CFB 2010 Week 3 Preview

Sep 17, 2010

I know I said in my previous post that you could use this final official weekend of summer to enjoy some outdoor activities since there aren’t many marquee matchups on the schedule. But as began combing through this week’s lineup, I realized while there are not a lot glamour games like Ohio State/ Miami or Penn State/ Alabama, there are plenty of intriguing contests to interest CFB junkies like us.

And just because the big boys aren’t expected to be tested this week doesn’t mean their matches are any less interesting; I mean who doesn’t want to see some serious Heisman stat-padding (i.e. Michigan playing UMass in the Big House - Shoelace Robinson could rack up 1,000 total yards in that one)?

Friday:

-Cal @ Nevada 10ET, ESPN2 the unranked Bears are flying under the radar this year, but they have outscored their opponents 104-10 and own the nation’s stingiest defense (160YPG). Nevada’s potent offense leads the nation in YPG (592) and is anchored by future NFL signal caller Colin Kaepernick. Look for an entertaining shootout in the High Sierras.

Saturday:

-#12 Arkansas @ Georgia NOON, ESPN somehow the Hogs are ranked in the top 15 despite the fact they’ve played no one and are coming off a mediocre 8-5 season. Georgia will attempt to stay afloat in the SEC East without star WR A.J. Green (suspension) and with freshman QB Aaron Murray making his first home start against a conference foe. The Bulldogs need this one badly.

-East Carolina @ Va. Tech 1:30 ESPN3 something tells me the Hokies do not want to start out 0-3, and that something also tells me the Pirates would love to knock off their reeling rival for the second time in three years

-#8 Nebraska @ Washington 3:30, ABC the Huskers finally get tested by a real opponent, and Washington will be out to prove its disappointing loss to BYU on opening weekend was a fluke. Should be a great QB matchup, too, with Nebraska’s dazzling freshman run/pass threat Taylor Martinez squaring off against the Huskies’ Heisman candidate and potential #1 draft pick, senior Jake Locker

-#6Texas @ Texas Tech 8PM, ABC this one has enough storylines to fill an entire fall TV schedule: it’s the Lubbock rematch of the classic Michael Crabtree game that cost the Longhorns a shot at the national title in 2008; it’s the first game in the rivalry for new Red Raiders coach Tommy Tuberville; and it’s the first start in hostile Jones AT&T Stadium for Texas QB Garrett Gilbert. Did I mention Texas is just 9-9 in Lubbock since 1974, and Mack Brown is only 3-3 there?

Nite Owl Specials:

If you’re like me you enjoy nothing more than a couple of juicy late night contests to cap off a full day of college football. Tonight we get three such matchups, starting with #9 Iowa at #24 Arizona (10:30, ESPN), as the Wildcats look to prove the Desert Swarm defense is back by containing Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi and RB Adam Robinson. UCLA will try to salvage what already looks like a lost season, but #23 Houston and its top-ranked offense should put another nail in Rick Neuheisel’s coffin. And last but not least, Wake Forest takes its 53PPG out West for a tough test against #19 Stanford and Heisman candidate QB Andrew Luck (11:15, ESPN2).

Like I said, there are enough offerings to keep us interested until full conference play kicks in in a couple of weeks. Until then, I’ll be enjoying these cross-country clashes that often separate the contenders from the pretenders.