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Friday, September 7, 2007
The Fearless Friday Forecast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was a tough opening week for the Fearless Friday Forecast. Tennessee flew all the way out to the West Coast to get its butt kicked. Wake Forest was burned by a hot quarterback (BC’s Matt Ryan). N.C. State waited an entire half before starting to play (against UCF). And Duke was, well, Duke.
That’s 6-4 out of the gate. We’ll try to do better this time:
1. South Carolina at Georgia: To hear Steve Spurrier tell it, South Carolina has just quit giving scholarships and has reduced football to a club sport. His praise for Georgia has been effusive. His concern about the Gamecocks has been substantial. If you’re a Bulldog, you should be very, very concerned because the Head Ball Coach is up to something. I’m going to go with Georgia but I’m telling you, I have a very funny feeling about this game. Georgia 28, South Carolina 27.
2. Samford at Georgia Tech: The objective today on The Flats is to get as many people as possible into the game without getting anybody hurt. The Yellow Jackets showed what they could do last week in South Bend. Now it’s time to get ready for the ACC schedule, which starts next week with Boston College. This will be a good day to let Taylor Bennett work on the passing game. Georgia Tech 42, Samford 7.
3. Virginia Tech at LSU: You shouldn’t read too much into Virginia Tech’s close win over East Carolina last Saturday. That was an emotionally draining day for Frank Beamer’s team and they played like it. The Hokies are bound to play better on offense tonight in Baton Rouge. It won’t matter. LSU’s defense belongs in another league and tonight we find out if the Tigers are really national championship contenders. It will be a low scoring game with hitting that is not for the faint heart. LSU 14, Virginia Tech 10.
4. Miami at Oklahoma: I know it was North Texas, but anytime you beat somebody 79-10, it’s time to pay attention. Oklahoma has a rookie quarterback in Sam Bradford who looks like he has a chance to be somebody. He’ll have his hands full with a gentleman named Calais Campbell, who is the best defensive end in the country. But Miami’s offense will struggle on the road and Randy Shannon will suffer his first loss as a head coach. Oklahoma 21, Miami 10.
5. Alabama at Vanderbilt: Last week’s 52-6 win over Western Carolina was a scrimmage for Alabama and new coach Nick Saban. Now we find out how Saban’s act will play on the road. Vanderbilt is a solid team that will not beat itself. Alabama will have to put up some points because its defense is going to struggle all season. Vanderbilt will play it close but Alabama will hold on and find a way to win. Alabama 24, Vanderbilt 13.
6. Southern Miss at Tennessee: It’s not often that Tennessee gets beat because the other team has better athletes but that’s what happened at California last Saturday. Tennessee missed 22 tackles on defense and that is simply unacceptable. This is a dangerous game for Tennessee with a trip to Florida coming up next week. It won’t be easy, but the Vols will figure out a way to win. Tennessee 24, Southern Miss 17.
7. South Florida at Auburn: The Tigers were very fortunate to beat Kansas State in the opener. South Florida is better. QB Matt Grothe and freshman RB Mike Ford (who originally committed to Alabama) give the Bulls a pretty potent one-two punch on offense. Auburn’s offensive line has to get better, period. QB Brandon Cox can’t take the beating he got last week. Auburn 27, South Florida 24.
8. TCU at Texas: Texas did not look like the Big 12 favorite last week against Arkansas State. I have to believe that the Longhorns were looking ahead to what is a very important non-conference game for both teams. TCU believes, and deservedly so, that it can run the table if it can get past Texas. And a 12-0 record that includes a victory in Austin makes the Horned Frogs a lock for the BCS. Still, Texas has more talent and talent will carry the day. Texas 31, TCU 20.
9. Notre Dame at Penn State: Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is still trying to recover from a truck named Tashard Choice that ran over his defense last week. In what appears to be a mild act of desperation, Weis will throw true freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen to Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions, giving Clausen his first college start. I just didn’t see a whole lot to build on last week against Georgia Tech. We’ll see. Penn State 27, Notre Dame 14.
10. Oregon at Michigan: This was not a good week to be Lloyd Carr and the only way to change the subject is to win on Saturday against the Ducks. Easier said than done. Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon runs an offense that is very similar to that of Appalachian State and Michigan hasn’t figured that one out yet. Needless to say there is a sense of urgency in Ann Arbor. Michigan 28, Oregon 21.
