Week 5 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 5 of College Football! We've got a fantastic slate of games this week including the much anticipated Georgia and Bama showdown. Before we get to all the games, I've finally collected all my thoughts on the Huskers' home loss to Illinois, so I'll break down that game with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below. Hopefully they can turn things around quick. Read on and enjoy your College Football Weekend!

     The Huskers fell to Illinois in Overtime last Friday night at Memorial Stadium as they hosted their 400th consecutive sellout crowd. Despite another great performance from Dylan Raiola, the Nebraska offense faltered late and wound up with a 3rd and 42 during the Overtime period. This breakdown will highlight the GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD things I took away from the game.

GOOD - John Bullock and Huskers' third down efficiency. Starting with the offense, I am excited about the increased efficiency on third down. The Huskers went 8/15 (53.3%) on third down against the Illini, and currently rank 18th in the nation with a 50.9% conversion rate on the season. This is the Huskers' highest ranking and conversion rate since ranking 33rd in 2016 with a conversion rate of 43.9%. This stat will certainly help the Huskers win games this season if they can keep it at or near the current level. Another factor in winning games is the fantastic play of John Bullock. The Senior Linebacker is one of the Blackshirts you probably don't list off when you talk about players you know off the top of your head from this defense, but he will be a household name by the end of the year. He currently leads the team in tackles with 25 and has 2 sacks to his name this year with 3 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble. He was all over the field against Illinois and is very fun to watch. The defense as a whole struggled on the night, but I loved the game play I saw from John Bullock. Watch #5 on the Husker Defense this week and just enjoy some great football plays.

EXPECTED - A tough game and more Husker Special Teams trouble. You can expand the conference all you want, the old BIG 10 West matchups will still result in a rugged, grind-it-out game. Illinois always has tough teams, and they played very hard in this one. Lots of hustle to the ball, especially to shut down the Huskers run game, and fabulous downfield blocking to open up space for their own. Illinois will give a lot of teams headaches this season and the Huskers need to be prepared for four full quarters of football with the rest of their BIG 10 games. Combine that with the constant issue of not having a competent special teams unit or a kicker that's useful beyond an extra point, and you're looking at some rough games ahead. I don't know how the Huskers haven't found a kicker since I was in College with Drew Brown, but this is absurd. Special Teams continues to lose games for this program, and will continue to until a kicker is found and return blocking is set up better. There has to be a kicker in the portal somewhere.

BAD - Luke Altmeyer and the Husker Overtime. When I reference Luke Altmeyer in this category, I mean it in the context of him being a BAD MAN for opposing defenses. He was absolutely stellar against the Blackshirts (much to my dismay) and has been very impressive all season long. Altmeyer finished the game with a 21/27 mark on passes for 215 yards and 4 TDs. He found 9 different receivers and picked apart the Husker secondary. Opposing teams need to put pressure on him if they don't want a similar fate to my Huskers. Speaking of fate, it must be fated that the Huskers will completely forget how to play football in Overtime. As mentioned before, this was a grind it out game, but overtime really went array quickly. The Blackshirts were gashed on the opening play and scored on the following. Then the Husker offense nearly went all the way back to the opposite 25 yard line as they continue the trend of rough overtime games. In the last decade the huskers still have yet to score a point, move the chains for a first time or even amass positive yards following the end of regulation. Would love to see this trend break sooner rather than later.

Week 4 Record: 12 - 11

Overall Record: 50 - 27

Week 5 Predictions:

Maryland at Indiana

The Terps and the Hoosiers square off for a BIG 10 battle in Bloomington, Indiana. The Terps had a stumble against Michigan State a couple of weeks ago, but Indiana has yet to stumble this season. New Head Coach Curt Cignetti has brought new life to this program and the Hoosiers have rolled over everyone in their way thus far. Their BIG 10 foes won't be as easy, but transfer QB Kurtis Rourke doesn't seem to mind the challenge. He's accounted for over 1,000 pass yards with 8 TDs and 0 picks. He's completing 75.5% of his passes and is leading the 11th ranked Total Offense. Maryland's QB Billy Edwards Jr. has 8 TDs as well with 2 picks to go along with his 1,155 yards passing. This might be closer than some of the other Hoosier games we've seen, but I like them to win 35-24 at home.

#20 Oklahoma State at #23 Kansas State

     Both the Pokes and the Wildcats got kicked from teams in Utah last week as they come into this game looking to bounce back. Oklahoma State has been a little flat this season, especially with such an experienced offense. Alan Bowman was benched at one point last week against Utah, and Ollie Gordon has less than 300 yards rushing this season. Kansas State has their own problems on offense as they've been unable to pass the ball with Avery Johnson. The run game has been effective, but after last week's blowout loss to BYU there's still a lot that needs to be figured out. I really don't know how each of these teams will respond, but I suppose I'll take the home team who runs the ball. K-State 27, Oklahoma State 21.

#15 Louisville at #16 Notre Dame

     The Cardinals travel to South Bend as the Irish look to notch a quality win in their season. Louisville won this game a year ago 33-20, and they've been beating up on everyone on their schedule thus far. They haven't played much competition this year, but their offense looks as deadly as ever under 2nd year coach Jeff Brohm. The Irish have looked strong since their loss to Northern Illinois, especially in the ground game with Jeremiyah Love rushing for 7.4 yards per carry. Their defense should slow down the Cardinals in this game, but can Riley Leonard do enough to get their offense moving? This is a tricky game to predict without knowing much about Louisville against tougher competition, so I'll give the nod to Notre Dame wanting to get revenge from last year. Irish win 28-26.

Washington State at #25 Boise State

     The Broncos are looking to claim the G5 Playoff bid while the Cougars are looking to get an at large bid. QB John Mateer for Wazzu has been fun to watch this season, and will look to continue his success in this game, building on his 1,102 yards with 11 TDs and 4 picks. The key factor in this game is Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty who averages 10.5 yards per carry and has 9 TDs on the year thus far. He's going to run wild all season, including this game. Broncos win 34-24.

#19 Illinois at #9 Penn State

     The Fighting Illini are unbeaten and looking for another road upset as they travel to Happy Valley to take on the Nittany Lions. Penn State looked a bit shaky a couple weeks ago against Bowling Green, but bounced back with a 56-0 win against Kent State last week. Their defense will need to pressure Luke Altmeyer as he has been picking teams apart this season. The Nittany Lions are solid on defense and the offense is starting to click more and more. I like them to win at home, but don't be surprised if Illinois keeps this close. Penn State 31, Illinois 21.

