Weekly Predictions: Week 2
Well, the dust has settled, and the first week of college football is in the books. From a stunner in Charlotte with ECU topping Virginia Tech, to a blowout in Atlanta, and a single overtime thriller out in The Rose Bowl to cap off the weekend, football is back and appears to be better than ever.
I went an okay 15-6 last week, going 1-1 in the headline games with USC shutting out NC State, but Alabama busted my bubble as they blew away Clemson in the Georgia Dome with hard nosed football.
How will I fare this week?
This weeks headliners will be Georgia Tech vs. Boston College from the ACC, and South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt from the SEC.
Commodores (1-0, 0-0)
Vanderbilt is coming off an impressive 34-13 victory over Miami (Oh.). The 'Dores are led by quarterback Chris Nickson (9-of-16 for 91 yards, 1 TD passing; 20 carries for 166 yards, 2 TDs).
On defense, Vandy is led by cornerback Myron Lewis (7 tackles, 1 INT), linebacker Chris Marve (5 tackles, 1 sack) and conerback D.J. Moore (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT). In their game against Miami, the defense stuffed the run to a tune of 96 total yards.
Coach Bobby Johnson was close to taking Vandy to a bowl last year, and a repeat win over South Carolina would help a long way to achieving that coveted dream of post season play.
Gamecocks (1-0, 0-0)
South Carolina is also coming off a win--a 34-0 shutout over NC State. The offense for the Gamecocks will be headed this week by sophomore Chris Smelley (5-for-5 for 92 yards, 2 TDs) at quarterback. Mike Davis (14 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD) spear heads a running game, and Kenny McKinley (6 catches, 37 yards) is the primary target in the passing game.
The defense is led by linebacker Jasper Brinkley (2 tackles) , safety Emmanuel Cook (8 tackles), and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (4 tackles).
Breakdown
The Commodores on offense go as Nickson goes. If Nickson is on, the offense is good, but if he is off, it could be a long day for Vanderbilt. Inconsistency has plagued Nickson, and the South Carolina game will be a great barometer for Vandy coaches.
South Carolina, although coming off a shutout, still have questions. Who will be the starting QB? Who will not false start on the offensive line? Who will step up as a second option in the passing game? Also, the defense is still in question if they can stop the run after giving State running back Andre Brown 101 yards last week.
Prediction
For Carolina, it comes down to stopping Nickson. If they can do that, they should win in what could be a defensive battle. If Nickson runs wild like he did against Miami, it could shades of Tim Tebow's performance against the Gamecocks last season. Also, the defense will have to prove it can handle a mobile QB with the new 4-2-5 scheme on defense.
For Vandy, it is stopping the pass with blitzes. The Commodores gave up 244 yards through the air last week, not something you want to see when your next opponent is a Steve Spurrier coached team. The Commodor front 7 must put pressure on a weak spot of Carolina, pass protection. Transfer Jarriel King will start for Carolina, but the problem seems to be on the right side, which Vandy would be wise to blitz all night.
I think the Gamecocks keep this one on the ground for the most part, and give Mike Davis another 100-yard performance is close game.
South Carolina 28
Vanderbilt 17
Yellow Jackets (1-0, 0-0)
Georgia Tech opened up the Paul Johnson era on a good buzz--a win. A 41-14 victory over Division I-AA Jacksonville State. The option run helped grind out a win, and put the ACC on notice that hard nosed football is back. The offense is run by quarterback Josh Nesbitt (11 carries, 60 yards 1 TD; 5-for-12, 87 yards) and running backs Jonathan Dwyer (11 carries, 112 yards, 2 TDs) and Roddy Jones (3 carries, 61 yards 1 TD).
