Week 3 Preview

I thought now would be a good time for me to spew some random thoughts I have on the upcoming week in college football. Plus, I'm reeeeaaalllllyy bored at work right now!
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Everyone is talking about the big game this weekend. It's a huge event in college football for two programs as huge as this meeting in out of conference play. Of course, I am referring to the monumental Navy at Duke ball game.

While most of the nation will pay no mind to this contest, I will be following along intensely. This game could be a program changer for Duke, which hasn't played a meaningful football game since the Steve Spurrier days. I really think David Cutcliffe is one of the better coaches in the nation. The blue Devils are extremely lucky to have him. That being said, the Midshipmen should rack up about 500 yards rushing on the ACC pansies and win by 3 touchdowns.

Cutcliffe will have Duke moving in the right direction eventually. Just not now.
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As for the other big game this weekend. USC will be hosting the personal punching bag of the SEC, the Ohio St. Buckeyes. I know the Buckeye faithful feel they have a good shot of knocking off the Trojans in the Coliseum. However, I know that deep down inside, OSU fans realize they have no shot of winning this one.

Beanie Wells will be neutralized by Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga. Boeckman will have to play 1513215481 times better than he did against in-state juggernaut Ohio for the Buckeyes to even remain close. Now, the Buckeye defense should keep the contest closer than most people think it will be. But in the end, the Trojans have too much depth for Ohio St. to handle.
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In a game that will not be close at all, Oklahoma travels to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies. I really feel bad for UW after they were jobbed last week by PAC-10 officials against BYU. Unfortunately for Ty Willingham's bunch, the Sooners don't provide much in the form of a bounce-back game.

I really hope the Huskies give Willingham one more year to get them to a bowl game. He deserves at least that.
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Coaches on the rise:

These are coaches of some non-BCS programs that could be cashing in some bigger paychecks next season.

Skip Holtz, East Carolina
Kyle Whittingham, Utah
Bronco Mendenhall, BYU
Chris Petersen, Boise St.
Todd Graham, Tulsa
Al Golden, Temple
Turner Gill, Buffalo

Coaches on the way out:

These are some coaches that may be serving you your grande non-fat latte at Starbucks after this year.

Greg Robinson, Syracuse
Chuck Long, Sand Diego St.
Ralph Friedgen, Maryland
Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh
Tommy Bowden, Clemson
Tyrone Willingham, Washington
Tommy West, Memphis
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What the hell's going on with:

LeSean Mcoy.

This Pittsburgh running back was lauded by some (including me) as one of the best two backs in the country, He hasn't done shit this season. This reminds me a lot of Ken Simonton of Oregon St. fame. Simonton was supposed to be a leading Heisman candidate for the Beavers only to put up some seriously weak numbers for the Beavers in 2001. I hope this is just a Sophomore slump.

What has gotten into:

Rice.

David Bailiff has his Owls playing some pretty good football through the first two weeks. Rice has defeated SMU and Memphis, both schools that were seen as up and comers in the C-USA. Rice is now 2-0 in the conference. Making them the top team in C-USA. Chase Clement is an early dark horse Heisman candidate as well. WR Jarrett Dillard may be the first wideout taking in next year's NFL draft.

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5 Games to watch:

1. Ohio St. @ USC
2. Georgia @ South Carolina
3. Kansas @ South Florida
4. UCLA @ BYU
5. Wisconsin @ Fresno St.

5 Stories to Follow:

1. Can the ACC get on track? ( UNC @ Rutgers, Navy @ Duke, Cal @ Maryland, UVA @ UCONN)
2. Big bounce back game for Tennessee. (vs. UAB)
3. Will SMU and Texas Tech break the 100 point threshold?
4. Which "pretenders" are for real? (Rice, Vandy, Arkansas, Minnesota, Arkansas St., Iowa)
5. Will Randy Shannon stop crying?