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Friday, September 21, 2007
The Fearless Friday Forecast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thanks to big wins by Kentucky and Alabama, we were 8-2 in last week’s Fearless Friday Forecast, That’s 21-8 on the season. Let’s give it another shot.
1. Georgia at Alabama: Bama posted the first big win of the Nick Saban era last week by scoring late to beat Arkansas. The best news for Georgia is that its biggest weakness, a young offensive line, will be matched with Alabama’s biggest weakness, an undersized defensive front. The edge goes to Georgia because Alabama’s game last week was so draining. Georgia 31, Alabama 27.
2. Georgia Tech at Virginia: Last Saturday Georgia Tech faced the best quarterback it is going to see all year in Matt Ryan of Boston College. Virginia is having some quarterback issues as Jameel Sewell may be benched in favor of true freshman Peter Lalich. RB Tashard Choice is a little dinged up but looks like he’ll go. Won’t matter. Georgia Tech has not won in Charlottesville since 1990. Won’t matter. Georgia Tech 24, Virginia 14.
3. Kentucky at Arkansas: Kentucky just posted one of the biggest wins in school history by beating No. 9 Louisville. Arkansas got beat at the buzzer at Alabama in a game that had fans second guessing coaches and officials. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks is making his first ever trip to Fayetteville, Ark. All the signs point to the Hogs but I’ve got a feeling about this Kentucky team. Kentucky 34, Arkansas 30.
4. South Carolina at LSU: South Carolina’s Head Ball Coach knows exactly how he wants to play this game. He wants his defense to play lights out and hold the score down. Then he’ll figure out a way to get a late field goal to steal the game. There is one problem. The LSU defense is not going to cooperate. It will be a long night for South Carolina QB Blake Mitchell. LSU 35, South Carolina 7.
5. Clemson at N.C. State: The only question here is whether or not Clemson QB Cullen Harper of Alpharetta can keep the hot hand. In three games Harper has completed 72.5 of his passes for 10 TD and no interceptions. But Harper has yet to make a start on the road. He’ll do fine. Clemson goes to 4-0 and gets ready for next week’s trip to Georgia Tech. Clemson 28, N.C. State 17.
6. Florida at Ole Miss: You gotta wonder if the Gators were as good as Tennessee made them look last week. If they are, then expect Florida to roll up the style points in Oxford, even with the early start (11:30 a.m., local time). Florida 45, Ole Miss 10.
7. New Mexico State at Auburn: Auburn really can’t afford to look past anybody right now. The Tigers need for something positive to happen before next week’s trip to Florida. Coach Tommy Tuberville will use two quarterbacks, hoping to find one who can take care of the football. Auburn has 10 turnovers in its last two games. Auburn 28, New Mexico State 10.
8. Maryland at Wake Forest: Quarterback Riley Skinner returns for the Deacons after sitting out the last two games with a bad shoulder. Wake Forest, the defending ACC champions, needs this one to avoid an 0-2 start in the conference. They will get it. Wake Forest 21, Maryland 17.
9. Michigan State at Notre Dame: Coach Charlie Weis said his Irish (0-3) were going back to training camp this week. What he found when camp restarted was something he knew in August: Notre Dame doesn’t have any playmakers. Michigan State has won five straight games at South Bend. Today the Spartans will make it six. Michigan State 24, Notre Dame 10.
10. Penn State at Michigan: Michigan (1-2) finally got in the win column last week against Notre Dame but the problems on the defensive side of the ball are still there. Penn State’s three opponents to date (Florida International, Notre Dame, Buffalo) are a combined 1-8. Still the Nittany Lions look like a team that can win the Big Ten. Penn State 17, Michigan 14.
