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#2 Florida State at #10 Louisville NOON ABC
- The second ranked Seminoles travel to Louisville and take on the Lamar Jackson hype machine. Louisville has destroyed their competition so far while Seminoles needed an epic comeback win to beat Ole Miss in the season opener but got a breather against Charleston Southern last week. The Cardinals will be out for revenge as the Noles have beaten them the past couple of years. Can Florida State defense, missing its best player in Derwin James, stop the Jackson Heisman hype train today? Will the high powered Cardinals offense roll on in the Pizza Palace? FSU QB Deondre Francois isn't one to be taken lightly either. Could be an interesting game in terms of the ACC Atlantic race. Dalvin Cook needs to get going in 2016 and Louisville would be good place to start. College GameDay location.
Florida State prospects to watch:
1. Dalvin Cook 5'11 206 RB Junior
- While Leonard Fournette is the best pure running back in the country, Cook is a better athlete at the position. Like his LSU counterpart, he is a true junior and likely early entry candidate. Cook possesses elite speed and agility. He has bulked up considerably over the offseason to better handle some nagging injuries that have hampered him in the past. However, Cook has had some fumble issues during the big games, particularly in the bowls. During the first game against Ole Miss, he had a fumble on a play that was sure to be a touchdown in the first half that fortunately for him, didn't cost FSU anything but 4 points in the long run.
2. DeMarcus Walker 6'2 273 DL Senior
- Walker put on a clinic in the second half of the opener against Ole Miss. Posted 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and multiple hurries in 25 minutes of game action. He put the defense on his back and won FSU the game essentially. An above average athlete without a set position. Better suited inside as a tackle at the next level.
3. Roderick Johnson 6'6 308 OT Junior
- The Seminoles' franchise left tackle since his freshman season, where he displaced current Cleveland Brown center Cam Erving to center. Johnson had a miserable 2016 debut, frequently getting pushed by the Rebels defensive front. He was a major liability in pass protection. More of a road grader right tackle than a left tackle in the pros.
Louisville prospects to watch:
1. Devonte Fields 6'3 245 DE RS Senior
- Fields had a monstrous 2015 campaign, putting up 11 sacks for the steady Cardinals defense. He took to the 3-4 like a duck to water after transitioning from being a 4-3 end while at TCU. I wrote about him a lot last year. Fields has some off field questions as he was dismissed from TCU despite winning Big 12 Freshman POY. Served as Lorenzo Mauldin's understudy last year.
#22 Oregon at Nebraska 3:30 PM ABC
- The Ducks travel to Lincoln to take on the Huskers and a familiar face in HC Mike Riley. Can the Ducks hit their stride against a Nebraska team looking to get a program defining win? Huskers QB Tommy Armstrong will need to show up in a big way to keep pace with the Rolls Royce offense. Oregon needs to get it together on defense after letting UC Davis and Virginia hang around far too long the past couple of weeks. Nebraska has had its share of heartbreaking losses last year. Can they break through to win one?
Oregon prospects to watch:
1. Dakota Prukop 6'2 195 QB RS Senior
- Prukop is a graduate transfer from FCS Montana State that signed up with the Ducks ala Vernon Adams last year. He's been a good fit for Oregon's fast pace offense so far. Frame needs work if he wants to make a career in the NFL. Has a little Johnny Football moxie on the field wise, off field couldn't be any more different. Arm strength is a question. Can he step it up when the meat grinder of the Pac-12 schedule heats up?
2. Royce Freeman 5'11 230 RB Junior
- The country's most underrated running back. One of the better all around type of backs in this class. Doesn't possess that breakaway gear like some others but will try to outmuscle the defender in most cases.
Nebraska prospect to watch
1. Jordan Westerkamp 5'11 200 WR RS Senior
- Westerkamp is Nebraska’s top returning receiver.. Due to his size limitations, he will be limited to the slot in the NFL unless he shows some improvement on the outside.
#12 Michigan State at #18 Notre Dame 7:30 PM NBC
- Sparty travels to South Bend to take on a still seething Irish team bent on getting that bitter loss to Texas out of their systems. Can the electric Irish offense come alive again against a yet another edition of the tough minded Spartans defense? MSU is breaking in a new QB as well. The games between these two Midwest powerhouses have been very tight in recent years. I expect the Irish to do just enough to squeak out a hard fought win against a game Spartans squad. Expect the Spartans to follow the Texas playbook and try to exploit the Irish secondary that is reeling from the dismissal of Max Redfield.
MSU prospects to watch
1. Malik McDowell 6'5 282 DL Junior
- The latest in a long line of stout defensive lineman to come out of East Lansing. He really popped off the screen last year as a sophomore. A bit light for a defensive tackle so he might have to slide out to end. One of the best defensive linemen in all of college football. He makes everyone say Shilique Calhoun who? McDowell had an interesting recruitment in that both of his parents preferred differing schools and it was a last minute decision.
