Top 25 vs. Top 25
No. 1 Florida State (2-0) vs. No. 22
Clemson (1-1), 8pm ET, ABC
Line: FSU -15, O/U: 60
There are a
few really interesting story lines in this year’s FSU-Clemson matchup. There will be a revenge element at play on
Saturday for Clemson after they were torn apart last year at home by Florida
State 51-14. The win gave the ‘Noles two
straight wins over the Tigers and three of the last five. The other recent development here is the
suspension of Jameis Winston. The last
time Jimbo Fisher started a backup against the Tigers was 2011, when EJ Manual
was injured and FSU started Clint Trickett.
FSU lost 35-30.
Sean
Maguire, a sophomore, has only time in mop-up duty with the Seminoles were up
double-digits. He’s 16/26 passes in his
FSU career with two touchdowns and two picks.
An experienced Clemson defense will pose a stout test for Maguire and
the FSU offense. The Clemson defense
really struggled stopping Georgia’s ground game in week one (the Bulldogs ran
for 328 yards and 8 yards per attempt).
While the Seminoles don’t have Todd Gurley they do have a big, veteran
offensive line and a solid, explosive stable of running backs led by Karlos
Williams. I expect Jimbo Fisher to lean
heavily on the run and give Maguire a lot of short, quick passes to keep Vic
Beasley and Grady Jarrett at bay.
The Clemson
offense struggled against Georgia in week one- a similar defense to what
they’ll see against FSU. The Seminoles
defense is more talented and stronger up front and at corner than Georgia and
they could make things really tough on Cole Stoudt and a group of inexperienced
skill players. I expect to see Clemson
OC, Chad Morris to mix in a healthy amount of plays for freshman quarterback
Deshaun Watson. FSU’s defense struggled
at times against JW Walsh, who was able to beat the ‘Noles with his feet. Turnovers were the undoing for Clemson last
season and they can’t afford any at Doak Campbell if they want to come away
with a win.
The loss of
Jameis Winston for the first half is big for FSU, but this team is talented
enough to keep in together in the first half so that Winston can come in and
put it away in the second half. Clemson
is dangerous and if they get rolling early, they could make it tough for the
FSU to recover in the second half. At
the end of the day, I think FSU is too talented and playing at home, I see them
rallying behind Maguire putting Dabo and the Tigers away late. Close, but no cigar for Clemson.
Jeremy-
Florida State 37, Clemson 24
Nick- Florida
State 34, Clemson 24
No. 5 Auburn (2-0) @ No. 20 Kansas State
(2-0), Thursday, 7:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
Line: Auburn -9, O/U: 64.5
This is a
huge game for both teams and raises a lot of questions. Can K State come out
with an upset in the biggest game to come to the Little Apple in 40 years? Can
Auburn avoid a letdown game against an under the radar Kansas State team? It is
tough to decide which game this will go but the first thing I can say is it
will be closer than the nine point spread.
Auburn has
looked good so far this season against lesser opponents. It doesn’t look like
it has missed a beat in the rushing attack ranking 7th in the
country averaging 330 yards per game. Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant have
combined for nearly 500 yards and five scores and keep this offense on balance.
Nick Marshall is the engineer of the offense and looks like he is getting back
to his 2013 form. The Tigers as always are looking to run the ball downhill and
that is going to be what they need to do to be successful in this game. The
Tiger defense has been pretty average so far allowing 323 yards a game, but is
21st in the country allowing just 17 points per contest.
I am not
ready to start calling Jake Waters as good as Colin Kline at quarterback for
Kansas State, but he has the Wildcats looking like a sleeper in the Big 12. On
paper the Wildcats don’t overwhelm anyone, but they play solid on both sides of
the ball. Waters will be the key for KSU in this game as its offense revolves
directly around him and his nearly 700 yards of total offense and six
touchdowns this season. If Waters can make some plays through the air and keep
the Auburn defense on the field he could give the Wildcats a chance in this
one. The KSU defense is what will be wins or loses the Wildcats this game. This
season they have pretty solid allowing 306 total yards per game, while giving
up only 87 per game on the ground that is 20th in the nation. The
Wildcats are going to need to keep that up to stay close to the Tigers.
