Week 3 Predictions

      Welcome to Week 3 of College Football! There are some great games this week with opportunities for some teams to separate themselves from the pack. I've got a list of some of the best games to watch this weekend along with my predictions, enjoy!

Week 2 Results: 14 - 7

Overall Results: 35 - 14

Week 3 Predictions:

#12 Clemson at Georgia Tech

     The rambling wreck host a very shaky looking Clemson squad for an ACC battle that has gotten more intriguing over the last two weeks. The Tigers' offense has been very slow to start the season, scoring just 10 at home against LSU in the opener and rallying from 16 points down to beat Troy 27-16 last week. Georgia Tech is always going to punch their opponent in the mouth with a rugged run game led by QB Haynes King & RB Jamal Haynes. King was out in game 2 and does have injury history, but it sounds like he's ready to go and Clemson will need to match that aggression. If Clemson wins convincingly, they can likely erase the narrative of the first few weeks, but Georgia Tech will hang around, and grind out this game. The Yellow Jackets never quite get over the hump and Clemson has 9 straight in the series and today they make it 10. Tigers win 28-20.

#6 Georgia at #15 Tennessee

     The Bulldogs travel to Rocky Top having dominated this series of late, winning by an average of 26 points over the last 8 games. The Vols have looked hot to start the season under Joey Augilar, dropping 45 on Syracuse in Week 1 and 72 against Eastern Tennessee last week. I don't personally have a lot of trust in Gunnar Stockton and the Georgia offense, but it's hard to go against history and their defense. This could be a big statement by Tennessee, but I'll take the Bulldogs to win 24-13 on Rocky Top.

Pittsburgh at West Virginia (Backyard Brawl)

     Rich Rod is back in the brawl for the first time since the iconic 2007 game where his 2nd ranked Mountaineers were upset by a very lowly Panthers team, ultimately keeping West Virginia out of the BCS National Championship. He's had 18 years to stew on that loss, and a week to sit on the loss at Ohio. Pitt has looked strong in the first few weeks and on paper have the more talented team. However, playing at home, I'll give the nod to West Virginia to bounce back and force some turnovers in this one. Mountaineers 30, Pitt 24.

#18 South Florida at #5 Miami

     The Bulls are no longer a team hiding in the shadows as they look to upset a top 5 team on the road this week. They've got 2 ranked wins already this season and their defense has been phenomenal. Miami's defense looked fast and aggressive against Notre Dame, racking up 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. They'll likely rush Byrum Brown, trying to force turnovers, but the question is how will Carson Beck respond to similar pressure? USF has proved me wrong twice in my predictions and I'm not going against them three times in a row. Bulls bring the storm as they beat Miami 23-17 in a game most people can't watch because this top 20 ranked matchup is on the CW. Go Bulls!

Arkansas at #17 Ole Miss

     The Hogs have looked good against lesser competition, but the Rebels provide a different challenge with a very dynamic offense. Ole Miss held off Kentucky for a 7-point victory on the road last week, and despite his 4 interceptions on the season, Sophomore QB Austin Simmons has helped the offense out of multiple scenarios with his legs. Arkansas' defense will need to account for his scrambling abilities and force Simmons to stay in the pocket. Offensively, the Razorbacks need to rely on Taylen Green to continue making good decisions with the ball. He's completing 71.9% of his passes with 10 TDs and 2 picks thus far. His rushing ability is a true weapon in this offense, and I think his legs could be the difference-maker. Not many people are paying attention to the Hogs, but they'll turn some heads with a 27-23 win.

Florida at #3 LSU

     The Gators are coming off a home loss to USF and now have to head to Death Valley for a night game. Unfortunately for them, this is only the beginning of a BRUTAL schedule as they travel to Miami and then Texas comes to the swamp next followed by another road trip to A&M. The Tigers defense looked very impressive at Clemson in Week 1, and I expect a lot of pressure on DJ Lagway. Garrett Nussmeier was sacked 7 times and Florida had 11 tackles for loss in last year's matchup, so look for LSU to give more protection up front. Tigers 26, Gators 17.

