FAVORITE TEAMS

AAC: 1-0, OVERALL – 3-4

USF (1-2)– BYE WEEK

TULSA (1-2) vs. Wyoming– won 24-21

• Tulsa wins an important game against Wyoming. Now they go into the AAC with an underrated defense hoping to end their 2-year bowl drought. Tulane and SMU were my two riskier picks that made a bowl game after consecutive losing seasons. Can Tulsa be my third?

 

ACC: 2-0, OVERALL – 8-0

#21 VIRGINIA (3-0) vs. Old Dominion– won 28-17

• Virginia looked off in the first half before a big comeback run in the second half while not allowing Old Dominion anymore points. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again when they head to Notre Dame.

 

WAKE FOREST (3-0) vs. Elon– won 49-7

• The Demon Deacons continue their offensive success. They’re 4-0 for the first time in two seasons and are two wins away from bowl-eligibility for the fourth straight season under coach Dave Clawson. They must do it before hitting the last six big games on their schedule.

BIG TEN: 0-1, OVERALL – 5-1

#11 MICHIGAN (2-0) at #13 Wisconsin– lost 35-14

• The Wolverines loss was awful. They didn’t seem prepared for the Badgers after a week off. Either they weren’t motivated or they were completely outmatched. This isn’t a good look for the program and Harbaugh should be sweating a bit.

 

MINNESOTA (3-0) – BYE WEEK

 

BIG 12: 1-0 , OVERALL – 5-1

#24 KANSAS STATE (3-0)– BYE WEEK

IOWA STATE (1-1) vs. UL Monroe– won 72-20

• After an embarrassing loss due to a botched situation on special teams at the end of the game, Iowa State wrecked UL Monroe with 72 points and quarterback Brock Purdy has to be happy with a big day he had. A road game at Baylor will be a tough matchup for the Cyclones to pass through.

 

C-USA: 1-1, OVERALL – 3-5

FIU (1-2) at Louisiana Tech– lost 43-31

• FIU had opportunities but squandered them with miscues and completing only two 3rd down conversions against La Tech. FIU’s next three games should be winnable, but I advise watching out for Charlotte in the middle of those games.

 

NORTH TEXAS (1-2) vs. UTSA– won 45-3

• North Texas won big in their first C-USA conference game after losing to a surprisingly good SMU and Cal team. Their next three games won’t be easy (Houston, at Southern Miss, and Mid Tenn).

 

INDEPENDENT: 1-0, OVERALL – 3-1

ARMY (2-1) vs. Morgan State– won 52-21

• Army’s engine needed warming up in the first quarter before churning out Morgan State slowly but surely in the second quarter and on. This team could still win 10 games, but Tulane and Air Force are looking formidable while the last two games against Hawai’i and Navy should never be underestimated.

 

MAC: 0-2, OVERALL – 3-5

MIAMI (OH) (1-2) at #6 Ohio State– lost 76-5

• Yes, Miami suffered another loss by 35 or more. Yes, they’re 1-3. But I expected them to start the season that way. When they play three tough non-conference opponents, they go into the MAC conference hopefully prepared to challenge anybody.

 

WESTERN MICHIGAN (2-1) at Syracuse– lost 52-33

• The Broncos tried coming back against Syracuse but failed by the fourth quarter. Their defense has plenty of work to do because the MAC West looks wide open right now.

 

MWC: 1-1, OVERALL – 5-2

NEVADA (2-1) at UTEP– won 37-21

• A 3-1 record is a great start for Nevada after a win over UTEP. They host their homecoming game against Hawai’i and I’ll be there for it. Let’s hope the Wolf Pack can stay with Hawai’i’s high-flying offense. A big win will make them a threat in the West division.

 

AIR FORCE (2-0) at #20 Boise State– lost 30-19

• Air Force tried staying with the Broncos, but quarterback Hank Bachmeier is too dang good. Three wins is still a great start for the Falcons and should still be formidable in October before hosting Army.

 

PAC-12: 1-1, OVERALL – 6-2

#24 ARIZONA STATE (3-0) vs. Colorado– lost 34-31

• This was a tough loss for Arizona State but they never gave up and only lost by three to the Buffs. What they showed against Colorado and Michigan State meant this young squad under coach Herm Edwards will challenge for the Pac-12 division and conference.

 

#15 OREGON (2-1) at Stanford– won 21-6

• Oregon won one of their first important matchups on the road, but they still have a lot competition left in the conference before finding out if they’re legit for the playoff conversation.

 

SEC: 2-0, OVERALL – 7-1

MISSOURI (2-1) vs. South Carolina– won 34-14

• Whatever happened to Mizzou when they lost to Wyoming was in the past. They’ve ran through their last three games with ease and hopefully their run continues as the underrated team in the SEC and college football.

 

#8 AUBURN (3-0) at #17 Texas A&M– won 28-20

• The Tigers win another key game and quarterback Bo Nix looks more like the guy that Auburn needs for their offense. They host Mississippi State before leaving Jordan-Hare for the next three weeks. Win those games, and they’ll be home for the rest of the regular season in November.

 

SUN BELT: 2-0, OVERALL – 5-2

ARKANSAS STATE (1-2) vs. Southern Illinois– won 41-28

• Things aren’t looking great for Arkansas State’s roster. To add salt to the wound, they lose quarterback Logan Bonner for the season after leading the conference in passing yards and having the best touchdown/interception ratio with 10 touchdowns to one interception. Also, running back Marcel Murray isn’t 100% healthy. The Red Wolves must find answers before their game at Troy.

 

APPALACHIAN STATE (2-0) at UNC– won 34-31

• The win over North Carolina is an important one for the Mountaineers. Now they must dominate their conference and hopefully repeat as champions with a chance of going undefeated and potentially get a bid for a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance.