2024 College Football - Week 2: When Worlds Collide
Sept 5, 2024 16:47:50 GMT -6
Funkytown likes this
Post by Uncle on Sept 5, 2024 16:47:50 GMT -6
In one particular episode of the hit TV sitcom, "Seinfield", George introduces a personal principal or "theory" that he strongly believes in called the "Worlds Colliding Theory", which can be summed-up with this: "it means that a man must keep his personal life (i.e., friends) separate from his relationship side (i.e., girlfriend). Should the two worlds come into contact with each other (by means of his girlfriend becoming friends with his friends), both worlds blow up." Of course, over the course of the episode, Seinfeld and Elaine befriend his girlfriend/fiancée Susan to the point where George's two worlds "collide", with disastrous (and often humorous) results...
While George was upset when his "worlds" collided, when two College Football teams of different "worlds" (ie, Power 4 Conferneces) collide with each other, fans can also get spectacular results; but unlike George, the results could very well be a spectacularly awesome game of College Football action that doesn't come around every weekend of the season...
...and that's just what we're going to get in Week 2: teams of different Power 4 Conferences "colliding" with each other on the field: SEC vs BIG10...BIG XII vs SEC...BIG10 vs BIG XII...SEC vs ACC...
When these Power 4 Conferences "collide", College Football fans come out as the winner....
Friday, 9/6 - Evening Game
BYU @ SMU - 7PM ET (ESPN2); spread is SMU -11.5 (BIG XII vs ACC)
While this game may not immediately jump out as a key game this weekend, it very well could be a key game for both teams this season, and for each of their Conferences. With FSU off to an 0-2 start (with both losses being Conference losses) and Clemson again sputtering, the ACC might be "wide open". Miami has certainly grabbed headlines with their Week 1 win @ Florida, but this could be a year in which another ACC team steps up, and SMU very well could be that team. The Mustangs were one of the "hotter" teams in all of 2023 and they've started off 2-0 in 2024 and while their ACC Conference games are still ahead of them, this inter-Conference matchup with BYU of the BIG XII could be pivotal when it comes time to decide who has the better resume for the 12-team Playoff field. On the flipside, BYU had a down year in their first year in the BIG XII in 2023 (they went 5-7), but they look to be "back" in 2024 and they won't be an easy out for SMU. The Mustangs sputtered during their Week 0 game @ Nevada before clearing the cobwebs last week vs an FCS team, and their firepower on offense should be able to win this one at home but this could also be a very good game and tune-up for the action-to-come on Saturday.
Saturday, 9/7 - Early Afternoon Games
#3 Texas @ #10 Michigan - Noon ET (FOX); spread is Texas -7.5 (SEC vs BIG10)
For the 2nd year in a row, Texas travels on the road to "collide" with a Top 10 team from another Conference and they would like nothing better than to repeat their Week 2 performance of 2023. Last season, the Longhorns went into Tuscaloosa and pulled-off a rare feat by beating a Saban-led Alabama team in Tuscaloosa, and that win propelled them for the rest of the season all the way to the Playoffs where they lost to Michael Penix, Jr. and Washington in the Semifinal. This is a rare matchup of these two College Football powerhouses - they are meeting for only the 2nd time ever and first in the Regular Season in what will likely be the biggest crowd in College Football this season at The Big House in Ann Arbor (the attendance could topple 110k). In a game of contrasting styles, it's strength vs strength as Steve Sarkisian's Texas offense (led by QB's Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning) collide with a stout Michigan defense that boasts NFL 2025 Rd 1 talents (DT's Mason Graham & Kenneth Grant, CB Will Johnson and S Rod Moore). Both of those strengths led the way in Week 1 as Texas romped Colorado St in Austin 52-0 while Michigan's defense led the way vs Fresno St 30-10, with CB Will Johnson returning an INT 86 yds for a TD. If Michigan is going to stand any chance in this game, their superstars on defense are going to have to come up big, and the Wolverine fans in Maize and Blue will need to rattle Ewers into mistakes. Texas won the first and only matchup between the two programs, a 38-37 thriller at the 2005 Rose Bowl, and it's quite possible we could get another one early on Saturday.
