All times Eastern
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3:30 pm BYU at #6 Wisconsin (-22, 46 1/2) - BYU has a heady schedule, and this trip to cheese country will test their mettle. The Cougars suffered a 21-18 loss to Cal last week after winning, 28-23, at Arizona in week one. They're well-rounded defensively and should match up well with the Badgers, who have yet to cover a point spread despite a 2-0 record.
Wisconsin loves to run instead of pass, which may play into BYU's plans to keep the score down. Should the Cougars manage a couple of early stops, their offense could put up surprise points on Wisconsin's untested secondary. While a win is not likely for the Cougars, it's not completely out of the realm of possibility.
Coin Flip: Wisconsin
PREDICTION: Badgers 34 Cougars 24
3:30 pm #17 Boise State at #24 Oklahoma State (-2 1/2, 64) - Perennial Mountain West strongmen, the Boise State Broncos may have their best team in some years. They are fifth in scoring nationally, having put up 118 points in two dominating wins over UConn and Troy.
The Cowboys are right there with the Broncos at #8 in scoring (56.5 ppg), suggesting that this may be a shootout, thus the short line. 2 1/2 points isn't going to make much of a difference given that the last team with the ball is likely to emerge with the win, so let's figure it's OK State keeping their record unblemished.
Coin Flip: Oklahoma State
PREDICTION: Cowboys 42 Broncos 36
3:30 pm Duke at Baylor (-6 1/2, 49) - After a 1-11 season in 2017, how are the Bears favored against a Duke team which has already proven it belongs in the ranks of quality teams, having already dumped Army, 34-14, and Northwestern, 21-7?
Sometimes, the line is just off, and this is one case. The Blue Devils wee 7-6 last year and defeated Northern Illinois handily, 36-14 in the Quick Lane bowl. They should handle this road trip with relative ease.
Coin Flip: Duke
PREDICTION: Blue Devils 30 Bears 14
3:30 pm #12 LSU at #7 Auburn (-9 1/2, 45) - Auburn punched out Washington in week one, 21-16, than tune up against Alabama State last week in a 63-9 romp. They're ready for the Tigers from LSU, which suffered from lack of depth on offense, as usual.
However, LSU has a super solid defense, shutting out SE louisiana last week, 31-0, after topping Miami 33-17 in week one. Auburn may have difficulties scoring on LSU and the game could turn on turnovers, which, in that case would offer LSU a chance to rise up late in the game. It's early in the season and this kind of meeting makes college football great and too difficult to call. The points are a must take in this SEC match-up.
Coin Flip: LSU
PREDICTION: LSU Tigers 24 Auburn Tigers 21
4:15 pm Houston (-1, 69) at Texas Tech - Maybe even shocking themselves, Houston hammered Arizona last week, 45-18, with an offensive onslaught that had the Cougars up 31-0 at the half.
The Red Raiders better be ready, or else they're going to be 1-2 after this meeting. They've already suffered a 47-27 beating by Ole Miss, and their 77-0 rout of Lamar may turn out to be meaningless. Houston has elite athletes and may win this one going away.
Coin Flip: Texas Tech
PREDICTION: Cougars 38 Red Raiders 24
7:00 pm #1 Alabama (-21, 71) at Ole Miss - OK, the Crimson Tide is a monster, but that doesn't mean the Rebels are about to lay down in this border clash.
Ole Miss has already handled Texas Tech, 47-27, and last week outlasted S. Illinois, 76-41. They';ll have to play better defense against Alabama, however, because the Tide is loaded and last season's 66-3 rout will be on the minds of all upperclassmen. Tough to go against Tide. This could be statement game.
Coin Flip: Alabama
PREDICTION: Crimson Tide 48 Rebels 21
8:00 pm #4 Ohio State (-13 1/2, 60) at # 15 TCU - The question is not how good Ohio State is, it's whether or not TCU is ready for the big time against a team widely believed to be one of the top 4 or 5 in the country.
The Horned Frogs smashed Southern and SMU, as they were supposed to, but the Buckeyes may be intent on showing the world how good they are. Ohio State is second in the country in scoring (64.5 per game). TCU will show up, but they'll have their hands full.
Coin Flip: Ohio State
PREDICTION: Buckeyes 54 Horned Frogs 17
8:00 pm #22 USC at Texas (-3, 48) - The Longhorns were overrated last year (7-6) and are probably overrated here against the Trojans. Texas already has a loss on their record - to Maryland, no less - yet somehow are 3-point favorites against a ranked opponent.
It's probably because the Trojans were kept in check at Stanford last week, losing 17-3, but Texas isn't quite on Stanford's level and the USC offense will want to make amends. While the result may not be overwhelming, it will provide for an interesting and enjoyable game.
Coin Flip: USC
PREDICTION: Trojans 27 Longhorns 23
10:00 pm #10 Washington (-6 1/2, 47 1/2) at Utah - Last season, the Utes lost a close call, 33-30 at Washington and that will be top of mind as these two PAC-12 teams renew their rivalry. Logic would dictate that the Utah squad will be better at home than they were on the road last year, even though Washington is ranked #10 in the AP poll.
Be reminded that polls and rankings don't win football games. Also, Washington already has a loss, taken down, 21-16, by Auburn on opening weekend. Utah has one of the top defenses in the conference and should slow down whatever the Huskies have in mind.
Coin Flip: Utah
PREDICTION: Utes 24 Huskies 20
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