Week 2, and more predictions. Can 85% Sports’ staff and readers improve on an un-inspiring week one?
And just to have a little fun, we’ve added “Nick L. Coin” – a coin toss for each game.
Arkansas (14) at Alabama (3)
Chris Long: Alabama – Alabama has All-Americans on All-Americans on defense. Good luck moving the ball effectively.
Eugene Tierney: Alabama – Alabama is too good to lose to the Razorbacks, but weirder things have happened.
Russ Blatt: Alabama – ‘Bama has been impressive this year, they stay impressive.
Nick L. Coin: Alabama
NOVARaven086: Alabama – Nick Saban’s boys are the beasts of the SEC West. The Tide should continue to roll in Tuscaloosa against an Arkansas squad that has yet to face a true test.
Mike Fay: Alabama – If you’re a Razorback fan, you have to be a little concerned with how many points that defense gave up to Troy last week. Plus, the Crimson Tied have just demolished everybody they’ve faced; including a ranked Penn State team on the road. “Ya’ll didn’t even know he was a virgin til he was 28…now…Roll Tide.”
Michael W: Alabama – Alabama could be really good this year. They have a great defense, a productive offense and a chip on their shoulders after last year’s Iron Bowl loss. They’re the better team, playing at home and looking for a big conference win. They’ll take this one.
Jeremy H: Alabama – 8 legit top 100 NFL prospects for the 2012 draft. The Tide will roll.
AJ: Alabama – This will be a good, old-fashioned rivalry game against two southern powerhouses. Arkansas is an impressive team but Bama is too good to lose. I have Alabama winning by ten. Alabama 24 – Arkansas 14.
USC (23) at Arizona St
Chris Long: Arizona St – The Devils showed me something winning a tough game against a top 25 team in Mizzou. I’m drinking their Kool-Aid.
Eugene Tierney: Arizona St – Having watched Arizona St play a good game against Missouri and knowing that USC is not the program they used to be, I have to go with Arizona St.
Russ Blatt: Arizona St – I do not believe in USC and I will not start now
Nick L. Coin: USC
NOVARaven086: USC – Matt Barkley and the Trojans offense look like the real deal and Arizona State looked shaky against an underwhelming Illinois team. This one should be tough at Sun Devil Stadium but I think that USC pulls it out.
Mike Fay: USC – It’s gotta really irk Mizzou fans that a week after getting upset by the Sun Devils the friggin Illini took care of business against Arizona State. Yamma Hamma. Anyway, I think USC will win this game. I really don’t have a reason to get into. But that’s the pick. It should be really fun seeing smoking hot women from Arizona State and USC while the announcers keep talking about Trojans. Yay Saturday night!
Michael W: Arizona State – This is partially because I tend to favor home teams in college football and partially because USC is the former home of Pete Carroll, who is my nemesis. The Sun Devils are an underrated program, and after picking all favorites last week, I have no choice but to pick an upset.
Jeremy H: USC – I think Matt Barkley will prevent any upset here.
AJ: USC – The USC aren’t the dominating team that they once were but the Sun Devils were just upset last week by Illinois (ouch!) I think USC is a more consistent team and will play a better second half of football than Arizona St. does. USC 32 – Arizona St. 24.
Oklahoma St (7) at Texas A&M (8)
Chris Long: Oklahoma St – OK State the best quarterback-wideout combination in the nation.
Eugene Tierney: Texas A&M – I think A&M has a lot to prove as they move to the SEC, and they’ll want to go out of the Big 12 in style.
Russ Blatt: Texas A&M – I think this game is close to a toss up, so I go with the home team.
Nick L. Coin: Oklahoma St.
NOVARaven086: Texas A&M – Oklahoma State has been weak defensively all year and have just been waiting to be beaten all day. Everybody knows that the SEC is the best conference in America and they clearly saw something in Texas A&M. I think they prove why against an OK St. Team that is probably five to ten spots too high.
Mike Fay: Oklahoma State – Normally in these types of match-ups I take the home team just because it’s so hard to win a big game on the road in college football. This time, I’m reluctantly taking the Cowboys. However, I don’t think Brandon Weeden is going to get all day to throw against this Aggies pass rush. Should be a nice tight one (hi-yo!).
