It seems like every weekend college football gives us something that we've never seen before. That is actually the case this weekend as the top three ranked teams in the Associated Press Top 25 this week all face ranked opponents on the road.
We can call week three Judgment Saturday as several teams will get to prove just how good they are. Here are my picks.
2016 Record: 16-5 (10-1 last week)
EAST CAROLINA AT SOUTH CAROLINA (-3) 11am
Pick: East Carolina
The Pirates beat N.C. State last week and it was no fluke. ECU has now won six consecutive games against ACC opponents. South Carolina poses a SEC test with the defense to match, but I'm not sure the Gamecocks can generate enough offense to win.
TEMPLE AT PENN STATE (-8) 11am
Pick: Penn State
James Franklin's quality of life took a significant hit when the Nittany Lions lost to Pitt last week in their first meeting in 16 years and he does not want to lose another game to an in-state rival. The Owls stunned PSU last season, but aren't good enough to do it again.
2 FLORIDA STATE (-1) AT 10 LOUISVILLE 11am
Pick: Florida State
Lamar Jackson has been the most dynamic player in college football so far this season, racking up over 1000 total yards and 13 touchdowns. But that was against Charlotte and Syracuse and not the Seminoles. FSU has its own Heisman contender in running back Dalvin Cook and has already been tested in its opener against Ole Miss. If freshman Deondre Francois can deliver at quarterback in his first road start, I think the Seminoles will win on the road.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE (-7) AT BOWLING GREEN 11am
Pick: MTSU
Brent Stockstill piled up 400 yards passing and Middle outgained Vanderbilt by 150 yards last week, but two costly turnovers and a safety did the Blue Raiders in. I think they clean up those mistakes this week and outduel a Falcons team that has a potent offensive attack of its own.
VANDERBILT AT GEORGIA TECH (-6.5) 11:30am
Pick: Georgia Tech
Derek Mason has the scheme and personnel to slow down Justin Thomas, Marcus Marshall and the Yellow Jackets' triple-option attack. But the Commodores only have a week to prepare for a style of play they're not used to and that likely means a couple of busted assignments during the course of a long afternoon. For that reason, I like Georgia Tech at home in a close, low scoring game.
OHIO AT TENNESSEE (-27.5) 11am
Pick: Tennessee
After falling behind early for a second straight week the Vols seemed to find themselves in the Battle At Bristol, outscoring Virginia Tech 45-11 over the final three quarters. Tennessee rides that momentum to a big win over the Bobcats and a SEC East showdown against Florida next week.
25 MIAMI (3.5) AT APPALACHIAN STATE 11am
Pick: Miami
New Hurricanes coach Mark Richt has to be wondering who in the world scheduled his team to go on the road and play Appalachian State after the Mountaineers nearly knocked off Tennessee two weeks ago. But all the talk about just how good the Mountaineers are will mean Miami will be ready go play and win in what should be a hostile environment.
12 MICHIGAN STATE AT 18 NOTRE DAME (-7) 6:30pm
Pick: Notre Dame
Brian Kelly scrapped his plans to play two quarterbacks after the loss at Texas and the Irish are fully confident in sophomore Deshone Kizer. Meanwhile, Tyler O'Connor makes his first career road start for the Spartans. Edge: Notre Dame.
17 TEXAS A&M AT AUBURN (-4) 6pm
Pick: Texas A&M
The Aggies have shaken off a tumultuous offseason with an impressive start to the year. Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight has stabilized the offense, and he'll need to have a big day against Kevin Steele's much-improved Tigers defense. I think A&M is a darkhorse contender in the SEC West and can prove that with a win on the Plains.
3 OHIO STATE (-1) AT 14 OKLAHOMA 6:30pm
Pick: Ohio State
A month ago I would've told you that there were too many unknowns for Ohio State going into this early season showdown, but two games into the season the defense looks stout and the offense just seems to have reloaded around quarterback J.T. Barrett. The Sooners desperately need a marquee win to get back into the College Football Playoff hunt after their opening loss to Houston, but OU's lack of success in recent big games hardly instills confidence in the home side.
1 ALABAMA (-11) AT 19 OLE MISS 2:30pm
Pick: Alabama
The Rebels have beaten the defending national champs the past two seasons, which almost seems impossible given Nick Saban's success in Tuscaloosa. It also makes a third straight win improbable. Chad Kelly is the SEC's most proven quarterback and the Grove will be rocking, but Alabama seems to have found a rhythm on offense behind true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts and I expect the Tide to get a measure of redemption against the Rebels.
USC AT 7 STANFORD (-8.5) 7pm
Pick: Stanford
Christian McCaffrey is the best all-around football player in the country and USC still appears to be a mess under first-year head coach Clay Helton. The Trojans were embarrassed by Alabama in the opener, had a defensive starter ejected for bumping a referee in pregame before their second game and kicked two more players off the team this week. I'll take the consistent approach of David Shaw's Cardinal over that any day.
