if you thought week 1 was good, which it was with phenomenal finishes in the UCLA-A&M and Tennessee- Georgia Tech games depending on your perspective, week 2 looks even better with some marquee matchups featuring some of the better teams in the country going head to head. Here’s a look at the action this week.

Last week: 19-3

 

No. 13 Auburn (1-0) @ No. 3 Clemson (1-0)

Tiger Stadium, Clemson, S.C. 

6 PM CT

ESPN

Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Todd McShay

Clemson by 5 1/2

Auburn had a relatively easy time of it last week at home with a 41-7 victory over Georgia Southern. The defense played well, Auburn ran the ball well, but Jarrett Stidham had mixed results. He fumbled a couple of times and threw an interception, so not too swift. The Clemson defensive front is massive, physical and dominating. The question for me is, can the Auburn offensive line handle the likes of defensive tackles Christian Wilkins (6’4″, 300) and Dexter Lawrence (6’4″, 340). Defensive end Clelin Ferrell is a tough one too at 6’5″, 250. Braden Smith and the rest of the Auburn front will have to step up in this game to open holes for Kamryn Pettway, Kam Martin and rest of the Tigers’ running game. Kerryon Johnson has a hamstring injury, so he’s questionable. He might be available, but it’ll be hard with a hamstring. Stidham will have to perform in the passing game. He needs to find Nate Craig-Myers and the other receivers. Craig-Myers had a quiet game last week, but he’s big play guy if Stidham can get him the ball. Clemson’s offense was outstanding last week in a 56-3 victory over Kent State, though the opponent didn’t test the Tigers offense much. Auburn’s defensive front with Marlon Davidson and Derrick Brown are very formidable as well, and linebacker Tre’ Williams is a leader on the defense and a very good player. So I like defense to be more of the story in this game. Kelly Bryant had a good game at quarterback for Clemson last week, and he has plenty of playmakers to help him out. But this is not going to be a shootout. The trenches will decide this one. It’ll be tight, but I like the Clemson Tigers in a close game at Death Valley .

Clemson 21, Auburn 17

 

Fresno State (1-0) @ No. 1 Alabama (1-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium

2:30 PM 

ESPN2

Adam Amin, Anthony Hecht, Rocky Boiman

Bama by 43 1/2

The Crimson Tide won a highly physical game against Florida State last week, but paid a price losing linebackers Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis for the season. Rashaan Evans has a groin injury and Anfernee Jennings is out with a sprained ankle. So the Tide is thin at linebacker this week.  Da’Shawn Hand moved back to linebacker from defensive end to help with depth. Alabama still has plenty of talent to handle Fresno State. Fresno State defeated Incarnate Word, an FCS school, 66-0 last week, so they have some firepower offensively, though the FCS school didn’t provide much resistance. The Crimson Tide can still play exceptional defense and special teams,  except for the kicker, and will run the ball well with Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough and Najee Harris, but offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, quarterback Jalen Hurts and the offensive line need to get better if the Crimson Tide wants to go far this season. Tua Tagovailoa should play this week, and if Hurts struggles again, could become interesting going forward as an option if Hurts can’t get it together. Like the Crimson Tide to play well this week in all 3 phases and take care of business.

Alabama 49, Fresno State 3

 

No. 15 Georgia (1-0) @ No. 24 Notre Dame (1-0)

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

6:30 PM CT

NBC

Mike Tirico, Doug Flutie, Kathryn Tappen

Notre Dame by 4

The Fighting Irish looked pretty good last week in a 49-16 victory over Temple. The Dawgs took care of business in Athens with a 31-10 victory over App State, in what looked like a dangerous opener for them. Fighting Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush is an electric player, and running back Josh Adams is big with speed, he’s a good back. But I like Kirby, Nick Chubb,  Sony Michel and freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, who I like a lot in Jacob Eason’s place, to take care of business and pull off the slight upset in South Bend. Georgia keeps trending well with a huge victory over the Fighting Irish. Should be a super game.