#2 Georgia at #4 Alabama

     One of the most anticipated matchups of the year sets the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa for a duel with the Tide. This rematch of last year's SEC Championship (along with many others) will give the winner a big leg up in race back to that championship game. Georgia has looked solid apart from their Kentucky game, but their defense is really going to be tested with Alabama's high-powered offense. The Dawgs have good weapons on offense, but I think Alabama's explosive plays will be the difference-maker in this game. Georgia can't keep up with a too many big plays from the Tide, so give me Alabama with a 30-24 victory.

Nebraska at Purdue

     The Huskers have their first road game of the season as they travel to West Lafayette to take on the Boilermakers. This is an intriguing matchup after the Huskers' first loss of the season, so I'm anxious to see how they respond. Purdue has struggled this year, especially against the run, ranking 132nd in the nation. The Huskers need to establish the run early and keep it consistent all game to help Dylan Raiola. Offensively, the Boilermakers haven't been able to spread it to their receivers much, but Hudson Card is a very capable Quarterback. Ramping up the pressure from the last game will be crucial to winning this game. Huskers run the ball well and win 31-17.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Florida State at SMU - Seminoles 28, Ponies 24.

Arizona at #11 Utah - Utes 30, Wildcats 20.

Fresno State at UNLV - Rebels 23, Bulldogs 21.

Kentucky at #6 Ole Miss - Rebels 40, Wildcats 17.

Minnesota at #12 Michigan - Wolverines 23, Golden Gophers 13.

Arkansas vs #24 Texas A&M - Aggies 24, Hogs 21.

#3 Ohio State at Michigan State - Buckeyes 38, Spartans 17.

Thanks for reading my Week 5 Predictions. Enjoy your College Football Saturday and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 4 Predictions

      Happy Friday Football friends! We've reached Week 4 of the College Football Season and you get my predictions a day early as the Huskers host a Friday Night Lights game against BIG 10 foe Illinois. This is the first ranked vs ranked matchup at Memorial Stadium since the 2013 UCLA game where Nebraska wore the black, tire-track uniforms. I attended that game and watched Bruins QB Brett Hundly lead a second half comeback and score 28 points in the 3rd quarter to win 41-21. The Huskers and Illini are not the only ranked matchup though, so check out all my predictions below and enjoy a full weekend of football. I had a solid bounce back week after a tricky week 2, so let's continue the trend with week 4.

Week 3 Record: 11 - 4

Overall Record: 38 - 16

Week 4 Predictions:

Kansas at West Virginia

     Both the Jayhawks and Mountaineers have struggled early in the 2024 season after a lot of off season hype. I'm not saying I called it, but I did kind of call it in my preseason predictions. Jaylon Daniels has stayed healthy through three games, but has not looked great, throwing 6 picks, including 2 last week against UNLV without a TD and just 50% completion rating. On the other side, Garrett Green has been a little better with 5 TDs and 2 picks on the year, but his defense has been unable to hold teams back, so even 31.7 points per game isn't cutting it right now. My key to victory lies with the running backs. I feel that both Devin Neal and CJ Donaldson Jr. have been under utilized by both teams. They are averaging just 15 carries per game, yet Neal runs for 7.4 yards per carry and Donaldson runs for 5.5 yards per carry. If the offensive coordinators can get their backs involved and control the ground game, they will win this game. I'll take West Virginia at home, but this one should be tight. Mountaineers win 31-28.

Virginia at Coastal Carolina

     The Chants are primed to chase after that G5 Playoff Bid, and a final non-conference game against ACC rep Virginia would be a helpful mark on the resume. Former Husker OC Tim Beck has the Teal team rolling as Sophomores Ethan Vasko (QB) and Christian Washington (RB) have been a dynamic duo to spark things up in Conway. Washington is a powerful runner who averages 4.7 yards per carry and has 4 TDs on the year thus far. This is complimented well by Vasko's dual threat ability and keeps plays alive with his legs. He's only been sacked once this season and has racked up 190 yards on the ground so far this season. Virginia QB Anthony Colandera has nearly 1,000 yards passing already, but has thrown two picks in each of the last two games. I think both teams will put up some points, but look for Coastal to pull away with their RPOs and dual threat QB. Chants win 34-24.

Georgia Tech at #19 Louisville

     The Cardinals have yet to play a worthy opponent this season, but coming out of they BYE week they host the Ramblin' Wreck for an ACC showdown. Georgia Tech has been in the spotlight early and often this season with the opening win in Dublin over Florida State, but did fall to Syracuse a couple weeks ago. QB Hanes King has thrown for 962 yards with 6 TDs and just 1 pick so far this season. His Cardinal counterpart, Tyler Shough, will be looking to put up big numbers as well since he's thrown for nearly 600 yards and 6 TDs through two games. The Cardinals did reach the ACC Championship last year, and I anticipate Jeff Brohm keeping this team at a high level. Georgia Tech gave up 381 yards and 4 TDs passing to Kyle McCord against Syracuse, and this could end up to be a similar game. Give me the Cards at home with a deadly passing attack to win 35-27.

NC State at #21 Clemson

     The Wolfpack are looking to make a name for themselves again after suffering a 51-10 beat down at the hands of Tennessee in week 2. Clemson had a week off after demolishing App State and would love to get the ACC Championship goals back in focus with a September conference win at home. I think the Clemson defense comes out swinging with some blitzes at Grayson McCall, forcing turnovers and giving Cade Klubnik a short field to work with. Let Phil Mafah loose because they saw the Vols rack up 249 rushing yards and this game is over by the third quarter at the latest. Give me the Tigers to go out and prove a point. Clemson wins 34-14.

#12 Utah at #14 Oklahoma State

     The Utes get their first official Big XII Conference game in Stillwater as they take on the Pokes for a top 15 matchup. Cam Rising's status is still in question for this game, which tips things heavily in favor of Oklahoma State. The line from Vegas moved 5 points overnight from Wednesday to Thursday with Utah originally being favored by -2.5 and are now the underdog at +2.5. The defensive game plan for Utah is simple no matter what, shut down Ollie Gordon. He has not looked great in the early parts of 2024, just a 3.5 yard per carry average on 216 yards and 4 TDs. This would be a good game for him to break out in, but the Utes are allowing just 109 yards per game on the ground this season and are traditionally one of the better defenses in college football. Oklahoma State has a much more manageable schedule after the next two weeks, but getting through Utah and KState without a loss will be tough. I am struggling to pick a winner for this one, but give me the Pokes at home. I don't fully trust Utah without Cam Rising and this seems like the game Oklahoma State needs to show they are the favorite in the Big XII despite the newcomers. Pokes 26, Utes 24.

