Week 3 Picks: Revenge or Statement

Standings
1) Draper             7-1      (1-1 upset)
1) Schweinfurth    7-1      (0-2 upset)
2) Hoying             6-2      (1-1 upset)

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: Revenge...time to pay for your indiscretions Johnny Football.  Nick Saban has the knife at the puppy's throat threatening his Tide.  I expect the week to prepare and the better overall level of talent leads to a tough road win in College Station.  Examine TAMU.  They have 1 player.  Their defense has looked super questionable.  VTech had a much better defense.  Bama will shore up mistakes and cause Johnny to spend some of that money on medical bills Bama: 31--TAMU: 17
Hoying: Last year was no fluke; A&M was the better team on the field that day.  How have the teams changed since then?  The Aggies' defense seems to have taken a step backwards, but Manziel seems as sharp as ever.  Meanwhile, other than exceptional special teams and pass defense, it's hard to tell just how good this 'Bama squad is.  Kyle Field will be crumbling under the fans' feet, but that will have little effect; the Tide haven't lost a road game since 2010.  Everyone points to the 2 weeks of preparation allotted to Nick Saban, but c'mon, it's not like Texas A&M had to do a lot to be ready for Sam Houston State.  Look for Manziel to break out another jerkass celebration move as he revels in a shootout win over the Dark Lord.  Bama: 34--TAMU: 40
Schweinfurth: Nick Saban hates to lose.  When he does lose, he reminds his players about that loss.  Last year's game has been plastered all over 'Bama's football facility since the loss.  Oh, and Saban has had two weeks to prepare for this game.  Meanwhile, A&M has been dealing with distraction after distraction regarding Johnny Manziel.  This finally comes back to bite the Aggies.  I can't wait to see Saban do the "money" sign in Manziel's face.  'Bama: 35--TAMU: 20

UCLA Bruins @ Nebraska Cornhuskers
Draper: Oh Blackshirts...you are just terrible.  Just offensive to all five senses.  This is a huge game for the Bruins on the road in Lincoln.  UCLA is not terribly good, but Brett Hundleycan keep the offense rolling.  Nebraska will score some points, but will it be enough to overbalance the horrid defense.  I say...no.  UCLA wins a nailbiter and ESPN has a field day making fun of the B1G...again. UCLA: 48--Neb: 45 
Hoying: About this time last year, Nebraska's terrible terrible defense cast the B1G into second tier of AQ conferences (looking at you, ACC, and no, AAC, you don't count).  This year, Nebraska still has terrible terrible defense.  However, there's about 1270 miles difference between this year's game and last year's.  Only a fool picks the Huskers to lose in Lincoln or win...just about anywhere else.  Corn Nation will give the Bruins a nasty welcome, and Nebraska wins this Arena Football League matchup.  UCLA: 45--Neb: 49
Schweinfurth: So about that Blackshirt defense, yea not good.  Nebraska may be 2-0 and the offense humming along, but that defense is just woof.  This game was a one score game last year, and I have no reason to believe this one will be any different.  Look for UCLA to score but Taylor Martinez will put some points up as well.  Time for the Big 10 to make a B1G statement! UCLA: 42--Neb: 45

Wisconsin Badgers @ Arizona State Sun Devils
Draper: Honestly don't know much about these teams.  Badgers have yet to allow a point (neither have the Sun Devils), but I could have started at QB at their first 2 opponents (or ASU's opponent).  Going out west is never a good thing for teams, but Wisconsin's running focus shortens the game.  ASU has looked good thus far, but ditto on the opponent.  I'll give the B1G a big road win here (that won't be talked about).  Wisky defense makes a late stop.  Wisc: 27--ASU: 20
Hoying: The bakers leave the cupcake factory for the second-most interesting game of this weekend's slate of mini-Rose Bowls.  Wisconsin Gary Anderson is one of two B1G coaches to be undefeated in his current tenure (can't remember who the other one is...) but ASU may be a tougher test.  May be.  This was a mediocre squad last year, and while Wisconsin was short of stellar, their running game doesn't seem to have suffered a great deal from losing star RB Monteay Ball.  Too bad performances against UMass and Tennessee Tech don't indicate any level of future success.  Eh...whom to pick?  Uhhh....new coach, road game, burning hatred for Wisconsin...we'll go with the Devils. Wisc: 16--ASU: 24
Schweinfurth: This game was my original upset special and I am sticking to it.  Wisconsin can run the ball and I still have no faith in Stave to be competent passer against a legitimate team.  I mean seriously, the Badgers have played absolutely no one.  Now Arizona State hasn't exactly played anyone either, but I trust a high powered spread offense at home and on the west coast no less.  The Badgers let the B1G down.  Wisc: 21--ASU:28

