Professor's Picks
Week 3
Grades slipped last Saturday as Auburn, Michigan, and Vanderbilt knocked off Miss State, Notre Dame, and U Conn respectively. The professor tries to get the class back on track on this weekend that features a few stellar pairings.
2011 Overall Record: 26-7
Last Week’s Record: 10-3
Best Pick: No games stood out, so let's go with Texas over BYU (and that says something about the current state of the Longhorns).
Worst Pick: Auburn continued a long trend of baffling this old prof, knocking off a disappointing Mississippi State team with a goal-line stand at the final whistle.
Around the South
GAMES OF THURSDAY, SEPT. 15
LSU (2-0) at Mississippi State (1-1)
7 p.m. CT • ESPN
Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082)
Series Record: LSU leads, 68-33-3 • Last Meeting; Sept. 18, 2010 (LSU, 29-7)
Comment: LSU won 19-6
GAMES OF SATURDAY, SEPT. 17
Auburn (2-0) at Clemson (2-0)
12 p.m. ET • ABC Sports
Clemson, S.C. • Clemson Memorial Stadium (81,500)
Series Record: AU leads, 34-11-2 • Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2010 (AU, 27-24, OT)
Comment: Two tough teams to figure out. Both sets of big cats have used up some of those nine lives, but the Auburn Tigers have looked a little better.
Professor's Pick: Auburn
Ole Miss (1-1) at Vanderbilt (2-0)
11:21 a.m. CT • SEC Network / ESPN3.com
Nashville, Tenn. • Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
Series Record: UM leads, 47-36-2 • Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2010 (VU, 28-14) Comment: Vanderbilt could wake up a few people by knocking off Nutt's Rebels ... let's say they do.
Professor's Pick: Vanderbilt
Coastal Carolina (2-0) at Georgia (0-2)
1 p.m. ET • Georgia PPV / ESPN3.com
Athens, Ga. • Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Series Record: First Meeting
Comment: Coastal coach David Bennett provided Georgia fans with their first bit of fun all season with his passionate defense of head Dog Mark Richt (if you haven't listened, click the link and prepare to laugh). As long as his Chanticleers don't knock off UGA, he'll still be a fan favorite after Saturday. Also, The Campus Game would like to wish a get well soon to longtime favorite Larry Munson.
Professor's Picks: Georgia
Tennessee (2-0) at Florida (2-0)
3:30 p.m. ET • CBS Sports
Gainesville, Fla. • Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field (88,548)
Series Record: UF leads, 21-19 • Last Meeting: Sept. 18, 2010 (UF, 31-17)
Comment: This is a huge early season SEC East game. The winner joins South Carolina as a co-favorite in the division. It looks to be a battle between Florida's fast and stingy defense against Tennessee's young slinging QB Tyler Bray. The Vols still seem a little green to beat the Gators in the Swamp (but don't be too surprised if they do - how's that for hedging?).
Professor's Pick: Florida
Navy (2-0) at South Carolina (2-0)
6 p.m. ET • ESPN2
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250)
Series Record: USC leads, 4-3 • Last Meeting: Nov. 12, 1988 (USC, 19-8)
Comment: After a slighlty scary comeback from a 17-0 deficit in Week 1, and an emotional and fortunate victory over Georgia, the Gamecocks could be ripe for a letdown. The Middies offense is tough to get ready for anytime, so a close game is certainly feasible. SC may be at the point where they can win even if not totally sharp emotionally.
Professor's Pick: SC
Louisville (1-1) at Kentucky (2-0)
7 p.m. ET • ESPNU
Lexington, Ky. • Commonwealth Stadium (67,942)
Series Record: UK leads, 14-9 • Last Meeting: Sept. 4, 2010 (UK, 23-16)
Comment: The battle of the bluegrass state pits two teams that have not been impressive in spite of the 3-1 combined record. I think Kentucky is slightly better.
Professor's Pick: UK
North Texas (0-2) at Alabama (2-0)
6:30 p.m. CT • FS South / ESPN3.com
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821)
Series Record: UA leads, 3-0 • Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2009 (UA, 53-7)
Comment: Oh my, tune in early to listen to Eli Gold because the contest is likely to be over real quickly. Tide rolls.
Professor's Pick: Alabama
Troy (0-1) at Arkansas (2-0)
6:30 p.m. CT • CSS / ESPN3.com
Fayetteville, Ark. • Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (72,000)
Series Record: UA leads, 3-0 • Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2009 (UA, 56-20)
Comment: Bobby Petrino's Razorbacks are rooting around out of sight and out of mind for many college football fans. That will change when they tangle with Alabama soon. A nice tuneup in Troy.
Professor's Pick: Arkansas
Around the Nation
West Virginia at Maryland ... two new coaches and two pretty decent teams. I'll take Mountaineers on the road. Professor's Pick: WVU
Pitt at Iowa ... New Panther coach Todd Graham usually wins quickly and he's catching the Hawkeyes after a tough loss to in-state rival Iowa State. Will it be enough? No. Professor's Pick: Iowa
Michigan State at Notre Dame ... the Spartans are physical and for the past decade or so have really given the Irish fits (remember last year's fake FG win?). ND has outplayed both South Florida and Michigan but only have a tough-to-swallow 0-2 record to show for it. Can't stick with the Irish bandwagon another time. Professor's Pick: MSU
Ohio State at Miami ... the Canes Al Golden is one of the up and coming coaches in my opinion, and I think Miami beats under-achieving Ohio State. Professor's Pick: Miami
Oklahoma at FSU ... although this is a battle of Top 5 teams, neither impresses me so much at this point (just not sold on either squad). The Sooners traditionally struggle on the road against highly-ranked teams under Bob Stoops, but it's been a while since FSU won a game with national implications. Oklahoma is probably a bit more sound. Professor's Pick: Oklahoma
See you at kickoff!
