2022 College Football Picks: Week Four

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

Current Picks Record: 14-13

Upset: 1-2

Superdogs: 2-1

Locks: 0-3

(#20) Florida Gators @ (#11) Tennessee Volunteers

Line: Tennessee -10.5

O/U: 62

The next edition of Florida and Tennessee's long-standing rivalry takes center stage in late September, with College GameDay in town. Both have had their highlights to begin 2022, with Florida upsetting Utah and Tennessee taking down Pittsburgh, but both certainly still have their flaws. Either way, whoever wins this game puts themselves on the fast track towards battling Georgia for an SEC East crown.

It's no surprise Tennessee's offense has been dominant to begin the year, averaging 52 points per game and chucking the ball all over the field. Head coach Josh Heupel has long been known as an offensive genius and has the perfect personnel on this team. Quarterback Hendon Hooker has a huge arm and can make things happen with his legs, wide outs Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman stretch the field vertically and side-to-side, while tailback Jaylen Wright softens things up underneath. It's a group racking up yardage and points at an impressive rate, but there is an important caveat here. Two of their first three opponents have been MAC schools, one in the midst of a major rebuild (Akron). The other foe was Pitt, who looks strong up front but has been susceptible through the air, especially against this type of offense. The Gators have certainly improved on this side of the ball and are going to present a different challenge for the Volunteers. They've been particularly effective at getting after the quarterback, playing a more aggressive and ferocious style under new coordinator Patrick Toney, the past Gator defenses. The Volunteer O-Line has been strong so far this fall, but will have to be prepared for a typical SEC battle in the trenches.

Florida's offense, namely QB Anthony Richardson, was the story of the season's first week. Richardson was a thrill to watch, providing us with multiple Johnny Manziel-esque plays and carving up a quality Ute defense. The last two weeks have shown that performance was more of a fluke than the norm, with Richardson falling back to Earth against Kentucky and South Florida. That doesn't mean Richardson isn't awfully talented, but he seems to be trying to force plays over the last two weeks. He's currently completing just over 50 percent of his passes and has an 0-4 TD-INT ratio over the last two, including a shaky showing against a South Florida defense that is not supposed to be very good. He needs to calm down and let the game come to him, because there are pieces around him. The backfield has been a pleasant surprise, with Montrell Johnson and true frosh Trevor Etienne providing a nice spark to the offense. Johnson was the player of the week a year ago, with 103 yards over USF and is currently averaging over nine yards per carry, but Florida has to look for more ways to get him involved. The receiver corps could also be more consistent; the trio of Ricky Pearsall, Xzavier Henderson, and Justin Shorter have had their flashes, but none have been able to put it together over multiple weeks. Tennessee could be the perfect defense to get this aerial attack back on track, as the Volunteers have been incredibly vulnerable through the air. In fact, it's tough to get a read on this Tennessee defense as a whole. They've been great against the run all season, but have played terrible offensive lines they've been able to push around. That's not going to the case, and I wonder if the same defensive struggles we saw last year are going to begin to show here.

Even though Tennessee has significant momentum entering this game, I'm always a bit wary about picking the Volunteers in big games. The program has a tradition of losing these types of matchups in heartbreaking fashion. Hesitantly, I will take the Volunteers, solely because the game is in Knoxville and Florida's last two performances have been so underwhelming. I wouldn't be rushing to bet this game, as this rivalry seems to always create some wacky moments.

The Pick: Tennessee, 37 Florida, 24

(#5) Clemson Tigers @ (#21) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Line: Clemson -7.5

O/U: 55.5

The ACC Atlantic is having a moment to begin 2022, with Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State, Florida State, and Syracuse all off to undefeated starts. However, that won't be the case for long, as Clemson travels to Winston-Salem for a clash with the 21st-ranked Demon Deacons. It presents a superb opportunity for these programs to prove themselves, albeit they have different goals. The Tigers are eager to show they're still a CFB Playoff frontrunner despite an underwhelming start to 2022, while Wake Forest has struggled for years against Clemson and is hoping this win can put them on a path towards a second straight Atlantic Title.

Clemson was hoping their 2021 offensive woes wouldn't survive the offseason, but they seem to have transitioned into the fall. The numbers aren't terrible, but this unit hasn't been able to get into any type of rhythm all season despite facing a weak schedule up to this point. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei remains the guy under center, but it's not crazy to think true freshman Cade Klubnik's time could be coming. He's played in each of their first three games and the offense has seemed to flow better, although the staff is sticking with D.J. for now. No matter who starts at quarterback, Clemson is going to need better play from their receiver corps, a strength of the program throughout the Dabo era. Beaux Collins has been productive and the rest have had their moments, but this is simply not the same group we've seen in the past. Fortunately, Wake Forest has been extremely porous through the air for several years now and could be in for a rude awakening agains their toughest opponent of the season. This is a defense fresh off allowing 428 yards to Liberty, despite managing four turnovers. If they don't get the same type of turnover luck against the Tigers, any hopes of an upset could be dashed.

The Demon Deacons are going to be fine letting this one turn into a shootout, as they can counter with their own explosive offense. This is a unit that had a special 2021 campaign, but things looked worrying when veteran QB Sam Hartman was ruled out indefinitely right before the season. Fortunately, Hartman only had to miss one game and he's come back firing, notching 625 yards and seven touchdowns in his last two starts. He has the luxury of a deep and talented receiver corps to throw to, with A.T. Perry, Donavon Greene, and more. They'll be quite a test for a Clemson defense that seems to still be figuring it out under new coordinator Wes Goodwin. The Tigers are still incredibly talented on this side of the ball, but they've been a bit underwhelming over their first three games. However, the defensive line still remains the strength of the roster and gives Clemson a major edge in the trenches. Add to that the return of star Bryan Bresee, who missed last week due to the tragic passing of his sister. Bresee and this whole defensive front should play extremely motivated, a huge advantage here.

Clemson has been slightly disappointing to begin 2022, but they remain the ACC's Goliath. Anybody hoping to make a run at a conference title still have to go past Dabo and the Tigers, who will be ready to go for this Top 25 duel. It will be a fascinating watch to see how opposing strengths collide, with the Demon Deacons leaning on an explosive offense, while Clemson looks to their defense. The game may be at Wake Forest, but Clemson remains the smarter pick, despite what they've done this fall. They're the more talented team, deeper, more physical, and always play up for their big in-conference games. 

The Pick: Clemson, 31 Wake Forest, 22 

(#10) Arkansas Razorbacks @ (#23) Texas A&M Aggies

Line: Texas A&M -1.5

O/U: 48

Florida-Tennessee may be the most hyped rivalry game of the weekend, but the SEC West features quite a good one too, with Arkansas and Texas A&M duking it out for the Southwest Classic Trophy. With both teams staring down brutal October stretches, the pressure is on to come out on top this Saturday.

Texas A&M made a quarterback change before their Miami victory, turning to former LSU transfer Max Johnson. He didn't prove to much of a difference-maker, going 10-20 with 140 yards and a touchdown, but provided enough of a spark to lift the Aggies over the Hurricanes. Facing off against Arkansas, he's going to need to do more, with a tough, physical defense on the other side. The greater question is whether someone can finally emerge at receiver, with A&M lacking a true game-changer to open things up. Ainias Smith has been their most consistent pass-catcher but is more of a hybrid slot option than a true boundary receiver, which has restricted this offense. Tailback Devon Achane has been the heart and soul of the offense up to this point, but will face one of the toughest rush defenses in the country. Led by Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool, the 'Hogs will punish you for every yard. The fact of the matter is that Johnson and company are going to have to do something through the air. Missouri State moved the ball against this Razorback secondary, which is a bit banged up, so there's a game-plan there. This has to do with whether Jimbo Fisher is willing to make the most out of it and travel out of his comfort zone. This offense needs something to shake things up if they are to overcome the Razorbacks.

Arkansas' offense has had a strong start to the 2022 campaign, thanks to a balanced, efficient unit. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson has asserted himself as one of the best in the SEC, a dual-threat who takes care of the ball but can still make plays down the field. He's demonstrated real growth as a passer this year, completing 71% of his passes and averaging nearly 10 yards per attempt. On the ground, what looked like it may be a committee has instead been all Raheim Sanders, who has totaled 440 yards over the first three games. He's racked up more yardage each week so far in 2022 and despite facing a stiff challenge in A&M, should be bound for another impressive performance. As much as the skill position players will impact the game, it could be the Razorback O-Line that is the deciding factor. They've had an impressive start to the season, pushing around their first three opponents, but A&M is a whole different test. This is a front seven with a bunch of future NFL talent, and athletic linebackers. Whether Arkansas is able to get enough push up front, while keeping Jefferson upright, will determine this game.

