They like their team sports in Seattle, and Husky Stadium can be a spirited place to play, but UW is in for a treat when it travels to Death Valley to take on one of the nation’s premier college football teams.
Fresno State rookie head coach Tim DeRuyter gets the first serious test of his head coaching career in Week 2, in this afternoon game on the Left Coast.
Duke really impressed me last week with their throttling of Florida International last week. I really liked FIU as an upset candidate but they beat the Golden Panthers by 20 points in a game that might not have even been that close.
You have to love a team called the Governors right? But what you can’t love is that this team was just spanked by Western Kentucky – a team that is not even expected to compete in the Sun Belt this season.
Except for the whole scandal thing coach Butch Davis did a fantastic job at UNC. Under his watch the Tar Heels cranked out NFL talent and there is still plenty left on the roster a couple of years later.
When Central Florida and Ohio State meet this Saturday, it will be a unique matchup between two teams who are both ineligible for the postseason this year. The Knights are a team that many have their eye on as being a team to watch in 2012.
Auburn lost a tough one against Clemson in week one, while Mississippi State beat up on Jacksonville State 56-9. In week two, these teams jump right into the SEC action. It’s the toughest conference in the nation, and there won’t be any weeks off in the SEC.
Penn State led 14-3 after a half in the emotion-filled matchup last week against Ohio, but the Nittany Lions were outscored 21-0 in the second half.
The Ball State Cardinals opened the season with a solid home victory against Eastern Michigan. I know it didn’t make national headlines from the opening weekend but it gave them a head start towards competing in the MAC.
The East Carolina Pirates emerged from Week 1 unscathed, collecting an easy win against Appalachian State (at least score wise). They always schedule up in the non-conference so it is no surprise to see them making the short trip to South Carolina.
Logan will be buzzing Friday night as the Utah Utes invade Romney Stadium to take on the beloved Utah State Aggies. Utah State was a program that was an afterthought in college football a few short years ago, but Gary Andersen has this team moving up in a hurry over the past couple years.
The Cincinnati Bearcats will kick off their 2012 season this week, while the Pittsburgh Panthers look to bounce back from an embarrassing defeat in week one.
Given what a dud Alabama/Michigan was this could easily be the best and certainly the most important game of the opening week. Georgia Tech is always in the mix in the ACC and whoever wins this one will have a leg up both in the conference and in confidence.
The Bowling Green Falcons are returning a lot of talent from last year’s 5-7 team. Their 17 starters are among the most in the nation but it still may not be enough to rise to the top of their division in the MAC.
The last time we saw Clemson they were getting one of the worst beatdowns in BCS history in the Orange Bowl at the hands of West Virginia. Some games just get away from you but don’t be lulled into thinking they didn’t deserve their shot to be there.
It is hard to know that much about FCS squads but here is what we do know about the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. They finished 7-4 last year and in a game against another SEC team – Kentucky – handled themselves fairly well losing 38-14.