Michael W: Oklahoma State – Even though this is on the road, Oklahoma State is more talented, and their talent will carry them over the Aggies. In case you couldn’t tell after two weeks, I’m not the most knowledgeable about college football.
Jeremy H: Oklahoma State – Justin Blackmon will be just too much. Not to sell the A&M offense short, because they’re powerful too.
AJ: Texas A&M – This is a tough call. Two really solid teams are playing each other, both looking to stay undefeated. Both teams have a legitimate shot this year at a BCS bowl. I think Texas A&M wins this game but I’m not sure why. They have a swagger to them that I like. I’m picking this game mostly on instinct than on anything else. Texas A&M 34 – Oklahoma St. 31.
New York Jets at Oakland Raiders
Chris Long: Oakland Raiders – 70 percent of people picked the Jets at the radio station. I like to go against the trend if I have nothing else to base my pick on- they’ll bounce back after a brutal loss to Buffalo.
Eugene Tierney: Oakland Raiders – The Jets have a lot to prove on offense and the Raiders have looked pretty good so far. I’m expecting them to take it at home.
Russ Blatt: New York Jets – The Jets defense has been impressive and I believe they can hold down the Raider offense.
Nick L. Coin: New York Jets
NOVARaven086: New York Jets – Im convinced that these are the toughest road games in the NFL. That being said, the Jets are looking like a very good team capable of beating the teams they’re supposed to. Oakland’s offense has yet to show me that they can beat a defense anywhere close to the Jets and Mark Sanchez proved that he can put up points. May not be a blowout but the Jets should win.
Mike Fay: New York Jets – Every fiber in my being wants to pick Oakland here. The Jets SHOULD have lost to Dallas, but they seemingly got their stuff together last week against the Jags. I’ll predict some numbers for you: 1 (the number of TDs for Darren McFadden), 2 (the number of interceptions for Jason Campbell), 3 (the number of field goals for Nick Folk). 873 (the number of times I’ll want to punch Rex Ryan in the face on Monday).
Michael W: New York Jets -I’m not buying the Raiders. They didn’t dominate Denver the way they definitely should have, and they folded like an accordion against the Bills. New York’s defense is in top form right now, and they’ll swarm the Raiders offense and make enough plays against a spotty Raiders defense.
Jeremy H: New York Jets – Jets’ defense will stifle the Raiders and LT/Shonn Green will be able to run against the Raiders defense.
AJ: New York Jets – I don’t think this game will even be close. I see Campbell getting picked two or three times in this game. Oakland’s defense may be able to keep them in the game for awhile but I’m going with the Jets in this one. NY Jets 24 – Oakland 10.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Chris Long: Chicago Bears – The Packers have a lousy pass defense – I mean real bad. If Brian Urlacher can keep Jermicheal Finley in check and Mike Tice can (gasp!) get his line to run block for runs and pass block for passes, I like Da Bearsh.
Eugene Tierney: Green Bay Packers
Russ Blatt: Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rogers looks good. Chicago’s defense is good, but are they the Monsters of the Midway?
Nick L. Coin: Chicago Bears
NOVARaven086: Green Bay Packers – The Bears struggled mightily against the Saints’ blitz happy defense and will get more from Dom Capers’ squad. Worst comes to worst for Green Bay, they rolled all over a Saints squad that looks now like a solid D, so the Pack should win. This is the toughest call of the week, though.
Mike Fay: Green Bay Packers – Little known fact: over the course of the last ten years the Chicago Bears have lead the league in “Games Won That They Had No Business Winning.” Is that a compliment? I really don’t think so, but other views may vary. Point being, Green Bay is unquestionably a better football team and should win; but the Chicago Bears thrive off their opponents handing them games. So I’m nervous, but I’ll still pick the Packers.
Michael W: Green Bay Packers – The Packers are on a mission. I picked them to win the Super Bowl, and I’m picking them until they let me down. Aaron Rodgers looks fantastic this year, and he’ll cut up the Bears defense just like Drew Brees did. They’re the best in the NFC North, and they’ll prove it on Sunday.
