National College Football Preview: Week Two

Written by T.J. Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

After a sparse opening weekend, the ACC and Big 12 begin playing in week two. The Miami Hurricanes ran all over UAB on Thursday night and the rest of the league begins playing on Saturday. There are no marquee games this weekend and the SEC is still not playing but there is still plenty to pique your interest.

This likely won’t last long but I was 2-0 last weekend on my picks so I’ll toot my own horn while I can.

UL Lafayette (+11.5) at Iowa State – Noon on ESPN

Iowa State is a good team so I don’t want this pick to come across as a denigration of the Cyclones or Matt Campbell. I was very nervous that Campbell would end up at some place like Michigan State and make the Big Ten East even tougher. ISU was 7-6 last year but have a right to feel they could have been much better. Brock Purdy is a terrific QB but I have doubts about their offensive line. This pick is more an endorsement of Billy Napier and the Ragin’ Cajuns. Lafayette was ninth in the country in point differential a season ago and they bring back the bulk of an offense that lit up the scoreboard in 2019. I think Lafayette is a live dog with a real chance to pull off the upset. Ultimately, I think Iowa State escapes with a win but 11.5 points is too many for them to be giving.

UL Monroe at Army (-21) – 1:30 on CBSSN

I won with Army last week and I liked everything I saw from the Black Knights. They flattened Middle Tennessee State on both sides of the ball. Monroe should be a slightly stiffer test but I think Army is the significantly better program and I’ll gladly Army until they prove me wrong.

Duke at Notre Dame (-20.5) – 2:30 on NBC

It pains me to say this but I think Notre Dame will be very good this season. In my opinion, the David Cutcliffe era at Duke has passed its peak and he won’t be around much longer in Durham. The Fighting Irish return all five starters on the offensive line, a group that has a combined 111 career starts. They could end up being the best line in the country and will undoubtedly be at least in the top few. I really think Notre Dame has some exciting young running backs, Ian Book is a good veteran QB and the wide receivers, while not at all elite, are solid. Notre Dame has won 18 straight at home and I fully expect the 15,000 or so that are able to be in attendance will see the Fighting Irish blow out the Blue Devils.

You can also check out the following contests. These are games I don’t have a pick on but it’s college football and should be fun to check out regardless:

-Syracuse at North Carolina – Noon on ACCN

-Charlotte at Appalachian State – Noon on ESPN2

-Arkansas State at Kansas State – Noon on FOX

-Georgia Tech at Florida State – 3:30 on ABC

-Clemson at Wake Forest – 7:30 on ABC

-Western Kentucky at Louisville – 8:00 on ACCN