TCU at SMU (Battle for the Iron Skillet)

     A frying pan is on the line as the Horned Frogs and the Mustangs meet for their Dallas/Fort Worth Rivalry. I'll eat my words here and say that SMU has not looked like the team I predicted to take the ACC by storm and get to the playoffs. Those opportunities are still ahead of them as conference play has yet to begin on their schedule, but an abysmal offense has them 42nd in scoring offense after ranking 8th a year ago. Preston Stone has not looked comfortable at QB this year, and the battle for the starting spot will continue with Sophomore QB Kevin Jennings. For the Frogs, they lost a stunner last week as KJ Jefferson and the UCF Knights led a drive to score and win the game with just seconds left. Sophomore QB Josh Hoover has looked great with over 1,000 yards, 8 TDs and 0 picks, but Sonny Dike's defense is giving up over 310 yards per game. He has faired well against his old team though, and I think Sonny. Dikes continues his winning streak in the rivalry with 5 straight. The first two with SMU and now a third in a row with TCU. Plus, they just dropped some serious smack talk on Twitter about SMU and the ACC for putting this game on the CW. Frogs win 37-33. Riff Ram Bah Zoo, Give 'Em Hell TCU!

#11 USC at #18 Michigan

     A classic Rose Bowl matchup of the olden days now takes place in Ann Arbor as a conference matchup. The Trojans are welcomed to their first BIG 10 conference game by walking into the Big House to square off against the defending National Champs. Michigan has looked more like a shell of that National Championship team though, and are making a switch at QB following the poor performances by Davis Warren. Junior Alex Orji will now take over and a run heavy attack should follow. Orji has only thrown 7 passes in his entire career at Michigan, so look for USC's secondary to disguise lots of coverages and bring extra blitzers in passing situations. Michigan RB Donovan Edwards was primed as a potential Heisman candidate after his performance against Washington last season, and being added to the cover of College Football 25. However, fellow Senior RB Kalel Mullins has been the star, averaging 7.5 yards per carry and has rushed for 120 yards more than Edwards on the same number of carries. All of this goes up against a much improved USC defense that currently ranks 33rd nationally against the run, as opposed to their 119th ranking in that category a year ago. The Trojans are a much stronger team than anticipated on the defensive side of the ball, and their offense hasn't lost much of a step without current Chicago Bear, Caleb Williams. Miller Moss has taken over with great command and efficiency, completing 72.7% of his passes for 607 yards and 2 TDs. He has a tremendous amount of weapons to throw to and I don't think the Michigan offense can keep pace. Moss will certainly be challenged against the Wolverine defense, but he throws the ball under 3 seconds from the snap on average, not allowing much time for opposing teams to pressure him. Michigan will try to make this look like a rugged BIG 10 game, but I like the Trojans on the road to score some points. Fight On as USC wins 27-21.

#8 Miami at South Florida

     The Hurricanes look to continue the storm as they travel North to take on the Bulls in Tampa. These might be the two best teams in the state of Florida, and two of the most dynamic QBs in college football square off with Cam Ward and Byron Brown. Cam Ward is already responsible for 12 TDs this season, but the competition has been lackluster at best. The Bulls provide a new challenge for the Canes as they average nearly 425 yards per game on offense. They gave Alabama headaches for the first three quarters after ultimately losing 42-16. This USF Bulls team is not an easy one to tangle with, but I think Miami's defensive line could be the difference maker. The 'Canes have 12 sacks through their first 3 games, and will look to force Brown into some erratic throws. Miami's secondary also has 6 picks on the season, so turnovers will be important in this one. I think we could see a good amount of points in this game, but give me the Hurricanes in a 38-28 victory.

Iowa at Minnesota (Battle for the Floyd of Rosedale)

     A Bronze Pig is up for grabs as the Hawkeyes travel north to take on the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. The Gophers have shut out both Rhode Island and Nevada since missing the game-winning field goal at home against North Carolina in the opener. Iowa lost on a last second field goal to Iowa State, but otherwise have handled their opponents as well. Defense has been solid as always for the Hawkeyes, but the offense continues to have issues. Cade McNamara has struggled at QB despite good help from RB Kaleb Johnson and the running game. Minnesota's offense hasn't had a lot of flash either, so this is not a bad game to bet the unders. This one is always a tough one to pick, but I'll go with the Gophers to continue their momentum from last year's win. Minnesota 13, Iowa 10.

#6 Tennessee at #15 Oklahoma

     The Sooners get to host for their first action in the SEC, but they draw the red hot Volunteers and their top ranked offense. Ex-Sooner QB and OC Josh Heupel would love nothing more than to blow the doors off Oklahoma as he was originally the coach in waiting behind Bob Stoops. He's got a QB now in Freshman Nico Iamaleava who's completing 71.6% of his passes with 6 TDs and 2 picks. Oklahoma's defense will be looking for takeaways, and that stadium in Norman will be rocking. This game is really about keeping pace though, and Sooner QB Jackson Arnold has a big task ahead of him for that to occur. The Sooners have been a bit sluggish on offense in the last couple games, but did start to wake up more against Tulane. This could be an offensive shootout, but I like Josh Heupel to get revenge and rack up the points with the Vols. Tennessee spoils Oklahoma's SEC debut with a 42-24 trounce.

Michigan State at Boston College

     The Eagles fell out of the rankings after a tough road loss to Mizzou, but have a great bounce back game against the Spartans from Michigan State. This BIG 10/ACC matchup is one of two on the day and this one tips in favor of the ACC. Michigan State did pull off a win against Maryland on the road in week 2, but there's still a lot we haven't seen from this team. Aidan Chiles has been very mediocre with a 56.8% completion rate and 4 picks to go along with his 4 TDs. Boston College has a defense that held the high-scoring Tigers to just 27 and QB Thomas Castellanos is one of the best players you haven't been watching in college football. Wrap all that together in a Red Bandana for their annual Red Bandana game tradition and I've got the Eagles at home in this one. Boston College 31, Michigan State 24.