I think with
the atmosphere in Manhattan on Thursday night and the Wildcats looking like a
Big 12 sleeper this game will be closer than the nine point spread. I still
like Auburn to come away with the win in this game, but expect Kansas State to
be within a touchdown late.
Nick- Auburn
34, Kansas State 31
Jeremy- Auburn 43, Kansas State 27
No. 3 Alabama (3-0) vs. Florida (2-0),
3:30pm ET, CBS
Line: Bama -15, O/U: 50.5
I know
everyone has been excited about this game as a potential upset, but I just
don’t see it. I do not think the Gators are as good as everyone is building
them up to be and Alabama is looking to prove to the country that it is an
elite team. If this game was in Gainesville I would give Florida a chance, but
I don’t see it.
Alabama has
looked pretty average (on Alabama standards) so far this season and could be on
the verge of a big game. Like typical Bama teams it can run the ball on anyone
averaging 270 yards on the ground per game behind T.J. Yeldon and Derek Henry.
Offensively what this will come down to for the Tide will be how well Blake
Sims or Jacob Coker play. The two qbs have been splitting time, but it seem
like Sims gives the Tide a better chance at winning. Good thing for the Bama
offense is it can rely on its run defense to make the plays to win this game as
it is allowing an NCAA-best 47 yards per game this season. The thing that could
catch up to Bama in this game is its secondary has been very underwhelming this
season and Florida seems like it knows how to throw the ball this season.
Florida has
looked much better on offense this season than in 2013 ranking in the top 25 in
both rushing (248 yards) and passing offense (345 yards). The Gators did need
three overtimes to beat Kentucky, but Kentucky is a much more talented team in
years past. That being said the Gators are going to need every bit of that
offense to beat the Tide at home. If Jeff Driskel can keep up his huge numbers
so far this season he could be the key for the Gators in this one. The Gator
offense has looked great, but its defense looked below average against Kentucky
last weekend. It is allowing just 80 yards per game, but with the combination
of Yeldon and Henry it is going to need to play out of its mind to slow those
two guys down.
The two keys
to this game will be how Florida’s defense handles Bama’s running back duo and
if they force Sims or Coker to throw how well they respond. Florida will need
to attack Alabama’s secondary in this game in order to have a chance at the
upset. I think Bama should will win this one going away.
Nick- Tide 37, Florida 20
Jeremy-
Alabama 30, Florida 16
No. 4 Oklahoma (3-0) @ West Virginia (2-1),
7:30pm ET, FOX
Line: OU -8, O/U: 65.5
Conventional
wisdom here says Oklahoma should win this game going away. However, West Virginia has been a tricky
place to play over the years (they beat 11th ranked OK State here
last year, lost to OU 50-49 last time OU visited) and OU has been known to not
show up in games like this.
Offensively,
the Sooners are coming in to West Virginia missing their starting running back,
Keith Ford and will lean more on Samaje Perine and Alex Ross. The real key for Oklahoma here will be Trevor
Knight. Knight is completing only 59% of
his passes through three games and will need to be sharp on Saturday,
especially in this environment.
The matchup
I’m looking forward to the most here is Clint Trickett and this offense against
a Sooner defense that’s been relentless getting after quarterbacks so far. Trickett has over 1,200 yards and seven
touchdown passes through three games and this offense has shown to be
explosive. Oklahoma will get after
Trickett and force him to get the ball out of his hands quickly and
accurately.
In the end,
I think the Sooners defense is built to beat teams like West Virginia. The Mountaineers will make some plays and
pressure OU. The score will be close,
but the Sooners will be in control.
