The Thing You Never Knew You Needed But Now Can't Live Without - Week 2

It's week 2!  This is a weird week, as no ranked teams are playing other ranked teams.  The upset potential is so low that NASCAR has the primetime spot on ABC tonight.  Fear not, footballers.  ABC may have passed, but there are plenty of games this weekend worth your tapenade.  Game on.

Big 12 Schedule

This week's schedule brought to you by the honorable Bob Bowlsby. Thanks for the TV deal, Bob. Now let's see some games.

Last week's predictions: 9-0.

11:00 a.m. FX: Miami at K-State (extended preview also available)
The Cats go full on Snyder Ball to confuse, frustrate and befuddle the speedsters from South Florida.  Look for special teams to have a big day and at least one non-offensive score in K-State's second victory of the year.  Prediction: 42-17, K-State. 

2:30 p.m. Big 10 network: Iowa State at Iowa
The Cyclones took home the controversial Cy-Hawk trophy last year in a triple overtime classic.  This year they're on the road, but facing an even weaker Iowa team.  Like all their games, Iowa State will do enough to both win and lose, but I think they come out on top in the end.  Prediction: 28-24, Iowa State.

2:30 p.m. FSN: Rice at KU
They put the KU game on WIBW last week and I was so excited to watch it.  I got halfway through the first quarter and fell asleep.  Something about it felt like Juco ball.  I can't imagine this one will be any better.  Prediction: 28-10, KU.  

6:00 p.m. Fox Pay-Per-View: Florida A&M at OU
OU is back at home, playing before midnight this time.  They should look better against an FCS opponent, but even if they don't, everyone will fall all over themselves to make excuses for Landry Jones and determine that OU is a national title contender yet again.  Grrrr.  Prediction: 45-7, OU.

6:00 p.m. FSN-SW: Grambling State at TCU
TCU finally plays their first game in the Big 12!  This game has been 17 years in the making and I expect them to come out huge offensively.  Big time blowout that will tell us nothing about TCU's actual strengths and weaknesses.  Welcome to week 1, Frogs.  Prediction: 56-10, TCU.

6:00 p.m. ESPN3.com: Texas Tech at Texas State
Upset alert!  Texas State stomped all over Houston last week which means that OF COURSE they can beat Tech.  Seriously?  Houston was supposed to be good without Case Keenum and Kevin Sumlin?  C'mon guys.  Just because you beat one team in Texas doesn't mean you should be favored to win them all.  Unless, of course, you're the reigning Texas State Champs.  Prediction: 31-17, Texas Tech.

7:00 p.m. Longhorn network: New Mexico at Texas
Another week, another Texas game that only Texas fans can see.  From the 15 second clip I saw on SportsCenter I would say that David Ash is still inconsistent, their defense is an average Big 12 defense and they should easily win this game.  Prediction: 28-7, Texas.

9:30 p.m. Pac-12 network: Oklahoma State at Arizona
This is the second best Big 12 game of the week and it's on the Pac-12 network.   How is NASCAR better than this?  Wes Lunt and the Cowboys could have trouble in this one, on the road, late at night, overconfident from their snoozefest last week.  This might be competitive in the 4th quarter, but everyone will have given up and gone to bed because NASCAR is on TV.  Grrr again.  Prediction: 38-35, OSU.

Best of the Rest

Hi sad, Aggies. You've given us plenty of entertainment in the off-season. Can you keep the humiliation going on the field, too? I have faith in you.

Last week's predictions: 3-1.

2:30 p.m. ESPN: Florida at Texas A&M
This is A&M's first game of the year after Isaac postponed their opening night cupcake with Louisiana Tech.  If it was anyone other than Florida, I'd say A&M would get the SEC welcome they deserve.  Unfortunately, Florida almost lost to Bowling Green last week, so I think we'll have to wait another week to see everyone's favorite second half collapse.  At least Aggie fans can take comfort in the fact that the stadium wall will show them as conference champs, regardless of performance.  So that's something.  Prediction: 21-10, Texas A&M. 

2:30 p.m. NBC: Purdue at Notre Dame
Notre Dame beat Navy by 40 points last week so naturally they're ranked this week and expected to face OU in the national championship.  Purdue, please win so we can put all this Notre Dame nonsense to bed for another year.  Prediction: 24-20, Purdue.

5:00 p.m. ESPN3.com: Savannah State at Florida State
Savannah State should be proud.  They beat last week's record by 5 points!  Way to go, guys.  If Florida State loses this game, can we all agree to stop preseason hyping them for the next 5 years?  I need a break.  Prediction: 62-3, Florida State.

6:30 p.m. Fox: Nebraska at UCLA
I would love nothing more than for UCLA to beat Nebraska, even if it meant that we started overhyping UCLA again.  Sports analysts have the strangest selective memory.  Unfortunately, UCLA can't be trusted, especially with something as rewarding as this.  Prediction: 28-7, Nebraska.

6:45 p.m. ESPN2: Georgia at Missouri
Why do the SEC lovers at ESPN hate Georgia so much?  I don't quite understand it.  I also don't understand why they think Mizzou is so good.  I must have watched a different team last year.  It doesn't matter how many Georgia starters are sitting out of this one. Mizzou is not SEC ready.  Prediction: 42-21, Georgia.

7:00 p.m. Big 10 network: Vanderbilt at Northwestern
Two of the craziest games last week involved Vandy and Northwestern.  What a gift to have them matched up in week 2.  What's that?  It's on the Big 10 network?  Gift CANCELED.  Prediction: Totally awesome score that will be unviewable and ignored by ESPN because of NASCAR coverage.  Infinite grrrrrrrr.