Football Predictions (Week 2)

Once again, I present my predictions for this week's college football games. Predictions are made for games between teams in the Top 25, SEC teams, and Utah teams (Utah, BYU, Utah State, and Weber State). The opening line is used for the spread and can be found here.

Top 25
There are no games between teams in the USA Today Top 25 this week.

SEC Games

Troy at #6 LSU

Postponed in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

#24 South Carolina at Vanderbilt (+9)

Both South Carolina and Vanderbilt come off of solid wins in Week 1 and look to take a win here to start their in-conference slate with a bang. South Carolina continues its tradition of changing quarterbacks. Vandy will put up a better fight than NC State and should at least cover.

South Carolina 20 Vanderbilt 14 (Vandy covers)

Southern Miss at #10 Auburn (-17)

Auburn comes into this game with uncertainty at QB after a less than stellar offensive performance in the win over Louisiana-Monroe. Southern Miss laid over 50 points on Louisiana-Lafayette in their season opening win. Can USM pull off the upset? Not against the Auburn defense...

Auburn 21 Southern Miss 3 (Auburn covers)

Central Michigan at #2 Georgia (-23.5)

Georgia inexplicably fell from the #1 stop in the polls after a solid thrashing of Georgia Southern. Did this irritate the Bulldogs and will they relieve their irritation with a spanking of the Chippewas? Central Michigan struggled in their season opener against Eastern Illinois. So...

Georgia 40 Central Michigan 7 (Georgia covers)

Ole Miss at #20 Wake Forest (-8.5)

Both teams come into this game with big wins over inferior opposition. Ole Miss handled Memphis in what has typically been a close affair and Wake Forest laid it on Baylor. As I mentioned last week, I believe Ole Miss is a sleeper in the SEC with Houston Nutt at the helm.

Ole Miss 31 Wake Forest 28 (Ole Miss covers)

Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas (-14.5)

The Hogs escaped Western Illinois in Bobby Petrino's opener at Arkansas while UL-M fell to Auburn. While Arkansas will struggle mightily this season, I suspect they have enough in them to knock off the Warhawks.

Arkansas 34 Louisiana-Monroe 12 (Arkansas covers)

Miami at #5 Florida (-21)

The glory days of Hurricanes football seem like a distance memory. In what (ten years ago) might have been an epic showdown, Miami goes to Gainesville and receives a pounding.

Florida 49 Miami 14 (Florida covers)

Southeastern Louisiana at Mississippi State (No line)

Miss State being shocked by Louisiana Tech does not bode well for Sly Croom's hopes for another winning season in Starkville. SLU shows up at just the right time for the Bulldogs to try to get things back on track...

Mississippi State 28 Southeastern Louisiana 3

Tulane at #17 Alabama (-28)

After Alabama's dominating performance against Clemson last week, it might be tempting to don the Crimson-colored glasses. However, I've been burned far to many times by the Tide to go off and drink the Crimson Kool-Aid just yet. Will there be a letdown for Bama? Are the days of playing down to the competition over? We shall see...

Alabama 41 Tulane 9 (Alabama covers)

Games Involving Utah Schools

#15 BYU at Washington (+10)

The Huskies were hammered on the road at Oregon to open the season. Such happenings will probably guarantee the end of the Ty Willingham era at Washington. Expect another nail in his coffin...

BYU 35 Washington 14 (BYU covers)

Utah State at #16 Oregon (-34.5)

Lowly Utah State visits the aforementioned Oregon Ducks. This on the heels of a loss at also lowly UNLV. Not good for the Aggies...

Oregon 49 Utah State 3 (Oregon covers)

UNLV at #23 Utah (-22.5)

UNLV continues their tour of Utah schools with a trip to Salt Lake City. Utah returns home after a their huge win at Michigan. Don't look for a letdown here...

Utah 35 UNLV 10 (Utah covers)

Weber State at Hawaii (No line)

Weber State hasn't beaten an FBS (Division 1-A) opponent since 1993. Hawaii is certainly down on their luck after getting blasted by Florida (and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl). Can Weber shock the Rainbows? Maybe for a half...

Hawaii 38 Weber State 6