AP Top 25 Released

The Preseason AP Poll was released over the weekend. Interesting to see LSU at #3. Wonder how much the loss of Tyrann Mathieu played a role in voters minds.

1.Southern Cal (25), 10-2, 1,445, 6

2. Alabama (17), 12-1, 1,411, 1

3. LSU (16), 13-1, 1,402, 2

4. Oklahoma (1), 10-3, 1,286, 16

5. Oregon, 12-2, 1,274, 4

6. Georgia, 10-4, 1,107, 19

7. Florida St. 9-4, 1,093, 23

8. Michigan (1), 11-2, 1,000, 12

9. South Carolina, 11-2, 994, 9

10. Arkansas, 11-2, 963, 5

11. West Virginia, 10-3, 856, 17

12. Wisconsin, 11-3, 838, 10

13. Michigan St. 11-3, 742, 11

14. Clemson, 10-4, 615, 22

15. Texas, 8-5, 569, NR

16. Virginia Tech, 11-3, 548, 21

17. Nebraska, 9-4, 485, 24

18. Ohio St. 6-7, 474, NR

19. Oklahoma St. 12-1, 430, 3

20. TCU, 11-2, 397, 14

21. Stanford, 11-2, 383, 7

22. Kansas St. 10-3, 300, 15

23. Florida, 7-6, 214, NR

24. Boise St. 12-1, 212, 8

25. Louisville, 7-6, 105, NR

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Who Should Be On "Upset Alert" Week 3

Jake Locker has his team ready for (3) USC

This is my weekly post on which 3 teams should be on "Upset Alert". Last week I was 3 for 3 on my calls! Let's see if we can have the same results.

Again these are the 3 teams that are favored to win their game, but I think will have a lot of trouble, won't cover the spread, or could possibly lose.


Arkansas (-2.5) against Georgia

Although Arkansas has a dynamic passing offense, led by transfer QB Ryan Mallett, and Georgia, recently, has not been playing like a top 25 team, you still have to go with the Dawgs here.

The game is in Fayettevile which is a cause for some concern. BUT this is still a very good Georgia team. Arkansas did win there opener, but that was against Missouri State. Georgia played at Stillwater and just last week hosted a pesky South Carolina team.

The Hogs are at the beginning of a tough 6 game stretch that includes:

Georgia, at Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, at Florida, at Ole Miss.

Also to consider, Mark Richt has never lost more than one game in an opponent’s stadium in a single season.

Look for Georgia's defense to step up big time in this game. Also, look out for AJ Green. He will have a monster game for the Dawgs.

Georgia wins big here.


Cincinnati (-1) against Oregon St

The beavers were killed by Cincy in their last meeting in '07, but this is a different Beavers team. In that game Oregon St QB Sean Canfield threw 3 INTs. This Saturday he will be looking for redemption.

Canfield will need help, and I believe the Rodgers brothers must be at their best, because it’s probably going to take a lot of points to win this game.

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football, and his fast paced no-huddle offense has been magnificent so far. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have an experienced senior QB like Tony Pike, who stands 6-6 225 pounds, and is throwing the ball about as good as anyone in the country.

This week is a big week for the Big East, see also West Virginia at Auburn. With a win here they can establish themselves as a league that belongs with the other big boys.

I think this will be a close game that can go either way, as the spread points out. But I like OSU's chances at home. Look for Jacquizz Rodgers to have a big game as well.


USC (-19.5) against Washington

Here is an interesting game. USC will be without Freshman phenom Matt Barkley. Which means Aaron Corp will be starting for the Trojans. USC's offense last week did not look impressive to me at all, I know they played a stout Ohio St defense but this is USC. Either way a very impressive win for USC last week.

Maybe the reason why the offense didn't look that great to me is because the Offensive Coordinator from last season, Steve Sarkisian, is now the Head Coach at Washington.

Washington looked very good in their first two games so far. Jake Locker has looked great in those two games. So far this season he has 574 passing yards and 5 TDs (also 1 rushing TD). 321 of those yards came against a very good LSU D.

The key here: USC is starting a new QB. Don't be suprised if Washington hangs in this game for 4 quarters. The spread, to me, is way to high. USC will NOT cover.

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Who Should Be On Upset Alert

Every week, I'll be giving my top 3 teams that I thnk should be on "Upset Alert." These are the 3 teams that are favored to win their game, but I think will have a lot of trouble, won't cover the spread, or could possibly lose.

Here are this weeks teams that should be on alert:

Oklahoma St (-15) against Houston

Here is an interesting match. Oklahoma St is at their best ranking since the Barry Sanders days. There were a lot of questions about their D coming into the season, but last week showed that they can play at a level that can help them contend for a Big 12 Championship.

Houston has scored over 40 points in 7 of their last 9 games. Also in last years bout, they put up 37 on OK St. They also have Case Keenum, who was the leading passer in the FBS (D1A) last season.

Oklahoma St's D is going to have to step up to cover this spread. Let's hope that they are still not high over last week's win against Georgia.


