College football is in full swing, and the action continues into week 3. I will be making predictions for all the top 25 teams in action during week 3.
1 Clemson (2-0) vs Syracuse (1-1)- Clemson 38-14
Clemson is coming off a win over Texas A&M, and will look to keep the momentum going against Syracuse. The Orange were ran over by a high powered Maryland offense, and are looking to bounce back against the Tigers. Syracuse doesn’t have the defense to slow down quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, or the high powered receivers of Clemson. I believe Syracuse quarterback Tommy Devito will struggle against Brent Venables defense, and this one will get ugly fast. Clemson has too much talent to lose to Syracuse even on the road.
2 Alabama (2-0) vs South Carolina (1-1)- Alabama 45-14
Alabama has an electric offense led by QB Tua Taagovailoa, and star wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. They have the ability to put points up in bunches, and once they get rolling are hard to stop. Will Muschamp is known for leading a stingy South Carolina defense, but they simply don’t have the talent to stop Alabama. Their quarterback Jake Bentley is out for the season, and young replacement Ryan Hilinski will be no match for the athletic Crimson Tide defense.
Arkansas State (1-1) vs 3 Georgia (2-0)- Georgia 56-10
Georgia dominated last week, and quarterback Jake Fromm improved after a rough week one. I expect them to continue to lean on running back DeAndre Swift, and will likely have another blowout victory Saturday. Arkansas State doesn’t have a good defense, and won’t have the ability to stop Georgia’s passing or rushing attack. I expect Georgia to force turnovers defensively, and cruise to another high scoring win.
Northwestern State (0-2) vs 4 LSU (2-0)- LSU 63-14
LSU’s offense is for real, and torched the self proclaimed “DBU” of Texas last week. Their defense showed some cracks, but were good enough to steal a road win. They have a much easier opponent on the docket in the lackluster Northwestern State. I expect Joe Burrow’s fine season to continue, and LSU will roll to another victory in easy fashion. This will be the Tigers chance to see some of the backups make their mark as this game will get out of hand quickly.
5 Oklahoma (2-0) vs UCLA (0-2)- Oklahoma 49-21
Jalen Hurts has been unstoppable with his new team showing an ability to pass and run the ball at a high level. Their offense is one of the best in the country with solid running backs in Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks. Wide receiver Cee Dee Lamb is likely to take the top off the defense against an overmatched UCLA squad. Chip Kelly has struggled to turn this team around, and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is yet to prove he can play at a high level. The Bruins simply don’t have the defense or offense to compete with the Sooners. I expect Oklahoma to start fast, and put this game away early.
6 Ohio State (2-0) vs Indiana (2-0)- Ohio State 42-24
Ohio State is coming off a dominant win over Cincinnati that was expected to be a tough battle. Justin Fields continues to impress at the QB position, and J.K. Dobbins is showing how elite of a rusher he is. Ohio State was stingy on defense, and was able to put constant pressure on the Bearcats. I expect Indiana to be tough early behind athletic quarterback Michael Penix Jr. However, he is yet to prove he can throw the ball consistently, and this will prevent Indiana from truly testing Ohio State. The Buckeyes are better on both sides of the ball, but this will be their first true test on the road.
New Mexico (1-0) vs 7 Notre Dame (1-0)- Notre Dame 38-13
Notre Dame gets back into action after defeating Louisville in week one. They take on an improving, but still a work in progress New Mexico team. I believe New Mexico will struggle to stop quarterback Ian Book. He has the ability to beat teams through the air or with his wheels. I also expect the Fighting Irish’s defense to be motivated to put a better effort forward in their second game. It’s very tough to win in South Bend, and the Lobos will find that out first hand Saturday.
Kent State (1-1) vs 8 Auburn (2-0)- Auburn 34-14
Auburn was lackluster last week winning by double digits, but had real problems with consistency in the game. Freshman Bo Nix is still a work in progress, and has yet to put a solid performance together. I expect them to continue to lean on their run game in JaTarvious Whitlow. Whitlow is quickly becoming one of the better backs in the country, and runs with a non stop motor. Auburn’s defense is adapt at forcing turnovers, and will likely reward the offense with good field position against Kent State. I expect Auburn to win big, and continue to roll before the competition picks up.