Appalachian State demonstrated the game-plan for defeating A&M a few weeks ago, as they wore down the Aggie defense and kept everything in front of them defensively. Arkansas has the personnel to match this plan to perfection; they're physical on both sides of the ball and have a hard-nosed rushing attack. Jefferson gives them another edge to win the game, and could even push himself into the early Heisman discussion by going into College Station and taking this victory. Top to bottom, I trust the 'Hogs more at this point in the year and feel confident they can go on the road and take home the rivalry win.

The Pick: Arkansas, 24 Texas A&M, 17

Other Picks

(#7) USC @ Oregon State -- The most underrated game of the weekend, it would not shock me in the slightest if this is a Pac-12 Championship Game preview. Beavers have the pieces to win this game at home, but the Trojan offense is just too overwhelming.

The Pick: USC, 35 Oregon State, 31

Maryland @ (#4) Michigan -- The first real test of the season for Michigan this game has upset potential. But, the Wolverine offense with J.J. McCarthy under center proves too much for Taulia Tagovailoa and the Terps.

The Pick: Michigan, 30 Maryland, 21

Wisconsin @ (#3) Ohio State -- Wisconsin has traditionally been able to play Ohio State tough, but their secondary is banged up and simply doesn't have the athletes to compete with the Buckeyes. Add to the fact this game is in "The Shoe" and I got OSU comfortably.

The Pick: Ohio State, 38 Wisconsin, 17

Upset: Texas Tech over (#22) Texas -- Texas Tech has not beaten UT in Lubbock since 2008, when Michael Crabtree made his heroic last second touchdown catch, but I have a feeling about this one. This is a decent Texas Tech team and the Longhorns remain without Quinn Ewers.

The Pick: Texas Tech, 24 Texas, 21

Superdog (covers > 21 point spread): Vanderbilt (+41) @ Alabama -- These two programs are about as different as you can get in the same conference, but Vanderbilt has been at least respectable this year and the Tide offense is still figuring things out. The Tide should roll, but 41 seems like enough for the Commodores to cover.

The Pick: Alabama, 40 Vanderbilt, 10

Lock of the Week (has to be a favorite): Syracuse (-9) vs. Virginia -- I'm starting to wonder if my locks are cursed, with all three losing straight up over the first three weeks. Can Syracuse end this dismal streak? They come off an emotional win over Purdue, but get a mediocre-to-bad Virginia team at home.

The Pick: Syracuse, 28 Virginia, 14

2022 Post-Week Three CFB Roundup

Jalon Daniels, Kansas

Reactions & Thoughts

Another Brutal Day For The Big Ten West: Is there a single Power Five division that's had a rougher go of it over the season's first three weeks than the Big Ten West? It's clear that head coaching was not the only issue at Nebraska, as the 'Huskers were routed by Oklahoma in their first game under interim head man Mickey Joseph. Then, Purdue fell to 1-2 after a heart-wrenching defeat on the road to Syracuse. Then there is Northwestern, who also fell to 1-2, losing to previously winless FCS opponent Southern Illinois. The lone remaining undefeated in the division is none other than the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who pounded Colorado over the weekend, but have yet to face a formidable foe and may be without star wide out Chris Autman-Bell for an extended period of time. For years, this division has taken a backseat to the Big Ten East, but usually the strength of consistent programs like Wisconsin and Iowa. That just doesn't appear to be the case this season, which means the Big Ten Championship Game could be particularly one-sided in 2022. 

USC Has Arrived Earlier Than Expected: The USC Trojans had a splashy offseason, reeling Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams away from Oklahoma and bringing in a bunch more talent in the transfer portal. We knew they would be much improved from the 4-8 team we saw in 2021, but through three weeks, they've looked like the Pac-12's best team. These last two weeks were prime upset alerts against Stanford and a tough Fresno State team, but Riley's club rolled, including a 45-17 victory on Saturday. It's not just that this team is 3-0, but how effortless they've made it look; the offense has been unstoppable all season and the defense has made major strides in just one offseason. The schedule the rest of the way looks very favorable, with the only game 'SC may not be favored in being a road tilt with Utah. If they can survive that, it's not unrealistic to start taking College Football Playoff, which felt a bit overly ambitious at the start of the year.

Is There Any Stopping Georgia?: Conventional thought through the offseason was that the reigning National Champion Georgia Bulldogs may take a slight step back in 2022, thanks in large part to all the departures on the defensive side of the ball. Over the first three weeks, that thought seems to have been laid to rest. The Bulldogs have been absolutely terrifying so far this fall, with another comfortable victory over the weekend in their SEC opener over South Carolina. This team hasn't taken any steps backwards, in fact they are looking even better than last year's team. That has been particularly true of an offense that is looking terrific at the moment, with Stetson Bennett at the controls. It's early, but Bennett seems to have taken up the mantle as the Heisman frontrunner, while the Bulldogs are the team to beat, unless someone proves otherwise.

Which Direction Does Arizona State Go?: The coaching carousel keeps on spinning, with a new name added to the list. Herm Edwards was let go on Sunday after an embarrassing loss to Eastern Michigan in the midst of an NCAA investigation. He was always a bit of a strange hire and despite some early success, was not able to turn the Sun Devils into consistent contenders in the Pac-12. However, this is a job that really intrigues me. ASU has all the resources to be a winner, as a massive school with a hefty athletics budget inside a talent-rich state. But, it just hasn't happened yet, and several bad coaching hires over the last few seasons have sent the program sliding in the wrong direction. There's not an obvious direction the Sun Devils go in now that Edwards is out, but I'm sure you'll see the usual names thrown out there, such as Matt Campbell, Luke Fickell, maybe Matt Rhule. Two names I'm keeping a close eye on are Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze and Oregon State defensive coordinator Trent Bray. Freeze seems to have restored his reputation after what transpired at Ole Miss and is doing great things with Liberty. While he's a Southeast guy, there's no doubt in my mind he would bring in big talent at ASU and win. Bray wouldn't be as flashy and it's unlikely ASU would go with someone so untested, but I think he's a great candidate. He's played a major role in helping turn around Oregon State's defense, a team that is currently 3-0, and he's from Arizona originally. He served as interim head coach at Nebraska in 2017 after they fired Mike Riley.

Here's To Early Season Turnarounds: One of the best parts about college football is seeing programs turn things around after a brutal season. There are several notable programs off to impressive starts in 2022, from 3-0 Florida State to 3-0 Syracuse, to 3-0 Duke. The coolest may be Kansas, who has been the worst Power Five program in the country for over a decade, but is off to an undefeated start. It's not the Jayhawks just beating up on FCS schools over Group of Five teams, either. They went out and beat West Virginia two weeks ago then ran past Houston over the weekend, a team fresh off a 12-win 2021. I firmly believe Lance Leipold is the most underrated coach in college football. Whether it's at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, Buffalo, or now Kansas, all he does is win football games.

Weekly Awards

Offensive Helmet Sticker: Jalon Daniels, QB, Kansas

Speaking of Kansas, let's give some love to quarterback Jalon Daniels, who had a huge week against Houston. The junior personifies what it means to be a true dual-threat, as he went for 158 yards and three touchdowns through the air and added 123 and two scores with his legs. He did so against a Houston defense that was strong last season, although seems to have taken a step back in 2022. The QB position at Kansas has been a revolving door this past decade-plus, but it looks like they have their guy in Daniels. He has 10 total touchdowns over the season's first three weeks and has looked in command of the offense.

Defensive Helmet Sticker: Jaren Kanak, LB, Oklahoma

Oklahoma pounded Nebraska over the weekend, with both sides of the ball operating at incredibly high levels. While Dillon Gabriel engineered an impressive offensive showing, youngster Jaren Kanak proved to be the leader of the Sooner defense. The one-time Clemson commit followed head coach Brent Venables to Norman and it appears to be paying dividends. He showed out on Saturday, leading the team with 10 tackles, three of them solo. Kanak was also a constant presence in the Cornhusker backfield, leading the team with four pressures. It seemed like every time Casey Thompson turned around, the freshman was in his face, crippling any hopes of Nebraska developing a rhythm on that side of the ball. After such a showing, it will be fascinating to see what he does as an encore; he has all the talent to be a truly disruptive force for years to come at OU.

