Here are Five Minutes Spares’ predictions for the top 25 teams in this week’s games – we are struggling to spot too many upsets.
Houston Cougars vs (20) Washington State Cougars (neutral venue)
Could be close but Washington should be just too good for an Ed Oliver less Houston
Prediction Washington State by 7 points+
Maryland Terrapins (21) @ Temple Owls
The Terrapins have had two huge home wins to start the season including one over ACC Syracuse but the Owls are no pushovers at home. The first upset of the week on the cards?
Prediction Temple by 3 points+
Ohio State Buckeyes (6) @ Indiana Hoosiers
The Buckeyes look like Playoff contenders already and should cruise through this one.
Prediction Ohio State by 18 points +
Arkansas State Red Wolves @ Georgia Bulldogs (3)
With all due respect to the conference, a Sun Belt team travelling to a top SEC team usually ends up one way – a drubbing.
Prediction Georgia by 28 points +
Pittsburgh Panthers @ Penn State Nittany Lions (13)
Nice Power Five clash – Penn State should prove too good at home though
Prediction Penn State by 14 points +
New Mexico Lobos @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7)
Notre Dame should control this one from the start.
Prediction Notre Dame by 17 points +
Alabama Crimson Tide (2) @ South Carolina Gamecocks
All-SEC clash – but the Tide should roll this one.
Alabama by 21 points +
Stanford Cardinal @ UCF Black Knights (17)
Power Five v Group of five but in this case, its the Power Five who are ranked as Stanford tumbled out after last weeks beat down against USC. Another loos coming.
Prediction UCF by 8 points +
USC Trojans @ BYU Cougars
USC stormed into the top 25 with two good opening wins and although this is a tough road game they should move on to 3-0.
Prediction USC by 3 points+
Iowa Hawkeyes (19) @ Iowa State Cyclones
Big 10 v Big 12 clash between two teams who started the season ranked. Iowa state are still unbeaten but struggled against FCS opposition to open the season and may have been overhyped. Should be real close but we see Iowa edging it to go 3-0
Prediction Iowa by 2 points +
Arizona State Sun Devils @ Michigan State Spartans (18)
Arizona State are 2-0 but they have looked anything but impressive in getting here, while The Spartans also 2-0 have at least looked the part against lower-ranked teams. They should move on to 3-0 without too much fuss.
Prediction Michigan State by 14 points +
Idaho State Bengals @ Utah Utes (11)
Not much to say here other than that Utah will probably tumble in the rankings if they don’t run up the score. The spread is -38 but we are not sure they will cover that.
Prediction Utah by 31 points +
Florida Gators (9) @ Kentucky Wildcats
Important SEC clash with both at 2-0 and neither looking all that impressive. Florida did beat ACC Miami in their opener though and on that form lare the better team. They alos lost last years corresponding fixture so will be up for revenge. We think they will edge it.
Prediction Florida by 5 points +
Kent State Golden Flashers @ Auburn Tigers (8)
If Kent State manages to score double figures in this on they will have done well. The spread is 36 points and that looks about right.
Prediction Auburn by 36 points +
Lamar Cardinal @ Texas A&M Aggies (16)
A&M gave current National Champions Clemson a bit of a game last week, having the audacity to take the lead before the tigers ran up 20 unanswered points to put it to bed. This will be a walk in the park by comparison, and they could easily rack up 60 points plus.
Prediction Texas A&M by 45 points +
Clemson Tigers (1) @ Syracuse Orange
Syracuse came into the season with high hopes after a great 2018, however, that drubbing by Maryland has cast some doubts over their aspirations. They often give Clemson a game especially at home and this one might be closer than the spread suggests. The Tigers are ranked No 1 and look every bit defending champions so far but a -27.5 points spread in a road game looks a lot.
Prediction Clemson by 21 points +
Florida State Seminoles @ Virginia Cavaliers (25)
The Seminoles have had a poor start to the season losing to Mountain west side Boise State and then scraping past Sun Belt UL Monroe in OT thanks to a missed extra point. Virginia has opened with a couple of good wins and should move to 3-0 with home-field advantage.
Prediction Virginia by 10 points
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors @ Washington Huskies (23)
The Huskies suffered a shock 20-19 defeat last week but the game was delayed for 2 1/2 hours and their opponents seemed to adjust to it better. It was a PAC12 loss and Washington held on to their ranking. Hawaii has had a couple of good opening wins but this is a huge step up. The Huskies should get back on track.
Prediction Washington by 7 points+
Northwestern State Demons @ LSU Tigers (4)
SEC Powerhouse v FCS also run – no need for any elaboration. LSU could run up a basketball-style score here.
Prediction LSU by 50 points +
Oklahoma Sooners (5) @ UCLA Bruins
UCLA has not looked good in their opening games ( both defeats to non-power five teams) and they could be out of sight quickly against a high scoring Sooners side.
Prediction Oklahoma by 18 points +
Texas Longhorns (12) @ Rice Owls
The Longhorns played pretty well against LSU last week – without ever really looking like winning. Still, Rice is a whole different proposition and they could be the worst team in the C-USA by season end. Texas should get back to winning ways in style in this one.
Texas by 35 points +
Portland State Vikings @ Boise State Broncos (22)
Boise has had a nice start to the season winning at Florida State and then slugging it out with Marshall to go 2-0. Portland are no FCS pushovers but they should be out of their depth here.
Prediction Boise State by 15 points +
Montana Grizzlies @ Oregon Ducks (15)
The Grizzlies are currently 2-0 in the FCS Big Sky Conference, which is one of the stronger ones. But expecting to win on the road in Oregon is beyond the dreams of all but the most optimistic of fans. The Ducks should cruise through this one.
Prediction Oregon by 25 points +
Overall we only see three games being close and the Terrapins are the only one we think will lose.
Header Image Roberto Michel / Shutterstock.com
