Georgia vs. #12 South Carolina
After a week of musical chairs and mystery at the quarterback position, South Carolina got on track late and had a blow-out 56-37 win vs. East Carolina last week after veteran Stephen Garcia replaced highly-touted phenom Connor Shaw under centre. The 'Cocks should never have allowed ECU to score that many. The slow start - the Pirates were up 17-0 before Garcia ran 32 yards for South Carolina's first score - and Shaw's general ineffectiveness almost cost the Gamecocks an embarrassing loss. This week, they jump straight into SEC play, taking on a Georgia Bulldogs team who have troubles of their own.
The 'Dawgs were undoubtedly flattered by the final score of their opening weekend game vs. Boise State. The Broncos won 35-21, but it wasn't anywhere near as close as that. Boise's QB Kellen Moore ripped them apart with precision, and Garcia will do exactly the same thing if Georgia can't get their defense rolling, using an arsenal of weapons not dissimilar to what Moore had at his disposal last week. Then there's the running game, spearheaded by Marcus Lattimore, to add another wrinkle.
Head Coach Mark Richt was booed last week, and it might get worse for the Bulldogs before sixty minutes are done on Saturday. If the Gamecocks can kick-start their passing attack to complement the dangerous RB Lattimore, it could be a long day for the Bulldogs. And perhaps the beginning of the end for Richt in Athens.
Winner: South Carolina
After a week of musical chairs and mystery at the quarterback position, South Carolina got on track late and had a blow-out 56-37 win vs. East Carolina last week after veteran Stephen Garcia replaced highly-touted phenom Connor Shaw under centre. The 'Cocks should never have allowed ECU to score that many. The slow start - the Pirates were up 17-0 before Garcia ran 32 yards for South Carolina's first score - and Shaw's general ineffectiveness almost cost the Gamecocks an embarrassing loss. This week, they jump straight into SEC play, taking on a Georgia Bulldogs team who have troubles of their own.
The 'Dawgs were undoubtedly flattered by the final score of their opening weekend game vs. Boise State. The Broncos won 35-21, but it wasn't anywhere near as close as that. Boise's QB Kellen Moore ripped them apart with precision, and Garcia will do exactly the same thing if Georgia can't get their defense rolling, using an arsenal of weapons not dissimilar to what Moore had at his disposal last week. Then there's the running game, spearheaded by Marcus Lattimore, to add another wrinkle.
Head Coach Mark Richt was booed last week, and it might get worse for the Bulldogs before sixty minutes are done on Saturday. If the Gamecocks can kick-start their passing attack to complement the dangerous RB Lattimore, it could be a long day for the Bulldogs. And perhaps the beginning of the end for Richt in Athens.
Winner: South Carolina
Michigan vs. Notre Dame
The first ever night game at Michigan's Big House is one of the games of the season. A classic rivalry at the best of times, this year's edition is going to be even better. Notre Dame come in after a horrible loss to South Florida, in which they turned the ball over 5 times and went through two quarterbacks - from Dayne Crist to Tommy Rees - and saw Brian Kelly nearly self-combust on the sideline, ranting and raving like a madman...on national TV.
While the Irish struggled in South Bend, Michigan went up 34-10 on Western Michigan before the game was called for weather. What we did see was an impressive glimpse of what start QB Denard Robinson can do in Brady Hoke's pro-style offense. The defense, however, was Michigan's biggest problem through the Rich Rodriguez era in Ann Arbor. It's the defense that needs to come up big vs. Notre Dame. If they can flip field position and give Robinson and RB Michael Shaw, perhaps the most impressive offensive star for the Wolverines, Michigan might make it a third straight victory vs. one of their most hated rivals.
Brian Kelly needs a win for Notre Dame, who came into the first week ranked and with expectations set as high as a BCS bowl appearance. It all came crashing down against South Florida. You can't turn the football over five times and expect to win games. The crazy thing is, they lost to a USF team that isn't exactly chock-full of talent. Notre Dame shot themselves in the foot too many times. How they rebound from the clunker in South Bend says a lot about their season.