#13 Kansas State at BYU

     The Wildcats are quietly working their way toward the top 12 in rankings and the top of the Big XII. They absolutely pummeled Arizona last week, winning 31-7 at home. These two teams haven't met since LaVell Edwards' name was in the program rather than on the stadium, so it's a clean slate as conference foes. BYU is a tricky road test as the Cougars are 3-0 with a very stout defense. They're currently ranked 13th in total defense while the Wildcats are at 64th. I imagine those two numbers will come closer together and likely flip as the season moves along, but never underestimate a night game in Provo, Utah. The Wildcats have a deadly rushing attack led by QB Avery Johnson and RBs DJ Giddens and ex-Buffalo Dylan Edwards. The three have combined for 650 yards this season with averages of 6.6, 6.7 and 9.2 yards per carry respectively. BYU likes to air it out more, but might find that's hard to do with a K-State defense that has recored 10 sacks already this season. They love to put pressure on the QB and will flex their defensive muscles again. This will be a fun game to keep an eye on Saturday night, but give me Kansas State in a close on on the road. Wildcats win 23-17.

Missouri Baptist University at Peru State

Typically as the Broadcaster for this matchup, I wouldn't make a prediction on it, but given that I'm Broadcasting on behalf of the Bobcats, I don't mind throwing some flowers their way. They won this road matchup a year ago 43-32 and are looking to bounce back from a brutal loss last week at MidAmerican Nazarene. MBU is 2-1 on the season and comes into the Oak Bowl with back to back wins over Heart of America Conference opponents. The Bobcats won't be looking to join that list, and with an average of 220 yards per game on the ground given up by the Spartans, let's cheer for a Bobcats Victory on Saturday night. If you'd like to listen to my call on the live stream while you watch the other games, use this link and GO BOBCATS! Peru State 37, Missouri Baptist 24.

#24 Illinois at #22 Nebraska

     Conference play is upon us and the Huskers open with what will likely be a true BIG 10 style game for some Friday Night Lights. As alluded to in my opener, the Huskers are hosting their first ranked vs ranked matchup since the Pelini days against UCLA in 2013. The Illini come in at 3-0 to match the Huskers with a rugged defense that has allowed just 26 points through 3 games. They are very opportunistic and are tied for 2nd in the nation with a +8 turnover margin. Illinois also blitzes as the 8th highest rate in the nation, so look for them to put pressure on Dylan Raiola early and often. The Huskers wideouts will need to get separation early in their routes to give Raiola the best chance to throw the ball and not take sacks. Establishing the run is necessary as always, but will be an important boost for Dylan Raiola and his ability to withstand some of the pressure Illinois will send after him. Defensively for the Huskers, Pat Bryant is the number one focus. He's racked up 235 yards on just 15 catches with 4 TDs. The Blackshirts' secondary will have their hands full with him alone, not to mention Senior wideout Zakhari Franklin on the other side. Luke Altmeyer is completing just under 70% of his passes thus far, a near 6% boost from last season. He's got 647 yards with 6 TDs and no picks. Nebraska needs to get pressure on him because if not, big chunk plays will be open for the taking. This will be the third night game in a row and the 400th consecutive sellout for the Huskers at Memorial Stadium. The best fans in College Football will be rocking and create a very tough atmosphere the defense can feed off of. Turnovers and QB pressure will win this game, so get loud Husker fans, this one will be a show. Huskers 23, Illini 17.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Stanford at Syracuse - The Tree's play their first ACC Conference game in the Orange Dome as Kyle McCord and the 'Cuse host them from across the country. Give me the fruit in this one, Kyle McCord lights them up. Syracuse 33, Stanford 21.

Flordia at Mississippi State - This could be a battle for the low spot in SEC country, and I don't like either teams' chances. Someone has to win though, and given that Florida has very little to play for with Billy Napier seemingly ready to be sent out the door, I'll take the home team. Bulldogs win 28-24.

Rutgers at Virginia Tech - The other BIG 10/ACC game this week features the ground pounding Scarlet Knights against the home Hokies. Lane Stadium is not an easy place to win, but I like Rutgers with star RB Kyle Monangai toting the pill. He's averaging 8.1 yards per carry and VT is ranked 113th in rush defense so far this season. Scarlet Knights even it out for the BIG 10 with a 30-17 win.

UCLA at #16 LSU - The Bruins looked awful last week against Indiana, and I've talked about how they have more than 22,000 miles of travel this season as a team. Give me the Tigers in the Bayou to pour it on some more as they win 38-14.

Arkansas at Auburn - Neither of these teams have really done much to stand out early and each lost a game they should've won. I like the Hogs' rushing attack more than I like Peyton Thorne at QB, so Woo Pig Sooie as Arkansas wins it 26-21.

Arizona State at Texas Tech - A Big XII shootout is set to take place in Lubbock as the Sun Devils take on the Red Raiders. Neither team has much of a defense, and two very good running backs command these offensive attacks. I'll take Arizona State because they seem to be the improved team in 2024. Sun Devils over the Red Raiders 44-38.

Northwestern at Washington - A new purple team has entered the BIG 10 as Washington hosts Northwestern for their first battle in the new conference. This is the conference opener you want if you're Washington, and they should take advantage as Northwestern is still building an identity. Dubs with the W 26-10 in Seattle.

Cal at Florida State - If you've been on football Twitter at all this week you've seen all the smack talk and memes from the Golden Bears to the Seminoles. Normally I'd say this type of stuff would motivate a team, but I'm not sure anything could motivate Florida State. They've been a mess and Justin Wilcox coaches a good program at Cal. Give me the Golden Bears on the road mostly because I want the Twitter fun to continue. Cal 28, FSU 21.

Baylor at Colorado - I'm not necessarily sure what we all did to deserve Baylor and Colorado in the prime time slot on FOX, but this is what we've got. The Bear's haven't shown much this year due to their opponents, but did hang around with the Utes, only losing by 11. I attribute most of that to Cam Rising not playing much, so give me Colorado and the Prime Time Buffs. Too many weapons, but hopefully Baylor makes some plays. Colorado 37, Baylor 20.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. Coastal Carolina ML over Virginia. The Chants are home underdogs and as mentioned above, their offense has a lot of weapons. Virginia's defense has vulnerabilities and I think Tim Beck will take advantage. Give me the Fighting Chanticleers to win outright.

2. Rutgers ML over Virginia Tech. I guess I'm calling my shot against the state of Virginia this week, but I think the ground game of Rutgers will roll the Hokies. They're a road underdog, but I'd bet on them to win outright.

3. Death, taxes and Ole Miss covering lots of points this season. The Rebels host Georgia Southern, who have shown they can move the ball on some teams, but even at -36.5, I like the cover. This offense cannot be stopped, and a G5 team is not going to be the exception. Rebels by a million, or at least 40.

Thanks for reading my Week 4 Predictions! I hope you have a fantastic football weekend and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 3 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 3 College Football fans! We had a wild Week 2, full of crazy games and upsets, so I'll share my thoughts on those ahead of my Week 3 Predictions slate. The Huskers were part of that wild week with a 28-10 beat down of the Buffaloes in Memorial. I've got a full breakdown of that game from what I saw and what to watch for in the coming weeks. Let's dive into my reflections from Week 2 and predictions for Week 3.

