Pig Pickin' week 2

It was a pretty depressing week 1 on the local college football scene in Division 1. Duke shutout by Richmond!!! Rutgers running over Carolina!!! NC State's 36 yards passing!! Wake's Benjamin Mauk breaking his arm!!! ECU unable to slow the Middies attack. Thank goodness there's week 2 but I'm not to confident in the match-ups.

Virginia Tech @ North Carolina
After watching the Heels in person last Saturday this would appear to be an easy pick for the Hokies. But there's something that's telling me that it wasn't a very comfortable week of practice on the defensive side. Coach John Bunting and defensive coordinator Marvin Williams probably worked the guys pretty hard. Offensively, Joe Dailey needs to stay away from drive killing mistakes but I really like Carolina's wide receivers. Ronnie McGill simply ran out of gas or couldn't fight through an injury against Rutgers. It's a big drop off in the running game when McGill is on the bench. I fully expect Carolina to be much sharper than the opener and they'll be playing in a full Kenan stadium....those Hokie fans will gobble up the extra tickets.

Akron @ NC State
The Zips kept it reasonable against Penn State with a 34-16 score. Akron can pass the football and the Pack's front 7 will be called on to disrupt the Zips. Marcus Stone will need more than 36 yards passing too. I know it's pointed out that he got the win but from a confidence stand point, Stone and his teammates need to know that he is capable of passing for 150 yards. He may not need to this game but at some point the passing game needs to produce. I look for State to improve to 2-0 but it will be closer than many would expect.

ECU @ UAB
The Blazers are coached by Watson Brown, the brother of Texas coach Mack Brown. In the late 80's Watson and Mack were jokingly referred to as the "Lose Brothers." Mack now has a national championship and his brother is trying to replace an incredible quarterback in Darrell Hackney. This year the Pirates boast a special signal caller in James Pinkney. The weakness of EC is their youth up front on both sides of the ball. I still like the Pirates to win at UAB for the 2nd year in a row.

Duke @ Wake Forest
If Duke wins one of it's remaining 11 games it'll be considered an upset. The Devils can't decide on Marcus Jones (2-6 passing vs. Richmond) or go to the bullpen again and tab Thaddeus Lewis (15-24 for 148 vs. Richmond). My guess is they'll go with Lewis. Wake Forest has to play redshirt freshman Riley Skinner after QB Benjamin Mauk broke his arm against Syracuse and is done for the season. Skinner describes his game as "smooth". Duke's defense will try to shake up the smooth.

Ohio State @ Texas
At least both teams have a game under their pads before this meeting....unlike FSU and Miami. It is a CLASSIC matchup of the great offense of the Buckeyes against a top defense in the Longhorns. Special teams could decide this one. There's none better than the Bucks Ted Ginn, Jr. I don't know what the young Buckeye defense can do to stop Limas Sweed and QB Colt McCoy. Defense usually trumps offense at this point in the season so the edge would go to Mack Brown and the burnt orange.

Till next week....
Jeff Gravley