PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 7

Happy Friday the 13th! Be careful out there, they're predicting an upsetting weekend with no ranked-vs.-ranked matchups. Will the big boys fall, or will the gap between the top and bottom widen a bit more?

2017 Record

Overall: 77-23 (.783 win %)
Last Week: 12-5
Game of the Week Pick: 3-3

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
Arkansas at 1 Alabama
Saturday, 7:15 pm ET, ESPN
Alabama -31.5

The Crimson Tide looked mortal last weekend. Texas A&M hung around long enough to make the Bama faithful almost nervous. That spells doom for Arkansas. Tide 55-6

2 Clemson at Syracuse
Friday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
Clemson -23
Clemson travels to Central New York for an all orange battle. Last season, the Tigers hung 56 on the board on a Friday night in Boston. Not sure this squad will get that high, but I'm anticipating a blowout. Tigers 45-14 

3 Penn State - BYE

Missouri at 4 Georgia
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, SEC
Georgia -29.5
Georgia's Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are good enough that any quarterback could run the Bulldogs' offense. So far, Jake Fromm is playing well and he won't be tested by Mizzou. Dawgs 49-17

5 Washington at Arizona State
Saturday, 10:45 pm ET, ESPN
Washington -17.5
This one gets started late, much to the disdain of Chris Petersen. Washington shouldn't have any trouble, but the Sun Devils can score in a hurry. Other Dawgs 38-20

6 TCU at Kansas State
Saturday, Noon ET, FS1
TCU -6
With Jesse Ertz out, it feels like the Kansas State train is headed down the wrong tracks. TCU is looking to keep ahead of the rest of the Big 12 pack. Don't see this one being as close as the line predicts. Frogs 41-21

7 Wisconsin vs. Purdue
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, Big Ten
Wisconsin -17
Raise your hand if you can name Wisconsin's starting quarterback and running back. No one? Well, start paying attention to the Badgers. With an easy schedule the rest of the way, it's possible Wisconsin will reach the Big Ten title game undefeated. Badgers 38-14

8 Washington State at Cal
Friday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN

Washington State -15
Luke Falk and the Cougars were impressive in the second half at Oregon. The more folks doubt Mike Leach, the better Wazzu seems to play. A late Friday night in NoCal might be hazardous to some, but not this team. Washington State's defense is surprisingly good. Cougars 42-24

9 Ohio State at Nebraska
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, FS1

Ohio State -24.5

Oh look, Ohio State is scoring points against the bottom of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are back in the Top 10 by default. As long as JT Barrett and company don't have to face teams with a pulse, take OSU big. Buckeyes 45-17

10 Auburn at LSU
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Auburn -7
The Tigers versus the Tigers. Since not scoring a TD at Clemson and struggling with Mercer, the Auburn offense has found its rhythm. The Bayou Bengals are hard to figure out. Get blown out by Mississippi State (who since has been labeled a fraud), squeak by Syracuse (who lost to Middle Tennessee State), lose at home to Troy (who lost Wednesday to South Alabama), then beat Florida in the Swamp. War Eagle 31-10

Must Watch
Georgia Tech at 11 Miami
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Miami -5.5
Miami was dealt a big blow with starting running back Mark Walton's injury putting him out the rest of the year. The Canes finally picked up an emotional win at Florida State and now must prove they can prevent a letdown. Georgia Tech is right in the thick of the ACC Coastal race. The winner here has the inside track to the division title. Canes 35-30

GAME OF THE WEEK

It's known as "The Split" 'round these parts.
Burnt orange and Crimson split the Cotton Bowl at the 50-yard line.

12 Oklahoma vs. Texas (Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas)
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Oklahoma -8
With the Texas State Fair as its familiar backdrop, the Red River Showdown is second to none. Oklahomans hate Texas and the hate is reciprocated south of the Red River. A new era begins as Texas' Tom Herman and OU's Lincoln Riley etch their names in the books of this historic rivalry. Herman has been known to have his teams play up to their opponents and freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger has taken the reins under center. The Horns are 2-0 in conference play with back-to-back weeks against OU and Oklahoma State. A win over their crimson-colored rivals would signal the official "TEXAS BACK, Y'ALL!" However, Baker Mayfield and the Sooners are licking their wounds from a humbling loss to Iowa State. So far, OU has allowed 79 points in two Big 12 games, a far cry from the defensive effort put up in Columbus against the Buckeyes. Oklahoma is out to prove the ISU loss was a fluke. Make sure you're tuned in for this one. Sooners 41-37

Utah at 13 USC
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
USC -13
Utah suffered a heart-breaking loss last week at home to Stanford, which put a damper on this game. Now, both teams have a loss to a North Division foe. Still, this Pac-12 South battle will give the winner a leg up in the division. Sam Darnold needs a big game to restore his credibility. Utah just needs to bounce back after giving up 152 yards to Heisman candidate Bryce Love. In the Coliseum, the Trojans have the slight edge. Trojans 31-23

Keep An Eye On
24 Texas Tech at West Virginia
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPNU
West Virginia -3.5
Texas Tech has improved ever-so-slightly defensively, but the Red Raiders are not close to respectable on that side of the ball. West Virginia came close to taking down TCU last week. The Mountaineers love early home games against their Big 12 brethren, all of whom reside in Central Time. Mountaineers 45-37

Oregon at 23 Stanford
Saturday, 11 pm ET, FS1
Stanford -10.5
The good ole days of Stanford and Oregon being must-see Pac-12 action are gone. The Cardinal seem to be holding up their end of the bargain at 3-1 in the conference. The Ducks are 1-2 with this one and road games at UCLA and Washington still to come. Stanford's Love will be the difference maker and continues his march to the Heisman. Cardinal 30-20

-BtW

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 6

Much better week by my standards, but disappointed that I picked against Clemson. That won't happen again. Getting the picks started early this week since there is intriguing action beginning tonight (Thursday). Here's where things stand heading into October.

2017 Record

Overall: 65-18 (.783 win %)
Last Week: 10-2
Game of the Week Pick: 2-3

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
1 Alabama at Texas A&M
Saturday, 7:15 pm ET, ESPN
Alabama -26

Alabama stomped Vandy and Ole Miss by a combined 125-3. While Texas A&M presents a slightly tougher challenge, the Aggies are far from being worthy competition for the Crimson Tide. It seems like this Bama team is on a mission. Jalen Hurts is playing at an extremely high level and showing why he was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. Tide 42-13

Wake Forest at 2 Clemson
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2
Clemson -21.5
In three conference games plus the game with Auburn, Clemson has looked much more impressive on the road than at home. Here comes Wake Forest, limping after a close but no cigar loss to Florida State. The Deacons' confidence might be shook, but they won't roll over in Death Valley. Kelly Bryant needs to prove the Tigers passing game should be taken seriously. Tigers 35-10 

Iowa State at 3 Oklahoma
Saturday, Noon ET, Fox

Oklahoma -30

Baker Mayfield has been as close to perfect as one can be this season. He's yet to turn the ball over and is averaging just over four TD passes a game. Nothing changes here. Sooners 52-20

4 Penn State at Northwestern
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Penn State -13.5
Saquon Barkley is doing it all for the Nittany Lions. He'll get another chance to showcase his skills against a scrappy Northwestern squad. The Wildcats always play Penn State tough in Evanston. This PSU team is a little different. Lions 40-10

5 Georgia at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Georgia -17.5
The Dawgs are en fuego right now, having taken down Mississippi State and Tennessee by a combined 72-3. Alabama proved Vandy was a fraud, as all should've expected. Now Georgia gets to have its way with the Dores. Dawgs 35-6

Cal at 6 Washington
Saturday, 10:45 pm ET, ESPN
Washington -27.5
Cal is playing teams close, but sits 0-2 in Pac-12 play. Washington had a slow start at Oregon State, but pulled away big in the second half. Jake Browning can sling it and his main target Dante Pettis is fun to watch. At night in Husky Stadium, this shouldn't be close. Other Dawgs 48-14

Michigan State at 7 Michigan
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Michigan -10.5
The last time these two got together in the Big House, all heck broke loose. Sparty pulled off the improbable victory on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown as timed expired. John O'Korn was second string to begin the season for a reason, but the Wolverines are simply better than their in-state rival. Wolverines 34-21

GAME OF THE WEEK

Kenny Hill has TCU in the Top 10 as we enter October,
a spot not many predicted the Horned Frogs would be.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

