Week 2 of the college football season promises to be full of big games, shootouts and defensive struggles. Here’s one bold prediction for every top 25 team.
More: Top 10 storylines of Week 1 in college football
After a thrilling Week 1 slate capped off by a ridiculous comeback and an overtime victory it’s time to move on to Wee 2. There is going to be plenty to watch for this coming weekend, but here are 25 things (well, a little less thanks to weather) that are worth keeping an eye on.
It’s time to make some bold predictions. I’ve tabbed a few major upsets, a coupe records going down and at least one or two curious finishes that could break the preconceived storylines of the 2017 season.
So far Miami, Florida and South Florida have all cancelled their games due to Hurricane Irma. This is not good news after watching the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston. If you can help, please do some research and donate to one of the many great organizations making a difference in disaster relief.
Bold Prediction: Fresh off an overtime victory against Georgia Tech, the Vols return to Tennessee for their home opener. Running back John Kelly will lead the Vols in total yards from scrimmage, surpassing 200 yards on the ground and scoring three touchdowns in a Volunteer rout.
Bold Prediction: The Irish prove they’re for real and catapult themselves up the ranks with a win over Georgia. Notre Dame jumps seven spots after the win, the highest of any team this weekend. The victory isn’t possible without a fourth quarter touchdown connection from Brandon Wimbush to Equanimeous St. Brown to put the game out of reach.
Bold Prediction: Kenny Hill implodes. Facing an improved passing defense, the former Texas A&M transfer throws four interceptions and is benched for backup Shawn Robinson midway through the third quarter. TCU manages to keep it respectable, but runs out of time and quickly falls out of the rankings after a one week appearance.
Cancelled due to weather
Cancelled due to weather
Bold Prediction: Done are the days of Washington State falling to non-Power 5 teams. Luke Falk‘s precision passing is too much for the Broncos to overcome. Falk throws for 300 yards on 85 percent passing but only finds the endzone once. It doesn’t matter as a defensive score and a potent running game secure an easy victory for Wazzu.
Bold Prediction: 0. The number of points scored by the 49ers against Kansas State this weekend. The number associated with their mascot, 49, is great than the total number of offensive yards they record in the first half. Only when the game is out of reach does Kansas State let up enough for Charlotte to even cross mid field.
Bold Prediction: Josh Jackson only scratched the surface of his capabilities in the Hokies’ victory over West Virginia. Against a much weaker opponent, Jackson draws Lamar Jackson-like comparisons with a 300 yard passing, 150 yard rushing day capped off by four combined scores.
Bold Prediction: Lamar Jackson won’t be outdone by Josh Jackson’s antics. Lamar reminds onlookers that he is still very much in the race for the 2017 Heisman Trophy. A week after the Tarheels’ secondary was picked apart by Cal, Jackson lights them up for 350 yards passing, three touchdowns and just two incomplete passes.
Cancelled due to weather
Bold Prediction: The problem that plagued Mark Richt lingers with the Georgia program. Despite winning the turnover battle, scoring the first touchdown and keeping the Irish out of the endzone entirely in the second and third quarters, the Bulldogs fall to the Irish on the road.
Bold Prediction: Fear the tree! Stanford goes on the road and rides Bryce Love to a stunning upset victory over No. 6 USC. What’s not to love about Love? He finishes with his second consecutive 100 yard day on the ground and even picks up a receiving touchdown out of the backfield. Stanford allows less than 400 yards of total offense to the Trojans who can’t get any semblance of a rushing game going all game.
Bold Prediction: This game is not going to be as close as the final score. The Auburn rushing attack has their way with the Clemson defense. Although quarterback Jarrett Stidham is kept out of the endzone, the Auburn Tigers pull out to a 20-3 lead over the defending national champions and beat them on the road in Death Valley. Bold? Just read my game by game predictions for Auburn in 2017.
