NCAA Week 2 picks

I acknowledge this is posting late (I've had a hectic week on campus!), but I assure you that the Friday night picks were made before the games started!

I will not pick every single FBS game on the schedule (you wouldn't want to read a column that long!).  I will discuss games played by my Top 25 teams, all Big Ten teams, and any other interesting matchups that I see.

First off, some changes due to Hurricane Irma.  Some start times have been changed to noon to give fans a chance to flee the dangerous areas.  The Florida International Golden Panthers now travel to Birmingham to play Alcorn State, and that's happening Friday night.  These games have been cancelled:  Memphis at #16 UCF Golden Knights (after being moved to Memphis), #23 South Florida Bulls at UConn Huskies, Miami Hurricanes (now an ironic team name) at Arkansas State Red Wolves, and Northern Colorado at Florida Gators.

Friday Sept 8th
#8 Oklahoma State Cowboys at South Alabama Jaguars:  This one will be very one-sided.  The Jags' defense will keep it from getting out of control in the first half, but the winner will be obvious very early.  OKLAHOMA STATE

Ohio Bobcats at Purdue Boilermakers:  Purdue may have lost last week, but they proved that their offense is powerful!  They should overwhelm the Bobcats and gain their first win for the season.  PURDUE

Saturday Sept 9th
Fresno State Bulldogs at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide:  This one may be over in the first half.  ALABAMA

#2 Stanford Cardinal at #19 USC Trojans:  Second consecutive test for the Trojans, and it's against a tough conference opponent.  Sam Darnold proved to be human last week, but he can still move the ball.  This should be an offensive showcase.  STANFORD

#12 Auburn Tigers at #3 Clemson Tigers:  A non-conference battle of Tigers pits the Auburn defense against the Clemson offense.  I think the latter has the edge, but this game will be closer than Clemson fans would like.  CLEMSON

#6 Oklahoma Sooners at #4 Ohio State Buckeyes:  Some national analysts are picking the Buckeyes to fall, but they fail to understand that the Buckeyes' first week performance is typical, and helped solidify their squads.  They will play better this week; of course, they have to against the Sooners.  Oklahoma relies too much on Baker Mayfield, who will be pressured by the Ohio State pass rush.  OHIO STATE

Pittsburgh Panthers at #5 Penn State Nittany Lions:  This in-state rivalry won't provide much difficulty for the Nittany Lions.  PENN STATE

Florida Atlantic Owls at #7 Wisconsin Badgers:  The only Southern Florida team playing this weekend has to travel to Camp Randall Stadium and get upended by the Badgers.  At least the players are getting complementary housing so that they don't have to travel back to stormy Florida.  BADGERS

#18 Georgia Bulldogs at #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  Georgia may be capable of the upset, but I don't think the Irish will allow that to happen.  NOTRE DAME

Chattanooga (FCS) at #10 LSU Tigers:  No brainer.  LSU

Cincinnati Bearcats at #11 Michigan Wolverines:  Michigan didn't have much problem with Florida last week, so Cincinnati won't cause them to break a sweat.  MICHIGAN

Montana (FCS) at #13 Washington Huskies:  Unlike LSU, at least Washington picked a former FCS Champion to host.  Montana might threaten early, but the Huskies should win this one fairly easily.  WASHINGTON

Western Michigan Broncos at #14 Michigan State Spartans:  The Broncos pushed USC nearly to the breaking point last week.  Michigan State doesn't have USC's offense, but their defense is tougher.  Let's see how Western Michigan faces that pressure.  MICHIGAN STATE in a possible squeaker

#15 Iowa Hawkeyes at Iowa State Cyclones:  Iowa State often gives Iowa fits, but the Hawkeyes look solid this year, so expect Iowa to emerge victorious here.  IOWA

Tulane Green Wave at #17 Navy Midshipmen:  No team consistently runs the ball better than Navy, and that can exhaust opposing defenses.  NAVY

Delaware (FCS) at #20 Virginia Tech Hokies:  Easy win for the Hokies, but it won't help their Top 25 position.  VIRGINIA TECH

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at #21 UCLA Bruins:  I don't think they'll need a miracle comeback this week, as they shouldn't trail in the second half at all.  UCLA

Indiana State (FCS) at #22 Tennessee Volunteers:  Depending upon how teams who play their first FBS team this week finish, the Vols might lose their Top 25 position despite a win.  TENNESSEE

Towson (FCS) at #24 Maryland Terrapins:  Same issue here, and they are further hampered if Texas loses again this week.  MARYLAND

#25 Northwestern Wildcats at Duke Blue Devils:   The Wildcats should win this one.  Duke had a couple of good years not long ago, but they are falling back to their traditional lower-tier position.  NORTHWESTERN

Indiana Hoosiers at Virginia Cavaliers:  Another Big Ten-ACC match-up goes to the Big Ten.  INDIANA

Eastern Michigan Eagles at Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  This one might go to the Scarlet Knights, although the MAC teams always play the Big Ten tough.  RUTGERS

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Oregon Ducks:  The Big Ten had a phenomenal week last week, and so far I've picked the Big Ten in all games.  Until now.  The Cornhuskers don't look sharp, and the Ducks offense can confuse the best of defenses, which doesn't include Nebraska.  OREGON

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Illinois Fighting Illini:  Lovey Smith has the Illini looking better.  The Hilltoppers can be a tough team, but I think the Illini might pull this one out.  It should be an exciting fourth quarter!  ILLINOIS

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Oregon State Beavers:  Unfortunately, it looks like the state of Oregon will dominate the Big Ten this week.  OREGON STATE

Louisville Cardinals at North Carolina Tar Heels:  Louisville expected to do better last week, while the Tar Heels held their own.  If the Cardinals aren't careful, this one could go to the home team.  LOUISVILLE

Howard (FCS) at Kent State Golden Flashes:  Kent State looked pretty bad last week.  If they don't improve, Howard could beat their second FBS team in a row.  HOWARD