Who You Are Rooting For Week 3

Mark BlankenbakerSeptember 12, 2013

Football0 views

EVERY TEAM IN THE AAC:

Louisville @ Kentucky (naturally)

Central Florida @ Penn State

South Florida vs. Florida International

Rutgers vs. Eastern Michigan

Temple vs. Fordham

Cincinnati vs. NW State

Memphis vs. Middle Tennessee State

Connecticut vs. Maryland

The American Conference definitely needs to have a good week. Houston & SMU are off this week and the biggest games are the Louisville vs. Kentucky and Central Florida vs. Penn State games. If the Cards and Knights can both get wins they are one step closer to a pretty big-time game in about a month.

Poll Chaos

#1 Alabama vs. #6 Texas A&M

Tennessee @ #2 Oregon

Cal vs. #4 Ohio State

Army vs. #5 Stanford

Kent State @ #8 LSU

Nevada @ #10 Florida State

Akron @ #11 Michigan

Vanderbilt @ #13 South Carolina

Tulsa @ #14 Oklahoma

#23 Nebraska vs. #16 UCLA

Western Michigan @ #17 Northwestern

Illinois vs. #19 Washington

Arizona St. vs. #20 Wisconsin

Purdue vs. #21 Notre Dame

#24 TCU @ Texas Tech

Texas vs. #25 Ole Miss

The winner of the Alabama/A&M game really doesn’t make that big of a difference for the Cards. However, I’m going to be rooting for Alabama for 2 reasons: 1) A&M is the next step in the poll #6 for the Cards, and 2) Johnny Manziel is the defending Heisman Trophy winner. Two birds one stone. Worst case scenario is that this turns into a very close game. Think blowout for the winner.

Tennessee @ Oregon and California hosting Ohio State seem like the best chance for a SHOCKER, but I don’t think either will happen. Still it’s worth tracking.

Vanderbilt is capable of knocking off a South Carolina team that just gave one to Georgia on the road this week. South Carolina gets this one at home, and has the advantage, but I think Vandy has a very good chance here. They need to pick up a game like this after their season-opening loss to Ole Miss.

Nebraska beating UCLA might help the Cards pick up some votes in the short-term. But really this is a good game for the Cards because someone has to lose. I could really go either way on who I want to win. UCLA plays in a tougher league and is more likely to pick up a loss , but UCLA losing would help out the Cards in a week when there will be a loss in the Top 10.

Washington absolutely blew the doors off Boise State in their opener. Illinois shocked everyone by taking down Cincinnati this week. Illinois is playing much better than expected this season, but Washington probably has the most momentum. A loss here either way is good, but we’re rooting for Illinois.

Texas just gave up 550 rushing yards to BYU and now get #25 Ole Miss at home. Texas has fired Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz and dropped out of the poll. I’m conflicted with who I want to win this game, but in the end I’m comfortable going for Texas to give Ole Miss their first loss of the season. But I do believe Ole Miss will win the game.