After a 3-2 start to the college football season, it's time to jump back into the saddle and make this weeks picks.
Cincinnati vs Illinois
The Bearcats travel to Champaign Illinois this week to face off with the Fighting Illini in a match up of spread offensive attacks led by senior quarterbacks.
The Bearcats defeated Purdue 42-7 in the first game of the Tommy Tubberville era and look to continue their balanced offensive attack against the Illini. QB Munchie Legaux looks to build upon his season opening performance in which he accounted for 200 yards and two touchdowns while also attempting to eliminate costly turnovers after throwing two interceptions against the Boilermakers. The Bearcats will undoubtedly look to run the ball in order to control the time of possession and keep the Illini offense off the field. Against the Boilermakers, the Bearcats ran 47 times for 221 yards and four touchdowns. They will have their work cut out for them as the Illini only gave up 66 rushing yards on 26 attempts against Southern Illinois.
The Illini struggled at home against Southern Illinois of the FCS Division last week, but held on to win 42-34. QB Nathan Scheelhaase threw for a career high 416 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. The Illini had a hard time running against a below average team amassing only 49 yards on 30 carries. The defense also had troubles of its own allowing Salukis QB Kory Faulkner to throw for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns and allowing 407 yards of total offense. The defense will have to play much better and amass some takeaways against a turnover prone QB if they are going to have a chance on Saturday.
Prediction: This will be one of the highest scoring and most entertaining games of the weekend. While Scheelhaase will keep the Illini in it for much of the game, the Illini's one dimensional offense will put increased pressure on him to be perfect which will lead to a few mistakes. The Bearcats balanced attack will control the clock and tire the Illini defense down, leading to gaping holes and large chunks of yardage in the fourth quarter.
Cincinnatti 38 - Illinois 28
Florida vs Miami
The Gators and Hurricanes renew their rivalry this Saturday at Sun Life Stadium in a game that many are eyeing a possible upset.
The Gators are coming off a dominating 24-6 performance against the Toledo Rockets in which the Gators held the Rockets to 205 yards of offense and 20 minutes total time of possession. QB Jeff Driskel managed the game well throwing for 153 yards and a touchdown while only having five incompletions for the game. RB Mack Brown ran 25 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns and will need to be just as good against Miami on Saturday for the Gators to win. The defense only allowed two field goals on 11 total possessions but will be going up against a much better offense in Miami.
The Hurricanes will look for their offense to continue putting points on the board Saturday against the Gators after scoring 34 points and gaining over 500 yards of total offense. QB Stephen Morris, like Driskel, is a game manager but can be relied upon to win a game if needed with his arm. Morris went 15 of 27 for 160 yards and a touchdown against the Owls. RB Duke Johnson also was impressive, accounting for 186 yards and a touchdown. The Canes will need their offense to click on all cylinders against the Gators defense if they are going to win.
Prediction: It won't be a pretty game to say the least. Both teams offenses will struggle throughout the game which will make this a field position contest. Florida's defense will step up in the fourth quarter and cause a costly turnover, which Duke Johnson will capitalize on in the ensuing drive to put the game away for good.
Florida 21 - Miami 14
Georgia vs South Carolina
Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs look to get back on track after losing a thriller last week at Clemson as Georgia takes on SEC rival South Carolina. This is a critical game for Georgia as a loss would end any chance the Bulldogs would have at a national championship. The Bulldogs will need Murray to step up if they expect to beat Jadeveon Clowney and the Gamecocks. Murray has struggled against top flight competition going 1-9 against top 15 teams and is 0-3 against the Gamecocks over the last three years. Georgia moved the ball well against Clemson, especially on the ground with Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. The defense, however, was gashed all night against the Tigers impressive offensive attack both through the air and on the ground. The Gamecocks' offense is not as impressive as the Tigers', but the Bulldogs will need to be better up front and in the secondary in order to stay in the game. If the defense can make some stops and if Murray can prevent turning the ball over against the impressive pass rush of South Carolina, the Bulldogs will be in it throughout the game.