THE Ohio State Buckeyes @ Cal Golden Bears
Draper: Another opponent on our schedule...yawn.  Many are circling this game due to the travel.  I'm not worried.  Braxton's health is the only real concern, and I still don't see it hurting us here.  Kenny can handle Cal and I expect another year of experience on D will prevent the stupid explosive plays we gave up last year.  Looks like another 'jump out to an early lead and take a nap' type game.  Take note everyone else, this is the last game you'll see Carlos Hyde on the sideline.  Be afraid.  OSU: 48--Cal: 20
Hoying: The Buckeyes, like the Reds, don't traditionally do well on the west coast (2-5 at Pac-12 teams since 1986), but Pac-12 teams don't traditionally suck as bad as Cal either.  Thanks to skinny little twig Jared Goff at QB, the Bears offense has come to life a bit, but surrendering 30 points to Portland State and almost losing the game doesn't bode well for your chances against an elite team.  If the Buckeyes can stop 3rd-string running backs from making 80-yard scoring plays (by WRAPPING BALL CARRIERS THE F UP) this one shouldn't be close.  Braxton plays a series or two, Buckeye running backs do the heavy lifting, and Roby takes a wobbling duck back for a TD of his own.  Bucks win comfortably.  OSU: 38--Cal: 16
Schweinfurth: Braxton's health is an issue with this Buckeyes team (as it has been since he was in high school) but Kenny G's emergence last week was huge for the offense.  Guiton doesn't have all the tools Braxton has but he is a very good game manager.  Cal's defense is struggling quite a bit and whom ever is running this offense is going to put up some quality numbers.  On defense, the Bucks have looked like the Silver Bullets we are used to.  The Bears are going to employ those wonderful dink and dunk passes to get the ball out early.  I expect the Bears to move the ball but stall out a few times inside the 30.  Cal's offense will keep it close, but the Bucks pull away late.  OSU: 45--Cal: 24


Upset Special
Draper: UTSA over Arizona (sorry the games all suck)
Hoying: Illinois over Washington (and 3 freaking upsets above)
Schweinfurth: Texas Tech over TCU

Grading the Bucks--Week 2: San Diego State

Not a whole lot to take away from a game of this caliber...but here we go.

Offense: B+
The Bucks stepped on the throat of the inferior opponent from the start, even with their backup QB.  I love Kenny Guiton and I do believe that he is a top 4 QB in the entire B1G (maybe top 2), but pump the brakes.  This team needs Braxton--not against SDSU, but in the future.  Kenny G looked great, but he just doesn't have the reps to be confident against better competition (in all fairness, that only means NW, Wisc, and Mich from our schedule).  The only real downgrade is due to the let down in the second half.  I know the game was over, but 7 points in the half is a little disappointing.  It was a mental check-out...no biggie here, but Kenny needs to take every game rep as important.  RBs and WRs looked fine.  On to the next one.

Defense: A-
Pretty much ditto here for the defense, but even their second rate effort was almost enough to preserve the shutout.  The return of Roby was very nice and allowed Armani Reeves to look competent (on the second/third receiver).  SDSU had 37 total yards with about a minute left in the half.  That's enough to summarize the effort.

Special Teams: B+
Overall, pretty good effort, but you CANNOT commit a stupid penalty on a punt.  The roughing was another stupid penalty that won't hurt us here but may going forward.  Also, my "favorite" player (sarcasm alert), Christian Bryant, would really benefit from a Pop Warner introduction to tackling.  This is valid in the defense section but the one big return by the Aztecs was clearly aided by the standard 'kill-shot' levied by Bryant (that of course failed).  Get off the field and help the defense by preventing a good return.

Coaching: A-
I had no real problem with the playcalling, but substitutions were a little questionable.  Braxton is clearly the number one QB but has major problems staying healthy.  Kenny G is a more-than-serviceable backup, but after that...yeah.  With the game in hand and the Bucks checked out, why not preserve Kenny as he will almost surely be needed again and get the 3rd and 4th string QBs some game experience.  At most school's, this is no big deal, but the injury prone Miller makes this an important consideration.

Overall: A-
Big win.  Not terribly concerned about the lack of a monster blowout (even though a 35 point victory is nothing to sneeze at) due to the clear desire to finish the game quickly and go home.  Ont to the next one.