Texas A&M
(3-0) at Miami (2-1)
7:30 PM ESPN
Why to watch:
Texas A&M and Miami have one thing in
common as they prepare to meet for the
first time since 1944. Both want to use
Thursday night’s nationally televised
game as a high-profile launching pad
toward regaining some of the luster
they’ve lost in recent years. For the
Aggies, this is their most important
non-conference game since getting beat
by Virginia Tech four years ago. Yeah,
they’re unbeaten and ranked No. 16 in
the latest Coaches’ Poll, but wins over
Montana State and Louisiana-Monroe, and
a close call with Fresno State, hardly
has anyone thinking Big 12 title. A win
in the Orange Bowl, even when Miami is
down, will boost A&M’s street cred while
bolstering Dennis Franchione’s always
tenuous job security. The Hurricanes
are still trying to locate an identity,
winning the two games they were supposed
to, but getting humiliated, 51-13, at
Oklahoma two weeks ago. Miami is just
3-8 in its last 11 games against ranked
opponents, and it desperately needs a
win over a name team to officially get
the Randy Shannon era going. Why Texas A&M might win: The last
time Miami played a team from the Big
12, its heralded defense got exposed by
the passing of Sam Bradford and the
running of DeMarco Murray, a pair of
star OU freshmen. The Aggies don’t
throw it nearly as well as OU, but boast
one of the nation’s most dynamic and
diverse running games, getting power
from Jorvorskie Lane, speed from Mike
Goodson, and a little of both from QB
Stephen McGee. If A&M can get this game
into the 30s, the Hurricanes won’t have
the offensive weapons to keep up.
Despite already playing Marshall and
Florida International, Miami averages
just 22 points a game, and is 99th
in the country in total offense. Why Miami might win: The Sooners
were able to dent the ‘Cane D in large
part because they had balance, something
Texas A&M lacks. McGee is an average
passer with just two touchdown tosses
this year, meaning Miami can stack the
line with S Kenny Phillips and LBs Colin
McCarthy and Tavares Gooden in order to
slow down the Aggie ground game. While
the Hurricane offense certainly has
issues, it could come to life against an
A&M defense that has just three sacks
and allowed 215 yards rushing to
UL-Monroe a week ago. Miami QB Kyle
Wright will be playing with a sense of
purpose after regaining his job, and the
running duo of Javarris James and Graig
Cooper is as talented as the school has
had in five years. Who to watch: Aggie TE Martellus
Bennett switched from No. 13 to No. 85
last week in honor of former Miami and
current Buffalo Bill TE Kevin Everett,
who suffered a serious spinal cord
injury two weeks ago. Besides being a
class act, Bennett is a 6-7 match up
nightmare that leads A&M in receiving,
and already has 34 knockdown blocks
through three games. Many NFL scouts
consider him the nation’s top tight end
prospect, and this is his chance to come
through with a national breakout game.
What will happen: Against quality
programs, such as Texas A&M, Miami lacks
the horses on offenses to come out on
top. On a hot, sticky night in South
Florida, the Aggie ground attack will
wear out the Hurricane D in the second
half, leading the team to a key out of
conference win.
CFN Prediction:
Texas A&M
28 ... Miami 23
... Line: Miami -3 Must See Rating: (5 Curb Your
Enthusiasm - 1 Kid Nation)
... 4
ACC Saturday, Sept. 22
Clemson (3-0) at NC State (1-2)
12:00 PM GamePlan
Why to Watch:
Is Clemson really ready to be a
true ACC title contender? Can it
be consistent enough to bring
the intensity week in and week
out? In ACC play, few are
better when the spotlight is on,
but against an inferior opponent
like NC State, that’s when
things usually get interesting
for Tommy Bowden’s clubs. The
Wolfpack ran the ball well last
week in the win over Wofford,
and while that might not mean
much, if it can establish itself
on the ground early on, this
could be a battle for longer
than the Tigers might like. Why Clemson Might Win:
When did Cullen Harper become
Matt Leinart? With the
improvement in the passing game,
to go along with the devastating
ground attack, Clemson now has a
dangerous offensive arsenal that
can beat teams several different
ways. Harper has completed 72.5%
of his passes, is fourth in the
nation in passing efficiency
(205.0) and hasn’t thrown an
interception during his
collegiate career, spanning 156
attempts. NC State has been run
over by everyone so far,
including by Wofford, and will
be again this week. This won’t
be Harper’s game, but he’ll have
the Pack thinking about him
enough to open things up for
James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Why NC State Might Win:
The triumph over Wofford
featured a couple of positives.
First, the Wolfpack ran for 217
yards, led by sturdy tailback
Andre Brown. Second, QB Harrison
Beck didn’t toss an
interception, after he threw six
in the first two games. If Brown
and Beck deliver, the Pack has
just enough balance to keep
things moving and still untested
Tiger D. The Tiger offensive
line has struggled in pass
protection so far, so if the
State line can somehow get to
Harper early, the game might
take on a different shape.
Who to Watch:
When Clemson fans think of the
number 20, they remember former
All-America (and current
All-Pro) safety Brian Dawkins.
These days, No. 20 is senior
linebacker Tremaine Billie, who
missed all of last season after
injuring his ankle during
pre-season practices. He has 16
tackles in three games,
including six (and two QB
pressures) against Florida
State, as he’s reestablished
himself as one the ACC’s best
playmakers. With Billie in the
lineup, the Tigers are 16-5.
What Will Happen:
Filled with confidence after
their win over Wofford and
playing at home, NC State will
put up a fight, but Clemson has
too much talent to blow its
great start now. The Pack simply
doesn’t have enough offensive
playmakers, and Beck is too
shaky, to beat a team this good. CFN Prediction:
Clemson
31 ... NC State 17
.. Line: Clemson -7.5 Must See Rating: (5
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 1
Kid Nation) ...