2. Riley Bullough 6'1 230 LB RS Senior
- The younger brother of former Spartans standout linebacker Max. He is a tackling machine with great instincts. The anchor of the traditionally great Sparty defense.
Notre Dame prospect to watch
1. Deshone Kizer 6'4 230 QB RS Junior
- Everyone likes to give Clemson's DeShaun Watson love as the top QB prospect but I feel that Kizer is just as deserving of that title. He has all the physical tools in the world but what separates him from Watson is the mental aspect of the game. Kizer knows when and how to decipher whether to throw with touch or bring the fastball in nearly every situation. An underrated runner. Won't wow anyone with his running ability but knows when to run and live for another down. Finally cemented as the Irish starter after leading ND to a furious comeback in a close loss in the opener against Texas.
#3 Ohio State at #14 Oklahoma 7:30 PM Fox
- Oklahoma hosts a retooling Buckeyes squad with playoff aspirations in Norman. Can the suddenly downtrodden Sooners revive their and the Big 12's playoff hopes with an upset win over Ohio State? This is a win or go home situation for Oklahoma because the next few games are very tough. Ohio State is still Ohio State with a few new old faces for contributors. J.T. Barrett and Baker Mayfield will match wits in what is expected to be a thrilling shootout between two high powered offenses. The Buckeyes should win going away due to its superior depth.
Ohio State prospects to watch
1. Raekwon McMillan 6'2 240 LB Junior
- The Buckeyes defensive field general. He has more than lived up to his five star billing. Instincts and athleticism are very good. He's a good enough athlete to play anywhere on the front seven. Could be a great outside linebacker in the NFL. I've been keeping an eye on this guy since his freshman year.
2.Sam Hubbard 6'4 265 DE/OLB RS Sophomore
- Joey Bosa who? Hubbard burst onto the scene with some great performances as Bosa's backup during the past couple of years.
3. J.T Barrett 6'1 225 6'1 225 QB RS Junior
- Barrett is finally the unquestioned standalone starter in Columbus after seeing Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller off to the pros. The Texas native is a bit on the smaller side frame wise but has enough physicality to make it work. Only injury concern is the terrible leg injury during the Buckeyes' title run that gave way to #CrashforCardale mania. I compare his game to that of a bigger and more refined Tyrod Taylor.
Oklahoma prospects to watch
1. Samaje Perine 5'10 235 RB Junior
- Perine is in the running for best running back in the country discussion. He's a bowling ball downhill type of runner. A big back for his size. Has been really consistent for his first two years of college.
USC at #7 Stanford 8 PM ABC
- Southern Cal needs to shake their NorCal bugaboo in the worst way after getting utterly dismantled by Alabama in Jerry World. Stanford has owned USC as of late. Can the Trojans stop Heisman candidate Christian McCaffery? Can the Cardinal have enough production from their QBs to shake loose what is sure to be a 8 or 9 man box? Expect Stanford to win rather handily over the rebuilding Trojans.
USC prospects to watch
1. JuJu Smith-Schuster 6'2 220 WR Junior
- JuJu burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2014, taking much of the hype away from current Eagles WR Nelson Agholor and Jaguars WR Marqise Lee. Now he's a wise old veteran junior, ready to go pro like the Trojan receivers before him. He has a bigger frame than some wideouts of this generation, coming in at 6'2 220 yet has the athleticism of someone smaller. Considered to be the top receiver prospect in the country.
2. Adoree' Jackson 5'11 185 CB/WR Junior
- Jackson is probably the nation's most dynamic athlete, playing both receiver and corner in addition to return duties. He also runs track for the Trojans in the spring. Jackson is a speed merchant with a decent amount of cornerback skills to make it in the pros if the receiver thing doesn't work out. Special teams ace with several return touchdowns. He's lived up to his lofty billing as a top recruit and then some. Expect him to go pro after 2016.
3. Zach Banner 6'9 360 OT RS Senior
- Banner is a mammoth 6'9 360 and is a true road grader type of tackle. He is a little raw in terms of technique and fundamentals due to a lack of playing time but has a lot of potential. Could rise up the boards this year.
Stanford prospect to watch
1. Christian McCaffery 6'0 202 RB Junior
- McCaffery might be the nation's most versatile weapon. The 2015 Heisman finalist has an array of skillsets including returning kicks. Should be in New York again at the end of the year. NFL legacy as he's the son of former Broncos wide receiver Ed and brother Max had a pretty solid career for Duke.
Bonus games to watch
#11 Texas at Cal 10:30 PM ESPN
Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State 3:30 PM ESPN