College Football: Week 2 (2011)

College football season got underway, with a couple of big surprises, such as Baylor's win over ranked TCU and Oregon State losing at home to Sacramento State (who is Sacramento State?).

This week features some big games, with the potential for some big upsets to loom large.

The BIG GAME This Week:
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-1) at Michigan Wolverines (1-0)- Under the Lights in the Big House

For the first time in 132 years, the lights will be turned on in The Big House as the first-ever night game is played at Michigan Stadium, as Michigan hosts their rivals, Notre Dame. Last week, Michigan dominated Western Michigan in a lightning-shortened game. Fifth-year senior Brandon Herron scored two defensive touchdowns for the Wolverines. The second touchdown put the game away at 34-10. Unlike Michigan, Notre Dame got to finish their game. Down 16-0 when a three-hour rain delay hit, the Fighting Irish came back, but fell short, losing 23-20 to South Florida. Can the new and improved Wolverine defense stop Dayne Crist in his tracks?
Pick: Michigan 31-27

UPSET PICK:
Toledo Rockets at # 15 Ohio State Buckeyes (both 1-0)

How many points have the Toledo Rockets scored in their last two games against the Buckeyes? Zilch. The Rockets are looking to change that as they blast into the Horseshoe tomorrow afternoon. OSU held Akron to 90 yards last week, and minus 10 in the second half. Toledo put up 58 against I-AA New Hampshire. Something has got to give. Toledo upset Michigan three years ago in the Big House, and would like to upset the Bucks in the Shoe. Could Luke Fickell be looking ahead to his "fun in the sun" in South Beach next week in InEligiBowl 2011? Could be...could be.
Pick: Toledo 24-23

Other Big Games This Weekend:
# 3 Alabama Crimson Tide at # 23 Penn State Nittany Lions (both 1-0)

This is a great matchup against two storied programs. Both had easy wins on paper, but according to recent history, the Crimson Tide have an advantage.
Pick: Alabama 30-7

Oregon State Beavers (0-1) at # 8 Wisconsin Badgers (1-0)

Last week, Oregon State had their own version of Appalachian State as Sacramento State left Corvallis victorious in a 29-28 Overtime upset. This is a bad time to go to Camp Randall, as Wisconsin has not one, but two running backs that can run the ball and score.
Pick: Wisconsin 47-12

# 12 South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0) at Georgia Bulldogs (0-1)
Pick: South Carolina 27-16

Nevada Wolf Pack (0-0) at # 13 Oregon Ducks (0-1)
Last year, Nevada upset Boise State. This week, they play a despondent Oregon, whose National Championship dreams were dealt a blow by LSU. The Ducks get it done at home in a wild one.
Pick: Oregon 38-30

# 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs at Auburn Tigers (both 1-0)
Last week, Auburn barely beat Utah State, and fell out of the Top 25. It looks like Mississippi State will have a field day against these Tigers.
Pick: Mississippi State 41-14

Brigham Young (BYU) Cougars at # 24 Texas Longhorns (both 1-0)
Could BYU join the Big 12? Well, at the (Colorado) rate (Nebraska) teams (Texas A&M) are abandoning (Missouri and Oklahoma next?) ship (or maybe Texas Tech?)...probably not. But, this could be a taste, if the Big 12 can be salvaged.
Pick: Texas 41-21

# 25 Texas Christian (TCU) Horned Frogs (0-1) at Air Force Falcons (1-0)
Can TCU get back on track? Yes.
Pick: TCU 38-20

Cincinnati Bearcats at Tennessee Volunteers (both 1-0)
Pick: Tennessee 31-17

Connecticut (UConn) Huskies at Vanderbilt Commodores (both 1-0)
When I saw this, I was thinking, "Women's Basketball"...wrong....
Pick: UConn 41-7

California (Cal) Golden Bears at Colorado Buffaloes
Welcome to the Pac-12, Colorado. Your first task: Cal. It may be a long afternoon in Boulder for the once mighty Buffalo.
Pick: Cal 28-3

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1-0) at Washington Huskies
Pick: Hawaii 35-10


Last Night:
# 9 Oklahoma State (2-0) 37, Arizona (1-1) 14

Tonight:
# 21 Missouri Tigers @ Arizona State Sun Devils (both 1-0)

Other Top 25 Games Tomorrow:
Northwestern State Demons @ # 2 LSU Tigers (both 1-0)
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-1) @ # 5 Florida State Seminoles (1-0)
# 6 Stanford Cardinal (1-0) @ Duke Blue Devils (0-1)
Fresno State Bulldogs (0-1) @ # 10 Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-0)
# 11 Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0) @ East Carolina Pirates (0-1)
New Mexico Lobos (0-1) @ # 14 Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0)
Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1) @ # 17 Michigan State Spartans (1-0)
Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Blazers (0-0) @ # 18 Florida Gators (1-0)
Norfolk State Spartans @ # 19 West Virginia Mountaineers (both 1-0)
Ball State Cardinals @ # 22 South Florida Bulls (both 1-0)

Other Division I-FBS & FCS Games of Note:
North Carolina State (NC State) Wolfpack (1-0) @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0-1)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ North Carolina Tar Heels (both 1-0)
Maine Black Bears @ Pittsburgh (Pitt) Panthers (both 1-0)
Tonight- Florida International Golden Panthers @ Louisville Cardinals (both 1-0)
Virginia Cavaliers @ Indiana Hoosiers (both 0-1)

Local College Watch:
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs @ Ohio Bobcats (both 1-0)
Wittenberg Tigers @ Ohio Wesleyan Battlin' Bishops (both 1-0)
Denison Big Red at Earlham Quakers (both 0-1)
Ohio Dominican Panthers at Northwood (MI) Timberwolves (both 1-0)
Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans (1-0) at Mount Union Purple Raiders
- Capital Crusaders (0-1) and Otterbein Cardinals (1-0) are off this week

Looking ahead to next week:
Otterbein @ Ohio Northern and InEligiBowl 2011 (Ohio State @ Miami)