The College View 2006 Week 3

Cincinnati @ No. 1 Ohio State (-30)

Saturday at noon will be the seventh time No. 1 Ohio State has faced the Bearcats in Columbus. If you're an Ohio State Alum and had your tickets bumped, don't fret, WBNS will televise the game. Before 2002, when the Buckeyes played Cincinnati in Paul Brown Stadium, the last time the Bearcats hosted Ohio State was 1911. The Buckeyes are 11-2 all-time against Cincy. The two losses by Ohio State were back-to-back in 1896 and 1897. All-time in this series the Buckeyes have outscored the Bearcats 315-90. That is an average score of 24-7. In the 8 straight wins, starting in 1911, Ohio State has outscored Cincinnati 261-54.

Cincinnati (1-1) lost last week to Pitt 33-15. The score was 7-0 in favor of Pitt at half. The Bearcats lost control of the game because their defense couldn't prevent big pass plays, and backup quarterback Nick Davila was futile in the third quarter. After playing Ohio State, things are not going to get better for the Bearcats. Next week they travel to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech. A positive for Cincinnati is that Dustin Grutza solidified himself as the starting quarterback because of Davila's poor play. Other players to watch on Cincinnati's offense will be tight end Brent Celek, running back Bradley Glatthaar, and receiver Earnest Jackson. Key defensive players are cornerbacks Mike Mickens and John Bowie. Bowie won the Big East's title in the 100 meters last year. Will that be enough speed to keep the Buckeyes from burning them deep like Pitt did?

The View
I apologize to all Buckeye fans, especially those near campus. I had no idea that by picking Texas to win by two points it would enrage you enough to light dumpsters, couches, and even a car on fire. I deeply regret being the cause of such destruction and have learned my lesson. I won't pick against the Buckeyes again, at least not this week.

Ohio State- 33 Cincinnati- 7


Ohio @ Rutgers (-16)

Rutgers will play Ohio at 3:30 Saturday in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights destroyed Illinois last week 33-0. Raymell Rice has 309 of the team's 383 rushing yards this season to go along with four touchdowns. Other players to watch are quarterback Mike Teel, tight end Clark Harris, and the defensive line which helped Rutgers produce a nation leading 47 sacks last year.

The last time the Bobcats were 2-0 the year was 1997. With two wins, OU has already won half as many games as last year (4-7). Austen Everson lead a very effective and productive offense to victory last week. Everson threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Bobcat to throw for over 300 yards since Sam Vink in 1993. The 322 yards passing also earned Everson sixth place on OU's all-time single game list. Not to be lost in Everson's accomplishment was the stellar play of Kalvin McRae, wide-out William Norwood, tight end Rudy Sylvan and the offensive line.

The View
I was wrong, wrong, wrong. The Bobcats must have been angered by my article last week calling for them to get smoked by the Huskies. Fortunately the OU players and fans didn't light the stadium on fire, but instead used that anger to spark a victory. Since it worked last week, I'll go against the Bobcats again in hopes of another stunning upset. Try not to burn a couch in your driveway. That move has already been claimed by the fans of the team in Columbus.

Rutgers- 33 Ohio- 17


No. 6 LSU @ No. 3 Auburn (-3)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: CBS

LSU and Auburn have played each other every year since 1992. Auburn has an 8-6 record during that 14 year span. Last season LSU won 20-17 in overtime. Can LSU defeat Auburn back-to-back for the first time since they did it 1995 and 1996?

Auburn (2-0) kept Mississippi State scoreless for the season by defeating the Bulldogs 34-0 last week. Junior quarterback Brandon Cox and senior half back Kenny Irons are the driving force behind the offense. David Irons, Kenny’s brother, is the best cornerback on the team. The Irons brothers are looking to make history by becoming the first brothers to be named to the All-SEC and All-America teams in the same season.

LSU is also 2-0 after drubbing Arizona and Louisiana Lafeyette. LSU is lead by quarterback JaMarcus Russell, receiver Dwayne Bowe, and free safety LaRon Landry.