Arkansas @ #16 Oklahoma St - Noon ET (ABC); spread is Ok St -8 (SEC vs BIG XII)
This could be a sneaky-good game if the Battle at the Big House turns out to be a dud. Arkansas HC Sam Pittman is on the "hot seat" in Fayetteville after a really poor 4-8 season in 2023, but there is reason for optimism as they dipped into the transfer portal in the offseason and brought in former Boise St QB Taylen Green, who led the Razorbacks to a big 70-0 route in Week 1. While Oklahoma St relies on their ground game with RB Ollie Gordon, they won't find it quite so easy to run between the tackles against a stout Razorback interior DL. The game is in Stillwater which should favor the Cowboys in this one, but if the Pokes don't get beyond just leaning on Gordon to win them games, they could be finding themselves on the outside of the wide open BIG XII race, thanks to a rejuvinated Hogs team.
Saturday, 9/7 - Late Afternoon Game
Iowa St @ #21 Iowa - 3:30PM ET (CBS); spread is Iowa -3 (BIG XII vs BIG10)
The annual early-season "Battle of Iowa" game is the featured matchup in the late-afternoon slate on Saturday and you can bet that Funkytown will be tuned-in for this one. I don't think Vegas is completely sold that the Hawkeyes have an offense as they are only favored by 3, despite being the ranked team playing at home and winning 8 out of the last 10 meetings vs the Cyclones. Former Michigan QB Cade McNamara had a great Week 1 performance vs a "lesser" opponent (21-31, 251 yds, 3 TD's, 0 INT) and the Hawkeyes will need him to step up his game for them to continue to their recent domination of this rivalry series. The Cyclones are coming off a lackluster 21-3 win vs North Dakota in Week 1 and haven't had a solid season since they went 9-3 in 2020 (led by QB Brock Purdy, RB Breece Hall and RB Kene Nwangwu), but Iowa football fans remember the last Cy-Hawk Trophy game in Iowa City in 2022 when a poor Cyclones team (that went 4-8 that season) upset Iowa 10-7. The Cyclones will need that kind of low-scoring/slugfest type of game to win this one, too, but if there's anything we've learned about Iowa in the last few seasons is that Kirk Ferentz is all-too-happy to win low-scoring slugfests. Win this one, and Hawkeye fans will be looking ahead to their 10/5 date in Columbus vs Ohio St.
Saturday, 9/7 - Evening Games
Colorado @ Nebraska - 7:30PM (NBC); spread is Nebraska -7 (BIG XII vs BIG10)
Last year in Boulder, Shedeur Sanders was the only QB who threw for more than 300 yds against Nebraska's defense on-route to a 36-14 Buffaloes win. But this one isn't going to be played in Boulder; rather, it'll be played in front of 85k+ Husker faithful in a "Sea of Red" at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. And while the Huskers have been one of the unluckiest teams in College Football for the past 6-7 seasons (they kept finding ways to lose under former HC Scott Frost), there is renewed optimism in Husker nation under freshman 5-star phenom QB Dylan Raiola, who's already drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. ESPN had a big article on their front page on Thursday dedicated to Raiola that's worth checking out - link. Landing Raiola was a big win for Nebraska HC Matt Rhule, who's hoping that Raiola can turn things around in Lincoln in 2024-2026. So far, so good for Raiola as he looked the part in Nebraska's 40-7 Week 1 win over UTEP, going for 19-27, 238 yds and 2 TD's. On the flipside, Coach Prime is no stranger to "primetime" games under the bright lights, and that goes double for his son, Shedeur, who continues to look the part of an NFL-ready QB. But Prime's problem continues to be the rest of the team as his defense and OL struggled in their Week 1 squeaker over NDSU in Boulder and Nebraska should have the better defense again this year. Shedeur might very well throw for 300+ yds again, but the question remains: can the rest of the Colorado team around Sanders and his WR weapons step up? If not, let the Raiola-era begin in Lincoln.
