I have a handful of games that feature some heavy competition and some serious 2016 NFL Draft prospects.
Saturday 3:30 ET CBS
AUBURN @ LSU by 3
Both of these teams barely escaped being bitten by the upset bug in Week 2. So which one bites the bullet with that first dreaded Loss? Based on the first two games we should be expecting a low scoring affair since neither team appears to have an elite QB running the show. LSU would clearly have the advantage in the running game with LEONARD FOURNETTE #7, who tho not Draft eligible as a true Soph is clearly a future Round 1 NFL talent with his size and speed. The Auburn D looks better already with new DC Will Muschamp running the show. I expect a low scoring affair and see LSU winning at home by a field goal. That’s what the Mad Hatter’s teams do down in the Bayou.
AUBURN LSU
#1 DUKE WILLIAMS/WR 6’2/224 #83 TRAVIN DURAL/WR 6’2/192 JR
#3 JONATHAN JONES/CB 5’10/181 #74 VIDAL ALEXANDER/T 6’6/320
#17 KRIS FROST/LB 6’2/240 #16 TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE/CB 5’11/191 JR
#8 CASSANOVA McKINZY/ILB 6’3/253 #28 JALEN MILLS/FS 6’0/195
Saturday 3:30 ET NBC
GEORGIA TECH by 2 @ NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame’s No. 2 QB is currently starting for Florida State and that will be a real issue in the next month or so out on the grass, given the season ending broken ankle suffered by No. 1 QB MALIK ZAIRE. That could be especially true against TECH this week which features the option running attack of HC PAUL JOHNSON. Tech has few pro prospects on the offensive side, but watch how smoothly QB JUSTIN THOMAS #5 runs what we older guys would call a Wishbone Offense of sorts. The Irish OL will need to step it up and handle a smaller, but athletic Tech D. WE may know by the half whether the ND D will be able to handle the once a year Offense they will see from TECH.
GEORGIA TECH NOTRE DAME
#96 ADAM GOTSIS/DL 6’5/285 #7 WILL FULLER/WR 6’/180 JR
#2 ANTHONY HARRELL/LB 6’2/237 #78 RONNIE STANLEY/LT 6’6/315
#28 D.J. WHITE/CB 5’11/188 #91 SHELDON DAY/DL 6’2/290
#4 JAMAL GOLDEN/S 6’/193 #9 JAYLON SMITH/LB 6’2/235 JR
Saturday 7:30 ET FOX
CALIFORNIA @ TEXAS by 6
A couple of years ago CAL was a joke in D1 Football. PLayers were going pro early, or transferring in droves. But HC SONNY DYKES look like he has revitalized the program with some sound organization and solid recruiting work. The University has also kicked in with new sports facilities as well to entice student athletes. In fact the potential star of this game is JARED GOFF/QB who if he progresses another step or more in this his Junior season could be a Top 10 2016 Draft Pick. This would be a very large Win for TEXAS HC CHARLIE STRONG if they can just keep GOFF under control. And lord knows he could use a big win right now.
CALIFORNIA TEXAS
#16 JARED GOFF/QB 6’4/210 JR #32 JONATHAN GRAY/RB 5’11/206
#73 JORDAN RIGSBEE/G 6’4/300 #74 TAYLOR DOYLE/OC 6’4/303
#7 JALEN JEFFERSON/LB 6’2/235 #21 DUKE THOMAS/CB 5’11/175
#6 DARIUS WHITE/CB 6’1/180 #99 DESMOND JACKSON/DT 6’/305
Saturday 8:00 ET ABC
STANFORD @ SOUTHERN CAL by 9
This may not be as good of a match-up as it looks on paper. I still maintain that Stanford HC DAVID SHAW is so conservative that he does not utilize his talent to it’s full capability on the grass each week. Cardinal QB KEVIN HOGAN should be more productive than he is on most game days, and I feel a big part of that is lack of development by the coaching staff. On the other hand SARK has allowed his QB CODY KESSLER to shine in his creative, wide open attack. KESSLER is fighting for a shot to rise up the the No. 1 senior pro prospect ranking at QB this season. By way of contrast watch how the Trojan athletes fly around the field making plays on both sides of the ball. Lots of pro talent on the field in this one folks.
STANFORD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
#8 KEVIN HOGAN/QB 6’4/225 #6 CODY KESSLER/QB 6’1/215
#78 KYLE MURPHY/RT 6’7/300 #52 DEVON SIMMONS/DE 6’5/295
#48 KEVIN ANDERSON/OLB 6’4/245 #56 ANTHONY SARAO/LB 6’/235
#4 BLAKE MARTINEZ/ILB 6’2/247 #13 KEVON SEYMOUR/CB 6’/185
Enjoy the action folks. Week 3 for most teams marks the first quarter pole in the 2015 college season.
