FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Porkins-  It's already week 3!  It's going by much too fast!  And this week is huge for me...I've been doing some practice vomiting to prepare myself for Saturday night.  Speaking of which, no one is more prepared to discuss this week's card than my insightful co-host, Lakers.  What's going on?

Lakers- Just really excited, this is a big week for college football, a lot of big games. And Porkins you just vomited on my shoes.
 
Porkins- That's good luck.  Ask Mark Schlereth.  Anyway, now that the season is rolling, we've seen some real surprises, both good and bad.  What really sticks out to you so far?
 
Lakers- ECU has really suprised me, I thought they would start out 0-2, but they came out and beat two ranked teams and have played as well as anybody in the country. Could they be this year's Hawaii or Boise State?
 
Porkins- The Pirates have definitely been great so far.  An enkoyable story in college football.  On the other side of things though, I'm pretty annoyed at the polls.  I think ranking teams at this point is a joke anyway, but if you're going to try, at least get it right.  The Pirates bust up two highly-ranked powerhouses and rise to..14th?  20th in the USA Today poll??  Come on.  Give some credit where credit is due.  Based on actual performance rather than hype, ECU is a Top 10 team.  Lakers, who, if anyone, is in the Top 10 right now that shouldn't be?
 
Lakers- Honestly, I think the top 10 is pretty good right now. All the top 10 teams deserve it in my opinion. If I had to pick a team to be knocked out it would be Auburn, but you know...

Porkins- Yeah, yeah Tide fan.  Going by on-field performance, I can't see having OSU at number 5.  I know they want to preserve the big matchup this week, but even as Buckeye fan, I think we're too high right now.  You have to prove it on the field, and a win over 1-AA Youngstown and a lousy performance against Ohio doesn't prove anything to me.  Fra nkly, they were outplayed last week, and if they don't make some big strides, the Trojans will make sure they are out of the Top 10 for next week
 
Now that we've had a couple of weeks to size up the different schools, which conference has surprised you the most, good or bad?

Lakers- How about the C-USA. ECU off to a hot start with two big wins, Tulane looked pretty good against Alabama, although Alabama did not play well. Southern Miss played Auburn pretty tough as well. Then you had UCF almost knocking off USF. The C-USA has really impressed me so far this season.

Porkins-  I'm really disappointed in the ACC.  Clemson's drubbing in week 1, VT getting upset by ECU, Virginia looking like a bunch of high school kids against USC, Boston College and Georgia Tech slogging to an ugly finish last week, and Miami unable to do anything offensively...With the exception of Wake Forest, this conference is bumming me out.  I had really hoped this year would be different.  I just don't think this conference can compete with the powerhouses.

Lakers-  I agree the ACC has looked weak. Wake Forest who is supposed to be one of the better teams in the conference almost lost to one of the worst SEC teams in Ole Miss. The ACC needs to step it up.

Porkins- So Lakers, aside from the OSU-USC tilt, what game is tops on your list this week?. 

Lakers- I like the Oregon Purdue game. Curtis Painter is one of the better QBs in the nation, and I'm interested in seeing if he can lead Purdue to a big win over the Ducks.

Porkins-  I've got my eye on Wisconsin and Fresno.  This matchup is going to tell me a lot about the quality of the Big 10, and will also reveal the true nature of one of the predicted "BCS busters".  If Pat Hill can hold on and get a W, it'll be a strong resume line when BCS voting begins. 

So on an individual level, tell me who you think will rock it out this week?

Lakers- I like the RB tandem of James Davis and CJ Spiller to break out and have big games against NC State. I think they will both put in over 100 yards rushing and make up for the lack-luster performance against Alabama. NC State is in trouble this week.

Porkins-  Well, NC Statre is in trouble every week- trust me, they're my next-door neighbors.  I'm looking for a big game from Buckeye linebacker James Laurinaitis.  Big players have to show up in big games, and the OSU defense is the strength of the team.  I think you'll see Laurinaitis step it up a notch and do his best to keep OSU in the mix.

It's still early, but who tops your ballot thus far for Coach of the Year?

Lakers- No doubt the man from ECU Skip Holtz. Nobody has gotten more out of their team this year than Holtz. He has had his team perform to a very high level the first two games. We will see if he can keep it up.

Porkins- Definitely a great choice.  Holtz is the toast of the town, and for good reason.  If I had to pick another, it would be Nick Saban.  As much as I hate to admit it, the guy has got his team ready to play.  They dominated in their opening week clash and avoided the post-win letdown in week 2.  I'll be very curious to see what happens going into SEC play.
 
So who is on upset alert in week 3?  You've gotten it right twice with ECU, but this week you'll need to go elsewhere to find your underdog.

Lakers- I'm putting Auburn on upset alert. Miss. State went to Auburn last season and escaped with a 19-14 win. Now the Tigers go to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs. Miss. State had a tough opening week falling to LA Tech, but I don't count out the Bulldogs against Auburn.

Porkins- I'll leave the OSU game out of this and go with Purdue over Oregon.  The Ducks are a great team, but Purdue QB Curtis Painter can be a game-changer.  The only other time these two teams met, there were 20 points total.  I think with Oregon's #1 offense and Purdue's potential, we'll see a significantly higher score this time.
 
As always, what is your "off the radar" special?