Team of the Week: Washington Huskies

First-year head man Kalen DeBoer should be an early frontrunner in the National Coach of the Year race, as he was come in and engineered a quick turnaround in Seattle. After a disastrous 4-8 2021 that included Jimmy Lake's firing, Washington is out to a 3-0 start, punctuated by an impressive victory over Michigan State. It was an 11-point win for the Huskies, but the reality is that the game was not that close; UW dominated in every aspect and deserve to be a Top 25 team. Next up is a fourth straight home game, this time against Stanford, before a road test with UCLA tells us what this team is really about in 2022.

"Small-School" Team of the Week: Southern Illinois Salukis

Winless and heading into a road Big Ten stadium, Southern Illinois could have rolled over and let Northwestern run away with a victory. Instead the Salukis were ready, managing to tie the Wildcats at halftime then scoring two huge touchdowns in the fourth quarter to shock NW in Evanston. This looks like another down year for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats, but that shouldn't overshadow this victory for Southern Illinois. They never looked intimidated by the moment and made the most out of it, capitalizing on four Northwestern turnovers to pull off an upset as a two-touchdown underdog. The Salukis may still slip to the bottom of the tough Missouri Valley Conference, but that should not take away from how impressive this win was. 

My Top 25

Current Rank                Last Week

1. Ohio State Buckeyes        (1)

2. Georgia Bulldogs              (2)

3. Alabama Crimson Tide      (3)

4. Clemson Tigers                (4)

5. NC State Wolfpack            (5)

6. Oklahoma Sooners            (7)

7. Arkansas Razorbacks        (6)

8. Michigan Wolverines        (8)

9. USC Trojans                    (9)

10. Utah Utes                       (13)

11. Tennessee Volunteers    (14)

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons    (11)

13. Cincinnati Bearcats        (16)

14. Texas A&M Aggies        (18)

15. Oregon Ducks                (20)

16. Minnesota Golden Gophers    (17)

17. Oklahoma State Cowboys        (19)

18. BYU Cougars            (12)

19. Kentucky Wildcats     (22)

20. Miami Hurricanes        (11)

21. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers    (21)

22. Baylor Bears        (23)

23. Ole Miss Rebels    (24)

24. Washington Huskies    (NR)

25. Oregon State Beavers    (25)

Receiving Notes: Florida Gators, Penn State Nittany Lions, Michigan State Spartans, Syracuse Orange, Iowa State Cyclones

Dropped Out: Michigan State Spartans (#15)

2022 College Football Picks: Week Three

Jaren Hall, BYU

Current Picks Record: 10-8

Upsets: 1-1

Superdogs: 2-0

Locks: 0-2

(#13) Miami Hurricanes @ (#24) Texas A&M Aggies

Line: Texas A&M -5

O/U: 44.5

Fresh off a frustrating loss at home to Appalachian State, the pressure is on for Jimbo Fisher and the entire Texas A&M coaching staff. Despite bringing in historical recruiting classes, the program is still awaiting its true breakthrough, and now has the luxury of facing off with the 13th-ranked Miami Hurricanes. While we're still unsure just how good Mario Cristobal's crew is, it's never facing such a talented team after a deflating loss, which could threaten to drop the Aggies below .500.

It's time for a real reckoning for Jimbo Fisher and the rest of the offensive staff. They faced down an Appalachian State defense that had surrendered 60-plus points on the season's first weekend, and managed just 180 yards and 14 points against it. Some of that can be credited to the fact Appalachian State held on to the ball for long stretches of their upset win, but the reality is that the Aggies have looked atrocious offensively in 2022. Haynes King won the quarterback job out of camp and earned rave reviews for his deep ball and ability to make plays with his legs, but he's been underwhelming and turnover-prone. Devon Achane has been a solid tailback, but the offense remains incredibly one-dimensional, forcing him into tough situations. Jimbo and company need to find a way to open things up and get their playmakers more involved in creative ways. There's no shortage of talent here, but they won't have it easy against a Hurricane defense that has looked stout over the fall's first two weeks. The offensive line will have their hands full with an aggressive Miami pass rush and the Hurricane secondary should be eager to show off as well. It's not an ideal matchup for the Aggies fresh-off the frustrations of last weekend and you almost wonder if a quarterback change, to veteran Max Johnson, could be just what they need. Jimbo is unlikely to do that so early on in the season, but something drastic needs to happen.

After punishing Bethune-Cookman 70-13 in Week One, Miami came out of the gates a bit slow last Saturday against Southern Miss. They still won handily, 30-7, but it's clear they are still figuring things out with a brand new coaching staff. Fortunately, they have the clear advantage at QB in this one with Tyler Van Dyke under center, and the ground attack has been surprisingly strong, headlined by Henry Parrish Jr. and Thaddius Franklin Jr. Of course, it helps that they've had the obvious edge along the lines to open up running lanes, but Parrish and Franklin have been reeling off chunks of yardage and stretching defenses thin. On the outside, Xavier Restrepo has been the top pass-catcher over the first two weeks, but we just learned he will miss time with injury. That could mean that it's about time that Miami gets the tight ends more involved. Will Mallory is one of the ACC's best, and youngsters Jaleel Skinner and Elijah Arroyo could cause headaches if used correctly. You get the feeling this trio is going to have opportunities in the play-action passing game with A&M defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin known for bringing an aggressive rush. Appalachian State did write a nice playbook on how to attack this A&M defense, even if they didn't blow the doors off the Aggies. They ran the ball all day and tired out the Aggies and were able to hit a big play or two through the air. If the Hurricanes can get the job done on the other side, that could be enough for the victory.

This is a particularly tough game to pick so early on in the season with A&M coming off such a bad loss and Miami still being such a mystery. It could certainly be the case where Jimbo and the Aggies respond in a big way, especially when you consider this one is at Kyle Field, but they just haven't given me reason to believe just yet. Facing a quality foe like the Hurricanes is terrible timing, and has me believing in a 3-0 Miami start.

The Pick: Miami, 27 Texas A&M, 21

(#11) Michigan State Spartans @ Washington Huskies

Line: Washington -3.5

O/U: 56.5

It's not too often we see Big Ten teams schedule true road games in mid-September, so kudos to Michigan State for having the guts to add a road tilt with Washington to their schedule. Unfortunately for them, this year's Washington looks significantly improved from last season's 4-8 edition, providing Mel Tucker's team their first real test of the 2022 campaign.

After looking a bit underwhelming in their opener against Western Michigan, Michigan State seemed to unleash some fury against Akron last Saturday, with a 52-0 victory. Through the first several weeks, it looks clear what the Spartans are going to look like in 2022; they will lean on a big-play passing attack once more, while Jalen Berger pounds the rock on the ground, much in the same way Kenneth Walker III did a year ago. Payton Thorne has been solid at quarterback to begin the year, although he'll have to cut down on the turnovers if MSU is to hit their ceiling, while Keon Coleman looks like the breakout star at receiver many thought he could be. Berger, however, has to be the story of the season up to this very early point in the season. We saw his potential at Wisconsin and he is going to face tougher defenses than Western Michigan and Akron, but he's still averaging nearly seven yards per carry and has been a touchdown machine. It should be an interesting battle against this Husky defense, which has been strong against the run so far this season, but hasn't faced elite competition either. 

The Washington offense was among the worst in Power Five football last fall, but new head man Kalen DeBoer has engineered a quick turnaround in Seattle. He has an offensive philosophy that is able to use the whole field and open things up in a way that the past staff simply couldn't. It also helps that he brought in a transfer quarterback he was comfortability with, in former Indiana signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. Penix has always had a big arm, but he's displayed better decision-making so far in 2022 and has formed a quick relationship with star wide out Jalen McMillan. The ground game has benefitted from quality play on the O-Line and defenses having to respect the aerial attack, opening up lanes for Wayne Taulapapa and Cameron Davis. I am very curious to see whether this quick turnaround is going to continue, or whether it had more to do with playing weak competition than anything else. It's no secret that Michigan State had the worst pass defense in FBS football last season and while we've seen modest improvement, this is the first passing attack that should really scare them. However, they feature a formidable pass rush that includes Jacoby Windmon, the former UNLV transfer who has been one of the best players in college football over the first two weeks. How do the Huskies handle that rush? Is Penix able to stay upright and not get flustered? I'm very curious to see these two units battle it out on this side of the ball.

