This article covers predicted College Football Top 5 week #2 and top 5 upsets. Week #2 is right around the corner and that means more non-conference and conference matchups. Time to continue a weekly cadence of highlighting the best games to watch. Also determining the potential upsets lurking below the radar. Hard part about doing this exercise in 2021, is trying to determine if any of the 2020 trends will continue. 2020 was the season of partial team schedules due to Covid-19 impacts, all players getting an extra year of eligibility and transferring schools without having to sit one season.
2021 Week 1 Picks Recap
Top 5 games to watch – 3/5 correct thanks to Georgia, Alabama and Notre Dame
Top 5 upsets that could happen = 2/5 correct thanks to Michigan State and Virginia Tech
Overall picks – 5/10 which makes me “Even Steven” in Seinfeld talk
College Football Top 5 Week #2
5. Washington vs. Michigan
Late kickoff (8:00 PM EDT) from Ann Arbor, MI. Huskies laid a big egg at home last weekend losing to Montana from the Big Sky Conference. Wolverines looked good against Western Michigan, but they lost their #1 WR Ronnie Bell for the season due to a knee injury. Most memorable matchup between these two teams was at the 1992 Rose Bowl, with a share of the national title that was claimed by the Huskies. Jim Harbaugh may have to change his typical game attire from khaki pants to dark blue sweatpants.
Prediction: Washington gets the memo that the PAC-12 is actually improved this season and wins by 4 points, putting Harbaugh directly on the hot seat
4. Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee
Early kickoff (1:00 PM EDT) from Knoxville, TN. Two coaches who should be getting more publicity due to coaching their players the right way to play football (Pat Narduzzi and Josh Heupel). Even though this is considered a “lower tier” ACC vs SEC matchup, it’ll be a very entertaining game. From a television broadcast perspective, seeing 102,445 fans in orange and white gear at Neyland Stadium will help to forget the empty stadiums of 2020.
Prediction: Close game until the fourth quarter, when Pitt starts to use a lot of clock on offense with a resurgent running game and wins by 10 points
3. Utah vs. BYU
Late night kickoff (10:15 PM EDT) from Provo, UT. Rivalry that dates back to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) before the Mountain West Conference (MW) was formed in 1999. Utes used to be considered the Cougars little brother, due to BYU’s national title in 1984 and LaVell Edwards head coaching career until retiring in 2000. Utes have quietly built a juggernaut program in Salt Lake City, UT due to an incredible coaching tree of Ron McBride, Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham. After beating Alabama in the 2008 Sugar Bowl, Utah made the correct move to the PAC-12 and has been stockpiling NFL talent on a yearly basis.
Prediction: Will be a free-wheeling game on offense for both teams and Utah wins by 14 points
2. Iowa vs. Iowa State
Late afternoon kickoff (4:30 PM EDT) from Ames, IA. Biggest football game in the state of Iowa since 2016 when Iowa beat #2 ranked Michigan on 11/12/16. Great in-state rivalry that is typically won by the home team. Hard to believe Kirk Ferentz is in his 23rd season as head coach of the Hawkeyes. No matter the outcome of this game, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell is moving up the ranks in head coaching circles due to players buying into his play calling and motivational techniques.
Prediction: Best game of the day, will be close late in the fourth quarter and the Cyclones win by 7 points
1. Oregon vs. Ohio State
Early kickoff at 12:00 PM EDT from the Horseshoe in Columbus, OH. Last time Oregon played a regular season road game at a Big Ten school was Michigan State on 9/12/15, and lost 31-28. Ohio State hosted a PAC-12 team on 9/1/18 and smoked Oregon State 77-31. All of the talking heads will be discussing this matchup and how the Ducks will find some roster depth due to the leg injury to star Kayvon Thibdeaux. Buckeyes are licking their chops any time the PAC-12 comes to Columbus.
Prediction: Ohio State wins by 14+ points and shows why they are a perennial contender for the College Football Playoff
College Football Top 5 Upsets that might happen
5. Texas vs. Arkansas
Longhorns looked impressive last week against Louisiana in Steve Sarkisian’s head coaching debut. Arkansas hasn’t been a competitive team since 2010-2011. The Bret Bielema years blended into the Chad Morris off ramp, and now Sam Pittman gets to try and mold a respectable Hogs roster in the SEC West. This game used to be played at Jerry Jones’ stadium in Dallas, TX. I just think the Razorbacks will push the Longhorns this weekend and make this an uncomfortable matchup.
4. NC State vs. Mississippi State
ACC vs. SEC matchup in Starkville, MS. Wolfpack has copied the New York Giants offensive model of the late 2000s with a thunder (Ricky Person Jr.) and lightning (Zonovan Knight) backfield. Bulldogs have a tendency to be forgotten in the crowded SEC and are tough to beat at home. Main problem is the second year coach for MSU, Mike Leach. Leach’s musings on ESPN Gameday during his tenure at Washington State were entertaining, but his communication style and coaching results have been stagnating for some time. Wolfpack has a solid chance to make a statement road win this weekend.
First game in 2021 that will help determine which service academy (Air Force, Army, or Navy) wins the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. Troy Calhoun runs a solid program with the Falcons and would be a natural fit on the sideline in Boulder, CO if the timing is ever right. Ken Niumatalolo was handed the head coaching reins from Paul Johnson in 2008 and has turned the Midshipmen into annual bowl game contenders. Both of these schools stand for much more than football and will be playing in an old-fashioned stadium in Annapolis, MD. Air Force won easily 40-7 in 2020, but Navy will be ready on Saturday.
2. California vs. TCU
Golden Bears lost a close game to Nevada last weekend, 22-17. Horned Frogs have been trending down the past three seasons, going 6-4 (2020), 5-7 (2019) and 7-6 (2018). Gary Patterson is in his 21st season at TCU and the rest of the Big 12 is catching up to his program. For some reason, Cal will be faxed the PAC-12 memo that the 2021 season is different for the entire conference. They’ll give the Horned Frogs fits all afternoon in Fort Worth, TX.
1. Stanford vs. USC
A college football dynasty ended at the Los Angeles Coliseum on 10/6/07 when Stanford beat USC, 24-23, despite being 41 point underdogs. Cardinal and Trojans have played fourteen times since the 2007 game, with Stanford winning eight of those games. Trojans haven’t trended positively on a weekly basis since late in the 2011 season. Trojans also seem to take at least one game off in September for whatever reason. Due to the statistical analysis of this rivalry, the Cardinal will put Clay Helton in the hot seat yet again. Hopefully Mike Bohn has a backup plan for the USC football program.
Same bat time, same bat channel next week. I’ll review the results of College Football Top 5 week #2 and try again in week #3.
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