MY COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3 PREVIEW AN PREDICTIONS

UPSTART 2-0 TEAMS FACE MEASURING STICKS

GAMES TO WATCH IN WEEK 3:

VANDERBILT AT NO. 8 NOTRE DAME

SEPT. 15, 2:30 P.M. ET, NBC

LINE: Notre Dame by 14 1 ⁄ 2

Following their triumph over Michigan in Week 1, this would appear to be the type of game the Fighting Irish should handle with relative ease if they are in fact a top-10 team. But is it? The Commodores aren’t expected to contend for the SEC title, but they handled two opponents from Group of Five conferences with little drama.

Though Notre Dame struggled to put away Ball State last week, its defense will pose the biggest test Vandy senior QB Kyle Shurmur has faced this season. The Vandy defense has been stout, too, particularly on third down, and Irish QB Brandon Wimbush has a troubling ratio of one TD pass to four interceptions through two games.

PREDICTION: The script will be just about the same for Notre Dame against a team that’s too strong to get blown out but won’t have enough firepower to draw even late in the game. NOTRE DAME, 28-20

NO. 13 LSU AT NO. 7 AUBURN

SEPT. 15, 3:30 P.M. ET, CBS

LINE: Auburn by 10

The battle for supremacy in the hyper-competitive SEC West begins with this all-Tiger affair. Like some past meetings in this series, this year’s version has the makings of a classic defensive struggle that could turn on a single big play.

After a low-scoring escape against Washington, Auburn was able to work out some offensive kinks in a 63-9 win against Alabama State last week. Even so, QB Jarrett Stidham isn’t likely to get much ground support. The Bayou Bengals haven’t needed to use much of their offensive playbook thus far, but QB Joe Burrow will have to take more chances this week. He completed 10 of 20 passes for 151 yards and two TDs in a Sept. 8 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

PREDICTION: Touchdowns will be few and far between, but the home team should have just enough to get by. AUBURN, 16-10

NO. 17 BOISE STATE AT NO. 19 OKLAHOMA STATE

SEPT. 15, 3:30 P.M. ET, ESPN

LINE: Oklahoma State by 3 1 / 2

On the surface, this is the first true measuring-stick game for a pair of top-20 teams. But there’s a bit more to it for different reasons. Oklahoma State will have more opportunities for meaningful wins on its Big 12 schedule, but this contest will show the young Cowboys if they’re ready for those future tests. For the Broncos, the Mountain West favorites who are competing with every other Group of Five league contender for a spot in the big-money bowl rotation, this is their one and only shot at Power Five opponent.

Thus far against overmatched opposition, both offensive units have done as they’ve pleased. The only cause for concern for Cowboys QB Taylor Cornelius might be his six interceptions. Veteran Broncos QB Brett Rypien has been pick-free in his two outings this season, and he’ll need all his game experience in the hostile environs in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

PREDICTION: In a wild shootout, the more experienced playmakers will find a way to prevail on the road. BOISE STATE, 38-34

NO. 4 OHIO STATE VS. NO. 14 TCU IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS

SEPT. 15, 8 P.M. ET, ABC

LINE: Ohio State by 13

This de facto road game loomed as the most significant of the three games for which Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer would be suspended. But other than a few late points surrendered to Oregon State with the outcome long since determined, it’s hard to see how Ohio State’s first two outings without him on the sideline could have gone much better. The Horned Frogs haven’t looked quite as polished in their warm-up games, and they’ll have to be nearly flawless to pull off an upset here and announce that they are in fact going to pose a threat in the Big 12.

Similar to Alabama, the added dimension of a deep passing game brought by QB Dwayne Haskins has made an already strong Ohio State squad even more dangerous. TCU will have to hope its defense can limit big plays to give mobile QB Shawn Robinson chances to keep it close.

PREDICTION: Gary Patterson’s TCU teams are always playing better by season’s end, but the talent deficit for this young group of Horned Frogs will be too much to overcome.

OHIO STATE, 31-14

NO. 12 WASHINGTON AT UTAH

SEPT. 15, 10 P.M. ET, ESPN

LINE: Washington by 6

The Huskies got into the win column with a win over an FCS team (North Dakota) after coming up short against Auburn in Week 1. They now begin pursuit of the Pac-12 crown with what figures to be a challenging cross-divisional tilt with the Utes, who have hopes of being in the mix themselves in the South Division.

Utah hasn’t been flashy during its 2-0 start, but the defense has allowed a total of 16 points. The group isn’t likely to maintain that level of stinginess against Washington’s veteran backfield duo of QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin, so the Utes are going to need QB Tyler Huntley to provide some fireworks in the downfield game.

PREDICTION: Unlike two weeks ago when Washington was slow out of the gate, this time the Huskies will do enough after intermission to get out with a close win. WASHINGTON, 24-17