On the campus of Georgia Tech, not much farther than a Mark McGwire longball from where this piece is being written, this Saturday has been circled on fraternity calendars for nearly a year.
When the Yellow Jackets hung with Florida State for three quarters last October before losing Joe Hamilton to injury, thoughts immediately turned to Sept. 11, 1999. That's when Hamilton and Tech would head to Tallahassee to take their best shot at an ACC crown since the 1990 national title year. Nary a practice, discussion or article about Georgia Tech football since has failed to mention the Seminoles.
For FSU, playing an ACC opponent is just another bump in the road on the way to some January destination. But this year, with the 'Noles ranked No. 1 and coming off a disappointing showing against Louisiana Tech, the Georgia Tech game comes at a precarious time -- about the same time it fell to N.C. State last year.
Does the Ramblin' Wreck stand a chance? We won't know until kickoff at 8 p.m. on Saturday. By then, we'll also know whether Notre Dame will be starting the year 1-2, whether Ohio State's Kickoff Classic demise was a fluke and whether Ron Dayne made it into the third quarter this week.
| Week 3 Previews |
| Matchup |
Key Stat |
(10) Georgia Tech (1-0) at (1) Florida State (1-0)
8 p.m. (ABC regional)
Game Preview
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28-0: Seminoles' ACC record at Doak Campbell Stadium since joining conference in 1992.
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| Player to Watch |
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Peter Warrick, WR, Florida State. Senior produced major plays in FSU's last two wins (Louisiana Tech, Florida in '98) and disappeared in its last loss (Fiesta Bowl).
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| Analysis |
Joe Hamilton is as good as any quarterback, and the Jackets showed an improved run game and defense last week against Navy. But FSU, playing at home and with so many weapons, should have little trouble even in this seemingly major matchup. Look for a big day from junior RB Travis Minor.
Trev Alberts' pick: Florida State.
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Key Stat |
Pittsburgh (1-0) at (2) Penn State (2-0)
12:10 p.m. (ESPN)
Game Preview |
335: Running yards Pitt allowed Bowling Green in a 30-10 win last week. |
| Player to Watch |
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Nick Goings, RB, Pittsburgh. PSU was destined to face him eventually. Goings had 61 yards on 14 carries in first game after transferring from Ohio State. |
| Analysis |
Despite the talent disparity, this game has actually been close the last two years (20-13 and 34-17). Not this time. Expect both Nittany Lion QBs ( Kevin Thompson and Rashard Casey ) to keep up the balanced attack and roll up the yardage.
Trev Alberts' pick: Penn State.
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Key Stat |
Central Florida (0-1) at (4) Florida (1-0)
6 p.m.
Game Preview |
158: Rushing yards in Earnest Graham's Florida debut, more than Florida gained as a team in 10 games last year. |
| Player to Watch |
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Vic Penn, QB, Central Florida. Daunte Culpepper's replacement struggled against Purdue, throwing four interceptions.
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| Analysis |
This would have been an interesting matchup when Culpepper was still in college. Now, it's a bloodbath waiting to happen. Despite Tennessee lurking, Steve Spurrier will make sure the Gators stay focused after defense's struggles against Western Michigan.
Trev Alberts' pick: Florida.
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Key Stat |
Cal (1-0) at (5) Nebraska (1-0)
3:30 p.m. (ABC regional)
Game Preview |
7: Cal sacks of Rutgers in a 21-7 victory last week. |
| Player to Watch |
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Kyle Boller, QB, Cal. Hot-shot true freshman shot up the depth chart in fall and started the opener, completing 8 of 15 passes for 89 yards.
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| Analysis |
Cal's top-notch defense, led by standout LB Sekou Sanyika , will get a sure credibility test against the Husker rushing game. It will need an absolute shut down (a la Arizona State against Nebraska a few years back), as Boller and the offense will likely have little success moving the ball.
Trev Alberts' pick: Nebraska.
