I was a bit surprised to see that some major programs are still playing cupcake games but I guess it’s still September so… By next week the schedule should feature almost all meaningful Conference games. And away we go!
Saturday NOON ET ESPN2
GEORGIA TECH by 3 @ DUKE
This sets up as key match-up since both teams went down to defeat last week, and both had Conference Championship aspirations. TECH’s option running Offense will be a challenge for DUKE whose Defense is better equipped to play more of a spread opponent. IMO, the biggest factor in this game will be the decided edge the Yellow Jackets have at the QB position, where #5 JUSTIN THOMAS is a master at running HC PAUL JOHNSON’s system, while a less athletic THOMAS SIRK is still a work in progress for HC DAVID CUTLCLIFFE. If TECH’s running attack dominates this could get pretty high scoring. I’ll take the visiting team by a field goal. Could be a fun game to watch.
GEORGIA TECH DUKE
#78 TREY BRAUN/G 6’4/295 #62 MATT SKURA/OC 6’4/305
#96 ADAM GOTSIS/DL 6’5/285 #16 JEREMY CASH/S 6’2/205
#28 D.J. WHITE/CB 5’11/188 #87 MAX McCAFFREY/WR 6’2/195
#4 JAMAL GOLDEN/FS/RS 6’/195 #41 WILL MONDAY/P 6’4/210
Saturday 3:30 ET CBS
TENNESSEE by 6 @ FLORIDA
It has been a nice 3-0 start for the GATORS under new HC JIM McELWAIN, but they haven’t faced the fire power and speed that the VOLS will bring with them to town. HC BUTCH JONES has done a great job rebuilding the VOLS program in only 3 years. He has laid down the law, both on and off the field, and recruited like a wizard. In fact he’s done what McELWAIN has set out to do in Gainesville. After losing a heart breaker in OT to OKLAHOMA, Tennessee is looking to do some serious damage in their SEC East run. FLORIDA’s solid Defense will be pushed here and their challenged Offense will be hard pressed to score a TD. Expect a low scoring affair and hope that all the prospects are healthy and playing if you choose to watch this one. Pro scouts, though, will be intrigued to watch Gators’ junior CB Vernon Hargreaves, a potential top 10 prospect for the upcoming draft, going against talented UT WRs Von Pearson and Marquez North.
TENNESSEE FLORIDA
#9 VON PEARSON/WR 6’3/185 #11 DeMARCUS ROBINSON/WR/JR 6’2/200
#75 MARCUS JACKSON/OG 6’2/305 #83 JAKE McGEE/TE 6’6/245
#27 BRIAN RANDOLPH/SS 6’/210 #70 JONATHAN BULLARD/DL 6’3/277
#8 MARQUEZ NORTH/WR/ JR 6’3/230 #1 VERNON HARGREAVES/CB/JR 5’11/198
Saturday 7PM ET ESPN
ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS A&M by 9 @ ARLINGTON/JERRY’S WORLD
While BRET BIELEMA is getting national pub on a regular basis with his mouth, his team is floundering on the field of play. The RAZORBACKS are 1-2 in what was thought would be the program’s breakout year in BRET’s 3rd season. Injuries at the RB slot to Senior JONATHAN WILLIAMS have been part of the issue, but back-up ALEX COLLINS had over 150 yards rushing last week and the team still lost. An upset Win here is what Arkansas needs badly. Meanwhile, KEVIN SUMLIN may be breathing a bit easier in his 4th season at A&M. The biggest change for the Aggies appears to be the more aggressive approach of new DC JOHN CHAVIS who likes to attack the QB. Soph DE MYLES GARRETT is a star and should have double digit sacks by mid-season in this scheme. If Arkansas can round up enough healthy RB to pound the rock the game gets interesting, but overall a balanced A&M looks like the real deal this season.
ARKANSAS TEXAS A&M
#10 BRANDON ALLEN/QB 6’3/210 #21 TRA JACKSON/RB 6’/235
#4 KEON HATCHER/WR 6’2/210 #56 MIKE MATTHEWS/OC 6’2/290
#65 MITCH SMOTHERS/C 6’3/315 #83 ALONZO WILLIAMS/DT 6’4/296
#26 ROHAN GAINES/S 5’11/195 #1 DaVANTE HARRIS/CB 5’11/180
#73 SEBASTIAN TRETOLA/G 6’5/322 #38 DREW KASER/P 6’3/210
#3 Alex Collins/RB/JR 5’11, 225 #74 Germaine Ifedi/OT/JR 6’5, 325
Saturday 8:45 ET FOX
UTAH @ OREGON by 7
UTAH is facing the challenge of an injury to starting QB TRAVIS WILSON, but luckily for them even if he can’t play they have a decent back-up option in Senior KENDAL THOMPSON. Either way I think the Utes will be a solid challenge for the reloading BEAVERS, whose transfer QB VERNON ADAMS has been banged up already as well. Being at home, and having a slight edge in overall personnel should provide the DUCKS with enough of an edge to carry the day. Expect both team to be 3-1 at the end of the evening and both should still be ranked as Top 25 teams. RB/BOOKER and DE/BUCKNER should both be considered Round 1 Draft Prospects.
UTAH OREGON
#7 TRAVIS WILSON/QB 6’7/233 #9 BYRON MARSHALL/WR/RS 5’10/200
#23 DeVONTAE BOOKER/RB 5’11/212 #64 TYLER JOHNSTONE/OT 6’6/295
#9 TEVIN CARTER/SS 6’2/225 #44 DeFOREST BUCKNER/DE 6’7/290
#33 TOM HACKETT/P 5’11/195 #48 RODNEY HADRICK/LB 6’1/245
#41 JARED NORRIS/LB 6’1/240