9 Florida (2-0) vs Kentucky (2-0)- Florida 27-13
Florida looked dominate against a bad UT Martin team last week. Their success hinges on the performance of Felipe Franks. He has all the tools to be a top level quarterback, but is far too inconsistent in big games. Their defense is very athletic, and plays at a fast pace that gives opponents issues. Kentucky is a scrappy team coming off a 10 win season last year. They lost their major talent from last years squad, but have a underrated coach in Mark Stoops. Terry Wilson will have to use his legs to win this game for Kentucky. He has to improve his decision making in order to upset Florida. I expect the Wildcats to put pressure on the Gators, but ultimately I see Florida winning a hard hitting contest.
Idaho State (1-0) vs 11 Utah (2-0)- Utah 41-10
Utah’s defense is for real, and could be one of the best units in all of college football. Their offense is led by running back Zack Moss, but quarterback Tyler Huntley has improved since week one. Their defense is good enough to coast to a win over Idaho State. Their offense needs to take advantage of the lesser level of competition, and work out some of the kinks before their schedule gets tougher.
12 Texas (1-1) vs Rice (0-2)- Texas 56-21
Texas is coming off a top loss at the hands of LSU with major playoff implications. I expect them to bounce back against the lowly Rice Owls in their first road game. Sam Ehlinger will have a big day against the bad Rice defense, and running back Keontay Ingram should rebound after a rough game against LSU. Their defense has to improve if they want to have a chance to win the Big 12. Texas has to win out in order to get into the college football playoff, but shouldn’t have any problems against Rice.
Pittsburgh (1-1) vs 13 Penn State (2-0)- Penn State 38-21
Pittsburgh has a stout defense, and will be the biggest test for Penn State in 2019. Their offense is a work in progress behind quarterback Kenny Pickett. Penn State started slow against Buffalo, but flipped a switch and dominated in the second half. Their young QB Sean Clifford has impressed against low level competition. This will be his first real test against in state rival Pitt. I expect Penn State to win this game with their defense. Pittsburgh turns the ball over a lot, and James Franklin will have his team raring to go. The game will be close early, but I expect Penn State to pull away in the second half.
Montana (2-0) vs 15 Oregon (1-1)- Oregon 52-21
Oregon showed how high level their offense can be behind QB Justin Herbert against Nevada. The scary thing is that the majority of their wide receivers are still injured. Their loss to Auburn hurt, but if they win out they could get back into contention for a playoff spot. Their defense has been a nice surprise, and has played very well to start the season. I expect Oregon to run the ball with ease behind C.J. Verdall, and Herbert will put up big numbers against a less talented Montana football team.
Lamar (2-0) vs 16 Texas A&M (1-1)- Texas A&M 55-13
The Aggies lost against Clemson last week, but their defense showed they can compete with the best. Quarterback Kellen Mond has to improve his decision making or it will be another disappointing season for the 12th man. They will dominate against a bad Lamar team, and will likely have this game in the bag early. I expect Mond to play better, and their receiving core should dominate on Saturday.
Stanford (1-1) vs 17 UCF (2-0)- UCF 28-21
Stanford was dominated against USC, but their starting quarterback K.J. Costello is back. They travel across the country to face the exciting Orlando based Golden Knights. The question will be if transfer Brandon Wimbush or Dillon Gabriel will start at quarterback. Whoever starts I expect UCF to win this game mainly because they are playing at home. UCF is tough to beat on the road, and even with Costello this Stanford offense has struggled to gain traction. Their defense isn’t as solid compared to previous years, and will struggle to stop electric running back Adrian Killins Jr. This will be a closely contested game, but I see UCF being good enough defensively to set their offense up for success.
Arizona State (2-0) vs 18 Michigan State (2-0)- Michigan State 27-24
Herman Edwards and Arizona State are undefeated, but have been unimpressive to start 2019. Their defense is solid, but their offense has had issues finishing drives often settling for field goals. This will be the toughest test for ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels against a stout Michigan State defense. The Spartans have a ton of experience, and have the advantage at quarterback with veteran Brian Lewerke. Elijah Collins has impressed out of the backfield as well. I expect the Sun Devils to test Michigan State, but I believe Mark Dantonio is one of the best coaches in college football and will have his team ready to go.