Winner: Michigan
The first ever night game at Michigan's Big House is one of the games of the season. A classic rivalry at the best of times, this year's edition is going to be even better. Notre Dame come in after a horrible loss to South Florida, in which they turned the ball over 5 times and went through two quarterbacks - from Dayne Crist to Tommy Rees - and saw Brian Kelly nearly self-combust on the sideline, ranting and raving like a madman...on national TV.
While the Irish struggled in South Bend, Michigan went up 34-10 on Western Michigan before the game was called for weather. What we did see was an impressive glimpse of what start QB Denard Robinson can do in Brady Hoke's pro-style offense. The defense, however, was Michigan's biggest problem through the Rich Rodriguez era in Ann Arbor. It's the defense that needs to come up big vs. Notre Dame. If they can flip field position and give Robinson and RB Michael Shaw, perhaps the most impressive offensive star for the Wolverines, Michigan might make it a third straight victory vs. one of their most hated rivals.
Brian Kelly needs a win for Notre Dame, who came into the first week ranked and with expectations set as high as a BCS bowl appearance. It all came crashing down against South Florida. You can't turn the football over five times and expect to win games. The crazy thing is, they lost to a USF team that isn't exactly chock-full of talent. Notre Dame shot themselves in the foot too many times. How they rebound from the clunker in South Bend says a lot about their season.
Winner: Michigan
#8 Wisconsin vs. Oregon State
Wisconsin opened the season in grand style, with QB Russell Wilson and RB tandem James White and Montee Ball rolling easily over UNLV. Oregon State, on the other hand, became the first FBS team to lose to an FCS team (Division II) going down by a point in OT vs. Sacramento State. Talk about an ugly loss. At home! This was beyond ugly for the Beavers.
Benched QB Ryan Katz comes back for the Beavers as they head into Madison, WI and very likely into the buzz saw that is the Badger offense. Talk about a no-win situation for Oregon State's coach, Mike Riley. You plan to stop the run, they throw. You shape to stop the pass and they run. Wilson, of course, is a dual-threat quarterback who is going to put up huge numbers this year...and might just be a dark horse threat for the Heisman Trophy. At least, based on his first week. It should be similarly spectacular this week, too.
Winner: Wisconsin
Wisconsin opened the season in grand style, with QB Russell Wilson and RB tandem James White and Montee Ball rolling easily over UNLV. Oregon State, on the other hand, became the first FBS team to lose to an FCS team (Division II) going down by a point in OT vs. Sacramento State. Talk about an ugly loss. At home! This was beyond ugly for the Beavers.
Benched QB Ryan Katz comes back for the Beavers as they head into Madison, WI and very likely into the buzz saw that is the Badger offense. Talk about a no-win situation for Oregon State's coach, Mike Riley. You plan to stop the run, they throw. You shape to stop the pass and they run. Wilson, of course, is a dual-threat quarterback who is going to put up huge numbers this year...and might just be a dark horse threat for the Heisman Trophy. At least, based on his first week. It should be similarly spectacular this week, too.
Winner: Wisconsin
Utah vs. USC
The first ever Pac-12 game features a conference newcomer and a school who dominated for so many years. If there's one thing we learned about USC last week it's that QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Woods are a potent combination. Barkley completed a school record 34 passes, 17 of which went to the sophomore Woods, totalling 177 yards and 3 TDs. It was a dominating performance in a strangely low-scoring game.
USC finally eked out a 19-17 victory. Their offense has never been a problem. It's the defense that got burned repeatedly last year. They held the Gophers to 17 points, but the real test comes against a much more potent offense in Utah. USC get RB Marc Tyler back after a one-game suspension.