Lakers- I'll go with the in-state rivalry of Iowa Iowa State. This game seems to be off the radar, even though both teams have gotten of to good starts. This is an interesting matchup, and I can't wait to see it.

Porkins-  Nice pick.  I'm going with UNC and Rutgers.  These are two quality programs and this game should be a good one.  Butch Davis is trying to take a page from Coach Schiano's book and generate a Tarheel turnaround that mimics what the Scarlet Knights have done in recent years.

Finally, let's talk about redemption.  As we said, it's still early.  But in your opinion, which team with a loss has the best chance of turning this around and contending for a BCS spot?
 
Lakers- I still like West Virginia's chances, they fell early to ECU, but I still think they can come back and win the Big East and make it into a BCS bowl game.
 
Porkins- Although I don't think they'll deserve it, Clemson is probably going to earn a BCS spot by winning the ACC.  They've shown me that they can't compete with the other top conferences...or at least the SEC.  But I think they'll keep their house in order in league play.  Maybe they'll get another shot at a big stage, and hopefully can do a little bit better than in week 1.
 
Ok.  Enough talk.  Let's make some predictions, starting in Tampa.  What's your take on the Jayhawks and Bulls?

Kansas @ South Florida
 
Lakers- This is an interesting game, and I look for this to be a really good matchup. I think USF maybe...just maybe could knock off the Jayhawks

Porkins- I am not and have never been sold on Kansas.  I respect what they've done, but they just haven't had the strength of schedule to really impress me.  On the other hand, USF struggled with Central Florida last week.  In the end, I think KU will have enough in the tank.  The Big 12 is strong.

Final Picks

Porkins-  Kansas
Lakers- USF

Georgia @ South Carolina

Porkins- This is potentially a huge upset.  If the Gamecocks can somehow pull out a win, then Georgia's title hopes would take a big hit.  However, I saw SC play Vandy last week, and I just don't think they have the firepower to compete with the Dawgs.
 
Lakers- South Carolina looked pretty good in week one just to come back and dissappoint yet again against a less than steller opponet in Vanderbilt. If they can't beat Vandy, there is no way they can beat Georgia.

Final Picks

Porkins- UGA
Lakers- Georgia

Wisconsin @ Fresno State

Porkins- I love Pat Hill...well, not literally, but I just can't see FSU keeping up with the Badgers.  Now if Wisconsin plays like they did in the first half against Marshall, we might have a game.  But as badly as everyone wants to see another WAC Cinderella, I just don't think they can pull it off.
 
Lakers- I think Fresno is going to be right in there until the end with the Badgers, and I think they will put a scare in Wisconsin, I just don't see them having enough in the take to knock off one of the Big 10's best.

Final Picks

Porkins- Wisonsin
Lakers- Wisconsin

Oregon @ Purdue

Porkins- Since this was my upset alert, I'd better stay consistent.  I think Joe Tiller will call a slick game and Painter will execute in a high-scoring affair.  I look for the Boilermakers to eke out a big one.

Lakers- I think Curtis Painter is a great QB, I just don't know if he can turn it on against a big opponet. I think in the end the Ducks will just be a little too much for the Boilermakers.

Final Picks

Porkins- Purdue
Lakers- Oregon

UCLA @ BYU

Porkins-  This one is very tough.  BYU should have at least been taken to OT last week against lowly Washington, but the refs stepped in to decide the game.  Still the Cougars are a good team with a lot of toughness, and they'll enjoy the home field.  Can Kevin Craft make lightning strike twice?  I don't know.
 
Lakers- UCLA impressed me a lot in the opening game against Tennessee. On the other hand is BYU who was almost upset by a team that isn't as good as UCLA. Washington almost pulled out the win, I think that UCLA can pull out the win, and Craft will lead the way.

Final Picks

Porkins- BYU
Lakers- UCLA
 
 

Ohio State @ USC
 
Porkins- This is the big one, folks.  The Grandaddy of the Week to be played in the Grandaddy of them all.  How do you see the "Collision at the Coliseum" shaking out?
 
Lakers- This is a heavyweight matchup, and I can't wait to see it. Too bad I will be on my way back from Tuscaloosa and will miss most of this one. Thank God for DVR. We will see if Beanie Wells' foot is healthy if not it could be a long day for the Buckeyes
 
Porkins- Great points.  Of course, being a Buckeye fan for three decades, I don't have a whole lot of options here.  I will say that Bo eckman is going to have to play the game of his life, and his skill players can't afford to make the mistakes they committed last week.  A drop in this game could mean a tally in the loss column.  And of course, Wells has to be healthy and productive.  I have a lot of faith in the defense, but USC's D is every bit as good, which sort of nullifies the advantage.  So make your call, who's your final pick?
 
Final Picks
 
Porkins-OSU
Lakers- USC
 

Porkins- Good judgment aside, I have to go with my Buckeyes.  They need to fire on all cylinders to do it.  I just hope I can manage to watch the whole game and not break my TV in disgust. 
 
Regardless of the outcome, these big non-conference games are exactly what college football needs more of.  Tune in next week and we'll discuss the impact of whatever happens this Saturday night.  Thanks for stopping by.
 
Lakers- Thanks for joining us once again, this is Lakers and Porkins signing off. Enjoy the games.