Nick- Oklahoma 40, West Virginia 31
Jeremy- Oklahoma
45, West Virginia 38
Top 25
No. 2 Oregon (3-0) @ Washington State (1-2),
10:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
Line: Oregon -24, O/U: 75.5
My first
glance of this matchup, I thought this might be a potential upset alert for
Oregon. Washington State can be a tricky
matchup and playing on the Palouse might give them some extra help. I’ve come to my senses, however. Conner Halliday is on pace for another 20-INT
season and he’s been sacked eight times in three games. Oregon has a talented secondary that will
make the most of errant throws.
The Oregon
offense is rolling to nearly 600 yards per game and against a very shaky Cougar
defense, Mariota and Co. should have a field day. The home field could help Washington State
keep it close into the third but the Ducks will pull away by the end of the
third.
Jeremy- Oregon 51, Washington State 24
Nick- Oregon 63, Washington State 34
No. 6 Texas A&M (3-0) @ SMU (0-2),
3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2
Line: TAMU -35, O/U: 59
SMU is a
complete mess and A&M is on fire.
The Aggies should have no problem blowing the doors off the
Mustangs. The 35 point spread will not
be a problem for A&M.
Jeremy- A&M 56, SMU 17
Nick- Texas A&M 60, SMU 17
No. 7 Baylor (3-0), IDLE
Next game-
9/27 @ Iowa State
No. 8 LSU (3-0) vs. Mississippi State (3-0),
7pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
Line: LSU -9, O/U: 50
Mississippi
State has lost 14 straight to LSU, with the Tigers outscoring MSU 39.1 to 13.4
and out gaining them, 401-281.
Mississippi State is going up against one of the toughest offensive
lines in college football and a stable of backs that will bring constant
pressure. The key for the Bulldogs will
be slowing down the ground game and forcing LSU into long yardage on second and
third. Dak Prescott will be the X-factor
with his ability to get out of the pocket and make plays, but they’ll need him
to make a few throws to keep LSU honest.
Mississippi State will make the Tigers work, but no one wins at night in
Baton Rouge, especially a team from Mississippi.
Jeremy- LSU 27, Mississippi State 17
Nick- LSU 31, Mississippi State 20
No. 9 Notre Dame (3-0), IDLE
Next game- 9/27 vs. Syracuse (MetLife Stadium)
Next game- 9/27 vs. Syracuse (MetLife Stadium)
No. 10 Ole Miss (3-0), IDLE
Next game-
9/27 vs. Memphis
No. 11 Michigan State (1-1) vs. Eastern
Michigan (1-2), 12pm ET, BTN
Line: Michigan State -45, O/U: 52
It’s going
to get ugly quick for Eastern Michigan.
This will look more like the 65-0 destruction at Florida than the near
miss at Old Dominion.
Jeremy-
Michigan State 45, Eastern Michigan 10
Nick-
Michigan State 42, EMU 7
No. 12 UCLA (3-0), IDLE
Next game-
Thurs. 9/25 @ No. 15 Arizona State
No. 13 Georgia (1-1) vs. Troy (0-3),
12pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN
Line: UGA -42, O/U: 64.5
This one
should be no contest for the Dawgs and will help them get back on track after a
tough loss last week to South Carolina.
Jeremy-
Georgia 51, Troy 13
Nick- UGA 56, Troy 13
No. 14 South Carolina (2-1) @ Vanderbilt
(1-2), 7:30pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN
Line: SC -22, O/U: 53.5
South
Carolina made a statement against Georgia last weekend. The trick for the Gamecocks will be to put
last week behind them and avoid the all too familiar road loss to an
overmatched opponent following a big win.
Fortunately for Spurrier and SC, Vandy has done nothing so far this year
to even resemble a threat. South
Carolina might start slow but they’ll take care of business.
Jeremy- South Carolina 40, Vandy 13
Nick- South Carolina 45, Vandy 13
No. 15 Arizona State (3-0), IDLE
Next game-
Thurs. 9/25 vs. UCLA
No. 16 Stanford (2-1), IDLE
Next game-
9/27 @ Washington
No. 17 USC (2-1), IDLE
Next game-
9/27 vs. Oregon State
No. 18 Missouri (3-0) vs. Indiana (1-1),
4pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN
Line: Mizzou -14, O/U: 70.5
With the
scoring potential both teams possess, this game could easily surpass the
73-point mark. Missouri looks like the
most complete team through three weeks and took down an above average UCF squad
last week. Indiana has been shaky in
their first two games and lost a tough one to Bowling Green last week. I like Mizzou big here.
