Week 2 Preview

Week Two Preview:

After some good games last week, college football is in full swing for week 2. We have rivalries heating up in the SEC, and some national championship rematches. You can start your day at Noon and watch great games until 10 pm on Saturday!

Georgia v. South Carolina 12:00 pm ESPN 2

The AJ Green suspension has most Georgia fans thinking that it is not going to be a good day in Columbia. Personally, I think the suspension will help the Dawgs. I didn’t see this game going Georgia’s way before the season, and I still think it will be an upset if the Dawgs win, but I think that the suspension will pull this team together.

Before we get to the game, a word about the suspension. Green knew what he was doing was against NCAA rules. He apologized in a statement and repaid the money. Now he has to do the time. You can’t fault the NCAA for making this decision. There are going to be more suspensions coming in the next few days and weeks for other high-profile programs, at least now the coaches, players, and fans know that Green will be out until the Colorado game.

Now to the on-field matters.

Georgia usually beats South Carolina. In the Richt era, Georgia has only lost to the Gamecocks twice, and one of those times was in Richt’s first SEC game in 2001.
South Carolina looked very good against Southern Mississippi last Thursday night, and they will have a few extra days of rest because of the early game last week, but, Georgia isn’t Southern Mississippi.

South Carolina will feature a veteran quarterback in Stephen Garcia as well as a young prodigy in Connor Shaw. In Garcia, you know what you are going to get. He is going to make some plays, and he has the ability to move around in the pocket and even scramble when pressure is applied. When he is given time, he can pick a defense apart. However, if you saw the game against Southern Miss you know that he doesn’t respond well to pressure. He takes his eyes off of the receivers too early and starts trying to run. If Georgia can get in Garcia’s face, they might force him into some mistakes. Mistakes are the other thing you know you are going to get with Garcia. He threw 10 INT’s last season, and some of them came at the worst possible times. Look for South Carolina to try to establish the run with freshman running back Marcus Lattimore. The ESPN guys loved talking about how Lattimore was running over the Southern Miss defenders, but I think he will have a harder time with the Dawgs defense.

For Georgia it is all about two things: No mistakes from Aaron Murray and keep that defense aggressive. Murray looked extremely poised last Saturday between the hedges, but he has never been in an environment like the one he will see Saturday at Noon. Murray does not have to win the game, but he cannot lose it either. If Murray does not throw an interception, Georgia will win the game.

The biggest key to the game in my opinion is Georgia’s defense. They looked great against lowly Louisiana Lafayette, but what will they be able to do against a legitimate offense. Spurrier is a genius, and if there are holes in the defense, he will find them. Georgia has to figure out a way to stop the passing game of South Carolina. Alshon Jeffery (6-4), Jason Barnes (6-4), and Ace Sanders (5-7) are three great receivers and two of them have the size that will make them almost impossible to cover. If Georgia puts pressure on Garcia, which they have to, it will leave our cornerbacks going one on one with these huge receivers.

I think Georgia will come into Williams-Bryce Stadium on Saturday, arm and arm with an “us against the world mentality.” I think 80,000 people are going to boo this young Georgia team and I don’t think they are going to care for one minute. I think Georgia will play a great game, and end up losing a close one in the end. South Carolina’s size at wide receiver and their veteran leadership will be just enough to beat the Dawgs, 20-17.
P.S. I hope I’m wrong.

Miami v. Ohio State 3:40 pm ESPN

This is a rematch of a great National Title Game in 2002. Ohio State won that game with the help of a bad pass interference call in overtime. This game might be just as close. Randy Shannon has done a great job bringing Miami back after Larry Coker managed to take all that talent to mediocre levels. Miami’s quarterback Jacory Harris has the talent to go on the road and lead his team to victory, but does he have the mental make up to handle the big situations and the national attention?

On the other side of the field, Tyrell Pryor has heard everyone talk about how good he is since he was in high school. Pryor famously took a few extra weeks to decide on Ohio State over Michigan a few years ago, and proceeded to live up to all of his hype in last year’s Rose Bowl. This game will make one of these teams a title contender and leave the other team playing only for their conference title.

Because the game is being played in Columbus, I’ll take Ohio State, but I think it will be a shootout, 31-24.

Florida State v. Oklahoma 3:30 pm ABC

This is a rematch of a not-so-great National Title game in 2001. FSU’s potent offense could barely make it on and off the field after offensive coordinator, Mark Richt took the Georgia job before the title game. Oklahoma won the game and the title. Bobby Bowden never went back to a title game.

Jimbo Fisher is the coach at FSU now, although Bowden’s shadow still looms large over the program. Fisher would go a long way to make the program his own by going on the road Saturday and upsetting Oklahoma, and I believe that is exactly what is going to happen. Oklahoma didn’t look good in their opening game, and even though I think Oklahoma is a good team, I think FSU is due for a big time win. The Noles pull the upset 27-16.

Penn State v. Alabama 7 pm ESPN

The defending champions get their first test of 2010 as Joe Pa brings a young Nitny Lions team to Tuscaloosa. Mark Ingram isn’t going to play and to hear Bama fans talk about it, they are better off. Trent Richardson had a good game last week, but there is a reason Ingram won the Heisman. I think this game will be the game of the day.
Penn State is going to scare the pants right off of AL the elephant. In the end, I think Bama will hang on to win, but don’t be surprised if Penn State is leading sometime in the second half. The fighting Sabans win this one, but close: Bama 17-16.