#14 Tennessee vs #23 NC State - 7:30PM (ABC); spread is Tennessee -10 (SEC vs ACC) - game will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
Speaking of Freshman phenom QB's, Tennessee HC Josh Heupel has one, as well, in QB Nico Iamaleava. There was just as much offseason hype around Iamaleava in Knoxville as there was around Raiola in Lincoln and the Volunteers 69-3 Week 1 victory over Chattanooga showed us why: he went 22-28, 314 yds, 3 TD's and 0 INT's and looked like the 2nd coming of Hendon Hooker running Heupel's unique spread-style attack. But while Freshman QB's can show well vs FCS opponents, playing against a Top-25 opponent on the road is a whole other ballgame. The Wolfpack did sputter in their Week 1 home win vs Western Carolina, but the Wolfpack should be much better than they showed last week, especially with veteran QB transfer Grayson McCall at the helm, with standout transfer RB Jordan Waters behind him. As McCall showed during his time at Coastal Carolina, he's a "gamer" and he set the single-season record for passing efficiency in the FBS before Jayden Daniels broke it in 2023. While NC State has been known for a stout defense the last few seasons, I actually expect this one to be an exciting shoot-out style game between the Freshman Iamaleava and the veteran McCall and although Iamaleava appears to be more talented, I might tend to lean on a veteran QB playing in front of a home crowd. The Wolfpack are 1-9 against the SEC since 2008 and the Volunteers have won 6 of their last 7 against the ACC dating to 2012 — including a 35-21 win over NC State 12 years ago in a "neutral site" game similar to this one, although NC State should enjoy a home crowd advantage. The key for the Wolfpack will be controlling the clock and not falling too far behind early.
Saturday, 9/7 - Late Game
Bosie St @ #7 Oregon - 10PM ET (Peacock); spread is Oregon -21.5 (MWC vs BIG10)
In case you missed it, Boise St. Junor RB Ashton Jeanty is arguably the best RB in the nation and went for 267 yds on 20 carries with a whopping 6 TD's in the Broncos Week 1 game vs Georgia Southern. The Ducks had to work way too hard in Week 1 to pull out a win vs a scrappy Idaho team but QB Dillon Grabriel ended up accumulating big stats: 41-49 and 380 yds. The Broncos secondary isn't very good as Georgia Southern carved them up last week, but this MWC vs BIG10 collision game is worth staying up for, just to watch Jeanty and Gabriel. Also, with Boise St. one of the pre-season favorites to be the "Group of 5" Conference representative in the 12-Team Playoff field, it's entirely possible we could see this matchup again in December in the Playoffs.
While George was upset when his "worlds" collided, when two College Football teams of different "worlds" (ie, Power 4 Conferneces) collide with each other, fans can also get spectacular results; but unlike George, the results could very well be a spectacularly awesome game of College Football action that doesn't come around every weekend of the season...
...and that's just what we're going to get in Week 2: teams of different Power 4 Conferences "colliding" with each other on the field: SEC vs BIG10...BIG XII vs SEC...BIG10 vs BIG XII...SEC vs ACC...
When these Power 4 Conferences "collide", College Football fans come out as the winner....
Friday, 9/6 - Evening Game
BYU @ SMU - 7PM ET (ESPN2); spread is SMU -11.5 (BIG XII vs ACC)
While this game may not immediately jump out as a key game this weekend, it very well could be a key game for both teams this season, and for each of their Conferences. With FSU off to an 0-2 start (with both losses being Conference losses) and Clemson again sputtering, the ACC might be "wide open". Miami has certainly grabbed headlines with their Week 1 win @ Florida, but this could be a year in which another ACC team steps up, and SMU very well could be that team. The Mustangs were one of the "hotter" teams in all of 2023 and they've started off 2-0 in 2024 and while their ACC Conference games are still ahead of them, this inter-Conference matchup with BYU of the BIG XII could be pivotal when it comes time to decide who has the better resume for the 12-team Playoff field. On the flipside, BYU had a down year in their first year in the BIG XII in 2023 (they went 5-7), but they look to be "back" in 2024 and they won't be an easy out for SMU. The Mustangs sputtered during their Week 0 game @ Nevada before clearing the cobwebs last week vs an FCS team, and their firepower on offense should be able to win this one at home but this could also be a very good game and tune-up for the action-to-come on Saturday.
