Week 3 Preview

Ok, there's no time to break this down into categories, except for the final part where I will predict the big games for the weekend. I'm gonna ramble, bear with me...

If you want to see some running and different offenses at play, try Louisiana-Lafayette at Illinois. The Illini will use Daniel Dufrene and Juice Williams, along with super soph Arrelious Benn on FL sweeps and options. The Ragin' Cajun have a great offense on the ground, led by QB Michael Desormeaux and big, strong RB Tyrell Fenroy. This one won't be that close, but both offenses can rack up the points.

Let me just sum up this next game like this; if Rice scored 56 on SMU, what do you think Texas Tech will do to the Ponies. What should we call them, the Mustangs or Ponies? I like Ponies better myself because of the old "Pony Express" days of Eric Dickerson and Craig James. Then again, "pony" is what you buy your daughter to love you if your Homer Simpson, not very manly.

We should be allowed to deduct points for Syracuse and Tulane's offense. They can't score, and now they play Penn State and ECU respectively. Even at home for both sides, this will get ugly.

Upset Alert: North Dakota St. at Wyoming The Cowboys better not look past the Bison after they went in and dominated the Golden Gophers last year, in the Metrodome. Did you know NDSU is 22-2 in their last 24 games, with one loss coming to Minnesota? Yeah, not a shabby program, let's get them and Montana moved up to Div I-A, sometimes I think I-AA is too easy for those programs.

The Compass game, which team will head south, and which will head north towards a possible bowl game; Navy at Duke. In theory, the Midshipmen should roll thanks to amazing TB Shun White, but they have a horrible defense (Ball St. QB Nate Davis proved that last week). Just remember, in theory Communism works (thanks once again Homer J. Simpson). I expect Navy to win this game, but the Blue Devils have slowly been getting better, so anything's possible.

Nevada at Missouri Will this be a repeat of IL-MO where the two schools couldn't be slowed down and we nearly had half a hundred hung up on the board? I don't quite think so, not after the Wolfpack couldn't score a bunch of points against Texas Tech last week. Then again, with that Pistol offense, who knows. Prediction, MO 55 NV 38

Not an upset, no matter what your "experts" tell you. I have the gratest of faith in Austen Arnaud, the young QB at Iowa St. He will march into Iowa City and pull off the biggest theft since Heidi from "The Hills"first music CD. A bevy of capable RBs, check. Good WRs who can catch the ball and run well, check. Decent defense, with lots of experience, check. Yep, it's all there, go Cyclones!!

Why are we discussing this game for even 5 seconds? Georgia at South Carolina will not be close. NOT BE CLOSE!! I hope you people understand me, sure the Gamecocks will score some points, but Moreno, Stafford, et al will roll right over that weak defense. If Jared Hawkins and Vandy could march all over SC, why do I expect it to be different this week for a far superior squad? Oh, GA may be looking ahead to Arizona State. Yeah, if they sucked and weren't focused. This team may be young, but they know what's on the line.

Ok, so I have 4 marquee games circled, let's get started.

UCLA at #18 BYU- Please, like I'm buying Kevin Craft's resurrection in the 2nd half of that game against Tennessee. He sucked at SD State, he sucks now. One good game does not a QB make. Who's going to cover Austin Collie? Dennis Pitta? Will they lose focus on the underrated running game of the Cougars and Harvey Unga? No one, ditto and maybe. This will be close for a half or so, but then the Cougs roll. BYU 34 UCLA 16

#16 Oregon at Purdue- I know this game isn't getting enough hype, but it should be getting some. The Boilermakers always do well thanks to the spread passing game Drew Brees nearly perfected. The Ducks may be starting a QB, but take my word for it, they don't have one. The good news, Ross-Ade Stadium isn't that intimidating. Neither is West Lafayette. Purdue will do fine on offense with Greg Orton, a good TE and a decent running game, but I just don't trust QB Curtis Painter in a big game. Oregon 30 Purdue 24

#10 Wisconsin at #21 Fresno State- PJ Hill, Travis Beckum (assuming he's finally healthy), Tom Brandstater, Ryan Matthews. All this offensive firepower sounds great, like it should be a very high-scoring affair, especially with offenses where you think the run sets up the pass. Generally those games produce unexpected big numbers. Unfortunately, not the case here. Fresno loves to play anyone, anywhere, and granted, Allan Evridge isn't the first guy you'd trust handling your team on the road, but I like this Badgers' defense. They know how to get key stops, are solid at all 3 levels and will help them pull out the slightest of victories. Wisconsin 19 Fresno St. 17

#5 Ohio State at #1 USC- Hmm, when was the last time the Buckeyes under Jim Tressel were huge underdogs against the #1 team in the country? Oh that's right, they beat the Miami (FL) Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl. That would be a nice pipe dream for this Buckeyes squad, but it won't happen in LA. Pride should keep the Buckeyes close, that and a fantastic defense. The Trojans will try and establish the run, but that won't work, so they'll balance it out with some passing and we'll have a nice stalemate at halftime, like 10 or 17 all. It will be a clunky, unorganized first half, like how did these teams score any points. Then, USC's O-Line will finally begin to dominate and they will slowly pull away. The Buckeyes will look respectable, but everyone will know who the better team was in the end. USC 31 Ohio State 27

Enjoy the games everyone. If that damn Hurricane knocks out my satellite I'll be heading on over to Champps and hopefully I can get all the games there. It should be a great college football day.