Northeastern (0-2) at Syracuse (0-3), 3:30 EST, Saturday, September 20
Why to watch: Buck up, Syracuse fans. Your best shot all year to win a game is here. The Orange’s miserable start to the 2008 season gets a week off as Northeastern, a bad Colonial Conference team, makes the trip west to the Carrier Dome. Syracuse has been mauled by an average of 25 points in its three losses, including Saturday’s 55-13 drubbing at the hands of Penn State. Little has gone right for head coach Greg Robinson, who is clearly living on borrowed time and won’t be able to talk his way out of this mess. In some respects, Northeastern is the Syracuse of the FCS, an inept program searching for its first win. The Huskies have opened their season by losing to Georgia Southern and getting throttled by Ball State.
Why Northeastern might win: The Syracuse defense has gotten progressively worse with each passing week, allowing an average of 42 points a game and getting embarrassed in pass defense. Husky QB Anthony Orio has helped spark the passing attack in the first two games and could present a problem for the Orange secondary. He threw for 287 yards in the loss to Georgia Southern, and has three veteran receivers, including TE Brian Mandeville, a legitimate NFL prospect.
Why Syracuse might win: Finally, an opponent the Orange can bully in the trenches. Without a big deficit to make up, Syracuse will run right at the Huskies with Curtis Brinkley carrying the load and FB Tony Fiammetta leading the way. For a change, this is the type of defense that QB Cameron Dantley will be able to exploit with his arm and his legs. He’ll make people miss on designed running plays and find TE Mike Owen for at least one touchdown pass.
Who to watch: Really good players often get lost on really poor teams. Syracuse DT Arthur Jones is one of those players. He doesn’t much help around him, yet continues to shed blockers and make plays for minus yards. For a second straight year, he’s leading the team in tackles for loss, and could consider jumping to the NFL after his junior season.
What will happen: Syracuse is in really bad shape, but even it wouldn’t squander this opportunity to win a game for the first time since last October. The Orange will get 100 yards and a couple of scores from Brinkley, mercifully ending a seven-game losing streak
CFN Prediction: Syracuse 33 … Northeastern 14  ... Line: No Line
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 1
 - Click here to receive ATS Consultants FREE selections  

Rutgers (0-2) at Navy (1-2), 3:30 EST, Saturday, September 20
Why to watch: Now that Rutgers has raised the bar and pumped millions of dollars into stadium renovations, an ugly 0-2 start is the kind of development that can stall the program’s development. No only have the Knights lost home games to Fresno State and North Carolina, but they’ve been awful in the process, getting destroyed by the Tar Heels, 44-12, in front of a national TV audience. If they can’t get even with upcoming games with Navy and Morgan State, it’s going to feel like 2002 again around Piscataway. Navy is having problems of its own, losing back-to-back games at Ball State and Duke after opening with a win over Towson. The Midshipmen haven’t been the same without head coach Paul Johnson or QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who’s only been healthy for a couple of quarters. Don’t think the Middies have forgotten the chants of “Navy sucks” that they heard from the Rutgers crowd last September.
Why Rutgers might win: The Navy defense should be the perfect cure for a struggling Scarlet Knight offense. Rutgers has been miserable in the post-Ray Rice era, but a trip to Annapolis means facing a defense that’s been torched for nine touchdown passes and at least 300 yards in every game. As erratic as Mike Teel has been under center, he’ll get healthy at the expense of the overmatched Middie secondary, making frequent connections with top receivers Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood.
Why Navy might win: As if the nation’s most potent running game needs an excuse to keep it on the ground, Rutgers has played soft up front in the first two games. Kaheaku-Enhada is expected to be at full strength for the first time this season, which will give a significant boost to the triple-option. With he and nation’s-leading rusher Shun White in the backfield at the same time, Navy can grind out long drives, while keeping the Scarlet Knight offense waiting helplessly on the sidelines.
Who to watch: Time and time again, Teel has proven to be an average college quarterback who benefited more than anyone from Rice’s presence. However, as much as Greg Schiano is promising changes, this is one area where there aren’t many options. Jabu Lovelace? He’s not an upgrade. For now it’s still Teel, who should be able to restore some confidence against a handicapped defensive backfield.
What will happen: While both schools will have success on offense, Navy’s inability to make stops late will be its undoing. Rutgers will move the ball at will through the air, getting three touchdown passes from Teel. Most of the damage on the ground will be done by punishing 250-pounder Jourdan Brooks, who has earned a bigger role in the offense
CFN Prediction: Rutgers 38 … Navy 27 ... Line: Rutgers -6
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 2.5
 - Click here to receive ATS Consultants FREE selections  