The View
With a match-up between two high powered offenses and two stubborn defenses, I wanted to get some outside help for this game‘s preview. Unfortunately Keith Jackson is retired, nobody cares about Brent Musburger, and Kirk Herbstreit is too busy making commercials for his show and a cable company.

Then I realized that both teams have a tiger for their mascot. Who better to ask for help than Seigfried and Roy? Only two problems. First, I don’t have their phone number. Second, they probably don’t like football. I imagine that if I did interview Seigfried and Roy they would contribute something as insightful as “We luv ze tigerz! We luv all tigerz! Pick ze Tigerz!” I encourage you to do the same and pick this game over the other great contests during the 3:30 time slot.

Tigers- 17 Tigers- 14


No. 11Michigan @ No. 2 Notre Dame (-6.5)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: NBC

Mike Hart and his 5.2 yards a carry is going to try to be the first running back to gain 100 yards rushing against the Fighting Irish’s “inferior” defense this year. Chad Henne has yet to defeat Notre Dame or Ohio State as a starter. Like John Navarre before him, Henne would like nothing better than to defeat both teams for the first time his senior season.

Notre Dame has reclaimed its No. 2 ranking after humiliating Joe Pa and Penn State last week. Brady Quinn, Rhema McKnight, and company are playing for their third straight victory over the Wolverines.

The View
It’s a fact, Michigan defeated Notre Dame in consecutive weeks to start the 1888 season. Saturday’s game will be the 34th time the two schools have played. The Wolverines lead the series 18-14-1.

If you‘re an Ohio State fan which team do you root for? The only good thing to come from this game is that either Notre Dame or Michigan will have a loss. It’s a fact.

Notre Dame- 31 Michigan- 24


No. 17 Miami @ No. 12 Louisville (-4.5)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: ABC
The Hurricanes are 8-0-1 against Louisville. The tie was in 1950. Two years ago Louisville lost to host Miami in a 38-41 shootout. Even without Michael Bush, this game should still be exciting. However, I wouldn’t bet against the ‘Canes as an underdog.


No. 15 Oklahoma @ No. 18 Oregon (-4.5)
Kickoff: 3:30
TV: GamePlan

Like USC and Miami, Oklahoma is also playing an opponent that the program has never lost to. The Sooners are 5-0 against the Ducks including last year's 17-14 Holiday Bowl victory. This will be the first game Oklahoma has ever played in Eugene. Will it also be the first game Oklahoma loses to Oregon as well?


No. 19 Nebraska @ No. 4 USC (-19)
Kickoff: 8:00
TV: ABC

These two storied programs have only played each other twice. A home and home series in 1969 and 1970. USC won at Nebraska in '69 (31-21) and the schools tied the following year 21-21. USC will stay undefeated against the Cornhuskers.


No. 7 Florida @ No. 13 Tennessee (+3.5)
Kickoff: 8:00
TV: CBS

If you like watching teams throw the ball, this is your game. Tennessee’s Erik Ainge is third in the country with 624 passing yards. Ainge’s favorite target is Robert Meachem who has gained 297 of those 624 yards. Florida’s Chris Leak likes to throw the ball to Dallas Baker. Leak is fourth in the country with 600 yards and Baker has been on the receiving end of 204 of those yards. Florida is averaging 38 points a game to Tennessee’s 33.

Tennessee has won 3 out of the last 5 meetings. With a win Saturday Phil Fulmer will have a winning record against the Gators in the post Spurrier era. Losing defensive tackle Justin Harrell and cornerback Inquoris Johnson due to injury for the season will make that task even more difficult for Fulmer.


I-AA Watch List

12 teams are attempting to run the I-AA win streak to three weeks. Portland State, Montana State, and New Hampshire already shocked the world the past two weekends. Who will be next? Below are this week’s contenders.

Southern Illinois @ Indiana
Youngstown State @ Penn State
McNeese State @ Louisiana-Lafayette
Idaho State @ Idaho
Portland State @ Cal
Grambling State @ Houston
Furman @ North Carolina
Nicholls State @ Louisiana Tech
Wofford @ South Carolina
Texas Southern @ New Mexico State
Sam Houston State @ SMU
Stephen F. Austin @ Arizona

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