#16 Texas A&M at #8 Notre Dame

     Aggies HC Mike Elko returns to South Bend where he used to be the defensive coordinator. He brings in an A&M team that hasn't looked looked too bad against Utah State and UTSA, but neither game was a beat down by any means. The Irish are coming off a BYE following their close loss on the road at Miami, so having sat on their loss for 2 weeks should have them fired up. The Irish and the Aggies will have quite the battle on the line of scrimmage as both teams strengths rely on the offensive and defensive lines. Again, a bit opportunity for the Aggies to make folks start considering them as an SEC contender, but I don't see Notre Dame starting 0-2. Fighting' Irish 23, Aggies 17.

Vanderbilt at #11 South Carolina

     Both teams share a common opponent this year with Virginia Tech, which is rare since the season just started. Nonetheless, we have a great comparison mark for these teams, and Vanderbilt certainly looked better in their 44-20 win in Blacksburg last week. South Carolina had VT at a neutral site, and despite trying to give that game away multiple times, they did manage a 24-11 victory. If the Gamecocks want to be taken seriously as an SEC and playoff contender, this is a game they need to win, and they need to win it convincingly. LaNorris Sellers has been fine this season, but his weapons around him have not done much for big plays. On the other side, Diego Pavia lives for these moments, and if Vandy can contain Sellers defensively, South Carolina doesn't have the run stopping ability of last year. I like both of these teams to cause some upsets throughout the SEC this season, and I may very quickly regret picking against Diego Pavia, but I like the Gamecocks at home. It's a tough environment and this should be a fun game. South Carolina 33-23.

Minnesota at Cal

     A BIG 10 vs ACC matchup out on the West Coast, because that makes sense. Both teams have dominated lesser competition, each with freshman QBs who have been lighting up the stat sheet early in this season. Drake Lindsey and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele are both very fun players to watch, so I'm anxious to see the QB battle under the lights. One of my big theories from last year is the time difference for games like this. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 Pacific Time, which is 9:30 Central. Minnesota body clocks will be feeling like midnight as we move into the 3rd quarter. I don't always like my decision making at that time and I don't trust Minnesota's. Give me Cal with a late night performance out West. Golden Bears 34, Golden Gophers 28.

Houston Christian at Nebraska

     A year after Nebraska joined the BIG 10 is when Houston Christian began playing football. They don't have much in terms of experience, but freshman RB Xai'Shaun Edwards already has 200 yards and 4 TDs on the season, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. The Huskers should have a similar look to last week where the offense is facing little resistance and they're able to bottle up Edwards and the Huskies. I'll be looking for who starts to step up on the depth chart for those #2 and rotation spots. I'm still looking for an RB2 behind Emmett Johnson, but I've loved the play from Dylan Raiola thus far. Another tune up game and opportunity for a lot of players to get in as the Huskers flex with a 54-7 victory.

Quick Hit Predictions:

#13 Oklahoma at Temple - The Sooners looked strong at home against Michigan last week and now have a road test in Philly against the Owls who have looked much improved. I don't think they'll be able to stop John Mateer though, and the Sooner defense should silence them, but don't look too far ahead to Auburn next week. Boomer Sooner 38-14.

Wisconsin at #19 Alabama - I'm still unsure of what both teams have to show this year, especially with Wisconsin, but Bama at home is too much. Roll Tide 27-13.

Oregon State at #21 Texas Tech - The Beavers are dying for a win after a couple of rough starts to the season. Unfortunately, they now travel to Lubbock while the Red Raiders are gearing up for a Big XII campaign. Wreck 'Em with your guns up because I don't think Oregon State will keep pace with Texas Tech.

Ohio at #1 Ohio State - An instate battle to determine who the true university of the state of Ohio should be takes place in the horseshoe as the Buckeyes host the feisty Bobcats. Ohio showed tough defense in their win at home against West Virginia, but the Buckeyes are a different test. Both QBs will be fun to watch, but Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes win 45-10.

