(Thursday Game)
Cincinnati (1-1) vs. NC State (2-0)
Vs.
7:30 ET ESPN, Thur. Sept. 16, Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Cincinnati: So far the Bearcats have failed to reach the yards and points the team put up last year, but quarterback Zach Collaros has the offense moving in the right direction. The team is still looking for a wideout to step up and become the number one target and Armon Binns is expected to be that player. The loss of Vidal Hazelton for the season hurts but the Bearcats are deep enough at wideout that it shouldn’t be a deflating blow. What hurt the Bearcats in the opening day loss to Fresno State was the inability to establish a running game, leaving the team one dimensional. Starting running back Isaiah Pead remains questionable for NC State. PLAYER TO WATCH: Darren Williams, So. RB
NC State: The Wolfpack has yet to face a level of competition that matches theirs. A 28-21 breezing passed UCF last week was probably a bit too close for comfort for head coach Tom O’Brien. All NC State needs to do is ride the wave of quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson has been up to par this season, throwing for 411 yards and five scores. A talented group of wideouts surrounds Wilson in seniors Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams and junior TJ Graham. They should be able to find open spaces in the Bearcats secondary all night. PLAYER TO WATCH: Audie Cole, Jr. OLB
The Pick: North Carolina State faced Pittsburgh early in the season last year, beating a talented Pitt team 38-31 at home. To call this Cincinnati team as talented as last year’s Pitt team would be lying. Collaros does bring a lot of upside for Cincy, but I don’t think the Bearcats as a team matchup with the Wolfpack. NC State 19 – Cincinnati 17
(Friday Games)
Kansas (1-1) vs. Southern Miss (1-1)
Vs.
8:00 PM ET, ESPN, Fri. Sept. 17, M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
Kansas: Talk about your season lows and highs. In all of two weeks the Jayhawks have lost to an FCS division team and beat a top 15 team. Last week’s success against Georgia Tech should strike fear into the eyes of teams looking to run the ball on Kansas this season, as the Yellow Jackets are not an easy team to slow down on the ground. Kansas will look to get the ball into the hands of running back James Sims, who brought in 101 yards last week. Sims missed the week one loss to North Dakota State, an absence that appears to be bigger to the offense than originally thought. PLAYER TO WATCH: Daymond Patterson, Jr. WR
Southern Miss: Luck of the draw for the Southern Miss Eagles really. Two nationally televised games in three weeks. After a pounding by South Carolina in week one the Eagles were able to get back on their feet last week in a 34-7 win over Prairie View A&M. The offense should be successful behind quarterback Austin Davis. Davis was able to reconnect with favorite target DeAndre Brown last week, good news for Eagles fans. Brown will need to step up against Kansas, playing to the level that’s made him one of the better wideout in the country. Running back VJ Floyd will be hampered by a groin injury from last week, but should be able to play. PLAYER TO WATCH: Kendrick Hardy, rFr. RB
The Pick: The Jayhawks rush defense was tested last week against Georgia Tech. This week, their passing defense will get its test. The Eagles were nearly able to pull off an upset against Kansas last season in the Jayhawks backyard, losing the game 35-28. This season, against a less talented Kansas team, they should be able to pull off the win under their own lights. Southern Miss 23 – Kansas 21
California (2-0) vs. Nevada (2-0)
Vs.
10:00 PM ET, ESPN 2, Fri. Sept. 17, Mackay Stadium, Reno, NV
California: In its first two games the Bears have beaten their opponents 104-10. Granted their first two opponents were UC Davis and a weak Colorado team, the offensive production has without a doubt been nice. Starting quarterback Kevin Riley has been phenomenal so far, passing for 455 yards and seven scores. Riley has yet to turn the ball over as well. The rushing game has taken a backseat to the air attack, a bit of a surprise with running back Shane Vereen in the Bears arsenal. Vereen has been given at least 14 carries in both contests this season, but has yet to bring in more than 67 yards. PLAYER TO WATCH: Keenan Allen, Fr. WR
Nevada: Nevada never shies away from getting a chance to display their unique pistol offense. Senior quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains one of the most exciting college players this season after passing for over 2,000 yards and 20 scores, while rushing for over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. The Wolfpack rolled over Colorado State last week 51-6, with Kaepernick finding 161 yards on the ground. The offense is tough to defend and adding another rusher like Vai Taua to the mix makes it even tougher. PLAYER TO WATCH: Virgil Green, Sr. TE
The Pick: The Wolfpack have not beaten a BCS conference team since Northwestern in 2006. Scheduling a team like California for a nationally televised contest proves Nevada is eager to do so. We saw last week how pumped up smaller teams like Marshall are to get a win against BCS teams on a national stage, with the Herd nearly pulling off the upset. With an offense working on all cylinders like the pistol is for Nevada right now it’s going to be hard to stop for Cal. The Bears have been able to rest their starters in the second half of two straight games now. They may still be sleeping Friday. Nevada 38 – California 35
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