Thursday
Temple vs. Central Michigan
Both teams had solid opening week wins over 1-AA opponents. It gets real this week. CMU won the MAC last season, but Temple gave it a go. Both teams have questions coming into the game.
Temple Notes: Bernard Pierce will get plenty of carries, but Central will stack the box to stop him. QB Chester Stewart will have to have a big game if the Owls want to pull of the win. Temple passed for 200 yards in the close win over Villanova last week, but he still made some serious and costly errors. WR Mike Campbell had 8 grabs for 127 yards, and scored on a 62 yard play. They'll need more of that to stay even with CMU, but CMU is awesome defensively.
CMU Notes: Dan Enos was the first HC at Central to win his debut since 1978. Ryan Radcliffe, a redshirt sophomore, played a solid 1st game as the new QB. CMU also picked up a shutout win to start the season, albeit against 1-AA Hampton. This week brings a huge challenge, but the defense should be up for the challenge. If CMU plays the game they are capable of, than they win.
Vegas Line: Temple -7.5
I pick: CMU
Central has the defense to stack Bernard Pierce up at the line, and to keep their passing game from getting on track. Temple is strong, but CMU is better than most teams would be after losing all that they lost.
Mississippi State vs. Auburn
The Bulldogs have a chance to show a national audience how much they may have improved by taking Auburn out in Starkville. Auburn is trying to show that they can compete at the highest levels of the SEC after a couple of "down" years.
MSU Notes: QB Tyler Russell was my QB of the week in 1-A when he completed 88% of his passes for 256 yards and 4 scorees last week against Memphis. The defense stood up incredibly well against the Tigers as well. Look for The Dogs to really open up their defensive scheme. Dan Mullen was the position coach of Cameron Newton before Newton left Florida, so MSU has a hand up in trying to stop him.
Auburn Notes: You had better find a pass defense, and fast. The MSU QBs were spot on all night against Memphis, and the Auburn secondary gave up 323 yards passing to Arkansas State. This has to be straightened out, and quickly.
Vegas Line: Auburn -2
I pick: Mississippi State
Yes I am going for two upsets on Thursday night. I went 72-10 picking straight up winners last weekend, so I am feeling gutsy.
Friday
West Virginia at Marshall
Marshall wasn't very good last week, and WVU got punched in the mouth constantly in a 31-0 win over Coastal Carolina. No matter what, WVU is still the better football team here, but they need to be more impressive than they were last week. This is the game that you will be watching if stuck on the throne with bad clams.
Houston vs. UTEP
This game has all of the makings of a major shootout. Donald Buckram will try to give it a go for the Miners after missing the opener against UAPB, but the real key will be QB Trevor Vittatoe shaking off the bad night that he had last week. Case Keenum is in prime form after week one for the Cougars, but still threw 2 picks in a huge win over Texas State. He needs to cut down on the turnovers if Houston has any asperations beyond a mid tier bowl in 2010.
Vegas Line: Houston -19.5
I pick: I would take Houston straight up, but the points are far too many, as when UTEP gets hot, they can score right there with the Cougars, who basically don't play defense.
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