     The Huskers hosted Colorado for an evening rivalry game in Memorial Stadium, and the much anticipated game lived up to they hype. The stadium atmosphere was rocking, Husker fans had plenty to cheer about and for the first time since my Junior year of college, Nebraska is 2-0. This breakdown will highlight some key points of the game I saw by using my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories.

GOOD - First half Huskers and the 4th Quarter Light Show. From opening the game on a 3 & Out with a sack to finishing the half with a score in the final two minutes to go up 28-0, the Huskers were a dominant force unlike one we've seen in years during the first half of Saturday's game. The offense commanded the line of scrimmage, running the ball really well and once again, Dylan made the throws. My full nod of the first half goes to the Blackshirts though. From the jump, Nebraska was all over Shedeur Sanders. Tons of pressure combined with the pursuit and coverage of the backers and secondary led to the shut out. Nebraska came out to prove a point in this game, and did not disappoint in the opening half of this game. I also want to give a shoutout to my friends at HuskerVision and the Athletics Marketing team. Night games at Memorial Stadium are special no matter what, but the new 4th Quarter Light Show with the drones, fire and everything else, one of the absolute spectacles in college football. Everyone should experience a night game at Memorial Stadium.

EXPECTED - Struggles on Special Teams and very questionable officiating. I'm not one to complain about officials often, but there were some very frustrating flags thrown (and not thrown) last Saturday. There was a flag on nearly every play for probably 8 or 9 straight, but the officiating needs to be cleaned up. Both for Colorado and Nebraska, there were some pretty bad calls on both sides. As for the Special Teams, the Huskers need some help. Kick Return hasn't done much, but the bigger issue still lies with kicking. Field Goals are absolutely out of the question right now, and how can no one kick the football into the endzone for a touchback on a D-1 football team?

BAD - The second half Huskers and the Colorado culture. Nebraska did fall flat in the second half of their game last Saturday, especially on the offensive side of the ball. I really feel that the play calling from Satterfield became very conservative, and after the hype of the first half, it was a frustrating set of series to watch. I think this team still has a lot to learn about putting a full game together, but keeping the foot on the gas in a game like this would have been nice to see. Especially to break Colorado even more. Watching this team up close and reading more news about their locker room and practice cultures, it's just sickening. Deion has the flash and all the cameras on them, but they hype around what this program can do, it's over. I don't think there's much steak with this sizzle, and I am perfectly happy watching this ship go down in flames.

Week 2 Record: 13 - 8

Overal Record: 27 - 12

Week 3 Predictions:

#4 Alabama at Wisconsin

     The Tide travel to Camp Randall to take on the Badgers in an SEC/BIG 10 battle. The Badgers have been a bit underwhelming under Luke Fickell, but a big opportunity to make a statement is set up with Bama being a home game. The Badgers done what they needed to, by beating both Western Michigan and South Dakota so far this season, but neither game has looked great. Alabama's offense hasn't followed off much with Kalen DeBoer now at the helm, and they've looked strong in their first two outings. This is a real test for him as the guy after Saban though, especially on the road. Bama puts a lot of points on the board, and even with a few stops, I'm not sure the Badgers can keep pace on offense. Give me Jalen Milroe and the Tide to have a big game and win 34-14 on the road.

#16 LSU at South Carolina

     College Gameday heads down to Columbia, South Carolina as the Tigers take on the Gamecocks in an SEC battle. LSU is looking for a statement win after the opening loss to USC a couple of weeks ago, and South Carolina is looking to move out of the shadows if they can knock off a ranked team for the first time since Husker OC Marcus Satterfield was calling plays for them at the end of 2022. The Gamecocks looked dominant last week in their 31-6 road win over the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats, and people are starting to wonder if Shane Beamer is starting to put things together. LSU is still looking for a ground game as RB John Emery Jr. tore his ACL in that USC loss. Defensively is where this game gets interesting as the Tigers are very quick in pursuit of the ball, but the Gamecocks practically live in the opponents backfield. South Carolina racked up 11 tackles for loss against Kentucky, and without a run game to keep them honest, they could put up similar numbers against LSU. I would love to see South Carolina come out and thump the Tigers, and I'm not completely out on that possibility. However, LSU is more established in recent college football powers, so I'll need one more game of proof before I'm buying stock on South Carolina. Give me the Tigers in a tough one on the road, 24-20.

#24 Boston College at #6 Missouri

     The only ranked vs ranked matchup we have in Week 3 takes place in the other Columbia of SEC country, Mizzou. The [Mizzou] Tigers are ranked 6th in the nation and have yet to give up a point in the 2024 season. However, their competition has been very lackluster as opposed to Bill O'Brien's fighting Eagles. Most everyone is aware that Mizzou has one of the best receivers in the land with Luther Burden III, and better yet, Senior QB Brady Cook is there to throw it to him. BC rocked Florida State pretty well, and followed it up with a 56-0 performance over Duquesne, but Mizzou's offense is no joke. This one should be a very fun game to watch, but give me the Tigers at home 31-27. Fun fact, Boston College has won the only meeting between these teams just a few years ago in 2021.

#9 Oregon at Oregon State (The Civil War)

     In my head, this is a long road trip for the Ducks because they're part of the BIG 10 now, but in reality it's just over 170 miles. Regardless of distance, we've got one of College Football's classic rivalries set as the Beavers host the Ducks for the Civil War. First and foremost, THANK YOU to both of these programs for continuing the Rivalry and keeping it on the schedule. It will be hard not having his during Rivalry Week, but it's better than losing it, so I'll count that as a win. Oregon State doesn't have much available in terms of statement wins, so beating their rival would be a big boost to one of the programs left behind. The Ducks have not been overly impressive to start the season, and narrowly escaped the Bronco's out of Boise State last week. Dillon Gabriel needs to get this offense in gear if they want to make a run at the BIG 10 Conference Title and the playoffs. Should be a good one, but Oregon State has been ripped apart too much so give me the Ducks 37-28.

Washington State at Washington (The Apple Cup)

     Again, it's weird seeing this game in Week 3 rather than the last game of the season, but at least we have it. The Apple Cup Rivalry, much like the Civil War Rivalry, features one of the new BIG 10 members against their forgotten brother from the PAC 12. The Huskies' defense has looked impressive early on, and unfortunately that's one of the areas Wazzu tends to struggle. Both squads should air raid quite a bit in this one, and it could be fairly high scoring. I like Jedd Fisch in this matchup though. Dubs win it over the Cougars 33-27.