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Key Stat |
Rice (0-1) at (6) Michigan (1-0)
Noon (ESPN2)
Game Preview |
8: Rice fumbles (five were lost, two returned for TDs) in a 28-3 loss to Houston last week. |
| Player to Watch |
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Dhani Jones, LB, Michigan. One of several Wolverines who dished out big hits against Notre Dame, inside backer Jones will factor heavily into stopping the Rice wishbone. |
| Analysis |
Yes, Michigan has trouble defending the option ... but probably not against Rice. After its troubles executing the handoff last week, the Owls would like to pass more, but it ain't gonna happen against the Wolverines 'D.' Michigan just needs to guard against a post-Notre Dame letdown.
Trev Alberts' pick: Michigan.
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Key Stat |
Ball State (0-1) at (9) Wisconsin (1-0)
12:10 p.m. (ESPN Regional)
Game Preview |
158.2: Average yards Badgers' Ron Dayne will need over final 10 games to break all-time rushing record. |
| Player to Watch |
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Ahmad Merritt, WR, Wisconsin. With Chris Chambers likely out with a broken hand, QB Scott Kavanagh will go to Merritt ... when he tires of handing off to Dayne.
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| Analysis |
Wisconsin continues to do its best Kansas State impression against the Cardinals, who fell 21-9 last week to another Big Ten foe, Indiana. How long does Dayne stay in this time?
Trev Alberts' pick: Wisconsin.
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Key Stat |
UAB (0-1) at (11) Virginia Tech (1-0)
Noon
Game Preview |
113: Return yards by Hokies' always special, special teams against James Madison. |
| Player to Watch |
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Dave Meyer, QB, Virginia Tech. Pressed into duty with Michael Vick out with a leg injury, Meyer completed 10-of-17 passes for 166 yards last season.
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| Analysis |
Blazers kept it close against Missouri -- but does that say more about UAB or Mizzou? Whether or not Vick is healthy, Hokies' tremendous pass rush will be enough to cruise to victory.
Trev Alberts' pick: Virginia Tech.
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Key Stat |
South Carolina (0-1) at (12) Georgia (1-0)
5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game Preview |
90: Yards lost by South Carolina's offense against N.C. State. |
| Player to Watch |
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Derek Watson, RB, South Carolina. Gamecocks need to run, and freshman had 118 yards on 15 carries against N.C. State.
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| Analysis |
Gamecocks always come into this game charged up -- and that was before Lou Holtz . But based on Georgia's performance last week, emotion will do little against the Bulldogs, especially with QB Quincy Carter playing as well as anyone in the country.
Trev Alberts' pick: Georgia.
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Key Stat |
(14) UCLA (1-0) at (13) Ohio State (0-1)
8 p.m. (ABC regional)
Game Preview |
220: Buckeyes' uncharacteristically low total offense against Miami on Aug. 29 (compared to 398 by the Hurricanes). |
| Player to Watch |
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Freddie Mitchell, WR, UCLA. Sophomore kept a low profile in first game since broken leg but may be counted on more if Danny Farmer is still hurt.
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| Analysis |
OSU is desperate for redemption and has to be concerned by the success UCLA had against Boise State by employing both Drew Bennett and freshman Cory Paus. But the Bucks' own offense, specifically RB Michael Wiley , should be more effective, and the Bruins lost a key pass rusher last week, Travor Turner, to injury.
Trev Alberts' pick: Ohio State.
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Key Stat |
(16) Notre Dame (1-1) at (20) Purdue 1-0
3:30 p.m. (ABC regional)
Game Preview |
19-5: Purdue's record under Joe Tiller dating back to its Sept. 13, 1997 upset of the Irish. |
| Player to Watch |
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Tim Stratton, TE, Purdue. Already one of country's top tight ends as a sophomore and likely to be one of Brees' top targets. |
| Analysis |
Our hands-down bet for the week's most entertaining matchup. Both Notre Dame's Jarious Jackson and Purdue's Drew Brees are capable of mass destruction, in different ways. Like Michigan last week, the rocket-armed Brees will find plenty of holes to expose in the Irish secondary, but the Boilers will have their own troubles handling ND's multiple looks.
Trev Alberts' pick: Purdue.
