Hey, guess what? As crazy as this sounds (and I promise, it’s going to sound crazy) there are other football games being played this weekend besides LSU-Alabama.
I told you… CRAZY!!
And in our regular Friday feature here at Crystal Ball Run, our staff breaks them all down. From coast-to-coast, conference-to-conference, here is our staff, weighing in with their picks!
(By the way,if you still haven’t gotten enough LSU-Alabama, as you might’ve guessed, our staff weighed in on that one too.)
USC at Colorado: Friday, 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Aaron Torres’ Take: When Webster’s Dictionary wrote the definition of “Trap Game,” it had a picture of Lane Kiffin and this USC Trojans team next to it. It’s tough to see USC coming out with much spunk after their triple overtime loss last weekend, especially on the road, in a short week.
If the Trojans win this game, it will be close. Don’t be shocked by an upset.
USC 24, Colorado 21
Everybody Else’s Take:
Allen Kenney: USC 28, Colorado 3
Kevin McGuire: USC 42, Colorado 23
Michael Felder: USC 40 Colorado 10
Regie Eller: USC 42, Colorado 17
Tom Perry: USC 42, Colorado 10
No. 15 Michigan at Iowa: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ESPN/ESPN3
Kevin McGuire’s Take: Michigan and Iowa square off in a pivotal Legends Division game in the Big Ten, with the Hawkeyes needing to win to stay in the division race and Michiagn needing to win to guarantee at least a share of the division lead. This has been a down year for Iowa, who’s defense is not playing up to the usual level we expect from an Iowa defense. But the Hawkeyes are 5-0 at home and have had Michigan’s number lately. Still, Denard Robinson should be lined up for a big afternoon. If he can avoid turning the football over, Michigan should return home with a key victory.
Michigan 24, Iowa 17
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Michigan 27, Iowa 17
Allen Kenney: Michigan 27, Iowa 21
Michael Felder: Michigan 27, Iowa 20
Regie Eller: Michigan 21, Iowa 17
Tom Perry: Iowa 24, Michigan 21
Louisville at No. 24 West Virginia: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ESPN3
Tom Perry’s Take: The week started with Louisville’s cheerleaders tweeting that they wouldn’t travel to Morgantown because WVU’s fans are lunatics. West Virginia officials never denied the claim, but have since called a truce and every Mountaineer fan promises to give every Louisville fan in attendance a big fat bear hug.
Let’s not forget these two did battle last week in the media as both positioned themselves to be taken by the Big 12. So there were a lot of dirty things said about the other.
Now the players get to settle this one on the field, and Charlie Strong’s Cardinals are playing much better of late. But is it enough to stop the Mountaineers’ potent offense? Maybe not, but the way WVU’s defense has been playing it wouldn’t be a shock to see this game be a much higher scoring affair than anyone originally thought.
West Virginia 36, Louisville 28
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Louisville 27, West Virginia 24
Allen Kenney: Louisville 24, West Virginia 18
Kevin McGuire: West Virginia 24, Louisville 18
Michael Felder: West Virginia 38, Louisville 24
Regie Eller: West Virginia 35, Louisville 17
Texas Tech at Texas: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. FX
Regie Eller’s Take: Under Mack Brown the Longhorns are 32-3 at home versus other Texas schools, as they take on the Red Raiders Saturday afternoon.
Texas Tech is a difficult team to understand. They go on the road and beat the Oklahoma Sooners, putting up 572 yards along the way. They then come back home and get destroyed by Iowa State 41-7, only producing 290 total yards. So what gives?
The two top offenses that Texas has played this season – Oklahoma State and Oklahoma – were both losses.
When Texas Tech faced a formidable defense – Kansas State – like they will Saturday versus the Longhorns, the Red Raiders went well below their season average. For kicks, the Kansas Jayhawks had 478 yards of total offense versus the Red Raiders pitiful defense – they had 46 versus Texas.
