With the college football season in full swing, Mother
Nature is doing her best to interrupt the fun. Three games — No. 18 UCF at
North Carolina, East Carolina taking on No. 13 Virginia Tech and 14th-ranked
West Virginia visiting North Carolina State — have been postponed due to Hurricane Florence's
presence along the Atlantic Coast.
However, there is still plenty of action within the Top 25
as conference play either begins or continues for some.
Here's a look at Week 3's Top 25 games and some interesting
matchups between unranked teams. Ranking is in parenthesis; all times
Eastern.
5) OKLAHOMA (2-0) AT IOWA
STATE (0-1), NOON, SATURDAY, ABC
Losing star running
back Rodney Anderson for the season is a huge blow, but the Sooners
should have the talent to reload. More of the workload could fall on versatile
quarterback Kyler Murray, as Oklahoma tries to extend its road winning streak
to 17 games and avenge last year's 38-31 home defeat to the Cyclones.
Prediction: Oklahoma 24, Iowa State 10
KENT STATE (1-1) AT (11) PENN
STATE (2-0), NOON, SATURDAY, FOX SPORTS 1
After outlasting
Appalachian State in their opener, the Nittany Lions returned to dominance with
a 51-6 victory over rival Pitt. Penn State has scored 96 points in its first
two games with quarterback Trace McSorley throwing for three touchdowns and
rushing for three more. Kent State has lost eight in a row and 20 of its last
21 against ranked opponents.
Prediction: Penn State 45, Kent State 17
(21) MIAMI, FL (1-1) AT TOLEDO
(1-0), NOON, SATURDAY, ESPN2
A year ago, the
Hurricanes trailed Toledo at halftime before prevailing 52-30 at home. Now,
Miami will visit the reigning Mid-American Conference champions, who are 12-1
at home since the start of the 2016 season. Miami is 3-4 against non-conference
opponents on the road since 2012, so the visitors might not have it easy.
Prediction: Toledo 34, Miami 31
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (2-0) AT (2)
CLEMSON (2-0), NOON, SATURDAY, TBA
This contest has been moved up from its original 3:30 p.m. start time
because of Hurricane Florence. The Tigers earned their stripes with a gutsy
victory at Texas A&M last Saturday. The goings should be much easier this
time, as Clemson's vaunted defensive line and quarterback tandem of Kelly
Bryant and Trevor Lawrence are poised to dominate.
Prediction: Clemson 51, Georgia Southern 10
UC DAVIS (2-0) AT (9) STANFORD
(2-0), 2 P.M., SATURDAY, PAC-12 NETWORK
Stanford won't have Heisman candidate Bryce
Love for this one because
of an injury, but it really shouldn't matter against this FCS program. The
Cardinal were impressive last weekend while holding USC to 332 total yards.
Davis receiver Keelan Doss is among the top players in the FCS
and a true NFL prospect.
Prediction: Stanford 33, UC Davis 10
VANDERBILT (2-0) AT (8) NOTRE
DAME (2-0), 2:30 P.M., SATURDAY, NBC
The Irish have
looked balanced and consistent through two games, and now they welcome a
Vanderbilt team looking to start 3-0 for a second consecutive season. If Notre
Dame has a concern, its quarterback Brandon Wimbush. The senior has thrown four interceptions —
three vs. Ball State last week — and has been sacked six times. He also rushed
for minus-7 yards on 11 carries against the Cardinals.
Prediction: Notre Dame 23, Vanderbilt 16
(12) LSU (2-0) AT (7) AUBURN
(2-0), 3:30 P.M., SATURDAY, CBS
The teams have
split their last four meetings with the home side winning each game. That bodes
well for Auburn, which has allowed 25 points in its first two games and 20 in
the last two at home against the Bayou Bengals. LSU, meanwhile, has been
balanced while outscoring Miami and Southeastern Louisiana 64-17 to open this
season.
Prediction: Auburn 23, LSU 17
SMU (0-2) AT (19) MICHIGAN
(1-1), 3:30 P.M., SATURDAY, BIG TEN NETWORK
Everything went
right for the Wolverines in their home-opening 49-3 victory over Western
Michigan. They could be in store for another one-sided affair against an SMU
team that's yielded 88 points in the first two games against North Texas and
TCU. Michigan has won nine straight and 27 of its last 28 at home against
non-conference foes.
