Week 1 was a terrific way to open the 2016 season. What a great slate, filled with drama, and some surprising results. It was a stark reminder of what makes college football so great. The Week 2 schedule of games is not quite as compelling, but it is still more of the sport that we love. Once again, we cannot wait.
DK’s 2016 Week 2 CFB Game Picks
All game times in Eastern Daylight Time.
Last Week: 7-3 (.700)
2016 Season: 7-3 (.700)
Penn State @ Pittsburgh (Saturday, September 10th, 12:00 p.m., ESPN)
If you weren’t rooting for Pitt RB James Conner to do something like what he did in Pitt’s Week 1 win over Villanova, you aren’t human. As an encore, he gets to take on James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions at home on Saturday. Pitt is favored to win, and should do just that. Here’s to Conner continuing to accomplish the improbable in Week 2 and thereafter.
Pick: Pittsburgh 31, Penn State 21
North Carolina State @ East Carolina (Saturday, September 10th, 12:00 p.m., ESPNU/Watch ESPN)
The Pirates got a terrific performance from QB Philip Nelson in their opener, and they welcome the rival Wolfpack to Greenville in Week 2. NC State got good play from QB Ryan Finley and RB Matthew Dayes in Week 1. ECU seems to be improved but shouldn’t be a match for NC State, even at home.
Pick: NC State 35, East Carolina 24
Cincinnati @ Purdue (Saturday, September 10th, 12:00 p.m., BTN)
RB Markell Jones keys the improved Boilermaker attack, against a potent Cincinnati squad, which may call the Big XII home as early as next season. The Bearcats come in as the favorite, but Darrell Hazell’s Purdue team will pull the upset at home.
Pick: Purdue 28, Cincinnati 24
Brigham Young @ Utah (Saturday, September 10th, 7:30 p.m., FOX)
Both teams looked good in wins to open the season. The Holy War is always intense, and this year’s edition promises to be just that. BYU barely got past a sloppy Arizona team in Week One, and Utah is significantly better and will be within the friendly confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes will get the win at home.
Pick: Utah 35, BYU 14
Utah State @ USC (Saturday, September 10th, 1:00 p.m., P12N)
These teams both had rough starts to their seasons this past week. Utah State’s humiliation was far less noticed, though. JuJu Smith-Schuster reportedly lost his cool in practice this week, undoubtedly due to residual frustration from the thrashing his team endured at AT&T Stadium. USC is at home, is more desperate, and has more talent. The Trojans roll.
Pick: USC 51, Utah State 24
Connecticut @ Navy (Saturday, September 10th, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Navy ground out a win in Week One, and there is no word as to whether or not the Midshipmen will need to call a backup QB out of the stands to dress for the second half in this game. UConn is lead by dual-threat QB Bryant Shirreffs, facing off against Ken Niumatololo’s unconventional wishbone attack. Navy won 11 games last year, and will win this one also.
Pick: Navy 21, Connecticut 10
Georgia State @ Air Force (Saturday, September 10th, 2:00 p.m., CAMP)
Air Force won its season-opening tune-up against Texas Abilene, while Georgia State fell to Ball State. The Falcons love playing at altitude in Colorado Springs, and figure to handle the visiting Panthers at home.
Pick: Air Force 41, Georgia State 20
Wake Forest @ Duke (Saturday, September 10th, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU)
Wake Forest did all that it could to set offensive football back by decades last week, in a 7-3 victory over even more offensively-challenged Tulane. Surprisingly, Duke is only a modest favorite in this game, but should be able to get the win at home.
Pick: Duke 20, Wake Forest 7
Arkansas @ TCU (Saturday, September 10th, 7:00 p.m., ESPN)
The Razorbacks and the Horned Frogs both struggled mightily in season-opening wins last week. TCU is favored by more than seven, which seems like far too many. Expect Arkansas to win the game outright.
Pick: Arkansas 37, TCU 31
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee (Saturday, September 10th, 8:00 p.m., ABC)
Bristol Motor Speedway will break the NCAA record for attendance in a single game, with more than 150,000 expected to be in the stands for this game. Justin Fuente will bring Bud Foster and his defense, to try to harass and unsettle Josh Dobbs as much as Appalachian State did last week. The Volunteers should bounce back a bit, and get a win in front of a great number of orange-clad supporters.
Pick: Tennessee 28, Virginia Tech 20
Main Photo: The football field for the upcoming Battle at Bristol down but work is continuing on and around the field. (Photo: David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier).
