College Football Week 3 Recap

First, let's see how I did with my Week 3 Bold Predictions:

1. Boston College upsets Florida State

The Eagles' defense did all they could, clamping down after Florida State's opening drive, in which the Seminoles scored the game's first (and only) offensive points.  But Boston College was kept off the scoreboard, after racking up 100 points over their first two contests (against back-to-back FCS opponents).  Perhaps BC should consider scheduling a bit more aggressively in the future, so that they might be more prepared for conference play.  As it was, the Eagles' offense seemed lost, as they fell 14 - 0 to the Seminoles.

2. USC blows out Stanford by 3 touchdowns or more

So much for this prediction.  Stanford was in control of this game, and it was the Trojans' defense that couldn't contain the balanced Cardinal attack.  USC lost 41 - 31 to Stanford, and now face an uphill battle to get back in the Pac 12 race, let alone playoff contention.  Perhaps it was a bit premature to say the Trojans were back to their dominant pre-sanction ways.

3. Three different Buckeyes throw touchdown passes against Northern Illinois

Another prediction I completely whiffed on.  J.T. Barrett was the only Ohio State player to score any kind of offensive touchdown, after relieving a struggling Jones.  Barrett had struggles of his own, though, and the Buckeye offense as a whole just seemed off.  Whether it's been due to the odd 3-4 defense Hawaii and Northern Illinois both used, adjusting to changes in the coaching staff and player personnel, or simply mental errors and mistakes across the board (the reality is probably some combination of all of these), I'm confident Meyer will get the issues on offense rectified.  In the meantime, the defense has been playing lights-out.  Darron Lee's 41-yard pick six late in the third quarter may have saved the game, as Ohio State survived, 20 - 13.

4. Indiana and Western Kentucky combine for 80+ points

There were definitely fireworks, but not enough to get this prediction right.  The game went back-and-forth and the final score was close, as expected, but the teams combined for only 73 points.  Indiana goes to 3 - 0 after the 38 - 35 win over the Hilltoppers.

5. Rutgers makes it through weekend without any more players or coaches getting arrested and/or suspended

Well, they did it.  Rutgers made it through the weekend without any more players or coaches getting in trouble.  But with all their focus on not screwing up, they forgot they had a football game against Penn State, and were handed an ugly 28 - 3 loss.  On a positive note, Rutgers' interim coach Norries Wilson handled the post-game press conference like a boss.  If he manages his players like he manages the media, I think we'll start to see some better things out of the Scarlet Knights in the coming weeks.

Week 3 record: 1 - 4
Overall record: 3 - 12

I guess I shouldn't quit my day job anytime soon.

Other headlines from week 3:

Wild 66-yard touchdown highlights Ole Miss win over Alabama

Ole Miss upset the Tide last year, but not many picked them to do the same this year, with the game at Alabama.  The Rebels had won only 1 of the last 27 games in Tuscaloosa, and had never claimed back-to-back victories over the Crimson Tide.  But there's a first time for everything, and the Rebels managed to pull off another shocking upset, 43 - 37, helped along with some crazy plays like this one:

Fournette and Chubb take early lead in Heisman race

The workhorse running backs at LSU and Georgia both tore up SEC defenses this weekend in blowout wins for their programs.  Fournette was fueled by some comments made by Auburn safety Rudy Ford, who said it "shouldn't be difficult" to stop the 6'1", 230 pound running back (the Tigers apparently didn't learn from the backfiring of last year's Outback Bowl trash talk).  Chubb was likely motivated by last year's loss to South Carolina.  Can these two powerful running backs keep up the strong performances throughout the season, with one of them possibly taking home the Heisman?

Northwestern, Iowa, Indiana biggest surprises in Big Ten so far

If someone had told me before the season that other than Ohio State and Michigan State, the Wildcats, Hawkeyes, and Hoosiers would be the other undefeated B1G teams going into week 4, I wouldn't have believed them.  Looking at the schedules of Iowa and especially Indiana, it's not that surprising that they've made it this far without a loss, and it seems inevitable that both will falter sooner rather than later.  But still, 3-0 is 3-0.  Northwestern is the real shocker, after pulling off upset wins over Stanford and Duke.  Can they keep the magic alive and compete for the Big Ten West title?