Article:College Football Week 2 Predictions

= Week 2 NCAA Predictions =

Scores from every upcoming game By Paul Bessire, WhatIfSports.com September 1, 2008 ''Each Monday morning will preview every college football DI FBS game of the upcoming week. Rosters and depth charts are up-to-date and as accurate as possible as of Monday morning before the week. All of our college football content, including our most recent power rankings and links to the pre-season preview are located here. If you want to take WhatIfSports weekly college football and/or NFL picks with you (to your MySpace, Facebook or personal homepage), please see the widget below on the right or at this page.

The inputs to the 201 simulations of each upcoming game are based on a rigorous analysis of each team that considers strength-of-schedule-adjusted team and player ratings and then makes modifications for injuries and depth at each position. This may be relatively obvious for some examples (i.e. LSU vs. Appalachian State), but non-FBS rosters and ratings are not maintained individually due to lack of data. In other words, right or wrong, all non-FBS teams are treated equally.

Games of the Week: #75 Miami (FL) 7 @ #6 Florida 35 This is a game that had national intrigue five years ago. Today, Miami (FL) is still rebuilding and Florida is a national powerhouse. A down year for the ACC (and way too many bowl ties) may net the Hurricanes a bowl game in 2008, but they are no where near the Gators' level. If Miami wins, it would almost be a Stanford over USC type upset by the numbers. Florida gets another tune up en route to the tough SEC season.


 * 1) 16 Texas Tech 38 @ #48 Nevada 34 I would much rather watch this game than the previous one. Both teams use innovative offenses and have a great deal of talent on that side of the ball. It's a potential trap game for Texas Tech as they have to travel to Reno and play a team with everything to gain. Tech's talent is just strong enough to overcome that as they win 77% of the time. If you can get this game on TV, watch it. You will be entertained.


 * 1) 7 West Virginia 37 vs #27 East Carolina 28 East Carolina is firmly on the college football's national landscape after its win over Virginia Tech. West Virginia is a much better team than VTech (the Mountaineers even have a far superior passing game). This outcome may be closer than most would guess, yet West Virginia emerges victorious 77% of time. Non-conference games like this road game and a later bout with Auburn, as well as the recent rise of the Big East could greatly help West Virginia's national championship hopes.


 * 1) 44 Houston 30 @ #26 Oklahoma State 37 Along the lines of the Tech/Nevada tilt, this should be a fun game to watch. Houston is our C-USA champion, while Oklahoma State is trying to go from perennial seven win bowl team to a Big 12 contender. Plus, there is some revenge on the minds of the Cowboys after they lost in Houston two years ago. Even under a new head coach, Houston's offense is light year's ahead of Washington State's (OkSU's Week 1 opponent). Still, the Pokes prevail 62.3% of the time.


 * 1) 21 Cincinnati 22 @ #3 Oklahoma 36 The sim is a little more optimistic about this game than I may be as my alma mater keeps it within twenty points. Brian Kelly and Cincinnati are already a team to watch, but the Sooners are really, really good. Oklahoma is our #3 team in the nation and they have as much talent and depth as any team in the nation. OU also lacks the injury concerns of the top two teams. Here's hoping everyone stays healthy on both teams and the game stays at least this close. Even with the relatively close 14 point prediction, the Sooners win 93.4% of the time (hey, that's more likely than Miami over Florida!).