Notre Dame (-4 1/2) against Michigan

Where to start. Michigan's offense looked really good last week against Western Michigan. The 2 Freshman QB's, Forcier and Robinson, will have to step up big time this week as Notre Dame's defense will be a little tougher to contend with than a Broncos D who had to replace some key parts this off season. Michigan had 439 yds of total offense last week. Last season they only averaged 290 yds a game. A big improvement.

Notre Dame, also for that matter, also looked really good on offense last week. Clausen looked as good as any QB last week, but it was Neveda.

This game could go either way. But with the spread low, my gut tells me Michigan will win this one at the Big House. The last time my gut told me Michigan would beat ND, Michigan won 38-0.


LSU (-14 1/2) against Vanderbilt

The Tigers have a young quarterback and a younger defense, both of which are only going to get better with more game reps. Last week though, not so much. The defense gave up 478 yards against a Washington team that won 0 games last season. 157 of those yards were on the ground.

The only way Vanderbilt has a chance in this game is to keep the ball on the ground, keep the clock and chains moving, and slowly try to suck the life out of Tiger Stadium.

LSU should win this game easily, but the way the D played last week tells me Vandy has a small chance. LSU wins, Vanderbilt covers. Read more!

Week 2 Predictions

Here are my predictions on some of the big games during week 2 of the College Football season.

No. 19 North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0) vs. Connecticut Huskies (1-0)

North Carolina blocked three punts in a 38-12 win over the Huskies last season. UConn is trying to re-establish its Donald Brown-less offense under new coordinator Joe Moorhead. UNC returns eight starters as well.

North Carolina isn't in the top 20 for no reason. I think the Tar Heels' eight returning starters will be the factor in this game.

Pick: North Carolina

No. 20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0) vs. Michigan Wolverines (1-0)

The Wolverines overcame distractions to thump a Western Michigan team, who many believed would upset Michigan, in the Big House.

Notre Dame also impressed with a shutout victory over Nevada, who some believed would upset the Irish.

While both coaches have been under fire, it's Charlie Weis and the favored Irish who have non-negotiable expectations of a BCS berth, making this game more valuable to the Irish.

This game could be decided by only a touchdown or two, but I do believe that Michigan will pull off the upset and the downward spiral that has been Charlie Weis' coaching career at Notre Dame slowly begins to fade.

Pick: Michigan

UCLA Bruins (1-0) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (1-0)

Tennessee looked great in last years opener against the Bruins, but UCLA stormed back to upset the Vols in overtime. This year's UCLA team is lacking at the skill positions, but has the defense to compete in Knoxville.

The Vols showed that they know how to put up some big points last week, beating Western Kentucky 63-7. Regardless of who their opponent was last week, Tennessee proved to me that they are ready to surprise some other teams on their schedule. There offense could be very good in the near future. Lane Kiffin, as of right now, has this team going in the right direction.

I'm looking for RB Montario Hardesty, 160 yds and 1 TD last week, to have another big game. This game could be decided by around 10 points or so.

Pick: Tennessee

South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0) vs. No. 21 Georgia Bulldogs (0-1)

This series has been a defensive one recently, with Georgia managing just one offensive score in the past two seasons and the winner passing the 20-point mark just once in the past eight meetings.

It's also been a series of close games, with six of the past eight decided by a touchdown or less. The Gamecocks survived their first test against N.C. State, but Georgia needs this one badly after losing its opener to Oklahoma State last week.

I think The Bulldogs win this game by about two touchdowns.

Pick: Georgia

Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-0) vs. Auburn Tigers (1-0)

These programs (both now guided by first-year head coaches) could be battling for the cellar in the West division for the next several seasons.

The Bulldogs won at Auburn in 2007 for their first victory in this series since 2000, but last year managed just 116 yards in a 3-2 loss.

Mississippi State blew out Jackson State last week, 45-7. Auburn, though is definitely not Jackson State.

It will be a much more difficult task than expected for the Bulldogs to upset the Tigers in Auburn. I say the Tigers get good QB and running back play in this one as Auburn pulls one out.

Pick: Auburn

No. 3 USC Trojans (1-0) vs. No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)

Last season the final score was 35-3 USC. Ohio State controlled this game, for the most part, until a second-quarter pick-six sent the Buckeyes into the tank.

This season's rematch is at the Horseshoe, but the horrendous week one performance of Ohio State, and most of the Big Ten for that matter, doesn't inspire much confidence that the Bucks truly belong on the field with the seven-time defending Pac 10 champs.

Despite the game being played in the Horseshoe, I think this game could turn into another blowout led by a freshman quarterback in Matt Barkley.

Pick: USC

Extra Point

Alabama is playing their home opener against Florida International. FIU runs a spread passing attack and return more starters on offense than any other team on the Tide's schedule. Sophomore receiver T.Y. Hilton averaged over 25 yards per catch last season as well.

WITH THAT SAID

Alabama is coming off a very impressive victory over Virginia Tech. The Tide showed that there defense is one of, if not the best in the country, and there offense, who many had questions about, trucked out an impressive 498 yards against a very stout Tech D.

Look for this game to be out of reach by the third quarter and see some future playmakers for Alabama, like Trent Richardson and Star Jackson, get good playing time by the fourth.

Pick: Tide Roll over FIU

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