Jamie And Wojo's Friday Football Festival – Week 2
By: Jamie Samuelsen
It struck me over the past week how few college football games really matter. Oh sure, the coaches will preach to you that Massachusetts matters the same as Alabama. "You have to play 'em all". But are really supposed to get our dander up for MSU-CMU the same way we get our dander up for MSU-Notre Dame. And really, look what we're reduced to. We're getting fired up for Notre Dame, which is still living off winning the National Title in 1989 and beating then-unbeaten Florida State in 1993. Oh yeah, they ALMOST beat USC in 2005 when they grew the grass as high as an elephant's eye (Ooooooooh. Show tune references!) I mean what has Notre Dame REALLY done since then?
And yet with two weeks remaining until the Big Ten season starts, the entire conference is left with two games against the Irish (Michigan State tomorrow. Michigan next Saturday) to try to prove to the rest of the nation that the Big Ten is stronger than it's looked so far. (Memo to the rest of the nation – it's not. It's weaker. MUCH weaker.)
Fortunately, we were a little stronger last weekend than the Big Ten was. Wojo, Ryan Wooley and I all pulled off 2-1 weeks. Not too impressive. But it would make us the front-runners in the Leaders Division.
Here's Week Two.
NOTRE DAME (+3 ½) AT MICHIGAN STATE – Here's the problem for Spartan fans. Because they beat Boise State, this is apparently a down year for the Broncos. If Boise State had pulled the upset, they'd be a legitimate team and MSU would be branded a fraud. The same scenario here. MSU is 'supposed' to beat Notre Dame. If they do, the Irish are clearly 'down'. If ND pulls off the upset, then MSU is primed for a fall. Such is the reality of a team establishing itself is a national contender. Is it fair? Of course not. In fact I think MSU showed a lot about itself by the way it handled CMU last weekend. The Spartans put on a clinic in a hostile environment. MAC team or no MAC team, MSU never ever allowed that to be a game. That's the mark of a very good team. Andrew Maxwell hasn't really had to do anything yet although he was wickedly efficient against the Chips. I think he will have to do something this week. And I think he will. PICK – MICHIGAN STATE
WOJO – MSU
WOOLEY – MSU
MASSACHUSETTS (+45) AT MICHIGAN – Let's get a few facts out of the way. UMass loss last week to Indiana 45-6. Indiana. That said, Michigan has scored a combined 45 points in two weeks against Alabama and Air Force. The Bama total isn't nearly as frightening as the fact that Michigan scored just 31 points against Falcon defense that gave up 431 yards and 21 points to Idaho State the week before. Add to that the fact that Michigan's defense looks really, really stinky (football term). So you'd think this one could stay closer than 45 points. Well, you would be wrong. This has the feel of one of those games where Michigan gets mentally healthy and starts to get its mojo back. I see two or three long Denard Robinson runs. I see a Dennis Northfleet kickoff return for a touchdown. And I see Fitz Toussaint finally contributing something to the offense. I however am alone on this pick, which scares me mightily. PICK – MICHIGAN
WOJO – MASSACHUSETTS
WOOLEY – MASSACHUSETTS
LIONS (+6 ½) AT 49ers – Everyone always says that you can't read too much into Week One. And that's good for the Lions because they were lucky to sneak out of Ford Field with a 27-23 win over the Rams. And that's also good for the Lions because the 49ers all of a sudden look like the best team in the NFL with nary a weakness. Their defense is frightening. Their offense is balanced with an outstanding running game and a quarterback (Alex Smith) who simply refuses to make mistakes. The 49ers knew that the Packers didn't have a running game so basically dared Aaron Rodgers to beat them. And he couldn't. And if Aaron Rodgers can't dismantle the 49er defense at Lambeau, I have a hard time seeing Matthew Stafford do it at Candlestick. I suppose the Lions could always try running the ball. Maybe they could be successful that way? Maybe? Possibly? (Stop giggling) PICK – 49ers
WOJO – 49ers
WOOLEY – 49ers
LAST WEEK
JAMIE 2-1
WOJO 2-1
WOOLEY 2-1
SEASON
JAMIE 2-1
WOJO 2-1
WOOLEY 2-1
