One of the most cliched cliches in all of sports is that of calling a particular matchup a "David vs. Goliath" encounter. You can find it in almost any sport, whenever a no-chance underdog faces the daunting odds of trying to take down an apparently all-powerful behemoth. In the college football realm, I'd be remiss not to mention the most memorable of all David vs. Goliath takedowns - Appalachian State's pantsing of Michigan in their own digs. A wonderful afternoon in the annals of the sport.
The problem with the cliche is, it's completely reversed. A read of the original David vs. Goliath encounter, when the actual David met the actual Goliath on a field in Palestine (from the Old Testament passage 1 Samuel 17), shows that the underdog was not actually our ruddy little friend David. Sure, based on sheer size, strength, and girth, Goliath had David licked. But David brought more than a few stones and a slingshot into battle with him that day - he had on his side the power of the Almighty God. And this was a force Goliath could not, and should not, have reckoned with. The jolly old green giant had no chance. David was the hands-down favorite.
Sadly for many a David who've taken the field against a so-called Goliath, their story doesn't play out that way. No matter how wretched a team might be (coughMichigancough), in football, the Almighty God doesn't choose sides.
And why do I bring this up, with no real David and Goliath matchups on the slate this weekend? Simple - I was just thinking about it, that's all. And now for the rest of our business...
1. Penn State at Iowa
Again, not the most power-packed of all the monster matchups this weekend, but it's first in my book. Check last week's post if you're unclear as to why that is. As much as I'd like it to not be this way, this season seems like one of those where Penn State beats all the teams they should and gets dumped by everyone better than they are. It's not unprecedented, and when it happens it usually involves a sluggish PSU offense who struggles to reach double-digits in road games against top teams. Iowa certainly would qualify. They've got a rugged defense who will likely force several turnovers, and they're likely to turn one of those into a defensive touchdown. Penn State's defense, which has struggled against Ricky Stanzi before, will keep the Hawkeyes within shouting distance, but Rob Bolden is going to take a few more lumps before he hits his stride. Which, barring injury, he will.
Iowa 20, Penn State 9
2. Florida at Alabama
For the last 2 seasons, this game has decided both the SEC Championship and a berth in the BCS title game. It's much to early in the season to discern if that will be true this time around, but hindsight could show us that it happened for a third straight year. For Florida, a win in Tuscaloosa could be the wake-up call and springboard they need to make a title run. They've got LSU and South Carolina in Gainesville, Georgia is looking sickly, and the only marginally difficult road game is the last one, in Tallahassee. Don't think Urban Meyer won't toss that bit of motivational material out in front of his team. Alabama, meanwhile, is coming off a gutty road victory that could serve as a springboard of their own. They've got the moxie, the talent, and the leadership to earn a second straight crystal football, and this game could be the proving ground to the rest of the country that the BCS title is their's to lose. Last week's game against Arkansas once again showed that no matter how deep a hole you dig, you can't bury Greg McElroy. The man just doesn't lose. Why isn't he in everyone's Heisman conversation? What a novel concept - give the Most Outstanding Player award to a pure winner! At home, at night, in front of what will almost certainly be the most rabid crowd in recent Crimson Tide history, McElroy will not be beaten. This game could turn out to be like the Alabama-Auburn game last season - Florida will keep it close and may leap out to an early lead with some trickery, but McElroy will coolly take control of the game in the second half. And then Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson bury the Gators.
Alabama 26, Florida 17
3. Stanford at Oregon
Other than PSU-Iowa, I'm looking forward to this game more than any other on the weekly calendar. Both Stanford and Oregon are, in my opinion, vastly underrated. Oregon has at least gotten some notice, but Stanford is a legitimate top 5 team. They're brutally physical, coldly efficient on offense, and as disciplined as anyone. The 2 road games the Cardinal have played have resulted in blowouts, both against quality teams. They blanked UCLA, who just blasted Texas in Austin, and overran an unfortunate but solid Notre Dame team last week in South Bend. Autzen Stadium against this Oregon team is a different sort of test, but the Cardinal have the experience necessary to do it. Most expect this to be a pedal-to-the-metal track meet, with loads of points, but I think each offense will slow a bit, as they face the toughest defense they've yet seen. Don't be surprised if both teams have yet to break 20 once the 4th quarter starts. But the question this game hinges upon is this: can Oregon match Stanford's physicality? If they do, they'll win - the home field crowd will carry them through. If not, Stanford could overpower them. I'm going to side with Oregon - they'll be ready to be physical and they'll be able to get their speed guys off the edge and away from Stanford's strength and bulk one too many times for the Cardinal to keep up with. The Ducks win, but they'll have to suffer to get it done.
