Well, how was that for the second week of college football? A major upset of Notre Dame sent the AP Poll up in flames, a new front runner for best team in the country is potentially emerging, and it’s becoming clearer and clearer that the team out in Colorado might be a fraud. There are a ton of great games, but here’s our top 3 picks for college football games week 3.
No. 9 Oregon vs Oregon State
The Ducks have not come out in the powerful way that I thought they would and show everyone that they have a chance to win the Big Ten and maybe even the National Championship. Instead, the Ducks beat Idaho by 10 and had to force a bit of a comeback over Boise State to beat them by three points last week. Their offense hasn’t seemed to fully click through two weeks and Oregon State has a great defense. The Beavers have allowed 15 points through two weeks and are coming off a shutout of San Diego State. Their offense is lackluster, at best, and will be led by Jamious Griffin who is their top back. I think Oregon State keeps this close for a half and dominates time of possession, but the Ducks leave Corvallis with a win. Prediction: Oregon 27 Oregon State 17
No. 16 LSU vs South Carolina
Here is a massive test for Brian Kelly’s team that can’t afford to suffer another loss if they have any hope of making it into the College Football Playoff. The Gamecocks have come to play through the first two weeks of the season. They capped off that sentiment with a 31-6 win over SEC foe Kentucky last week. They allowed just 44 passing yards and forced two turnovers en route to the blowout. LSU’s offense won’t go down that easily, but in their one true test this season, they had trouble moving the ball against USC. Brian Kelly is likely putting the Tigers through their most grueling practices yet this week, but I still smell an upset brewing in South Carolina and think Saturday could end LSU’s season in week three. Prediction: LSU 28 South Carolina 31
No. 4 Alabama vs Wisconsin
I think Alabama will win this game. Let me start by saying that. But I also think that this is our first chance to watch Kalen DeBoer be truly challenged by an opponent that poses a threat and that’s what I want to see unfold. Those fans who yell “Roll Tide” are as confident as they come, but I’ll bet they are nervous about this week. The reactions if Bama stumbles in this game would be catastrophic. The Tide struggled early last week against USF who didn’t have the chops to hang in the game. A Luke Fickell led team does have those chops and could make life very uncomfortable as they welcome Bama into Madison. Expect the Badgers to use their duo threat backfield to run it down their throats and keep the offense off the field. Bama is a big double-digit favorite, but I don’t know if that should be the case. Prediction: Alabama 37 Wisconsin 24