1) Schweinfurth 4-1 (1-0 upset)
1) Draper 4-1 (0-1 upset)
1) Seeberg 4-1 (0-1 upset)
4) Hoying 3-2 (0-1 upset)
The good news: our beloved Bucks are still holding down the #1 spot. The bad news: the remaining 24 spots are occupied by SEC teams. At any rate, we've scraped together a few matchups that may have an impact on whom OSU might face if the GRIND continues to succeed.
Oregon Ducks @ Michigan State Spartans
Draper: A nice top ten matchup to get things really going. Oregon was able to pull away last year in Eugene but this is a whole new animal. Welcome to East Lansing where the Spartans return most of their skill players and the Ducks...not so much. I'm not sold on the Ducks being the steamroller of the recent past. There offense will be ok, but that defense was hot garbage last week. I think Sparty gets some revenge and stakes their claim as one of the top teams in the country. Ore: 20--MSU: 34
Hoying: Last year, in Eugene, Sparty put quite the scare into the Autzen faithful for about 3 quarters, until Super Mariota proved to be too much. This year, Oregon has another very good QB, Vernon Adams, but he's not quite the world-beater that M&M was. The No-Fly zone seems to have been grounded since their landmark 2013, but State has managed to work Walrusball into a high-powered offense behind the arm of Heisman dark horse Connor Cook. Oregon struggles with big, physical offenses like Michigan State. Look for the Spartans to score early and often and the defense to get just enough stops with the home team roaring in Adams's ears. Ore: 31--MSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Michigan State plays defense, Oregon does not. Oregon plays offense, Michigan State has Jim Bollman running the offense. With as much disdain as I have for Bolman, I do respect what Mark Dantonio has built on the banks of the Red Cedar. The Spartan defense knows how to slow down these spread offenses (see the 2nd half of the Cotton Bowl). Let's face it, Oregon couldn't slow down Eastern Washington last week. I think that trend continues and the Spartans get their revenge on the Ducks. ORE: 36--MSU: 49
Seeberg: Both of these teams looked surprisingly meh in their openers. Oregon gave up a whopping 42 points to the 1-AA program whose QB they pilfered. Meanwhile, MSU looked quite pedestrian (and oddly out of place in a MAC stadium) in a lackluster 13-point win over Western Michigan. The Spartans will likely be in a shootout which is typically not their forte. However, their massive comeback against Baylor might give them the confidence to win another high-scoring battle. I honestly believe this game is an outright toss-up, so I'm going with the home team. ORE: 38--MSU: 42
Oklahoma Sooners @ Tennessee Volunteers
Draper: Speaking of hot garbage on defense, hello Vol fans. The Volunteers look like they may have turned the corner offensively with some positives on the near horizon, but that defense got scorched by BG. I'm very leery about pick Oklahoma in any road game, but Samaji Perine is a beast. Expect a high scoring affair with the Sooners staying in the hunt in a rare big road win. OU: 48--UT: 41
Hoying: Here comes another sucker non-conference foe ready for a beating at the hands of the Soon...wait, this game isn't in Norman? The shroud of invincibility tends to get torn away when Oklahoma leaves the friendly confines. But after a few years of top-notch, is Tennessee finally ready to perform? The Vol defense wasn't anything special against Bowling Green and they'll need to reach another level to stop the Baker Mayfield passing attack. I think their time has finally come. Neyland will be rocking, and Tennessee takes their first big step back toward national relevance. OU: 27--UT: 31
Schweinfurth: I feel like Tennesse is getting a pass this year and is way overrated. Yes, Butch Jones is doing a good job turning that program around, but it is still a work in progress. Oklahoma isn't what they used to be, but they will never be out of games with Samaje Perine. I'll take Oklahoma. OU: 35--UT: 28
Seeberg: Well, there's good news and bad news on Rocky Top, my graduate school alma mater. The good news? The Vols hung half a hundred on Bowling Green, and then nine more points for good measure. The bad news? They gave up 30, and much like the OSU-VT game, it was competitive into the 3rd quarter before their superior talent finally won over. Oklahoma, however, has similar- if not better- talent. Samaje Perine and Co. will run all over the Vols, wearing them down late. OU: 41--UT: 31
Louisiana State Tigers @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
Draper: LSU gets ready for game 1 after the rainout last week so there will be some jitters, but I'm not buying Mississippi State this year. Dak Prescott runs well, but LSU is looking to return to real National contention. Leonard Fournette is really really good (drawing comparisons to AD) and I think he silences the glorious din of the cowbell. Les drinks a victory bourbon chasing a fescue salad. LSU: 31--MSU: 27
Hoying: Last year, Mississippi State splashed their way into the playoff chase with a big win in Death Valley in which they hung 34 on the vaunted LSU defense. The Tigers are a sexy pick to represent the league at the end of this year's slate, but MSU still has Dak Prescott and LSU still has...Leonard Fournette, who is a terrific RB, but not enough by himself to deliver a win in Starkville. LSU: 27--MSU: 30
Schweinfurth: LSU has big questions marks at QB, and I mean big questions. LSU was okay last year, but not a great team. The Bulldogs came out of nowhere and Dak Prescott along with them. I will go with the team that knows who is behind center. CLANGA!!! LSU: 24--MSU: 38
Seeberg: This is almost a week-one style game to predict as LSU didn't play last week and it's tough to figure out what to make of the Bulldogs. MSU's all-purpose QB Dak Prescott is back but they only return less than half of the starters from their overacheiving squad of a year ago. LSU is almost the exact opposite, with a big question mark at QB but a largely veteran team otherwise. The Hat starts off 1-0. LSU: 31--MSU: 17
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Wooooooo....this...is gonna be gross. Welcome back Joey, Dontre, Jalin, and Korey. While Joey will certainly be on the field, are we convinced that the others will make an impact? The crowd of WRs (led by Braxton) looked just fine. Suspensions might relegate these guys to the pine for more than a game. Jalin will be there to return (fumble?) punts but other than that, I'm good with what we have. I need a shored up D-line and O-line, but this is the opponent that is good for what ails you. Will JT start just to screw with us? Don't count it out. Either way, we should get some Steven Collier in the blowout. Zeke will be limited in that he'll be taken out early. Bucks roll. Haw: 10--OSU: 66
Hoying: A home game against an awful Group of Five opponent. It's finally September in Columbus. After defying Let's Go Bucks! and starting Cardale Jones at QB, Urban faces the task of psyching 12 Gauge up for a craptastic opponent in his home starting debut. Don't expect any rust. After being frustrated on the ground and through the air by a sound Hokies defense (yet still racking up almost 600 yards), Cardale and Co. must be itching to turn the offense loose and showcase its full potential, especially with Wilson, Marshall, and Smith returning. Not that the Bucks need them with Braxton making defenses look silly by himself once again. The best part: we should get to see PLENTY of JT this week, as garbage time should be at least 40 minutes long. How about a nice Hawaiian punch? Haw: 10--OSU: 70
Schweinfurth: The only concern I have with this game is the quick turn around. Hawai'i gets two extra days to rest and the Buckeyes had a physical game Monday night. Outside of that, this game shouldn't be close. The Buckeyes could put up 60 without batting an eye. I can't wait to see some Bosa shrugs this week. Urban will use this week to pad Zeke's stats. This is over after the first quarter and we get to see plenty of Cardale and JT. HAW: 14--OSU: 63
Seeberg: The best part about being 1-0? The
Upset Special
Draper: BYU over Boise
Hoying: Toledo over Arkansas
Schweinfurth: Oregon St. over TTUN
Seeberg: Nevada over Arizona
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