Week Three TV Guide
Hopefully Jeff Tedford doesn't make the same mistake he made last year and he already has those kids on a plane for Minneapolis. As for week three, there are a bunch of solid non-conference games this week between 2-0 teams (Cal v Minnesota to name one). I'm also waiting for Steve-O to make me some money this week in the comments.
[Thu] ESPN 4.30 Georgia Tech v Miami (-5.5) - Got to say I'm surprised Miami is favored here. It's not like they have much of a homefield advantage and the close shave win over Florida St. looks less impressive now. They didn't have any rushing game against the Seminoles and Harris threw two picks. Georgia Tech meanwhile has been balanced on offense but was lucky to sneak one out against Clemson. Conventional wisdom says nobody is good enough to dominate the ACC, so I guess that means this is a game Georgia Tech loses. I just don't see it though.
9.00 ESPN California v Minnesota (+14) - Say what you want about Minnesota, but they are 2-0. Maybe they're one of those teams that can only win close games. Cal is now a top 8 team, but Maryland showed their true colors against James Madison last week. I have a feeling that Cal is going to play down to the Gophers and make this a game for a few quarters, but they'll win. I'm not calling this a trap game, but we'll know a little more about Cal if they can handle their business with ease for a third week in a row.
9.00 ESPN2 East Carolina v North Carolina (-7.5) - A last minute addition to the schedule over BC and Clemson. Credit goes to the ESPN folks for that. East Carolina gave the Mountaineers a game last week and North Carolina was weak on the road. E. Carolina has had trouble on the defensive side of the ball so look for the Tar Heel offense to finally come together here.
12.30 CBS Tennessee v Florida (-29.5) - Cover the children's eyes. Good thing there are a number of other interesting 12.30 games.
12.30 NBC Michigan St. v Notre Dame (-10) - Again I'm surprised at this line. My opinion of the Spartans didn't go down too much after last week. I still see them 4th or 5th in the Big 10. Notre Dame on the other hand needs to go back to those skinny posts that were working so great against the Wolverines and stay away from the 50 yard bomb. I still see this as the game that decides whether or not Notre Dame goes to a BCS bowl. A 10-2 season should be enough.
12.30 ABC Nebraska v Virginia Tech (-5) - Freshman running back Ryan Williams is saving the Hokies ass on offense. Nebraska comes into the game with solid offensive performances across the board in their first two games against weak competition. The statistic you'll be hearing about is the Hokies 31 game winning streak against non-conference opponents at home. This is a great matchup as the game is incredibly meaningful for both teams with VT looking to avoid a second loss in three games and Nebraska with a chance to really put themselves back into the national spotlight with a huge win on the road against a marquee opponent.
12.30 ABC Arizona v Iowa (-5) - A couple of teams battling for third place in their respective conferences. Arizona RB Nic Grigsby rushed for 207 yards on 15 carries last week, impressive regardless of the opponent. Iowa will rely more on Ricky Stanzi and the passing game. I wish this wasn't on at the same time as Nebraska and VT. Both are interesting out of conference matchups and both should be great games.
12.30 ABC USC v Washington (+21) - USC doesn't do trap games. They slip up when you are least expecting it and the game isn't on the national radar. Because of the Sarkisian element, this game is on ABC, so by my logic, USC will be fine.
12.30 ESPN Utah v Oregon (-5) - Both teams struggled to beat far inferior opponents last week. I'm taking Utah here. This is just feeling like one of those season for Oregon with a bad start and nothing really coming together. Utah is good enough to go to Autzen and win, the homefield advantage in Eugene should never be underestimated.
4.45 ESPN2 West Virginia v Auburn (-7) - After Auburn slipped out of the national picture last season, this is their first game of 2009 for America to see what they're all about. Auburn football hasn't changed much. A weak QB and a dual rushing attack Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb are both averaging 6.9 YPC on about 20 carries per game. West Virginia still has offensive weapons in Noel Devine and Jarrett Brown.
5.00 ABC Texas Tech v Texas (-17.5) - Not expecting much out of this. As Matt mentioned, Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts is putting up Graham Harrell numbers so far, but that shouldn't continue through this game. Maybe the Red Raiders can pay Hayward-Bey money to Crabtree to get him back.