Dawgs 24, Fighting Irish 21

 

No. 23 TCU (1-0) @ Arkansas (1-0)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Allie LaForce

TCU by 3

The Horned Frogs and the Hogs had easy first games, but this will be a test for both squads in quite a matchup in Fayetteville. TCU features quarterback Kenny Hill and an explosive offense with a much improved defense under coach Gary Patterson. The Hogs were victors at Fort Worth last year, 41-38, in double overtime. Austin Allen is very good under center for the Hogs and they feature a solid run game. The defense is still a question mark. I like this to be tight, but I see the Horned Frogs pulling it out. Better defense this year for Patterson.

TCU 31, Arkansas 27

 

South Carolina (1-0)  @ Missouri (1-0)

Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Anish Shroff, Mike Golic Jr., Roddy Jones

Mizzou by by 2 1/2

Both teams had very good results on offense last week, but not so much on defense. South Carolina outlasted N.C. State, 35-28, and Missouri exploded on offense while imploding on defense in a 72-43 victory over Missouri State. I like Muschamp and quarterback Jake Bentley to pull off the slight upset in Columbia.

Gamecocks 38, Tigers 34

 

No.5 Oklahoma @ No. 2 Ohio State

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris Fowler, Herbie, Maria Taylor

The Ohio State by 7 1/2

OU looked explosive offensively, albeit against UTEP in a 56-7 victory last week. Baker Mayfield only played a half and threw 4 touchdown passes. Ohio State struggled for a while at Indiana before pulling away 49-21. I like the experience in coaching here. Though I’m not always that sure Urb is that great, he has the edge on 33 year old first time head coach Lincoln Riley. Mayfield gives OU a shot, but he’s not enough to get the Sooners over the top. Buckeyes are victorious at the Horseshoe.

Ohio State 42, Oklahoma 34

 

No. 14 Stanford @ No. 6 USC

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

7:30 PM CT

FOX 

Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft

SC by 6 1/2

Stanford was explosive in their first game in Australia with a 62-7 victory over Rice, but that was against no competition. USC struggled with Western Michigan, which returned 16 starters from a New Year’s Six Cotton Bowl team a year ago, so that’s not that disappointing. SC won 49-31 pulling away late. Some prognosticators are picking Stanford to upset the Trojans, but I like quarterback Sam Darnold and the Men from Troy to get it done in LA.

USC 38, Stanford 31

 

UAB @ Ball State

Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Indiana

2 PM CT

 ESPN3

Ball State by 14 1/2

I was impressed with the Blazers in their spring game, but not as much in a 38-7 victory over Alabama A&M last week at Legion Field. Ball State gave Illinois everything they could handle last week on the road, losing 24-21, so I like the Redbirds to take care of business over the Blazers. 

Ball State 35, UAB 20

 

No. 11 Oklahoma State @ South Alabama

Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile

Friday, 7 PM

ESPN 2

OK State by 28

Oklahoma State shellacked Tulsa last week, 59-24, and South lost at Ole Miss, 47-27. But I like the Jaguars to snap back at home and give the Cowboys a good game, though I don’t see them winning.

Ok State 45, South Alabama 38

Other SEC scores

No. 12 LSU 45, Chattanooga 14

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

 

No. 25 Tennessee 48, Indiana State 14

3 PM CT

SEC Network

 

Ole Miss 52, UT Martin 10

11 AM CT

SEC Network

 

Mississippi State 38, La Tech 28

6:30 PM CT

CBS Sports Network

State by 7 1/2

 

Vandy 49, Alabama A&M 7

3 PM CT

SEC Network

 

Kentucky 48, Northern Kentucky 10

11 AM CT

SEC Network

 

Texas A&M 49, Nicholls 3

6 PM CT

ESPNU

 

No.4 Penn State 42, Pittsburgh 28

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Penn State by 21

 

No.8 Michigan 48, Cincinnati 3

11 AM CT

ABC

Michigan by 34 1/2

 

Oregon 48, Nebraska 34

3:30 PM CT

FOX

Oregon by 13 1/2

 

Northwestern 28 Duke 24

11 AM CT

ESPNU

Northwestern by 3

 

Utah 35, BYU 31

9:15 PM CT

ESPN2 

Utah by 2

 

No. 20 Washington State 45, Boise State 34

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Wash State by 10 1/2