Sometimes you gotta hit the ground to get back up
The week 2 winners are YankeeJacket and Shipwreck who both correctly guessed 8 games on the week. chilidogringsfo struggled last week, and while he is still in the top spot he is currently sharing the position with YankeeJacket and pain with 16 overall correct picks. This has been a rough start to the season for pickers so it is currently anyone’s game.
We have a few early games this week and next week so we will be trying to post a bit earlier to give everyone time to make their picks before closing the ballot. This week the first kickoff is at 8 pm Friday so polling will close at that time. Please keep this in mind when making your picks.
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
You never want to lose, but it is something that happens in sports. I look at the game last week and feel disappointment that the offense took so long to get going, that the defense couldn’t seem to get off the field and stay off the field, and that our coaches made what appeared to be some mistakes that ended up costing us at the end of the game. It’s tough when victory is still a possibility, but you watch it float just out of reach until it slips away from you. Losing is a thing that happens even if fans don’t like to admit it. Syracuse out played throughout the game. We did our best to claw back but the Orange earned that win. One loss doesn’t mean the season is over, so it’s time to move on to the next matchup.
Tech gets VMI at home this week and they need to take this opportunity to take some shots and get their morale back in order. Tech is still a good team in good positioning within the ACC. ACC Chaos is a real thing, we are far from out of the ACC race with this loss, but the coaches and players need to learn from the Syracuse game. As the saying goes, when you fall off the horse you get back up and you eat that horse (points to anyone who gets that reference). The players need to get their heads right and the fans need to support them. Don’t lose your excitement after one loss, this is still a good Tech team with high potential. Be sure to show up this weekend and support our team to help them bounce back in a big way.
Michael Clubb / USA TODAY NETWORK
If it makes Tech fans feel any better, there were plenty of other top 25 teams losing in much more embarrassing ways that the Jackets did. #5 Notre Dame got taken down at home by Northern Illinois. #10 Michigan got molly whopped by #3 Texas at home. Oregon, Penn State, and Oklahoma dodged losses to Boise State, Bowling Green, and Houston respectively. NC State was gutted and left out for the vultures by Tennessee. Kansas and Iowa lost on big comebacks by their opponents. Right now, it seems like the top 25 is a tough place to be, I expect things will even out as the season goes on though. Maybe some of those teams that struggled last week will find their groove as the season goes on. Eat that horse people.
The last few weeks have been rough for my game pick results, so I’m trying a different strategy and picking the opposite of the team I expect to win. I doubt it will help me at all but may as well try something new if the old strategy isn’t working.
picks:
VMI Keydets @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (No Spread Given)
Logan: At the time of writing there is no spread for this game, so we’re treating this as a “pick a winner” scenario. Tech struggled last week against a very talented QB who kept our defense on the field. We also struggled to get our “unstoppable run game” to actually move the ball early on. I will be looking to see what our coaches change this week to make improvements on the problems we saw against Syracuse. Hopefully I will seem more creative coverages and some deep passes down the field. To fit with the theme of not trusting my own thoughts let me get my sarcastic tone ready, ahem… OH NO! GT is in dire straits and VMI is poised to crush us in a hard-fought battle. GT is so tired right now after playing 3 straight games with tons of travel in between. Our offense looked confused and our defense couldn’t stop a 3rd downplay. Whatever shall we do? I just don’t see how VMI could possibly lose this game… so I must pick GT since my initial thoughts tend to lead me astray.
Logan’s pick: Georgia Tech
#20 Arizona Wildcats @ #17 Kansas State Wildcats (-7.5)
Logan: In this game I see the Arizona offense which has the ability to score quickly. We saw on the road last week that Kansas State’s defense struggled with passing scenarios against Tulane. My brain tells me Arizona should cover in this one… so I guess I have to pick Kansas State.
Logan’s pick: Kansas State
#5 Alabama Crimson Tide (-16.0) @ Wisconsin Badgers
Logan: We have a policy for picking games that usually treats us well. NEVER PICK AGAINST BAMA! Bama tends to hit their spreads on a frequent basis, probably because they’re a pretty good team. Even with the new coach I have not yet seen a reason to doubt the Crimson Tide… so of course I am taking Wisconsin to cover at home.
Logan’s pick: Wisconsin
The Backyard Brawl:
West Virginia Mountaineers (-5.5) @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Logan: a 2-0 Pitt teams gets a WVU team who has struggled to move the ball this week. Pitt has looked impressive through their first 2 games, I think they have the ability to come out with another statement win in this rivalry. I think Pitt will cover… therefore I’m taking WVU.
Logan’s pick: West Virginia
Vanderbilt Commodores (-10.0) @ Georgia State Panthers
Logan: I don’t know about y’all, but I was impressed by how Georgia State played against us even though they lost the game. Vandy is riding high after their week 1 win against VT and seem poised to trounce the Panthers on the road. I wouldn’t count out Georgia State though, the home environment and the fact that their offense is starting to become more cohesive should make the Panthers competitive in this matchup. I think Georgia State should be able to cover in this one… by that logic Vandy will absolutely trounce the Panthers.
Logan’s pick: Vanderbilt
Boston College Eagles @ Mizzou Tigers (-16.5)
Logan: Despite the win against FSU, I still feel like Boston College isn’t that great of a team. Going on the road to face down a dark horse SEC favorite in Mizzou is going to be a difficult challenge for the Eagles. I see no reason why Mizzou won’t just run over Boston College… So clearly I’m taking Boston College to cover.
Logan’s pick: Boston College
The Battle of the Brothers:
#12 Utah Utes (-21.5) @ Utah State Aggies
Logan: Utah is just such a good team right now. In past years the Ute’s biggest weakness was their offense, but right now it seems to be clicking under QB Cameron Rising. Utah State lost terribly against USC last week and I feel like the way Utah is playing right now should put them well above USC. It would be extremely difficult for Utah State to keep Utah from running away with this game… Therefore Utah State is going to cover.
Logan’s pick: Utah State
UCF Golden Knights @ TCU Horned Frogs (-0.5)
Logan: A -0.5 spread, so we just have to pick who we think will win here. TCU struggled against Stanford but still won that matchup, meanwhile UCF has basically coasted against lower-level opponents the first 2 weeks. I think TCU should run away with this one at home… give me UCF.
Logan’s pick: UCF
The Civil War:
#3 Oregon Ducks (-14.5) @ Oregon State Beavers
Logan: I feel bad for all these big rivalries early in the year due to the new conference scheduling. Oregon has just not looked great in their first 2 games of the season. Boise State is no slouch program, but the Ducks should have won that game by much more and Idaho was straight up inexcusable. I still think the Ducks are the more talented team and should take it to the Beavers in this rivalry matchup… so I guess I’m taking Oregon State.
Logan’s pick: Oregon State
Memphis Tigers @ Florida State Seminoles (-3.5)
Logan: Really rough go of things for FSU to start the season. Surely this is the game where the Seminoles finally figure it out… give me Memphis to cover.
Logan’s pick: Memphis
The Apple Cup:
Washington State Cougars @ Washington Huskies (-5.0)
Logan: Again, sad to see this all-important rivalry in the 3rd week of the season. The Huskies just aren’t the same team they were last year. While they have run over their early opponents the Huskies just don’t seem as talented this year. Washington State is still figuring out their new personnel, but they seemed to dominate against Texas Tech last week. I think that experience playing an actual team will help Washington State to win this one… give me the Washington Huskies.
Logan’s pick: Washington