The Longhorn defense will be able to stop Texas Tech enough to win the game.
Texas 31, Texas Tech 17
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Texas 31, Texas Tech 21
Allen Kenney: Texas Tech 31, Texas 30
Kevin McGuire: Texas 29, Texas Tech 27
Michael Felder: Texas Tech 37, Texas 30
Tom Perry: Texas 28, Texas Tech 27
North Carolina at NC State: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3
Michael Felder’s Take: The Heels haven’t beaten NC State since 2006. Back when John Bunting was the coach and slick talking, good looking, lady killer named Michael Felder was on the roster. Everett Withers and Tom O’Brien have reignited the Bunting-Chuck Amato spirit of this rivalry and shots have been fired from both sides.
On paper the Heels have every advantage as they travel the 25 minutes into Carter-Finley to play the Wolfpack. Problem is in the last three games the Tar Heels have been favored by 11, 6 and 2 points respectively yet still dropped all of those games. UNC gets a boost in not seeing Russell Wilson line up under center and not having to chase that wizard around should help the Heels fix what’s wrong with the world.
North Carolina 31 NC State 20
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: North Carolina 31, NC State 14
Allen Kenney: North Carolina 21, NC State 18
Kevin McGuire: North Carolina 26, NC State 18
Regie Eller: North Carolina 38, NC State 35
Tom Perry: NC State 35, North Carolina 28
Northwestern at No. 10 Nebraska: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Aaron Torres’ Take: I can’t lie and say that I have a really strong opinion on this one.
Simply put, Northwestern is a quality team, but one which has more trouble with fast, athletic teams. Luckily for them, Nebraska isn’t that. Add in a likely hangover after last week’s dominating win over Michigan State, and I think this one is closer than most expect.
Nebraska 21, Northwestern 17
Everybody Else’s Take:
Allen Kenney: Nebraska 35, Northwestern 21
Kevin McGuire: Nebraska 43, Northwestern 24
Michael Felder: Nebraska 31, Northwestern 28
Regie Eller: Nebraska 28, Northwestern 9
Tom Perry: Nebraska 37, Northwestern 17
Texas A&M at No. 6 Oklahoma: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Michael Felder’s Take: Oklahoma rebounded last weekend to stomp out Kansas State and this week they face a team that many thought would be right in the hunt for the Big XII title game in Texas A&M. The game is in Norman and here is where the Sooners get to start their streak of home wins over again. This Bob Stoops team is back in the hunt and a win here would help with their push to climb back into the discussion for a BCS title.
OU’s defense is once again focused after looking disinterested in the weeks before Texas Tech. Texas A&M does present a challenge with their dynamic run pass attack but will struggle to keep pace with an Oklahoma team that needed a loss to focus in on their goal of a title.
Oklahoma 45 Texas A&M 21
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Oklahoma 41, Texas A&M 24
Allen Kenney: Oklahoma 42, Texas A&M 20
Kevin McGuire: Oklahoma 34, Texas A&M 32
Regie Eller: Oklahoma 49, Texas A&M 35
Tom Perry: Oklahoma 38, Texas A&M 28
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
Kevin McGuire’s Take: Cincinnati has seemed to turn things around this season in Butch Jones’ second season as the head coach, and as irony would have it the Bearcats may be heading back to the BCS before their former coach, Brian Kelly, and Notre Dame. What has been the biggest difference from last year? The defense.
Cincinnati is averaging 19 points allowed per game while the offense is scoring 41 ppg. For Pittsburgh, it has been quite the up-and-down season. They last took the field last Wednesday so they should be rested for this important Big East match-up, but until they put together back-to-back impressive showings I find it difficult to put much faith in them.