23 West Virginia at 8 TCU
Saturday, 3:30 ET, FS1

TCU -13.5
This is a surprise for Game of the Week. Following WVU's loss to Virginia Tech, the Mountaineers have put up 56, 59, and 56 points to get the offense rolling (albeit against East Carolina, Delaware State, and Kansas). Last we saw TCU, the Horned Frogs walked out of T. Boone Pickens Stadium with a 13-point win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State. The Frogs behind Kenny Hill are looking like the Big 12 offense many thought they'd be. Defensively, Gary Patterson's team is living up to the expectation as well. That will be the difference Saturday. Frogs 41-27

9 Wisconsin at Nebraska
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Big Ten

Wisconsin -10.5

The Badgers keep chugging along while all the eyes are focused on the Big Ten East at the moment. Wisconsin hasn't received near enough praise, but they're probably OK with that. Nebraska needs a win bigtime. It'll be a great atmosphere to start, but once Big Red Nation realizes they can't compete with the big boys of the Big Ten, things will turn sour in Lincoln. Badgers 34-17

Maryland at 10 Ohio State
Saturday, 4 pm ET, Fox
Ohio State -31
Can anyone figure out Maryland? The Terps go on the road and put 51 points on Texas, then they lose at home 38-10 to UCF (who is a very good team, by the way). But it didn't stop there. Maryland knocked off an unbeaten Minnesota team on the road. Meanwhile, JT Barrett is looking better against weak competition, which is how Urban Meyer gets the respect back to his club. This may be close for a while, but Maryland can't hang that long with the Buckeyes. Bucks 45-17

Must Watch
17 Louisville at 24 NC State
Thursday, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Louisville -3
The atmosphere at Carter-Finley Stadium should be electric with the Wolfpack looking to assert themselves as the No. 2 team in the ACC Atlantic behind Clemson. Lamar Jackson still runs the show at Louisville, which means the Cards will put up some points. But NC State's defense can disrupt that just enough to get a big win. Pack 27-24

13 Miami at Florida State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Miami -3
Hurricane Irma forced this game to be moved here from what was supposed to be a Week 3 matchup. Now, the Noles look vulnerable and the Canes look like a Coastal Division contender. Whenever these two get together, it's fun to watch. There will be trash talk. There may be a scrum or two. And for some reason, this game loves to come down to the field goal units. Canes 24-23

11 Washington State at Oregon
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Fox
Washington State - 2.5
Luke Falk led Washington State to a huge win over USC last week at home. Now, the Cougars go on the road to a difficult place to play, Autzen Stadium. Mike Leach might think there are louder environments, but he didn't help his team out by calling out the Ducks faithful. I'm really excited for this one and hope it lives up to its billing. Cougs 44-35

Stanford at 20 Utah
Saturday, 10:15 pm ET, FS1
Stanford -4.5

Bryce Love might be these best running back in the country west of Saquon Barkley. Love already has over 1,000 yards and has given Cardinal fans a good reason to forget about life without Christian McCaffrey. Rice-Eccles Stadium is no easy place to play, so I'm surprised to see the line this much in Stanford's favor. In fact, I'm buying undefeated Utah right now over two-loss Stanford. Utes 30-24

Keep An Eye On
Boise State at BYU
Friday, 10:15 pm ET, ESPN
Boise State -7.5
These two go back a long ways and the games are always hard-fought and down to the wire. They are two of the most recognizable non-Power 5 programs of the last decade. Even though BYU hasn't had quite the season it'd hoped for, they Cougars won't lay down at home. Boise State lost a stunner to Virginia two weeks ago, so the Broncos had time to regroup for the remainder of the season. What else are you gonna do on a Friday night? Broncos 31-17

LSU at 21 Florida
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Florida -2
Ah, finally LSU goes to Florida. Should be good times in Gainesville after last year's bicker-fest. Neither team is fun to watch, but the hatred from Gators fans toward LSU will make it enjoyable. Gators 20-10

Kansas State at Texas
Saturday, 7 pm ET, FS1
Texas -4.5 
Is Texas back yet? It seems like every week we are hearing about the Horns and whether they are back or back to being meh. Kansas State hasn't played like many thought they would early on. The SnyderCats have a road loss at Vandy and a closer than expected win over winless Baylor. Can they go on the road and beat a fickle Tom Herman Texas team that is offensively-challenged? Honestly, who knows? Cats 24-20

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 4

Conference play is virtually in full swing now. The days of Power 5 vs. Mid-major are nearly over. After a strong start to the year, BENched is ready for the challenge of picking these tougher matchups. There's no real marquee game this week, but the slate is full of intrigue. Here we go!

2017 Record

Overall: 46-8 (.852 win %)
Last Week: 14-4
Game of the Week Pick: 2-1

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
1 Alabama at Vanderbilt
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Alabama -18.5

Confidence is sky high in Nashville, as the Dores are set to host the Crimson Tide. Vandy is off to a 3-0 start, including a win last weekend over ranked Kansas State. No upset this weekend. Tide 27-9

Boston College at 2 Clemson
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN2
Clemson -34
Good chance this one is over by halftime. Clemson is riding a big wave of momentum after knocking off Auburn and Louisville in consecutive weeks. The Tigers are probably looking ahead to taking on Virginia Tech next week. BC gave up over 500 yards rushing to Notre Dame a week ago. Clemson's stable of backs and QB Kelly Bryant will have a field day. Tigers 45-3

3 Oklahoma at Baylor
Saturday, 6:30 pm ET, FS1
Oklahoma -27.5
Will Baker Mayfield and the Sooners be able to name their own score? Probably. For some reason, I think this will be closer than most expect ... at first. Oklahoma rolls. Sooners 50-17

4 Penn State at Iowa
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Penn State -11.5
Plenty of teams have stumbled in Iowa over the years. Just ask Michigan last year. Penn State is a different animal. The Nittany Lions seem to be one of the most complete teams in the country. Saquon Barkley is going to go off. Lions 45-13

5 USC at Cal
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
USC -17
An underrated matchup between the Trojans and Golden Bears. Cal has already taken down an ACC and SEC team en route to a 3-0 start. USC needed a bit of a miracle to come back against Texas, but still remains the team to beat in the Pac-12. This one kicks off at 12:30 local time. Consider the Trojans on upset alert. Trojans 34-31

16 TCU at 6 Oklahoma State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Oklahoma State -12.5
The high-powered Pokes are one of the scariest offenses in the nation. Through three games, OSU has outscored its opponents 59-0 IN THE FIRST QUARTER! TCU gave up 36 to SMU last weekend. Good luck, Frogs. Pokes 49-24

7 Washington at Colorado
Saturday, 10 pm ET, FS1
Washington -12
A rematch of last year's Pac-12 title game, the Huskies look to remain in the Top 10 and the firm leader in the North. Colorado has other plans and is upset it's not getting respect in the rankings. Phillip Lindsay will go over 140 yards for the third time this year and the Buffaloes score the upset. Buffs 33-28

8 Michigan at Purdue
Saturday, 4 pm ET, Fox
Michigan -10.5
Jeff Brohm has reinvigorated the Boilermakers to the point that this is actually a tricky spot for Michigan. The Wolverines are struggling mightily on offense. If Purdue can create a turnover or pile on some points early, watch out. Boilers 31-27

9 Wisconsin - OFF

UNLV at 10 Ohio State
Saturday, Noon ET, Big Ten
Ohio State -40
One of the few matchups this weekend to turn your eyes away from. Buckeyes 56-10

Must Watch
NC State at 12 Florida State
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2/ABC
Florida State -11.5
The Noles are back on the field for the first time since falling to Bama in Atlanta. FSU endured Hurricane Irma and its effects. In case you need a reminder, quarterback Deondre Francois is out for the season and in steps freshman James Blackman. Preseason expectations were squashed for NC State when the Wolfpack dropped their opener against South Carolina. Despite playing Marshall and Furman since, it hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns. Will FSU be sluggish? Can NC State score an upset in Tallahassee? Noles 26-17

GAME OF THE WEEK

UGA (right) is the most well-known of the Bulldogs.
But Bully hay have something to bark about this weekend.

