I'm one of these guys that isn't just willing to take success at face value. I always think that if something looks too good to be true, then it probably is. That's why after week 2, I'm really nervous about sitting here with a sparkling 22-2 record straight up. Oh, I know that I'm barely above water when it comes to the point spread, but if I can just wind up even there, I consider it to be a success. But before I get too full of myself, it's just week 2 and frankly, there haven't been too many opportunities for me to screw up yet. Where I could really get in trouble is if I were making predictions for the ACC. If college football isn't done with expansion yet, and I don't believe that it is, if I'm the AD at any Big XII north school, I'm campaigning for membership to their conference right now. Anyway, for the week I was once again 11-1 straight up and a much more respectable 6-4 vs the spread. For the year, I'm 22-2 and 10-9.
In Columbia, we may have seen some sign of a new legend being born as freshman Henry Josey rushed for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 7 carries. After the problems in week 1, it was a breath of fresh air. You have to remember it was against FCS competition and he's not likely to see the gaping holes he did this week, but speed is speed and this kid has it. Hoping to see him get the ball in space against better competition. There was no line in this game so I didn't have an opportunity to pad my statistics. However, the 50-6 final was only 5 points off from my prediction of 55-6. Next up will be a 6:00 pm matchup against San Diego State which also will come in a 2-0. It will also mark my first trip to Columbia since the spring game.
In Waco, Robert Griffin threw for 297 yards as Baylor rolled over Buffalo 34-6. My prediction was 37-17. The Bears move to 2-0, but things get much tougher next week as they travel to Forth Worth to face top 5 TCU.
Speaking of getting tougher, it got a lot tougher for Dan Hawkins and the Colorado Buffalos Saturday as they traveled to Berkeley to meet up with future Pac 12 rival Cal. The spread was 8 1/2 points and I didn't expect it to be that close as I had the Bears winning 37-17. The final was Cal 52, Colorado 7. Let's wratchet up the death watch for Coach Hawkins again.
Likewise for Iowa State, it was much different in week 2. The Cyclones traveled cross state to meet Top 10 Iowa as a 13 1/2 point underdog. This one was over by half time as the Hawkeyes jumped out to a 28-0 lead. I'd predicted a 38-21 win for Iowa and the final was 35-7. Next week ISU opens conference play a bit early as they meet K State at Arrowhead Stadium in Farmageddon 2.0.
I've had 2 losses straight up so far this year and both have involved my best buddies to the west, the kansas jayhawks. After losing to FCS opponent North Dakota State ( who lost yesterday to another kansas favorite, Northern Iowa) there was just no chance they could compete with # 15 Georgia Tech, right? Well, I along with most of America were wrong as the beaks held on for a 28-25 win over the Rambling Wreck. I'd predicted a 41-14 Tech win in this one. Next week the beaks travel to Hattiesburg to face 1-1 Southern Mississippi. I have no idea what the line will be for this one or who will win. We'll play it by ear and see what my gut tells me on Thursday.
In the other game this week that had no line, Terry Allen brought Missouri State to Manhattan to face Bill Snyder and the K State Wildcats. It wasn't much of a contest, but a bit more interesting than I expected as I predicted a 48-13 Wildcat win. The final was 48-24 K State. As I mentioned earlier, the Cats play Iowa State next week at Arrowhead in one of the two conference games that will be played.
In Lincoln, the Huskers opened as a 28 1/2 point favorite against the Idaho Vandals. I stated that I wasn't convinced of the effectiveness of the hicks offense and nothing happened yesterday to change my mind. I had corn nation winning but failing to cover 38-14. The final score was 38-17 but this included 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns and scores off 2 long TD runs. For the day Idaho threw 5 interceptions, while Nebraska had one picked off and only 111 yards passing. Nebraska also had 8 fumbles, losing 3 of them. No doubt they have some home run threats on the ground, but they're going to have to have some semblance of a passing attack once they enter Big XII play. Next up is a trip to Washington, which doesn't seem nearly as imposing as it did before the season started.
Probably the most impressive win of the day came in Norman where the Sooners entered as 9 point favorites against Florida State, yet another ACC pretender. I was fooled by OU's mediocre performance in week one and while I predicted the Sooners to win, I didn't expect them to cover. I had OU in a close one, 28-21, but they rolled to an impressive 47-17 win as quarterback Landry Jones threw for 380 yards and 4 touchdown against what was considered to be a stout FSU defense. Next week OU plays host to the Air Force Academy in one of the better schedules in Division 1 this year.
Another game I missed on the spread was played in Stillwater where the Cowboys rallied in the 2nd half to overtake Troy, 41-38. I'd predicted an Okie Lite romp 35-14 to cover the 11 1/2 spread and in hindsight I should have known better. Troy had beaten OSU as recently as 2007 and aren't intimidated by trips to BCS home fields. Next week the Cowboys host Tulsa so frankly, we're still not going to know much about them for a few more weeks.
My 3rd failure in the south happened in Austin where Texas failed to cover a 29 point spread again former Missouri OC Dave Christensen and his Wyoming Cowboys by winning 34-7. I had the Horns winning 41-10. They continue to struggle somewhat in the post Colt McCoy era but will continue to win. As I've said earlier, the Longhorn defense if big, fast and mean. Conference season opens for Texas next week as they travel to Lubbock to face Texas Tech, who were 52-17 winners against New Mexico Saturday night. This game was a winner for me as I had picked the Red Raiders to win 48-10 and cover a 23 1/2 point spread.
Texas A&M was an 18 point favorite against Louisiana Tech and I'd predicted a 38-14 Aggie win to cover. The final was 48-16 as they continue to put up impressive numbers against unimpressive opponents. Things don't change next week as 0-1 Florida International travels to College Station. I hope Mike Sherman isn't gaining too much weight from this cupcake diet he seems to be on this year. We really aren't going to know much about them until Sept. 30th when they travel to Stillwater to face the Cowboys.
I hope your week goes well and I'll see you around Thursday or so with my picks for next week.
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1.03.01
Good to hear we're causing you problems. I wouldn't have picked us either though.
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