2010 Sunday Brunch: Week Two

Let's pass out some food and drinks and look at some performances from yesterday's action.

Raise a glass of champagne or send a mimosa to:

Mickey Matthews, James Madison University and Ed Meierkort, University of South Dakota: For the second week in a row, we cheer for Division 1-FCS teams knocking off BCS opponents.

The Coyotes of the University of South Dakota knocked off Minnesota 41-38, spoiling the home opener for the Golden Gophers and making things just a bit more uncomfortable for Tim Brewster.

The Dukes of James Madison, ranked number 11 in the FCS poll, outscoring Virginia Tech 14-3 in the second half to come from behind against the Hokies in their home opener on the short turnaround from Labor Day.

A big pot of coffee and a bottle of Advil for:

Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer: Because the Hokies (0-2) must have been dealing with a hangover from the Labor Day tilt against Boise State. Yes, James Madison is not a pushover. But the short turnaround had to have impacted the preparation for the Hokies, and could explain why they ran out of steam in the second half.

Once again, it appears that the Hokies might not live up to expectations. Beamer has to try and right this ship quickly

A big platter of biscuits and gravy for:

Jimbo Fisher, Florida State; Randy Shannon, Miami (FL); Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech:

I was trying to think of an ultimate comfort food to comfort these coaches for bad losses this week.

Georgia Tech traveled to Lawrence, Kansas and lost to a Jayhawks team that lost to North Dakota State last week 6-3.

Miami traveled to Ohio State and self-destructed, with quarterback Jacory Harris throwing four interceptions in a 36-24 loss at the Horseshoe.

Florida State was never in the game against Oklahoma, getting dusted 47-17.

Combined with the loss by the Hokies, and it was a bad day for the top of the ACC.

An elegant and simple crab quiche for one goes to:

Denard Robinson, quarterback, Michigan: It's way too early to talk about the Heisman Trophy. Only two games have been played. But if he keeps up on this pace, Robinson will pass for about 2600 yards (12 games) at a 70 percent clip and rush for about 2700 yards on 28 carries a game (also in 12 games). Which would be unreal and is totally unrealistic at this point.

But the kid has been a star so far, and his confidence is soaring. With UMass, Bowling Green and Indiana looming, the sky truly is the limit.

Of course, the true tests for Robinson are in mid October and mid November. If he's still putting up ridiculous numbers by then, we'll talk.

Friday's Quick Slant: Picking some big Saturday Games

Four games of interest nationally on Saturday, so let's take a quick peek and offer some uninformed prognostications:

Michigan @ Notre Dame: Yeah, yeah, Brian Kelly's trying to wake up the echoes and Rich Rodriguez might have found a quarterback. The Irish fought off a rally by Purdue and the Wolverines christened the newly expanded Big House by demolishing UConn.

There is a significant chance of rain in the forecast, and with that in mind, I think Michigan might be better suited to win a game in sloppy weather. Even so, it has the makings of a shootout, and I like the Wolverines to win 38-35.

Flordia State @ Oklahoma: A rematch of the title game for the 2000 season, which Oklahoma won 13-2. Bob Stoops is still there, but Bobby Bowden is gone from the Florida State sidelines. Oklahoma survived a bit of a scare from Utah State (!) 31-24 last week while Florida State blasted Samford.

Oklahoma needs to get more out of Landry Jones, who looked like he was a first time starter against the Aggies from Logan, Utah. Jones needs to step up to keep Florida State from trying to stack the box. Also needing to step up is the Oklahoma secondary, who got three interceptions off of Diondre Borel but still gave up 341 yards passing. Christian Ponder is a very good quarterback, so the Sooners might have their work cut out for them.

But while it has been hard to call Stoops "Big Game Bob" any more, I don't see the Sooners losing this game at home. Even with trying to put 8 in the box to slow down the OU running game, I think DeMarco Murray has his way with the Seminoles. Ponder will make it interesting on his side, but I see at 30-27 type game won by OU.

Penn State @ Alabama: For the history, of course. (This game is a rematch of the 1979 Sugar Bowl, which decided the 1978 National Championship.) Because even though Mark Ingram is out for this game, Alabama won't need him. Penn State true freshman Robert Bolden looked good in his first game, but he was playing Youngstown State, and it still took the Nittany Lions a long time to get going in that game. There won't be a miraculous comeback against the Alabama defense in Tuscaloosa. Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Nick Saban will dial up lots of different looks to confuse young mister Bolden. If he can get out of there in one piece it will be a small miracle.

The Lions will go down hard, 31-14.

Miami (FL) @ Ohio State: Yet another championship game rematch (this time the 2002 regular season title), although the players involved in that controversial game are long gone. Since that game, Miami has been through some dark times but appears to have turned a corner under Randy Shannon, and expectations are high for this group. Led by flamboyant quarterback Jacory Harris, the swagger appears to have returned to "the U."

Meanwhile, business has continued as usual for the Buckeyes under Jim Tressel, as Ohio State has dominated the Big Ten but came up short in a couple of national title games and other big games until last year's run. Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State's potential Heisman candidate quarterback, still has a lot to prove, but if he can have a big game against the 'Canes, it would help elevate him.

Harris is the better pure quarterback, but Pryor is a dual-threat who is becoming better as a pocket passer. Both quarterbacks have talented backs and receivers around them. It's going to come down to the defenses and who winds up making a mistake. Even though Ohio State has lost the last two big non-conference games at home (USC, Texas), I think that the run from late last season will carry over here and the Buckeyes win a close one late, 24-21