17 Mississippi State at 11 Georgia
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
Georgia -4
The battle of the SEC Bulldogs should be a good one. Mississippi State pulled off a stunner last week against LSU, not so much beating the Tigers, but how they did so: 37-7. Nick Fitzgerald's veteran leadership will be relied upon for MSU going Between the Hedges. That's where MSU has the advantage. Georgia, despite playing at home, has freshman Jake Fromm under center. He impressed in the road win at Notre Dame and has five TDs to one INT on the year. There's a good chance UGA lets its Big Dawgs eat and tries to play keep-away. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are averaging over six yards per carry. If Georgia can't put it in the end zone, though, it could be a long night in Athens. MSU Bulldogs 30-24

20 Florida at Kentucky
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, SEC
Florida -2.5
Why are you tuning in? Because Kentucky is 3-0 and Mark Stoops may have his best Wildcats team yet. Oh, and Florida has won 30 straight games against UK. That seems impossible. Will the streak continue? Cats 17-13

UCLA at Stanford
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN
Stanford -7.5
Two Pac-12 teams walked into Group of 5 stadiums a week ago and stumbled away with deflating losses. UCLA, which lost to Memphis, and Stanford, which fell at San Diego State, now face off in a must-win California battle. The Bruins need a defense to back Josh Rosen (and they need Rosen to be sharper than he has been). The Cardinal are probably just happy to be home after spending the first three weeks in the air and on the road (vs. Rice in Australia, at USC, and at SDSU). Since Stanford already has a conference loss, this game holds slightly more importance for the Cardinal. If UCLA does go down, the heat will be turned all the way up on Jim Mora. Cardinal 35-30

Keep An Eye On
Texas Tech at Houston
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2/ABC

Houston -7
Texas Tech is brutal on defense yet again. The Red Raiders gave up 45 points to Arizona State. Luckily, the Sun Devils are equally as bad on D and Tech got the win, 52-45. On the road at Houston in an early game (11 AM kick local time), against a Coug team hungry for another Big 12 win, this could spell the end of the Kingsbury era in Lubbock. Cougars 55-45

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Texas A&M -2.5
Like their West Texas counterparts, the Aggies too could see the beginning of the end of their head coach if they go down in Jerry World. When these two get together, it's always an exciting game. Arkansas had the week off to regroup following its loss to TCU. A&M needed a second half comeback to take down Louisiana-Lafayette, and even then Kevin Sumlin's seat hasn't cooled. The quarterback battle will be interesting to watch. Austin Allen is one of the league's better passers. Kellen Mond is trying to prove his worth for the Aggies. Arkansas is due in the series. Hogs 27-20

Duke at North Carolina
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPNU
Duke -1
If it was basketball, this is Must Watch material, probably Game of the Week. Alas, the Tobacco Road Rivalry doesn't quite have the same shine on the field as it does on the court. Duke has impressed early on, while North Carolina picked up its first win a week ago. Daniel Jones is the next David Cutcliffe prodigy and he has Duke on the rise in the ACC. Blue Devils 44-37

Notre Dame at Michigan State
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Fox
Notre Dame -3
Another big game that is usually the game to be watching, ND and MSU have taken quite a few steps backward from their recent glory days. The oddsmakers have the Irish as a road favorite, which is surprising only because that tells me they don't have faith in Mark Dantonio anymore. Irish 24-21

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 3

Another good week by BENched, but the matchups get harder to pick every week. This week doesn't present much in the way of "Must See" action, but plenty of college football across the landscape to enjoy. Let's get to the picks!

2017 Record

Overall: 32-4 (.889 win %)
Last Week: 15-2
Game of the Week Pick: 1-1

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
Colorado State at 1 Alabama
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN2
Alabama -28.5

Nick Saban gets a visit from another for SEC coach, as former Georgia assistant Mike Bobo brings his Rams down south. That should be all the drama surrounding this one as the Crimson Tide roll again. Tide 38-10

Tulane at 2 Oklahoma
Saturday, 6 pm ET, PPV
Oklahoma -35
Fresh off planting their flag in Ohio Stadium, the Sooners return home for a slightly easier matchup. Baker Mayfield is a Heisman front-runner and I'd expect to only see him for a half in this one. Sooners 66-13

GAME OF THE WEEK

Christian Wilkins and the Clemson defense is up to the task
against Lamar Jackson and Louisville.

3 Clemson at 14 Louisville
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
Clemson -3
Last season produced a classic between Louisville and Clemson. Lamar Jackson was electric and nearly led the Cardinals to a last-minute comeback win. Instead, Clemson won its third straight over its new ACC foe. All three have been won by six points or less. This year, it's the reigning Heisman winner against the reigning National Champions. Everyone is excited to see if Clemson's dominant defensive line can contain Jackson. I think the linebackers are actually the key to the Tiger defense. Additionally, the Cards are struggling on the defensive side of the ball. They've held Purdue and North Carolina to a total of 68 rushing yards, but have allowed 677 passing yards in those two games. This could be the game Kelly Bryant shows off his arm and his wheels. Deon Cain had a huge game against Louisville last year and I wouldn't be shocked if he does again. Jackson is going to get his. However, this is Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables' second shot at stopping Jackson. Tigers 27-23

Texas at 4 USC
Saturday, 8:30 pm ET, Fox
USC -15.5
Yes, the 2006 Rose Bowl was a classic. No, Vince Young is not running out of the Texas tunnel. Trojans 45-21

Georgia State at 5 Penn State
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, Big Ten
Penn State -37
The Nittany Lions get a layup before conference play. Not much to see here. Lions 54-9

Fresno State at 6 Washington
Saturday, 9:30 pm ET, Pac-12
Washington -33
A week after going up against Alabama, the Bulldogs of Fresno State head up to Seattle to take on another top 10 team. Brutal scheduling, Fresno State. Huskies 52-17

Air Force at 7 Michigan
Saturday, Noon ET, Big Ten
Michigan -23
Michigan's defense is pretty good. But Jim Harbaugh may want to consider calling a search party to find his offense. Air Force won't be a pushover. Wolverines 33-20

Army at 8 Ohio State
Saturday, 4:30 pm ET, Fox
Ohio State -31
How will the Buckeyes respond from being embarrassed on their home field? If JT Barrett struggles here, there could be a QB change on the horizon. Like Air Force, Army won't go down easy. Buckeyes 38-16

9 Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Oklahoma State -11.5
Pittsburgh nearly knocked off the Cowboys last year in Stillwater. Mason Rudolph and Co. won't take the Panthers lightly. Expect a close game through halftime, but the Pokes pull away late. Cowboys 48-17

10 Wisconsin at BYU
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Wisconsin -16.5
BYU's offense is struggling. A lot. Wisconsin gets to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Provo, Utah. They'll enjoy it more leaving with a win. Badgers 31-9

Must Watch
23 Tennessee at Florida
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Florida -4
The Vols stopped an 11-game losing streak to Florida a season ago. They needed a monster second half to do so. The Gators will look for revenge down in The Swamp. And they'll get it. Gators 25-17

Keep An Eye On
25 UCLA at Memphis
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC

UCLA -3

Josh Rosen and the Bruins travel East and apparently aren't getting respect from Vegas. Memphis had a game against UCF canceled due to Hurricane Irma, so the Tigers are still somewhat a question mark. What does Vegas know??? Bruins 38-28

Notre Dame at Boston College
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN
Notre Dame -13
It wasn't long ago that this used to be a yearly rivalry game and it was actually pretty good. BC's move to the ACC and both teams' slide into mediocrity or worse has dulled it up quite a bit. The Irish are looking for something to shake off the loss last week to Georgia. The Eagles just need something after struggling to win at Northern Illinois and getting blown out by Wake Forest. BC won't find it here. Irish 34-17

SMU at 20 TCU
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPNU
TCU -20
The Metroplex rivalry is more heated than one would think. SMU generally pulls off one upset a year. Will it be against the Horned Frogs, who may still be struggling with an offensive identity? Frogs 31-28

12 LSU at Mississippi State
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
LSU -7.5
This is more of a chance to see if LSU has really upgraded its offense. It's also a chance to see if Nick Fitzgerald can pull off another stunner in Starkville. The cowbells will be clangin'! Bulldogs 20-17

Kentucky at South Carolina
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, SEC
South Carolina -5.5
South Carolina gets its first home game of the season and the Gamecocks are hoping for some home-field magic against Kentucky. The Wildcats have defeated South Carolina three straight seasons. The line is close, but Jake Bentley and Deebo Samuel are too much for the Cats to handle. Gamecocks 37-20

Kansas State at Vanderbilt
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ESPNU
Kansas State -3.5
Neither team has been tested with Vandy having defeated Middle Tennessee State and Alabama A&M, and K-State beating Central Arkansas and Charlotte. So this one is very much a toss-up. If there's an edge, it's probably with the Wildcats' offense. Jesse Ertz is back at the helm and has looked sharp so far. Wildcats 31-24

19 Stanford at San Diego State
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, CBS Sports
Stanford -8.5
Bryce Love is most certainly the answer to who will fill Christian McCaffrey's shoes. The Cardinal suffered a tough loss at USC and now must try to rebound at SDSU. The Aztecs are not to be taken lightly. They won at Arizona State last week and are going for the Pac-12 sweep of their schedule. Ultimately, Stanford responds nicely. Cardinal 30-21

-BtW

The Morning After - Putting the D back in Death Valley

Saturday started with overtime amidst the corn between Iowa-Iowa State and finished with triple-OT on the Palouse between Washington State-Boise State. What a great day of college football that gave us a small sample of what to expect this season. Chaos. Fun. And more of those "WOW" moments.