Bold Prediction: LSU is going to extend their streak of consecutive quarters without a touchdown allowed to 12. The Louisville Cardinals were held out of the endzone by the Tigers in the Citrus Bowl and LSU blanked an offensively challenged BYU team in New Orleans last weekend. The Mocs don’t find paydirt this week either.
Bold Prediction: There will be 100 points scored in this game. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, their offense isn’t going to contribute many of them. James Washington and Mason Rudolph connect for three more touchdowns in a blowout victory for the Cowboys.
Bold Prediction: It gets worse before it gets better. The Florida State defense does it’s job, holding the Warhawks to one touchdown and a couple of field goals. It’s the offense that can’t figure things out, causing the Seminoles to be put on Upset Alert midway through the third quarter. The Seminoles win, but it’s way too close for comfort. Something along the lines of 17-16.
Bold Prediction: Lane Kiffin has more sideline penalties than the Owls have plays inside the Wisconsin red zone. Wisconsin is on a collision course for the Big Ten Title Game and nothing is going to stand in their way, especially not a roster composed of Last Chance U transfers.
Bold Prediction: Wilton Speight is actually better than mediocre. A week removed from being benched in favor of John O’Korn, Speight captains the offense well. Michigan punts once during the entire game and Speight is responsible for a rushing touchdown and two touchdown passes without an interception. It’s not Heisman worthy, but it’s enough to secure the starting job moving forward.
Bold Prediction: Jake Browning regains the top spot on the PAC-12 passing touchdown leader board with a six touchdown day. The frustration suffered at the hands of a surprisingly decent Rutgers team is taken out on an unassuming FCS squad from Montana. Four different receivers haul in a touchdown and Browning plays just one series in the second half.
Bold Prediction: The Trojans fall at home. Sam Darnold and Keller Cryst are polar opposites on the stat sheet. Darnold is electric, tossing four touchdowns against a stingy Stanford defense as Cryst hands the ball off and completes less than 50 percent of his passes. USC’s defensive struggles put the Trojans in a whole early and cannot be overcome.
Bold Prediction: Oklahoma loses badly, again. A year removed from a 45-24 loss in Norman, the Sooners falter again, this time on the road. The new faces surrounding Baker Mayfield catch a case of fumblitis and the Buckeyes capitalize on a sloppy performance from the Sooner offense. Baker Mayfield is not to blame, he throws for 300 yards and two touchdowns, but it’s too little too late.
Bold Prediction: This is a tied game entering the fourth quarter. The Pittsburgh offense has some growing to do, but they will find a way to piece things together. Saquon Barkley proves to be the difference maker, busting through the defense on a 70+ yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter. By the time the dust settles Penn State wins by 17.
Bold Prediction: The Tigers turn the ball over four times. Clemson had moments last year when they just didn’t come prepared. Their let down game is going to come at the wrong time. Kelly Bryant finishes the game without a third down conversion through the air and the Clemson offense looks sluggish and lethargic.
Bold Prediction: J.T. Barrett has the best game against a Power 5 opponent of collegiate career. The Ohio State quarterback took a lot of criticism for a pedestrian game against Indiana in the Buckeye’s opener. He records six total touchdowns, a person best against a Power 5 team, en route to a lopsided victory at home. National analysts are forced to backtrack and people start asking if Barrett should be reconsidered as a Heisman-caliber passer.
Bold Prediction: Alabama doesn’t record a single rushing touchdown. The Crimson Tide have their way with Fresno State as expected, but all the endzone work comes via the arm of Jalen Hurts and freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Sprinkle in a defensive touchdown and you have the one of the most odd wins in some time for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.
Next: 2017 Top 50 players in college football
At the very least, Week 2 sets up for a handful of very intriguing games highlighted be the nightcap of Auburn against Clemson and Oklahoma against Ohio State. There are plenty of games that pit big names against smaller schools, but Liberty upset Baylor in Week 1. Anything is possible. That means you won’t want to leave your couch.