Texas-Michigan Leads This Week’s Pigskin Prognosticator College Football Picks

 By The Pigskin Prognosticator, PubClub.com’s College Football Analyst

The optimism and excitement of Week 1 has either been pumped up or deflated, depending on the perspective of one’s allegiances. In Gainesville College Station and Blacksburg, for example, they are already resigned to the fact this won’t be “the year” (again!) while in Athens, Oxford, Knoxville and Norman, plus Columbus, State College and a few other fun college towns, there is talk of titles.

In Clemson, the fans there are starting to wish that Dabo would put himself in the transfer portal while in the other Death Valley LSU fans are beginning to realize what Notre Dame fans have known all along: that Brian Kelly is as good of a tease as a coach as there has ever been in college football.

At least neither one Florida State, which has speared its chances for the College Football Playoffs after just two weeks.

Now onto this week’s games. It’s a pretty lame week so much so that the best ABC can offer on its prime afternoon telecast is South Carolina at Kentucky. All times Pacific because The Prognosticator lives on the West Coast.

• Texas at Michigan (9 a.m., FOX)

The Big House has been the scene of 23 straight wins for Big Blue but there’s one big difference this time. Texas is coming to town instead of UNLV, Bowling Green or any of the other weaklings who have been there during that time. Not just that, but if the first week’s struggles against Fresno State are any indication, then this team is about to implode to the point that the name Rich Rodriguez will come to mind. The visiting Sarks are out for blood and while the program has rich history of seeing promise turn to dust, this is not one of those times. Winner: Texas

• Arkansas at Oklahoma State (9 a.m., ABC)

The nine lives of Bobby Petrino have him back at Arkansas and as long as the Pigs put up points like they did in the opener then fans may even buy him a motorcycle for the bowl game. For their part, the Cowboys have all but been handed the title to the what-conference-are-they-in-again with the defection of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. All they have to do is not mess it up and even if Pokes get poked in the eye this week it won’t matter when it comes to the playoffs. Winner: Oklahoma State

• Cal at Auburn (12:30 p.m., ESPN2)

The Aubies got out of Berkeley with a W last year in a game that set offensive football back decades. The school has a tradition of piling up points against teams that resemble immobile tackling dummies early in the season only to run into brick walls when they face a team with a pulse. The Papa Bears had a pretty ferocious defense last year but the Plainsmen always seem to surprise people when nobody figures they will be any good. It’s when expectations are high that they flop. Winner: Auburn

• South Florida at Alabama (4 p.m., ESPN)

A year ago, the Crimson Tide was nearly washed away by a downpour against this mis-named directional school (it’s in Tampa, which is hardly the southern part of the Sunshine State). But that was before anyone in Alabama had ever heard of Kalen DeBoer. This year they know him well, tho there are some are looking at him with the kind of curiosity they have with a new pet.  The visitors will test the Tiders defenders as they want to run plays the way a cheetah chases a gazelle and while that’s no Bull, the home team has the size, the speed and the athletes to wash away any threat of an upset. Winner: Alabama

• Western Michigan at Ohio State (4:30 p.m., BTN)

They are going Nuts in Columbus these days for their highly-touted team, tho playing a directional school from “that other state” will hardly qualify as a true test of their manhood. The Bucs don’t stop here as the first real challenge is not until mid October. Winner: Ohio State

• Tennessee at N.C. State (4:30 p.m., ABC, Charlotte)

The UT folks (that UT, Texas) are climbing the optimism trail toward Rocky Top and a brief sojourn to what they anticipate will be the friendly confines of the Carolina Panthers stadium will not slow their progress. The contrast between the two teams could not be greater: the boys in orange line up to volunteer for TDs while the red clad North Carolinians treat the end zone – and often first downs – as if they will receive an electric shock. So don’t be shocked if this one is over by the second trip to the concession stand. Winner: Tennessee

• Colorado at Nebraska (4:30 p.m., NBC)

Drama follows the Neons around the way the press does the head coach. They are over-rated, over-hyped and over-covered (well except for one Denver Post columnist), critics say while supporters (mostly in Bolder) point out to sold out games and rising excitement. One thing is certain: Travis Hunter is legit and Shilo Sanders has had plenty of practice running away from chasing defenders. There is also optimism in Lincoln, where the Shuckers hope they have found a quarterback and a way to protect him. If  that proves to be the case then they could very well stomp the Buffs. Winner: Nebraska

• Boise State at Oregon (7 p.m., Peacock)

Buried in the backwaters of pay TV may be just what the Waddlers need after barely slipping past Idaho last week. The Broncos, while hardly the magic men of the Chris Petersen era, are still an offensive force and a threat to knock off any stray Ducks at the UO pond. Either way, the feathers will be flying around Autzen. Winner: In a close one, Oregon

• Utah State at USC (8 p.m., BTN)

The strangest sight for this game will be seeing the Men of Troy on the Big 10 Network. So excuse Traveler if he gets turned around a time or two after Trojan touchdowns. Of which there be plenty. Winner: USC

The Pigskin Prognosticator has covered college football for several years from coast to coast.

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