The Gamecocks were impressive in their first game of the 2013 campaign, holding North Carolina's explosive up tempo offense to 10 points and 293 yards. The Gamecocks defense will look to wreak more havoc against another impressive offensive opponent in Georgia, whose power running game contrasts with North Carolina's up tempo finesse offense. Jadeveon Clowney will look to make some highlight reel plays after a so so performance last week. On the offensive side of the ball, the Gamecocks will look to pound the Bulldogs with their own impressive power running game led by RB's Mike Davis, Brandon Wilds and QB Connor Shaw. The Gamecocks ran 38 times last week for 228 yards and a touchdown. Shaw also held his own through the air throwing for 149 yards and a touchdown. Shaw will need to keep the Bulldogs defense honest with the play action and be able to hit his receivers down the field to help prevent the Bulldogs from stacking the box.
Prediction: This will be a low scoring slobber knocker through the first three quarters. While the Bulldogs defense will be better this week and Todd Gurley will keep the Bulldogs in it, Aaron Murray's struggles against top 10 teams will continue as he will have problems with South Carolina's pass. Connor Shaw will deliver the crushing blow late in the fourth quarter and Georgia's disappointing start to the 2013 campaign will continue.
South Carolina 24 - Georgia 14
Texas vs BYU
David Ash and the Longhorns take their up tempo offense to Provo Utah to take on Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU Cougars. The Longhorns are coming off a 56-7 beat down of New Mexico St in which Texas set a school record for most yards in a game with 715. QB David Ash shook off two early interceptions and ended up accounting for 434 yards and five touchdowns. RB/WR Daje Johnson was electric all game long and was the spark that lit the fuse to the Texas offense. RB Malcolm Brown and WR Mike Davis made big plays as well. The biggest question heading into the game was how would the Texas defense look after one of the worst defensive performances in team history last year? They looked fast, tackled much better, got to the quarterback at ease and caused three turnovers. The defense stood firm during the offense's struggles during the first half. The defense will need to play just as good, if not better, against a much more physical and bigger offensive team in BYU.
Kyle Van Noy and the BYU defense will look to slow down the Texas offense in front of its home crowd on Saturday. The Cougars dropped their season opener on the road to Virginia 19-16 in which the defense played well. BYU is known for its tough defenses and this year will is no exception with the talent the Cougars have on that side of the ball. QB Taysom Hill struggled mightily against the Cavaliers completing only 13 passes on 40 attempts for 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Taysom will need to complete a higher percentage against the Longhorns or this game will end early. The Cougars will look to slow the game down with their power running attack led by RB Jamaal Williams, who ran for 144 yards on 33 carries last week. The Cougars will need to run the ball to keep the Longhorns explosive offense on the sideline and keep it a low scoring affair.
Prediction: The Longhorns will come out firing early and often. The speed of Daje Johnson, Mike Davis and Jonathan Gray along with the improved offensive line play, will allow Texas to jump out to an early lead forcing the Cougars to rely on Taysom Hill to beat the Longhorns through the air. While Hill's numbers will be better in this game compared to last week's, he will struggle against the improved pass rush and cornerback play of the Longhorns. This game will be decided mid way through the third quarter at the latest.
Texas 38 - BYU 14
Upset Special
Notre Dame vs Michigan
With this possibly being the last game between Notre Dame and Michigan at Ann Arbor for quite some time, expect both teams to come out fired up.
Notre Dame will be coming off an impressive offensive performance against Temple that saw the Irish account for 543 total yards in a 28-6 victory. QB Tommy Rees threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in his first start since taking over for suspended QB Everett Golson. The defense left a little to be desired after losing Manti Teo to the NFL but the Irish were able to stop Temple when they needed to. From start to finish, the Irish controlled the action and will look to get off to a fast start against Michigan.
Michigan is looking to rebound after losing to the Irish last year in a game many expected the Wolverines to win. Last week, the Wolverines annihilated Central Michigan 59-9. Michigan was very balanced against the Chippewas throwing for 221 yards and rushing for 242 yards. Devin Garner had a couple of interceptions, but as a whole played nicely and will look for revenge against the Irish this weekend. The Michigan defense also played well causing two turnovers last Saturday.
Prediction: Both teams will come out sputtering in the beginning with early game jitters. While Rees will move the ball down field for his team, he will make a couple of mistakes forcing it into tight windows. Garner will also make a few mistakes as well, but his ability to run and create plays will help him in this game. Notre Dame will struggle later in the game stopping the spread option run of the Wolverines and Rees won't be able to bring Irish back this time.
Michigan 27 - Notre Dame 21
Last Week 3-2
Season 3-2
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