Just when it seems like the dust settled on Week 1 of the college football season, we roll into the second weekend with one of those schedules that might be slim on first glance but can be full of surprises when Saturday is done.
Such is the brilliance of the sport that produces surprises and upsets when you least expect them. There’s an obvious pressure point for Oklahoma and Michigan in the games’s notable matchup. There’s also the renewal of a Border War full of disklike. There’s other games with big stakes and potential for upsets. But where will they take place?
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That’s why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 2 of the college football season:
A big scare from Florida before SEC schedule
Florida has received plenty of offseason priase and earned a spot in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. The road for the Gators isn’t easy in the SEC. But before they get there, there’s a big in-state matcup worth watching. Florida needs a last-minute drive, and touchdown from tailback Jaden Baugh, to beat South Florida. — Matt Hayes
South Florida becomes Group of Five contender
Meet the newest College Football Playoff contender: South Florida. The Bulls opened with a 34-7 dominating win against Boise State. Now, the Bulls have to go into “The Swamp” and play DJ Lagway and Florida to see if they are legit. The Gators are heavy favorites, but South Florida is a dangerous team led by Byrum Brown. He is the real deal at quarterback, puts up another gritty performance in the air and on the ground to stun Florida and move the Bulls to 2-0. — Jordan Mendoza
Iowa earns big road with at Iowa State
Iowa pulls off a minor shocker and beats Iowa State to continue one of the most ridiculous runs in the FBS: If they pull it off, this would be the Hawkeyes’ seventh win in a row in Ames. It’ll take more from new quarterback Mark Gronkowski, who had just 44 yards in the opener against Albany. — Paul Myerberg
Duke gives Illinois all it wants
Illinois has been trumpeted as the next Indiana after the Hoosiers made a surprising run to the College Football Playoff last season. But the Illini aren’t coming out of nowhere. They won 10 games last season, so this could be a team feeling a bit overconfident and overlooking a Duke team that is very dangerous. Tulane transfer Darian Mensah will lead the Blue Devils offense, and the defense is good enough to slow down the Illinois attack. This shapes up to be a tight game with Duke having more than a puncher’s chance to pull the upset. — Erick Smith
Another scoreless effort from Akron
We apologize in advance to devotees of MACtion for the following item. All 136 members of the Bowl Subdivision have now played at least once. Three of them have yet to score a point, and all three reside in the Mid-American Conference. One member of this trio of futility is about to get whitewashed again, and it’s the one with perhaps the most unfortunate nickname in the sport. Yes, Akron, we mean you and your game against Nebraska after falling 10-0 at Wyoming.
Ball State is another candidate after a loss at Purdue and now a trip to Auburn, The third member of the club, Miami (Ohio), should at least get off the schneid at Rutgers. — Eddie Timanus
The narrative turns for Arch Manning, Texas
Arch Manning was heralded all off seasons as the Heisman Trophy favorite. That narrative took a hit when Manning and the Longhorns fell flat at Ohio State. After the Longhorns hangs 50 points on San Jose State, the pundits will reanoint Manning as the greatest quarterback since Tim Tebow. — Blake Toppmeyer