Prediction: Michigan 39, SMU 15
(17) BOISE STATE (2-0) AT (24)
OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0), 3:30 P.M., SATURDAY, ESPN
The Cowboys make
their 2018 debut in the Top 25 following easy victories over Missouri State and
South Alabama. This will be a much tougher test, as Boise State is prepared to
take on all comers. However, the Broncos have won just once in their last eight
road games against ranked non-conference opponents. Still, they look to be the
better team at the moment.
Prediction: Boise State 24, Oklahoma State 20
BYU (1-1) AT (6) WISCONSIN
(2-0), 3:30 P.M., SATURDAY, ABC
After rushing for
253 yards against New Mexico, Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor leads the FBS
in rushing (398 yards), averages 7.8 per carry and has rushed for five
touchdowns. He gained 128 on 18 carries in last season's 40-6 victory at BYU.
The Cougars have improved from last year, but the Badgers still seem set to
extend their non-conference home winning streak vs. unranked teams to 42 games.
Prediction: Wisconsin 38, BYU 7
SAN JOSE STATE (0-2) AT (20)
OREGON (2-0), 5 P.M., SATURDAY, PAC-12 NETWORK
This is the final
of three non-conference tune-ups for the Ducks before facing Stanford next
weekend. Oregon has not been tested thus far and that should continue against
San Jose State, which has allowed 75 points in losing to UC Davis and
Washington State. Paced by quarterback Justin Herbert, Oregon has scored 120 in
its first two contests.
Prediction: Oregon 55, San Jose State 19
(1) ALABAMA (2-0) AT
MISSISSIPPI (2-0), 7 P.M., SATURDAY, ESPN
The Grove will be
rocking as the Crimson Tide head to Oxford. Ole Miss beat Alabama in 2014 and
'15 but has allowed 114 points in dropping the last two in the series. The
Rebels are off to a nice start while the program remains in flux, and the
atmosphere should be electric. But Alabama is still the much better team.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Mississippi 9
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (1-1) AT (3)
GEORGIA (2-0), 7:15 P.M., SATURDAY, ESPN2
If there was any
concern that Georgia lost too much from last season's run to the College
Football Playoff championship game, it should have been squashed after a
convincing victory at then-No. 24 South Carolina. The Bulldogs defense might be
as solid as ever, and that will pose a problem for Middle Tennessee, a quality
opponent but one that doesn't have the depth to make a game out of this one.
Prediction: Georgia 42, Middle Tennessee 10
LOUISIANA (1-0) AT (16)
MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0), 7:30 P.M., SATURDAY, SEC NETWORK
Mississippi State
is in prime position to open 3-0 for the second straight season. Sophomore
running back Kylin Hill will help lead the way in this non-conference game after
rushing for 211 yards and totaling three touchdowns in last weekend's rout of
Kansas State. Louisiana has dropped 17 in a row against ranked opponents.
Prediction: Mississippi State 49, Louisiana 20
4) OHIO STATE (2-0) AT (15)
TCU (2-0), (AT ARLINGTON, TEXAS), 8 P.M., SATURDAY, ABC
After scoring 129
points in its first two games, Ohio State will finally face some competition
against the Horned Frogs in the house that Jerry Jones built. It's the overall
strength and power of the Buckeyes against TCU's speed. The X factor could be
how well Frogs sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson can handle Ohio State's
pressure.
Prediction: Ohio State 34, TCU 14
(22) USC (1-1) AT TEXAS (1-1),
8 P.M., SATURDAY, FOX
This is a rematch
of perhaps 2017's most entertaining non-conference game that the Trojans won
27-24 in double-overtime at home. This time, USC travels to Austin looking to
bounce back from being shut down in a 17-3 loss at Stanford. The Longhorns
started the season in the Top 25 but fell out after an opening loss to Maryland
but then held on to beat Tulsa at home.