Appalachian State at Southern Miss - An interesting game in the Sun Belt sends App State to the new and improved Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The Mountaineers have put up a lot of yards, but not many points so far this season. I like the Golden Eagles at home, especially because Senior QB Braylon Braxton accounted for more than 250 offensive yards and 5 TDs last season against App State while playing for Marshall. Southern Miss 33, App State 21.

#20 Utah at Wyoming - The Utes renew an old Mountain West rivalry as they travel to Laramie to take on the Cowboys. Sophomore wideout Chris Durr Jr. of the Cowboys will be a player to watch as he is averaging 20.3 yards per catch with nearly 250 yards and 2 TDs on just 12 catches. Utah's defense has 3 picks on the year thus far, and I expect them to shut down the Cowboys for a 31-10 win.

Duke at Tulane - Darian Mensah returns to New Orleans to take on his former squad now as QB of the Blue Devils. Jake Retzlaf takes his place with the Green Wave and has this team looking really good. Duke seemed to crumble quickly in the second half against Illinois, so give me Tulane at home 36-31.

FAU at FIU (Shula Bowl) - Can't lose a big rivalry game at Pitbull Stadium. Give me the panthers for a thrilling 38-35 win over the Owls.

Texas State at Arizona State - The Sun Devils need a bounce back game following their loss to Mississippi State while the Bobcats are coming off a big win in the I-35 Rivalry. I think Kenny Dillingham will have his team refocused for this one at home. Sun Devils win 35-14.

Thanks for reading all of my Week 3 Predictions! Enjoy your College Football Saturday and GO BIG RED. If anyone is interested in hearing my broadcast for the Peru State Bobcats this evening, tune in with the link at 6 PM: https://urbanedgenetwork.net/?school=heart-of-america-athletic-conference.

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Reflections

      Hello Football Fans and I hope you're all still buzzing after a fantastic weekend of games like I still am. Obviously I'm very excited about the Huskers' big win over Akron, but Week 2 was so much fun I had to get a stand-alone reflection post out. This will have my full breakdown of the Nebraska game along with all my thoughts from the games around the nation and the first two weeks of the season. There's a lot to look at so let's roll in with my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD analysis of the Husker game.

GOOD - Matt Rhule's halftime speech. Hopefully most everyone has seen the video of Matt Rhule's halftime speech by now, but if not be sure to look it up. The video shows Rhule talking to the team in the locker room with a 33-0 lead at half time and he is fired up because he wants this team to play better. He is appalled that Akron is trying to throw the ball before halftime and not taking a knee to go into the locker room. He's furious that there are Husker players smiling and looking in the mirrors at their fits instead of getting locked in to destroy the will of the Akron players in the second half. My favorite quotes from the video were "I want them never to say our name again" and "It's about time people say 'I don't want to schedule those guys anymore'". This is a mentality that has been missing from Husker Football for a long time, and I loved every single moment of that video.

Also, a good moment after the game when TE Luke Lindenmeyer proposed to his girlfriend after the game where he scored his first career touchdown. A very fun moment and of course she said yes!

EXPECTED - Nebraska beating Akron 68-0. This is what a Nebraska-Akron score should look like. Not just because of the success in the 90s, but because of how these two programs are built. If the Huskers want to be back in the blue blood conversations, this is what blue blood teams do. The offense looked crisp, the offensive line got a push in the run game and the defense was flying to the ball. Nebraska finished with 728 total yards on offense (234 rushing, 494 passing), 31 first downs and defensively they recorded 9 tackles for loss with 2 sacks. Riley Van Poppel saved the shutout with a field goal block in the third quarter and the Huskers were able to get a lot of players time on the field. The 2nd and 3rd string players were able to play multiple drives and if Nebraska wants to compete in the BIG 10 and for a playoff spot, this is the type of performance I expect against lower level opponents.

BAD - Penalties and RB2. Obviously I'm being nit-picky when looking for "bad" things to talk about in a 68-0 victory, but the Huskers racked up 6 penalties for 71 yards throughout this game. Always an area the coaches will want to clean up. The second thing is that the RB2 spot is still wide open and as Nebraska moves into BIG 10 play with Michigan in less than 2 weeks, there needs to be a clear cut back to spell Emmett Johnson. Johnson has been phenomenal through two games this season and I have very high hopes for his numbers this year, but the workload he's currently carrying is not ideal for his consistent production in the offense. Would love to see someone break out of that RB room sooner rather than later.

