemson at #14 Louisville
Alright, we all know that Lamar Jackson is worth at least 21-28 points on his own, even against Clemson. The big issue in this game is whether or not he'll have any help from his friends. Apart from the Heisman in the backfield though, the Cardinals don't have too much to offer. Jackson was sacked 46 times last year, 3rd worst in the nation. Clemson has one of the best pass rushing front four in the nation that has already recorded 11 sacks this season. Lamar will get his yards and his points, but I'm sure he'll be under pressure all night long. On the other side of the ball, Kelly Bryant has his first start on the road. While Louisville doesn't have the most threatening defense, but the sheer magnitude of this game could get to Bryant's head. Game of the week, on the road, against the reigning Heisman winner? Look for Bryant to press on a lot of plays and force some passes early in the game before his nerves settle down. If he comes in as cool as a cucumber, Clemson will win this game outright. With two dynamic QBs, defense is always the key. Clemson has the edge, but this game came down to the wire last year. I'd love to see Lamar get the upset and his revenge, but I think the Tigers are just too strong on defense. Expect another stellar game from the reigning Heisman winner, but the Tigers chomp the Cardinals in a tight one on the road. Clemson 30, Louisville 28.
Northern Illinois at Nebraska
Just as my friend Nate and I discussed on our radio show, this is a game that Nebraska needs to win convincingly. Northern Illinois is not a very strong team, and they've lost their starting QB for at least a few weeks with an elbow injury. The Huskies have not played much competition this year, so coming into Memorial Stadium will be a huge challenge for them. They will look to establish a ground game with RB Marcus Jones, but if they've watched any film, I expect them to pick on our secondary early and consistently throughout the game. That's where most Husker fans will have their eyes too, the Blackshirts' secondary. They've been burned for an average of 390 yards over two games, ranking 2nd to last in the nation. Northern Illinois should prove to be a much easier opponent for the Huskers. I'll be interested to see what changes are made on defense, and how they deal with the injuries like Josh Kalu. Offensively, hopefully Tanner Lee will settle down after that Oregon game and progress through his reads to find the open man. I'm expecting to see Tre Bryant back tomorrow as well, but limiting his carries would not be a bad idea. Getting other backs experience and keeping Tre healthy for BIG 10 play would be very helpful for the offense. As I've stated the past couple of weeks, I'm not to worried about our offense scoring points, but I would love to see Drew Brown get his chance at some long Field Goals. The kid has the leg for it and if we get around the 40 and get stopped, give him the shot! I'm excited for tomorrow, and ready for a solid Husker victory! Nebraska 41, Northern Illinois 20.
I hope you all enjoyed my predictions and have a great day of watching football! If you're going to the Husker game, look for me on the sidelines! Also, be sure to subscribe to my blog so you can receive an email whenever I make a post and tune into The 2nd String on KRNU2 online every Tuesday from 7-8 pm! Thanks for reading and GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
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