Week 2 Scores for Every FBS Game


 * Matchup | Home Win% | Avg Score |
 * Citadel @ Clemson | 95 | 3-45 |
 * Furman @ Virginia Tech | 95 | 4-35 |
 * Richmond @ Virginia | 95 | 4-37 |
 * Western Carolina @ Florida State | 95 | 4-41 |
 * William & Mary @ NC St. | 95 | 6-30 |
 * Tennessee Tech @ Louisville | 95 | 6-36 |
 * Eastern Illinois @ Illinois | 95 | 4-43 |
 * Fla. Int. @ Iowa | 95 | 8-35 |
 * Marshall @ Wisconsin | 95 | 10-35 |
 * Murray State @ Indiana | 95 | 4-40 |
 * Northern Colorado @ Purdue | 95 | 4-46 |
 * Ohio @ Ohio State | 95 | 6-40 |
 * Eastern Washington @ Colorado | 95 | 5-44 |
 * Louisiana Tech @ Kansas | 95 | 12-35 |
 * Montana State @ Kansas State | 95 | 5-45 |
 * Northwestern State @ Baylor | 95 | 6-34 |
 * San Jose State @ Nebraska | 95 | 8-33 |
 * Southeast Missouri State @ Missouri | 95 | 4-56 |
 * Texas State @ SMU | 95 | 7-37 |
 * Sacramento State @ Colorado St. | 95 | 6-38 |
 * Stephen F. Austin @ TCU | 95 | 3-39 |
 * UNLV @ Utah | 95 | 9-32 |
 * Utah State @ Oregon | 95 | 9-35 |
 * C. Michigan @ Georgia | 95 | 11-39 |
 * Miami (FL) @ Florida | 95 | 7-35 |
 * Norfolk State @ Kentucky | 95 | 3-39 |
 * Southeastern Louisiana @ Mississippi State | 95 | 4-40 |
 * Troy @ LSU | 95 | 7-36 |
 * Tulane @ Alabama | 95 | 6-38 |
 * Texas Southern @ Arkansas St. | 95 | 5-40 |
 * Nicholls State @ New Mexico State | 95 | 7-40 |
 * Weber State @ Hawaii | 95 | 5-37 |
 * San Diego State @ Notre Dame | 95 | 7-37 |
 * Idaho State @ Idaho | 95 | 6-36 |
 * E. Michigan @ Michigan State | 95 | 13-34 |
 * New Hampshire @ Army | 95 | 6-20 |
 * Cincinnati @ Oklahoma | 93.4 | 22-36 |
 * Oregon State @ Penn State | 91.8 | 13-33 |
 * Toledo @ Arizona | 91.8 | 17-32 |
 * S. Miss @ Auburn | 90.2 | 11-30 |
 * Stanford @ Arizona St. | 88.5 | 17-34 |
 * UAB @ Florida Atlantic | 83.6 | 15-33 |
 * Miami (OH) @ Michigan | 82 | 12-27 |
 * Mississippi @ WF | 80.3 | 16-31 |
 * Texas A&M @ New Mexico | 63.9 | 17-25 |
 * Houston @ Oklahoma State | 62.3 | 30-37 |
 * Minn. @ Bowling Green | 62.3 | 26-35 |
 * Buffalo @ Pittsburgh | 60.7 | 23-31 |
 * Kent St. @ Iowa State | 59 | 16-23 |
 * Northern Illinois @ W. Michigan | 55.7 | 19-28 |
 * Northwestern @ Duke | 49.2 | 20-26 |
 * Navy @ Ball State | 47.5 | 34-34 |
 * Air Force @ Wyoming | 39.3 | 23-21 |
 * GA Tech @ Boston College | 37.7 | 22-21 |
 * Akron @ Syracuse | 32.8 | 20-17 |
 * Connecticut @ Temple | 32.8 | 25-21 |
 * Rice @ Memphis | 31.1 | 29-24 |
 * W. Virginia @ East Carolina | 23 | 37-28 |
 * Texas Tech @ Nevada | 23 | 38-34 |
 * S. Carolina @ Vanderbilt | 19.7 | 27-15 |
 * Arkansas @ LA-Monroe | 19.7 | 32-21 |
 * South Florida @ UCF | 14.8 | 28-19 |
 * Brigham Young @ Washington | 14.8 | 37-22 |
 * Maryland @ Mid Tenn | 5 | 30-13 |
 * Tulsa @ North Texas | 5 | 39-19 |
 * California @ Washington St. | 5 | 33-16 |
 * Texas @ UTEP | 5 | 36-14 |
 * Western Kentucky @ Eastern Kentucky | 5 | 31-9 |

Ever wanted to be in be in charge of your own college football program? With Gridiron Dynasty from WhatIfSports.com, you have a chance to do just that - and it's completely FREE for a limited time ( $10.95 value). From recruiting and running practice to gameplanning and scheduling - it is all under your control. Start at DIII and try to work your way up to winning the DI championship at your favorite school. Play for free today using the promo code BTBGD.

Promo code is valid for new Gridiron Dynasty users in first season only. Offer expires 12/31/2008.

''We hope that you enjoy our Beyond the Boxscore feature. As with all of our games, we are willing to listen to feedback and improve this page and content to make it as interesting and user-friendly as possible. With any comments, questions or topic suggestions, please contact [mailto:btb@whatifsports.com BtB@whatifsports.com]. Thanks!''

''