Prediction: Texas 25, USC 23
(10) WASHINGTON (1-1) AT UTAH
(2-0), 10 P.M., SATURDAY, ESPN
The Huskies have
won four of the five meetings since the Utes' joined the Pac-12, but it has not
been easy. Washington had to rally for a three-point victory last season and
needed a touchdown late in the fourth to win at Utah the year before. The Utes
haven't looked overly strong in either of their first two games, so the Huskies
might hold the edge.
Prediction: Washington 27, Utah 20
23) ARIZONA STATE (2-0) AT SAN
DIEGO STATE (1-1), 10:30 P.M., SATURDAY, CBS SPORTS NETWORK
The Sun Devils
enter the Top 25 after scoring 13 fourth-quarter points to upend then-No. 15
Michigan State. But they won't have it easy at San Diego State, which beat them
30-20 on the road last season and hung with Stanford on The Farm this year. The
difference for Arizona State this time could be coach Herm Edwards, who has his
squad focused out of the gate.
Prediction: Arizona State 22, San Diego State 19
FLORIDA STATE (1-1) AT
SYRACUSE (2-0), NOON, SATURDAY, ESPN
After being
dominated by Virginia Tech, Florida State barely got by Samford out of the FCS,
needing a fourth-quarter rally last week at home. First-year coach Willie
Taggart has tinkered with his lineup ahead of this contest with Syracuse,
which is looking for its first 3-0 start since 2015.
Prediction: Syracuse 25, Florida 21
HAWAII (3-0) AT ARMY (1-1),
NOON, SATURDAY, CBS SPORTS NETWORK
Hawaii already has
one victory over a service academy this year (beat Navy 59-41) and will try to
open 4-0 for the first time since Colt Brennan and Co. went undefeated during
the 2007 regular season. Army, however, is trying to extend its home winning
streak to nine games.
Prediction: Army 38, Hawaii 35
TROY (1-1) AT NEBRASKA (0-1),
NOON, SATURDAY, BIG TEN NETWORK
The Cornhuskers
could not hold on to a late lead in Scott Frost's Nebraska coaching debut
against Colorado. As they try to bounce back against a competitive Troy team,
it's uncertain if quarterback Adrian
Martinez will be ready to go for
the home team. The Trojans, meanwhile, won a big game at LSU last season.
Prediction: Nebraska 24, Troy 20
DUKE (2-0) AT BAYLOR (2-0),
3:30 P.M., SATURDAY, FOX SPORTS 1
After disposing of
Abilene Christian and UTSA to double its win total from 2017, Baylor will
finally be tested. The Bears are improved from that 1-11 campaign a year ago,
but Duke has shined early while allowing 21 points against Army and
Northwestern.
Prediction: Duke 33, Baylor 17
HOUSTON (2-0) AT TEXAS TECH
(1-1), 4:15 P.M., SATURDAY, FOX
Houston has scored
45 points in each of its first two games, and the Ed Oliver-led defense stymied
Khalil Tate and struggling Arizona last week. However, the challenge for the
Cougars should be greater against Texas Tech, which won 27-24 at Houston last
season. Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury got his coaching career started at
Houston as an assistant.
Prediction: Houston 35, Texas Tech 31.
MISSOURI (2-0) AT PURDUE
(0-2), 7:30 P.M., SATURDAY, BIG TEN NETWORK
Two teams
apparently heading in opposite directions will meet in West Lafayette. With
eight touchdowns, no interceptions and a 74.3 completion percentage in two
games, Mizzou's Drew Lock is showing why some believe he's the
best quarterback in the SEC. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers' issues under center are one reason for their rough start.
Prediction: Missouri 35, Purdue 16
FRESNO STATE (1-1) AT UCLA
(0-2), 10:30 P.M., SATURDAY, FOX SPORTS 1
UCLA has not
dropped its first three games of the season since 1971, but there's a
possibility that could happen this time. The Bruins' start under Chip
Kelly has been less than desirable and Fresno State is no pushover. It's
uncertain who will start under center for UCLA, which has one passing touchdown
and allowed 11 sacks in two games.
Prediction: Fresno State 25, UCLA 20.
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