This is yet another early-season game between two teams we don't have a great read on right now. Neither have faced elite competition and have impressed in their own ways, but that doesn't mean they aren't without their flaws. I'm thinking this could come down to quarterback play, in particular which signal-caller takes better care of the ball. Both Thorne and Penix are gunslingers who love the big play, but at times they haven't dialed it back in important moments. I think Washington matches up well against a porous MSU secondary, but I'm just not sure I trust Penix to be the one to take advantage of it. There have been too many times where his carelessness with the ball has doomed his team, and the Spartans are talented enough to take advantage. I remain wary picking this team to go across the country and come away with a win over an improved team, but I'm hesitantly taking Michigan State.

The Pick: Michigan State, 35 Washington, 31

(#12) BYU Cougars @ (#25) Oregon Ducks

Line: Oregon -3.5

O/U: 58

BYU began a brutal early-season stretch of games (which includes Oregon, Notre Dame, and Arkansas in the coming weeks) by beating Baylor last weekend, helping them jump to No. 12 polls. Now, the Cougars are hoping to continue their momentum against 25th-ranked Oregon, who recovered from a brutal opener to dominate Eastern Washington, 70-14.

BYU was a run-first team in 2021, but quarterback Jaren Hall has taken up the mantle as the fuel of this offense so far in 2022. He's thrown for exactly 261 yards in both outings and looked crisp and confident while doing so. His performances have been especially impressive when you consider he did so last week without his top two wide outs, Gunner Romney and Puka Nacua. As of right now, both Romney's and Nacua's status for this weekend are up in the air, which complicates things for the Cougar offense. Chase Roberts has stepped up in a big way without them, but he's just one player, and BYU is pretty unproven beyond him. Tailbacks Christopher Brooks and Lopini Katoa have been able to take some of the pressure off Hall and the passing game, but both were held in check by Baylor and face a formidable defensive front in Oregon. Linebacker Noah Sewell is the big name leading Oregon's rush defense, but Justin Flowe's emergence over the first two weeks, finally healthy after two consecutive season-ending injuries, makes the Ducks very scary. This feels like a game where a lot of the weight is going to once again fall on Hall's shoulders. He has proven he can handle the load, but will have to do so in a hostile environment this weekend.

There's still plenty of questions for this Duck offense, but dropping 70 last week, even against an FCS team, seemed to answer some of them. For better or worse, Bo Nix remains the man in charge, although Ty Thompson did see some action last week and could be in line for an increased role. There's plenty of talent around him, but it's still a bit unclear who will take over at both running back and receiver. It looks like a committee approach for the backfield this fall, which should keep these backs fresh and ready to go, but you wonder if it will impact their ability to get into a rhythm. At receiver, Troy Franklin has emerged as the go-to guy early on, but I still have high hopes for sophomore Kris Hutson. He didn't do anything against Georgia and was fairly quiet against Eastern Washington, but I still believe he has the ceiling to one of their top contributors in the passing game. One other thing to note about Oregon's offense is the line, which was decimated by Georgia, but should have an advantage against BYU. While the Cougars are a physical team still, they simply do not have the athletes Georgia does (who does?) and were pushed around a bit by Baylor.

I picked against BYU last weekend and they made me pay, but the smart money feels like Oregon in Week Three. Although they won without Nacua and Romney, I'm still wary about their absence, and the Cougars are also fresh off an emotional, hard-fought victory. Plus, they get the Ducks in Autzen Stadium, which will be a special test for this Cougar team.

The Pick: Oregon, 24 BYU, 20

Other Picks

(#6) Oklahoma @ Nebraska -- Can Mickey Joseph galvanize the Cornhuskers and pull off a home upset? I will admit, this has serious upset potential, but I fear Dillon Gabriel and company are going to carve up this Nebraska defense.

The Pick: Oklahoma, 40 Nebraska, 28

(#1) Georgia @ South Carolina -- South Carolina has pulled off upsets over high-ranking Georgia teams before, but the offensive line has been terrible so far in 2022 and now faces off against Jalen Carter and the 'Dawgs.

The Pick: Georgia, 30 South Carolina, 16

Texas Tech @ (#16) NC State -- Texas Tech has demonstrated real fight in Joey McGuire's first season at the helm, but I still have plenty of questions about this defense and they have to face off against NC State in Raleigh.

The Pick: NC State, 34 Texas Tech, 24

Upset: Auburn over (#22) Penn State -- This was an awfully competitive game in "Happy Valley" last fall and now the Nittany Lions have to go to the Plains. I wouldn't be shocked if Manny Diaz and this PSU defense have difficulties containing Tank Bigsby and Auburn's ground game.

The Pick: Auburn, 21 Penn State, 20

Superdog (covers > 21 point spread): Nevada (+23) @ Iowa -- This is in no way an endorsement for Nevada, who may be among the worst teams in FBS football this year, but a reality of just how atrocious this Iowa offense has been. Are we sure they'll be able to score 23?

The Pick: Iowa, 20 Nevada, 3

Lock of the Week (has to be a favorite): Kansas State (-14) vs. Tulane -- My "locks" have had bad luck to begin the year, but I feel good about this one. Kansas State demolished Missouri last Saturday and shouldn't have too many problems with Tulane at home.

The Pick: Kansas State, 30 Tulane, 13

2022 Post-Week Two CFB Roundup

Khalan Laborn, Marshall

Reactions & Thoughts

It's Time For Jimbo To Hand Over Play-calling Duties: Throughout his time as head coach at Florida State and Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher has maintained significant control over each team's offense, operating as the chief play-caller. Following A&M's embarrassing loss to Appalachian State over the weekend, it feels like it's time for him to relinquish control and hire a true offensive coordinator. For so long, Fisher's offense has been viewed as "complex" but it goes beyond that; it simply is not a reliable offense in modern college football. With the lone exception of Jameis Winston's Heisman season back in 2013, Fisher's units have regularly been mediocre, lacking an explosiveness that has defined truly elite, National Championship-caliber teams. While I don't think Fisher is on a hot seat following the frustrating loss, you get the sense that there will be internal pressure for him to bring in someone as offensive coordinator, and there will be plenty of candidates available this offseason. It's always difficult for a veteran head coach, especially one that has won a National Title, to give up some control, but it's clearly time in College Station.

Saturday Was More About Texas Than Alabama: One of the more surprising results of the weekend wasn't an upset, but Texas taking it down to the wire against the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide. I give the Longhorns plenty of credit; I thought this game was going to be an absolute domination, and over halfway through the third quarter. On the contrary, Texas looked like the better team for the majority of the game, even with quarterback Quinn Ewers going down early in the game. It was the Longhorn defense that surprised the most. For so long, this has been the Achilles Heel of the program, but they looked well-coached, disciplined, and filled their gaps incredibly well. That doesn't mean Alabama's offense isn't without faults, they've been too vanilla since Bill O'Brien took over as OC and desperately miss a deep threat like Tyler Harrell, who has been out the first two weeks of the year. It also doesn't mean we have to overvalue Texas after a close loss to the nation's top team. This team looks improved through the first several weeks, but Ewers will miss over a month due to injury, and they remain far from perfect. Contending for a Big 12 Title would mark significant improvement for Steve Sarkisian in Year Two and now appear like a real possibility instead of a fantasy at this point.

Long Live The "Fun Belt": Was there any conference, whether it be Power Five or Group of Five, that had a better weekend than the Sun Belt? It began with Marshall's shocking upset of No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend, a statement win for the program in their debut season in the league. Appalachian State quickly followed it up, as a 29-yard field goal with eight minutes left in the game proved to be the deciding factor over sixth-ranked Texas A&M. As if that wasn't enough, the Sun Belt had an epic conclusion, with Georgia Southern finishing off the Scott Frost era in Lincoln. It was quite the impressive trio for a conference that continues to rise in prominence. Just a decade ago, the Sun Belt looked like it may be dying but now, it has a real chance to challenge the American Athletic for Group of Five supremacy.

It Was Fun, Scott Frost: For the rest of the Big Ten West, that is. In fact, the entire Scott Frost tenure was a reminder of just how difficult it is to predict these types of things. He looked the ideal coaching candidate after his run at UCF, and was the prodigal son coming home to restore glory to his alma mater. Four-plus years later, he wraps up his time in Lincoln with a total record of 16-31 and a dismal 10-26 mark inside the Big Ten. It just didn't work out, but this certainly is not the end for Frost. He had a quick rise up the coaching ranks and was considered quite the innovative offensive mind before the Nebraska disaster. He is also just 47 years old, essentially a baby in the world of college football coaching, so it would not shock me if he is a hot name on the market over this offseason, especially for a Group of Five program that saw how quickly he turned things around with UCF.