The defense is led by Dominique Reese (7 tackles) Morgan Burnett (2 INTs, 4 tackles) and Jake Blackwood (0.5 sacks, 4 tackles)
Eagles (1-0, 0-0)
Boston College kicked off the Matt Ryan-less era with a win, shutting out Kent State 21-0. Quarterback Chris Crane (7 carries, 47 yards 2 TDs) went a modest 12-or-16 for 106 yards, with no TDs and no INTs. Runningbacks J Smith (11 carries, 74 yards 1 TD) and J Haden (15 carries, 66 yards) helped solidify what looks to be a potent ground attack that will be leaned on while the passing game developes.
The defense is led by linebackers Brian Toal (5.5 tackles) and Mark Herzlich (5 tackles, 1 INT), and defensive tackle B.J. Raji (1 sack, 4 tackles).
Breakdown
Both teams look to be a heavy run oriented offense--Tech by design, BC almost by necessity. Don't expect an air it out, high scoring ball game. This looks to be an old fashioned, smashmouth game of football that will be won in the trenches, and by whichever defense is the better man of the two.
Call the old timers, they may like this one.
Prediction
Georgia Tech is bringing the option run to the finesse league that is the Atlantic Coast Conference. Boston College is adopting a run first policy it seems this year. Like I said in the breakdown, low scoring defensive game.
This game will be won in the trenches, which I have to give an edge to Tech because of Paul Johnon's lineman bootcamp.
The big thing to watch for is when the team puts the ball in the air, who will make a mistake.
This game will be won by whichever defense capitalized on that one mistake the opposing offense makes in the passing game.
Georgia Tech 17
Boston College 14
How'm I Doing?
Week 1: 15-6 (71 % win percentage)
The Rest of the Week in the ACC and SEC.
Virginia Tech over Furman
Mississippi over Wake Forest
Clemson over The Citadel
Virginia over Richmond
NC State over William & Mary
Florida State over W. Carolina
Mid. Tenn. St. over Maryland
Duke over Northwestern
Florida over Miami
Auburn over Southern Miss.
Georgia over Central Michigan
Kentucky over Norfolk State
Arkansas over UL-Monroe
Miss. State over SE Louisiana
Alabama over Tulane
LSU over Troy
I went an okay 15-6 last week, going 1-1 in the headline games with USC shutting out NC State, but Alabama busted my bubble as they blew away Clemson in the Georgia Dome with hard nosed football.
How will I fare this week?
This weeks headliners will be Georgia Tech vs. Boston College from the ACC, and South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt from the SEC.
Commodores (1-0, 0-0)
Vanderbilt is coming off an impressive 34-13 victory over Miami (Oh.). The 'Dores are led by quarterback Chris Nickson (9-of-16 for 91 yards, 1 TD passing; 20 carries for 166 yards, 2 TDs).
On defense, Vandy is led by cornerback Myron Lewis (7 tackles, 1 INT), linebacker Chris Marve (5 tackles, 1 sack) and conerback D.J. Moore (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT). In their game against Miami, the defense stuffed the run to a tune of 96 total yards.
Coach Bobby Johnson was close to taking Vandy to a bowl last year, and a repeat win over South Carolina would help a long way to achieving that coveted dream of post season play.
Gamecocks (1-0, 0-0)
South Carolina is also coming off a win--a 34-0 shutout over NC State. The offense for the Gamecocks will be headed this week by sophomore Chris Smelley (5-for-5 for 92 yards, 2 TDs) at quarterback. Mike Davis (14 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD) spear heads a running game, and Kenny McKinley (6 catches, 37 yards) is the primary target in the passing game.
The defense is led by linebacker Jasper Brinkley (2 tackles) , safety Emmanuel Cook (8 tackles), and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (4 tackles).
Breakdown
The Commodores on offense go as Nickson goes. If Nickson is on, the offense is good, but if he is off, it could be a long day for Vanderbilt. Inconsistency has plagued Nickson, and the South Carolina game will be a great barometer for Vandy coaches.
South Carolina, although coming off a shutout, still have questions. Who will be the starting QB? Who will not false start on the offensive line? Who will step up as a second option in the passing game? Also, the defense is still in question if they can stop the run after giving State running back Andre Brown 101 yards last week.
