(Thursday Games)
#21 Auburn (1-0) vs. Mississippi State (1-0)
Vs.
7:30 ET ESPN, Thur. Sept. 9, Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
Auburn: The debut of Florida transfer Cameron Newton last week was a success. The Tigers also displayed their highly touted true freshman running back Michael Dyer, who rushed for 95 yards on 14 carries. The offense, which gained 608 yards last week, will have to be just as powerful as it was last week in a harsh environment like Starkville. The key will be for Newton to find his receivers down field and make things happen with his legs when plays break down. PLAYER TO WATCH: Onterio McCalebb, So. RB
Miss. State: Freshman Bulldog quarterback Tyler Russell passed for 256 yards and four scores and wasn’t even the games starter against Memphis. Chris Relf started the game, playing far less than Russell. The two should split time again against the Tigers. The passing offense will need to be on point against a veteran Auburn defensive backfield. PLAYER TO WATCH: Vick Ballard, Jr. RB
The Pick: Auburn clearly has a more talented team. That alone, however, doesn’t always transpire to wins. The Tigers have lost to Mississippi State just once out of the last five years and this year, led by Newton, Auburn puts together a far better team than the one in Starkville. THE PICK: Auburn 34 – Mississippi State 20
Central Michigan (1-0) vs. Temple (1-0)
Vs.
7:00 PM ET, ESPNU, Thur. Sept. 9, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Central Michigan: Gone from CMU are the team’s two biggest weapons in quarterback Dan LeFever and wideout Antonio Brown, two players that were a staple of the offense for three years. In is a new head coach Dan Enos and quarterback Ryan Radcliff. The sophomore single caller threw for 242 yards and a score in his debut against Hampton, competing nearly 60 percent of his passes. The surprise last week was running back Paris Cotton who brought in 94 yards. It will be key for Cotton to get things moving on the ground early in this one. PLAYER TO WATCH: Matt Bellore, Sr. MLB
Temple: Temple was a bowl team last season. Believe it, even if the Owls didn’t look the part in week one against Villanova. Temple returns 16 starters back from last year’s team, including All-MAC running back Bernard Pierce. The Owls will look to pound the ball on the ground, using their workhorse Pierce, who rushed for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns last year, and sophomore Matt Brown. Between the two backs last week 30 carries were given out. Expect more this week. PLAYER TO WATCH: Muhammad Wilkerson, Jr. DT
The Pick: Despite the performance last week against Villanova, Temple is a talented team, especially when it comes to running the ball. Fortunately for CMU the defense returns two linebackers who brought in over 100 tackles last season. If the defense can hold Pierce to minimal four yard gains, the CMU offense is good enough to put points on the board. THE PICK: Central Michigan 27 – Temple 16
(Friday Games)
#23 West Virginia (1-0) vs. Marshall (0-1)
Vs.
7:00 PM ET, ESPN, Fri. Sept. 10, Edwards Stadium, Huntington, WV
West Virginia: The Mountaineers were the lone top team of the Big East that didn’t drop last week’s game. A loss would have been quiet bad seeming how they were playing Coastal Carolina. The Mountaineers handled C.C. easily 31-0, with an offense led by new starting quarterback Geno Smith. Smith was impressive in his first start of the year, completing 20 of 27 passes. The goal of the West Virginia offense, however, is getting running back Noel Devine the ball. Devine brought in 23 touches last week for 111 yards, a modest performance for the All-Big East player. Expect a lot of ground work out of him in this game. PLAYER TO WATCH: Jock Sanders, Sr. WR
Marshall: To be fare to Marshall, it’s hard to grade their opening game performance with a beat down from the second ranked Buckeyes. Marshall’s numbers look a little one-sided. After a meeting against the Buckeyes, the Herd couldn’t ask for a better team to get their first win against than neighborhood foe West Virginia. To do so, the Thundering Herd will need to play mistake free football after turning it over three times last week. PLAYER TO WATCH: Vinny Curry, Jr. DE
The Pick: As nice as it would be to see Marshall pull off the instate rivalry win as the clear underdog here, the possibility of it happening is scarce. The Herd has scored just 10 points in the last two meetings and not even a home visit on a national stage from the Mountaineers is enough to pull off the upset here. THE PICK: West Virginia 38 – Marshall 14
UTEP (1-0) vs. Houston (1-0)
Vs.
10:15 PM ET, ESPN, Fri. Sept. 10, Robertson Stadium, Houston, TX
UTEP: UTEP won just four games last season. One of those games was against Houston. Senior running back Donald Buckram, who missed UTEP’s first game against Ark. Pine-Bluff with a knee bruise, rushed for 262 yards on the Cougars defense last year. Buckram is expected back against Houston, and may put up big numbers once again on a team committed to running the football. If Buckram isn’t able to go full speed the Miners have a talented group willing to fill in. PLAYER TO WATCH: Joe Banyard, Jr. RB
Houston: Believe it or not, Case Keenum had an off week passing for 274 yards and five scores last game. The NCAA’s leading returning quarterback in yards, completions and touchdown, Keenum is a powerful offensive weapon with a cannon for an arm. One of the nation’s best receiving core surrounds Keenum, and should be too much to overcome two upsets in a row for UTEP. PLAYER TO WATCH: James Cleveland, Sr. WR
The Pick: The Cougars offense is nothing to worry about; Keenum will score points at will on anyone. The part to worry about is the defense, where they gave up 28 points to Texas State last week. If Buckram is able to find the success he did last season, it could be bad news for the Cougars. The one leaning factor for Houston is Robertson Stadium where the Cougars have gone 11-0 the last two seasons. THE PICK: Houston 47 – UTEP 30
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