     Now for my analysis on the larger landscape of college football, I thought it would be best to hand out some superlatives to certain teams that have caught my eye in the first two weeks. So here are a variety of superlatives and mini awards for teams through two weeks of football.

Ireland Curse Team - Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State is the newest member of the Ireland Curse. Over the past few seasons, the team that loses in Ireland seems to have their season go off the rails. Starting with my Huskers who botched an 11 point lead with a second half onside kick to Northwestern, they wound up 4-8 and (thankfully) firing Scott Frost. Navy went 5-7 after losing, Florida State went 2-10 last year and now the Wildcats are spiraling after needing a miracle to beat North Dakota and falling to Army at home who just lost to FCS Tarleton State and was playing without their starting QB. Things are not looking good in Manhattan, Kansas right now.

F-Around & Find Out Team - Oregon Ducks

As highlighted in my predictions post, it was all but finalized on the scoreboard that Oregon was going to demolish Oklahoma State following Mike Gundy's comments early in the week. The Ducks not only handed Gundy his worse career loss with the Cowboysm (69-3), but may have turned up the burner on his hot seat in Stillwater. Don't talk about the Ducks if you're not ready to back things up on the field.

My Kind of Coach Team - Syracuse Orange

Other than Matt Rhule and his fiery speeches with a killer mentality, Syracuse's Fran Brown might be my next favorite coach in College Football. I really enjoyed watching his team last year, and if not for a couple of close game stumbles they would've been fighting for a playoff spot too. Regardless, watching video of Brown make his team run sprints after they completed a 4th quarter comeback to win against UConn in overtime was fantastic. He was upset with the overall effort of his team throughout the game and decided to make sure they don't carry that over to any other part of the season.

A Big Step Forward Team - Mississippi State Bulldogs

We'll need to revisit these superlatives later in the season to see how many hold true, but right now Mississippi State looks like one of the most improved teams from last season to now. The Bulldogs knocked off #12 Arizona State 24-20 with their game-winning touchdown coming on a 58 yard pass with 30 seconds left. This team could certainly cause some upsets in the SEC, especially with a healthy Blake Shapen at QB this year.

Panic Button Team - Virginia Tech Hokies

It's not often that things are in crisis mode for the Hokies, but after starting 0-2 against two quality opponents where both games were very winnable, I'm guessing there are some sirens going off in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech was up 20-10 at halftime and lost this game 44-20 despite winning the turnover battle and having significantly fewer penalties. Not good.

Best Resume Team - USF Bulls

With two ranked wins and an impressive defensive stand in The Swamp, South Florida has quickly turned heads as one of the nation's favorites to get the G5 bid to the playoffs. There's still a long road for this team which includes a road trip to Miami this weekend and plenty of teams in the American looking for an upset, but USF has the talent to make it all the way to the playoffs. This is a fun team to watch, especially on defense.

Sleeper Teams

Again, its early in the season, but if you see any of these teams on the schedule, you better bring your A game. These are sleepers for a wide range of Playoff Contenders to Playoff Destroyers.

Illinois, USC, Washington, Utah, Baylor, Oklahoma, Missouri, Boston College, Virginia BYU, & UNLV.

Fun G5 Teams

Not everyone enjoys watching G5 teams every Saturday, but when mid-week Maction comes along or you just want to see what other games are going, keep an eye out for these teams.

Ohio, Toledo, Fresno State, Texas State, Tulane, South Alabama & Hawaii.

Thanks for reading my Week 2 Reflections and be ready for Week 3 Predictions later this week with another great slate of College Football waiting for us this weekend. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Week 2 Predictions

      After a long offseason the 5-day football slate of Week 1 did not disappoint. We had upsets, top 10 clashes and came out of the weekend with our eyes on how many teams will follow up their various Week 1 performances. This post will highlight my thoughts on the Huskers win against Cincy along with some Week 2 predictions and bets to make this weekend if you want to follow my "Perfect Parlay". Enjoy this very full post of CFB reflections and picks, and enjoy your Week 2 games.

