If you've been putting off that Friday night to Saturday morning visit to your inlaw's, this is the day.  I'm not really excited about any of the games except for Thursday and Saturday's afternoon and evening games.  Go ahead.  Be a family man until around 2:30 Saturday and then plant yourself on the couch for some interesting football.


Thursday night
6:30 Clemson at #15 Georgia Tech, ESPiN
Coming off of a lackluster performance against Jacksonville State, the Yellow Jackets host the Clemson Tigers.  The Tigers didn’t play Sr QB CJ Spiller because they wanted to save him for the start of ACC play which might end up being a mistake.  Georgia Tech is playing at home, CJ Spiller is rusty and not used to game speed,
Reason to watch:  Well it’s the ACC and so not really relevant in the chase for the crystal football, so …none.
Pick: Vegas is saying Georgia Tech by 5.  Georgia Tech gets the edge in the run game.  I’ll take them to cover.

Saturday
11:00am #21 North Carolina at Connecticut, ESPiN
This is a game you can have on while you are doing other stuff.  Not a lot of great games in the early slot this week.  UConn is looking for revenge after last year’s thumping by NC. 
Reason to watch: If you love the excitement of grind it out football and watching two teams that combined last week for 241 passing yards, this is your game.
Pick: Vegas says Tarheels by 5.  I think they cover that one easily.

2:30 pm Notre Dame at Michigan, ABC
Two coaches on the hot seat.  Two teams that once had a great tradition and now mired in mediocrity.  It’s Weis vs Rodriquez on the sidelines.  The Irish shut down a pretty good Nevada offense last week and allowed 0 points.  The Irish also have the #1 ranked pass efficiency going into week two and are tied for 5th in turnover margin.  The Go Blue enter week two being 11th in rushing D and 56th in pass efficiency defense.  Michigan will stick with the run game handing it off to Robinson and putting Brown in at QB to mix it up a little. 

Reason to watch:  If you like to gawk at car wrecks when you drive by, you will love this game.  One program will be in disarray and falling apart after this game.  I also love to see Jimmy Clausen get hit and pout on the sidelines, but there won’t be much of that.

Pick: Vegas picks Notre Dame to win by 4 on the road.  I’m picking the Irish to cover. 

7:00 pm #3 USC at #8 Ohio State, ESPiN
Ohio State is coming into this one with something to prove after a near miss with Navy.  Pete Carrol brings the Song Girls and USC who is starting a true freshman in his first road game to one of the greatest stadiums and toughest places to play in college football.  USC was largely untested in their blowout of San Juan State last week to open it up.  Not even worth talking statistics.  USC dominates in all categories.  Ohio State’s lone hope is to make it a battle of field position. USC is 58th and 41st respectively in kickoff and punt returns while OSU has a pretty good punting game.

Reason to watch: Because you would love to see USC and the media’s west coast bias eat a little crow, but you will be disappointed.  Did I mention that there will probably be about 1000 shots of the Song Girls? 
Pick.  Vegas is picking USC to win by 7.  Even with a freshman QB in the horseshoe, USC covers the spread (but I hope I’m wrong).