1st Quarter

Clemson's defense stuffed Auburn's ground game,
holding the SEC Tigers to 42 yards.
(Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics)

If you needed proof that Clemson is more like Alabama than anyone else, I hope you watched the Tigers sack Auburn. Eleven times. Clemson's defense is elite and it is what will carry Clemson all season. I mentioned during preseason that Clemson wouldn't win a lot of 35-31 type games, but more on the 17-14 side. Here we are. Clemson gets two quarterback rushing touchdowns and allows 117 yards to Auburn in a 14-6 slobber-knocker. Kelly Bryant has his work cut out for him, but FSU aside, there won't be a better defense he faces all year. By the team the Noles come to Death Valley mid-November, it's believable that Bryant and the Clemson offense could be humming.

As for Clemson's D, this marks the third game in the last four it hasn't allowed a touchdown dating to the 31-0 shutout of Ohio State in last season's Fiesta Bowl. Austin Bryant isn't a household name like Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, or Christian Wilkins, but he racked up four of Clemson's 11 sacks. Tre Lamar isn't Kendall Joseph or Dorian O'Daniel, but his impact was felt. As was K'Von Wallace's who filled in for the injured starter Van Smith. It's been a next man up mentality for the past few years. The difference is Clemson is recruiting more talented players every year.

The Tigers now face the defending Heisman Trophy winner in Lamar Jackson. This defense against that guy? Get your popcorn ready. Beat Louisville.

2nd Quarter
Oklahoma made THE statement win of the weekend over THE Ohio State University. Baker Mayfield was terrific at the Horseshoe and made it well-known that he was not pleased with his team's performance a year ago in this game. Mayfield finished 27-35 for 386 yards and three touchdowns, adding his name to the top of the early season Heisman contenders. What impressed me most about this game, though, was Oklahoma's defense. The Sooners showed out and proved a lot of folks wrong, including me. I don't think JT Barrett is a good quarterback and the Buckeyes have plenty of issues on offense, but OU has had defensive issues for several seasons. Saturday night in Columbus, they looked like a Playoff-caliber unit.

I was also extremely impressed with the adjustments Lincoln Riley made at halftime. This game was 3-3 at the intermission and OU was moving the ball between the 20s. They couldn't find a way to get points, though. That changed after Ohio State scored to make it 10-3 early in the third quarter. OU went on a 28-6 run the rest of the game. In-game adjustments define championship teams. Riley passed his first big test against the great Urban Meyer. The Sooners will likely be favored the rest of the way now and that Nov. 4 date in Stillwater is going to be must-see TV.

3rd Quarter

Despite a big day on the ground from Stanford's Bryce Love (17 carries, 160 yards and a TD), USC dominated the Cardinal to solidify its status atop the polls and the Pac-12. Quarterback Sam Darnold had a big day in the win. He went 21-26 for 316 yards and four TD passes. The Trojans also found a running game with two rushers going over 100 yards - Stephen Carr 11 carries for 119; Ronald Jones 23 for 116 and two scores. USC was 10-for-12 on third downs and amassed 623 yards of offense. This was the USC team that won its final nine games of 2016 and could very well be on its way to an undefeated season if it continues to play like that the rest of the way. That's a scary team out in LA.

4th Quarter

Freshman quarterback Jake Fromm out-performed expectations for Georgia on the road at Notre Dame. Fromm did just enough to give the Bulldogs a win in South Bend (or was it North Athens? Sheesh, there was a lot of red and black). He passed for 141 yards and a touchdown, but still looked like a freshman at times playing in a big road game. He turned the ball over twice, but overcame the mistakes to lead UGA down the field when it needed it most. As for Notre Dame, Brian Kelly could be on the final leg. Notre Dame isn't showing any signs of being an elite team and Kelly is showing his true colors in his press conference. Not a good look for the prestigious Catholic university.

Overtime

South Carolina's Deebo Samuel was at it again with another kick return for a score and two more rushing TDs as the Gamecocks continue to impress early on. South Carolina could very well be 4-0 heading into a late-September matchup at Texas A&M. The way the Aggies are looking, that could put Will Muschamp's team one win from bowl eligibility before October arrives. ... If anyone is going to give Oklahoma and Oklahoma State trouble in the Big 12, it'll be a team in purple. TCU and Kansas State look like that next tier of teams ready to contend with the big boys. The Horned Frogs struggled to put away Arkansas, but ended up with a 21-point win on the road. K-State has scored 55 points in back-to-back games against weak competition, but the Wildcats may be for real. We'll find out more when they travel to Vanderbilt this weekend. ... Oregon held on for a big win over Nebraska, 42-35, after leading 42-14 at halftime. The Ducks went into prevent offense mode for much of the second half. Nebraska tried to do its best Josh Rosen/UCLA impression, but came up short. That's a big win for Willie Taggart early in his Oregon career. ... Penn State absolutely dominated in-state rival Pitt. And then head coach James Franklin dominated Pitt in the postgame, saying Pitt's win against PSU last year was like their Super Bowl, but this was more like PSU beating Akron. Savage. ... It's clear that the rich keep getting richer - Alabama, Clemson, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, etc. But the poor are getting poorer, as far as Power 5 bottom feeders go.

ACC - Syracuse lost to Middle Tennessee State; Virginia lost to Indiana

Big 12 - Kansas lost to Central Michigan; Baylor lost to UTSA

Big Ten - Rutgers lost to Eastern Michigan

Pac-12 - Arizona lost to Houston; Oregon State lost to Minnesota (48-14)

SEC - No losses, but Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M struggled with Eastern Kentucky, UT-Martin, and Nicholls, respectively.

When it comes to the "top to bottom" argument, there's not a P5 conference out there that can win that. 

Tiger Tweets

Bout that time...#Clemson pic.twitter.com/Ikf7ZQ72l6

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 9, 2017

There's nothing like a night game in Death Valley.

Get to ESPN! pic.twitter.com/OBmUfRkiE0

— ESPN (@espn) September 9, 2017

C-L-E-M-S-O-N!!! 🐾🐅#ALLIN #Clemson pic.twitter.com/Xl75DUjF0H

— Clemson University (@ClemsonUniv) September 9, 2017

Kelly Bryant back.

— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) September 10, 2017

Deon Cain with a momentum-changing catch vs. Auburn #Clemson https://t.co/OAeQ8IM70P pic.twitter.com/bojQr3W8gc

— TigerNet.com (@ClemsonTigerNet) September 10, 2017

Deon Cain is a freak

— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) September 10, 2017

Every time Hunter Renfrow catches a pass is the loudest you will hear Death Valley. Mostly because every catch he reels in is a big one

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) September 10, 2017

Ray-Ray McCatch

— Alex Maminakis (@alexmaminakis) September 10, 2017

Suddenly, Kelly Bryant is 11-16 passing for 104 yards. #Clemson

— Alex Maminakis (@alexmaminakis) September 10, 2017

K Boogie finds the end zone!!

Clemson 7, Auburn 6 // 2Q 0:35 pic.twitter.com/Jq33lrnCRF

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 10, 2017

That boy @KellyB125 showing that grown man strength

— Artavis Scott (@ArtavisScott) September 10, 2017

Jarrett Stidham starting to look like a QB playing in his first full game in a hostile environment. Six sacks will do that to you

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) September 10, 2017

BRENT VENABLES IS A GOD

— Shakin the Southland (@STSouthland) September 10, 2017

It's lit. pic.twitter.com/jnU1QoB1yZ

— Alex Maminakis (@alexmaminakis) September 10, 2017

Eight sacks for Clemson tonight. The most in a game for the ACC Tigers since 2004.

— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) September 10, 2017

How much fun is this Clemson D vs Lamar Jackson gonna be next week? pic.twitter.com/MRmhYCvKlK

— #DaHale (@DavidHaleESPN) September 10, 2017

My remote control is on 🔥

— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) September 10, 2017

Jarrett Stidham is wondering where a Big 12 defense is when you need one

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) September 10, 2017

I get that Auburn needs the ball back to win this game but HASN'T JARRETT STIDHAM BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger_sherman) September 10, 2017

Hey hey hey, gooooodbye

— Shakin the Southland (@STSouthland) September 10, 2017

Boy I can't wait to play on this defense in front of these fans 🐅

— Xavier Thomas 1️⃣9️⃣ (@atxlete) September 10, 2017

That 2-0 feeling... 😁#ALLIN 🐅🐾 pic.twitter.com/0i3f5561Cj

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 10, 2017

First quarter total yards:
Auburn - 99
Clemson - 6

Next 3 quarters:
Clemson - 277
Auburn - 18

— Kerry Miller (@kerrancejames) September 10, 2017

In the last 36 months, Clemson has beaten Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma twice, Auburn twice, FSU twice. Dabo remains criminally underrated

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) September 10, 2017

*cough* Clemson allowed more yards against Kent State than it allowed against Auburn. *cough*

— Shakin the Southland (@STSouthland) September 10, 2017

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 2

Time for some more predictions! This weekend packs a big punch with great action all day and late into the night. Pour a cup or two of coffee and expect to be up late Saturday night. On with the picks!

2017 Record

Overall: 17-2 (.895 win %)
Game of the Week Pick: 1-0

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
Fresno State at 1 Alabama
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ESPN2
Alabama -43.5

Alabama gets a chance to work on its offense with Fresno State in town. What will be interesting is if Jalen Hurts continues to struggle throwing the ball. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa impressed during the spring game and will likely get his first chance at live action on Saturday. Could quarterback controversy begin brewing in Tuscaloosa? Tide 48-0

GAME OF THE WEEK

The QB battle between Baker Mayfield and JT Barrett
is a dandy in the marquee game of the weekend.

5 Oklahoma at 2 Ohio State
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Ohio State -7.5
After getting thumped by the Buckeyes a season ago, the Sooners visit Ohio State with revenge on their minds. This is an intriguing coaching matchup with first-year coach Lincoln Riley against veteran Urban Meyer. Baker Mayfield looked terrific in the opener. Oklahoma appeared to find a few answers to who will step up at running back and wide receiver. Abdul Adams was shifty and quick out of the backfield. Jeff Badet and Mark Andrews are go-to targets for Mayfield. The question is, does OU have an answer for the nasty defensive front for the Buckeyes? The advantage lies with Ohio State's defense. I trust Mayfield more than JT Barrett, even on the road. But I believe the Sooners are behind on the defensive side. Barrett has plenty of speed around him and it will be tough for OU to keep up with the talented Buckeyes. Bucks 37-27

13 Auburn at 3 Clemson
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN
Clemson -5
Kelly Bryant and Jarrett Stidham each get their first real test as new starters. Stidham has the tougher challenge going on the road in a night game at Death Valley. Both defenses are elite. Clemson will try to use its speed and chaotic backfield against a stout Auburn defensive front. Auburn has a more straight forward running game with Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway. However, Johnson suffered a hamstring injury last week and likely won't play, while Pettway was suspended and will get his first action of the season at Clemson. He'll be fired up, no doubt. But so will the Clemson defense, Clemson offense, and Clemson crowd. ACC Tigers 24-17

Pittsburgh at 4 Penn State
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Penn State -21.5
The Nittany Lions are on a mission to prove many of the doubters wrong. The loss to Pittsburgh a season ago kept Penn State out of the College Football Playoff. Despite the weapons returning on offense, many have Penn State behind Ohio State in the Big Ten East. Before getting to the Buckeyes, PSU needs to avenge this loss. With Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley leading the way in front of a raucous sold out, white out Happy Valley, Penn State gets it done big. Lions 44-17

14 Stanford at 6 USC
Saturday, 8:30 pm ET, Fox
USC -5.5
I've been back and forth on this one, mostly because of how good Stanford looked two weeks ago in the opener and how mediocre USC looked last week against Western Michigan. Bryce Love filled in the shoes left by Christian McCaffrey extremely well, rushing for 180 yards and a score on just 13 carries. Stanford had two weeks to prepare for this one and USC dropped in the polls after it struggled. However, this is destined to be an early Heisman campaign type game for Trojan quarterback Sam Darnold. If USC was simply keeping it vanilla last week and still scored 49 points, then watch out. Trojans 38-35

Montana at 7 Washington
Saturday, 8 pm ET, Pac-12
No Line 
Well, there's not much to say about this. Washington needed a big second half to put away Rutgers (yes, that Rutgers!). But the Huskies and Jake Browning are fine. For now. Huskies 55-10

Cincinnati at 8 Michigan
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Michigan -34
Wilton Speight nearly cost himself his starting job and Michigan the game last week against Florida. Speight was able to redeem himself and led the Wolverines to a big win over the Gators to open the season. Michigan steps back this week and should roll over a Cincy team that struggled with Austin Peay. Wolverines 52-6

Florida Atlantic at 9 Wisconsin
Saturday, Noon ET, Big Ten
Wisconsin -33
The Badgers looked good against Utah State. Scary good. Another ho-hum game means another big Wisconsin win. The only reason to tune in is to see Lane Kiffin exploding on the sidelines for the Owls. Badgers 49-13

10 Florida State - OFF
The Noles' game against Louisiana-Monroe was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. Other games throughout the state and affecting teams from Florida have also been cancelled. BENched sends his thoughts and prayers to the people of the state of Florida as they brace for one of the worst storms to hit the US.

Must Watch
17 Louisville at North Carolina
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Louisville -9.5
Lamar Jackson totaled 485 yards in a close win over Purdue and all he did was "hurt" his Heisman stock. Sheesh, people. The guy is electric. It's just a shame the team he has around him is just OK. Meanwhile, North Carolina lost at home to Cal, despite the Bears playing in the morning hours Pacific Time - I guess they didn't have an issue with their body clocks like Stanford did a few years back. I think this line might be a little too close and Jackson puts on another show ahead of Louisville's showdown with Clemson next week. Cards 41-24

23 TCU at Arkansas
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
TCU -3
These two produced a epic finish last year with TCU storming back to force overtime, but the Hogs escaping Ft. Worth with a double-OT win. Now, the scene flips to Fayetteville. Kenny Hill threw four TDs and the TCU offense showed some major firepower, albeit against Jackson State. Likewise, the Razorbacks sleep-walked through their win over Florida A&M. BENched expects a shootout with the team with the ball last getting the victory. Frogs 47-42

Nebraska at Oregon
Saturday, 4:30 pm, Fox
Oregon -13.5
Oregon couldn't get out of its own way in Lincoln last year, failing several two-point conversions en route to a three-point loss. Under new leadership, the Ducks won't be quite as finesse in these type of games. Nebraska nearly coughed up its win last week against Arkansas State. Autzen Stadium is no easy place to play and Royce Freeman is eager to put his own name into the hat for early-season Heisman candidates. Ducks 40-27

15 Georgia at 24 Notre Dame
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, NBC
Notre Dame -5.5
A fun one in South Bend as two historic teams face off for just the second time ever. The Dawgs will go with freshman Jake Fromm to lead the charge. Fromm steps in for the injured Jacob Eason. The youngster looked sharp in UGA's win over Appalachian State. Going on the road in the hallowed Notre Dame Stadium is a little different, though. The Irish will counter with a first-year starter themselves. Brian Kelly has given redshirt sophomore Brandon Wimbush the nod. Notre Dame crushed Temple to open the season. At home, under the lights, this one goes to ND. Irish 31-24

Utah at BYU
Saturday, 10:15 pm ET, ESPN2
Utah -2.5
The Holy War. One of the more underrated rivalries in football. BYU hasn't come close to looking good this season. The Cougars needed all four quarters to put away Portland State and then were blanked by LSU, 27-0. The Utes, meanwhile, have a quarterback in Tyler Huntley who took over for Troy Williams - last season's starter. Huntley's dual-threat ability will cause problems for many teams this year, starting with BYU. It's a late one, but this game tends to go down to the wire. You'll be happy you stayed up for the finish. Utes 23-20

Keep An Eye On
Iowa at Iowa State
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN2

Iowa -3

Crazy things happen at Jack Trice Stadium. If you're looking for a little rivalry action early on Saturday, this one will do it. Iowa trounced the Cyclones last year. Can ISU turn the tables? Hawkeyes 34-28

Wake Forest at Boston College
Saturday, 1 pm ET, ESPN3
Even
No, this one isn't exciting. In fact, it's not even on TV! You'll have to pull up ESPN3 to find it. But the Deacs and Eagles generally produce close games and the winner will have some kind of momentum going in conference play. Remember, Wake Forest was in the division hunt mid-November last year. Deacons 20-14

South Carolina at Missouri
Saturday, 7 pm ET, ESPN2
Missouri -2.5
There could be points. Lots and lots of points in the battle of Columbias. Missouri and Drew Lock have already hung 70 on the board. South Carolina and Jake Bentley are on the upswing and took down NC State, scoring 35 points despite going against a tough defensive front. In between Ohio State-Oklahoma and Clemson-Auburn, check this one out. Gamecocks 48-44

Boise State at 20 Washington State
Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN
Washington State -10
Any chance to get to watch the pirate himself is great. Mike Leach has Washington State as a legit Top 25 program. Quarterback Luke Falk is the real deal. Wazzu will be out for revenge after falling on the blue turf last year. Cougs 37-31

-BtW

The Morning After - Winning the Opener

Welcome back to The Morning After, a Sunday staple of BENched. TMA began as a way for me to provide my thoughts on the previous day's Clemson game. It morphed into writing about the national landscape.

