Image Courtesy: Saturday Blitz
AP Top 6
1.Alabama 0-0 (0-0) This week: Utah State
2.Ohio State 0-0 (0-0) This week: 5.Notre Dame
3.Georgia 0-0 (0-0) This week: 11.Oregon (Atlanta)
4.Clemson 0-0 (0-0) This week: at.Georgia Tech
5.Notre Dame 0-0 (0-0) This week: at.2.Ohio State
6.Texas A&M 0-0 (0-0) This week: Sam Houston State
Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of AP Poll)
West Virginia at. Pittsburgh (Thursday 7 PM ET, ESPN)
The last time the former Big East rivals met was in 2011, when the Mountaineers defeated the Panthers 21-20 over Thanksgiving weekend that year. Pitt lost last season’s Bilitnekoff Award Winner (nation’s top receiver), Jordan Addison, who transferred to USC. Pat Narduzzi, the experienced Pittsburgh coach, will have to figure out how to stop former USC and Georgia QB JT Daniels, who will start at QB for the Mountaineers. In the same way, QB Kedon Slovis, who replaced Daniels at USC but then left the program, will start for Pitt and West Virginia coach Neal Brown will have to get his defense ready to stop that offense. Projected Score: Pittsburgh 24, West Virginia 20
23.Cincinnati at. 19.Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ESPN)
Despite losing All-American receiver Treylon Burks to the NFL, Arkansas has regrouped by adding former Oklahoma receiver Jadon Haselwood and by developing the group already on the team. KJ Jefferson returns at QB along with three other running backs, namely “Rocket” Sanders who is expected to start in place of Dominique Johnson, who has been hurt through fall camp. Arkansas’ defense got stronger through the transfer portal and should help the hogs win this game. Cincinnati made the College Football Playoff last year and will look to do it again without QB Desmond Ridder and defensive backs Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant, who headed to the NFL. The replacement for Ridder will either be Evan Prater or Ben Bryant and Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell has recruited well enough for defensive replacements to be good for the program. Projected Score: Arkansas 28, Cincinnati 24
11.Oregon vs. 3.Georgia (Atlanta) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
Georgia looks to defend its national championship in a home away from home game in Atlanta against Oregon, led by former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning. Without Lanning and the multiple draft picks from that defense in this year’s NFL Draft, their defense will look human compared to last season. But, with the best tight end room in the country and Stetson Bennett back at QB, Georgia should be fine in this game. Former Auburn QB Bo Nix is likely to start for the Ducks and knows the Bulldogs well but expect a young Georgia defense to step up and get the opening season win. Projected Score: Georgia 31, Oregon 20
7.Utah at. Florida (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
Utah, the reigning Pac-12 champions have high expectations this season but will be tested this Saturday in “The Swamp” when they take on Florida. Florida QB Anthony Richardson was good last year, backing up Emory Jones part of the year and starting a few games but the Florida defense will have to stop Utah’s offense led by QB Cam Rising. Projected Score: Utah 27, Florida 24
5.Notre Dame at. 2.Ohio State (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
In a top five match-up to open the season, number two Ohio State and number five Notre Dame face off. Ohio State’s offense is tremendous with returning QB CJ Stroud and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching passes. New Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman played football for Ohio State during his playing career but will hope for star tight end Matthew Mayer to lead the Irish to an upset win. Projected Score: Ohio State 45, Notre Dame 31
Florida State at. LSU (Sunday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
Former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly makes his debut in New Orleans against Florida State, the same team his Irish faced in week 1 a season ago. The Seminoles are coached by Mike Norvell, who needs to win to keep his job. Kelly named former Arizona State signal-caller Jayden Daniels the starter and Jordan Travis will play QB for the Seminoles. FSU defeated Duquense in their week 0 game but facing LSU, led by receiver Kayshon Boutte will be a different beast. Projected Score: LSU 24, Florida State 14
4.Clemson at. Georgia Tech (Monday, 8 PM ET, ESPN)
Despite Clemson’s struggles at QB last season, it is hard to believe that Clemson will lose to bottom-dweller Georgia Tech. Clemson’s defense is spectacular even if they lost defensive coordinator Brent Venables to Oklahoma and their offense returns its backfield, DJ Uiagaelelie and Will Shipley, will be beneficial for the tigers. Projected Score: Clemson 38, Georgia Tech 13
