 |
| HOME | PRICE GUIDE | STORE | SPORTS | BUSINESS | NEWS/UPDATES | CONTACT | ARCHIVES |
NCAA College Football 2006 Week 2 Picks
|
DTMagazine Home
|
Fearless Rick's NCAA College Football Week 2 Picks - Early Games
Rick Gagliano | 9/6/06
For games of 9/7 - 9/9/06
After starting off the season 6-0, I got caught on a few of the later games and ended the week with a still-respectable 7-3, though I really thought Miami's 10-3 half time lead was going to hold up. Their loss meant ending the week on a down-note, but batting .700 has to be considered pretty good in just about anybody's book. On to week two...
All times Eastern - Click here for late Saturday games
Thursday, September 7
7:30 pm - Oregon State at Boise St. (-8, 59.5) - Boise St. is unusually tough on their blue home carpet and they normally take on a couple of major conference schools each season. Last year, they lost all four big games - on the road vs. Georgia, Oregon State and Fresno St., and on their own turf in the MPC Computer Bowl, 27-21 to Boston College. They lost by a mere 3 points to Oregon State last season, 30-27, and the Broncos seek to avenge that loss and keep their record perfect.
Both squads are loaded with offensive talent, as the Beavers pounded Eastern Washington 56-17 last weekend while Boise was laying it on Sacramento St. 45-0. This should be a very wide-open, high-scoring affair, but it will be close at the end. The Beavers will stay in throughout and maybe pull off the upset.
Prediction: Boise State 42 Oregon State 38
8:00 pm - Pittsburgh (-8 1/2, 44) at Cincinnati - Both teams come off impressive home wins last week and are poised make waves in the Big East, the Rodney Dangerfield of conferences (no respect). Admittedly, Pitt's 38-13 mauling of Virginia was a better effort than Cincy's 31-0 blowout of patsy Eastern Kentucky. While the Bearcats get the home field, the Panthers, led by QB Tyler Palko (a legit Heisman candidate) should prevail, especially if they cover kicks a little better than normal. Their defense is also one of the better units in the conference and they may be thinking about a major bowl down the road.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 27 Cincinnati 14
12:00 pm - Virginia Tech (-12, 41 1/2) at North Carolina - Last season, the Tar Heels were shamed by the Hokies in their season finale, 30-3, and North Carolina limped home 5-6.
Last week's struggle against Rutgers did not inspire much confidence as they lost to a team they were supposed to beat, 21-16. But this one is at home, and the Heels certainly don't want to start out 0-2. Virginia Tech may not be quite the same team as last season without Marcus Vick, though they won their opener against Northeastern quite handily, 38-0.
Call that game a tune-up for the Hokies and consider the numerous scoring opportunities squandered by North Carolina last week (the score could easily have been 31-21, the other way) and the potential for an upset is evident. I'm calling for Carolina to shock the world here, but even if they don't, they won't be humiliated.
Prediction: North Carolina 19 Virginia Tech 17
The Eagles are really up against it vs. Clemson this week. The Tigers were a scary bunch last year, losing only 4 games by a total of just 14 points to Miami, Georgia Tech, Boston College (16-13) and Wake Forest. They started off with a win over Florida Atlantic 54-6, and begin their quest for the ACC title without QB Charlie Whitehurst, who graduated with 46 school passing records. Will Proctor can throw the ball well enough, but running backs Reggie Merriweather and James Davis, who combined for 168 yards last week, will carry the day for the Tigers. The defense will probably not allow more than two BC scores.
Prediction: Clemson 35 Boston College 14
3:30 pm - Penn State at Notre Dame (-8, 47) - Once again, nobody really knows how good the Nittany Lions are. Joe Paterno is back once again, after surprising most of the college world with a stunning 11-1 season in 2005. Penn State opened last week with a rain-soaked win over Akron, 34-16, in which their new starting QB, Anthony Morelli, was 16-32 for 208 yards and 3 TDs. The defense was good, especially effective against the run, but the Nittany Lions hope this Saturday game will be on more solid footing. Beaver Stadium more resembled a marsh than a football field last week.
Of course, the Fighting Irish come off last week's marquee matchup at Georgia Tech with a 14-10 victory in which both teams had trouble moving the ball at times. For the Irish, it was most of the first half. For Tech, they stalled badly in the second stanza as the Irish defense stood them up time and again.
This is going to be a little different. Penn State will be more disciplined on defense and better at controlling the ball and the clock. Notre Dame might be a bit more efficient as well, though their passing game still seems to have lost some of last year's stride.
The Irish aren't going to repeat last season's heroics. They have a rough schedule and it doesn't get any rougher than right here. Enough noise about the Irish's national championship dreams; Penn State will put all that talk to rest.
Prediction: Penn State 27 Notre Dame 24
All times Eastern - Click here for late Saturday games
Don't be fooled. Get the best for less. Just click below and include your game request in the message field. You will be emailed top-flight analysis by Fearless Rick within 3-12 hours of your request.
Sign up for the Back Issue Price Guide newsletter to receive updates and special sale info.
Subscribe by entering your email address:
|
Onsite Sports Links
NFL Schedule
NCAA Football Schedule
MLB Baseball Schedule
NHL Schedule
NBA Schedule
NASCAR Schedule
NCAA Basketball Schedule |
Don't see the game you need info on? Get exclusive analysis of any upcoming football game by email direct from Fearless Rick !!! You'll get stat and player analysis, plus in-depth team matchup info from a 25-year analysis veteran with high standards for integrity and quality insight.