Jeremy H: Green Bay Packers – Aaron Rodgers is a machine at this point and won’t be stopped by the Bears.
AJ: Chicago Bears – I can’t wait to watch this game. One of the great rivalries in football was renergized last year in the NFC Championship game. Green Bay won that game, I think Chicago wins this one. I have the Bears winning by three. Chicago 17 – Green Bay 14.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Carolina Panthers
Chris Long: Carolina Panthers – Rookie quarterbacks NEVER do well in their first start in the league, wait…what?
Russ Blatt: Carolina Panthers – Cam wins one!
Nick L. Coin: Jacksonville Jaguars
NOVARaven086: Carolina Panthers – Jeez, the only thing that this pick says more about than Cam Newton’s explosion onto the scene is just how anemic the Jags’ offense has been under Luke McCown, Gabbert may be a better option but I think he goes through some rookie growing pains in his first game as a starter.
Mike Fay: Carolina Panthers – Two awesome teams starting rookie quarterbacks. To be fair, Cam Newton has played like a veteran…a veteran that throws a lot of picks. I’ll still take the Panthers, they played a very good Packers team last week and hung in there. They get their first win this week. Sorry, Heneghan.
Michael W: Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton has over 800 yards and no wins. I don’t think he’ll add 400 yards this week, but he can definitely beat a reeling Jaguars team. By the way, I’m not sure how I feel about Blaine Gabbert, but I’m buying into the Cam Newton experience. He looks like he can develop into a really exciting player. He’s an excellent athlete, a confident player and a competitor. I like what I’ve seen from him, and I think he’ll win this Sunday.
Jeremy H: Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton is firing on all cylinders and Blaine Gabbert is getting his first start. Interesting rookie match-up, but Cam is producing and the wins will start coming this week.
Eugene Tierney: Carolina Panthers – You can’t stop Cam Newton, you can only hope to contain him.
AJ: Carolina Panthers – This will be a competition over which team is sadder looking. The (over-hyped) Carolina Cam Newton’s or the (frequently blacked-out) Jacksonville Face-palms. Jacksonville have looked like the worse team up to this point, even after beating the Titans in week one. I think Carolina wins this game as long as the running game gets going for them. Carolina 30 – Jacksonville 22
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys
Chris Long: Dallas Cowboys – Don’t be fooled by a 2-0 record, you can still color the Redskins and Rex Grossman bad.
Russ Blatt: Dallas Cowboys – I hate both these teams, but I think Punctured Lung beats the ‘Skins.
Nick L. Coin: Dallas Cowboys
NOVARaven086: Washington Redskins – With Miles Austin out and Dez Bryant still not 100% the Redskins get to game plan heavily against Jason Wittenberg. Add in Romo’s rib problems and a Dallas secondary that made Alex Smith look like an NFL quarterback at times and I think Shanahan’s ‘Skins can walk into Big D and give them a shock.
Mike Fay: Dallas Cowboys – Sure the Redskins are 2-0, but Washington hasn’t played on the road yet. This is also Dallas’ first home game. I like the Cowboys to take their home opener…assuming, of course, Tony Romo doesn’t mess his diaper in the clutch AGAIN.
Michael W: Dallas Cowboys – This game could go either way, because Dallas is banged up at multiple position and their QB hurts when he laughs, but the Redskins are relying on Rex Grossman, on the road, on Monday night. I like the Cowboys because they should be 2-0, and they’re bound for a big win. The Redskins could be ripe for the picking.
Jeremy H: Washington Redskins – Last year’s Sunday night game was fun and this year, the Redskins will come out on top again. Whatever Shanahan is doing, it’s working.
Eugene Tierney: Washington Redskins –
AJ: Washington Redskins – Another great NFL rivalry plays out this week. The Cowboys-Redskins rivalry is arguably the best rivalry in all of sports. These teams genuinly hate each other. I’m a Skins fan myself and I’m not going to pick against them, not while we lead the NFC East. (I’m delusional, I know.) Redskins 27 – Cowboys 24.