Reflector sports writer Jonathan Hillard took control of first place in week two of the weekly football forecast with a perfect 6-0 record. Hillard is now 11-1 on the season, but has a tough week ahead as all six games on the block feature big-name schools. Student guest Daniel Melder had a strong outing in week two posting a 5-1 record, bringing the two-week total to 10-2. In a tie for third place are Reflector sports writers Hank Allen and Craig Peters with a 9-3 record.
Still trailing, but never out of it, Grant Alford is now 6-6 on the season with back to back 3-3 weeks, but could easily be back in the race with a solid showing in week three of the season.
As mentioned earlier, the games on the block this week are nothing short of extremely difficult. It’s tough to even find a “game of the week” since all games should be great games, but the six chosen for this week could all argue for the title of “game of the week.”
The first game of the week finds the Washington State Cougars visiting “the horseshoe” in Columbus, Ohio, to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Cougars have a very talented quarterback in Heisman candidate Jason Gesser, but the Buckeyes are at home and have yet to be tested this season.
The Colorado State Rams and the Louisville Cardinals will clash this weekend in Colorado in what could be an offensive shootout. The Rams are coming off a tough loss at UCLA last week, but are still 2-1 on the young season. Louisville and star QB Dave Ragone are looking to right the ship against a very tough CSU football team.
In “death valley” this weekend, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will be looking to avenge last year’s home loss to the Clemson Tigers. Although the Tigers are without standout signal-caller Woody Dantzler, Clemson is as strong as ever and could make it two-in-a-row against the Jackets.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have yet to score an offensive touchdown this season, but that hasn’t prevented them from taking a 2-0 record home to take on the undefeated Michigan Wolverines. The Irish’s only points have come on defensive touchdowns or field goals, which could eventually spell trouble against a Michigan team who loves to throw the ball and play good tough defense.
A matchup of traditional powers takes place at Beaver Stadium Saturday night as the Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to State College, Pa. to take on the resurgent Penn State Nitany Lions. Joe Paterno and his PSU ball club are looking for the big upset against a very tough Cornhusker defense.
The final game of week three is an SEC Eastern Division clash between the Georgia Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks. USC is coming off a tough road loss to Virginia and looks to rebound against a Georgia team who many feel could challenge Florida and Tennessee for the SEC Eastern Division title in 2002.