Can Minnesota Take Advantage In The Big Ten West?: I'll admit there may have been some bias in my selection of Minnesota for the Big Ten West Title, but after two weeks, it's looking more and more realistic. Of course, there is an important caveat here; we don't know much about the Gophers as their first two games featured easy victories over New Mexico State and Western Illinois and we won't learn too much this weekend against an atrocious Colorado team. However, simply look at the rest of the division. Wisconsin and Iowa featured two of the worst offensive performances of the weekend in brutal losses, Nebraska now has an interim coach and are far from contention, Northwestern lost to Duke, and both Purdue and Illinois have lost league games already. This feels like a golden opportunity for the Golden Gophers, but is this the year P.J. Fleck and company can actually take advantage?

Weekly Awards

Offensive Helmet Sticker: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

After a quiet first weekend for Ohio State against Notre Dame, they seemed to take out some frustration in Week Two. They went for 538 yards in a 45-12 drubbing of Arkansas State, even after resting their starters most of the second half. C.J. Stroud took full advantage, throwing for six touchdowns, but I found the most impressive player on the field to be wide out Marvin Harrison Jr. The son of the former NFL legend was absolutely unstoppable, catching seven passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. It was a true coming out party for a receiver that many have long thought could assert himself as a household name in 2022. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba likely out for another week or two, it presents an opportunity for Harrison continue racking up the statistics and set himself up as an early Biletnikoff favorite.

Defensive Helmet Sticker: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas

Drew Sanders had flashed plenty of upside during his time at Alabama, but through two games at Arkansas, he's been the best player on the field. He was particularly dominant during Saturday's victory over South Carolina, notching 11 tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss. It seemed that everywhere a Gamecock turned, Sanders was in position, helping hold South Carolina to just 40 yards rushing on 29 attempts. He has injected a new energy into this Arkansas defense, helping Barry Odom's crew transform from a good unit to a potentially elite one, pushing them into the forefront of SEC West contention.

Team of the Week: Marshall Thundering Herd

The reality of 2022 is that Notre Dame is a very flawed football team, one likely to hover around 7-8 wins in Marcus Freeman's first season, if even that. Even so, that doesn't take away from Marshall's major victory over the weekend. Not once did the Thundering Herd appear scared of the moment, but instead went into Notre Dame Stadium and outplayed one of the sport's most recognizable brands. A pair of former transfers, Henry Colombi and Khalan Laborn, fueled the offense, but it was the defense that sealed the deal for Charles Huff's team. A pair of interceptions, including one brought back to the house by Steven Gilmore, sealed the victory, one of the greatest in program history. This was no fluke either; this has long been one of the Group of Five's most consistent programs and they should be in the thick of things in the Sun Belt Title race.

"Small-School" Team of the Week: Georgia Southern Eagles

This wasn't the first time Georgia Southern pulled off a win over a blue blood down on their luck (ahem, 2013 Florida), but Saturday's upset of Nebraska deserves all the credit. It wasn't just that the Eagles went into Lincoln and ended the Scott Frost era, but how throughly they did so. Led by Buffalo transfer Kyle Vantrease at quarterback, Georgia Southern torched the Blackshirt defense to the tune of 642 yards, even with two turnovers. They also battled adversity along the way; after a go-ahead score from Casey Thompson looked like it may doom their upset hopes, the Eagles drove right down the field and scored with less than a minute remaining. There's still plenty of work to be down for first-year head coach Clay Helton, but this win certainly got the fans on his side to begin his tenure.

My Top 25

Current Rank                    Last Week

1. Ohio State Buckeyes        (1)

2. Georgia Bulldogs            (3)

3. Alabama Crimson Tide    (2)

4. Clemson Tigers                (4)

5. NC State Wolfpack           (5)

6. Arkansas Razorbacks        (8)

7. Oklahoma Sooners            (9)

8. Michigan Wolverines        (10)

9. USC Trojans                    (12)

10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons    (11)

11. Miami Hurricanes        (13)

12. BYU Cougars                (17)

13. Utah Utes                    (16)

14. Tennessee Volunteers    (18)

15. Michigan State Spartans    (19)

16. Cincinnati Bearcats        (20)

17. Minnesota Golden Gophers    (21)

18. Texas A&M Aggies        (6)

19. Oklahoma State Cowboys    (24)

20. Oregon Ducks                (25)

21. Coastal Carolina            (NR)

22. Kentucky Wildcats           (NR)

23. Baylor Bears                (15)

24. Ole Miss Rebels            (NR)

25. Oregon State Beavers    (NR)

Receiving Votes: Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Marshall Thundering Herd, Penn State Nittany Lions, Appalachian State Mountaineers, Kansas State Wildcats

Dropped Out: Notre Dame (#7), Florida (#14), UCF (#22), Wisconsin (#23)

2022 College Football Picks: Week Two

Blake Shapen, Baylor

Current Picks Record: 7-2

Upsets: 1-0

Superdogs: 1-0

Locks: 0-1

(#1) Alabama Crimson Tide @ Texas Longhorns

Line: Alabama -20.5

O/U: 65.5

After beating up on a pair of Group of Five schools during the first weekend, two of the sport's most significant brands collide in Austin. Of course, both programs enter at different points; Alabama has been one of the most dominant dynasties in college football and doesn't look to be slowing anytime soon, while Texas is hopeful Year Two of the Steve Sarkisian era can finally be the breakthrough they've been waiting for the last decade.

It's hard to take too much away from Alabama's throttling of Utah State last Saturday, as most of their top players didn't see much action in the second half. Reigning Heisman winner Bryce Young was unsurprisingly dominant, showcasing his running ability with 100 yards and a touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs added 93 more yards on the ground, while Young's top two receivers were Traeshon Holden and Kobe Prentice. The Longhorns will be more of a challenge, forcing Bill O'Brien to dive deeper into his playbook this week. I suspect the ground game will be featured heavily, with Gibbs, Jace McClellan, and Trey Sanders all set to play a role, but the passing attack will be interesting to watch. All offseason, we've wondered who was going to step up at receiver now that Jameson Williams and John Metchie are gone, but the opening week didn't give a clear indication. I suspect Jermaine Burton will be a factor, but don't be shocked if former Louisville transfer Tyler Harrell is the breakout star of the game, assuming he's ready to go. Harrell missed the opener with a nagging foot injury, but his home-run ability is the type of thing that should open up this Tide offense. Whoever does step up out wide for the Tide on the perimeter, my greater concern if I'm Texas is at the line of scrimmage. This is a talented defensive line, but it didn't play up to that level last fall, and now faces an Alabama O-Line that absolutely mauls folks. If it's not competitive at the line of scrimmage, there's no way Texas hangs around in this game, no matter what magic they're able to engineer on the other side of the ball.

After coming out of the gates a bit slow to begin last week, the Longhorn offense seemed to find their groove in the second half, helping them hang 52 on UTEP. The Longhorns feature one of, if not the, nation's best backs in Bijan Robinson, who totaled 71 yards on 10 rushes a season ago. Robinson is the heart and soul of the offense, a workhorse tailback who can open up games. Even though he faces a Tide defense with a knack for shutting down elite rushing attacks, I have a feeling he'll still have strong production, particularly with a nice change-of-pace alongside him in Roschon Johnson. Quarterback Quinn Ewers is the wild card here; he arrived in Austin with plenty of hype after a one-year stint in Columbus, but he's thrown a total of 24 passes at the collegiate level. How does he handle a Tide defense that is not only loaded with talent, but will throw plenty of complex concepts at him? Texas does have a receiver corps that should have alleviate some of the pressure, with Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, but decision-making will be the key for Ewers. This is a defense that knows how to bait you into turnovers and once they smell blood in the water, they attack. However, my primary concern here for Texas once again is at the line of scrimmage. This is a super young offensive line facing off against a loaded Alabama defensive front, which includes superstar edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. How does the line handle a relentless 'Bama pass rush for the entire four quarters? No matter what type of weapons you boast on the outside, the Tide have a way of making these games all about the line of scrimmage.

If you decided this game based slowly off pure talent or how many blue-chip recruits each side featured, it would be a competitive game. Unfortunately, on-the-field these two teams are far, far apart, and I don't envision this one being particularly close. The Tide are simply too good, too strong, and too well-coached to lose this game, especially against a Texas program very much in transition. Frankly, if Steve Sarkisian is able to lead the Longhorns to a cover here, they should take that as a success.

