Your Week 2 Viewing Guide from Ultimate Bill

One week down and lots of story lines to go. As usual action for the NCAA kicks off Thursday night. Our pool action doesn't not start until Saturday at noon so you can relax and simply enjoy the early action. BUT GET YOUR PICK DONE ON TIME AND YOUR ELIMINATION PICK IN ON TIME!!! Now, onto the viewing guide...

Clemson at Georgia Tech
Is there anything better than a Thursday night with at least one ranked team and some fairly big names? How about #15 Georgia Tech playing host to Clemson? Coming into the game, Georgia Tech fumbled its way (5 of 'em) to a victory over Jacksonville St. while Clemson bumbled its way to a victory over Middle Tennessee. This game features the ACC's 2008 rushing leader in GT's Jonathan Dwyer and the ACC's 2008 all purpose yards leader in the Tiger's CJ Spiller. Clemson also features a coach named Dabo, not to be confused with Deebo...



This game is in Atlanta. Clemson is notoriously soft at home and unpredictable on the road. Dwyer and Spiller will get their yards. Something tells me that Clemson will squeak by with a win - thereby muddying the ACC picture THAT much sooner than any typical year (and, let's face it, you KNOW the Tigers will lose to Coastal Carolina in Death Valley on October 31 - because they are Clemson after all).

Onto the weekend (thereby skipping Dan Hawkin's second nail in his Colorado coffin when his Buffs lose to Toledo on Friday night with his son at the helm at QB)

Penn State vs. Syracuse
Granted, Paulus was bedeviled (get it?) by an OT interception but you better believe JoePa and crew took notice last week when Syracuse did not pull the typical el foldo against Minnesota. In the second of three consecutive games against Big 10 teams, the Orangemen travel to Happy Valley to test the untested Nittany Lions. This game is a great noon-time start. What looked like a cakewalk initially is looking better. The difference will be defense and Penn State will likely pull away late - but there will be enough excitement to get you through your sandwich and first coupla beers.

UNC at Connecticutt
Right in the backyard of Eagles and Missing Wanting Needing Bill will be this contest between a resurgent UNC and the consistent UConn program of Randy Edsall. This also is the next opportunity for an ACC gaffe. That said, I think Butch Davis will have his Heels ready and UNC should win this one fairly easily. For TV purposes, just switch to this one during commercials of the Cuse/State game.

Troy at Florida
I think my son Connor sums this one up best when he...




Marshall at Virginia Tech
This one isn't on the tube, thus sparing me from the agonizing, excruciatingly painful exercise of watching Virginia Tech's offense try to snatch victory from defense and special teams.

Notre Dame at Michigan
As far as I am concerned, this is THE game of the weekend (not USC/Ohio State - to be addressed later). In honor of this matchup, I offer this haiku:

Rich Rod says he cares,
Clausen connects with passes
Weiss will cry at end

TCU at Virginia
The Hoos look to recover from a loss to Bill & Mary. TCU looks to be taken seriously. A win over the Hoos won't accomplish that.

Georgia at South Carolina
This kicks off your evening viewing. Get some grub after the Michigan game and settle in with this 7 o'clock lead in to the 8 o'clock marquee game. This one could be interesting with a fired up Cock crowd and a still shaky Joe Cox under center for the Dawgs.

USC at Ohio State
True, Ohio State has a tendency to play to the level of it's competition - hence the close call with Navy. And true, USC tends to do the same. The difference is that USC tends to come MUCH bigger when the stakes are high. Give this one to USC and it's fantastic Frosh QB.

Utah @ San Jose State
Why not? It's a late night snack. All Utah though.