The Utes struggled to win vs. Montana State, but they will surely be up for this game, their first chance to show that they belong in the Pac-12. If they can move the football on USC's defense - not a hard thing to do a year ago - their own defense should be able to slow down the Trojan attack, as Minnesota did, shutting out USC in the second half last week. But if Woods and Barkley hook up too many times, Utah may start out it's Pac-12 life 0-1.
Winner: USC
The first ever Pac-12 game features a conference newcomer and a school who dominated for so many years. If there's one thing we learned about USC last week it's that QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Woods are a potent combination. Barkley completed a school record 34 passes, 17 of which went to the sophomore Woods, totalling 177 yards and 3 TDs. It was a dominating performance in a strangely low-scoring game.
USC finally eked out a 19-17 victory. Their offense has never been a problem. It's the defense that got burned repeatedly last year. They held the Gophers to 17 points, but the real test comes against a much more potent offense in Utah. USC get RB Marc Tyler back after a one-game suspension.
The Utes struggled to win vs. Montana State, but they will surely be up for this game, their first chance to show that they belong in the Pac-12. If they can move the football on USC's defense - not a hard thing to do a year ago - their own defense should be able to slow down the Trojan attack, as Minnesota did, shutting out USC in the second half last week. But if Woods and Barkley hook up too many times, Utah may start out it's Pac-12 life 0-1.
Winner: USC
Arizona vs. #9 Oklahoma State
This shapes up as being a fantastic game, with two quarterbacks who aren't afraid to sling the rock around the field.
The Pokes have picked up where they left off in 2010, with QB Brandon Weeden putting up ridiculous numbers - a school record for 4,277 passing yards in his first year as a starter - and his favourite target, WR Justin Blackmon torching Louisiana-Lafayette for a FBS-high 666 yards during a 61-34 demolition. Weeden threw for 388 and 2 TDs. Blackmon notched up 144 receiving.
Louisiana-Lafayette managed only 2 FGs against the starting Oklahoma State defense, which will likely worry Arizona coach Mike Stoops. Even so, their QB Nick Foles is no slouch, either. He led Arizona to a 44-10 victory vs. Northern Arizona, throwing for an FBS-best 412 yards and 5 TDs, tied for the most anywhere in the country. 151 of those yards went to WR Juron Crier His passer rating was 202.6. Insanely good, no matter which way you look at it!
Interestingly, Weeden was picked off three times, and this week will be facing a much stronger defensive unit against the Wildcats. If he can control his turnovers, and rely on his defense to put the clamps on Foles and Crier, it should be a narrow win for Oklahoma, against a Wildcat team who have historically found it tough to win on the road vs. ranked opponents.
Winner: Oklahoma State
This shapes up as being a fantastic game, with two quarterbacks who aren't afraid to sling the rock around the field.
The Pokes have picked up where they left off in 2010, with QB Brandon Weeden putting up ridiculous numbers - a school record for 4,277 passing yards in his first year as a starter - and his favourite target, WR Justin Blackmon torching Louisiana-Lafayette for a FBS-high 666 yards during a 61-34 demolition. Weeden threw for 388 and 2 TDs. Blackmon notched up 144 receiving.
Louisiana-Lafayette managed only 2 FGs against the starting Oklahoma State defense, which will likely worry Arizona coach Mike Stoops. Even so, their QB Nick Foles is no slouch, either. He led Arizona to a 44-10 victory vs. Northern Arizona, throwing for an FBS-best 412 yards and 5 TDs, tied for the most anywhere in the country. 151 of those yards went to WR Juron Crier His passer rating was 202.6. Insanely good, no matter which way you look at it!
Interestingly, Weeden was picked off three times, and this week will be facing a much stronger defensive unit against the Wildcats. If he can control his turnovers, and rely on his defense to put the clamps on Foles and Crier, it should be a narrow win for Oklahoma, against a Wildcat team who have historically found it tough to win on the road vs. ranked opponents.
Winner: Oklahoma State
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