TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM 2016: College football picks and previews for Week 3

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent makes his picks for Week 3.

Record last week: 8-2

Record this season: 16-6

All Times Eastern/All rankings reflect latest Amway Coaches Poll

 

No. 2 Florida State (2-0) @ No. 10 Louisville (2-0)
Saturday, September 17 at 12 p.m. ABC
Saturday starts with a bang as the Seminoles and Cardinals play this top ten matchup in the hot Kentucky sun.

Both teams have the ability to put up a ton of points, but the edge goes to Louisville’s Lamar Jackson:

Louisville 40, Florida State 31

Actual Score: Louisville 63, Florida State 20 (WIN)

 

Vanderbilt (1-1) @ Georgia Tech (2-0)
Saturday, September 17 at 12:30 p.m. ACC NETWORK
Vandy visits the Flats for the first time in 14 years, hoping to hand Georgia Tech its first loss this season.

Most games between these two have been low scoring (Georgia Tech averages a 17-11 win in 37 meetings):

Georgia Tech 20, Vanderbilt 12

Actual Score: Georgia Tech 38, Vanderbilt 7 (WIN)

 

 

No. 1 Alabama (2-0) @ No. 17 Ole Miss (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
Ole Miss tries to beat Alabama for the third straight time when the Crimson Tide rolls into Oxford Saturday.

Only two coaches have ever beaten a Nick Saban-coached team in back-to-back-to-back seasons:

Alabama 27, Ole Miss 17

Actual Score: Alabama 48, Ole Miss 43 (WIN)

 

 

Tennessee Tech (1-1, 1-0 OVC) @ Mercer (0-2, 0-1 SOCON)
Saturday, September 17 at 4 p.m. ESPN3
Mercer is off to an 0-2 start for the first time since the school restarted the program four years ago.

The Bears won’t have to worry about that pesky triple option this week:

Mercer 31, Tennessee Tech 17

Actual Score: Mercer 34, Tennessee Tech 27 (WIN)

 

 

East Carolina (2-0) @ South Carolina (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 4 p.m. SEC NETWORK
It couldn’t get much worse for Will Muschamp than last Saturday in Starkville.. or could it?

Quarterback issues have plagued Muschamp throughout his head coaching career, and so far it doesn’t look like this year will be any different.

The Gamecocks are struggling on the ground, too. They only managed 34 yards on 31 carries against Mississippi State:

East Carolina 24, South Carolina 21

Actual Score: South Carolina 20, East Carolina 25 (LOSS)

 

 

Clark Atlanta (1-1, 1-1 SIAC) @ Fort Valley State (0-2, 0-2 SIAC)
Saturday, September 17 at 6 p.m.
Kevin Porter is another first-year head coach with a less-than-ideal situation on offense.

The Wildcats lost last week at Lane, 10-7.

It’s their first 0-2 start since 2013:

Fort Valley State 17, Clark Atlanta 13

Actual Score: Fort Valley State 37, Clark Atlanta 31 – 3 OT (WIN)

 

 

Louisiana-Monroe (1-1) @ Georgia Southern (2-0, 1-0 Sun Belt)
Saturday, September 17 at 6 p.m. ESPN3
Georgia Southern fans better enjoy this one. It’s the team’s last game at Paulson Stadium until October 27.

The Eagles are 3-0 against the Warhawks in Statesboro:

Georgia Southern 45, Louisiana-Monroe 21

Actual Score: Georgia Southern 23, Louisiana-Monroe 21 (WIN)

 

 

Mississippi State (1-1, 1-0 SEC) @ No. 22 LSU (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 7 p.m. ESPN2
It’s safe to say Les Miles will be out of a job if the Tigers lose this game, right?

Stranger things have happened:

LSU 31, Mississippi State 16

Actual Score: LSU 23, Mississippi State 20 (WIN)

 

 

No. 20 Texas A&M (2-0) @ Auburn (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 7 p.m. ESPN
Auburn is home for the third straight week, but that may not be a good thing for the Tigers.

The road team in this series has won the past four meetings:

Auburn 27, Texas A&M 26

Actual Score: Texas A&M 29, Auburn 16 (LOSS)

 

No. 8 Michigan State (2-0) @ No. 18 Notre Dame (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. NBC
As far as playoff hopes go, Notre Dame needs this win more than Michigan State.

If the Fighting Irish can get past the Spartans, they should cruise for the next month.

Their next four games are vs. Duke, at Syracuse and at N.C. State:

Notre Dame 34, Michigan State 28

Actual Score: Michigan State 36, Notre Dame 28 (LOSS)

 

 

No. 13 Georgia (2-0) @ Missouri (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
The Bulldogs travel 736 miles for the first road game of the Kirby Smart era.

I expect a much better result than Week 2:

Georgia 24, Missouri 14

Actual Score: Georgia 28, Missouri 27 (WIN)

 

 

No. 3 Ohio State (2-0) @ No. 14 Oklahoma (1-1)
Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. FOX
It’s the first real test for an Ohio State team that outscored its first two opponents (Bowling Green and Tulsa) 125-13.

Oklahoma, like Notre Dame, is playing with its back to the wall after dropping its season opener to Houston:

Ohio State 31, Oklahoma 23

Actual Score: Ohio State 45, Oklahoma 24 (WIN)