All times Eastern
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3:30 pm #3 Georgia (-10, 55) at #24 South Carolina - The Bulldogs just missed defeating Alabama for the national championship last season, losing in overtime, 26-23, and they certainly aren't going to allow the Gamecocks to derail their title hopes this season. Georgia took a 24-10 decision over South Carolina last year in a game which saw their offense score their second lowest point total.
South Carolina kicked off 2018 with a 49-15 explosion over Central Carolina, but the Bulldogs are another matter altogether. The gamecocks are surprisingly good and possess a very stout defense. Getting 10 points at home is just too juicy to ignore. SC could pull off the upset of the week.
Coin Flip: Georgia
PREDICTION: Gamecocks 26 Bulldogs 24
3:30 pm Rutgers at #4 Ohio State (-34 1/2, 62) - The folks in Northern New Jersey are still scratching their heads, trying to figure out why Rutgers jumped to the Big Ten a few years back. The Scarlet Knights brought home a 3-6 conference record and were just 4-8 overall.
Even though they dropped Texas State, 35-7, last week, they're going to get no mercy at Ohio State. The Buckeyes bullied Oregon State last week, 77-31. Oh, my.
Coin Flip: Rutgers
PREDICTION: Buckeyes 64 Scarlet Knights 20
3:30 pm Colorado at Nebraska (-4 1/2, 66 1/2) - The Buffaloes slipped to 5-7 last season, losing their final three games of the year, to Arizona State, USC, and Utah.
Nebraska wasn't any better, losing six of their last seven for a 4-8 mark, but they hired Scott Frost from UCF to lead their reorganization. Both teams are heading in a positive direction, but, since Nebraska's scheduled game with Akron was cancelled last week, Colorado has the advantage of having played one game (a 45-13 smash over Colorado State). That game experience should be enough to bring home a win.
Coin Flip: Nebraska
PREDICTION: Buffaloes 38 Cornhuskers 24
7:00 pm #2 Clemson (-12 1/2, 54) at Texas A&M - Jimbo Fisher, recruited from Florida State, scored a 59-7 win over Northwestern State in his coaching debut for the Aggies, but he's surely not resting on his laurels with Clemson coming in loaded for bear.
The Tigers stuffed local creampuff, Furman, 48-7, limiting the Paladins to 119 yards of offense and just two passing yards (yes, two).
Clemson should pound the rebuilding Aggies in a pretty big way.
Coin Flip: Texas A&M
PREDICTION: Tigers 38 Aggies 13
7:30 pm Kentucky at #25 Florida (-14, 48 1/2) - Kentucky got off to a solid start with a 35-20 win over Central Michigan last week, but faces a sterner test on the road against the Gators.
The Kentucky program continues to improve, but they were tired and outclassed down the stretch last season, losing badly to Georgia (42-17) and Louisville (44-17) before just missing in a 24-23 defeat by Northwestern in the Music City Bowl.
Florida comes in fresh off a 53-6 rout of Charleston Southern, though not much can be ascertained from that game except that the Gatords are loaded with talent. Florida seeks to recover from a horrible 4-7 mark in 2017, and they may win this, but Kentucky will give them a good game.
Coin Flip: Kentucky
PREDICTION: Florida 31 Kentucky 24
8:00 pm #10 Penn State (-9, 56 1/2) at Pittsburgh - Penn Site had to go to overtime to finally discard Appalachian State, 45-38, though that's not really much of a knock. The Mountaineers have had a solid program for years as evidenced by their 9-4 mark in 2017 and their 34-0 walloping of Toledo in the Dollar General Bowl. The Nittany Lions' 11-2 record was no fluke last season and they're primed to contend in the Big Ten's East division. Pitt rocked Albany, 33-7 in their opener, but was just 2-5 in the ACC last season and 5-7 overall.
Even though the game is in Pittsburgh, Penn State can put up points at will and should cover most of the over/under line themselves.
Coin Flip: Penn State
PREDICTION: Nittany Lions 47 Pittsburgh 24
8:30 pm #17 USC at #10 Stanford (-5 1/2, 56 1/2) - In week one, USC took care of business, dropping UNLV, 43-21, while the Cardinal faced a stiffer test with San Diego State, but the result was a substantial, 31-10, victory.
These two PAC-12 schools met twice in 2017, with USC winning both, The Spartans scored a 42-24 victory at home in week two, and eked out a 31-28 victory in the conference championship.
Stanford is obviously looking for a better result and if the defense plays up to the standard set last week, they'll get the win.
Coin Flip: Stanford
PREDICTION: Cardinal 27 Trojans 16
10:45 pm #15 Michigan State (-5 1/2, 65 1/2) at Arizona State - The Spartans really struggled to beat Utah State, which wasn't supposed to happen. Michigan State entered the contest a 23 1/2-point favorite, but didn't live up to their advance billing, rushing 42 times for just 165 yards and turning the ball over twice.
Arizona State appeared much sharper, slugging UTSA, 49-7, in coach Herm Edwards debut game. Michigan State loves to run the ball, but if the Sun Devils take a lead, that part of the playbook could become a discard. AZST is very tough on incoming opponents, topping Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona on home turf last season. They're likely to be even better than last season's 7-6 squad. Upset looms.
Coin Flip: Michigan State
PREDICTION: Sun Devils 38 Spartans 24
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