I'm a glutton for punishment because after predicting every score for week one, I've decided to do week two. And I'm on a roll because I actually didn't do too bad for myself in the predictions. Well that is of course if you ignore the scores, which I often was terribly off on. Oh and I also forgot to predict the Temple and Buffalo game, but it isn't like anyone cared about that one. In week one I went 61-8, which was not bad at all. However it's week one and there were a lot of cupcake games schedule by teams in dire need of wins, a tune up game or both. I will be completely shocked if I'm nearly as accurate in week two as I was in week one.
I've got to get these out before the Boise State/Oregon State game kicks off in a few hours, so here are the picks...
Week two predictions
Thursday game predictions
Boise State: 38
Oregon State: 35
Boise State and Oregon State kick off week two of the college football season. This should be an exciting game and this series is turning into quite the rivalry. Last season Oregon State upset the Broncos and then limped to a rather mediocre 5-6 record. Chris Petersen will get his first real test as head coach of the Broncos and a win could pave the way for a Broncos BCS bid.
Friday game predictions
Pittsburgh: 31
Cincinnati: 14
Saturday game predictions
Louisville: 52
Temple: 10
Wake Forst: 24
Duke: 3
NC State: 28
Akron: 10
Virginia Tech: 38
North Carolina: 17
Michigan: 31
Central Michigan: 13
Rutgers: 28
Illinois: 17
Missouri: 23
Ole Miss: 14
Auburn: 21
Mississippi State: 3
Mississippi State's offense struggled against South Carolina last week and I don't expect them to have a much better game against Auburn. However their defense will keep it close, but the Tigers are too good of a team to lose to Mississippi State.
West Virginia: 58
Eastern Washington: 7
Kent State: 17
Army: 10
Purdue: 31
Miami (Ohio): 21
Nebraska: 42
Nicholls State: 0
Navy: 38
Massachusetts: 10
Northwestern: 49
New Hampshire: 6
Bowling Green: 35
Buffalo: 10
Northern Illinois: 28
Ohio: 10
This is a good MAC game, as Northern Illinois is one of the favorites to win the conference. It will also be interesting to see how Ohio does in Frank Solich's second year. The last time Ohio started a season 2-0 was 1997.
Virginia: 35
Wyoming: 21
Georgia Tech: 28
Samford: 3
Boston College: 21
Clemson: 17
My faith in BC was rocked last week with a near upset loss to Central Michigan. However I think they bounce back and defeat Clemson, especially with the game being played in Chestnut Hill. I'm not sold on Clemson and head coach Tommy Bowden.
Wisconsin: 49
Western Illinois: 7
Iowa: 42
Syracuse: 10
Michigan State: 28
Eastern Michigan: 16
Penn State: 24
Notre Dame: 21
Ok, I picked Georgia Tech over Notre Dame last week and it nearly unfolded. I think Notre Dame might have been a bit hyped up heading into the season and Penn State is not an easy game. It will be a battle and either team can win, but I'll go with the Nittany Lions. This game might be titled: Night of the Livng Dead: The Return of Joe Pa.
BRAINS!
Oklahoma: 31
Washington: 14
Alabama: 28
Vanderbilt: 10
Washington State: 17
Idaho: 13
Only thing worthy of note about this game is former Washington State head coach Dennis Erickson returns to Pullman, he coached Washington State for two seasons in the 80s.
TDS: 45
Tulsa: 42
Marshall: 31
Hofstra: 3
Colorado State: 28
Colorado: 24
Maryland: 20
Middle Tennessee State: 7
Florida State: 42
Troy: 13
Kentucky: 28
Texas State: 10
Florida: 38
UCF: 14
Stanford: 17
San Jose State: 3
Indiana: 24
Ball State: 6
LSU: 27
Arizona: 3
TCU: 55
UC Davis: 10
SMU: 16
North Texas: 14
Toledo: 42
Western Michigan: 21
Texas A&M: 49
LA Lafayette: 10
Cal: 35
Minnesota: 21
Tennessee: 42
Air Force: 17
Kansas: 17
LA Monroe: 7
Iowa State: 42
UNLV: 28
Baylor: 31
Northwestern State: 13
Miami: 42
Florida A&M: 0
South Florida: 28
Florida International: 10
East Carolina: 28
UAB: 21
Southern Miss: 35
SE Louisiana: 7
Houston: 31
Tulane: 10
Arkansas: 42
Utah State: 10
Oklahoma State: 49
Arkansas State: 10
Kansas State: 21
Florida Atlantic: 13
Georgia: 28
South Carolina: 21
Utah: 52
NAU: 13
New Mexico: 23
New Mexico State: 21
Memphis: 38
Chattanooga: 3
Texas: 24
Ohio State: 21
The game of the week pits #1 Ohio State against #2 Texas. The winner of this game will have the inside track toward the national championship, while the loser might find themselves on the outs come January. Last year's game was nearly epic, with Vince Young leading the Longhorns to a tough victory in a virtually impossible place to win. This year, I think the home team wins, but it will be close.
Texas Tech: 31
UTEP: 14
UCLA: 49
Rice: 10
Here's to UCLA being a really good team, so maybe that Utah loss won't look that bad in weeks to come.
Arizona State: 42
Nevada: 21
Oregon: 35
Fresno State: 31
This will be one of the better games of the week and one where either team can win. Pat Hill and his Fresno State Bulldogs have made national waves with stunning BCS teams and now they get one in their own backyard. Oregon is good, but so is Fresno State and they seem to always play up to their competition (on the flip side, they play down to it, too). Oregon has talent and I think that will propel them to victory.
That's my week two picks. I believe I included every game this time, but who knows. I'll probably be exposed after this week as a dreadful forecaster, but oh well.