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Now We Know.....

ECU Is A Real BCS Contender- ECU is for real, 2 wins over top 20 teams, that were each conference champs the season ago. Very impressive, and while they sort of stole one from Va Tech., they demolished West Virginia. What makes it even more surprising, is how there is no way West Va. was overlooking ECU, especially because 1, they have a bye week next, and 2, they had just come off of an upset, so they were riding high. ECU's defense was very good, especially at forcing turnovers, and realistically 11-1 or 12-0 looks like a solid regular season prediction. The last team to win 2 straight games over ranked teams was 2005 Notre Dame, and they ended up in the fiesta bowl. The Pirates no longer have a QB controversy either Patrick Pinkney has been dominant, no interceptions and 80% completion rate. The real question is can this team win out without a solid running game, if the defense plays as incredible as they did against West Virginia no question, ECU is a contender, and I think if there are no unbeaten teams aside from ECU, they deserve at least a shot at the national title.

Jake Locker Can't Do It On His Own- While Washington shouldn't have lost this game the way they did, BYU out played Washington. The Huskies defense is very average and especially in the secondary is at times hopeless. BYU racked up nearly 500 offensive yards, and to be honest any time you let your opponent go 12-14 on third downs as Washington did, it is very tough to win. While Locker was solid throwing for 200+ yards and 1 TD, and running for 62 yards and 2 TD's, he got little help with the rest of the team accounting for only 70 yards, it is clear that unless Washington gets some big improvements especially on defense this team will be limited to another 4-8 season and Ty Willingham will likely be on his way out. Nonethe less BYU can't make mistakes like fumbling on the goalline as they did today against UCLA, but they are a solid team especially offensivly.

The ACC is Worse than We Thought- After week 1 many were ready to hop off the bandwagon, but I wasn't so sure now I am completely disappointed with the ACC. The ACC's best team, in Wake Forest needed a last second field goal to hold off a 6-6 Ole Miss team that was missing 2 of their 3 best players DE Greg Hardy, and DT Peria Jerry. wakes vaunted secondary was ripped apart, and it appears that this is an average Wake team. Georgia Tech upset B.C., but it will be tough to accuratly judge them until they play someone out of conference. Virginia, Virginia Tech, and NC State all had to hold on to defeat FCS teams, and Maryland was the worst losing to Middle Tennessee State, and confirming what I thought, they were a below average football team. Miami was decent, but lacks firepower on offense, and though FSU and Clemson were solid, it was against FCS teams.

USC and Ohio State Aren't locks to win their Conferences- It appears the once certain locks to win the Pac-10, and Big-10, USC and Ohio State are not the sure fire winners of their conference. In the Big 10, Wisconsin continues to look good, behind P.J. Hill, and they should improve after getting travis Beckum back, and revamped Juice Williams is leading a talented Illinois team, but that isn't the main challenger to OSU's Big ten crown it is Penn State. So far this team has been dominant, racking up 66 and 45 points in their 2 wins, and the Spread HD is in full affect. Behind an improved and calm Darryl Clark, a talented ack in Evan Royster, and mark it down the next Knowshon Moreno is Stephon Green, this team has a loaded backfield, and talented receivers such as Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler, and Derrick Williams, as well as a great "O" line behind A.Q. Shipley and Gerald Cadogen, this is a super high-powered offense that can score with anyone. The question is the defense who despite missing it's top 4 players from a year ago (Dan Connor, Sean Lee, Justin King, and Maurice Evans) still shut down a talented Oregon State offense. I see 11-1 with either a loss at Ohio State or at Wisconsin. Either way I think a BCS bid and a great way to go out is sitting on the doorstep for Joe Pa. and co.. In the Pac Ten Cal appears to be the uprising team with UCLA and Oregon. Oregon was expected to be good, but not this good as  JUCO transfer LeGerrete Blout has looked like an all-american and may be the best back in the Pac-Ten, and a healthy Justin Roper with the best secondary not named OSU or USC should lead to a successful season. UCLA and Cal have been shockers though. UCLA has looked gutsy in the win over Tennesse, and has the hard work and defense to give SC a challenge. The real team to watch is Cal. Despite an offseason filled with a QB controversy Cal has come out golden, behind youngster Kevin Riley, and speedy backs Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen. Vereen is averaging 10 yards a carry and Best has 470+ total yards, and people are calling his name out as a dark horse heisman candidate.

 The Game Balls Go To.....

Oklahoma Wide Reciever Ryan Broyles
- Broyles showed what all the buzz was about in this one, going off for a huge game in the second of his college career. Needing a replacement for Malcolm Kelly Broyles gave OU one, catching 7 passes for 141 yards and a TD in the big win over Cincy.

Uconn Running Back Donald Brown
-Though Uconn played horrible Brown carried them to the win. He had 214 yards on 36 carries and was unstoppable all day. Then in overtime Brown dove in for the games only and winning Touchdown.

Wake Forest QuarterBack Riley Skinner
-SKinner showed some leadership and toughness in the win over Ole Miss, going 32-43 with 267 yards and 2 TD's without a pick. And he led Wake dow nthe field consistently and played like a Heisman caliber QB.