West Virginia at Pitt (Backyard Brawl)

     West Virginia and Pitt meet for the Backyard Brawl Rivalry, and this should be an entertaining one during the afternoon slot. The Mountaineers are looking to build their momentum back after the opening week loss to Penn State, and no better chance to do that than against a rival. Pitt had a back and forth game against the Bearcats of Cincy last week, but won 28-27. This one should be a fairly close game as both teams are evenly matched. Pitt WR, Konata Mumpfield, is my key player to watch in this one. West Virginia had a tough time matching up with Penn State's receivers throughout the course of the game, and even though he's not the biggest receiver, Mumpfield has 10 catches for 179 yards and 3 TDs so far this season, so you don't want to lose contain on him. I'm anxious to see both teams prove themselves in this one, but give me Pitt at home. Panthers are a bit sneaky this year and WVU needs to step up to win this game. I'd love to see them prove me wrong, but right now I'm taking the Panthers 27-24.

FIU at FAU (Shula Bowl)

     Just 59 miles of Atlantic Coastal Highway separate these South Florida rivals, and for just over 20 years, the Shula Bowl featuring the Don Shula Trophy has taken place. Both Florida Atlantic and Florida International had coaching ties to the great Don Shula when their programs were first started, so the tradition was built. FAU has dominated this series, winning 16 out of the 21 meetings, including the last 6. Their high flying offenses under Lane Kiffin and Glenn Spencer put up a lot of points that the Panthers could not answer. The two teams did not play last season, but FIU has some new swagger now with international music artist Pitbull in their corner. They opened their new stadium with a 52-16 win over Central Michigan last week, and FAU has started 0-2. It might be the hype of Mr. Worldwide hitting me, but I'm going with the Panthers, I think they're going to have a good year, plus their secondary is full of ballhawks. Against Central Michigan, 8 pass deflections and 5 picks. Cam Fancher has already thrown 3 picks in 2 games for FAU, so turnovers will be the difference. DALE FIU! Panthers win 34-21.

Colorado at Colorado State (Rocky Mountain Showdown)

     The Rocky Mountain Showdown between Colorado and Colorado State takes place in Fort Collins this year, and the Buffs need to win badly. Last year's game was a double OT thriller that resulted in favor of the Buffs. It was one of the early season hype games that had most everyone believing Deion and crew were ready for big time ball. This game also had a lot of talk back and forth last year, so I'm anxious to see how this chapter shakes out. CSU was primed to be a better team this year after finishing 5-7 last year, but an opening shutout against Texas and a mediocre performance against Northern Colorado do have some people scratching their heads. The players are talking though, and they say this is a revenge game they won't miss on. As for the Buffaloes, the hype train is running off the tracks quite quickly as they rank dead last (134th) in the nation in rushing offense and have given up 7 sacks in 2 games. Shedeur has not looked great apart from a few deep shots and with no push on either line of scrimmage, this team is starting to implode. The locker room stories have not been helpful for Deion, so a win would quiet things down tremendously. I did say CSU would go bowling this year, and beating Colorado would be a big one to get there. I'm not sure I trust either team much, but having seen the Boulder boys up close, I like CSU. If you have any concept of a ground game, there's not much more you need to do in order to win. Plus, as stated many times before, I like seeing Colorado lose. Rams 30, Buffaloes 27.

Northern Iowa at Nebraska

     The Huskers host Northern Iowa for another night game in Lincoln and after a big game like Colorado, I'm looking to see if this team can come back down to earth, get focused and win the way they are supposed to in a game like this. Northern Iowa is an FCS school, and should be treated as such. This is a tune up game ahead of conference play for the Huskers, and should allow a chance for the backups to play again. I want to see a football team that understands the assignment and uses this game to fix some of the mistakes from the first couple weeks. Fix your blocking assignments you missed, fix the run gaps you missed, fix the secondary break downs, score some points in the second half and for the love of all things football, FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN KICK. Nebraska has too many weapons not to drop another 40+ in this game the way they have played, but I'm sure Matt Rhule is on board when I say this is a good time to put together a clean game. Huskers flex a little bit and win easy going into a short week against Illinois. Nebraska 42, Northern Iowa 7.

Quick Hit Predictions:

Memphis at Florida State - Statement for Memphis, and I'm out on FSU right now. Tigers win 30-24.

Tulane at #15 Oklahoma - Sooners need to get their offense in gear, Oklahoma 28, Tulane 20.

#18 Notre Dame at Purdue - Fighting Irish rebound, win this one 33-17.

Texas A&M at Florida - I honestly don't know what this game will look like. Aggies 34-24?

Toledo at Mississippi State - Don't sleep on the Rockets, but the Bulldogs have little issue here, 45-17.

#1 Georgia at Kentucky - This is could be an easy overlook game, but Georgia handles business 35-7.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. Coastal Carolina -18 over Temple. The Owls do not have much to say about football this season and my beloved Chants have a high-powered offense with quite a few weapons. Even on the road I would take the points here.

2. Ole Miss -21.5 over Wake Forest. The Rebels put up points and never stop it seems. Plus the Demon Deacons gave up a 17 point half time lead to lose to Virginia last week and over 350 yards passing. Easy pickings for Ole Miss to go above 3 TDs when they've outscored opponents 128-3 in the first few weeks.

3. New Mexico +28 against Auburn. I'm not calling an outright here, but a Superdog pick is a good one as the Lobos have been fighters in both their games. Auburn just flopped at home to Cal with 14 points and 4 scores is a lot to trust Peyton Thorne with. Give me the Lobos to cover!

Thanks for reading my Husker Game 2 reflections and the mini rivalry week predictions for Week 3! I hope you all have a fantastic Saturday of College Football and GO BIG RED!

Incredible 4th Quarter Light Show in Memorial.

Watching this game with my buddy Jake was so much fun, we've been talking about this one since the end of last season!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 2 of College Football and get excited because I've got a big slate of games to make picks on. Most of the time there's a bit of a drop off from the big opening weekend, but there are quite a few intriguing matchups that could put a serious dent in a team's season. Plus, I have my reflections from Nebraska's win over UTEP last week. We'll kick things off with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD thoughts from the game and then dive into predictions for Week 2, enjoy!

     Nebraska won 40-7 against the UTEP Miners to start a season 1-0 for the first time since 2019. A terrifying stat to say the least when you ask Husker fans, but that's one more monkey off the back. This was a game Nebraska won they way they should. It was a bit slow moving to start, but the offense started clicking and multiple players on the depth chart were able to get in the game. I've got my full break down with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD categories below.