9.00 ESPN California v Minnesota (+14) - Say what you want about Minnesota, but they are 2-0. Maybe they're one of those teams that can only win close games. Cal is now a top 8 team, but Maryland showed their true colors against James Madison last week. I have a feeling that Cal is going to play down to the Gophers and make this a game for a few quarters, but they'll win. I'm not calling this a trap game, but we'll know a little more about Cal if they can handle their business with ease for a third week in a row.
9.00 ESPN2 East Carolina v North Carolina (-7.5) - A last minute addition to the schedule over BC and Clemson. Credit goes to the ESPN folks for that. East Carolina gave the Mountaineers a game last week and North Carolina was weak on the road. E. Carolina has had trouble on the defensive side of the ball so look for the Tar Heel offense to finally come together here.
12.30 CBS Tennessee v Florida (-29.5) - Cover the children's eyes. Good thing there are a number of other interesting 12.30 games.
12.30 NBC Michigan St. v Notre Dame (-10) - Again I'm surprised at this line. My opinion of the Spartans didn't go down too much after last week. I still see them 4th or 5th in the Big 10. Notre Dame on the other hand needs to go back to those skinny posts that were working so great against the Wolverines and stay away from the 50 yard bomb. I still see this as the game that decides whether or not Notre Dame goes to a BCS bowl. A 10-2 season should be enough.
12.30 ABC Nebraska v Virginia Tech (-5) - Freshman running back Ryan Williams is saving the Hokies ass on offense. Nebraska comes into the game with solid offensive performances across the board in their first two games against weak competition. The statistic you'll be hearing about is the Hokies 31 game winning streak against non-conference opponents at home. This is a great matchup as the game is incredibly meaningful for both teams with VT looking to avoid a second loss in three games and Nebraska with a chance to really put themselves back into the national spotlight with a huge win on the road against a marquee opponent.
12.30 ABC Arizona v Iowa (-5) - A couple of teams battling for third place in their respective conferences. Arizona RB Nic Grigsby rushed for 207 yards on 15 carries last week, impressive regardless of the opponent. Iowa will rely more on Ricky Stanzi and the passing game. I wish this wasn't on at the same time as Nebraska and VT. Both are interesting out of conference matchups and both should be great games.
12.30 ABC USC v Washington (+21) - USC doesn't do trap games. They slip up when you are least expecting it and the game isn't on the national radar. Because of the Sarkisian element, this game is on ABC, so by my logic, USC will be fine.
12.30 ESPN Utah v Oregon (-5) - Both teams struggled to beat far inferior opponents last week. I'm taking Utah here. This is just feeling like one of those season for Oregon with a bad start and nothing really coming together. Utah is good enough to go to Autzen and win, the homefield advantage in Eugene should never be underestimated.
4.45 ESPN2 West Virginia v Auburn (-7) - After Auburn slipped out of the national picture last season, this is their first game of 2009 for America to see what they're all about. Auburn football hasn't changed much. A weak QB and a dual rushing attack Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb are both averaging 6.9 YPC on about 20 carries per game. West Virginia still has offensive weapons in Noel Devine and Jarrett Brown.
5.00 ABC Texas Tech v Texas (-17.5) - Not expecting much out of this. As Matt mentioned, Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts is putting up Graham Harrell numbers so far, but that shouldn't continue through this game. Maybe the Red Raiders can pay Hayward-Bey money to Crabtree to get him back.
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haha, I'm already getting some mention in the stories I love it. I am tellying you I think you are right on with your breakdown here on the games, though I have to say East Carolina is my pick over North Carolina. I think Texas beats Tech by at least three touchdowns and Florida wins by at least 40. Good call on Utah as a I think they figure things out and play like they can this week.
They actually had a story yesterday on ESPN about Tedford flying the team out a day early. He still stuck to his guns and said he doesn't believe it makes a difference, but he's willing to do it. That's pretty much him admitting he thinks it will make a difference.
Why is it so damn hard to laugh and say, "yeah we really learned our lesson last year at Maryland." People respect that. Now he just looks like a bigger idiot.
I'm also all over Oregon this week. I think Utah falls and falls hard.