Week 2 Recap, Pt. II: (Akron-Florida International)

Akron @ NC State
My Prediction: Akron
Final Score: Akron 20, NC State 17
Thoughts: Well, first, the good news for NC State. QB Marcus Stone looked decent, going 16/31 for 209 and a 2/1 INT. And that's about it. Akron QB Luke Getsy passed for 243 yards, but only completed 12 of 31 attempts. The star of the game: Akron RB Dennis Kennedy, with 117 yards and all 3 Zip TDs. NCSU's obviously falling to earth and fast, but with NIU and Toledo faltering, Akron actually might repeat in the MAC.

Vanderbilt @ Alabama
My Prediction: Alabama
Final Score: Alabama 13, Vanderbilt 10
Thoughts: Vandy's defense mostly got shut down, with only 93 rushing yards and 155 passing, with 4 turnovers. 3 of those were INTs by QB Chris Nickson, but he did have 140 on 15/23. So they have a better passing game than Mississippi State. Bama RB Kenneth Darby only had 65, but QB John Parker Wilson was a wholly decent 18/29 for 207 and 1/1 TD/INT.

Utah State @ Arkansas
My Prediction: Arkansas
Final Score: Arkansas 20, Utah State 0
Thoughts: Razorback QB Mitch Mustain had a better day than Matt Stafford, going 9/17 for 119 and a TD. But the real bread and butter of Arkansas, the running game, was the news here, as star RB Darren McFadden ran for 184 and 2 TD. A good rebound win for Arkansas, as they also mostly held the USU offense in check, outside of Aggie RB Marcus Cross's 103 yards.

Oklahoma State @ Arkansas State
My Prediction: Oklahoma State
Final Score: Oklahoma State 35, Arkansas State 7
Thoughts: The ASU offense couldn't manage much here, with only 240 total yards and 78 passing. At the very least, the Indian defense picked off OSU QB Bobby Reid (11/18, 167, 2 TD) 3 times, one of which was returned for a TD by star safety Khayyam Burns. A solid win for an OK State team that may yet be bowl eligible, but ASU has some things to take out of it.

Kent State @ Army
My Prediction: Army
Final Score: Army 17, Kent State 14
Thoughts: Either a defensive struggle or, more likely, an exercise in offensive futility, as neither team broke 300 yards. Star of the show: Army RB Tony Moore had 35 yards and both Black Knight TDs. Neither of these teams seem to have much hope.

Indiana @ Ball State
My Prediction: Indiana
Final Score: Indiana 24, Ball State 23
Thoughts: Battle of the QBs here. BSU QB Joey Lynch (15/24, 246, 3/1 TD/INT) had a great night, but the real star was third-string Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis (15/28 for 228 and a TD passing, with 88 and a score rushing.) Game was mostly even otherwise, except for Indiana shutting down the Cardinal running game to the tune of 63 yards.

Northwestern State @ Baylor
My Prediction: Baylor
Final Score: Baylor 47, Northwestern State 10
Thoughts: The positives: QB Shawn Bell starred again, with 25/41 passing for 288 yards, 4 TD and an INT. The negatives: The Bears gave up 353 yards, and only had 36 rushing yards. *36*.

Oregon State @ Boise State
My Prediction: Boise State
Final Score: Boise State 42, Oregon State 14
Thoughts: OSU scored that 14 in the first few minutes, and it looked like they would roll. And then Boise State brought out the whoopin' stick. QB Jared Zabransky only had 105 yards and a TD, but RB Ian Johnson had, and this line still makes me laugh, 240 yards and 5 TD. PLAYER OF THE WEEK, everyone. On the Beaver front, QB Matt Moore actually has a pretty decent line (12/17, 115 yards, TD, INT), but backup Sean Canfield (7/11, 63) looked good in relief. OSU RB Yvenson Bernard had 89 yards, but most of those came early.

Buffalo @ Bowling Green
My Prediction: Bowling Green
Final Score: Bowling Green 48, Buffalo 40 (3 OT)
Thoughts: Firstly, I enjoy that the game went to OT #3 only because both teams blew the XP attempts. The initial thought is to say that it's going to be a long season for BGSU, but they did outgain the Bulls 570-243. Buffalo scored TDs off of a punt block and a kickoff return, which explains that one. In his return, BGSU QB Anthony Turner looked great (16/23, 204, 3/1 TD/INT, along with 127 yards and a TD rushing), and backup Freddie Barnes (only 2/3 passing, but 99 yards and a TD on the ground) was effective as well. Not much to say on the Buffalo end; QB Drew Willy probably had the best line on offense, going 21/32 passing for 138, and scoring a rushing TD.

