Week 1 of the NCAA football season is in the books.
So what did we learn from it heading into Week 2?
Plenty.
Especially if we’re overreacting to the first set of games played.
And that is what we all do so well.
So with that in mind, here’s where we’re at …
That show of force put on last Saturday by the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (1-0) in a 49-3 rip of the No. 11 Oregon Ducks (0-1) makes them automatic College Football Playoff finalists, doesn’t it? And go ahead and crown them champions again in defence of their title they won last January. Sorry, Alabama … Georgia looks that good.
Of course, UGA generated the obliteration of Oregon behind the electric arm of QB Stetson Bennett, who went off for 368 yards and two touchdowns on eye-popping 25-of-31 passing. So with that, let’s white-hat Stetson with the Heisman Trophy honour. Perhaps, he’s even this year’s Joe Burrows, following the footsteps of that quarterback when he shook off a shaky start to his college career to put together a phenomenal season, leading the LSU Tigers to the 2020 NCAA championship. Book it, Bennett.
Week 1 saw just one Power Five team fall to a Group of Five side in 26 head-to-head games. That was the ACC’s Virginia Tech Hokies (0-1) allowing a touchdown with 33 seconds left to drop a 20-17 contest to the host Old Dominion Monarchs (1-0) of the Sun Belt Conference. That stat supports the theory that there’s no true contender in the Group of Five ranks this year and doesn’t bode well for a final-four appearance from the lesser lights, like the Cincinnati Bearcats boldly brought us last year. C’mon, Houston Cougars (1-0)!
And can we say these teams are ‘back’ after just one week? Go right ahead when you’re talking of No. 10 USC (1-0) after a 66-14 wallop of visiting Rice (0-1), No. 12 Florida Gators (1-0) after a monster 29-26 win over the visiting No. 7 Utah Utes (0-1), and No. 15 Miami after a no-doubt 70-13 drub of the FCS Bethune Cookman Wildcats (0-1). But it probably won’t stick, since we say that about those three programs every year.
So let’s not get too carried away …
Yet.
SECOND DOWN
Our hope is USC and LSU (0-1) can claw their way back into contention with the new coaching hires of Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly respectively. But what of Miami with Mario Cristobal now the sideline boss there? The 10 touchdowns ‘The U’ hung on Bethune-Cookman is a good start for the former Oregon coach … Speaking of Miami, we’re backing Dwayne Johnson for next president of the United States of America. After all, ‘The Rock’ — whose odds are south of +6500 to win the presidency — is the ‘People’s Champion’, so it’s not a large leap to ‘People’s Choice’ … So, hey, Dwayne! Who’s your ‘Ballers’ after the first two weeks of football? UNC QB Drake Maye has tossed 646 yards in two games to top all passers, while Frank Gore Jr. — yes, son of — ran for 178 yards in a 29-27 loss to Liberty (1-0). And Ontario’s Chase Brown is opening eyes with 350 yards for Illinois (1-1) in a pair of tilts to lead all FBS rushers. O Canada!
THIRD DOWN
Miami faces Gore Jr. and Southern Miss in Week 2 on Saturday (noon ET), with hopes of being one of a handful of teams finally challenging Clemson (1-0) for the ACC banner this fall. Another contender, we hope, is Florida State (2-0) with two wins out of the gate for the first time in six seasons behind QB Jordan Travis’ solid start — 467 passing yards and passing the eye-test for promise. Included was FSU’s 24-23 win over LSU (0-1) last Sunday night. And North Carolina (2-0), we know, can score after posting 119 points in two games, and scoring is always half the battle against Clemson’s vaunted defence … Mack Brown just needs to find some defence for UNC after his charges allowed a whopping 40 points in the fourth quarter to host Appalachian State in last week’s crazy finish that ended 63-61 with App State’s two-point conversion attempt stuffed with nine seconds left … There’s no doubting Dabo Swinney in Clemson, though. The affable head coach got a serious contract extension — a new 10-year, $115-million super pact — to rival Nick Saban’s deal at Alabama. However, Swinney’s squad can’t stumble like it did early against Georgia Tech on Labour Day. Sure, Clemson won 41-10, but it was far from championship calibre for three-plus quarters.
FOURTH DOWN
How bad is Hawai’i (0-2)? No. 4 Michigan (1-0) is a 51.5-point favourite — and climbing — for Saturday’s late game at The Big House (8 p.m. ET) … Can Iowa (1-0) somehow score two safeties — like in last week’s strange 7-3 win over FCS-side South Dakota State (0-1) — to cover the 3.5-point spread against visiting Iowa State (1-0) on Saturday (4 p.m. ET)? Yes, Iowa has the defence to do it. Just ask SDSU … No. 23 Wake Forest (1-0) gets Heisman long-shot QB Sam Hartman back under centre to face Vanderbilt (2-0) early Saturday (noon ET) after his return from surgery to remove a blood clot last month. But maybe the real return here is the opponent. Vandy’s got a legit chance to open the year 3-0 for the only the third time in 14 seasons. Look out, SEC! … And look out, Pac-12. Big 12 commish Brett Yormark said Wednesday it’s expansion wish-list includes “going out west.” The conferences seem to be at war like never before … Funny segment featuring Ottawa’s Jesse Palmer aired Thursday on ESPN U’s morning program Full Ride. The former Florida QB, who is currently The Bachelor franchise host, talked of FLA’s chances, while Full Ride host Chris Childers was pitching a spin-off idea called Fat Bachelor to help ABC bring in more eyeballs from the common man. Jesse, will you accept that rose?
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AP TOP 25
Rank Team (last year) Record
1. Alabama (1) 1-0
2. Georgia (3) 1-0
3. Ohio State (2) 1-0
4. Michigan (8) 1-0
5. Clemson (4) 1-0
6. Texas A&M (6) 1-0
7. Oklahoma (9) 1-0
8. Notre Dame (5) 0-1
9. Baylor (10) 1-0
10. USC (14) 1-0
11. Oklahoma State (12) 1-0
12. Florida (NR) 1-0
13. Utah (13) 0-1
14. Michigan State (15) 1-0
15. Miami (16) 1-0
16. Arkansas (19) 1-0
17. Pittsburgh (17) 1-0
18. NC State (13) 1-0
19. Wisconsin (18) 1-0
20. Kentucky (20) 1-0
21. BYU (25) 1-0
22. Ole Miss (21) 1-0
23. Wake Forest (22) 1-0
24. Tennessee (NR) 1-0
25. Houston (24) 1-0
NR — not ranked
GAME TO WATCH
(-20) #1 ALABAMA @ TEXAS
Saturday, noon ET, in Austin, Texas, FOX
Sorry, Texas. It’s still not your year, while Alabama’s on a championship mission again.
PICK: ALABAMA
BEST BETS
(-2.5) UTSA @ ARMY
Saturday, noon ET
That staunch Army ‘D’ couldn’t hold Coastal in Week 1. UTSA moves the ball, too.
PICK: UTSA
(-6) #24 TENNESSEE @ #17 PITTSBURGH
Saturday. 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Fortune made Pitt a winner a week ago. It will need more than that to stop Vols’ march.
PICK: TENNESSEE
(-27) MARYLAND @ CHARLOTTE
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte has lost to two cupcakes by a combined 84-37 score. Maryland has firepower.
PICK: MARYLAND
LAST WEEK: 3-2
2022 RECORD: 6-3
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