Saturday, 9/7 - Early Afternoon Games
#3 Texas @ #10 Michigan - Noon ET (FOX); spread is Texas -7.5 (SEC vs BIG10)
For the 2nd year in a row, Texas travels on the road to "collide" with a Top 10 team from another Conference and they would like nothing better than to repeat their Week 2 performance of 2023. Last season, the Longhorns went into Tuscaloosa and pulled-off a rare feat by beating a Saban-led Alabama team in Tuscaloosa, and that win propelled them for the rest of the season all the way to the Playoffs where they lost to Michael Penix, Jr. and Washington in the Semifinal. This is a rare matchup of these two College Football powerhouses - they are meeting for only the 2nd time ever and first in the Regular Season in what will likely be the biggest crowd in College Football this season at The Big House in Ann Arbor (the attendance could topple 110k). In a game of contrasting styles, it's strength vs strength as Steve Sarkisian's Texas offense (led by QB's Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning) collide with a stout Michigan defense that boasts NFL 2025 Rd 1 talents (DT's Mason Graham & Kenneth Grant, CB Will Johnson and S Rod Moore). Both of those strengths led the way in Week 1 as Texas romped Colorado St in Austin 52-0 while Michigan's defense led the way vs Fresno St 30-10, with CB Will Johnson returning an INT 86 yds for a TD. If Michigan is going to stand any chance in this game, their superstars on defense are going to have to come up big, and the Wolverine fans in Maize and Blue will need to rattle Ewers into mistakes. Texas won the first and only matchup between the two programs, a 38-37 thriller at the 2005 Rose Bowl, and it's quite possible we could get another one early on Saturday.
Arkansas @ #16 Oklahoma St - Noon ET (ABC); spread is Ok St -8 (SEC vs BIG XII)
This could be a sneaky-good game if the Battle at the Big House turns out to be a dud. Arkansas HC Sam Pittman is on the "hot seat" in Fayetteville after a really poor 4-8 season in 2023, but there is reason for optimism as they dipped into the transfer portal in the offseason and brought in former Boise St QB Taylen Green, who led the Razorbacks to a big 70-0 route in Week 1. While Oklahoma St relies on their ground game with RB Ollie Gordon, they won't find it quite so easy to run between the tackles against a stout Razorback interior DL. The game is in Stillwater which should favor the Cowboys in this one, but if the Pokes don't get beyond just leaning on Gordon to win them games, they could be finding themselves on the outside of the wide open BIG XII race, thanks to a rejuvinated Hogs team.
Saturday, 9/7 - Late Afternoon Game
Iowa St @ #21 Iowa - 3:30PM ET (CBS); spread is Iowa -3 (BIG XII vs BIG10)
The annual early-season "Battle of Iowa" game is the featured matchup in the late-afternoon slate on Saturday and you can bet that Funkytown will be tuned-in for this one. I don't think Vegas is completely sold that the Hawkeyes have an offense as they are only favored by 3, despite being the ranked team playing at home and winning 8 out of the last 10 meetings vs the Cyclones. Former Michigan QB Cade McNamara had a great Week 1 performance vs a "lesser" opponent (21-31, 251 yds, 3 TD's, 0 INT) and the Hawkeyes will need him to step up his game for them to continue to their recent domination of this rivalry series. The Cyclones are coming off a lackluster 21-3 win vs North Dakota in Week 1 and haven't had a solid season since they went 9-3 in 2020 (led by QB Brock Purdy, RB Breece Hall and RB Kene Nwangwu), but Iowa football fans remember the last Cy-Hawk Trophy game in Iowa City in 2022 when a poor Cyclones team (that went 4-8 that season) upset Iowa 10-7. The Cyclones will need that kind of low-scoring/slugfest type of game to win this one, too, but if there's anything we've learned about Iowa in the last few seasons is that Kirk Ferentz is all-too-happy to win low-scoring slugfests. Win this one, and Hawkeye fans will be looking ahead to their 10/5 date in Columbus vs Ohio St.