GOOD - The Husker wideouts. Most everyone on the planet is raving about how good Dylan Raiola looked in his first game with a Husker N on his helmet, and he was absolutely fabulous. However, the play of the Husker wide receivers in this game was something we haven't seen in a very long time. Raiola was putting the ball in great places for them to make plays, AND THEY ACTUALLY MADE THE PLAYS! I don't think I've seen a Husker wideout attack the ball and want it more than a defender since Stanley Morgan. There's some work to be done on perimeter blocking, but when the ball was up in the air, the Husker receivers went and got it. Routes were run well and they were able to create space from the defenders. That space will be tricker to make as they face tougher opponents, but this was a passing attack looking like they want to throw the ball aggressively and win battles at the top of their routes. Great work by the receivers.

EXPECTED - Running back by committee and Dylan showing off his arm. Starting with the new star QB of the Huskers, everyone has been waiting to see what he can do. All they hype, all the recruitment accolades, everything boils down to if he can perform on the field. Raiola finished with a clean 238 yards and 2 TDs on the day. Some of his highlight moments included a Mahomes-like throwing motion while stepping up into the pocket and checking down various plays into a situation yielding more success. All of this was aided by a solid ground attack which featured 4 different running backs, all averaging at least 4.0 yards per carry. Dante Dowdell, Gabe Ervin Jr., Rahmir Johnson and Emmett Johnson all got to carry the rock throughout the day and performed well. The quad combined for 210 rushing yards and I think we'll continue to see more work by them as a committee throughout the season. All bring a variety of different skillsets to the offense and no one broke out to me from Game 1. That could change with plenty of football left to play, but I expect more committee work for the time being.

BAD - Kicking and the Tight End Bubble Screen. Unfortunately the special teams of Nebraska is still struggling as noted by the kick out of bounds. Nebraska opted to kick it high and short for most of the game after that and there was little to no breeze last week. This is a unit that continues to bring the most worry to me. Another worrying thing from Saturday was the amount of bubble screens being thrown to Thomas Fidone and Carter Nelson. Both are tremendous athletes and need the ball, but not on a route meant for speed and agility. There are so many other players on this roster that fit the bill for speed and agility above them. That's what bubble screens are designed for, a quick completion in space to one of the fastest and most agile guys on your team to get quick yards. They should be blocking on this play. Give the ball to someone with more speed so they have a chance at getting to the edge or getting past the blocks before the defense sheds them. Fidone had 3 catches for 1 yard because they were all bubble screens where the blocking wasn't great and he didn't have the speed to beat defenders to the edge. I'd like to see this play go to someone who can make a man miss with Fidone and Nelson lead blocking.

Week 1 Record: 10 - 4

Overall Record: 14 - 4

Week 2 Predictions:

#3 Texas at #10 Michigan

     We open up Week 2 with a high noon matchup between top 10 teams. The reigning champs host Texas as the Longhorns travel North to the Big House. Michigan is a very different team from last year's squad, starting with HC Sherrone Moore now leading the Wolverines. A power run game with a rugged BIG 10 defense is still the identity of this team, but keeping up with the Texas offense will be no easy task. Quinn Ewers has one of the best receiving corps in the nation and they looked to be in gear quickly with a 52-0 performance against Colorado State last week. Texas was in a lot of close, one-score games last season though, and could've dropped a few after building big leads and losing them. This team needs to close out against a foe like Michigan. A big test early, but I think Texas holds the edge in this game and beats Michigan at the Big House. Hook 'Em for a 27-23 win.

Arkansas at #16 Oklahoma State

     Despite a tough Week 1 opponent in the reigning FCS Champion Jackrabbits, Oklahoma State looked unfazed as they dominated that game 44-20. Arkansas looked impressive against FCS team Arkansas Pine-Bluff to the tune of 70-0, but now the real season begins. Arkansas has a new offensive attack with former HC Bobby Petrino back in Fayettsville as OC under Sam Pittman. They will be trying to keep pace with one of the best rushing attacks in the nation as Ollie Gordon already looks to be in midseason form having rushed for 126 yards and 3 TDs last week. I do like the Pokes at home in this one as I think the Hogs have a bit more development to do, and Okie State is out to prove they should be a Playoff favorite out of the Big XII. Pokes beat the Hogs at home 34-24.

#23 Georgia Tech at Syracuse

     A sneaky ACC battle Saturday morning features the newly ranked Yellow Jackets on the road against a revamped Syracuse offense led by ex-Buckeye Kyle McCord. Everyone took note of Georgia Tech following their win against Florida State in Dublin, especially their rushing attack. Against Georgia State, Haynes King and the Jackets flexed their passing muscles as he threw for 421 yards with 2 TDs and a pick. We all know McCord can sling it, and he threw for 354 and 4 TDs with a pick in their opener against Ohio last week. This could be a close game, but I like the rushing attack from Georgia Tech to be strong against Syracuse and keep the time of possession in their favor. Georgia Tech wins 24-20.

Baylor at #11 Utah

     We have a non-conference matchup between two Big XII teams! You read that right, despite now being conference foes with Utah joining the Big XII, this will be counted as a non-conference matchup between Baylor and Utah as their series was scheduled before conference realignment. The Bears had little issue with Tarleton State, but Cam Rising and the Utes are a different challenge. They will have a stout defense that flies to the ball, forcing Baylor to take underneath looks. I expect some coverage sacks as Dequan Finn gets his first big taste of Power 4 defense after his first few years playing ball at Toledo. The Bears could take a big step forward and make this interesting, but I see the Utes having little to know issue with Baylor today. Utah wins 30-10.

Iowa State at #21 Iowa (Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy)

     The Cyclones and Hawkeyes meet for their annual rivalry game with the Cy-Hawk Trophy on the line. Iowa started slow but ended up scoring a staggering 40 points in their opener. Granted, this was against Illinois State, and I doubt the Cyclones will be allowing anywhere close to that. This is a game that should be very winnable for Iowa State, you just need to score 20 points. However, Iowa's defense won't make anything easy. They have won 8 of the last 10 in this series, always edging out the Cyclones. I do think Iowa State has the offense to win this game, but Iowa always finds a way. Their way is usually by letting teams shoot themselves in the foot, but a win is a win and Iowa is going to take it some how. I really hope I'm wrong, but Hawkeyes 17, Cyclones 10. Bet the under.

