Season record: 2-2
Last week: 2-2 (Virginia Tech +5.5, Texas -8, Georgia-Clemson over 51.5, Kent State +29.5)
Things started off well as Virginia Tech won outright and Texas covered with relative ease. However, the Saturday night games went poorly. Georgia and Clemson scored only 13 points with the only touchdown coming from a defensive score. Meanwhile, the Kent State failed to cover in hilarious fashion. I would be more upset, but I have only myself to blame as Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum failed to live up to my lofty expectations. Crum finished 12 for 26 passing with two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. However, it was still a bad beat. Check out these two missed field goals that would have covered.
College kickers…
Let’s try to do better this week!
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-0) @ Army Black Knights (1-0) | September 11 | 10:30 AM CT | Blaik Field at Michie Stadium
Line: Army -7 | Total: 53.5
Western Kentucky won 59-21 over Tennessee-Martin in Week 1. However, the Hilltoppers showed a vulnerability in stopping the run. Tennessee-Martin ran for 201 yards, averaging 5.9 yards a carry. That spells trouble against Army who ran for 258 yards in their victory over Georgia State.
You think I’m going to go against the troops on September 11? Forget about it! Army -7
Pittsburgh Panthers (1-0) @ Tennessee Volunteers (1-0) | September 11 | 11:00 AM CT | Neyland Stadium
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5 | Total: 56
Both teams are coming in after rather dominant Week 1 victories. Tennessee opened the Josh Heupel era with a 38-6 victory over Bowling Green while Pittsburgh rolled to a 51-7 win against UMass.
The Volunteers were simply too much for an overmatched Bowling Green team. Tennessee outgained them 471 to 219 in total yards. However, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton struggled with his accuracy, completing only 11 of 23 passes. Accuracy has been an issue for Milton, which is why he lost the starting job at Michigan.
I expect those issues to arise against a salty Pittsburgh defense. The Panthers defense is littered with veterans including four seniors. The linebacker unit in particular is a strength and they came away with four sacks in the opener. Overall, Pittsburgh allowed only 3.6 yards per play.
Pittsburgh is led on offense by super-senior quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett started off his fifth year of eligibility completing 27 of 37 passes for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also ran for 39 yards.
The Tennessee defense came out strong against Bowling Green. The Volunteers only allowed 219 yards in their win. They also are among the nation’s leaders in tackles for loss per game as they picked up 11.
This game could be a defensive struggle as both teams appear to be strong on that side of the ball. I think this game comes down to quarterback play, and I will take Pickett over Milton. Pittsburgh -3.5 is my pick.
Oregon Ducks (1-0) @ Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) | September 11 | 11:00 AM CT | Ohio Stadium
Line: Ohio State -14.5 | Total: 63.5
Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud started slow against Minnesota with some missed throws in the first half. However, the Buckeyes got it going in the second half, scoring touchdowns on four of their six possessions. Receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are both playmakers and they showed it in against Minnesota. Olave had 117 receiving yards and two touchdowns while Wilson had 80 receiving yards and a touchdown. With running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams also in the mix, the Buckeyes are a very explosive unit.
Shoutout to SportSource Analytics, who I am sure I will be using a lot this season for these numbers. Ohio State’s offense is a juggernaut, however, their defense has issues. I am not going to give the points, instead I am going over 63.5.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-0) @ Syracuse Orange (1-0) | September 11 | 1:00 PM CT | Carrier Dome
Line: Rutgers -2 | Total: 52
Rutgers won 61-14 over Temple in their opener against Temple while Syracuse defeated Ohio 29-9.
While Rutgers’ win looks great at first glance, I am going to channel Lee Corso.
The Scarlet Knights put up 61 points, but it was mostly due to a Temple offense that could not hold on the ball. Rutgers recovered three fumbles and intercepted two passes. The Rutgers offense was hardly explosive as they averaged 4.6 yards per play.
By comparison, Syracuse averaged 6.2 yards per play. In the Carrier Dome, give me Syracuse +2. I would not be surprised if they won outright.
Texas A&M Aggies (1-0) @ Colorado Buffaloes (1-0) | September 11 | 2:30 PM CT | Empower Field (Denver)
Line: Texas A&M -17 | Total: 51
This week Texas A&M travels to Denver to face off against Colorado. Colorado is coming off a solid 35-7 win over Northern Colorado. The Buffaloes rushed 281 yards and 4 touchdowns as a team.
Texas A&M had a strong performance as they only allowed a potent Kent State offense to score 10 points. Strangely enough, Texas A&M had issues against the run. As a team, Kent State ran for 226 yards.
Texas A&M quarterback Haynes King threw for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns, but did have 3 interceptions. With King making his first “road” start I could see Jimbo Fisher taking a conservative approach. Texas A&M will likely be a run-first team with Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane in the backfield.
With both of these offenses likely to feature their ground games, I am going under 51.
OUTTA HERE!
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One response to “Nado’s Notions: Week 2”
[…] Last week: 2-3 (Army -7, Oregon/Ohio State over 63.5, Pittsburgh -3.5, Syracuse +2, Texas A&M/Colorado under 51) […]
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