     Nebraska opened up their season in Arrowhead against the Bearcats of Cincinnati. With many Chief players in attendance, along with a full stadium of Husker fans, Nebraska defeated Cincy 20-17. Blackshirt Malcom Hartzog Jr. sealed the victory with a fantastic interception in the endzone just moments after he was called for a holding penalty. I was able to attend the game with my friend Kody as we were down in KC for work with the University. It was a fantastic atmosphere and perfect night for football. I've got my GOOD, EXPECTED and BAD breakdown below for the game.

GOOD: Emmett Johnson and Kyle Cunanan. The Husker RB led the way with 108 yards on 25 carries, adding another 27 yards on the ground with 7 catches. While Johnson didn't score last week, he was clearly the #1 workhorse for the Husker offense. There isn't much for depth at the RB position for the Huskers, so I do have concern of wear and tear on Johnson over the season with this kind of workload, but I do love that he's a focal point of the offense. Hopefully, he'll continue to lead this offense down the field, and provide more kicking opportunities for Kyle Cunanan. I'm not declaring the special teams woes completely gone for Nebraska, but when you open your career as a Husker with a 52 yard field goal, that's an impressive statement. Cunanan, a Sophomore transfer from Charlotte, went 2/2 on both FGs and extra points. I was shocked when he trotted out for that first field goal, but what a great kick! Anxious to see how he kicks throughout the season.

EXPECTED: Husker Wideouts sharing the love & Brendan Sorsby's legs. Starting with the opposing QB, Sorsby did not have a great day passing, but 96 yards and 2 TDs on the ground, he was extremely difficult to stop for the Huskers. He's a veteran QB and dual-threat players have always been an extra headache for the Blackshirts. Sorsby will be a dangerous QB throughout Big XII play this season. Now over to the Huskers, I am a big fan of this wide receiver room and how many different weapons Raiola has to throw to. Nebraska finished with 9 different players catching a pass from Raiola, who finished with 243 yards and 2 TDs. Both Nyziah Hunter and Dane Key caught 6 passes followed closely by Luke Lindenmyer and Jacory Barney Jr. with 5 catches each. This offense can certainly be something special with so many options for the ball to be given to.

BAD: Line of scrimmage push. While Emmitt Johnson did top 100 yards, the Husker offensive line was shaky while the defensive line looked to be on skates for most of the game. Cincy recorded 3 sacks and 6 tackles for loss while holding Nebraska to just 3.1 yards per carry. The Bearcats averaged 6.7 yards per carry with more than 200 on the ground. The Blackshirts did not record a sack and only had 2 tackles for loss. There were multiple plays where the front 7 of Nebraska was getting moved 5-7 yards by the Cincy Oline. I'm certainly nervous for the Huskers' push on both sides of the line of scrimmage throughout the season.

Week 1 Results: 17 - 6

Overall Results: 21 - 7

Week 2 Predictions:

#11 Illinois at Duke

     The Fighting Illini are very quietly working their way to the top 10 and have an opportunity to put on a show with a P4 road game in Duke. The Blue Devils certainly aren't a football blue blood like their basketball squad, but Manny Diaz always has a tough defense. Combining that with transfer QB Darian Mensah builds a lot of momentum, especially when he accounted for nearly 400 yards and 3 TDs against Elon in the opener. The Blue Devils should hang around for a bit, but the experience of Illinois will win out. Luke Altmeyer is very decisive and does well working through his reads, expect a big game from him. I think Bret Bielema is looking to make a statement in this game. Illinois 35, Duke 17.