A new season is upon us and I'm going with a new format. There will be four quarters and an overtime, followed by "Tiger Tweets."  The first quarter will be all Clemson. The second through fourth quarters will be a look at the most important games from the weekend. Overtime will be some quick hits of the other action. Tiger Tweets will be a condensed game thread of some of my personal favorite tweets about the game.

There are still a few games to go over the holiday weekend. None should really impact the Playoff race, but a couple could turn the burner a little higher on some already hot seats.

1st Quarter
If you read my season-opening post, you know I'm high on my Tigers. It all stems from knowing Dabo Swinney loves the underdog role. With all the offensive firepower gone, pundits across the nation are hesitant to pick Clemson for a third straight Playoff run. That's understandable, but Swinney plays that chip on his shoulder better than most.

Kelly Bryant showed off his arm and his wheels
to lead Clemson in a blowout win over Kent State.
(Photo courtesy AP)

I realize Kent State is not a barometer for this team, but as Swinney mentioned during postgame this team played a relatively clean game. It was good to see Kelly Bryant lead the offense to three straight scoring drives. One of Clemson's strengths is its offensive line (returning four of five starters). Bryant had time to throw and the lanes were wide open to run through. The Tigers were very balanced and played 91 players in the game. Getting the youth playing time will pay dividends down the road. Clemson scored 56 points, gained 665 yards (312 passing, 353 rushing), all four running backs scored a rushing touchdown along with Bryant, and the passing game was on point.

Kent State managed 120 total yards and threw just five passes, completing one for one yard. I don't know why the Golden Flashes stuck to the running game against one of the best defensive front sevens in the country, but it's hard to get a read on the Tiger D when a team is voluntarily one-dimensional.

There is lots of promise for this team. The talent is there, but these next four games to close September are a different animal than what these youngsters have seen at the collegiate level. Clemson has Auburn visiting Saturday, then travels to Louisville, home vs. Boston College, and at Virginia Tech. Buckle-up, Tiger fans.

As always, one game at a time. Beat Auburn.

2nd Quarter
The GOAT (Greatest Opener of All-Time) was quite the DUD. Early on, it looked like we'd have a competitive game. But as it wore on, it was clear the Alabama was a step above Florida State. The Tide stuffed the Noles running game, holding FSU to 40 yards on the ground. Ultimately, offense and special teams blunders doomed the Seminoles. Good teams, like Alabama, take advantage of those mistakes.

Where FSU was impressive was on defense. Despite being put in terrible situations much of the second half, the Noles stiffened up and kept the deficit from growing. Alabama outgained FSU by just 19 yards. Jalen Hurts only threw 18 passes, completing 10 for 96 yards and a TD - seven of those completions and the TD were to playmaker Calvin Ridley. But Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, and Hurts combined for 39 rushes for 168 yards (4.3 yards per carry).

FSU would have had a long way to go to reach an ACC Championship this year before Deandre Francois got hurt. If his knee injury is serious, the Noles may be in rebuild mode with a young backfield. I feel bad for Francois. He's done nothing but get pounded into the ground since he put on that uniform. I hope his career isn't ruined because FSU can't block for him.

I'm also not completely sold that Alabama looks like the best team in the country just yet. In year's past, they destroyed their opening week competition. On Saturday, they struggled and were practically gifted some points off turnovers.

Still, I think both teams will be in the conversation in November.

3rd Quarter
Another team that impressed many but I'm holding back on is Michigan. The Wolverines had a hard time getting things going against a stout Florida defense. Starting QB Wilton Speight threw two pick-sixes that would have sunk Michigan against any other opponent with an offensive pulse. Lucky for the Maize and Blue, this was Florida. Quarterbacks not named Tim Tebow or Danny Wuerffel, umm, aren't good. Somehow, the Gators put up 181 passing yards, but only ran for 11.

Yes, Florida was without a lot of suspended players, including its starting running back and star wideout. However, at a place like Florida it's inexcusable not to have backups ready to fill in and take over.

On the other sideline, the stats show Michigan dominated this game. The scoreboard told me it was a nine-point game late in the fourth quarter. How do you only give up three offensive points and find yourself needing a defensive score to seal the deal? Michigan is a young squad and this win will go a long way for confidence-building. I still think Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin are above them in the Big Ten right now.

4th Quarter
I dislike preseason predictions and prognostications (despite myself picking the Playoff teams last week). I think it places expectations on teams that haven't stepped on the field yet. Then, we judge a season-opening game based on those expectations and that's simply not fair. Take USC and Sam Darnold for example. Many anointed Darnold as the Heisman favorite based on last year. They have USC pegged as the Pac-12 representative for the Playoff. Maybe that got to the Trojans heads a bit, as they were deadlocked at 28 midway through the fourth quarter with Western Michigan.

Ohio State is another example. The preseason No. 2 team and favorite to win the national championship by many, trailed 14-13 at halftime at Indiana. The Buckeyes won going away, 49-21. Despite holding the Hoosiers to 17 rushing yards, OSU allowed 420 through the air. It took the offense three quarters to hit its stride, but that happens.

Let's hold off on the hot takes for another couple weeks until we see some of these teams against better competition. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Overtime
Most of the top teams played cupcake games. However, there were some other interesting results. I'll start with South Carolina knocking off NC State. The Wolfpack doubled the Gamecocks' yardage output 504-246, but shot themselves in the foot too many times. Deebo Samuel made some huge plays for USC and Jake Bentley showed off his skillset. But once again, hold your horses. South Carolina got the win, but there are plenty of question marks. NC State took the loss, but much like a season ago, one play here or there can turn this team into a conference contender.

The conference debate was a major talking point in the offseason. The ACC finished 2016 on top, but that quickly went south. Aforementioned FSU and NC State lost to SEC schools, North Carolina lost at home to Cal, Pittsburgh needed overtime to pull out a win against Youngstown State, and Louisville squeaked by Purdue. The Big Ten had the best weekend, getting out of conference wins away from home over Florida and Texas by Michigan and Maryland, respectively. Purdue's loss to the Cards looked respectable and even Rutgers managed to hang with No. 8 Washington for a half.

Like I said, it's a marathon still. Lots can happened between now and conference championship weekend.

Tiger Tweets

👀#ALLIN 🐅🐾 pic.twitter.com/LcRHDH4O9F

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 2, 2017

Want to see a dead guy @BarstoolClemson? pic.twitter.com/pdv2UeZiKS

— 5th Year (@5thYear) September 2, 2017

That deep throw by Bryant was as pretty as you will see...hit Deon Cain in stride. Mercy

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) September 2, 2017

Guess the secrets out the KB2 can throw the ball... 😂😂😂 #Back2Back ?

— Eric Mac Lain (@Mr_Clemson) September 2, 2017

This Kelly Bryant kid is pretty good, huh? pic.twitter.com/Uvc68o16md

— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) September 2, 2017

Kent State is on the board with a field goal, making them the team from Ohio with the most points against Clemson in the last 365 days.

— Shakin the Southland (@STSouthland) September 2, 2017

Feaster 47-yard TD with a track meet head-dip at the finish line. 42-3 #clemsonvskentst @GreenvilleNews @independentmail pic.twitter.com/CM7a0gdMC6

— Ken Ruinard (@ClickingKen) September 2, 2017

Overall Clemson's run game: 32 carries, 305 yards, 5 TDs.

— #DaHale (@DavidHaleESPN) September 2, 2017

#9 looks the part. That's for sure.

— Tiger Commenter (@TigerCommenter) September 2, 2017

1 yard passing for Kent State.

— Seldom Used Reserve (@seldomusedrsrv) September 2, 2017

Clemson Wins!

