TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM 2016: College football picks and previews for Week 2

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In the years I’ve done this, I’ve purposely strayed away from “gimme” games. Unfortunately, Week 2 for the past several seasons has featured almost nothing but “gimme” games. Sigh. Let’s get to it.

Record this season: 8-4
Record last week: 8-4

(Rankings reflect latest Amway Coaches Poll/All game times Eastern)

 

Nicholls @ No. 9 Georgia (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 12 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Kirby Smart is 1-0 as a head coach, thanks to an impressive come-from-behind win in the Georgia Dome Saturday against North Carolina.

If you’re looking for a reason to watch this week’s game (other than being a diehard UGA fan) look for No. 72 on the Nicholls defensive line.

It’s Roland Ollie from the Netflix show “Last Chance U”:

Georgia 56, Nicholls 0

Actual Score: Georgia 26, Nicholls 24 (WIN)

 

 

Mercer (0-1, 0-1 Southern Conference) @ Georgia Tech (1-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference)
Saturday, September 10 at 3 p.m. ACC NETWORK
Mercer faces a triple option offense for the second week in a row when it visits Georgia Tech. It’s the first game against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in the modern era of Mercer football.

The Bears and Yellow Jackets last played in 1938. Tech won that game 19-0:

Georgia Tech 38, Mercer 3

Actual Score: Georgia Tech 35, Mercer 10 (WIN)

 

 

Fort Valley State (0-1) @ Lane (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 3 p.m.
Head coach Kevin Steele’s debut went great–for the first half.

Fort Valley State led Miles 21-3 at halftime of the Labor Day Golden Classic in Birmingham but was outscored 31-0 in the second half, ultimately falling 34-21.

The Wildcats were flagged 15 times for 107 yards.

Their freshman quarterback, Demontay Jones, completed 20 of his 26 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense struggled on the ground, managing just 61 rushing yards.

FVSU won this game last season, 50-38:

Fort Valley State 35, Lane 28

Actual Score: Lane 10, Fort Valley State 7 (LOSS)

 

 

Kentucky (0-1) @ Florida (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
After an embarrassing home loss to Southern Miss, the Wildcats head south to Gainesville to meet the defending SEC East champions.

The Gators didn’t look too hot in Week 1, either.

They led UMASS 10-7 through three quarters before scoring 14 points in the fourth:

Florida 27, Kentucky 10

Actual Score: Florida 45, Kentucky 7 (WIN)

 

 

Western Kentucky (1-0) @ No. 1 Alabama (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. ESPN2
If Alabama scored 52 on USC, it will hang a hundred on Western Kentucky, right?

The Hilltoppers will be Bryant-Denny Stadium’s first victim of 2016, but they might actually hang tougher than USC did in Dallas. WKU is coming off a 12-2 season that included a bowl victory.

If Alabama were coached by anyone but Nick Saban, I’d call this a trap game. It falls in between that Trojan beatdown and next week’s game at Ole Miss:

Alabama 38, Western Kentucky 17

Actual Score: Alabama 38, Western Kentucky 10 (WIN)

 

 

Georgia Southern (1-0) @ South Alabama (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 7 p.m. ESPN3
Georgia Southern and South Alabama meet in Mobile in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

The Eagles and Jaguars both made history last week.

First-year Georgia Southern coach Tyson Summers notched his first career win, and South Alabama beat Mississippi State:

Georgia Southern 37, South Alabama 23

Actual Score: Georgia Southern 24, South Alabama 9 (WIN)

 

 

South Carolina (1-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) @ Mississippi State (0-1)
Saturday, September 10 at 7 p.m. ESPN2
If there’s a worse way for an SEC team to start a season than losing to a Sun Belt team at home, let me know.

Sure, expectations weren’t sky-high this year after losing Dak Prescott to the National Football League, but ouch.

I’m sure it’s been a tough week of practice in Starkville:

Mississippi State 20, South Carolina 10

Actual Score: Mississippi State 27, South Carolina 14 (WIN)

 

 

Arkansas (1-0) @ No. 15 TCU (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 7 p.m. ESPN
TCU put up 59 points against South Dakota State but only won by 18 points. The Jackrabbits hopped their way to a 41-point day, racking up 461 yards of offense along the way. They also forced the Horned Frogs into two turnovers.

The Razorbacks of Arkansas needed a touchdown and extra point with less than seven minutes left to beat Louisiana Tech, 21-20.

Eh. I’m going with the home team:

TCU 35, Arkansas 31

Actual Score: Arkansas 41, TCU 38 – OT (LOSS)

 

 

Arkansas State (0-1) @ Auburn (0-1)
Saturday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
As frustrating as the Clemson game was for Auburn fans, the Tigers were a hailmary and extra point away from pulling the biggest upset in Week 1. Yes, the Auburn offense was atrocious, but the defense was ferocious.

Could we see some offensive rhythm against Gus Malzahn’s former team?

Maybe. He plans to use just two quarterbacks:

Auburn 34, Arkansas State 9

Actual Score: Auburn 51, Arkansas State 14 (WIN)

 

 

Virginia Tech (1-0) @ No. 17 Tennessee (1-0)
Saturday, September 10 at 8 p.m. ABC
The time has finally come for the “Battle at Bristol,” a college football game in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway.

150,000 fans–a new record–are expected to fill the Last Great Colosseum for this ACC-SEC matchup.

A few extra days of preparation for the Volunteers (they beat Appalachian State last Thursday) should be enough to propel them past the Hokies:

Tennessee 31, Virginia Tech 20

Actual Score: Tennessee 45, Virginia Tech 24 (WIN)