Oregon 27, Stanford 24
4. Texas vs. Oklahoma
I still don't know what to make of these two. Texas has sputtered all year, but who but the most ardent UCLA fan would have guessed that they'd get trounced by the visiting Bruins? Oklahoma crushed the best team it's played - Florida State - but narrowly escaped defeat against teams they by all rights should have put away with ease. The best I can surmise from each of these teams is that neither is quite up to the standards they're used to. As far as picking a winner - I could go with the Sooners based simply on the fact that I picked them to win it all this year. But I won't. The close games are going to catch up to them sometime, and it might be this weekend. Texas has dominated this rivalry recently, and I'm not so sure the loss to UCLA wasn't a fluke. Watching a random College Football Live episode earlier in the week convinced me that the Bruins are a different team than they were just 3 weeks ago, and the rest of the season may bear out the fact that the Longhorn loss to them wasn't actually a bad one. Texas does enough on defense to stay alive, Oklahoma makes a few mistakes that keep the Longhorns in it, and Garrett Gilbert shows his potential by providing Texas with a winner late. Or, I could be completely and utterly wrong.
Texas 31, Oklahoma 28
5. Virginia Tech at N.C. State
Don't look now, but N.C. State is atop the ACC. While they're a good team, that fact is one that's not likely to linger long. In fact, it probably stops for good this week. Virginia Tech has finally emerged from their Boise hangover, and behind their powerful defense are, to me, again the favorites to win the conference.
Virginia Tech 23, N.C. State 10
6. Miami (FL) at Clemson
Clemson showed a few weeks ago in Auburn that they're an ACC contender, but they're probably going to have to dig out of an 0-1 hole to go from contender to winner. Miami is very good, and won't be looking past the Tigers, even if Florida State is next. The Hurricanes are used to playing brutal early schedules, and they'll be ready come kickoff in Death Valley. In a close one, Jacory Harris leads Miami on a late drive for the win.
Miami (FL) 24, Clemson 23
7. Wisconsin at Michigan State
Wisconsin has yet to impress me. Aside from their 70-3 pasting of lower-level Austin Peay, their outings have been pretty lackluster. They narrowly escaped losing to Arizona State and couldn't fully shake both UNLV and San Jose State. They're primed to stumble in their first road game. Michigan State will play inspired football for their recovering coach, and the fans in East Lansing get to celebrate their second big win of the season.
Michigan State 34, Wisconsin 27
8. Washington at USC
Speaking of lackluster, lethargic teams, we come now to USC. The Trojans have been winning, sure, but they've done so in the least convincing manner possible. And they've done it with the odd style of choosing to go for 2 after most touchdowns (and missing quite often), leading to weird scores and some fire in the bellies of opposing coaches. I guess the lesson is that in any arena, Lane Kiffin will find a way to burn bridges and lose friends. Washington comes to town with the best player on the field (Jake Locker) and a coach (Steve Sarkesian) who's too familiar with USC's style, culture, stadium, and players than the Trojans would like him to be. Look for the upset here.
Washington 33, USC 26
9. Arizona State at Oregon State
Poor Oregon State - all they've been this year is the whipping boy for the non-BCS conference darlings. They're better than that, and they'll prove it by moving, as they always do, slowly into the Pac Ten race. Don't you worry, the Beavers - Rodgers brothers and all - will have their say before the conference race is over.
Oregon State 28, Arizona State 17
10. Tennessee at LSU
In spite of the fact that LSU is just not very good, they keep winning. Eventually things will even out, but not before they dispose of Tennessee - who, as their OT win over lowly UAB (or, as I like to call them, OOO-AB) shows, are also not very good this year.
LSU 21, Tennessee 7
11. Georgia at Colorado
Wow, have things gone bad at Georgia. I probably shouldn't mention the fact that I picked them to win the SEC. But I just did. Another loss and Mark Richt's job may, however unrightly, be in jeopardy. The question here is, will Georgia be able to get up for this game - a cross country trip against a hungry opponent. Colorado is barely even in mid-level SEC range, but the Bulldogs did just lose to Mississippi State. My guess is that Richt - a master motivator - will find a way to implore his team to dig deep and turn things around. He has to, or he'd better get his resume ready.
Georgia 35, Colorado 25
12. Notre Dame at Boston College
Boston College has been exposed as a second division ACC team, and Notre Dame could easily be 3-1 instead of 1-3. Any rivalry notwithstanding, this should be a no brainer. The only curiosity is that, with all the big games on the schedule, this one gets chosen as a primetime ABC offering. And Notre Dame wonders why everyone hates them!
Notre Dame 31, Boston College 17
13. Florida State at Virginia
Perhaps the toughest game of the week to pick. Mike London of Virginia is a very good coach, and this could easily be a trap game for Florida State, who goes to Miami next weekend. The Cavaliers nearly got USC on the road a few weeks ago, and I'm afraid it'll be another near miss for them here. Florida State just has more talent.
Florida State 24, Virginia 21
14. Navy at Air Force
In contrast to my earlier comment about Oklahoma's opponents, Air Force is a high quality team. Tim Jefferson and a bakers dozen of runningbacks come at opponents in waves, and in spite of the fact that Navy's defense has to practice against that sort of attack daily, they'll be unable to weather the onslaught. One thing is for sure - this will be the shortest game of the entire college football season. Can they finish in under 2:15?
Air Force 35, Navy 28
15. Texas A&M at Oklahoma State
We know virtually nothing about these two. Both are 3-0, both have won each of their 3 games on their home turf, both nearly honked games to Sun Belt foes, both have offenses who can score. When things look that even, it's best to just go with the home team and hope for the best.
Oklahoma State 38, Texas A&M 34
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