The Pick: Alabama, 42 Texas, 17

(#9) Baylor Bears @ (#21) BYU Cougars

Line: BYU -3

O/U: 54

Considering kickoff is set for 9:15 PM ET, BYU-Baylor is not getting much national attention, but it is probably the best game of the weekend. The Bears have aspirations to repeat as Big 12 Champions and they could also be a CFB Playoff dark horse, while BYU is always a formidable foe and welcomes Baylor into Provo.

Both teams looked awfully impressive during the season's first week, with Baylor shredding Albany 69-10. Quarterback Blake Shapen looks like he will be an upgrade over the departed Gerry Bohanon, but the real story for the Bears was their dominance on the ground. They pushed around the Great Danes to the tune of 259 yards of rushing, averaging over six yards per carry. That will likely not be the case against BYU, a team that's always physical up front and tackles very well in open space. I suspect Baylor will look to open up the offense, but it will be curious to see who emerges on the outside. Monaray Baldwin was the big performer in Week One, with four catches for 84 yards and a score, but keep an eye on Hal Presley and sure-handed tight end Ben Sims. The strategic battle in this one is also going to be a fun watch, as Baylor OC Jeff Grimes was at BYU from 2017-2020. He knows BYU and head coach Kalani Sitake, which will set up a fun little chess match between the two teams.

While Baylor beat up on Albany, BYU cruised past a slightly stiffer opponent in South Florida, 50-21. While quarterback Jaren Hall played well, the Cougars also used their advantage at the line to punish USF, notching 312 yards themselves. Cal transfer Christopher Brooks looks like he's going to be a valuable addition to the Cougar lineup, averaging over 10 yards per rush, while receiver Puka Nacua also made some big plays on the ground. It won't come as easy against the Bears; this is a team with one of the nation's most underrated defensive lines, plus a terrific leader in the middle in linebacker Dillon Doyle. BYU is going to be forced to do more through the air in this one, but they learned some unfortunate news earlier in the week, when Nacua and fellow wideout Gunner Romney were ruled out for the contest. Those are important losses; Nacua is the most electrifying piece on this offense and Romney is their most sure-handed pass-catcher. BYU is hopeful names like Chase Roberts and tight end Isaac Rex can step up and contribute more in the playmaking category, but they do find themselves at a disadvantage here.

This feels like a true coin flip game. Prior to learning about the absence of Nacua and Romney, I was probably going with BYU at home, as LaVell Edwards Stadium is a brutal place to play a night game. Now however, Baylor seems like the smarter pick, especially considering they have a slight advantage at the line of scrimmage. Certainly not a game I'd be rushing to bet, but I think the Bears are the safer bet right now.

The Pick: Baylor, 24 BYU, 20

(#24) Tennessee Volunteers @ (#17) Pittsburgh Panthers

Line: Tennessee -6

O/U: 65

Pittsburgh started off life post-Kenny Pickett with a bang, defeating West Virginia in the thrilling return of the "Backyard Brawl". Their reward? Welcoming 24th-ranked Tennessee to town, a team fresh off a scintillating Week One performance.

Tennessee's recipe for success this season is no secret. They are going to roll with an explosive, up-tempo offense that chucks the ball all over the field, and hope their defense can make enough stops to win them games. The strategy certainly worked in Week One with a 59-10 throttling of Ball State, but not every team on their schedule is going to be Ball State. Even so, there's no denying how impressive they looked in the opener, with QB Hendon Hooker pulled from the game early after a casual 221 yards and two touchdowns. Hooker is one of my favorite players in college football, an electrifying quarterback who is absolutely fearless with the football. This could be the game where he sets himself up as a legit Heisman candidate and he knows Pitt well, facing off against them when he was at Virginia Tech. On the outside, names like Cedric Tillman, Jalin Hyatt, and Ramel Keyton will give Pittsburgh fits, but don't overlook this Vol backfield, which includes capable pieces like Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright. This is a tough matchup for the Panther defense; while they have a capable front seven, I have real concerns about how this secondary is going to hold up. They did a solid job in Week One against J.T. Daniels and WVU, but Hooker and this Vol offense is a whole different animal. They are going to play at breakneck speed and get the ball down the field, it's not crazy to think Pitt is going to have some real troubles in this one.

Pittsburgh deserves credit for overcoming West Virginia in the opener, but they are going to need more from this offense if they want to come away with a victory. Kedon Slovis had an impressive debut in his first game with the Panthers after transferring from USC, as he went for over 300 yards and completed 67% of his throws. He's not a quarterback that will take many risks, but is incredibly accurate and puts his team in a position to win. His receiver corps may not have a star like Jordan Addison this year, but Jerod Wayne and Konata Mumpfield are more than capable to handle the load. Add in hard-running back Rodney Hammond and this offense should have a good year, even if they aren't quite able to reach 2021's heights. The concern is the offensive line, which allowed five sacks to West Virginia and will face an aggressive Volunteer pass rush. Tennessee DC Tim Banks is going to bring the heat early and often; he will let up plenty of big plays, but is willing to take the risk considering what the Vols feature on the other side of the ball. Slovis is a fairly athletic quarterback, but even he isn't able to create with the defense breathing down his neck, such as the case often in Week One. 

This is another game I've gone back-and-forth on, because we simply don't know a ton about these two teams just yet. Pittsburgh may have beaten a better team in Week One and gets the Volunteers at home, but I'm going to go Tennessee here. Perhaps I'm foolish for being into the hype for a program that has regularly burned me, but they match up very well against Pitt and I trust Hooker more than Slovis.

The Pick: Tennessee, 41 Pittsburgh, 31

Other Picks

(#20) Kentucky @ (#12) Florida -- This was going to be my original upset pick considering a possible Florida hangover, but the absence of Christopher Rodriguez Jr. and several others make me wary going with the 'Cats.

The Pick: Florida, 28 Kentucky, 23

Washington State @ (#19) Wisconsin -- The Cougars were one of my dark horses heading into 2022 but they looked very underwhelming during the first weekend and now have to travel to Madison.

The Pick: Wisconsin, 30 Washington State, 17

Iowa State @ Iowa -- Iowa's horrific offensive showing was one of the stories of the season's first week and yet, they are still a much safer pick in the "Cy-Hawk" game, particularly in Iowa City.

The Pick: Iowa, 14 Iowa State, 10

Upset: Stanford over (#10) USC -- USC enjoyed so much hype over the offseason and I have little doubt Lincoln Riley will turn the program around but the reality is that this team is still figuring it out, and Stanford has had their number early in the season in the past.

The Pick: Stanford, 31 USC, 27

Superdog (covers > 21 point spread): Southern Mississippi (+25) @ Miami (FL) -- Miami shouldn't have too much difficulties with the Golden Eagles, but this is another team breaking in a bunch of new pieces and a brand new coaching staff early on in the season.

The Pick: Miami, 38 Southern Miss, 17

Lock of the Week (has to be a favorite): UCF (-5.5) vs. Louisville -- Perhaps Louisville's atrocious Week One performance was merely a fluke, but I still believe UCF is the better team and they welcome the Cardinals to Orlando.

The Pick: UCF, 35 Louisville, 21

2022 Post-Week One College Football Roundup

Stetson Bennett, Georgia

Although college football kicked off with a light slate of games on August 27, this past weekend was the true introduction of the 2022 college football season and boy, it did not disappoint. There was exciting game after exciting game and although the National Championship picture didn't undergo a massive shift, we got our first impressions of several top-tier contenders. In the midst of ongoing debates surrounding NIL, conference realignment, and playoff expansion, this weekend served as the perfect reminder of how great of an on-field product the sport remains.

Reactions & Thoughts

So, Georgia Is Still Really Good: If there was any question that wrestling a National Title away from Georgia was going to be difficult, this weekend was the answer. The Bulldogs pummeled Oregon to the tune of 49-3, providing the new Duck staff a rude welcome. It wasn't surprising that the defense remained stout, particularly going up against an Oregon offense with a bunch of question marks, but it was surprising just how tremendous the UGA offense looked. Stetson Bennett looked like a Heisman-esque quarterback and all the weapons on the perimeter showed out, sinking an Oregon defense that should be very good. If the Bulldogs can get consistency from an offense that dealt with injuries and a bunch of adversity in 2021, this team is genuinely terrifying and remains the National Title frontrunner.

