In Week 2, the “Under-the-Radar” college football games were better than expected. Here are the games in Week 3 that should be receiving more attention.
By Week 3, the college football season is fully underway. We now have a solid grasp of who’s who in the zoo, who is looks unstoppable, and who is barely squeaking by. And with that, we all know which games need to be watched in order to update our understanding of the top 25 teams.
For example, No. 12 LSU traveling to No. 7 Auburn is the biggest SEC battle thus far in the year. If we see a close game, like that of Auburn versus Washington in Week 1, we will have to assume both teams are good. However, if one team stands out, we will learn a lot about both teams.
Additionally, No.17 Boise State heads to Stillwater to take on the No. 24 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Boise State will make huge waves if they can travel to a Big 12 powerhouse and win. On the other hand, the Oklahoma State will ruin the Broncos hopes of an undefeated season and a bid for the College Football playoff from a Group 5 team.
And of course, there’s No. 4 Ohio State playing No. 15 TCU at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Can the Buckeyes continue their offensive dominance against a quality opponent? We will soon find out.
However, these are the games that may have large impacts on the college football world, but might not be on your radar.
1. Syracuse Looks to Make ACC Run
The Syracuse Orange host Florida State in Week 3. These two teams have had nearly opposite seasons thus far. Syracuse has won two relatively easy games and scored an average of 59 points. The Seminoles are 1-1, and were nearly 0-2 if it weren’t for a fourth quarter comeback against Samford. Florida State was with less than five minutes left in the game.
Should the Seminoles have lost that game, Coach Willie Taggart might have been fired on the spot. Week 3 will likely feel like a must-win for Taggart; however, playing inside the Carrier Dome is one of the most difficult places to play in college football.
Syracuse will be looking to get their conference record started in the right direction, while Florida State hopes to bring their conference record to .500. The Orange are fortunate to face a struggling Seminole team at home.
With that, Syracuse will likely exacerbate Florida State’s issues.
Prediction: Syracuse 27 – Florida State 17
2. Trojans in Danger
Two of college football’s most historic teams will face off in Week 3. No. 22 USC will travel to Austin and take on the Texas Longhorns. After a disappointing loss in Week 1 to Maryland, Texas almost loss again by allowing Tulsa to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter in last week’s game. Quite frankly, Tom Herman and the Longhorns do not look like they’re improving from last season.
The same is true with the USC Trojans. However, true freshman JT Daniels is trying to replace Sam Darnold, and that is not an easy task. In Week 2, USC struggled to get any offensive production going against the Stanford Cardinal. Daniels was constantly under pressure, due to a poor performance by the offensive line, finishing with two interceptions and a fumble.
USC is barely hanging on to a top 25 ranking, and Texas is desperately trying to convince all of college football that they are still a top-tier program. A home win against a ranked opponent for the Longhorns can definitely turn around their season. And a loss to a non-ranked team for USC will likely crush their year. The Stakes will be high in this Big 12 vs Pac-12 matchup. In the end, JT Daniels will lead his team to victory.
Prediction: USC 38 – Texas 35
3. Shootout in Lawrence, Kansas…?
The Week 3 game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knight and the Kansas Jayhawks will be a battle for college football status. After Kansas crushed Central Michigan in their home stadium. 31-3 last week, the Jayhawks moved up from the worst team in college football to…the second worst.
In all seriousness, Kansas is hoping to do something this week that hasn’t been done since Week 2 of their 2011 season….compile a win streak. The Jayhawks have not won two games in a row since early September of 2011 when they beat McNeese State and Northern Illinois, both at home. Additionally, these two wins in early 2011 were the only two wins for Kansas that season.
Last week, the Jayhawks ended a 46-game road losing streak and will be looking to take advantage of playing a struggling Rutgers team. Rutgers never had a chance last week in a loss to Ohio State, 52-3. David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium isn’t known to be a particularly rowdy stadium, but after a big win for the Jayhawks, the crowd will be especially fired up.
Utilizing their momentum from last week, Kansas will give Rutgers a losing streak, and earn themselves their first win streak in seven years.