Jeremy- Missouri 41, Indiana 24
Nick- Missouri 42, Indiana 14
No. 19 Wisconsin (1-1) vs. Bowling Green
(2-1), 12pm ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN
Line: Wisconsin -27, O/U: 63.5
Wisconsin
should have no problem running like crazy over Bowling Green. The Falcons have
allowed 157 yards per game on the ground and the Badgers are averaging nearly
215 yards per outing. This could get ugly.
Jeremy-
Wisconsin 42, Bowling Green 24
Nick- Wisconsin 48, Bowling Green 20
No. 21 BYU (3-0) vs. Virginia (2-1),
3:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
Line: BYU -15, O/U: 47.5
This has to
be one of the more intriguing games of the weekend with BYU looking better than
it was last year and Virginia coming off a huge win against Louisville last week.
I think Virginia will keep this one close but ultimately BYU’s rushing attack
will wear the Cav defense down enough to get some big plays. I don’t see why
BYU is two touchdown favorites here. I like the Cavs to keep this one closer.
Nick-BYU 28,
Virginia 24
Jeremy- BYU
24, Virginia 20Next game- 9/27 vs. Cincinnati
No. 24 Nebraska (3-0) vs. Miami (2-1),
8pm ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN
Line: Nebraska -8, O/U: 56
I don’t even
know where to start with this matchup.
I’m not buying the Hurricanes this season and their first road game of
the season, a 31-13 face plant at Louisville doesn’t give me much
confidence. The defense is just okay and
outside of Duke Johnson, there’s really no consistent playmaker on
offense. That said, good luck figuring
out this Nebraska team. They’ve looked
solid in two games and then nearly blew it against FCS foe McNeese State, in
Lincoln in week 2. Miami will certainly
be the most athletic team the Huskers have faced this year (and likely will
face all year) and their speed could give Nebraska trouble. Ultimately, I don’t think The U has the
toughness or mentality to go to a place like Memorial Stadium and beat the
Huskers. Then again, I wouldn’t be
surprised to see Nebraska lay an egg.
Jeremy- Nebraska 34, Miami 24
Nick- Nebraska
38, Miami 31
No. 25 Oklahoma State (2-1), IDLE
Next game-
Thurs. 9/25 vs. Texas Tech
Best of the Rest
Georgia Tech (3-0) @ Virginia Tech (2-1),
12pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
Line: VT -8, O/U: 52.5
Who thought
at the beginning of the season this would have any sort of intrigue? Georgia
Tech looks like it has the ability to run the ball on anyone while the Virginia
Tech defense looked solid until last week. I think both of these teams have a
lot to prove and this game could come down to the wire. I give Va Tech the
advantage in Lane Stadium.
Jeremy-
VaTech 30, Georgia Tech 24
Nick- VT 31, Georgia Tech 20
Iowa (2-1) @ Pitt (3-0), 12pm ET,
ESPNU/WatchESPN
Line: PITT -7, O/U: 47
Pitt has
made a statement the first few weeks of the season showing a physical ground
game, featuring James Conner (544 yards, 8 TD’s, 6.7ypc) and an offensive line
(344.3 rushing yards per game) reminiscent of the Wisconsin O-lines under Paul
Chryst. They’ll lean on that ground game
early and often and win a low scoring, grind it out game against the Hawkeyes.
Jeremy- Pitt
24, Iowa 17
Nick- Pitt 31, Iowa 23
Maryland (2-1) @ Syracuse (2-0),
12:30pm ET, GamePlan/ESPN3
Line: SYR -1, O/U: 53
This is an
interesting game and one that Maryland really needs to get. The Terps need to
respond after its loss to Penn State to keep on track. I think Maryland
actually runs over Syracuse in this game and proves that it is actually a
contender in the B1G.
