Week Three College Football Preview
What’s going on Friends?!? We’re officially past the halfway point of this week. That can only mean we’re that much closer to another Saturday of College Football. It’s a different world we live in since a week ago. Irma showed up and reigned down destruction on my favorite peninsula. Baker Mayfield made Ohio Stadium his bitch, and then subsequently “apologized”. Ted Cruz clearly likes porn. The next iPhone will allow you to send an animated video of the poop emoji talking. Man, oh man, the times they really are a changin’.
With all this change, it’s nice to know that we will always be able to depend on Saturday to bring balance to our lives. There is another solid slate of games on the schedule this week. Here are the games you should be watching. And hey, if you decide you wanna throw some money at some of these games based on these picks, I’m 8-5 this year. Not too shabby Shawn, not too shabby. Anyways, here is our week three college football preview.
-Shawn
(Note: I am not promoting gambling in any way. But, what you do with your money is your business. If you’re comfortable enough to potentially waste a couple shillings, you do you.)
All games on Saturday unless noted. All times ET.
(9) Oklahoma St at Pittsburgh (Noon, ESPN)
(God, that thing is magnificent! Photo Courtesy of Kurt Steiss/Twitter)
Mike Gundy, his gorgeous mullet, and the Cowboys take to the road for the first time in the 2017 season. Quarterback Mason Rudolph is coming off a game in which he threw for 335 yards, three touchdowns and ran for another. Hold up! Before we continue, can we discuss how Mason Rudolph easily has the whitest name ever? If you were to tell me that Mason Rudolph played small forward for the Duke Blue Devils, I wouldn’t bat an eyelash. But alas, Mason Rudolph plays quarterback. And he plays it very well. Last time these teams met, Rudolph threw for 540 yards. This does not bode well for Pittsburgh. The Panthers are looking to get their bearings after a loss a week ago to rival Penn State. Expect the Panthers struggles to continue as for the second week in a row they face a premiere offensive unit.
Prediction: (9) OKST wins 55-21
(10) Wisconsin at BYU (3:30pm, ABC)
(It’s his world, we’re all just living in it now. Photo Courtesy of M.P. King, Wisconsin State Journal)
When the schedule came out prior to this season, this one scared me as this fell into “trap game” territory. That was all before the Cougars couldn’t get the ball past midfield against LSU in a 27-0 loss. The BYU offense looks BAD this year, averaging 11 points per game. Their rushing defense is averaging 166 yards/game. Expect that number to skyrocket this week because of one man: freshman Jonathan Taylor. In my Week Two Wrap-Up, I stated that this Badger team belongs to Jonathan Taylor. (Wait, you haven’t read it yet?!? What the hell are you doing? Go, read it! I’ll wait. Okay, we can continue). Those are words that I strongly believe in. We all know what Taylor did a week ago (223 yds, three TDs). Expect more of the same this week. Taylor success, paired hopefully with a team that realizes that football games begin in the 1st Quarter, will result in great things in Provo.
Prediction: (10) Wisconsin wins 38-17
(23) Tennessee at (24) Florida (2:30pm, CBS)
(In terms of actual “swamp” characteristics, it’s severely lacking. In terms of a great place for college football, it makes up for it’s horrible nomenclature)
Last season, Florida went into halftime in Knoxville holding a comfortable 18-point lead. But before I continue, I have a joke for you. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investiGATOR. (Hold for applause and laughter). Okay, okay, I got another one for you. What does a Gator do with an 18-point lead at halftime? Lose the game 38-28. (Good right?!? Natural talent). Anyways, that loss a year ago snapped the Gators 11-game win streak over Tennessee. Tennessee will look to carry their hot start from a week ago against Indiana State into Gainesville. This matchup could go a long way in determining the SEC East. Look for the Florida defense to perform the way they have all season and carry this team. If the Gators can find some semblance of an offense, this Gators team could be a dangerous team. Major “IF” however and “If?” gets answered on Saturday.
Prediction: (24) Florida wins 17-14
(12) LSU at Miss St (7pm, ESPN)
Blegh. Somehow, I’m willingly telling people to watch two SEC games this week. Anyways, I’m expecting this game to be an absolute bloodbath. These two teams have steamrolled through their non-conference schedules up to this point. While neither team has faced top tier teams, they have absolutely demolished those placed in front of them. Just check out these lines up to this point:
LSU – 36 ppg, 466.5 yards/game, 169.5 yards allowed/game
Miss St – 53 ppg, 507 yards/game, 174.5 yards allowed/game
This week however, it’s primetime SEC football and this one’s going to be good. Expect fireworks at Davis Wade Stadium as both these teams have beaten the teams they should be beating, now they are lining up against SEC players. Plus: chance for a Coach O interview, so there’s all the more reason to tune in.
Prediction: Miss St wins 38-31
(3) Clemson at (14) Louisville (8pm, ABC)
(No funny comments. This guy is really good at the football thing. Photo Courtesy of Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
ESPN Gameday is in Louisville this weekend and with reason. This game is going to be really, really, really good. The last three meetings between these two have been decided by six points or less, and while Clemson has gone on to win all of those match-ups, they have all been ultra competitive games. In order to win a fourth straight, Clemson is going to have to try and slow down Lamar Jackson and his 505 yards per game average. This will be a daunting task for defensive coordinator Brent Venables and the Clemson defense gave up 457 yards to Jackson last year, who almost carried the Cardinals to victory, had it not been for one measly yard. The Tigers’ defensive front four is probably the best in the country, recording 11 sacks a week ago against Auburn, while giving up 15 yards in the second half. They rank second in total defense and sacks, and are top 10 in seven, SEVEN, defensive categories. Oh, and they haven’t allowed a single touchdown (that’ll change this weekend). I can’t emphasize how fun this game is going to be.
Prediction: (14) Louisville wins 48-45
There ya have it. Yes, I know there’s only five games here this week, and I know there are a substantial amount of other games on the schedule. But are they worth going out of your way to tune into? USC and Texas will be over by half. Unless Baker Mayfield hops a jet and plants another flag in the middle of Ohio Stadium again, Okla and Tulane won’t be worth your time. I’m here to help you friend. These are the games to watch, but if you want to watch the rest of them, by all means go for it. And if you do, probably bet the over because it inevitably makes games more fun to watch. And the Badgers are out of town this weekend, so I actually have a fall weekend “free” (see: wanting to do something besides being a lazy piece of shit, but inevitably end up being a lazy piece of shit). Talk to you guys on Sunday.
#TeamNobody