My “Fade Material” in Week 1 actually wasn’t fade material at all, as I went 3-1 with my picks. I hit Boise State, Minnesota and Stanford, while Oregon ruined my shot at a perfect week. It’s a shame too because if you can’t trust a Duck, who can you trust?

TCU @ Air Force, 3:30PM ET
The Horned Frogs are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games against Air Force and 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a straight up loss. The Falcons, meanwhile, are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a straight up win and 1-6 ATS in their lat seven conference games. I just don’t see TCU starting the year 0-2 and this is practically a pick’em.
THE PICK: TCU -1

Alabama @ Penn State, 3:30PM ET
The Crimson Tide are 7-0 against the spread in their last seven non-conference games and 6-1 ATS in their last seven games in September. They’re also 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall and 4-1 ATS in their lat five games as a favorite. ‘Bama proved last year that Penn State didn’t belong on the same field as them and while things could be different this time around with the Nittany Lions play at home, I like the Tide defense to dominate in this one.
THE PICK: ALABAMA -10

South Carolina @ Georgia, 4:30PM ET
Nothing says Georgia in this one, as the Gamecocks are 3-0-1 against the spread in their last four games against South Carolina and 4-1 ATS in their last five road games versus UGA. The road team is also 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these two teams and the Bulldogs fail every big test they face nowadays (see the Boise loss last weekend). That said, I think Georgia gets it done between the hedges this afternoon. They’re freaking due.
THE PICK: GEORGIA +3

BYU @ Texas, 7:00PM ET
The Longhorns are 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 non-conference games and 4-12 ATS in their lat 16 games overall. BYU, meanwhile, is 5-1 ATS in their lat six non-conference games and 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. With rumors swirling that the Big 12 Conference is about to fall apart, this may be the first of many meetings between BYU and Texas. I like the Cougars to keep things close today.
THE PICK: BYU +7.5

There’s always an interesting dynamic that happens in sports when a team has high expectations entering a season after overachieving the year before.

Oklahoma State surprised a lot of people last year on its way to compiling a 9-3 record and making a trip to the Holiday Bowl (a 42-31 loss to Oregon). Entering this season, many pundits thought the Cowboys would contend in the Big 12 and those thoughts were confirmed after they waxed Georgia 24-10 last week.

But the Cowboys learned a huge lesson today: They’re not going to sneak up on opponents like they did last year.

Led by incredible junior quarterback Case Keenum, unranked Houston went into Stillwater on Saturday and knocked off No. 5 Oklahoma State 45-35. Keenum was 32 of 47 passing for 367 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed five times for 16 yards and a score.

While they still racked up 35 points and 436 total yards, Oklahoma State’s offense struggled at times today and couldn’t overcome costly penalties and four turnovers. Signal caller Zac Robinson was 18 of 31 for 240 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted by Jamal Robinson, who took the gift 26 yards for a score with only 3:14 remaining in the game.

OK State obviously still has a chance to win the Big 12 considering neither Georgia nor Houston were conference opponents. (Sam Bradford’s injury makes things a little more interesting in the conference as well.) But the Cowboys have issues on both sides of the ball, including being able to generate a consistent pass rush on defense and converting in the red zone offensively. OK State also lacked overall fundamentals today, which is why the Cowboys had so many dumb penalties and turned the ball over four times.

The Cowboys certainly aren’t as bad as they played today against Houston. But considering the Cougars flat out took it to them, maybe Oklahoma State isn’t as good as everyone thought either.

It was over when… ECU never trailed and never looked like it was going to let WVU back in the game as the Pirates ended a seven-game losing streak to WVU.
Gameball goes to… Patrick Pinkney: ECU’s QB was 22-28, throwing for 236 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Stat of the game… 11:21: ECU won the battle of the clock 35:41 to WVU’s 24:19.

West Virginia is done and Pat White (11 for 18, 72 yards passing) might have lost the Heisman in this game, too. A Big East team that loses before they even reach conference play cannot and should not be brought up in national championship discussion.

What an incredible year so far for ECU. This was the first time since 2001 that an opponent held WVU without a touchdown. And to limit White to only 72 yards passing and 97 yards rushing was amazing. The Pirates should be ranked heading into next week, although their schedule is too weak for them to be a serious title contender. Still, ECU is the talk of the college football world right now.

The Irish won, but their performance was rather reminiscent of last year. San Diego State was a double-digit underdog and yet gained more total yards, turned the ball over less and flat out outplayed Notre Dame for three quarters. If it weren’t for a couple of costly mistakes in the third quarter, SDS embarrasses ND on their home turf and maybe Charlie Weis doesn’t make it out of the parking lot without his pink slip.

Look, I’m not a Notre Dame-hater. I just think it’s a little ridiculous that a football program still has their own national television contract and they put on performances like the one Saturday. The game was pathetic and it looks like the Irish are in for another long season.

It was over when… Tim Tebow’s 14-yard TD pass to Aaron Hernandez came on the Gators’ sixth play from scrimmage and only 2:26 into the game.
Gameball goes to… Tim Tebow, who threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 55 more yards.
Stat of the game… 1.6: Miami only averaged 1.6 yards per carry and had 61 rushing yards in the game.

Randy Shannon has Miami’s football program moving in the right direction but Saturday night’s game proves the Canes have a long way to get on Florida’s powerhouse level again. Unfortunately a game like this is a killer for Miami in the Florida recruiting war. They just don’t have any offensive firepower.