Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Denard Robinson: The next great dual-threat QB?

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (+4) VS. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to preview all the top 4 college football games this week, but I’ll do my best. NFL Picks are hot off the press. We start off with the game that people voted that they were looking forward to most. I previewed Notre Dame before their game against Purdue, which they won 23-13. Although I picked ND and they covered the 10.5 points, I thought they would score more points than 23 which was disappointing. ND’s defense was phenomenal, they got great play from their running game, and the quarterback play was consistent (19/26, 205 yards, 1 TD).

However, I was more impressed with Michigan’s 30-10 win over Connecticut. I didn’t preview Michigan’s team last week and I didn’t want to pick the Michigan vs. Connecticut game because while Connecticut has been competitive in the Big East (8-5 last season and 10-2 ATS), Michigan has played poorly in past years and I didn’t want to bet on a historically bad team that was just 6-7 last season. However, I had a feeling that may turn around with Rich Rodriguez this season and it look like it has.

Denard Robinson was ridiculous — video footage — (19/22, 186 yards, 1 passing touchdown, 197 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD). Michigan had 473 yards of total offense compared to ND’s 358 yards. Michigan D’s was great against the pass, but could have done a better job against the run, giving up 4.6 YPC compared to ND’s 3.2 YPC. Michigan had a very poor defense last year — the 3rd worst in the Big Ten, giving up 393 YPG. They gave …

Four great games are on tap week 2 and I like Alabama.

Here are the big games that are on tap for week 2 of college football:

• No. 20 Florida State @ No. 7 Oklahoma (-9)
• Michigan @ Notre Dame (-4)
• No. 13 Miami @ No. 2 Ohio State (-9.5)
• No. 19 Penn State @ No. 1 Alabama (-11.5)

We’ll be sure to preview those games. Here are my early thoughts on those games.

I really like Alabama next week. I would absolutely love this spread at -9.5. I think they should win by 14-21. At 11.5, PSU has a shot at covering, but I doubt it.

If Michigan was at home, I would absolutely love that pick, but ND’s home-field advantage is undeniable. I thought Michigan would get 3 in this one, so the 4 is generous. It looks like Rich Rodriguez found his next Pat White in Denard Robinson. Robinson was lights out in the Connecticut game (19/22, 186 passing yards, 196 rushing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD) and if he can repeat that type of performance, Michigan could pull off the upset in South Bend.

I think Ohio State wins, but I count on Miami on keeping the game within reach.

Despite Oklahoma not crushing Utah State this past week, I think Oklahoma has no problem covering the 9 points in this game. Florida State gives up a lot of points. Last year Florida State gave up 37 to Florida, 38 to Miami, 49 to Georgia Tech, 27 to North Carolina, 40 to Clemson, and 26 to Maryland. At home, Oklahoma is due for at least 35 and I don’t think the Seminoles can put up 24 against a Sooners defense that will be …

Keep your eyes on WR Michael Floyd in this game.

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS @ NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (-10.5)

Scanning through the week 1 college lines, Purdue at +10.5 caught my eye. Although Purdue had a losing record at 5-7, they were a competitive team, losing to Oregon by 2 points, Notre Dame by 3, and Michigan State by 3. Purdue was probably best known for upsetting Ohio State 26-18. They knew how to fight in games against the top competition, which is why I was tempted to take the points here. I also figured that Notre Dame may be facing a major set back with the losses of QB Jimmy Clausen and WR Golden Tate.

Unfortunately for Purdue, the injury bug has hurt the Boilermakers this past spring. Their star RB Ralph Bolden, who finished 3rd in the Big Ten in rushing, tore a ligament in his knee and may miss the entire season. Purdue’s QB Robert Marve, who was recruited by Miami, but left when he wasn’t chosen as Miami’s starter, will be the new face of the team and will have a talented receiver in WR Keith Smith (91 receptions, 1100 yards last season) to throw to.  Marve isn’t anything to write home about though: he threw more INTs (13) than TDs (9) last season at Miami. Purdue had a solid secondary last year, giving up just 203 yards per game, but they’ll have to deal with replacing 4 starters in that group, a tremendous challenge for any defensive coordinator.

Notre Dame will be led by junior QB Dayne Crist. Crist is a physical specimen at 6’4″, 235 pounds, but inexperienced (just 10 completions in 20 attempts in his collegiate career) and he’s coming off …