CFB Week 2

After an opening week of games spread across a long holiday weekend, we must return to our normal schedule of activity this week. It’s a bummer I know but don’t worry, this week has some interesting matchups to keep you away from any unnecessary chores around the house.

Saturday

Illinois vs Duke

What to watch for: Excitement for this matchup used to only extend toward basketball but that’s not the case here. QB Luke Altmeyer and the Fighting Illini have real expectations this season with a pre-season ranking of 12 and have a roster under Head Coach Bret Bielama that has a chance to be a playoff team come January. On the other side you have the second year of Manny Diaz at Duke, coming off a 9-4 season last year that saw the Blue Devils rebound after the departure of HC Mike Elko for Texas A&M. A couple of seasons ago, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who saw either of these coaches trending upward again but now both have settled into their new jobs and are primed for big things this season.

Baylor vs SMU

What to watch for: An old Southwest Conference rivalry renewed. Baylor was a trendy pick last week against Auburn but was unable to keep Jackson Arnold in check throughout. Now they catch a matchup with Kevin Jennings and the always tricky SMU offense. This game will most likely mirror those classic 2010’s Big 12 matchups like Texas Tech vs Oklahoma where both teams are trading points and the defense’s are just there for show. If you enjoy that kind of football, this is the game for you.

Iowa vs Iowa State

What to watch for: Take everything I just said about the last game and throw it out the window. I don’t think you could find two more different matchups on this slate. This game is going to be a rock fight. This game will not be high scoring. This game will be many things, but it will not be pretty. That description makes it sound like this is a game you shouldn’t watch but on the contrary. This is a tough physical rivalry and these two do bring out something special in one another. The last three matchups have been decided by 7 or less, two of which have been decided by 3 or less points.

Michigan vs Oklahoma

What to watch for: Two iconic programs matching up in the regular season with two different sets of expectations. Michigan, in the second year of the Sharone Moore era, will trot out their freshman sensation Bryce Underwood for only his second career start. On the other side you have Oklahoma and a fan base that’s patience is wearing thin in year 3 of the Brent Venables era. It sounds silly to some but there will be a lot of pressure on Venables to win this game if he wants to keep his job in Norman. Coming off a hugely disappointing 6-7 season, Venables has his most talented roster since he’s been with the Sooners but the clock is ticking. The Wolverines will have a lot to gain from a win like this early and the Sooners stem to lose a lot if they don’t win at home. Add all this together and you have yourself a very compelling set of storylines.