UTSA at Texas State

     This may not be a highlight game to some, but a very fun matchup is set in San Marcos, Texas as the Bobcats host the Road Runners. UTSA has been a G5 power over the last few years, but QB Frank Harris is gone, and Jeff Traylor has a bit of a rebuilding roster while trying to stay atop the G5 heap. Texas State is primed for a big season in the Sun Belt, and along with a few analysts, they're my dark horse pick to win the G5 bid for the Playoffs. Ex-JMU QB Jordan McCloud who was the conference player of the year last year in the Sun Belt, now slings it for the Bobcats, and has a tremendous amount of weapons around him. Junior RB Ismail Mahdi is my difference maker though, and with his 5.6 yards per carry last week against UTSA's stout run defense will be very fun to watch. As much as I love to Meep Meep with UTSA, I've got Texas State going far this year and this is a key victory to propel them forward. Bobcats catch the Roadrunners in a very exciting 35-33 game.

Marshall at Virginia Tech

     The Hokies let me down in my bets last week and in my predictions. I really thought they were going to be a deadly factor in the ACC this season, and while they still can be, the opening week loss to Vanderbilt was extremely deflating for Brent Pry's squad. A bounce back game opportunity arrives at home as Marshall comes to town. The Heard are looking to keep VT out of sorts and stuff the run as Vandy allowed just 75 rush yards last week on the ground. I expect the Hokies to bounce back in this game, but if they lose again, this season could go off the rails quickly. Virginia Tech wins with a much better performance 30-17.

#19 Kansas at Illinois

     A Big XII/BIG 10 matchup features the Jayhawks on the road in Champaign. The fighting Illini struggled with 3 one-score losses in their final 5 games last year, keeping them from bowl eligibility. KU has lofty goals in 2024 as much of their talent returns to a loaded offense with Lance Leipold in his 4th season at the helm. The QB Battle should be a good one as Jalon Daniels leads KU and Luke Altmyer leads the Illini. Both of them like to sling it, but Daniels' scrambling ability can give teams a lot of headaches. I think this could be a fairly close game like last year, which ended in an 11-point win for KU at home. Illinois should be an improved team this year, and while I have KU winning 38-35, this will show teams the Illini are not an easy win in 2024. Rock Chalk.

#14 Tennessee vs #24 North Carolina State

     The Wolfpack are looking to match the offensive pace of Tennessee as they take on the Vols in Charlotte. Ex-Chanticleer QB Grayson McCall and star wideout Kevin Concepcion found their connection early as the two of them racked up 9 completions for 121 yards and 3 TDs in their opening game against Western Carolina. The Wolfpack struggled to pull away until the 4th quarter of that game, and Tennessee will be a tough team to catch if that occurs again. The Vols racked up 69 points on Chattanooga last week, and Josh Huepel's revamped offense looked as deadly as ever with Freshman QB Nico Iamaleava throwing the rock. UT wins this showdown in Charlotte with a big offensive night 40-28.

Appalachian State at #25 Clemson

     The Tigers didn't look like much of a championship contending team when they took on the Bulldogs last week, and App State at home is never a given. This does provide a good bounce back opportunity for the Tigers though, and Cade Klubnik desperately needs one. He mustered just 142 yards and a pick against the Dawgs while RB Phil Mafah had 16 carries for 59 yards. Very little to show from this offense, but their defense did have good pursuit and should be able to hold down the Mountaineers. Tigers win 34-14.

Boise State at #7 Oregon

     Despite much hype for 2024, neither the Ducks nor the Broncos looked impressive in their openers. While Boise State did score 56, they were down late and had to build a comeback against Georgia Southern on the road. Oregon moved the ball all over the field to the tune of nearly 500 yards, but a 10 point win over the now FCS Idaho Vandals left experts scratching their heads. I expect the Ducks' offense to wake up in this one and put some points on the board in big numbers. They may need to because the Boise State rushing attack features one of the best RBs in the nation. Ashton Jeanty carried the rock 20 times last week for 267 yards and 6 TDs. Oregon needs to send 3 or 4 guys to the take him down on every carry, or this could get ugly for the Ducks. I like Boise to hang around, but Oregon will pull away late. Oregon wins without punching anyone 37-20.

Colorado at Nebraska

     One of the biggest games of Week 2 features my beloved Cornhuskers against the bitter rival Buffaloes. The Deion show rolls into Lincoln this year as the Buffs and Huskers look to see who has a leg up in year 2 of their respective coaches. Despite a strong showing from the Blackshirts, this game needs points for a victory. Watching Colorado last week showed me they are still one of the better passing teams in the nation thanks to their tremendous talent at receiver. I think the defense will get some stops, especially since the protection for Shedeur isn't great, but he can still sling it and they will make plays. This responsibility for points now falls on the offense and Dylan Raiola. The Huskers have a talented WR room to compete with the Buffs, and a run game supported by four backs who can all change up the pace. There are holes available in Colorado's defense to take advantage of, but securing the ball is a number once concern. It's hard to imagine the Huskers playing worse than last season's game, especially with the new and improved squad for 2024. This is the first big PROVE IT game of the Matt Rhule era, and under the lights in Lincoln, our fans are hungry for a big win. The rivalry, the tradition, the energy at Memorial for an early season night game. It's truly football season now and the Huskers win 36-33 over the Buffs. GO BIG RED!

Quick Hit Predictions:

#17 Kansas State at Tulane - Wildcats 31, Green Wave 17.

Cal at Auburn - Tigers 30, Golden Bears 14.

South Carolina at Kentucky - Wildcats 23, Gamecocks 13.

Michigan State at Maryland - Terps 28, Spartans 14.

CMU at FIU - Can't lose your first game in Pitbull Stadium, right? DALE! FIU 30, CMU 26.

South Florida at #4 Alabama - Roll Tide 45-14.

Virginia at Wake Forest - Demon Deacons 33, Cavaliers 27.

Texas Tech at Washington State - Mike Leach Bowl! 38-34 Cougars.

Mississippi State at Arizona State - Forks up! 31-27 Sun Devils.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. Utah -13.5 cover against the Bears. The Utes need to show they're the favorite in this conference and even though it's not a conference game, I like them by 2 touchdowns.

2. Auburn -11.5 cover over Cal. Long way to travel for the Golden Bears and the Tigers looked smooth in week 1. I think two TDs is a solid win and bet.

3. USC -28.5 over Utah State. Just over 4 TDs is pushing my comfort zone, but that receiving corps showed a lot and I doubt the Aggies can keep up. Fight On for a good payout with the Trojans.

Thanks for reading my game day predictions and enjoy Week 2 of College Football. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando