Let’s recap Week 2, shall we?
Notre Dame (0-2) at Michigan (2-0)
Pregame rant: Don’t let Denard Robinson’s mortal performance against Western Michigan fool you. Robinson rushed for 258 yards and two touchdowns at Notre Dame in 2010. Look for another big effort Saturday.
Postgame commentary: In Michigan’s first night game ever at the Big House, Robinson threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns, ran for 108 more yards and a score as Michigan won a thriller, 35-31. Three touchdowns were scored in the last minute, 12 seconds as Robinson threw the game-winning touchdown with two seconds left. The guy just makes plays.
Trent Richardson rushed for two touchdowns in leading No. 2 Alabama to a 27-11 win at Penn State./AP Photo.
No. 2 Alabama (2-0) at Penn State (1-1)
Pregame rant: The Tide should roll, but the Nittany Lions will make them earn this one in Beaver Stadium.
Postgame commentary: Alabama struggled early, but cruised to a 27-11 win. In the end, Penn State just didn’t have enough offense to make the Tide press to prevail. The Nittany Lions managed just 107 yards rushing.
No. 6 Stanford (2-0) at Duke (0-2)
Pregame rant: If the Blue Devils can’t beat Richmond, they have no shot against Andrew Luck and his Cardinal crew.
Postgame commentary: In the second quarter, Stanford only led 10-7 after Duke returned an Luke interception for a score. With a minute left in the game, the Blue Devils found themselves down 37 points. Luck threw four touchdowns in leading the Cardinal to a 44-14 road victory.
Oregon State (0-2) at No. 7 Wisconsin (2-0)
Pregame rant: The Beavers lost to Sacramento State 29-28. Ugly. Badgers will roll.
Postgame commentary: Badgers did roll. 35-0. Oregon State needs work.
Here are three games worth watching in Week 3.
LSU's convincing win against Oregon in Week 1 has many thinking the No. 3 Tigers are the nation's top team./AP Photo.
No. 3 LSU (2-0) at Mississippi State (1-1, 0-1 SEC), Thursday, 8 p.m., ESPN
After losing at Auburn, 41-34, on a goal-line stand by the Tigers with no time on the clock, the Bulldogs will try to bounce back against arguably the best team in college football. Another SEC West loss will knock Mississippi State out of any shot of winning the division and playing in the SEC title game.
No 18 West Virginia (2-0) at Maryland (1-0), Saturday, noon, ESPNU
This will be the first road game for the Mountaineers, but that’s not the major concern. New Maryland head coach Randy Edsall is not only one of the best coaches in the country, he’s had two weeks to prepare for WVU. Having coached in the Big East at Connecticut, Edsall knows the personnel of the Mountaineers. Check out the color scheme for the Terps’ uniforms and wear glasses in the process to protect your eyes from the bright glare.
No. 1 Oklahoma (1-0) at No. 5 Florida State (2-0), Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC
Good early-season match up, but is either of teams worthy of their lofty ranking? The winner will put itself in a great position to stay in BCS title contention through November, but the loser will have an opportunity to get back in the national championship picture becuase it’s an loss in September, not November. If the Seminoles are really back, this is the game to show it.
Snooze on these, though
After crushing SMU in Week 1, No. 9 Texas A&M should have little trouble with Idaho./AP Photo.
Idaho (1-1) at No. 9 Texas A&M (1-0), 7 p.m, Saturday
This is one of those games that Texas A&M should have the back ups in midway though the third quarter. Shouldn’t even be a contest. Now that they’re leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, the Aggies better keep teams like the Vandals on the schedule. Life is a lot rougher in the SEC.
Southeast Missouri State (0-1) at Purdue (1-1), noon, Saturday, Big Ten Network.
After barely beating Middle Tennessee State in their opener, the Boilermakers fell to Rice last week, 24-22, after having a field goal attempt blocked with no time left. Anytime an FBS school (Purdue) meets an FCS school (SE Missouri State), it shouldn’t be a contest. If Purdue wins, it should. If the Boilermakers lose, they’re the joke of the week.
Syracuse (2-0) at USC (2-0), 8 p.m., Saturday, FX.
Yes, both teams are undefeated, but you can’t look at the winner and say, “Boy, this team is for real.” Unless you have three TVs in your house or you got a itchy thumb to change the channel every five seconds, you’re not going to miss the Oklahoma-Florida State or the No. 17 Ohio State-Miami game (8 p.m, ESPN).
- Duane Rankin