Overall: 210-47 (.817)
#1 USC @ Arizona
My Prediction: USC
Final Score: USC 20, Arizona 3
Still a thoroughly decent offensive performance by USC, with Booty having 180 yards and a 1/1 TD, and RB Emmanuel Moody scoring the other USC TD behind 130 rushing yards (and a lost fumble). Both of those numbers outdo the entire Arizona team, as the Wildcats only had 114 net yards, highlighted by negative 16 rushing. Good win for USC all in all, as even when the offense isn't great, the defense can still win it for the Trojans. Arizona still seems a year away.
Penn State @ #2 Ohio State
My Prediction: Ohio State
Final Score: Ohio State 28, Penn State 6
Oof. OSU only won the yardage battle 252-236. The running games were the offensive story here, as the top players were OSU's Antonio Pittman (108, TD) and PSU's Tony Hunt (135). Troy Smith didn't really have a great game (12/22, 115, 1/2 TD/INT), but luckily for the Buckeyes, PSU QB Anthony Morelli (16/25, 106, 3 INT) essentially shit himself down the stretch. Oh, and those last 2 picks were returned for touchdowns. Both teams looked bad here.
Kentucky @ #3 Florida
My Prediction: Florida
Final Score: Florida 26, Kentucky 7
Florida outgained Kentucky 468-211, so I don't get the talk about this being a struggle. Chris Leak had 268 yards and a 2/1 TD/INT, and teams somehow still don't realize that Tim Tebow will run the ball, as he had 73 yards on 6 runs. Kentucky only had 38 yards rushing, but QB Andre' Woodson has 208 and a score through the air. Kentucky actually seems decent this year, and I have no more worries than before about Florida.
Buffalo @ #4 Auburn
My Prediction: Auburn
Final Score:
God, this game existed. Brandon Cox only had 134 and a pick, but the running game had 261 yards and 5 TD, even without Kenny Irons. Buffalo QB Drew Willy had 111 and a score, good for him. Mostly a week off, so there's not much insight about
Wisconsin @ #5 Michigan
My Prediction: Michigan
Final Score: Michigan 27, Wisconsin 13
Wisconsin only had 12 yards rushing, even if they did get 200 through the air. Chad Henne threw for 211 and 3 picks, but also had 2 TD for 113 to the now-officially-scary Mario Manningham. Wisconsin was game most of this...game, so there may be hope yet for the Badgers, and Michigan's doing what they have to do possibly better than any team in the country.
Iowa State @ #6 Texas
My Prediction: Texas
Final Score: Texas 37, Iowa State 14
The Texas offense didn't drop off, going for 234 passing and 192 rushing. Colt McCoy was pretty good, with 210 and a 2/1 TD/INT on 18/23 passing. ISU's Bret Meyer about matched that with 275 and 2 TD, but also 2 INT. Some minor defensive concerns about Texas, and Iowa State's still solidly above-average.
#7 West Virginia @ East Carolina
My Prediction: West Virginia
Final Score: West Virginia 27, East Carolina 10
WVU with 216 yards...passing? And Pat White had a 2/3 TD/INT, with a rushing TD. Slaton only had 80 yards. Of course, the ECU running game only had 42. Pirates QB James Pinckney was their offensive star, with 246, a TD and an INT through the air. I don't know if this was a failed experiment in trying to throw it or what, but West Virginia looks mortal.
Tulane @ #8 LSU
My Prediction: LSU
Final Score: LSU 49, Tulane 7
LSU's as mercurial as ever. JaMarcus Russell (17/23, 199, 2 TD) had a nice day, but the star of the show may be RB Charles Scott, who had 103 and 2 scores.
#9 Iowa @ Illinois
My Prediction: Iowa
Final Score: Iowa 24, Illinois 7
Surprisingly close yardage-wise, with Iowa ahead 337-291. Iowa QB Drew Tate looked mortal, with 187 and a 1/1 TD/INT. Illinois QB Juice Williams was worse, however, with only 9/32 for 162 and an abysmal 1/3 TD/INT. Not an impressive game at all for Iowa, as I doubt Illinois has suddenly become decent or anything.
Colorado @ #10 Georgia
My Prediction: Georgia
Final Score: Georgia 14, Colorado 13
Okay, I overrated Georgia, even if I don't know who should have been at #10. Colorado actually won the yardage battle 315-283, led by QB Bernard Jackson, who had 142 and a pick passing, but 85 and a score on the ground. Backup UGA QB Joe Cox was your obvious star of the game, coming in late and throwing for 153 and both Bulldog touchdowns. Obviously not a confidence-inspiring win by any means.
#11 Louisville @ Kansas State
My Prediction: Louisville
Final Score: Louisville 24, Kansas State 6
Thoroughly decent win. The UL defense was the most impressive thing here, giving up only 233 yards. Hunter Cantwell threw for 172 and a 1/1 TD/INT, and the running game had 229 yards and 2 TD, but 2 lost fumbles. KSU RB Thomas Clayton's 118 and a score was the only bright spot for the Wildcats.