Cincinnati 30, Pittsburgh 27
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Cincinnati 31, Pittsburgh 14
Allen Kenney: Pittsburgh 33, Cincinnati 29
Michael Felder: Cincinnati 26, Pittsburgh 19
Regie Eller: Cincinnati 31, Pittsburgh 10
Tom Perry: Cincinnati 38, Pittsburgh 14
No. 9 South Carolina at No. 7 Arkansas: Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ESPN
Allen Kenney’s Take: I can’t help but think the Gamecocks are living on borrowed time. The D has held steady, but ever since Marcus Lattimore went and down and Stephen Garcia went south, the offense has stagnated. Although Brandon Wilds ran well last week, he’s not in Lattimore’s class. Connor Shaw hasn’t made much of a case that he’s the long-term answer at quarterback, and Columbia authorities might as well put out an A.P.B. out for Alshon Jeffrey.
There’s just nothing to like about the way the Gamecocks are playing. Arkansas is a terrible match-up for them at this point.
Arkansas 30, South Carolina 13
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Arkansas 21, South Carolina 10
Kevin McGuire: Arkansas 30, South Carolina 17
Michael Felder: Arkansas 31, South Carolina 24
Regie Eller: South Carolina 28, Arkansas 24
Tom Perry: Arkansas 21, South Carolina 17
Notre Dame at Wake Forest, Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
After opening the season 4-1, Wake Forest has dropped two of three. Jim Grobe’s team is the classic overachievers, and it will take that type of effort to pull the upset of Notre Dame.
It would help if Wake could generate an assemblance of a running game, but instead it will need to rely on sophomore quarterback Tanner Price to have a huge game.
Since it is Notre Dame, anything is possible. The Irish are also 5-3 and they aren’t going to enjoy a breakout season in Brian Kelly’s second season, but a loss here would be a huge disappointment. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a steady dose of Cierre Wood running the ball to control the clock and to wear down the Demon Deacons.
Notre Dame 38, Wake Forest 17
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Notre Dame 31, Wake Forest 17
Allen Kenney: Notre Dame 28, Wake Forest 24
Kevin McGuire: Notre Dame 30, Wake Forest 20
Michael Felder: Notre Dame 35, Wake Forest 28
Regie Eller: Notre Dame 24, Wake Forest 10
No. 14 Kansas State at No. 3 Oklahoma State: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
Allen Kenney’s Take: Oklahoma pulled the curtain back on the Wildcats a week ago, revealing KSU for what it really is: an extremely well-coached team with no offensive play makers.
It’s generally a bad idea to underestimate Bill Snyder, who will undoubtedly have his squad ready for a bounce back game against the Pokes. K-State will give OSU some issues for a half, but the Cowboys just have too much firepower for the Wildcats to keep up with.
Oklahoma State 41, Kansas St. 28
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Oklahoma State 37, Kansas State 21
Kevin McGuire: Oklahoma State 49, Kansas State 37
Michael Felder: Oklahoma St 44, Kansas State 27
Regie Eller: Oklahoma State 42, Kansas State 14
Tom Perry: Oklahoma State 56, Kansas State 24
No. 8 Oregon at Washington: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. FSN
Regie Eller’s Take: This game may come down to whose defense is the worse – or whose offense is more explosive.
Oregon did not have one explosive play (25+ yards) in the season opener versus LSU – the Ducks have 44 since, ranging from 25 yards to 90. Meanwhile the Washington Huskies have not done much of anything to stop any opponent, not named Colorado and Utah. The Huskies have given up big games offensively to Eastern Washington (504), Nebraska (464), California (457), Stanford (615) and Arizona (424).
The Oregon defense is not much better, however I am not convinced Washington can hang in with Oregon for four quarters. The Huskies will score points and they will get their yards. A four quarter test versus Oregon is one I do not see them passing.
Oregon 49, Washington 31
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Oregon 45, Washington 21
Allen Kenney: Oregon 38, Washington 35
Kevin McGuire: Oregon 58, Washington 24
Michael Felder: Oregon 45, Washington 28
Tom Perry: Oregon 42, Washington 24