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Key Stat |
Temple (0-1) at (17) Kansas State (0-0)
7 p.m.
Game Preview |
0: Points scored by Temple in its opener against Maryland. |
| Player to Watch |
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David Allen, RB, Kansas State. The nation's leading punt returner last year, the junior will see his first significant action in backfield.
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| Analysis |
Remember what we said about Notre Dame-Purdue? This one's the antithesis. Jonathan Beasley has the unenviable task of replacing Heisman runner-up Michael Bishop at QB, and a couple members of last year's 'D' now play on Sundays, but like usual, the Wildcats start with three patsies to break in the new guys.
Trev Alberts' pick: Kansas State.
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Key Stat |
Middle Tennessee (0-1) at (19) Arizona (1-1)
10 p.m.
Game Preview |
34: Blue Raiders' rushing yardage, on 30 carries, last week vs. Mississippi State. |
| Player to Watch |
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Dennis Northcutt, WR, Arizona. After 257-yard stunner against TCU, Northcutt's name now registers on some Heisman meters. |
| Analysis |
Wildcats get some relief following consecutive road games with Penn State and TCU. Middle Tennessee is a I-A newbie coming off a 40-7 shellacking by Mississippi State. Maybe UA should take advantage and find its missing running game -- Trung Canidate has 87 yards through two games.
Trev Alberts' pick: Arizona.
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Key Stat |
Houston (1-0) at (21) Alabama (1-0)
12:40 p.m.
Game Preview
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194: Yards accounted for by Shaun Alexander, out of 343, in Alabama's victory over Vanderbilt.
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| Players to Watch |
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Marvin Constant and Saleem Rasheed, LBs, Alabama. First freshmen to start on defense in an Alabama opener will be counted on again this week with two LBs suspended.
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| Analysis |
Houston entered '99 with high expectations but proved very little in a 28-3 defeat of Rice in which it gained only 203 yards of offense. That's good news for the Tide, who are working with a short-staffed defense but can ride Alexander to score enough points to get by.
Trev Alberts' pick: Alabama.
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Key Stat |
(22) Virginia (1-0) at Clemson (0-1)
3:30 p.m. (ABC regional)
Game Preview |
10-of-25, three INTs: Dan Ellis' line in first start as Virginia's quarterback. |
| Player to Watch |
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Thomas Jones, RB, Virginia. George Welsh said he has no reservations about giving him the ball 35 times, like he did last week for 149 yards. |
| Analysis |
The Cavaliers are in search of a better passing game. Clemson, true to Tommy Bowden's word, seems to have one, led by QB Brandon Streeter (23 of 36 for 187 yards vs. Marshall). But the Tigers' weak front could be in a world of hurt trying to slow down Jones.
Trev Alberts' pick: Virginia.
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Key Stat |
William & Mary (0-1) at (23) N.C. State (2-0)
7 p.m.
Game Preview |
4: Punts blocked by Wolfpack in first two games, returning three for TDs. |
| Player to Watch |
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Jamie Barnette, QB, N.C. State Senior star under the gun after throwing for 65 and 18 yards in first two games.
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| Analysis |
CNN/SI does not profess to know a thing about William & Mary, but we do know this: The Tribe better have a darn good punt-coverage team. The Wolfpack know they're lucky to be 2-0 and need to work out kinks in the defensive front and passing game.
Trev Alberts' pick: N.C. State.
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Key Stat |
Nevada (0-1) at (24) Colorado State (1-0)
3 p.m.
Game Preview |
190: Rushing yards, on 22 carries, by Rams' Kevin McDougal in the upset of Colorado. |
| Player to Watch |
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Trevor Insley, WR, Nevada. One of the nation's top receivers hidden in obscurity in the Big West, Insley had 175 yards on 12 catches against Oregon State.
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| Analysis |
This should be a good one. Coming off its breakthrough victory last week, the Rams are eager to validate their newfound Top 25 status. High-flying Nevada played admirably despite losing 28-13 to Oregon State but needs to avoid an 0-2 start heading into another tough game at Oregon.
Trev Alberts' pick: Colorado State.
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