Tulsa @ BYU
My Prediction: BYU
Final Score: BYU 49, Tulsa 24
Thoughts: The Tulsa running game didn't do much except 2 short-yardage TDs, gaining only 82 yards total. BYU won with a balanced attack; QB John Beck had a nice day (16/21, 240, 3 TD), and four different players had rushing TD. Curtis Brown led the BYU running game with 82 yards, but his lone score came on a reception. Great rebound win for BYU after the Arizona loss, and the C-USA remains wide open.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
My Prediction: Pittsburgh
Final Score: Pittsburgh 35, Cincinnati 13
Thoughts: And Pitt lost 3 fumbles, so it could've been worse. Pitt QB Tyler Palko had 267 yards and 3 TD, most of which was to WR Derek Kinder (3 catches, 172 yards, 2 TD.) After splitting time last week, Cincy QB Dustin Grutza saw most of the time over Nick Davila, but only had 189 yards and 21/35 passing, with a 1/2 TD/INT. A pretty impressive win for Pitt, and Cincinnati continues to bore me.

Colorado @ Colorado State
My Prediction: Colorado
Final Score: Colorado State 14, Colorado 10
Thoughts: Hm. Positives for Colorado...positives for Colorado... They had 2 more rushing yards than against Montana State? Colorado State only had 60 rushing yards, but Rams QB Caleb Hanie went 20/23 passing for 233 and a score. It's still unclear where CSU stands, mostly because Colorado is, very obviously, awful.

Duke @ Wake Forest
My Prediction: Wake Forest
Final Score: Wake Forest 14, Duke 13
Thoughts: And they had to block a Duke FG to clinch it, too. I figured to see that the loss of Wake QB Ben Mauk had led to disaster in the passing game, but backup Riley Skinner had an impressive night (22/29, 235, TD.) Instead, star RB Micah Andrews had a letdown of a game, with only 41 yards and a TD. Duke actually outgained Wake 4o8-312, mostly on the arm of QB Thaddeus Lewis, who had 305 yards and a TD on 21/32 passing. Duke is still probably going winless, but I now have no idea what to make of Wake now.

East Carolina @ UAB
My Prediction: East Carolina
Final Score: UAB 17, East Carolina 12
Thoughts: And with that, UAB takes ECU's place as C-USA sleeper. ECU won the yardage battle 376-323, but both teams had 3 turnovers, so there is no other flukiness afoot. Both stars were in the passing game: ECU QB James Pinkney (20/38, 280, 1/1 TD/INT) and UAB's Chris Williams (12/16, 144, 2 TD.)

Eastern Michigan @ Michigan State
My Prediction: Michigan State
Final Score: Michigan State 52, Eastern Michigan 20
Thoughts: Drew Stanton had the big game here, with 24/32 passing, 254 yards and a 3/1 TD/INT through the air, and 2 rushing scores. WR Matt Trannon also had 14 (!) receptions, for 151 and 2 TD. Oh, and RB Javon Ringer had 130 rushing. Pretty one-sided, as games where one team doubles the other in yardage (608-304) tend to be.

Florida Atlantic @ Kansas State
My Prediction: Kansas State
Final Score: Kansas State 45, Florida Atlantic 0
Thoughts: KSU only had 351 overall yards, but any shutout this big is still somewhat impressive. At least coming off of the Illinois State disaster. QB Dylan Meier had 120 and 2 TD passing, RB Thomas Clayton had 89 and a score on the ground.

Florida International @ South Florida
My Prediction: South Florida
Final Score: South Florida 21, Florida International 20
Thoughts: Ehhhhh. FIU was actually up 20-7 at the half, and this would've gone to OT if not for a missed XP in the first. FIU WR Chandler Williams was probably the most impressive player on either side, with 129 yards receiving and a punt return TD. USF QB Matt Grothe didn't look good passing (15/28, 174, 1/2 TD/INT), but ran for 82.