Iowa at #16 Iowa State (Battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy)

     The annual battle for the Cy-Hawk trophy takes place in Ames this year, where the Hawkeyes have dominated the series. Iowa State has not won this game on their home field since 2011. Rocco Becht looks to change that narrative as the veteran QB has already racked up 5 TDs and 461 yards through the air. Iowa still doesn't really understand the concept of a forward pass as Jackrabbit transfer Mark Gronowski completed just 8/15 for 44 yards and 1 TD in their week 1 win against Albany. As usual, Iowa will run the ball and setup a brick wall on defense. Iowa State always seems to lose their head in this game, but I think the veteran presence of Rocco Becht will help this team prevail. Cyclones win back-to-back Cy-Hawk Trophies and the first on their home turf in 14 years. Iowa State 23, Iowa 17.

Baylor at #17 SMU

     Despite a home-opening loss to Auburn, I'm still buying Baylor stock in 2025. This team made some week 1 mistakes that cost them the game, but still racked up more than 400 yards through the air with Sawyer Robertson accounting for 3 TDs. The Ponies host their former Southwest Conference Rival ranked #17 in the nation, but this isn't the same defense from a year ago. Heisman dark horse Kevin Jennings gives me reason to believe they will make this game interesting, but don't be surprised to see this Baylor squad put up some points. Also, be sure to watch #11 on the Bears' defense, linebacker Keaton Thomas. The Junior is in his second season with Baylor after playing JUCO at Northeast Mississippi CC and simply racked up over 100 tackles in his first year of Division 1 football. He had 15 tackles against Auburn to open the season and is one of the best defenders in the nation. He will make some plays today and the Bears Sic 'Em for a 34-24 road win.

UConn at Syracuse

     UConn at Syracuse an old Big East basketball rivalry takes place on the gridiron with tow offenses that feature some dynamic, relatively unknown players. Cam Edwards is a great RB with the Huskies and Yasin Willis for Syracuse looks to build on his 3 TD opener as the featured back for the Orange. Former Notre Dame QB, Steve Angeli looked calm against Tennessee and I think he’ll be the difference-maker in a 31-21 victory for the Orange.

Oklahoma State at #6 Oregon

     One of my most anticipated games to watch in the early slate is Oklahoma State at Oregon. Not just because of the P4 matchup, but more so because of the press conference exchanges between Mike Gundy and Dan Lanning. Gundy made comments about the money Oregon spends to be good at football while Lanning responded by explaining some programs (i.e. Oklahoma State) don't care enough to spend money. The Ducks are a top team yet again and despite the lack of media attention on them, they're going to flex early and often in this game on why they're still one of the best teams. Dan Lanning loves nothing more than to make his point known on the scoreboard and Oklahoma State does not have the firepower to keep pace in this game. Oregon 45, Oklahoma State 10.

#20 Ole Miss at Kentucky

     A home loss to a very not good Kentucky is the primary reason Ole Miss was kept out of the playoffs last season. That ended up being the only SEC win for the Wildcats in 2024, and now they host a revamped rebels team looking to build chemistry quickly. Sophomore QB Austin Simmons is now running Lane Kiffin's offense, and despite 2 picks in his starting debut, he did throw for 341 yards with 3 TDs. Mike Stoops always seems to have an answer for Kiffin, but Kentucky's talent is lacking to keep pace with the Rebel offense. Hotty Toddy as Ole Miss wins 30-17.

Kansas at Missouri (Border War)

     A classic rivalry taken away by conference realignment is set to restart as Kansas visits Missouri for the Border War. These former Big XII and Big 8 foes have nothing but hate for each other, and I'm very glad to see this game back on a college football Saturday slate. The Tigers brought in Penn State transfer Beau Pribula to lead the offense and he looked very comfortable completing 23/28 for 283 yards and 2 TDs in their opener against Central Arkansas. His counterpart for KU is no scrub though, Jaylon Daniels is back for his final campaign as a Jayhawk and so far this season looks stellar. When healthy, Daniels is one of the most dynamic QBs in the nation, accounting for nearly 9,000 yards and 71 TDs throughout his career thus far. Daniels is joined in the backfield by Senior RB Daniel Hishaw Jr., who has patiently waited for his turn in the starting role. I like what KU brings to the table offensively here and I'm not sure Missouri is quite ready for the dual threat ability of Jaylon Daniels. ROCK CHALK as the Jayhawks win the Boarder War 38-24.

