On College Football: Mark Dantonio Evades Jim Harbaugh Talk For a Week

Week 2 is here. There are three inter-Top 25 matchups and not much else going on, unless you are into weird Iowa stuff. None of the three big games starts before 6pm ET. So it goes, in 2015.

Michigan State vs. Oregon: This is a rematch of one of last year’s more memorable contests. The site moves to East Lansing. Oregon has lost Marcus Mariota. Michigan State is down Pat Narduzzi, a first-round CB, a number of veteran defensive contributors and three drafted skill players. The winner adds a feather as we move one step closer to playoff discussion season. Mark Dantonio can talk about something that isn’t Jim Harbaugh.

Michigan State’s defense is not what it was. Last year, it plummeted from 2nd to 40th in DFEI with personnel losses. But, it remains the biggest test Oregon QB Vernon Adams, one-off assassin of porous Pac 12 defenses, has ever faced. Adams has skills. He’s also been on campus less than one month. Judging from Week 1, he’s still working on the finer points of Oregon’s system and not getting tattooed. The Spartans have ALL CAPS APHORISMS DOWN PAT!

Tennessee vs. Oklahoma: Tennessee is scrappy. With Butch Jones recruiting, the Vols are now flush with talent too. Oklahoma has skill players, a quarterback, and a sassy new Air Raid offense coordinated by Lincoln Riley. First Oklahoma QB to rank in the Top 20 in passer rating since Sam Bradford in 2008? It may be in the cards. The winner may creep into the Top 15 and early plausible playoff contender discussion.

Counterpoints: Tennessee is 1-27 in its last 28 games vs. ranked opponents. Bob Stoops is coaching in a big game on the road. This game may come down to defense. Tennessee’s secondary looked vulnerable last week. Oklahoma looked dominant up front. Of course, the Vols faced a potent Bowling Green offense with a very good quarterback. The Sooners played Akron.

Mississippi State vs. LSU: SEC West Rochambeau season begins. Mississippi State scuffled a bit against Southern Miss, after major offseason transition. LSU entered the year with major questions, and didn’t play its tune-up game last week after lightning and a torrential dew drenched Tiger Stadium. Now, they head on the road to Stark Vegas. Both look like legit Top 25 teams. Both play in a division that could get them 6-7 wins.

The Tigers trot out Leonard Fournette, against an iffy run defense that lost depth heading into 2015. The Bulldogs return Cowbells and Dak Prescott, who averaged 11.2 yards/attempt and carried the ball for more than 100 yards in last season’s 34-29 win. A lot of uncertainty. A lot of Les Miles. Should be a good time.

PICKS

We went 2-3 last week, nailing Northwestern and Temple. Tennessee and Oklahoma were more efficient than anticipated. Marquise Williams threw approximately one million interceptions in what should have been a UNC win.

Michigan (-14.5) vs. Oregon State: The public is too down on Michigan, after a reasonable loss to Utah. Oregon State struggled moving the ball against Weber State. Freshman QB on the road against a solid defense. Pac 12 team travelling east for a noon kickoff. Jim Harbaugh rebounds with a solid win.

Virginia (+11.5) vs. Notre Dame: The Irish hit the road after a big Texas win and may be looking ahead to Georgia Tech. Not sure all of Notre Dame’s offensive problems are settled, with the Irish now down to their third-string running back. UVA doesn’t win many games. But, they make themselves a tough out at home. The Cavs went 5-2 in Charlottesville last season, with one-score losses to UCLA and North Carolina.

Appalachian State (+19) at Clemson: Major look-ahead game for the Tigers, with Louisville looming on Thursday. The Mountaineers improved markedly over last season, winning their final six games. That team returns 20 starters. They prod an untested Clemson defense enough to get the cover.

Colorado State (+5) vs. Minnesota: Major letdown spot on the road for Minnesota, after a close-ish game against TCU. The Gopher offense looks bleak. With Mike Bobo and a talented receiver corps, Colorado State’s is rather potent. Last week looked like Minnesota being strong. It may prove that TCU isn’t that good.

Washington State (+3) at Rutgers: Not buying Rutgers’ week one offensive surge against Norfolk State. The Scarlet Knight’s secondary has been ravaged by injuries and recent arrests. Leach’s offense will put every one of those untried players in space. The Cougars get back on the rails.

[USAT]