Win The Opener: ✅#ALLIN 🐾🐅 pic.twitter.com/dDcMwXIdYU

— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) September 2, 2017

No. 5 Clemson beat Kent State 56-3, holding the Golden Flashes to 1 Pass yard (fewest by a losing FBS team in the last 5 seasons). pic.twitter.com/MgiJOvzXqw

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 2, 2017

Clemson is just fine, y'all.

— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) September 2, 2017

PTT: Prediction Time Thursday - Week 1

A weekend of college football has already come and gone. In case you missed it, the season opened with Colorado State thumping Oregon State 58-27 and concluded with Stanford destroying Rice 62-7 down under, with a few other minor results in between.

A newer-ish format for my weekly picks, but I hope you still enjoy the content. Sometimes this will come out Thursday and sometimes Friday, pending the impact of the Thursday games. Keep in mind, the "Must Watch" games of course include Top 10 teams, but will be listed separately. With an official opening weekend filled with bigtime matchups, let's get right to it.

2016 Record Recap

Overall: 140-59 (.704 win %)
Bowl Picks: 16-4
Game of the Week Pick: 7-4

*Rankings below reflect the AP Top 25

AP Top 10
GAME OF THE WEEK
1 Alabama vs. 3 Florida State (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
Saturday, 8 pm ET, ABC
Alabama -7.5

(EDIT: I read the line wrong. It is Bama -7.5)

With all that Bama does return on offense - QB Jalen Hurts, RB Bo Scarbrough, WR Calvin Ridley - and knowing Nick Saban doesn't lose in season openers, I have a hard time going against the Tide (as much as I want to and hope FSU wins). It is a clash of two titans in college football this year and arguably the most anticipated opener of all-time. The ACC is the better conference, but Alabama is the better team. Plus, Alabama doesn't lose in Atlanta - new stadium or not. Tide 23-17

2 Ohio State at Indiana
Thursday, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Ohio State -21
Offensive guru Urban Meyer had to do some soul searching following a 31-0 beatdown in the Fiesta Bowl. He went out and hired former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson, who never found much success at IU. Doesn't matter now. He has a depth chart stacked with talent. I wouldn't be surprised if the Buckeyes score often and don't stop. Bucks 58-17

4 USC vs. Western Michigan
Saturday, 5:15 pm ET, Pac-12
USC -27
If PJ Fleck were still at Western Michigan, I'd give the former boat rowers a chance. Sam Darnold is atop nearly every preseason Heisman list for good reason. Expect the Trojans to have a field day here. Trojans 47-13

5 Clemson vs. Kent State
Saturday, Noon ET, ESPN
Clemson -40
The Kelly Bryant era begins. Dabo Swinney and Co. are in search of 10-win season No. 7 in a row, but this will be the first without Tajh Boyd or Deshaun Watson. It'll be the Tigers defense that is the strength this season. The Golden Flashes shouldn't put up much of a fight. Tigers 38-6

6 Penn State vs. Akron
Saturday, Noon ET, ABC
Penn State - 30.5
Between Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley, the Nittany Lions ought to be a fun team to watch. Like many in the Top 10, this is a tune-up game for next weekend when Pittsburgh comes to Happy Valley. Lions 45-10

7 Oklahoma vs. UTEP
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, Fox
Oklahoma -43
Sooner Nation officially welcomes in the Lincoln Riley campaign. Baker Mayfield is back for his senior season, but he'll have to find new playmakers to help his cause. Bob Stoops won 10 Big 12 titles in 18 seasons at OU. What's in store for his protégé? Sooners 63-21

8 Washington at Rutgers
Friday, 8 pm ET, FS1
Washington -27.5
The Huskies were knocked for their out-of-conference schedule a season ago. Going on the road in the Big Ten is generally a step up. At Rutgers, though, might be going in the opposite direction. Jake Browning is fun to watch. U-Dub could be on a crash course to play USC for the Pac-12 title. Huskies 55-13

9 Wisconsin vs. Utah State
Friday, 9 pm ET, ESPN
Wisconsin -27
Finally, Wisconsin opens the season against a non-SEC West opponent (Bama 2015, LSU 2016). The Badgers are a sleeper to crash the Playoff party this season. BENched isn't sold on Bucky just yet, but they'll have no trouble with Utah State. Badgers 38-16

10 Oklahoma State vs. Tulsa
Thursday, 7:30 pm EDT, FS1
Oklahoma State -18
How long will Mike Gundy let his mullet grow? Sadly, that may get more attention than his team, which actually has a chance to run through the Big 12 and reach Playoff status. Mason Rudolph and his main target James Washington are sure to give the Pokes some fire power. OSU has had success, however, when its defense makes plays. Don't be surprised if Tulsa gives the Cowboys fits. Pokes 48-24

Must Watch
Colorado State vs. Colorado (Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado)
Friday, 8 pm ET, Pac-12
Colorado -5.5
The Rocky Mountain Showdown gained intrigue when the Rams head-butted Oregon State out of the newly-opened CSU Stadium last Saturday. Colorado State now plays its second-straight Pac-12 foe with in-state rival Colorado in Denver. The Buffs were the Pac-12 South champion a year ago, but stumbled in the postseason, looking non-competitive in the title and bowl games. This is an underrated rivalry that is must-watch TV on Friday night (if you have Pac-12 Network). Buffs 34-30

11 Michigan vs. 17 Florida (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)

Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Michigan -3.5
Who's starting at quarterback? Neither has announced its starting quarterback in a game of "Let's see who can be the most annoying team." Regardless, we know the Gators will be without at least eight players who have been suspended and Michigan is looking at replacing nearly its entire starting roster from a season ago. Which Jim are you siding with - Harbaugh or McElwain? Wolverines 20-14

Texas A&M at UCLA
Sunday, 7:30 pm ET, Fox
UCLA -4.5
The Hot Seat Game seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. A&M's Kevin Sumlin and UCLA's Jim Mora can ill-afford a poor start to the season, making this game all-the-more interesting. The Bruins trailed 24-9 entering the fourth quarter in College Station before sending the game to overtime, where the Aggies pulled out the win a season ago. Is Josh Rosen really the "Rosen One?" Can the Aggies start AND finish a season? Bruins 27-24

22 West Virginia vs. 21 Virginia Tech (FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland)
Sunday, 7:30 pm ET, ESPN
Virginia Tech -4.5
What used to be an intense Big East rivalry, was halted in the mid-2000s, and is now being resurrected as a neutral site game. The Mountaineers and Hokies don't like each other, plain and simple. Justin Fuente took VT back to 10 wins and showed promise as a first-year coach. But the Hokies must fill a lot of holes on offense. Will Grier, the former Florida QB suspended for PEDs, has won the starting job in Morgantown. Expect a battle to the finish. Hokies 33-27

25 Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
Monday, 8 pm ET, ESPN
Tennessee -3
Paul Johnson loved bragging about being 3-0 against the SEC East in 2016, beating Vandy, Georgia, and Kentucky. The Jackets get a crack at another to open 2017 with Tennessee making the trip to Atlanta as the second game of the Labor Day extravaganza to open the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I don't know what to think about either team. They both are starting new quarterbacks and neither ever lives up to preseason hype. I'll give UT the edge for having all summer to figure out how to slow down Johnson's triple-option offense. Vols 26-20

Keep An Eye On
Maryland at 23 Texas
Saturday, Noon ET, FS1
Texas -18
Not dire, but eager to see Texas under Tom Herman. Horns 31-20

NC State vs. South Carolina (Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina)
Saturday, 3 pm ET, ESPN
South Carolina -4.5
NC State will be physical on defense. South Carolina has playmakers on offense. A good one to have for the "last channel" button. Pack 27-24

Appalachian State at 15 Georgia
Saturday, 6:15 pm ET, ESPN
Georgia -14.5
Last season, the Mountaineers took another SEC East favorite (Tennessee) to overtime. Could they do the same here? Dawgs 38-17

16 Louisville vs. Purdue (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana)
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, Fox
Louisville -24.5
Look, I firmly believe Deshaun Watson was the best player in CFB last year. But Lamar Jackson was a close second. Any chance to see his electrifying style of play can't be passed up. Cards 59-27

BYU vs. 13 LSU (Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana)
Saturday, 9:30 pm ET, ESPN
BYU -14
The game has been moved from Houston to New Orleans, so it will be even more pro-LSU than before, though to no fault of LSU's. BYU struggled with Portland State in the opener, winning 20-6. Were they looking ahead? Also, Derrius Guice will remind a lot of folks of Leonard Fournette in a hurry. Tigers 27-20

-BtW

College Football, BENched Make Triumphant Return

This still feels like it happened yesterday.

It's safe to say that every Clemson fan across the nation has been waiting for - and dreading - this day since the early morning hours of January 10.