2
Georgia Tech (2-1) at Virginia
(2-1)
12:00 PM ESPNU
Why to Watch:
When did this happen? Left for
dead, Virginia is now 2-0 in ACC
play, and the team which seemed
unable to snap the ball properly
in its season-opening loss to
Wyoming has started to awaken.
Okay, so the two wins have come
over Duke and North Carolina,
but the Cavs are on a roll and
could quickly make a huge
statement with a win over a very
good Georgia Tech team that
might be reeling after being
dominated at home by Boston
College in a 24-10 loss. But is
this really a great Yellow
Jacket team, or is it merely the
product of playing far, far
inferior competition (Notre
Dame, Samford) in its first two
games? If this is really an ACC
championship team, this is a
game it has to win in a walk. Why Georgia Tech Might Win:
Even though BC was able to shut
down the Tech attack, and end
Tashard Choice’s string of nine
straight 100-yard rushing games,
that might be an aberration.
Choice is averaging 112.3 yard
per game and is a threat to wear
down defenses and break big
plays … if he plays. Banged up
with a hamstring injury, Choice
might be out, but the backfield
has replacements good enough to
produce behind a dominant
offensive line. The defense,
allowing just 56 yards rushing
per game, should force UVa to be
one-dimensional. Considering
there aren’t any Cavalier
receivers to worry about, this
could be a statement game for
the Yellow Jacket D.
Why Virginia Might Win:
The Cavs have gotten more potent
since staggering to a loss at
Wyoming. Last week against UNC,
it was Cedric Peerman’s 186
rushing yards that drove the
train. QB Jameel Sewell has also
been solid, completing 57% of
his passes for 243 yards. But he
needs to make better decisions,
or Peter Lalich will play more
than just a relief role for the
passing game. Tight end Tom
Santi leads the team with 11
catches, but is averaging just
seven yards per reception. The
pass defense might be shaky so
far, but Georgia Tech has to win
on the ground, which will play
into the Cavs’ strength. Can
Tech QB Taylor Bennett win a
game if Choice isn’t effective?
That remains to be seen.
Who to Watch:
What happens if Choice can’t go?
The Yellow Jackets are still
loaded at tailback, led by
freshman Jonathan Dwyer, who
tore off 138 yards and three
touchdowns against Samford and
has at least one score in each
of his first three games. Senior
Rashaun Grant isn’t as talented
as Dwyer, but he’s experienced
enough to carry the attack for
extended stretches. Now he’s
back from a hamstring injury.
Shifty sophomore Jamaal Evans is
dangerous as both a runner and a
receiver. In other words, Tech
will still produce if Choice
can’t go.
What Will Happen:
Virginia is better than it
showed against Wyoming, but it’s
not yet in GT’s class. The
Yellow Jacket defense will
dominate, while several backs
will make the ground game shine. CFN Prediction:
Georgia
Tech
27 ... Virginia 10.. Line:
Georgia Tech -3 Must See Rating: (5
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 1
Kid Nation) ... 3
North Carolina (1-2) at South Florida
(2-0)
12:00 PM ESPN
Why to watch:
Okay, South Florida, now that
the rest of the nation knows who
you are, can you keep the
momentum going and win with a
big, fat target on your chest?
When we last saw the Bulls two
weeks ago, they were shocking
Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in
a landmark win that propelled
the program into the Top 25.
With the Tigers now in the rear
view mirror and a visit from
West Virginia just six days
away, the young team needs to
avoid a letdown in a dangerous
sandwich game with North
Carolina. The Tar Heels are
learning their way under Butch
Davis, losing the last two to
East Carolina and Virginia by a
combined five points and showing
more competitiveness than in
recent years. With a new
direction and a ton of fresh
faces, such as rookie QB T.J.
Yates getting reps, North
Carolina is headed, well, north,
even if it’s not evident in the
standings. Why North Carolina might win:
In what should be a low-scoring
game, Yates is quickly
developing into the type of
quarterback that can keep his
team in the hunt, especially
against a South Florida offense
that lacks a knockout punch.
The freshman has thrown three
touchdown passes in each of the
Heels’ three games, and is
flanked by a terrific set of
receivers. Even against Elon,
the Bulls failed to reach the
30s, leaving them vulnerable to
an improving North Carolina
offense. Why South Florida might win:
If DE George Selvie and the
sack-happy Bull defense don’t do
in the Tar Heels on Saturday,
turnovers will. Consistent with
its youth, North Carolina is
losing the always critical
turnover battle this season, a
big reason the team hasn’t been
able to pull out the last two
close games. South Florida, on
the other hand, is loaded with
ball hawks, and is currently No.
4 in the country in turnover
margin. After watching Virginia
RB Cedric Peerman rip Carolina
for 186 yards last Saturday, the
Bulls are going to administer a
heavy dose of freshman RB Mike
Ford. Who to watch: The chess
match between the Tar Heel
receivers and the veteran Bull
secondary ought to be fantastic,
and go a long way to determining
the outcome of the game. While
Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and
Brooks Foster form Carolina’s
best pass-catching trio in
years, they’re going to hit a
brick wall that features
top-flight corners Trae Williams
and Mike Jenkins, and Nate
Allen, a budding star at free
safety. What will happen: As hard
as Jim Leavitt tries to keep USF
focused on the task at hand,
don’t discount the danger of a
look-ahead game. The Bulls will
start slow before QB Matt Grothe
lights their fuse, and
Carolina’s youth and
inconsistency once again
prevents an upset.
CFN Prediction:
South
Florida 28 ...
North
Carolina
16 ... Line: South
Florida -13.5 Must See Rating: (5
Curb Your Enthusiasm - 1
Kid Nation) ...
2.5
