College Football Week 2 Preview

by WCT, Wasting Company Time

Week 2 promises to be better than week 1, when it seemed like all of the big boys scheduled cupcakes as a tune up for the real season (with varying degrees of success).

This week however, provides us with some intriguing matchups, and will give us some real insight into who the real contenders are. Lets dive in, shall we?

(all times Eastern)

Miami @ Oklahoma (noon) Both of these teams looked really good in their openers. Miami beating Marshall and Oklahoma destroying North Texas. I was really impressed with Redshirt Frosh QB Sam Bradford and his 363 yards and three touchdowns. RB Allen Patrick should be back healthy for the Sooners, but who needs him when you have DeMarco Murray running for five touchdowns? I like the Sooners.

Alabama @ Vanderbilt (12:30pm) Look for 'Bama to destroy the Commodores and find themselves ranked in both polls come Monday. Nick Saban is an arrogant, lying prick, but he is also a good football coach, and this is the week that people start to take notice of the Tide.

Buffalo @ Temple (1:00pm) Two of the worst programs in D-1 football square off in what will likely amount to somebody's lone win of the season. I don't have a prediction for who will win, but I know who will lose: anyone who sits down and spends three hours watching this train-wreck. Don't be that guy.

Oregon @ Michigan (3:30pm) Ok. I may be just trying to justify my picking them #3 in the preseason poll (#3?? what the hell was I thinking?) but I think this is a big bounceback week for Michigan. They've hit rock bottom, they have a good opponent coming into their house, perfect time to rally around their embattled coach, a big win for the maize and blue. Either that, or Oregon will just look at the Appalachian State game film and do the exact same thing the Mountaineers did, except with division 1-A atheletes, and beat Michigan by four touchdowns. Who knows. Screw it, I'm picking Michigan.

Boise State @ Washington (3:30pm) Did the Broncos schedule this so that at the end of the year they can say "See! We told you we aren't afraid to schedule a BCS conference team!!" (that last quotation is to be said in a whiny voice, because in my head that is what the BSU Athletic Director sounds like). Sorry, Pac-10 bottom-feeders don't count. Boise State wins their second-toughest game, the toughest of course being a late-season battle with Hawaii. I can't believe I just wrote that sentence

South Carolina @ Georgia (5:45pm) This should actually be a decent game. All of those top recruiting classes that the 'Cocks (tee hee) have been getting under Steve Spurrier have to start performing sometime, don't they? UGA wins a close one.

Notre Dame @ Penn State (6:00pm) First of all, next time you find yourself in a bar room dispute with an indignant Penn St. fan (and this will happen to you this season) just bring up the Nittany Lions' non-conference schedule. Last week they played Florida International (0 wins in 2006), they also play Buffalo (2 wins in 2006), Temple (1 win in 2006), and a suddenly struggling Notre Dame team starting a true freshman quarterback for his first collegiate start. Grueling. I think that the Irish beat the spread, but lose. Incidentally, Epic Carnival heckler and wanna-be contributer loyal reader and Notre Dame correspondant FightingIrishman will be at the game, and has promised a full description of the days events.

Hawaii at Louisiana Tech (7:00pm) This is one of the few times that those of us on the east coast will actually get to see the Rainbow Warriors before we are half in the bag in the wee hours of Saturday night/Sunday morning. Who am I kidding? Most of you will be half iin the bag at 7pm. Anyway, look for Hawaii to win what will turn out to be one of their toughest games this year. Yes, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are one of Hawaii's toughest games this year.

TCU at Texas (7:00pm) I have been ragging on Texas all year, and you know what? Screw it, I'm taking the Frogs. I may have to come onto this blog on Monday and eat crow for being wrong, but I am not sold on Texas, and I'm betting on TCU to pull the upset.

South Florida @ Auburn (9:00pm) I have been touting both of these teams, South Florida as the fourth legit team from the Big East, and Auburn as an SEC sleeper that everyone forgot about. Then I saw their week 1 performances. Yikes! The Tigers almost lost at home to K-state of all people, and South Florida played something called "Elon." Our buddy F.I. said that "Elon" sounds like a debunct energy company, I think it sounds like the name of an ambiguously gay male stylist at a women's hair salon. Either way, take Auburn

Virginia Tech at LSU(9:00pm) The game of the day (obviously). Virginia Tech looked very flat in beating East Carolina by 10 at home. LSU has had a long week after blowing the doors off Mississippi State on Thursday night. The well-rested Tigers win a low-scoring defensive battle.