College football has returned, and with it, the first installment of the 2017 Clemson Tigers. The trophy resides in a small corner of Upstate South Carolina for the time being. Until the Tigers are out of it this year, Clemson fans can be seen smiling from ear to ear. Fans of the orange and purple are stoked to see their team board the buses, rub Howard's Rock, and run down The Hill as defending National Champions for just the second time in school history - the first since 1982. It surely will bring a tear or two to my eye.

They also know it's the beginning of a new season, one that will slowly wipe away memories of 2016. Gone are Deshaun Watson, Wayne Gallman, Jordan Leggett, Mike Williams, Artavis Scott, Ben Boulware, Cordrea Tankersley, and Carlos Watkins. In step new faces ready to prove there won't be a drop-off. A new champion will be crowned (and who knows, it could be Clemson again!).

This year will be different for BENched as well. Many of you know my wife and I are expecting our first child quite literally any day now (We're having a boy and his name will be Xander). (Edit: When I typed this Tuesday, no baby. Now it is Wednesday and Xander is here!!!) With a Clemson national title in hand and sleep soon to become null and void, I'll tone it back ever-so-slightly.

While I still plan to write often, some changes will be necessary. I still plan to do weekly predictions either Thursday or Friday. These are commonly known as PTT or PTF (Prediction Time Thursday/Friday). I'm planning on a new format of predicting all Top 10 teams, featuring a few "Must Watch" games, and adding a section for games to flip to during commercials.

On Sunday, my ever-popular piece "The Morning After..." will continue with a few tweaks. In the past, it's been heavily Clemson-focused. I'll try to bring that part back a tad and add a few more nationally relevant thoughts. My hope is that I'm able to provide you with a more balanced college football viewpoint instead of mostly Clemson and just a few bigger items.

My time for writing any other pieces will be limited once Xander arrives. That said, I am more excited for football to begin than ever before! I watched every game this past Saturday just to get back in the groove.

I normally don't do predictions, but I'll leave you with this. Here's my 2017-18 CFB Playoff prediction:

Semifinals
Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual - 2 Ohio State vs. 3 USC
Allstate Sugar Bowl - 1 Alabama vs. 4 Clemson

2018 National Championship Game -  3 USC vs. 4 Clemson

-BtW

Four Shades of Red

You've read the book - or at least heard of it. Fifty Shades of Grey is one of the top selling books of all-time.

The Clemson Tigers could write their own book, a twist on the original. As Dabo Swinney said during Clemson's championship celebration, “I told the team all year long, you have the pen in your hands and we write the story, we write the ending.”

That ending would include the final four chapters of the Tigers' National Championship run. The final four games of the 2016-17 season includes wins over South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Alabama. All four teams a shade of red and all four wins delivered a championship. 

BENched presents excerpts from Four Shades of Red.

Garnet

This chapter is the beatdown of epic proportions the Tigers put on the Gamecocks. Final score: Clemson 56, South Carolina 7. The talent gap on the field was evident. Nothing South Carolina could do was going to keep the game close.

Mike Williams carried a Gamecocks defender into the end zone,
one of his three scores on the night.
(Photo courtesy The State)

Deshaun Watson threw six touchdown passes. Mike Williams caught six balls for 100 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Clemson gained 622 yards of offense, while the defense gave up 218. The starters were removed late in the third quarter.

The win was the third straight in the series and pushed Clemson's overall series lead to 68-42-4. Watson delivered on a promise he made in high school that he would never lose to the Gamecocks. He finishes his career a perfect 3-0 record with an average margin of victory 24 points. 

Of course, this wasn't a normal game. This was an in-state rivalry with plenty of hatred on both sides. A shouting match broke out during pregame warmups between the teams. Swinney called a timeout with his starters on the field late in the fourth quarter to honor the seniors one last time in Death Valley, but the Gamecocks didn't take too kindly to that. There's a new motto for South Carolina - never again - referring to the pain felt during the loss. 

Championship won: State. Clemson claimed the Palmetto Bowl trophy.

Maroon

The next chapter sees the Tigers head south to Orlando, Fla., for the ACC Championship against a salty Virginia Tech squad. A win puts Clemson into the College Football Playoff. Plenty was on the line and the Hokies were seeking a strong finish to an unexpected ACC Coastal Championship in Justin Fuente's debut season.

Clemson's offense was clicking early and often, jumping out to leads of 14-0 and 35-14. Watson fired on all cylinders with 288 yards and three touchdowns passing, while rushing for 85 yards and two more scores. 

Deshaun Watson flexes after his final touchdown
in the 2016 ACC Championship Game.
(Photo courtesy Associated Press)

However, the Virginia Tech offense wouldn't be held down for long. The Hokies, led by JuCo transfer quarterback Jerod Evans, hit their stride and closed the gap late. Consecutive scores by VT made it 35-28 early in the fourth quarter. Watson led the Tigers on a scoring drive to extend the lead back to 14, but the Hokies quickly scored again to get within seven.

Then, with Virginia Tech driving to tie it, Cordrea Tankersley picked off his second pass of the game to seal the deal. Clemson won the game 42-35. Watson earn his second straight Championship Game Player of the Game honors and the Tigers claimed back-to-back conference titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986-88.

Championship won: Conference. Clemson claimed the ACC Championship trophy.

Scarlet

Clemson was selected the No. 2 team in the College Football Playoff with a 12-1 record. Their opponent, No. 3 Ohio State, which finished the season 11-1. The two teams were matched up in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, one of the two semifinal sites this season.

Controversy over the Buckeyes' selection was plentiful. Ohio State finished tied with Penn State atop the Big Ten East Division, but the Nittany Lions went to the conference title game because of their head-to-head win over OSU. Penn State won the conference championship, but was left out because of a September loss to Pittsburgh.

Clemson's defense proved too much for JT Barrett
and the Ohio State offense.
(Photo courtesy azcentral sports)

Many thought Urban Meyer and Ohio State would be out to prove they belonged. That never came to fruition. The Buckeyes struggled to move the ball against Clemson's stout defense and missed two field goals in the first quarter. Slowly, but surely, the Tigers began picking up yards and found the end zone once. Then again. And again in the second half. When it was all over, the scoreboard read 31-0.

Like a boa constrictor, Clemson squeezed the life out of the Ohio State sideline. Once again, it was a night Watson would not be stopped. He accounted for three scores and never wavered after two interceptions. Clemson's defense, though, was the story, blanking the Buckeyes for the first time in over two decades. The Tigers racked up 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, and held Ohio State's vaunted rushing attack - which entered averaging nearly 260 yards on the ground per game - to just 88 yards.

Championship won: Bowl and Semifinal. Clemson claimed the Fiesta Bowl trophy along with a CFB Playoff Semifinal award.

Crimson

This was the rematch many predicted in July and August. Alabama was the overwhelming pick as the No. 1 team in the land. Just on the Crimson Tide's heels were the Tigers, selected No. 2 in the preseason. 

Bama rolled to a 14-0 lead and seemed to have the game where it wanted. Watson was still trying to figure out the flow of the game. The Tigers didn't have an answer for running back Bo Scarbrough. Then, a short screen pass to Deon Cain went for 44 yards and opened things up. Clemson scored to cut the deficit in half before the intermission.

Deshaun Watson celebrates his final pass of his collegiate career,
a National Championship-winning touchdown to Hunter Renfrow.
(Photo courtesy Associated Press)

The second half was full of spectacular plays on both sides. Honestly, it could be a book all on its own. From Hunter Renfrow's touchdown saving tackle after a Clemson fumble to OJ Howard streaking down the sideline uncovered again to several Mike Williams athletic catches to Jordan Leggett's acrobatic grab to a Jalen Hurts' go-ahead TD with two minutes remaining to the final punctuation mark, a Renfrow touchdown with one second left. Three crucial drives were made in the final five minutes of the game. Each resulting score caused the lead to change hands. 

It was a fitting end for Watson to hit Renfrow for the game-winning score. It was fitting that Clemson ran an onside kick and recovered it. It was fitting that Watson took the game's final snap for a kneel down. 

Clemson won its first title in 35 years. The Tigers scored 35 points. Clemson won by a final margin of 35-31 - four points. The Tigers' MVP wears No. 4. The storybook ending was written. As Swinney said, “And what an ending they wrote Monday night in Tampa.”

Championship won: National Championship. Clemson caps the season as the unanimous No. 1 team in both the AP and Coaches Polls. That earned the Tigers the CFB Playoff National Championship trophy and the Coaches Crystal Ball trophy.

The 2016 National Champion Clemson Tigers celebrating on stage in Tampa, Fla.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)