Mack's NCAA Football Week 2 Picks

After a fairly successful run on picking winners last week (8-2), I venture out and pick ten more games for Week 2 of the NCAA football season. Here we go:

Wisconsin vs. Fresno St.
Spread: Wisconsin (-9)
O/U: 53

Comments: I like Coach Pat Hill and all that he has going on in Fresno. I think this will be a tough hard fought game, but at the end, Wisconsin's offensive line and running game will be too much and they'll put away. Wisconsin 27-17.

Florida vs. Troy
Spread: Florida (-36)
OU: 59

Comments: Much was made of Troy this season. Even with NFL stars in recent years in DeMarcus Ware, Osi Umenyora, and Leodis McKelvin, many called this the best team that current head coach Larry Blakeny has had at Troy. And then they go out and lose the first game of the season last week. It would help if they could upset the Gators. But neither I, nor does anyone else outside of the Troy program, believe that will happen. Florida wins but Troy keeps it "relatively" respectable. Florida 42-7.

TCU vs. Virginia
Spread: TCU (-11)
OU: 41

Comments: TCU is a really really good football team. They play good smashmouth football on offense and hard nosed defense. And their defense is pretty fast. I think this is Virginia Head Coach Al Groh's last season as the head of the Cavaliers, especially after taking it on the chin from William & Mary last week at home to open the season. TCU wins 34-10.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan
Spread: Notre Dame (-3)
OU: 49

Comments: Both rebuilding but storied programs looked good last week to open the season. I liked what I saw from Jimmy Clausen and Michael Floyd against Nevada. But I also liked what I saw from the two Michigan QBs. Even though the most important number in the Notre Dame game was ZERO (the number of points their defense allowed), I don't think much defense will be played in this one. I think Clausen picks apart Michigan's defensive backs and Forcet and Robinson run circles around Notre Dame's defense. Home field is the deciding factor in this one. Look for a Miami/FSU type atmosphere and finish in this one. Michigan 28-27.

Tennessee vs. UCLA
Spread: Tennesssee (-9)
OU: 45

Comments: Two very good offensive minds in Lane Kiffen and Rich Neuheisel. I think we'll see a ton of points scored and I think the young Tennesse team will outlast the young Bruins based purely on the talent differential. Tennesee 31-21

Alabama vs. Florida International
Spread: Bama (-34)
OU: 48

Comments: After opening the season with a very good Virginia Tech team, Bama hosts what looks to be a cupcake. This won't be a situation where all of Bama's starters get pulled by halftime, though. QB Greg McElroy has exactly one career start (and even that is in question, because their first play from scrimmage was in the wildcat formation). So he needs as much game experience as possible, blowout or not. Same goes for the offensive line. Maybe there will be more starters on defense taken out to get some younger guys some looks, and they may surrender one late TD. Bama 45-10.

LSU vs. Vanderbilt
Spread: LSU (-14)
O/U: 45

Comments: LSU looked very suspect last week on defense and while QB Jordan Jefferson's final numbers looked good, he looked shaky at times. I think LSU wins, but Vandy its own.
LSU 38-24.

Georgia vs. South Carolina
Spread: UGA (-7)
O/U: 38

Comments: These teams combined to score 17 points last week. So nothing jumps out at me that says this will be a shootout. Georgia because of tentative and conservative play calling. And South Carolina because Steve Spurrier is playing power football (?!?!). Add on top of that, that there are conflicting reports about whether or not Joe Cox will start @ QB. Many reports came out today that said backup QB Logan Gray will start, citing tendonitis in Cox's shoulder. Then ANOTHER report surfaced that said Cox is fine. Bottom line, if you're betting STAY AWAY from this game. Even with all the uncertainty, UGA wins 16-10.

Auburn vs. Mississippi St.
Spread: Auburn (-14)
O/U: 42

Comments: Last year Auburn won 3-2...yes...a football game. But both teams have been infused with the spread offense. Auburn by Gus Malzhan (who's responsible for Arkansas's Wildcat success) and Dan Mullens (Offensive Coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer). So I think we'll see many more points scored this year. The only difference is that MSU still has a long way to go in upgrading talent. Auburn 17-13.

Ohio St. vs. USC
Spread: USC (-7)
O/U: 45

Comments: I'm baffled that the line's only giving USC 7. They're going to DESTROY Ohio State. True enough, USC is starting a fresham QB, but they've got two studs at running back (which showed to be OSU's weakness last week) and they're defense is still lightning fast (which has shown to be their weakness for the past 5 years!) Won't be close. USC 56-21.

So my picks this week are as follows:

Wisconsin
Troy
TCU
Michigan
Tennessee
Alabama
LSU
Georgia
Auburn
USC

We'll review next week.