Clemson Safety  Michael Hamlin
- Hamlin gave some live to Clemson recording 3 picks in Clemson's blowout win, and maybe sparking a start of something better for Clemson

 Looking Ahead to Week 3

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An interesting matchup, and a good game to start off the week on thursday. Rutgers will try to get a big win after losing to Fresno State, but North Carolina hopes to stay unbeaten, despite struggling against McNese State. I think the key will be Rutgers QB Mike Teel, he needs to have a big game for Rutgers to win, otherwise I expect North Carolina to give them a challenge, with all their talent. 
Early Prediction-Rutgers-31, UNC-24 

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A tough game that should really judge these teams. USF did not look good against UCF last week needing overtime to win, but I still think they are a top 25 team. Kansas looked impressive over Louisiana Tech, but still Kansas hasn't played a team of USF's quality on the road in a while. The big matchup is going to be new Kansas offensive tackle Jeff Spikes going against USF star DE Goerge Selvie. Reesing no longer has the luxery of a great offensive tackle protecting him, and instead it will be Spikes and he will have to stop Selvie or Kansas will be hapless offensively. As long as Matt Grothe plays as well as he can I think that Kansas must have their LB's spying on him to keep his scrambling ability in check. Still one of the best games of the weekend, and a battle between 2 "cinderella's" from last year.
Early Prediction-USF-27, Kansas-21 

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This is an interesting battle between 2 teams going in opposite directions. Cal is on a roll, winning 2 staright games behind one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, while Maryland just lost to Middle Tennessee State, after nearly getting upset by Delaware. Still Maryland is at home, and has the talent to pull an upset. If Maryland can get one of their QB's either Josh Portis, Jordan Steffy, or Chris Turner to make some big plays and put the ball in the playmakers Da'Rell Scott, and Darius Heyward-Bey. Still Cal has a great LB core behind Worrell Williams, and Zach Follet, and I don't think Maryland will have an answer for Jahvid Best.
Early Prediction-Cal-35, Maryland-20 

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Georgia has their first true test of the season, though it is against a streaky South Carolina team. Knowshon Moreno had a big game against Central Michigan, and South Carolina fell apart against Vandy, they need a QB big time. Still last year South Carolina upset Georgia, and they have a talented defense behind Captian Munnerlym, Eric Norwood, and Jasper Brinkley. If Matt Stafford reverts to his form of last year in te first half of the season, we may have a ball game, but still Georgia, despite all their injuries they are too talented to lose this game. Expect a big game from that secondary, forcing a lot of mistakes against Tommy Beecher, Stephen Garcia, and/or Chris Smelly.
Early Prediction-Georgia-28, South Carolina-10

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And old rivalry renewed, and it will be the first real good defense for Arkansas to face, though they have still been stuggling lately. Texas has looked much better than last year, and the way Colt McCoy has been playing he may be one of the best QB's in the nation. The key will be Casey Dick and the Arkansas' passing offense going against Texas' inexperienced and much maligned secondary. Still Arkansas is too young, and not talented enough to stop a very good Texas offense.
Early Prediction- Texas-38, Arkansas-17

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An intruiging game between 2 teams that have the potential to be top 20 teams, and especially in Purdue's case needs help in the run defense. I think that if Purdue is going to win this game the key is gonna be Curtis Painter. Painter must have a great game against one of the top secondaries in the nation, led by Patrick Chung. That matcup will be interesting, but a weak Purdue defense doesn't appear to have the ability to stop a powerful offense like Oregon, so I think that'll be the difference.
Early Prediction- Oregon-31, Purdue-21 

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BYU looked dominant on offense against Washington, and moved the ball at will with Max Hall and Harvey Unga, but made silly mistakes and that allowed Washington to stay in the game. They can't make those mistakes against a more talented UCLA team and expect to win. UCLA needs the Kevin Craft who showed up in the second half to play against BYU, and it will be interesting to see how a young BYU secondary does against Craft. Still the key matchup will be star BYU WR Austin Collie against lockdown corner Alterran Verner. The winner of that matchup should be the favorite in this game, and I think that this is a huge game for both teams to prove they are for real.
Early Prediction-BYU-34, UCLA-28 

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OU was dominant at home against Cincy, but they will have to travel to Seattle to face a hostile crowd. Washington will have to rely on Jake Locker, but really there is no one else on Washington who really puts fear in anyone else's eyes. Still Oklahoma has a tendency to really disappear and struggle in certain games against opponents that they should beat. Despite this there is very little chance Wazzu pulls the upset, Oklahoma is loaded especially on offense and it will be too much to expect from Washington to win this one.
Early Prediction- Oklahoma-38, Washington-27

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The game of the century, everything you want in a big game. The 2 most dominant programs of this decade, a pair of old-time rivals, and a classic game. Filled with future NFL'ers this will be one for the ages. The key as I have stated before will be USC's #2 or 3 reciever likely Ron Johnson or Damien Williams against Donald Washington. Washington is a lockdown corner and a future first rounder, but he missed the first 2 games of the season, and much of fall practice. I think that he will still be getting warmed up, and Mark Sanchez should attack that matchup. Don't expecta shootout, because USC is not developed enough offensively, I think Sanchez will be surprised by how good this defense is, while I think that he hasn't played in a game of this magnitude while Todd Boeckman is a more experienced big game QB, and that gives the edge to OSU. At RB Beanie is gonna be healthy, and I think he'll be fine and really dominant, but on the other side it will be that stable of backs especially C.J. Gable that will touch the ball. Regardless I think another big key will be Ohio State's receivers. They need to get separation from SC's corners. I think that this will be interesting to see how USC's linebackers respond to Chris Wells powering at them, SC hasn't faced any great backs that I recall other than Johnathon Stewart, who gashed them pretty bad.
Early Prediction-USC-17, OSU-14

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Pat Hill has called this the biggest game in Fresno history, and I think that for them to win this game they need to control the time of possesion by running with Ryan Matthews. Matthews is a great back and Fresno must win the T.O.P. to be successful. Wisky wins game by controlling the clock and wearing you down with their power running game. If Fresno can control the clock and keep Fresno's defense off of the field I see a win for Fresno.
Early Prediction-Fresno-28, Wisky-24