Another The View From The Roof

15-6 wasn’t bad for the first week of picks. Michigan and Virginia Tech put together possibly the two worst performances ever and who would have thought Boise State would only score 10 points. Big congratulations need to go out to coach Jim Leavitt and quarterback Matt Grothe as South Florida pulled off the biggest upset of the week with their win at Auburn. My two upset picks last week – Virginia Tech and TCU – both got creamed but that won’t deter me from taking the underdog, especially this week where I see more than a few top-tier teams getting upset.

#1 USC Trojans at #14 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Payback will be on the mind of Cornhusker Nation, but none more so than transfer quarterback Sam Keller who two years ago basically cost Arizona State a win over the Trojans when he threw five interceptions in USC’s comeback win. The Trojans will face their first test of the season coming off a bye week while Nebraska has already played a BCS Conference team in Wake Forest. Both teams have great defenses and big name quarterbacks in USC’s John David Booty and Keller. I think the X factor in this game will be which team can establish the run early and force an eighth man into the box.
Prediction:
I know this seems to be the trendy pick, but I like Nebraska and in particular running back Marlon Lucky to pull off the upset in Lincoln.
Nebraska 27
USC 20

#22 Tennessee Volunteers at #5 Florida Gators
Tim Tebow will get his first start against a top-flight team as Florida looks to establish their position in the national championship picture. The Volunteers head into Gainesville with a potent offense that will give an inexperienced Gator defense fits. Arian Foster has reestablished himself as the go-to-guy in the Vols backfield and senior quarterback Erik Ainge has looked poised and confident in putting up exceptional numbers thus far. Each team will be missing a key asset as Tennessee starting cornerback Antonio Gaines and Florida starting wide receiver Andre Caldwell will both be missing in action.
Prediction:
I think both teams will be able to move the ball but I look for Vols tight end Chris Brown to be the deciding factor in this one as Tennessee leaves The Swamp with a huge win.
Tennessee 34
Florida 24

#9 Louisville Cardinals at Kentucky Wildcats
Quarterbacks Brian Brohm and Andre’ Woodson will highlight this Bluegrass showdown which features two of the top six offenses in the country. Louisville leads the country with 65.5 points per game, but concern has arisen after the Cardinals defense gave up 35 first half points to Middle Tennessee. Just like the Nebraska/USC game, I think this one comes down to the running backs. Louisville’s Anthony Allen had a school record 275 yards last week and Kentucky’s Rafael Little is averaging almost 10 yards a carry this season. Expect a good old-fashioned shootout as arguably the two best quarterbacks in the country look to one-up each other and establish an early lead in terms of NFL Draft position.
Prediction:
No team in the country can compete with the trio of Brohm and wide receivers Harry Douglas and Mario Urrutia. The Wildcats will keep it close for awhile but all of the Cardinals offensive weapons will be too much for Woodson and company to keep up with.
Louisville 48
Kentucky 34

#10 Ohio State Buckeyes at Washington Huskies
At the start of the season you would have looked at the schedule and marked this game down as an easy W for the Buckeyes. Not anymore, though, as Washington quarterback Jake Locker has emerged along with a Huskies defense that held Boise State to its lowest point total in almost two seasons. Ohio State has had their ups-and-downs on offense so far this season but the defense led by All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis has picked it up and leads the nation in total defense. Tyrone Willingham is starting to turn Washington back into a contender but still is lacking that one big marquee win, for instance an Ohio State.
Prediction:
I would love to say Willingham gets that win this week, but I just think Ohio State’s defense will overwhelm Locker and the Buckeyes will muster enough offense to pick up the win.
Ohio State 20
Washington 7

#21 Boston College Eagles at #15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Georgia Tech is averaging 327 yards rushing while Boston College is only giving up 29 yards on the ground leading to the age-old cliché of something’s gotta give. Jon Tenuta and his aggressive Yellow Jacket defense will be a formidable foe for BC quarterback Matt Ryan. Georgia Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett hasn’t had to do much so far but that will definitely change this week.
Prediction:
Boston College will force Bennett to beat them through the air which he will not while Matt Ryan settles down in the second half to give the Eagles a big ACC win.
Boston College 24
Georgia Tech 14

