September 18, 2014 1:55 PM
Game of the week
Clemson at Florida State
The Tigers get a Seminoles team that will be playing without Jameis Winston for the first half after the team announced his suspension for shouting an obscene statement at the student union the previous day. Just the latest immature act from last year’s Heisman Trophy winner. Sophomore Sean Maguire gets his first career start for the Seminoles, whose No. 1 ranking is based more on preseason promise than delivery in its 2-0 start.
Upset of the week
Iowa over Pittsburgh
The Hawkeyes should be motivated after last week’s loss to Iowa State by a field goal at the gun. Pitt coach Paul Chryst went 3-3 against Iowa as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator. He has one of nation’s top rushing offenses at 344 yards per game, but Iowa’s been stingy against the run, allowing 65.7 yards per game. Defense plus a week to stew over the Cyclones loss propels Iowa to the upset.
Others to watch
Miami, Fla., at Nebraska
The Hurricanes’ first national championship came at Nebraska’s expense. Cornhuskers coach Tom Osborne conquered Miami for his first national title. Two of the programs that defined college football in the 1980s and 1990s meet for the first time in the regular season since 1976. Miami freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya passed for 342 yards against Arkansas State, but Nebraska’s pass defense has been solid, allowing 163 yards per game.
Oklahoma at West Virginia
Mountaineers quarterback Clint Trickett is sizzling. He passed for 511 yards in the victory over Maryland last week and leads the Big 12 at 408 yards per game. Trickett started his career at Florida State, playing behind E.J. Manuel, and lost his job to Jameis Winston entering last season. He transferred to West Virginia and was part of the quarterback derby in the disappointing 4-8 season last year. A big game here, and Trickett climbs into the early Heisman conversation.
On the horizon: Sept. 27 games
UCLA at Arizona State (Sept. 25)
Early Pac-12 South showdown
Missouri at South Carolina
The Columbia Bowl opens league play for Mizzou
Cincinnati at Ohio State
Both favored to win their leagues
| Blair Kerkhoff, bkerkhoff@kcstar.com
Saturday’s Top 25 Games
No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 22 Clemson, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Oregon at Washington State, 9:30 p.m.
No. 3 Alabama vs. Florida, 2:30 p.m.
No. 4 Oklahoma at West Virginia, 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Texas A&M at SMU, 2:30 p.m.
No. 8 LSU vs. Mississippi State, 6 p.m.
No. 11 Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan, 11 a.m.
No. 13 Georgia vs. Troy, 11 a.m.
No. 14 South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 6:30 p.m.
No. 18 Missouri vs. Indiana, 3 p.m.
No. 19 Wisconsin vs. Bowling Green, 11 a.m.
No. 21 BYU vs. Virginia, 2:30 p.m.
No. 24 Nebraska vs. Miami, Fla., 7 p.m.
Comments