After a great start to the football season, Mike, Jim, and I all finished the first week at 8-0 (cheers all around!). Most of the games were pretty easy to call and now as we get into week 2 of the football schedule, the games become a little bit harder to call. Here are our picks for this week.
Friday
FIU vs. Louisville
Matt: This game will be a lot closer than many think. Louisville looked rough in their first game, offense was not moving the ball and I think their starting quarterback is a little banged up. Cardinal defense comes up big though at home. Pick: Louisville
Jim: Louisville did look a little stuck in their first game, but I think this time they'll get their engines revving. Pick: Louisville
Mike: FIU isn't a horrible team, but I think Louisville has a bit more to prove after last week's sloppy performance. Just don't be too hard on them Cards; they play UCF next week.
Saturday
Rutgers vs. UNC
Matt: The fighting snookis are on the road and facing a real team this week (North Carolina Central, really?). UNC is at home, has the defense to shut down Sanu and Dodd, I have UNC winning this game, it will be close though. Pick: UNC
Jim: Despite all of UNC's troubles and Butch Davis being shown the door, they'll have no trouble against Rutgers. RU will need Gov. Christie to tell them, "Get the hell out of North Carolina!" Pick: UNC
Mike: North Carolina isn't that great but I think Rutgers is worse. RU won't be getting as much of a NC cupcake as they did last week in North Carolina Central, and they're going to be the first Big East team to lose. And it's to BCS competition.
Maine vs. Pitt
Matt: Is this really a game? Pitt wins this game easily as the offense begins to find its legs. Pick: Pitt
Jim: Uhh, I guess Pitt. Not much to say here, despite their sloppy start against Buffalo.
Mike: Pitt tossed in a couple of cupcakes to tune themselves up before they go to Iowa and come home to play Notre Dame. They'll at least have an easy one this weekend.
Norfolk vs. WVU
Matt: Maybe they will get a full game in this time and won't look past this game as they gear up for LSU in a week. Pick: WVU
Jim: I better get a full game... I paid for 4 quarters of football, I better get it! I think this is the game where all the kinks get worked out of the offense. Pick: WVU
Mike: Hopefully Jim doesn't get struck by lightning this weekend when he's watching West Virginia blast Norfolk by 60 points.
Cincinnati vs. Tennessee
Matt: This will be very interesting. Cincy offense looks on schedule, but playing at Rocky Top against that crowd will be tough. I don't know the Vegas odds in this one, but I will make a risky pick here and go with Cincinnati in this game. Pick: Cincinnati
Jim: I gotta go with Tennessee on this one. I don't feel good about Cincy.
Mike: Another BCS game this weekend for the Big East, and another loss. Tennessee isn't really all that good, but I think their defense is fast enough to keep Zach Collaros quiet. Unfortunately, I have to go with Tennessee.
Rhode Island vs. Syracuse
Matt: The Orange went down to the wire against Wake Forest, so things should be a lot easier in this game. Pick: Syracuse
Jim: Syracuse. Maybe URI can get a Big East invite.
Mike: Hopefully Syracuse doesn't need overtime to put this one away.
Ball State vs. USF
Matt: Is this even a real question anymore? Pick: USF
Jim: Isn't this where David Letterman went to school? Pick: USF
Mike: Ball State went 12-0 and beat Navy and Indiana in 2008 and reached a #12 national ranking. They beat Indiana last week, but I think that's as similar as this season is going to be for the Cardinals. No 12-0 season for them this year.
UCONN at Vanderbilt
Matt: Another Big East team on the road vs. the SEC, this probably won't end well. Vanderbilt has some talent this season and I just can't see UCONN getting over 20 points in this game. Pick: UCONN
Jim: Jim: I remember last year's UConn-Vandy matchup, and it was a good one in the first half, then UConn ran away with it in the 2nd half. Unless Jay Cutler walks through the door, UConn will take this one, but they won't be scoring 40 points like last year. Pick: UConn
Mike: Vanderbilt has done a lot to impress me this offseason. Connecticut has not. In the battle of two first-year coaches, I have to go with Vandy, making the Big East 0-3 against BCS competition this week.
I'll give it a shot...
ReplyDeleteFIU at Louisville - I agree this will be a closer game than UL wants it to be, but I'll take them to pull out the win at home.
Rutgers at UNC - Another close one...wouldn't surprise me if either team wins or loses. UNC always seems to have at least one top-notch DE, and they look to again this year, I'll give this one to UNC with a late score to win
Cincy at Tennessee - trying hard to think with my head, not my heart, as I was raised a Vol fan and still pull for them as long as they aren't playing USF, but they aren't that great, don't have a lot of depth, and the d-line is insanely suspect. That said, they're still an SEC team at home, they had some pretty good passing stats vs. Montana and Cincy has a suspect pass d, and I can't pick against them with the same hand that once pet Smokey, so Go Vols!
Maine vs. Pitt - wait, are we picking lacrosse games? Pitt.
Norfolk State vs. WVU - remember when Skip Holtz led ECU to a win vs. WVU in 2008? Norfolk State isn't ECU and they don't have Skip. Couches will burn...
Rhode Island at Syracuse - Rhode Island visits the Carrier Dome to kick off their 2011 season and will leave with as many wins as they had before the game.
Ball State vs. USF - no chance, no way, no how, does USF struggle on Lee Roy Selmon night. Bulls win by double digits.
UConn at Vandy - Vandy crushed Elon, UConn creamed Fordham - so we still don't know anything about how good either of these teams are or aren't. I'm never a fan of QB by committee - UConn might find their QB, but they'll lose this game.
Not bad - other than the FIU win over Louisville, I got the rest of them right. Pure luck...
ReplyDeleteWe will post our results tomorrow morning, half these picks are always dumb luck for us.
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