Week 2 Predictions

It’s just like ‘Bama and the ‘Noles to ruin something, including a perfect run at predictions. The ‘Blogler still did pretty well last week don’t you think? That doesn’t mean much though. I started strong last year, and it fell flat fast. What are your predictions for this week?

This Week: 7-1
Last Week: 12-2
Overall: 19-3 (86.3%)

9/12

Troy at Florida – Every year, ESPN and the other media moguls pick a team, usually the preseason #1 team, and talk as if they shouldn’t even have to play a game. They should just be handed the trophy and some pro teams wouldn’t even beat them. Every player is an All-American and the top 5 Heisman finalists should all be from that team. This year, understandably, that team is Florida. Should they be that team if there has to be one? Yes. There are multiple reasons why everyone should think they are the best team in football. I say all of this to remind ESPN and everyone else that nothing is for sure. To paraphrase a line from the greatest wrestler of all time: the only thing that’s for sure about college football is nothing’s for sure.

Will Florida win? Yes, but it won’t be as easy as they want us to think. Troy will challenge the Gators early and often and sneak in a few points. You’re welcome Randy.

Florida 45, Troy 20

Florida 56, Troy 6 – SUCCESS!

UCLA at Tennessee – I have no idea how good UCLA should be this year. They didn’t blow out San Diego St. last week so that says something, but I also remember that they weren’t supposed to be very good last year and stole one from Tennessee in a see-saw battle out west. Most Tennessee fans were expecting an easy win last year and with the HUGE win over Western Kentucky last week they are probably expecting the same this year.

Tennessee is not as good as however much a 63-7 win over the worst team in D-1 can make you look, but the trip will be too long for UCLA, and Tennessee will pull it out in the 4th.

UCLA 19, Tennessee 15 – FAILURE

Florida International at Alabama – Florida International? What, Louisiana-Monroe wasn’t available? Oh…that’s right.

Alabama 41, Florida International 10

Alabama 40, Florida International 14 – SUCCESS! (Check out that score)

South Carolina at Georgia – Will a point be scored in this one? Highly unlikely. A flu-less Joe Cox will probably be a lot better than last week, but until, as FireWillHeath put it, Georgia starts calling plays that weren’t meant for Stafford and Moreno, they won’t score many points. Still, Georgia has a pretty good defense and South Carolina could only score seven points against NC State. But the Gamecocks have a pretty good D too. The ‘Dawgs will take this very low scoring affair.

Georgia 16, South Carolina 7

Georgia 41, South Carolina 37 – SUCCESS!

Vanderbilt at LSU – Technically Vanderbilt is better than Washington. I mean they have won at least one game since 2007. Somehow LSU struggled against the Huskies last week which further solidified my point that LSU will not be any better than last year because it’s basically the same team, with a young quarterback. Oh, and they still have that idiot as their head coach.

This is Vandy’s first visit to Death Valley in five years, and I’m sure those Cajuns won’t take too kindly to them edumucated folks from Nashville. LSU is not great, but at home they will be better than everybody’s favorite little underdog.

LSU 34, Vanderbilt 14

LSU 23, Vanderbilt 9 – SUCCESS!

Mississippi State at Auburn – The line for this game is currently at Auburn (-15.5). At first, I was like wow, that’s a little high. I was happy to see it though because it showed that Vegas was giving Auburn a little credit. Whaddyaknow, Auburn scores some points and people realize they are actually fielding a team this year. After a few hours of chewing on it, I started to get a little cocky. I’m tired of this I don’t know yet, I don’t want to say everything is back to normal yet thing. It doesn’t matter if we’re back yet. Last year was an apocalyptic fluke. The year before was actually even worse. In no world should Miss. St. ever even challenge Auburn…unless Jackie Sherrill is buying their players.

Auburn’s offense needed one half last week to realize this system works, and it clicked and showed what it was made of in the second half against Louisiana Tech. And if you don’t remember, Louisiana Tech beat the CroomDawgs last year. That’s right, pretty much the same team that Auburn beat last week beat pretty much the same team Auburn is playing this week. I believe last week’s second half was the beginning of a clicking, working, efficient, and explosive offense, and I’m sorry Miss. St. is going to have to take a full game of it.

Most State fans are seeing last year’s 3-2 debacle as a moral victory and think that since they hung around last year then the MullenDawgs will be able to hang around and maybe even contend this year. Sorry, this isn’t the same Auburn.

Auburn 42, Mississippi State 13

Auburn 49, Mississippi State 24 – SUCCESS!

Other Games That Might Tickle Your Fancy

Notre Dame at Michigan – Lou Holtz(paraphrased): Notre Dame will have an easy time at Michigan because Notre Dame’s stadium was modeled after Michigan’s and it will look familiar to them.

Lou Holtz (also paraphrased): Notre Dame will play Florida in the National Championship Game this year.

Just because of that, and yes both are real, Michigan beats the Irish down.

Michigan 27, Notre Dame 17

Michigan 38, Notre Dame 34 – SUCCESS!

USC at Ohio State – If USC wasn’t playing a true freshman quarterback, this would easily be a blowout. Oh wait…USC doesn’t play in the Big 10 AND is ranked you say?

USC 37, Ohio State 13

USC 18, Ohio State 15 – SUCCESS!

Upset of the Week

Syracuse at Penn State – Greg Paulus takes it at the top of the key, dribbles between his legs, spin move…YES!

Syracuse 31, Penn State 28

Penn State 28, Syracuse 7 (I got one score right)