College football game week 3 (Sept. 18th)

Submitted by WolverineHistorian on September 16th, 2021 at 3:00 PM

What are your predictions for the most notable (non-Michigan) college games of week 3? 

- Michigan State @ Miami-Florida: Really don't know what to expect from this one.  I'll give the slight edge to the Hurricanes for being the home team but I'd prefer it if Sparty looks like crap.  Miami by 3.

- Cincinnati @ Indiana: This game might have been interesting to watch if it wasn't on the same time as ours.  I'll say Indiana by 10. 

- Tulsa @ Ohio State:  No need to even bother watching.  The Bucks will have their sh*t together this week and who the hell needs to see that?  Ohio State by 35. 

- Nebraska @ Oklahoma: Sooners win easy.  Yet another game that would have been fun to watch if it wasn't on the same time as ours.  Oklahoma by 28. 

- Purdue @ Notre Dame:  The Boilers have played well so far and Notre Dame has barely escaped both weeks.  This only means ND is going to play better just to tick me off.  ND by 13. 

- Auburn @ Penn State: Auburn has scored 122 points through two games but it's been against cupcakes.  This one may be interesting for a little while but not the outcome I want.  Penn State by 9. 

- Alabama @ Florida: The media is desperately trying to hype this game and the usual song and dance the commentators will do pretending anybody has a shot against the Tide will be laughable.  Alabama by 30. 

Honorable mention -

Delaware @ Rutgers:  Just to see our "rival" play against a blue and yellow team with winged helmets before they play us?  Rutgers is going to be 3-0 going into our game and like Northern Illinois, is not as bad as we thought they were two weeks ago.  Rutgers by 14. 

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Soulfire21

September 16th, 2021 at 3:09 PM ^

I think Cincinnati beats Indiana, and that Nebraska and Florida will keep it closer against Oklahoma and Alabama, respectively. It's a shame that Nebraska isn't good this year, I would've loved a good rekindling of that old Big 12 rivalry.

I'm most intrigued by Penn State-Auburn I think. I am not as high on Penn State as everyone else seems to be. Perhaps I am a bit salty that they got a last year was a covid year and doesn't count benefit of the doubt and we didn't. They could shut me up with a strong performance here. It's also one of only a handful of times an SEC team has come up north for a true road game.

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lhglrkwg

September 16th, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^

Too bad ours is at noon because there's lots of intriguing noon games this week. Nebraska-OU, UC-Indiana, VT-WVU black diamond trophy game, and MSU at Miami

MSU over Miami. Miami's just not that good

Cincinnati over IU. IU keeps it close but Cincinnati pulls away

OSU over Tulsa and OU over Nebraska, both by 40+ but both let the opposing team break 20 pts because their defenses suck. Like 55-24 games both ways

ND over Purdue. Everyone is on the ND is overrated bandwagon so naturally when we think they're gonna lose, they'll win

Auburn over Penn State by 17

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MadMonkey

September 16th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^

I like that you provided your reasons, but I have a slightly (/s) different take on outcomes:

  • Unfortunately, I think MSU surprises Miami and wins by 5
  • Cincinnati wins by 10+ vs Indiana
  • Agree that Tulsa gets smoked after looking like a plausible opponent for 10 or 12 minutes
  • Oklahoma by 40
  • Notre Dame beats Purdue on the final drive
  • Auburn is going to beat Penn State by 10+
  • Florida with an upset.  Yep.

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Indonacious

September 16th, 2021 at 3:35 PM ^

MSU fans probably will outnumber miami fans. I think MSU wins given not sure miami can stop the run. Miami gave up nearly 6ypc to app state starting the with a long of 28.

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Wings Of Distinction

September 16th, 2021 at 3:38 PM ^

A few other games I'll be interested in:

Virginia Tech @ West Virginia

Nevada @ Kansas St.   - want to get a look at that Nevada Qb.

Virginia @ North Carolina

Arizona St @ BYU

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michengin87

September 16th, 2021 at 3:40 PM ^

My picks:

  • State by 3.  I think The U is overrated, and Mel seems to be doing a lot with very little.
  • Cincinnati @ IU.  Tough to pick.  I'll go with the home team by 3.
  • Tulsa at OSU.  Buckeyes will destroy if only because of last week.
  • NU @ OU.  NU and their pride stay in this one but can't pull the upset.  OU by 7.
  • Would like to see Purdue pull off the upset, but I think very unlikely in South Bend.
  • Hate to see SEC beat the Big Ten (except OSU) and I think this will actually be a very good game, but I think Auburn wins.
  • Tide rolls.
  • Given the Blue Hens history, they have been tough, like Montana.  However, I think Schiano has them playing well and wins easily.
  • UMich wins and we get to see some young guys play extended minutes.
  • Don't forget Minnesota and Colorado.  Should be good game as Colorado nearly knocked off the Aggies of Texas.  Colorado seems to be the better team this year.  Tough start for PJ.

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Ezekiels Creatures

September 16th, 2021 at 3:59 PM ^

I don't know what Penn St has done to nake them favored.

You probably could have Arizona St vs BYU, the very late game. It could end up being the best game of hhe day.

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NittanyFan

September 16th, 2021 at 4:02 PM ^

Conversely, what has Auburn done to make them deserving of being a road favorite?

Shoot, the last time we saw AU playing a B1G team, they were losing by 3 touchdowns to Northwestern!  And that was in CY 2021, last year's Citrus Bowl.

It's fair to be critical of PSU, but let's be honest here --- AU's resume is nothing very great themselves for the last 1+ year.  PSU beat noone in 2020 who finished with a winning-record --- but neither did Auburn!

 

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NittanyFan

September 16th, 2021 at 4:58 PM ^

YOU are the one wondering why Auburn isn't favored.  Not me.

If you think Auburn will win, fine.  But you're arguing they should be favored, which is a different argument in itself.  So make a case for why they should be favored  ---- remember, they're the road team, so ideally you'd be able to point to some empirical facts that suggest their resume is better (not just equal to, given HFA) than Penn State's.

Frankly, I don't know what those empirical facts could be.  (1) Both teams were nothing special in CY 2020.  (2) Auburn lost by 3 touchdowns when they last played a B1G team, in the 2020 season, a B1G team that was good but probably not objectively 3 scores better than the 2020 version of Penn State.  (3) Auburn has 2 cupcake wins in CY 2021.  (4) Penn State at least has a win over a B1G team on the road in CY 2021 (a game, in which, yes the turnover difference but PSU also  gained more yards per play than their opponent).

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SalvatoreQuattro

September 16th, 2021 at 4:05 PM ^

MSU has played two awful football teams. Northwestern didn’t even break 300 total yards of offense vs Indiana State. Youngstown State is a bad FCS team.

Meanwhile Miami played the Death Machine and Appalachian State. App State is superior to both Northwestern and YSU.

We will find out a lot about MSU Saturday because Miami is talented,if not particularly well coached.

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