Football Future-see 2013: Week Three

RECORD

Week 1	8-2
Week 2	4-1
Week 3	4-1
Week 4
Week 5
Total	16-4	.800

My only letdown last week was Florida somehow losing to Miami. A friend of mine who is a huge Miami fan proceeded to update his Facebook status to proclaim the greatness of the ACC over the SEC. My response was that winning two close home games does not establish a precedent. What does establish a precedent for conference superiority? I’d say it’s seven consecutive crystal footballs currently residing in the SEC’s halls of power. Other than Florida screwing things up, every other game was a winner. Georgia returned to strength with a 41-30 beating of South Carolina in which they were even more effective at neutralizing Jadaveon Clowney than UNC was two weeks ago. My only regret from that game is that Evil Richt didn’t show up and score again to rub it in Spurrier’s face. Be honest, if you watched that game, Georgia’s offense was unstoppable at the end, and it was only through Richt’s sense of decent humanity that he didn’t run the score up.

So what do we have this week? No Georgia, as the Dawgs have a bye week before facing powerhouse North Texas and then some school from Baton Rouge. This week we get a few non-conference games centered on Alabama facing the Flying Johnny Footballs.

16 UCLA at 23 Nebraska.....INCORRECT

To be honest, Nebraska has been very much lackluster through two weeks. To give you an idea of where the voters are on these two teams, the AP Poll (which I use for these predictions) has Nebraska 23 and UCLA 16. The Coaches Poll has Nebraska 15 and UCLA 17. In other words, this game could go either way. I think, though, that the Cornhuskers are set for a big time win. UCLA has only played one game this year, in which they beat Nevada 58-20. Nebraska is a better team than Nevada, though. Nebraska wins this one, but UCLA will keep it close. Nebraska may even win on a last second field goal.

Final Score: Nebraska 26, UCLA 24

1 Alabama at 6 Texas A&M.....CORRECT

The marquee game of Week 3. ESPN’s Gameday crew has already made reservations for College Station. Alabama is the top ranked team in the country and will have to play like it when they face the Flying Johnny Footballs. Otherwise, we’re going to see Johnny Manziel pointing at scoreboards, pretending to sign autographs, and otherwise being a jerk. But I think Alabama plays like the #1 team this Saturday. Texas A&M is going to score points. Alabama, though, is going to score more.

Final Score: Alabama 38, Texas A&;M 31

Tennessee at 2 Oregon.....CORRECT

Tennessee is coming off a big win over Western Kentucky; a win in which the Hilltoppers committed five turnovers in the span of six offensive plays. But this week’s challenge for the Vols is different. Oregon moves at a speed unlike any other. Their offense is the fastest thing this side of light, and they’ve not missed a beat after Chip Kelly departed for the NFL’s sometimes-greener pastures. Tennessee may keep this one close for a time, but I think Oregon’s speed eventually undoes the young Tennessee Defense.

Final Score: Oregon 40, Tennessee 17

Vanderbilt at 13 South Carolina.....CORRECT

The Gamecocks are definitely going to be looking to get back on track following a tough loss in Athens in what can only be described as a war. For two weeks, Jadaveon Clowney has been rather ineffective. He recorded one sack and three tackles against Georgia and in week one he was on the bench almost as much as he was on the field. After the Georgia game, Clowney called out his coaches for not using him properly. Now, Vanderbilt rolls into Columbia. This doesn’t bode well for the Commodores. Look for Connor Shaw to have a solid game and look for the USC defense to move Clowney around and get him more involved.

Final Score: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 17

25 Ole Miss at Texas.....CORRECT

Texas had one of those games you wish you could forget, losing on the road to BYU 40-21. Last season, Texas went to Oxford for the first game of this home-and-home series with Ole Miss. I predicted the upset that week, and Texas proceeded to blow out the Rebels. But this year is different. Ole Miss has a year of experience under their belts, they have a good quarterback, and some of the best freshmen players in the nation. Austin is no easy place to play, but Texas is reeling. Look for Ole Miss to play some smashmouth SEC football against a once-Big XII powerhouse. Ole Miss wins.

Final Score: Ole Miss 24, Texas 20