WEEK TWO: OFF TO A FLYING START 

We kicked off the 2015 season going 6-2 in the first weekend of college action.

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We hit big on our UPSET SPECIAL with Northwestern knocking off Stanford in Evanston.

But we haven't learned our lesson yet as Nebraska choked on a last second hail mary pass to lose to BYU. The Huskers continue to frustrate. We pick them to win; they lose. We pick them to lose; they win. It's going to be awhile before we include Nebraska again in our Great Eight lineup.

We also missed out on the Arizona State-Texas A&M game as the Aggies showed off a much improved defense that muffled the Sun Devils. Looks like the hiring of John 'Chief' Chavis is already paying off for the Aggies. Look out SEC West.

This Saturday is a little thin on big marquee games but we think you'll find our line-up still has a few key games with national poll ramifications. And we've sprinkled in four UPSET SPECIALS to make it interesting.

 

Here's Your Weekend Winners for Week #2...The Great Eight™...

We can beat em by this much

#19 Oklahoma @ #23 Tennessee.... the Sooners make their very first trip ever to Rocky Top and they could greatly lift their profile with a big road win in Knoxville. Both teams have offenses capable of putting up points, setting the stage for an exciting matchup. Tennessee appears to have found a potent running game with Jalen Hurd (6'3, 220) and Bama transfer Alvin Kamara (from Norcross, GA) but the Vols defense is more than vulnerable (see last week's Bowling Green game in which they yielded 557 yds). The key for UT is too limit big plays by the Sooners and containing the OU Air Raid offense that put up 388 yds passing last week -- the most in a Sooner opener. No question that this game is important for Butch Jones to finally knock off a legitimate big boy team; no disrepect to Iowa whom Tennessee spanked in last season's bowl game. The Vols have lost 33 of the past 35 games against ranked teams.  Can the Big Orange finally deliver? We think so if they can shore up their secondary. In the UPSET, Tennessee trips Stoop's Sooners.  (memo to UGA: the SEC East will not be a gimme).


#7 Oregon @ #5 Michigan State...the Ducks have won three of the last five meetings with MSU, including a 46-27 win last year. But this year could be a lot different as the Spartan's qb Connor Cook will target a really young Oregon secondary and will be supported by a pretty stout run game. Key to the game is Sparty's ability to contain the Ducks' qb Vernon Adams who put up 340 yards of offense last week including 94 rushing yds. Put your cash on Michigan State. Spartans win in East Lansing in a close one.

I hate them cowbells

#14 LSU @ #25 Mississippi State....LSU fell victim last week to Mother Nature with their opening game cancelled due to lightning. Which means they are coming into Starkville without the benefit of a shake down game which is doubly important given that LSU is now going with Brandon Harris at qb. Meanwhile Mullen's mutts will be led by qb Dak Prescott who put up 309 yards of offense last week against Southern Mississippi. It's gonna be loud in Starkville. In an UPSET SPECIAL, the Cowbells will clang the Tigers.

Kentucky @ South Carolina....last week the Gamecocks gave up 440 yards in offense but benefited from big mistakes made by UNC qb Marquis Williams (3 INTs) and beat the Tar Heels. Meanwhile, the Wildcats squeaked past Louisiana-Lafayette to win their opener. Both teams desperately need to win if they wish to remain relevant in the SEC East. We suspect that Spurrier's visor will see a lot of action on Saturday as the Cocks struggle to beat the Cats. Take the Cocks in Columbia in a close one.

Iowa @ Iowa State.......the Cy-Hawk Trophy is on the line in the series that dates back to 1894. The Cyclones beat the Hawkeyes last season on a late field goal and has won three of the last four matchups, which have been decided by a combined 15 points. In another UPSET SPECIAL, the Cyclones win another over their instate rival. 

Wake Forest @ Syracuse....both teams won last week over low level cupcake opponents. So this game will be a better test to see if real improvements have been made. The Demon Deacons are hoping their offense will break out of the doldrums of last season in which they averaged just 40 yards rushing. Syracuse will be going with a freshman qb after losing their qb last week to an achilles tear. Not good. We're thinking that Wake can muster enough offense and defense to pull the upset. So, in an UPSET SPECIAL, Deacons dunk the Orange.

#9 Notre Dame @ Virginia....Malik Zaire played flawlessly last week as the Irish beat hapless Texas 38-3 in South Bend. Last week the Cavs were ripped for 503 yards in their loss to UCLA. This game will not go well for Mike London's UVA team as they face a pretty tough Notre Dame defense. Irish will win big in Charlottesville.

HC Bobo at the helm with Rams

Minnesota @ Colorado State...this may very well be the first time we have ever included either team in the Great Eight lineup. But this is Mike Bobo's first legitimate test as the new head coach with the Rams and his wide open offense racked up 65 points last week, albeit against Savannah State. The Golden Gophers showed they can hang with the stronger teams as they barely lost 23-17 to TCU, but they sputtered on offense. They could be in trouble tomorrow. UPSET SPECIAL...Rams edge the Golden Gophers.

Let's check back next week and see how we fared. Best of luck this Saturday.

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