Prediction
For Carolina, it comes down to stopping Nickson. If they can do that, they should win in what could be a defensive battle. If Nickson runs wild like he did against Miami, it could shades of Tim Tebow's performance against the Gamecocks last season. Also, the defense will have to prove it can handle a mobile QB with the new 4-2-5 scheme on defense.
For Vandy, it is stopping the pass with blitzes. The Commodores gave up 244 yards through the air last week, not something you want to see when your next opponent is a Steve Spurrier coached team. The Commodor front 7 must put pressure on a weak spot of Carolina, pass protection. Transfer Jarriel King will start for Carolina, but the problem seems to be on the right side, which Vandy would be wise to blitz all night.
I think the Gamecocks keep this one on the ground for the most part, and give Mike Davis another 100-yard performance is close game.
South Carolina 28
Vanderbilt 17
Yellow Jackets (1-0, 0-0)
Georgia Tech opened up the Paul Johnson era on a good buzz--a win. A 41-14 victory over Division I-AA Jacksonville State. The option run helped grind out a win, and put the ACC on notice that hard nosed football is back. The offense is run by quarterback Josh Nesbitt (11 carries, 60 yards 1 TD; 5-for-12, 87 yards) and running backs Jonathan Dwyer (11 carries, 112 yards, 2 TDs) and Roddy Jones (3 carries, 61 yards 1 TD).
The defense is led by Dominique Reese (7 tackles) Morgan Burnett (2 INTs, 4 tackles) and Jake Blackwood (0.5 sacks, 4 tackles)
Eagles (1-0, 0-0)
Boston College kicked off the Matt Ryan-less era with a win, shutting out Kent State 21-0. Quarterback Chris Crane (7 carries, 47 yards 2 TDs) went a modest 12-or-16 for 106 yards, with no TDs and no INTs. Runningbacks J Smith (11 carries, 74 yards 1 TD) and J Haden (15 carries, 66 yards) helped solidify what looks to be a potent ground attack that will be leaned on while the passing game developes.
The defense is led by linebackers Brian Toal (5.5 tackles) and Mark Herzlich (5 tackles, 1 INT), and defensive tackle B.J. Raji (1 sack, 4 tackles).
Breakdown
Both teams look to be a heavy run oriented offense--Tech by design, BC almost by necessity. Don't expect an air it out, high scoring ball game. This looks to be an old fashioned, smashmouth game of football that will be won in the trenches, and by whichever defense is the better man of the two.
Call the old timers, they may like this one.
Prediction
Georgia Tech is bringing the option run to the finesse league that is the Atlantic Coast Conference. Boston College is adopting a run first policy it seems this year. Like I said in the breakdown, low scoring defensive game.
This game will be won in the trenches, which I have to give an edge to Tech because of Paul Johnon's lineman bootcamp.
The big thing to watch for is when the team puts the ball in the air, who will make a mistake.
This game will be won by whichever defense capitalized on that one mistake the opposing offense makes in the passing game.
Georgia Tech 17
Boston College 14
How'm I Doing?
Week 1: 15-6 (71 % win percentage)
The Rest of the Week in the ACC and SEC.
Virginia Tech over Furman
Mississippi over Wake Forest
Clemson over The Citadel
Virginia over Richmond
NC State over William & Mary
Florida State over W. Carolina
Mid. Tenn. St. over Maryland
Duke over Northwestern
Florida over Miami
Auburn over Southern Miss.
Georgia over Central Michigan
Kentucky over Norfolk State
Arkansas over UL-Monroe
Miss. State over SE Louisiana
Alabama over Tulane
LSU over Troy
Good stuff man, I think our defense is really going to step up on Thursday and make a lot of big plays. I'm hoping Smelley can play the game manager and we can put Vandy down early.
ReplyDeleteI guess I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteGot a big pick next week though with UGA and SC, and either Clemson v NC St or GT v VT.
Hope the rest of the picks go well, and keep up the good work on your site, and thanks for the visit...tell your friends :-)