Week Three College Football Picks
1 Alabama vs. 6 Texas A&M
"The Rematch" has a lot on the line as it may decide the SEC West and Heisman race. Everybody
knows Nick Saban has been thinking of ways to stop sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel who dominated the defense last year. The Tide will pressure Manziel constantly but he isn't the only Aggie they have to worry about. Junior receiver Mike Evans has had two big games this year and back Ben Malena is explosive. The Aggies have proven constantly they can put up points but the defense is definitely a question mark. A.J. McCarron can beat you with his big arm and the Tide have found a number of explosive deep threats including Amari Cooper and Christion Jones. If the Tide can get their ground game going, which was surprisingly ineffective against Virginia Tech. A lot of it had to do with the offensive line. A unit that was historical last year has proven that the three starters gone are going to leave a big gap. The explosiveness of Texas A&M could give Alabama issues and Manziel knows how to beat the Tide. But, McCarron has proven he can win the big games and the ground game should punish a young Aggies defense.
Alabama, 34 Texas A&M, 28
16 UCLA vs. 23 Nebraska
A week after squeaking out a win against Wyoming the 'Huskers responded by blowing out Southern Miss. They will get their biggest test this year outside of Michigan in the UCLA Bruins who killed Nevada to begin their year. Nebraska will have headaches trying to stop sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley who threw for 274 yards and ran for 63 more over Nevada. Junior Jordan James who had the tough job of replacing Jonathan Franklin, will provide a dangerous 1-2 punch. If James has a big game and Hundley plays smart Nebraska's defense, which was shredded by Wyoming, won't be able to stop the Bruins. Luckily for Nebraska they have a dual threat of their own in senior Taylor Martinez who has proven he can make big plays. But, what will he be able to do in the passing game with linebacker Anthony Barr pressuring him constantly? The pass defense is weak for UCLA and Martinez has proven he can beat defenses occasionally. Back Ameer Abdullah is key as the 'Huskers will look for him just to move the ball. Nebraska's defense just doesn't look like it has the personnel to stop Hundley and the defense should be able to get enough pressure on Martinez to force him into mistakes.
UCLA, 28 Nebraska, 17
13 South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
The Gamecocks who were dominated last week by Georgia will get their second straight SEC opponent as they get Vanderbilt this week. Vandy, who sits at 1-1, has one of the nation's best receivers in senior Jordan Matthews who 289 yards in his first two games. He has the size and speed that is so tough to defend and South Carolina doesn't have any proven defensive backs who can slow him down. Though, the talent on the offensive end is impressive for the Commodores. They have the next Marcus Lattimore in back Mike Davis who has proven he has a lethal mix of power but can beat defenders. Receiver Shaq Roland is poised for a big game if Connor Shaw can get him the ball. The Gamecocks have a power ground game in Shaw and Davis but they have proven they can beat you deep as well. Don't overlook Vandy though, although they don't have a lot of stars beyond Matthews they play hard and they are extremely efficient on both sides of the ball. If Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels and Matthews have big games and Jadeveon Clowney continues to struggle Vandy could pull off the upset. But, South Carolina is still the safer pick.
Other Picks
4 Ohio State, 45 California, 31
Arizona State, 38 20 Wisconsin, 35
25 Ole Miss, 42 Texas, 35
19 Washington, 27 Illinois, 10
7 Louisville, 41 Kentucky, 20
Current Picks Record: 11-5
"The Rematch" has a lot on the line as it may decide the SEC West and Heisman race. Everybody
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| Christion Jones |
Alabama, 34 Texas A&M, 28
16 UCLA vs. 23 Nebraska
A week after squeaking out a win against Wyoming the 'Huskers responded by blowing out Southern Miss. They will get their biggest test this year outside of Michigan in the UCLA Bruins who killed Nevada to begin their year. Nebraska will have headaches trying to stop sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley who threw for 274 yards and ran for 63 more over Nevada. Junior Jordan James who had the tough job of replacing Jonathan Franklin, will provide a dangerous 1-2 punch. If James has a big game and Hundley plays smart Nebraska's defense, which was shredded by Wyoming, won't be able to stop the Bruins. Luckily for Nebraska they have a dual threat of their own in senior Taylor Martinez who has proven he can make big plays. But, what will he be able to do in the passing game with linebacker Anthony Barr pressuring him constantly? The pass defense is weak for UCLA and Martinez has proven he can beat defenses occasionally. Back Ameer Abdullah is key as the 'Huskers will look for him just to move the ball. Nebraska's defense just doesn't look like it has the personnel to stop Hundley and the defense should be able to get enough pressure on Martinez to force him into mistakes.
UCLA, 28 Nebraska, 17
13 South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
The Gamecocks who were dominated last week by Georgia will get their second straight SEC opponent as they get Vanderbilt this week. Vandy, who sits at 1-1, has one of the nation's best receivers in senior Jordan Matthews who 289 yards in his first two games. He has the size and speed that is so tough to defend and South Carolina doesn't have any proven defensive backs who can slow him down. Though, the talent on the offensive end is impressive for the Commodores. They have the next Marcus Lattimore in back Mike Davis who has proven he has a lethal mix of power but can beat defenders. Receiver Shaq Roland is poised for a big game if Connor Shaw can get him the ball. The Gamecocks have a power ground game in Shaw and Davis but they have proven they can beat you deep as well. Don't overlook Vandy though, although they don't have a lot of stars beyond Matthews they play hard and they are extremely efficient on both sides of the ball. If Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels and Matthews have big games and Jadeveon Clowney continues to struggle Vandy could pull off the upset. But, South Carolina is still the safer pick.
Other Picks
4 Ohio State, 45 California, 31
Arizona State, 38 20 Wisconsin, 35
25 Ole Miss, 42 Texas, 35
19 Washington, 27 Illinois, 10
7 Louisville, 41 Kentucky, 20
Current Picks Record: 11-5
1 comment:
Tom,
good work as ever. thought i'd check in with McMania when this morning's paper pointed out the 'bama - a+m game is the "most anticipated game of the season". wanted to get your perspective.
good luck this week. 11-5 ain't bad, but...
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