Texas State at UTSA (I-35 Rivalry)

     These two teams are separated by just 50 miles of interstate and heavily recruit the same areas of Texas. In-state rivalry games like these are always exciting because many of the players know each other, played together or even against each other in high school. The Bobcats looked good in their opener, dropping 52 on Eastern Michigan, but my heart always has a soft spot for the Roadrunners. They also hung around with Texas A&M to make the Aggies sweat a bit, so MEEP MEEP at home as UTSA wins the I-35 Rivalry 37-27.

South Florida at #13 Florida

     The Bulls surprised everyone (especially myself) by completely dismantling the Broncos of Boise State. They now travel to the Swamp for an in-state tussle with the Gators. Byrum Brown is the key points with this team, but the true question is how will this Bulls defense handle DJ Lagway? South Florida recorded 1 sack with 5 tackles for loss against the Broncos, but the stat that truly jumps out to me is 92 total tackles with only 36 solo tackles. This translates to a lot of defenders flying to the ball. With roughly 2/3 of their team tackles involving multiple defenders, this defense will need to mimic those stats to beat Florida. The Gators have a good amount of weapons around DJ Lagway, but his legs will be the biggest factor, because I expect the Bulls to bring pressure. I need to see a bit more before I start picking the full upset, but expect South Florida to keep this one closer than the spread suggests. Gators 37, Bulls 28.

Tulane at South Alabama

     Jake Retzlaff accounted for over 250 and 2 TDs (1 rushing & 1 passing) in his debut with the Green Wave, as they look to make their case to be the G5 representation in the playoffs this season. South Alabama is a dangerous team out of the Sunbelt especially with the QB-RB duo Bishop Davenport and Kentrel Bullock. Bullock averages 5.5 yards per carry for his career thus far, so Tulane will need to shut down the run quickly. Green Wave win 28-17.

#12 Arizona State at Mississippi State

     The Sun Devils beat the Bulldogs 30-23 in Tempe last year, led by more than 300 yards of offense from Cam Skattebo. Arizona State went on to the playoffs while Mississippi State won 2 games all season. You'd think this year's game already has the final score written, but don't sleep on the Bulldogs too much. Veteran QB Blake Shapen is back from injury and has better weapons to throw to out on the edge. I think Arizona State still takes this one, but Mississippi State is a much better team than last season and will make things competitive. Sun Devils win 31-27.

#15 Michigan at #18 Oklahoma

     Two of the premiere programs in college football meet on the gridiron for just the second time in history. Oklahoma won the only meeting back in 1975, but apart from that game there is some shared history with these programs. Michigan Head Coach Sherrone Moore played offensive line for the Sooners, so a homecoming for him as he will lead the Wolverines against his alma mater. Michigan is featuring the #1 overall recruit in Bryce Underwood at Quarterback while the Sooners brought in Washington State Transfer John Mateer who followed his Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle to Norman. Both QBs are dynamic playmakers, so I will direct your attention to the defensive side of the ball. Both squads were a top 20 defense in 2024 and bring back a lot of experience. Whichever group can get pressure and force turnovers early should be in line to win. Michigan is a very talented team, but a freshman QB on the road in a tough environment is a lot to ask, so give me Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner as their defense leads them to a 27-21 victory.

Akron at Nebraska

     The last time Nebraska hosted Akron dark storm clouds formed over Lincoln as lightening in rain ended up canceling the game and the debut of Scott Frost as the Head Coach. It seems as though those clouds were a very ominous sign of what was to come over the next half decade, but the sun is shining today in Lincoln as Matt Rhule embarks on his third season at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers have a new turf with red end zones and a night game to open up September just feels right. The Zips went scoreless at home against Wyoming last week losing 10-0. This is the perfect game for Nebraska to get their offense in gear. Everyone should touch the ball, Dylan should have plenty of time to go through reads and make decisions and Emmett Johnson should run wild while hopefully yielding some carries to his backups to get them developed. I expect to see a lot more creativity from the offense and Nebraska will put on more than just a light show tonight. Huskers 45, Zips 7. 