Florida Will Be An SEC East Factor, But Pump The Brakes A Bit: The Florida Gators were one of the big winners of Week One, as Billy Napier and the new staff found a way to overcome seventh-ranked Utah in a thriller. There shouldn't be any denying how impressive of a victory this was for Florida, the Utes are a deep and experienced foe, but it's not time to overreact either. Utah outplayed the Gators for most of the game, even in a brutal environment in early September they weren't used to. Florida made the plays when it counted, including a tremendous showing from Anthony Richardson, but this is still a team with a lot of issues to iron out before they hit the meat of their SEC schedule. This upcoming Saturday will tell us a lot more about just how much of a contender Florida is, as they face off with Kentucky. The Wildcats weren't exactly impressive in their season-opening win over Miami (Ohio) but feature a skilled quarterback and play physical along the lines. 

The ACC Atlantic Is Going To Be Fun: I'm on record as saying the ACC Atlantic is one of, if not the, most underrated divisions in college football, and the first weekend demonstrated that there are going to be plenty of fireworks here. Clemson has regularly been the team to beat in the division this past decade, but their offensive woes appear like they could continue into 2022. NC State is going to be a tough out and they played a tough East Carolina team, but they realistically should have lost that game. Wake Forest pounded VMI and just learned they'll be getting QB Sam Hartman healthy. Then there's Florida State, who faced an LSU team that appeared wholly unprepared for the moment, but the 'Noles looked much improved. This is going to be a fascinating division race; even though Clemson is still the betting favorite, the Tigers are going to be tested once more in 2022. 

A Bad Couple Days For Special Teams: One of the largest storylines of the first week of college football? Just how absolutely atrocious some of the special teams play was. It kicked off Thursday, with the South Carolina State punter performing one of the weirdest plays I've seen ever in college football. Things continued into Saturday, with East Carolina missing an extra point that would have given them a tie game, then missing the go-ahead field goal as time expired, costing them a chance at one of the biggest upsets in school history over NC State. Onto Sunday, where LSU muffed several punts, had a field goal blocked, then had the game-tying extra point blocked, which doomed their chances of an impressive comeback. Amazingly, LSU Special Teams Coordinator Brian Polian was the lone coach on Notre Dame's staff who followed Brian Kelly from South Bend to Baton Rouge. It isn't a shock that special teams play was sloppy on the first weekend, as teams work out the kinks, but I suspect plenty of emphasis placed on this in practice over the coming weeks.

When Will The Coaching Carousel Start Spinning?: It may only be Week One, but that doesn't mean several big names didn't see their seats warm significantly over the weekend. Scott Frost's season-opening loss to Northwestern a week earlier than most put him in a precarious position, but it's more likely one of the ACC coaches that finds themselves out first. Louisville opened the year with a frustrating 31-7 loss to Syracuse and an impressive recruiting class may not save Scott Satterfield, while Georgia Tech lost to Clemson and faces down a brutal schedule the rest of the way.

Weekly Awards

Offensive Helmet Sticker: Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia

Stetson Bennett spent most of the offseason fighting off rumors that one of the younger guys on the UGA depth chart would overtake him in 2022. What did he do as a response? Simply by punishing a good Oregon defense (or so we believe) to the tune of 368 yards and two touchdowns, while adding one more with his legs. It felt like a statement game from Bennett; he was in complete control from start to finish and looked calm and confident as he picked apart the Ducks. There's still plenty of football to play and I don't want to overreact to one single performance, but it felt like the start of a special final season in Athens for Bennett.

Defensive Helmet Sticker: Jacoby Windmon, LB, Michigan State

Former UNLV transfer Jacoby Windmon was one of several players joining the Michigan State Spartans over the offseason as Mel Tucker and the coaching staff continue to work the transfer portal. Through one game, it's clear the defensive end/outside linebacker is here to make an impact. He was the best player on the field in MSU's 35-13 victory over Western Michigan, totaling seven tackles and recording a whopping four sacks. We always knew Windmon was talented, but it appears as though Michigan State DC Scottie Hazelton is going to fully unleash him this fall, a terrifying thought for opposing Big Ten teams.

Team of the Week: Georgia Bulldogs

This one is pretty self-explanatory, the Bulldogs faced the No. 11 team in the country and completely decimated them from the very first snap. I don't even think this was a case of Oregon being a bad football team or being unprepared; they got physically manhandled by a better team at the line of scrimmage and had no answers on how to stop the pass. It was quite the impressive encore from the reigning National Champions and they now get what is essentially a bye week this Saturday, when they welcome Samford into Sanford Stadium.

"Small-School" Team of the Week: Delaware Blue Hens

FCS over FBS upsets are a fairly common occurrence early on in a new season, but Week One was quiet at that front, with one notable exception. The Delaware Blue Hens went into Annapolis and pulled out a squeaker of a win over Navy, 14-7. This was far from a pretty game; neither offense could get much going with a combined 521 yards, but three turnovers from the Midshipmen proved to be the deciding factor in the upset. It wasn't a completely embarrassing loss from Navy, as Delaware has long been a respectable program, but does warm head coach Ken Niumatalolo's seat quite a bit, a guy who entered 2022 under some pressure.

My Top 25

Current Rank                        Preseason Rank 

1. Ohio State Buckeyes           (1)

2. Alabama Crimson Tide       (2)

3. Georgia Bulldogs                (5)

4. Clemson Tigers                   (6)

5. NC State Wolfpack             (7)

6. Texas A&M Aggies            (8)

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish    (3)

8. Arkansas Razorbacks           (9)

9. Oklahoma Sooners                (10)

10. Michigan Wolverines        (12)

11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons    (11)

12. USC Trojans                    (13)

13. Miami Hurricanes            (15)

14. Florida Gators                  (NR)

15. Baylor Bears                    (17)

16. Utah Utes                         (4)

17. BYU Cougars                  (18)

18. Tennessee Volunteers      (19)

19. Michigan State Spartans    (21)

20. Cincinnati Bearcats        (14)

21. Minnesota Golden Gophers    (21)

22. UCF Knights                    (22)

23. Wisconsin Badgers            (23)

24. Oklahoma State Cowboys    (24)

25. Oregon Ducks                    (16)

Receiving Votes: Coastal Carolina, Pittsburgh, Oregon State, Penn State, Ole Miss

Dropped Out: Coastal Carolina (#25)

2022 College Football Picks: Week One

Chris Tyree, Notre Dame

(#5) Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ (#2) Ohio State Buckeyes

Spread: Ohio State -17

O/U: 59.5

Week One matchups don't get much better than Ohio State and Notre Dame, two of the sport's greatest brands, squaring off in a Top 5 matchup at "The Shoe". The Buckeyes have National Title expectations, with an offense led by Heisman frontrunner C.J. Stroud, but don't expect Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish to go down softly. 

Stroud leads an Ohio State offense stocked full of weapons. Tailback TreVeyon Henderson is a leading candidate to take home the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back and the receiver corps is the best in the country, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Fleming, Marvin Harrison Jr., and more. The offensive line should also be solid, even as they say goodbye to a pair of program staples, Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere. The Buckeyes also have a distinct advantage facing a brand new Notre Dame defensive coordinator, former Miami head man Al Golden. With all that being said, the Irish defense has consistently been a strong unit over the past half-decade and I don't suspect much drop-off. Marcus Freeman may have moved from defensive coordinator to head coach, but his fingerprints will remain all over this Irish defense and this is a program that is very physical at the line of scrimmage. They boast an All-American candidate at defensive end in Isaiah Foskey and plenty of gap-shooters in the front seven who could make life difficult for Henderson and company. The secondary will be without superstar Kyle Hamilton, but the cornerbacks actually match up fairly well with this loaded receiver corps. Last year, it took the Buckeye offense some time to really get rolling in the opener against Minnesota and it wouldn't be a shock if that's the case once again, even if the talent on the field is overwhelming.

Even if Notre Dame is able to hang on the other side of the ball, they're going to need their offense to create some big plays if they are to spring an upset in Columbus. Tyler Buchner has officially won the quarterback competition and has shown flashes in his short Irish career up to this point, but the environment will be raucous. Expect the Irish to lean on their ground game, chiefly speedster Chris Tyree, as well as steady tight end Michael Mayer, my preseason John Mackey Award winner. The Irish are also strong on the offensive line and should be able to create some holes against a Buckeye defensive front that is awfully talented, but relatively short on proven products, at least yet. However, at the end of the day this game may come down to whether Notre Dame's receivers are able to make plays happen on the perimeter. While this program has become incredibly consistent, one of the most stable in the entire country, the lack of proven playmakers on the outside has doomed them in numerous big games. With veteran Avery Davis sidelined for the entire season with a torn ACL, the pressure is on for the other pieces in this receiver corps. Could youngsters like Lorenzo Styles or Deion Colzie step up and have a big game? Certainly, but I also suspect Ohio State's secondary to be vastly improved from the products they've put on the field over the last two seasons. I fear Notre Dame's offense is going to be bogged down if they can't open things up down the field, putting them in a nearly impossible position against the Buckeye offense.