Saturday, 9/7 - Evening Games
Colorado @ Nebraska - 7:30PM (NBC); spread is Nebraska -7 (BIG XII vs BIG10)
Last year in Boulder, Shedeur Sanders was the only QB who threw for more than 300 yds against Nebraska's defense on-route to a 36-14 Buffaloes win. But this one isn't going to be played in Boulder; rather, it'll be played in front of 85k+ Husker faithful in a "Sea of Red" at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. And while the Huskers have been one of the unluckiest teams in College Football for the past 6-7 seasons (they kept finding ways to lose under former HC Scott Frost), there is renewed optimism in Husker nation under freshman 5-star phenom QB Dylan Raiola, who's already drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. ESPN had a big article on their front page on Thursday dedicated to Raiola that's worth checking out - link. Landing Raiola was a big win for Nebraska HC Matt Rhule, who's hoping that Raiola can turn things around in Lincoln in 2024-2026. So far, so good for Raiola as he looked the part in Nebraska's 40-7 Week 1 win over UTEP, going for 19-27, 238 yds and 2 TD's. On the flipside, Coach Prime is no stranger to "primetime" games under the bright lights, and that goes double for his son, Shedeur, who continues to look the part of an NFL-ready QB. But Prime's problem continues to be the rest of the team as his defense and OL struggled in their Week 1 squeaker over NDSU in Boulder and Nebraska should have the better defense again this year. Shedeur might very well throw for 300+ yds again, but the question remains: can the rest of the Colorado team around Sanders and his WR weapons step up? If not, let the Raiola-era begin in Lincoln.
#14 Tennessee vs #23 NC State - 7:30PM (ABC); spread is Tennessee -10 (SEC vs ACC) - game will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte
Speaking of Freshman phenom QB's, Tennessee HC Josh Heupel has one, as well, in QB Nico Iamaleava. There was just as much offseason hype around Iamaleava in Knoxville as there was around Raiola in Lincoln and the Volunteers 69-3 Week 1 victory over Chattanooga showed us why: he went 22-28, 314 yds, 3 TD's and 0 INT's and looked like the 2nd coming of Hendon Hooker running Heupel's unique spread-style attack. But while Freshman QB's can show well vs FCS opponents, playing against a Top-25 opponent on the road is a whole other ballgame. The Wolfpack did sputter in their Week 1 home win vs Western Carolina, but the Wolfpack should be much better than they showed last week, especially with veteran QB transfer Grayson McCall at the helm, with standout transfer RB Jordan Waters behind him. As McCall showed during his time at Coastal Carolina, he's a "gamer" and he set the single-season record for passing efficiency in the FBS before Jayden Daniels broke it in 2023. While NC State has been known for a stout defense the last few seasons, I actually expect this one to be an exciting shoot-out style game between the Freshman Iamaleava and the veteran McCall and although Iamaleava appears to be more talented, I might tend to lean on a veteran QB playing in front of a home crowd. The Wolfpack are 1-9 against the SEC since 2008 and the Volunteers have won 6 of their last 7 against the ACC dating to 2012 — including a 35-21 win over NC State 12 years ago in a "neutral site" game similar to this one, although NC State should enjoy a home crowd advantage. The key for the Wolfpack will be controlling the clock and not falling too far behind early.
Saturday, 9/7 - Late Game
Bosie St @ #7 Oregon - 10PM ET (Peacock); spread is Oregon -21.5 (MWC vs BIG10)
In case you missed it, Boise St. Junor RB Ashton Jeanty is arguably the best RB in the nation and went for 267 yds on 20 carries with a whopping 6 TD's in the Broncos Week 1 game vs Georgia Southern. The Ducks had to work way too hard in Week 1 to pull out a win vs a scrappy Idaho team but QB Dillon Grabriel ended up accumulating big stats: 41-49 and 380 yds. The Broncos secondary isn't very good as Georgia Southern carved them up last week, but this MWC vs BIG10 collision game is worth staying up for, just to watch Jeanty and Gabriel. Also, with Boise St. one of the pre-season favorites to be the "Group of 5" Conference representative in the 12-Team Playoff field, it's entirely possible we could see this matchup again in December in the Playoffs.
... and neither is this Chris guy.