South Florida (3-0) at Florida International (0-2), 5:00 EST, ESPNU, Saturday, September 20
Why to watch: With a pulsating Friday night win over Kansas, South Florida has moved up to No. 12 in the latest AP poll and is carrying the weathered banner for the Big East. It was another defining moment for the Bulls, who rallied from a 17-point deficit to win on a Maikon Bonani field goal as time expired. Provided they don’t get caught looking ahead, a trip to Miami will be a perfect breather before the rugged portion of the schedule resumes a week later. As expected, Florida International has not been competitive in losses to Kansas and Iowa to begin the season. A visit from South Florida will be another good measuring stick for the Golden Panthers and a chance to fill the stadium with Bulls fans looking to make the four-hour trip south.
Why South Florida might win: It takes a certain type of offense to have sustained success against this attacking, opportunistic Bull D. Florida International doesn’t have one of those offenses. Like a year ago, the Panthers labor to mount drives and have yet to score an offensive touchdown in eight quarters. No matter what they throw at DE George Selvie, he’ll either get his sacks or open things up for Terrell McClain and Aaron Harris to wreak havoc from the inside. Florida International has one of the worst offenses in the country, a reputation it won’t shake against South Florida.
Why Florida International might win: Logically, the Panthers match up poorly with the Bulls, but logic never plays a role in major upsets. While this is a huge game for Florida International, it’s a classic sandwich game for South Florida. A week after the thriller with Kansas and a week before traveling to an ACC opponent, the Bulls will have a hard time getting up for one of the worst teams in the FBS. Fueled by the play of linebackers Quentin Newman, Toronto Smith, and Scott Bryant, the Panther D has actually played rather well, keeping Kansas and Iowa from running it out of the building.
Who to watch: Although Jim Leavitt certainly hopes to have backs Mike Ford and Benjamin Williams healthy again, he’s not afraid to hand the bulk of the carries over to sophomore Jamar Taylor. One of the catalysts in Friday’s comeback, he rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, showing blazing speed around the edge. 
What will happen: A sluggish start and an incomplete effort will be almost unavoidable for South Florida. Still, the gap in talent between the two programs is so vast that any lapses in focus won’t cost the Bulls on the scoreboard. They’ll begin to roll before halftime, getting the starters to the bench by the start of the fourth quarter.
CFN Prediction: South Florida 48 … FIU 6 ... Line: South Florida -28
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 1.5
 - Click here to receive ATS Consultants FREE selections  

Miami Univ. (1-2) at Cincinnati (1-1), 7:30 EST, ESPN360, Saturday, September 20
Why to watch: Cincinnati’s situation at quarterback suffered a major blow when Dustin Grutza was lost for the season with a broken leg suffered in the blowout loss to Oklahoma. Just when the Bearcats felt they’d gotten past not having Ben Mauk, they’re being forced to move forward with Tony Pike behind center. The junior has never started a game, meaning head coach Brian Kelly is going to earn his reputation as a developer of quarterbacks. For Miami, the battle for the Victory Bell is the final non-conference game in what has been a rough stretch on the schedule. After losing games against Vanderbilt and Michigan to start the season, the RedHawks broke into the win column last week at the expense of Charleston Southern. In the wide-open MAC East, they remain in the mix for a division crown.
Why Miami might win: The RedHawk defense will provide a tough test for Pike in his first career start. The linebackers, in particular, form a fantastic trio, but they haven’t played up to their talent and potential yet this year. Clayton Mullins, Joey Hudson, and Caleb Bostic are rugged run-stuffers who’ll keep the pedestrian Cincy ground game quiet, forcing Pike to make plays through the air. If the Bearcat offensive line keeps having problems in pass protection, it’ll be a long night for the entire offense.
Why Cincinnati might win: Now more than ever, the Bearcat defense is going to need to step up and assert itself. Sure, the unit was gutted by Oklahoma, but Miami’s attack won’t be confused with the Sooner offense. In fact, until pasting lowly Charleston Southern, the RedHawks only managed to ring up one touchdown in the first two games. Turnover-prone QB Daniel Raudabaugh should have major problems with Mike Mickens, DeAngelo Smith, and one of the most athletic defensive backfields in the Big East.
Who to watch: As good as the Cincinnati defense can be, it still needs more outside pressure from players like DE Connor Barwin. A converted tight end, he’s been making a smooth transition to the defensive side of the ball. After abusing Eastern Kentucky for three tackles for loss and two sacks, he was quiet against the Oklahoma tackles. The RedHawk front doesn’t pose nearly the same challenge, so Barwin should get back in the boxscore for getting his hands on Raudabaugh.
What will happen: It’ll be back to basics for Cincinnati, which will lean heavily on the strength of the program, its defense. The Bearcats won’t need Pike to be great, relying on three interceptions and a total effort from the D to keep the Victory Bell in the Queen City for a third straight year.
CFN Prediction: Cincinnati 31 … Miami University 10 ... Line: Cincinnati -11.5
Must See Rating: (5 Dr. 90210 - 1 Biggest Loser: Families) … 2
 - Click here to receive ATS Consultants FREE selections  

- Week 4, Sept. 20 Predictions, Part 1