College Football Week 3 Bold Predictions

1. Southern Miss loses to Alabama by less than 45 points

Vegas puts the spread on this one at 48, and on the surface, it looks like the Crimson Tide are more than capable to deliver.  The Golden Eagles lost their season-opener against Mississippi State, 49 - 0.  They went 1 - 11 last year.  Against the #3 team in the country, they will get demolished.  But Alabama doesn't look quite as dominant this year.  It will still be a blowout, but maybe not as bad as predicted.  Alabama wins 48 - 6.

2. Penn State beats Rutgers by double-digits in Big Ten opener

The Nittany Lions are riding high after learning they will have the opportunity to participate in the postseason this year.  Saturday's game against Rutgers is the first conference match-up of the season and first ever for newcomer Rutgers.  The Scarlet Knights will come in excited and ready to play, but Penn State pulls away in the second half behind another strong performance from QB Hackenberg.  Penn State comes out of  New Jersey with a 35 - 23 victory, still riding high.

3. Georgia falls to South Carolina

Gurley does everything he can to win this one, but it's not enough in a venue that has given the Bulldogs serious problems recently.  They travel to South Carolina to open up conference play, looking to knock off their second straight ranked opponent.  On paper it looks like Georgia has the advantage, but I think South Carolina finds a way to win this one at home.  South Carolina takes it, 34 - 31.

4. Buckeyes bounce back and put up 50+ points

Ohio State will have a lot of frustration to work out after last week's devastating loss to Virginia Tech.  Kent State will be the poor recipient of said frustration, as the Buckeyes look to prove they still belong in the top 25.  This offense finally starts to look like the one Ohio State fans remember from 2013, as they get the run game going to compliment J.T. Barrett's arm.  Improved play across the board on offense, defense, and special teams earn them an easy win, 52 - 14.

5. USC coach Steve Sarkisian calls his mother down to the field because: Mom, the refs are being mean to me!

In last week's match-up between USC and Stanford, USC athletic director Pat Haden came down to the field to argue with the referees over an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Sarkisian, apparently at the coach's request.  Don't expect to see Haden, who is also on the college football playoff selection committee, even near the field this week after taking extreme criticism (as well as a hefty fine) for overstepping his bounds.  But if Sarkisian gets in another tricky situation with the refs, don't be surprised to see Mrs. Sarkisian on the field having it out with the officials.