19 Iowa (2-0) vs Iowa State (1-0)- Iowa 26-23
This in state rivalry has produced some classics over the years especially with the rise of Iowa State. The Cyclones avoided a major upset in week one against Northern Iowa, and had a bye week to prepare for the Hawkeyes. Iowa State will need a big effort out of quarterback Brock Purdy in order to pull off the upset. I think Iowa will win this game with their experience, and behind their unquestioned leader QB Nathan Stanley. Stanley is a solid passer, protects the football, and has a history of performing in big games. I also believe their defense is better than Iowa State, and will likely be the difference.
20 Washington State (2-0) vs Houston (1-1)- Houston 42-35
Both of these teams are offensive minded, and have interesting characters at the head coaching positions. Mike Leach has turned the Cougars around, and has quarterback Anthony Gordon playing at a high level. Their defense has impressed, but has played against low level competition. Dana Holgorsen has to get a better performance out of quarterback D’Eriq King in order to pull off the upset. I expect Houston to lean on Kyle Porter in the running game, and King to improve after a shaky performance against Prairie View A&M. I like Houston in this game because they have home field advantage. This game could come down to which offense has the ball last, and expect the points to pile up quickly.
21 Maryland (2-0) vs Temple (1-0)- Maryland 45-31
Maryland has been dominate to start 2019 behind transfer quarterback Josh Jackson. He has impressed with his throwing and running ability dominating Syracuse last week. They have to be careful in their first road game in what could be a trap game against Temple. The Owls have a had a knack for pulling off upsets in the past, and had a bye week to prepare for Maryland. Temple has a dangerous quarterback in Anthony Russo who dominated against Bucknell. Their defense has to step up, and find some way to slow down this Terrapin offense. I expect Temple to battle early, but Maryland is too talented to drop this game. They have big aspirations, and could have the offense to shock some people in the Big Ten this year.
Portland State (1-1) vs 22 Boise State (2-0)- Boise State 49-14
Boise State isn’t as electric on offense, and are still trying to develop true freshman quarterback Hank Bachmeier. Their defense bounced back after a rough performance against Florida State, and Bryan Harsin has impressed as the head coach of the Broncos. They will dominate against a bad Portland State team, and will likely put up big number offensively. Boise State isn’t as loaded as previous years, but are still talented enough to potentially win the Mountain West again.
Hawaii (2-0) vs 23 Washington (1-1)- Washington 36-22
Washington is coming off a tough loss against Cal in a weather delayed game. Jacob Eason came back down to earth struggling against the Bears last Saturday. I expect Eason to dominate against a bad Hawaii defense, and will likely put up big numbers in the passing game. Cole McDonald has impressed for Hawaii, and could test the Washington defense through the air. However, I just don’t see Washington being upset two weeks in a row. Chris Peterson will have his team prepared to bounce back after a rough home loss last week.
24 USC (2-0) vs BYU (1-1)- BYU 27-24
USC was dominant at home with new freshman QB Kedon Slovis. Slovis looked like a proven vet carving up the Stanford defense. USC improved their defensive effort as well forcing several turnovers. This will be the first road test for the freshman, and it will be interesting to see how he performs. BYU has been lackluster to start the season, and QB Zach Wilson has been up and down with his play. They are likely to lean on the run game with Ty’Son Williams, and their defense has to improve against the freshman. I expect BYU to win this game mainly because they have a home field advantage. I expect Wilson to step up his play, and the Cougars will find a way to win at home.
Florida State (1-1) vs 25 Virginia (2-0)- Virginia 34-31
Florida State nearly was upset against the lowly UL-Monroe last week, and have major issues on the defensive side of the ball. QB James Blackman is talented, but is far too careless with the football, and has put his team in bad positions to start the year. Cam Akers is a solid back, but the Seminoles have to show they can play some sort of defense in order to beat Virginia. The Cavaliers have a dual threat QB in Bryce Perkins, but like Blackman he is prone to turning the ball over. However, unlike Florida State, Virginia has been solid defensively. Bronco Mendenhall has his defense in mid season form, but will get their biggest test against FSU. I expect this to be a high scoring game, but I feel Virginia is a little more balanced. I don’t trust the Seminoles enough to pick them to win especially on the road.
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