I was a bit surprised how comfortably Ohio State is favored in this game, even as my preseason National Title pick and despite the fact they're playing at home. Notre Dame is going to give them a fight to open up the year, but the smart money remains on the Buckeyes. At the end of the day, they simply have too many weapons to face off against for a team like Notre Dame that is figuring out life post-Brian Kelly.

The Pick: Ohio State, 35 Notre Dame, 24 (Notre Dame cover)

(#11) Oregon Ducks @ (#3) Georgia Bulldogs

Spread: Georgia -17

O/U: 53

Georgia's National Title defense begins in Atlanta as they square off against their former defensive coordinator, Dan Lanning, and the Oregon Ducks. The game will feature two of the most talented rosters in the sport, but don't be shocked if it's a low-scoring affair. Both defenses should be awfully strong once again 2022, and the quarterback battle of Stetson Bennett vs. Bo Nix doesn't inspire much confidence that this one is going to be full of big plays.

Like most teams coming off a National Title, Georgia was hit hard by NFL defections, mainly on a defense that will go down as one of the best in college football history. The front seven in particular was gutted, with key pieces such as Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, Travon Walker, and more moving on. Even so, the Bulldogs are set to reload with blue-chip recruits up and down their roster and still boast several elite defenders. Jalen Carter appears set to be the next great Georgia defensive linemen and should challenge the veteran-laden Duck offensive line on the interior, while Nolan Smith wreaks havoc off the edge. The secondary also has a chance to be really good, with corner Kelee Ringo entering the year as a prime Jim Thorpe candidate and plenty of experience on the back-end. It's an awfully stiff challenge to begin the season for an Oregon offense that is still figuring out their identity as they replace a bunch of new faces. Not only are they breaking in a fresh new signal-caller, Nix, but also breaking in a new tailback in Byron Cardwell, but plenty of young pieces at receiver. Cardwell is the type of running back that could bust things open on offense, but how much success is he going to have against a stout Georgia defensive front? This is likely going to be a game where Oregon leans on defense and special teams to put them in strong field position and hope that Nix and company can engineer some magic.

On the other side of the ball, Georgia has a chance to be improved, particularly because they are much healthier than in 2021. At this point, we know who Bennett is as quarterback; he's a solid college QB who won't hurt your team, but won't necessarily win you a game. Fortunately, he won't have to, assuming the Bulldogs can get improved production from their receiver corps. Tight end Brock Bowers is the big name among the pass-catchers, but fellow tight ends Darnell Washington and Arik Gilbert will be matchup nightmares, while Adonai Mitchell and Arian Smith create down-the-field. There's more questions at running back than UGA is used to, but that doesn't mean there isn't talent. It wouldn't be shocking if either Kendall Milton or Kenny McIntosh use this opener as a coming-out party after having to sit behind Zamir White last fall. Oregon does feature proven stars at just about every level of defense, including Brandon Dorlus and Noah Sewell up front, plus the secondary should also be healthier from a year ago. But, can they create enough turnovers necessary to help swing the tide? For all his faults, Bennett is not a quarterback that turns the ball over very often, a tough break for a Duck team that will need some things to go their way if they are to go into the state of Georgia and pull an upset.

Oregon isn't built like your typical Pac-12 foe, as they have a physical nature and talent dynamic that reminds you more of an SEC foe than team from the Pacific Northwest. Yet, it's just hard to imagine them going cross-country and beating the reigning National Champions with so many new faces on the offensive side of the ball. I have a feeling this is going to be a low-scoring, defensive affair, but I still trust UGA more in that category.

The Pick: Georgia, 27 Oregon, 14 (Oregon cover)

(#23) Cincinnati Bearcats @ (#19) Arkansas Razorbacks

Spread: Arkansas -6.5

O/U: 52

The ND-OSU and Oregon-UGA games will dominate the attention on Week One, but don't forget about this intriguing battle between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Arkansas Razorbacks. Cincinnati broke through and made the CFB Playoff a season ago but like many, are replacing a bunch on both sides of the ball. Arkansas was one of the nation's biggest surprises in 2021, but was last year an aberration or the norm in Fayetteville?

Cincinnati will be without the winningest QB in program history, as Desmond Ridder is now on the Atlanta Falcons. Instead, the Bearcats will be rolling with either veteran Ben Bryant or untested, but talented, youngster Evan Prater. Bryant was the backup for several years before a one-year pit stop at Eastern Michigan, before coming back to UC. Prater is one of the highest-ranked recruits in school history, who has seen some action, but has never started at the collegiate level. Head coach Luke Fickell has yet to name an official starter, but my bet is that Bryant will be leading the first-team offense, at least to begin the year. Bryant's a solid college quarterback, but you do wonder how he'll fare against a well-coached, aggressive Arkansas defense. This isn't like the type of defenses he will see in the American Athletic, or what he saw in the MAC, Barry Odom has the 'Hogs flying all over the field. Tailback Ryan Montgomery will take some pressure off Bryant and the Bearcats do feature one of the nation's most underrated tight end combos in Leonard Taylor and Josh Whyle, but they are also breaking in a new OC in Gino Guidugli. I don't suspect they'll look much different than the group we saw under Ridder, a ball-control offense that was willing to take the occasional shot, but it is a difficult matchup to open up the year.

While Cincinnati is replacing a bunch of pieces, Arkansas had a fairly stable offseason, at least in the chaotic landscape of modern college football. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson is back under center and while he will miss Treylon Burks out wide, most of the other big names on offense return, as does play-caller Kendal Briles. The two-headed monster of Raheim Sanders and Dominique Johnson is a pain for any defense, even one as stout as Cincinnati, while Trey Knox is a problem at tight end. This could also be grounds for a breakout from Jadon Haselwood, once one of the nation's top recruits, and a player who battled through countless injuries while at Oklahoma. At some point, Haselwood's talent is going to shine through, and what better opportunity than against a Bearcat secondary that is losing both of their starting corners, including reigning Thorpe Award winner Coby Bryant. 

This feels like a game that could come down to K.J. Jefferson. I consider him one of the country's most under-appreciated signal-callers who could have a breakout season. He plays a Cincinnati secondary full of question marks and can also add an important element with his legs, which could be the spark Arkansas needs to overcome the Bearcats. It will be a tough, grind-it-out matchup, but I'm very high on the Razorbacks this year and have them coming out on top.

The Pick: Arkansas, 24 Cincinnati, 17

Other Picks

West Virginia @ (#17) Pittsburgh -- Two former USC quarterbacks (Kedon Slovis and J.T. Daniels) collide in the return of the "Backyard Brawl". Even though the game is in Pittsburgh, expect the WVU contingent to be rowdy, but the Panthers will be too much.

The Pick: Pittsburgh, 31 West Virginia, 17

Florida State @ LSU -- Brian Kelly's first LSU team is quite a mystery at this point, but one thing we know is that they'll be strong in the trenches. Expect them to overpower Mike Norvell's club, particularly in New Orleans.

The Pick: LSU, 24 Florida State, 14

(#4) Clemson @ Georgia Tech -- Could this Labor Day duel have upset potential? Unlikely, as the Clemson Tigers overpower one of the ACC's bottom-feeders.

The Pick: Clemson, 35 Georgia Tech, 13

Upset: Florida over (#7) Utah -- I'm clearly very high on the Utes this year, as I have them making the CFB Playoff field. But, going into "The Swamp" in early September is a disaster waiting-to-happen, particularly for a program not used to playing Southern schools. Plus, Anthony Richardson is the type of QB that could cause problems for the Utes.

The Pick: Florida, 28 Utah, 24

Superdog (covers > 21 point spread): Western Michigan (+22) @ Michigan State -- I don't envision a massive step-back for MSU in 2022, but they could be a bit slow out of the gate as they break in a new load of transfers. Western Michigan is a MAC frontrunner and people seem to forget they beat Pitt straight-up a season ago.

The Pick: Michigan State, 30 Western Michigan, 14

Lock of the Week (has to be a favorite): Boston College (-7) vs. Rutgers -- The Scarlet Knights may be feisty, but we don't know who their quarterback is going to be as they prepare to face a healthy Phil Jurkovec in Chestnut Hill.

The Pick: Boston College, 27 Rutgers, 17