#16 Arkansas Razorbacks at Alabama Crimson Tide
This game features the sixth leading rusher in the country, but it’s probably not who you think. McFadden? No. Felix Jones? No. Terry Grant? Yes. That’s right. Alabama’s freshman running back has amassed 307 yards and five touchdowns this season for a Tide team that desperately needed a run game to help quarterback John Parker Wilson open up the offense. The one-two punch of McFadden and Jones will once again have to carry a Razorback offense that has a nonexistent passing game, especially with the absence of receiver Marcus Monk.
Prediction:
As good as McFadden and Jones are, the Tide defense isn’t about to roll over. The duo will get their yardage but I look for Grant to make a statement on the national stage and carry the Tide to a huge early-season victory.
Alabama 34
Arkansas 20

Ohio Bobcats at #18 Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech fans will finally get what they want when true freshman Tyrod Taylor starts under center for the Hokies on Saturday. The offensive line woes for the Hokies have been chronicled often this season so the scrambling ability of Taylor should help. The most important thing, though, for the Hokies has to be how the defense responds after giving up 600 yards of offense to LSU. The Bobcats are not LSU when it comes to weapons on offense, but they do boast a two-time All-MAC running back in senior Kalvin McRae who has scored more touchdowns this season than the entire Hokie team.
Prediction:
With Taylor making his first start and a Hokie defense reeling from an embarrassing performance on national television, this game will be ugly. In the end, though, the team with more talent will come away victorious.
Virginia Tech 27
Ohio 10

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Michigan Wolverines
It’s too bad one of these teams has to actually win a game because both are terrible. I expected an angry and determined Michigan team to come out fired up to beat Oregon and instead they had one of their worst performances ever. The Irish are dead last in total offense and are actually averaging negative rushing yards on the season, but at least they didn’t give up in their blowout loss last week like the Wolverines did. To top things off, both teams will be starting true freshman quarterbacks – Jimmy Clausen for Notre Dame and Ryan Mallett for Michigan.
Prediction:
Mike Hart has guaranteed a win for the Wolverines and as much as I have tried to find reasons to disagree with him, I can’t. Michigan has better players at almost every position and the Wolverines defense which has struggled mightily against mobile quarterbacks will be going up against a pocket passer.
Michigan 31
Notre Dame 18

#2 LSU Tigers over Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
After scoring 42 points last week, the Raiders offense might not get much more than 42 yards against LSU’s defense.

#3 Oklahoma Sooners over Utah State Aggies
Besides LSU, Oklahoma is the most impressive team in the country thus far. Not too shabby for a team starting a freshman at quarterback and running back.

#6 Texas Longhorns over Central Florida Knights
Texas impressed me with their second half performance against a very good TCU team. This is a great week for Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy to finally break out.

#7 Wisconsin Badgers over The Citadel Bulldogs
The Badgers avoided embarrassment in Vegas last week with a late touchdown. Things should be a little easier this week for running back P.J. Hill and company.

#8 California Golden Bears over Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
The Bears offense is one of the most explosive in the country thanks to DeSean Jackson, but that defense needs to get it together to have any shot at beating USC down the road.

#11 UCLA Bruins over Utah Utes
After squandering a 20-0 lead in their win over BYU, the Bruins need to learn how to deliver the knockout punch in games.

#12 Penn State Nittany Lions over Buffalo Bulls
Penn State will not be a legit national championship contender until they play someone good. Expect more stat-padding in this laugher.

#13 Rutgers Scarlet Knights over Norfolk State Spartans
Ray Rice. Ray Rice. Ray Rice. Ray Rice. That’s how many touchdowns he will have.

#17 South Carolina Gamecocks over South Carolina State Bulldogs
The Gamecocks will definitely be looking ahead to their showdown with No. 2 LSU next week. It still won’t matter in this one.

#19 Oregon Ducks over Fresno State Bulldogs
Dennis Dixon has proven he can be a legitimate quarterback and not just a scrambler. I said last week the Bulldogs would be ready and they almost knocked off Texas A&M. It will be the same this week, but the Ducks have too much firepower on the offensive side.

#20 Clemson Tigers over Furman Paladins
Quarterback Cullen Harper is starting to make Tiger fans forget about their two All-ACC running backs. Expect C.J. Spiller and James Davis to get it going this week.

#23 Georgia Bulldogs over Western Carolina Catamounts
Georgia needs to find playmakers on offense if they want to compete for an SEC crown. This is a great opportunity for a couple players to emerge.

#24 Hawaii Warriors over UNLV Rebels
Colt Brennan’s numbers in two games: 77-of-101 for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception. Expect more of the same.

#25 Texas A&M Aggies over Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks
Quarterback Stephen McGee has looked great running the ball, but if the Aggies want to contend in the Big 12 McGee needs to improve upon his 95 passing yards per game.