Nick- Maryland 38, Syracuse 21
Jeremy- Maryland 34, Syracuse 24
North Carolina (2-0) @ East Carolina (2-1),
3:30pm ET, ESPNU/WatchESPN
Line: ECU -3, O/U: 67
UNC has
looked pretty average in their first two games against teams they should have
been able to handle. Going on the road
to ECU, who’s coming off a solid win at Virginia Tech will be tough for the Tar
Heels. I don’t think there’s any
question UNC has more talent, but ECU has an explosive offense and should be
better than North Carolina on Saturday.
Jeremy- ECU 34, UNC 30
Nick- UNC
42, ECU 32
Utah (2-0) @ Michgian (2-1), 3:30pm ET,
ABC/ESPN2
Line: Mich -4, O/U: 55.5
I cannot
believe Michigan is favored in this game. With its offensive line and
quarterback plays I am not sure how you can expect this team to put up any
points. Utah seems like it can score points on anyone and Michigan’s defense hasn’t
necessarily looked great. I like Utah straight up in this one.
Nick- Utah 45, Michigan 38
Jeremy- Utah 37, Michigan 30
Florida Atlantic (1-2) @ Wyoming (2-1),
4pm ET
Line: WYO -4, O/U: 47
Wyoming
looked pretty solid in their first two game, both wins, and actually played
hard against the Ducks and tackled well when they were able to get a hand on an
Oregon ball carrier. The offense is only
averaging 16 points a game and will need to run the ball well against FAU. The Owls got blown out in their first two
games getting shutout by Alabama and only scoring one touchdown against
Nebraska. They got back on track last
week, posting 50 points on Tulsa. I
think the Cowboys can slow FAU down, especially playing in the altitude at
Wyoming and grind out an ugly win.
Jeremy-
Wyoming 20, FAU 17
Nick-
Cal (2-0) @ Arizona (3-0), 10pm ET,
Pac-12 Network
Line: ARIZ -8, O/U: 70
This is a
great conference non-top 25 matchup this weekend. I actually like Zona as a
potential Pac 12 South sleeper. The Cats can run on anyone and score points in
a hurry. Cal has looked like it is significantly improved but I don’t think the
Bears have enough fire power to hang with the Cats. Arizona wins this one by
three touchdowns.
Nick- Zona 41, Cal 20
Jeremy- Cal 45, Arizona 43
Players to Watch
Dak Prescott, QB, Miss St.
Mississippi
State’s history against LSU is ugly and if that’s going to change this season
it’s going to be because Dak Prescott takes over the game. LSU’s defense has looked dominant through
three weeks but they’re still young and if Prescott can get out of the pocket
and makes some plays with his feet, the Bulldogs might have a fighting chance.
Dante Fowler, Jr., LB/DE, Florida
Fowler needs
to set the tone early and often against Alabama. He has a rear blend of size and explosiveness
and the Gators need him to pressure quarterback Blake Sims early and
often.
Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson
Given what’s
going on in Tallahassee over the past few days (the suspension of Jameis
Winston), Grady Jarrett and this Clemson defensive line will be key here. They got stopped by Todd Gurley and the
Georgia Bulldogs, and FSU will likely rely heavily on the ground game on
Saturday. Jarrett’s ability to push the
pocket, penetrate and disrupt the line of scrimmage could be the difference in
this game.
Sean Maguire, QB, Florida State
Making your
first start in a game like this is difficult.
The fact that it’s one of your biggest rivals makes it even more
difficult and the fact that your playoff hopes could live and die with this
performance makes it even more difficult.
Maguire’s been in the system now for three years and has plenty of weapons
around him, but ultimately, he’s going to have to execute this offense and make
some key throws for FSU to win.Thanks for reading! Get ready for a sloppy day in college football! You can follow us on Twitter @307CollegeFB
Happy football!
