Week One had a slew of great matchups from Oklahoma-Houston to Notre Dame-Texas. Week Two? Not so much. You want me to watch Arkansas at TCU or Virginia Tech taking on Tennessee at Bristol? How about two teams that didn't struggle against the Group of Five or FCS in Week One?
Instead of the supposed marquee games, let's look at two matchups between two teams who did well in Week One and are sitting just outside the Top 25.
RB Matt Dayes had 138 rushing yards and 2 TDs against William & Mary last week.
[Ethan Hyman / The Raleigh News & Observer]
[Ethan Hyman / The Raleigh News & Observer]
(26) NC State at (48) East Carolina (Noon EDT, ESPN U)
East Carolina is taking a tour of the compass points as the Pirates beat up on Western Carolina last week, host North Carolina State this week, and travel to South Carolina next week. The Pirates went 5-7 last year (compared to NC State's 7-6), but put up more offensive yards and had a more impressive final score in Week One than NC State. East Carolina beat the Catamounts(!) 52-7, compared to the Wolfpack's 48-14 win over William & Mary. That said, NC State's offense was more balanced between rushing and passing, and their defense limited the Tribe to fewer yards, both strong points in NCSU's favor.
East Carolina is taking a tour of the compass points as the Pirates beat up on Western Carolina last week, host North Carolina State this week, and travel to South Carolina next week. The Pirates went 5-7 last year (compared to NC State's 7-6), but put up more offensive yards and had a more impressive final score in Week One than NC State. East Carolina beat the Catamounts(!) 52-7, compared to the Wolfpack's 48-14 win over William & Mary. That said, NC State's offense was more balanced between rushing and passing, and their defense limited the Tribe to fewer yards, both strong points in NCSU's favor.
Line: NC State by 3
(37) Central Michigan at (31) Oklahoma State (Noon EDT, FS1)
Both teams had little trouble dispatching their FCS opponents last week with Oklahoma State crushing Southeastern Louisiana 61-7 and CMU topping Presbyterian 49-3. OK State beat Central last year for the first round of the home-and-home and are likely to repeat this year. But don't overlook the Chippewas who are currently ranked fourth nationwide in total defense.
Both teams had little trouble dispatching their FCS opponents last week with Oklahoma State crushing Southeastern Louisiana 61-7 and CMU topping Presbyterian 49-3. OK State beat Central last year for the first round of the home-and-home and are likely to repeat this year. But don't overlook the Chippewas who are currently ranked fourth nationwide in total defense.
Line: Oklahoma State by 6
No comments:
Post a Comment