Quick Hit Predictions:

Virginia at NC State - Virginia looked very strong in their opener against Coastal Carolina and transfer QB Chandler Morris led the way with over 300 yards of offense. NC State is always tough at home, but I think the Cavaliers win 26-23 in what is counted as a non-conference game.

Fresno State at Oregon State - The Bulldogs bounced back from their beat down in Kansas by pummeling Georgia Southern. Oregon State couldn't keep pace with Cal, but Malik Murphy had some flashes in his debut with the offense. Beavers in a tight one 21-17.

Army at Kansas State - Both the Black Knights and Kansas State need a win in this game to get things back on track. Army is coming off a home lost to Tarleton State in double overtime while Kansas State needed a last minute touchdown to avoid a loss to North Dakota. I trust the talent of K-State and expect them to shake off the rust from the first two weeks, but they need to stop the run. Wildcats win 33-14.

Houston at Rice - The Cougars have dominated this cross-town rivalry winning 34 of the 46 meetings all time. The Owls did take the 2023 game at their stadium 43-41, but now have to deal with ex-Aggie QB Connor Weigman as he makes his second start for Houston. He threw for 3 TDs in their opener and despite Rice's upset win over UL Monroe, I think the Cougars take this one. Houston 23, Rice 10

West Virginia at Ohio - The reigning MAC Champions are hosting a Big XII team on their home turf. Parker Navarro looks to carve up the Mountaineers defense as he's coming off a game where he led the team in both rushing an passing with 332 yards and 4 total TDs. I think the Bobcats pull one over on Rich Rod and win 27-21.

Boston College at Michigan State - Both the Spartans and the Eagles handled their business against lesser teams in week 1, but a P4 matchup in week 2 will certainly give us more insight to both of these programs. Alabama Transfer Dylan Lonergan and Aiden Chiles will lead both offensive units, so my eyes will be on the defensive schemes and how they bring pressure to these QBs. I'll roll with the BIG 10 on this one, Michigan State 20, Boston College 17

Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech - A night game in Lane Stadium is always a tough atmosphere to play in, but Vandy QB Diego Pavia doesn't seem to get phased by much. The Commodores won this game at home last year and I'm still waiting for VT to prove they are going to take over these games and win. Until then, Anchor Down and Vandy wins 23-20.

UCLA at UNLV - The Bruins were demolished at home by Utah in the opener, with Nico Iamaleava looking shaky at best. He did account for over 200 yards of offense, but completed just 50% of his passes with 1 TD and 1 pick. The Rebels bounced back after an opening week scare to Idaho State and handled Sam Houston State on the road 38-21. This should be a game where UCLA out talents UNLV, but I think there's a lot of pieces that still don't fit with the Bruins offense. I'll take the Rebels at home. UNLV 30, UCLA 24.

The Perfect Parlay:

1. Oregon - 27.5 over Oklahoma State. As mentioned above, Dan Lanning is not one to lay off the gas, especially when he has a point to make. With Mike Gundy chirping at his program's payroll earlier this week, I'm guessing Oregon will (gladly) put their money where their mouth is and light up the score board. Bet the cover and bet the over because there will be a lot of points from the Ducks in this game.

2. Illinois -2.5 over Duke. The Blue Devils are 6-1 at home with Manny Diaz at the helm, but I think Illinois is one of the teams you'd hate to have on your schedule in 2025. Darian Mensah should keep things close for a while, but look for the Illini defense to get pressure on him and force turnovers. I've got Illinois wining by 2 scores, not just 3 points. 

3. USC -29.5 over Georgia Southern. Clay Helton makes his return to the Coliseum as his Eagles take on the Trojans he once led. USC dropped 73 against new FBS member Missouri State last week while the Eagles were smashed 42-14 by Fresno State. Georgia Southern has spend the week in California between the two games, but I think Jayden Maiava and the USC offense are going to rack up similar numbers. Trojans cover the 30 at home.

Thanks for reading my Week 2 Predictions and reflection of last week's Husker game. Enjoy your College Football Saturday and GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando