Week 1 of college football was a bang with plenty of awesome games. The second week figures to be even better headlined by a Saturday night matchup between the No. 7 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 5 Michigan State Spartans. There are plenty more crucial games coming with some conference matchups such as LSU vs. Mississippi State in the SEC. Read on as we take a look at the five best college football games to watch in Week 2 of the 2015 season.
Care for some more games to follow? Check out the previews for Hawaii vs. No. 1 Ohio State and Middle Tennessee vs. No. 2 Alabama for a look at the nation’s top two teams.
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The Top Five College Football Games to Watch in Week 2of the 2015 NCAA Season
Oregon Ducks vs. Michigan State Spartans
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing
When: Saturday, September 12, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Oregon Ducks (+3.5) at Michigan State Spartans (-3.5); 65.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
[sc:NCAA240banner ]The Oregon Ducks were a major offensive force in Week 1, putting up 61 points against Eastern Washington. The ground game was impressive, accounting for 485 yards and six touchdowns led by sophomore running back Royce Freeman (180 yards and three scores). Meanwhile, new starting quarterback Vernon Adams made a stellar debut for his new team, accounting for 350 total yards with two passing scores.
The Ducks’ defense did look vulnerable, allowing 42 points at home. They may find themselves struggling to contain a Heisman contender in Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook at East Lansing. Cook wasn’t at his best in the season opener though, going 15 for 31 for 256 yards with two touchdowns. But he has a defense who could keep the Ducks’ offense in check after collecting seven sacks against Western Michigan in Week 1.
Writer’s prediction: Cook shines as Michigan State wins and covers -3.5.
LSU Tigers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville
When: Saturday, September 12, 9:15 PM ET
Line: LSU Tigers (-4.5) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (+4.5); total 50.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Well that was a bummer. The No.14 LSU Tigers played just five minutes in their season opener against McNeese State before stormy weather led to the cancellation of the game. As a result, LSU failed to see sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris in action. Harris found a bit of success in an appearance against Mississippi State last season, going 6 for 9 for 140 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Harris has a chance to shine this week against a weakened Bulldogs secondary. The Tigers will also have an excellent running back in Leonard Fournette who broke the school freshman rushing record with 1,034 yards last year. Don’t count out the No. 25 Bulldogs just yet; they have a Heisman Trophy contender leading the way in Dak Prescott.
The senior quarterback torched LSU with 373 yards of total offense and three touchdowns last season. LSU’s defense has stayed mostly the same this season, while Prescott looked sharp in the opener. The Bulldogs quarterback accounted for 309 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a 34-16 win last week.
Writer’s prediction: Prescott makes it too close for comfort in a loss against LSU, covering +4.5.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville
When: Saturday, September 12, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-12.5) at Virginia Cavaliers (+12.5); total 48.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
No. 11 Notre Dame is legit! The Fighting Irish’s offense looks to be in safe hands with Malik Zaire under center as it put up 527 total yards against a talented Texas defense. Zaire was specatacular going 19 for 22 for 313 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Fighting Irish will miss one of their top weapons, though after last year’s top running back Tarean Folston tore his MCL in the season opener.
Zaire will have another tough defense to dissect the Virginia Cavaliers, who are tough outs at home in Charlottesville. Virginia allowed just 19 points per game in seven home outings last season. The Cavaliers are 5-2 SU/ATS in those seven home games.
Writer’s prediction: Notre Dame (-12.5) rolls to another big victory.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
When: Saturday, September 12, 6:00 PM ET
Line: Oklahoma Sooners (-2) at Tennessee Volunteers (+2); total 63.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
No. 23 Tennessee may have allowed plenty of points against unranked Bowling Green in a 59-30 victory in Week 1, but the Volunteers had plenty of offensive power to more than make up for it. The Vols were monsters on the ground with sophomore running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. Hurd had 123 yards and three touchdowns, while Kamara added 144 yards and two scores. Even quarterback Joshua Dobbs joined the party with 89 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The Vols’ passing defense was disappointing though, they allowed Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson to pass for 424 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. A leaky passing defense gives Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield a clear path to victory. He passed for 388 yards with three touchdowns in Oklahoma’s season-opening 41-3 victory over Akron.
Writer’s prediction: Mayfield passes for four touchdowns as Oklahoma (-2) wins a shootout.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores
Where: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville
When: Saturday, September 12, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Georgia Bulldogs (-21.5) at Vanderbilt Commodores (+21.5); total 50.0 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
The No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs had an explosive season opener, a 51-14 drubbing of UL-Monroe before a lightning storm stopped their offensive show. The Bulldogs remain a very strong running team with Nick Chubb powering the way. He rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in the season opener. Backup Keith Marshall also had an excellent game, rushing for 73 yards and two scores on 10 carries.
The running lanes may be left open for Georgia after Vanderbilt ranked 11th out of 14 SEC teams in rushing defense last season. They also allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns (23) in the SEC last season. Vanderbilt showed some ability to stop the run in the season opener, a 14-12 loss, limiting Western Kentucky to 1.6 yards per carry. Stopping Western Kentucky’s running game and stopping Georgia’s are two different propositions though.
Writer’s prediction: Georgia burns rubber on the ground as they cover -21.5.
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