Week #3 features only one contest that should be worth watching, and that's USC-Stanford. While there's been much made of how the Trojans could start the season ranked #1 and then lose that spot without losing on the field, the truth is that polls are meaningless at this time of year. They probably shouldn't even be published for another month.
D-III continues to be exciting as usual, with players who compete for the love of the game, not scholarships, bowls, or rewards from boosters. The service academies somehow arranged their early season schedules so that each would have a bye week in September.
Finding it tough to get too excited at this point, but here's what's what for Saturday 9/15:
Union (0-2) at Ithaca (1-0). Still smarting from the shellacking taken at the hands of Utica last week, the Dutchmen hit the road to face the perennial D-III powerhouse Ithaca College. The Bombers play good old fashioned smashmouth football and have capable junior QB Phil Newmann to keep defensive secondaries honest. Union's defense hasn't been able to keep opponents offenses off the field, and this week should prove no different. PICK: Ithaca.
Air Force (1-1) idle. Next week: at UNLV.
Army (0-1) vs. Northern Illinois (1-1). Reigning MAC champs, the Huskies nearly upset Iowa two weeks ago. QB Jordan Lynch is a threat when he throws as well as when he runs. Black Knight defense appears weak, so NIU may make it five straight years without an Army home opening win. PICK: Northern Illinois.
Navy (0-1) at Penn State (0-2). Neither team has distinguished itself thus far. A week off for the Middies may not help, with State returning home after holding a lead over a solid Virginia squad into the fourth quarter of their match last week. If Navy can run the ball, they'll win. But the bet is they won't, and home field advantage should hand new coach Bill O'Brien his first win. PICK: Penn State.
#25 BYU (2-0) at Utah (1-1). In recent years this has been a battle, with the Utes often favored to win. But this year BYU is off to the fast start, and with Utah QB Jordan Wynn having decided to call it a career with debilitating injuries, this one shouldn't be close. PICK: BYU.
#2 USC (2-0) vs. #21 Stanford (2-0). Andrew Luck is gone, and with him any hope that Stanford will pull off the upset, even at home. Duke showed the Cardinal pass defense vulnerable in giving up 363 yds. of passing offense last week despite what turned out to be a lopsided final score. Imagine what Matt Barkley and Company will do tomorrow. PICK: USC.
New Mexico (1-1) at Texas Tech (2-0). The Mike Leach Era in Lubbock is long gone, and now Tommy Tuberville brings his brains to town. Red Raider defense is vastly improved, which is not good news for the Lobos, who are looking more like the bad team I thought they were a couple of weeks ago. PICK: Texas Tech.
South Portland (0-2) at Cheverus (2-0). Eight years of Steve Stinson and the Riots just don't seem to be getting a whole lot better. Meanwhile, the Stags are looking like an early contender for Class A honors, and they have SP at home. PICK: Cheverus.
Rogers (1-1) vs. Emerald Ridge (0-2). The papers say...well, very little, actually. But Em Ridge is referred to as "tough". Not buyin' it. PICK: Rogers at home.
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