Arizona State @ #13 Cal
My Prediction: Cal
Final Score: Cal 49, Arizona State 21
I thought Cal would kill them, but not this badly. ASU QB Rudy Carpenter pulled a Joe Dailey, throwing for 177 and a 2/4 TD/INT. RB Ryan Torain tried to carry the offense however, running for 185 and a score, as well as catching one of the Carpenter TDs. As for Cal, the offense has found their rhythm, as Lynch ran for 124 and caught one of Nate Longshore's 4 TDs. Cal's humming along nicely, with as many defensive concerns as any non-USC Pac 10 team, and Arizona State...ehh, not so much. The yardage was actually pretty close (396-379), but the Carpenter INTs bring any ASU excitement down a notch.
Middle Tennessee State @ #14 Oklahoma
My Prediction: Oklahoma
Final Score: Oklahoma 59, Middle Tennessee State 0
Ow. The OU defense finally stopped someone, holding the Blue Raiders to only 86 yards. Paul Thompson (13/18, 254, 3 TD) had a great day, and Adrian Peterson (131, 3 TD) remains a scary man. As impressive as a win like this can be.
#15 Notre Dame @ #20 Michigan State
My Prediction: Notre Dame
Final Score: Notre Dame 40, Michigan State 37
Michigan State imploded, Notre Dame doesn't look any good either. Brady Quinn passed for 319 and a 5/1 TD/INT, but somehow didn't really impress. And the UND running game only generated 46 yards. UND also proved they couldn't stop the run, as the Spartans gained 247 on the ground. Drew Stanton's 2 late picks were the only reason UND really won this one, so UND proved they are more lucky than good, and Michigan State proved they're still as annoyingly inconsistent as ever.
Marshall @ #16 Tennessee
My Prediction: Tennessee
Final Score: Tennessee 33, Marshall 7
RB LaMarcus Coker was the star for the Vols, gaining 146 and a TD on the ground. Erik Ainge threw for 268 and a 1/1 TD/INT, so he didn't have a horrible day or anything. A nice confidence-building win after the AFA struggle and the Florida loss, but Marshall looks to be pretty bad this year.
North Carolina @ #17 Clemson
My Prediction: Clemson
Final Score: Clemson 52, North Carolina 7
Clemson destroyed in the yardage battle 506-135. QB Will Proctor only threw for 135 and a pick, but the UNC defense, once again, could not stop the run. James Davis ran for 96 and 4 TDs, and C.J. Spiller added 58 more yards and 2 more scores.
Cincinnati @ #18 Virginia Tech
My Prediction: Virginia Tech
Final Score: Virginia Tech 28, Cincinnati 13
Cincinnati once again hangin' in there. Both QBs had bad days, and the only offensive player on either side to be above decent was VT RB Branden Ore, who ran for 163 and a score. Virginia Tech seems above-average but not great, and Cincinnati may actually be able to make some noise in the Big East.
Troy @ #19 Nebraska
My Prediction: Nebraska
Final Score: Nebraska 56, Troy 0
Dominating offensive performance here by the Huskers, outgaining Troy 601-159. Marlon Lucky ran for 153 and 3 TD, and Kenny Wilson added 105 and 2. Nice statement win.
Hawaii @ #21 Boise State
My Prediction: Boise State
Final Score: Boise State 41, Hawaii 34
The usual WACtastic shootout, with Boise outgaining Hawaii 505-458. Colt Brennan was unsurprisingly the bulk of the Hawaii offense, throwing for 386, 5 TD and a pick. Boise showed a balanced offense, passing for 263 and rushing for 242, led by Ian Johnson's 178 and 2 TD. Boise's offense is as good as anyone in the country, and since their defense looks at least decent, they should be able to roll in the WAC.
#23 Alabama @ Arkansas
My Prediction: Alabama
Final Score: Arkansas 24, Alabama 23 (2 OT)
Well, the Razorbacks pulled that one out of their ass. Arkansas was outgained 316-270, and only RB Darren McFadden (113, TD) looked good on their offense. Bama QB John Parker Wilson had a breakout game, gaining 241 and 3 TD on 16/20 passing. Essentially the same story as the Clemson/BC game a few weeks back: Alabama's definitely better, Arkansas will likely now be overrated.
Rice @ #24 Florida State
My Prediction: Florida State
Final Score: Florida State 55, Rice 7
FSU actually gained 285 yards rushing. Rice actually managed 261 yards, which is more than I'd expect with that defense. So, who knows what this game means.
#25 Boston College @ NC State
My Prediction: Boston College
Final Score: NC State 17, Boston College 15
Figures as soon as I rank them. Even game all in all, with BC winning the yardage game 313-309, NCSU's Dan Evans winning the passing battle 174-150, and both leading rushers being within 10 yards of each other. There may be some faint hope for NC State this year, and BC is probably closer to this than the team that somehow beat Clemson and BYU.
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