The long wait for college football was all worth it after all, as Week 1 delivered a ton of exhilarating action on the field. Will Week 2 be able to equal the thrill provided by the opening-week salvo of games?
Read on for the five best NCAA football games to watch in Week 2, which includes a heavyweight bout between Michigan State and Oregon and another that features Michigan and Notre Dame.
Top Five Games to Watch in Week 2 of College Football
Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Boston College Eagles (Friday, September 5)
Line: Pittsburgh Panthers at Boston College Eagles – see all NCAAF lines
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Both the Panthers and Eagles are coming off wins to open their season; Pittsburgh pounded the Delaware Blue Hens on their way to a decisive 62-0 victory, while Boston College was barely challenged in its 30-7 win over the Massachusetts Minutemen in Week 1.
However, those games can be considered as mere warm-ups for the upcoming meeting this Saturday.
Most of the attention in this game will be on the matchup of dual-threat quarterbacks in the Panthers’ Chad Voytik and the Eagles’ Tyler Murphy.
Writer’s prediction: It’s going to barnburner with Pittsburgh carving its second win of the season, and first in the conference.
Michigan State Spartans vs. Oregon Ducks (Saturday, September 6)
Line: Michigan State Spartans at Oregon Ducks – see all NCAAF lines
If the Rose Bowl weren’t one of the national semifinals for this year’s inaugural College Football Playoff, as explained in detail here, Michigan State vs. Oregon may well have been the classic Big 10 vs. Pac-12 matchup. But they may still meet in the Rose Bowl this year given both teams are certainly capable of earning inclusion to the final four.
Oregon’s offense, led by Heisman candidate Marcus Mariota, showed why it was one of the best in the business in their 62-13 shellacking of South Dakota. Connor Cook didn’t look too bad himself as he led the Spartans to a 45-7 romp of Jacksonville State. But can Sparty’s revamped defense handle Mariota and the offensive machine that is Oregon?
Writer’s Prediction: Mariota and Oregon prevail at home.
East Carolina Pirates vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (Saturday, September 6)
Line: East Carolina Pirates at South Carolina Gamecocks – see all NCAAF lines
All the high hopes for Top 10-ranked South Carolina came crashing down as they suffered a humiliating 52-28 beatdown at home to Texas A&M. Sophomore Aggies QB Kenny Hill burned the Gamecocks defense for over 500 yards passing in his first game as a starter.
Steve Spurrier’s squad will have to recover quickly for the visit of East Carolina, who demolished NC Central 52-7 in their Week 1 matchup. Senior quarterback Shane Carden, who finished seventh last season in total passing yards ahead of Johhny Manziel and Jameis Winston, had 283 yards and three TDs in his first game of the year.
Writer’s Prediction: South Carolina recovers to pummel the Pirates.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Saturday, September 6)
Line: Michigan Wolverines at Notre Dame Fighting Irish – see all NCAAF lines
This game between two of most storied rivals in college football will be the last one of the decade, and both teams will be coming into it on the strength of dominant Week 1 wins.
The Wolverines’ running game powered them to a 52-14 win over Appalachian State, while the Everett Golson had five touchdowns in his return to lead the Fighting Irish past Rice, 48-17. However, the Irish may still be without as many as five of their players, who were suspended in the opener against Rice due to an ongoing investigation regarding academic dishonesty.
If the Irish do remain shorthanded, they’ll need another epic performance from Golson, who is definitely capable of providing it.
Writer’s Prediction: Golson lifts the Fighting Irish past the Wolverines at home.
Create a betting account now and cash in on the looming college football wars.
USC Trojans vs. Stanford Cardinal (Saturday, September 6)
Line: USC Trojans at Stanford Cardinal – see all NCAAF lines
Nearly a year after the Trojans scored a monumental upset win over bitter rival Stanford, one that knocked the Cardinal off the race for a spot in last season’s BCS National Championship Game, the two teams meet again.
Stanford’s revamped defense will be in for a tough test in this game as they welcome the Trojans, whose offense was firing on all cylinders when they beat the Fresno State Bulldogs, 52-13. The Cardinals won in their season opener too against the UC Davis Aggies, 45-0.
Writer’s prediction: The Trojans dominate Stanford to get their second win in a row.
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