Griffin Barfield – Staff Writer (5-5)
Tennessee @ Florida – Tennessee hasn’t really impressed me compared to last season. Yes, a new quarterback and new players are still getting situated, but I expect the Gators to complete it somewhat close in the first. The Vols pull away in the second half in Gainesville.
Tennessee 38, Florida 21
Pittsburgh @ West Virginia – The Backyard Brawl always provides fireworks. I’m not really high on the Panthers this weekend, and I love Garrett Greene in this matchup for the Mountaineers. Especially at home, I like West Virginia to win this one in a fun one.
Pittsburgh 24, West Virginia 28
Minnesota @ North Carolina – I think the Tar Heels had the better games going into this game, which prepares them better in this matchup compared to how Minnesota started, with games against Eastern Michigan and Nebraska. I still expect this game to be on the closer side, but Drake Maye and co. are 3-0 after this Saturday.
Minnesota 21, North Carolina 31
South Carolina @ Georgia – Remember when North Carolina destroyed the Gamecocks on the defensive line in Week 1? Put that against one of the best defensive lines in football and Spencer Rattler will be running for his life. Georgia wins, and it’s not particularly close.
South Carolina 13, Georgia 42
Florida Atlantic @ Clemson – This is the final game for the Tigers to prove its worth before the Seminoles. The Owls are experienced, but the Clemson offense finally gets going after a great second half this weekend. Dabo and his team prove their worth and the Tigers win it big on Parents Weekend.
FAU 13, Clemson 48
Drew Watts – Senior Staff Writer (6-4)
Tennessee @ Florida – I haven’t seen enough from Tennessee to feel like they deserve the hype that they got in the offseason. However, Florida isn’t a very good team either. I know that Tennessee hasn’t won in the swamp in a very long time but I think that changes this year.
Tennessee 34, Florida 17
Pittsburgh @ West Virginia – The Backyard Brawl is a welcomed rivalry in todays college football. Pitt is going to run the ball all day and come away with a very close win.
Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 23
Minnesota @ North Carolina – We know for sure now that Tez Walker will not play at all this year for UNC (great job NCAA). This is a long road trip for Minnesota, and I am fully on the Drake Maye bandwagon. Give me the Tar Heels by 20+.
Minnesota 20, North Carolina 45
South Carolina @ Georgia – South Carolina has one of the worst offensive lines I have seen in recent years. Georgia should have an absolute field day rushing the passer in this game with the struggles at OL and lack of a run game for the Gamecocks. I’m not sold on Georgia being a great offense and for that reason, I think South Carolina covers…
South Carolina 20, Georgia 42
Florida Atlantic @ Clemson – One final tune-up game. I’m definitely picking Clemson to win this game, but the most important thing that I need to see is a clean and complete game for the Tigers. The offense needs to come out firing, and finally have a game without the dumb, and killer mistakes. I think we see that this weekend, and it gives the team and the fanbase some much-needed confidence going into next weekend against FSU.
FAU 10, Clemson 52
Clifton Canady – Associate Sports Director (7-3)
Tennessee @ Florida – While Tennessee hasn’t quite lived up to the hype from last season, I still believe they have what it takes to take down Florida on their home turf. Sure, the Gators might keep it close in the first half, but Tennessee’s talent will shine through in the second half. It’s been way too long since the Vols have come out victorious in the swamp, but with a newfound sense of energy and urgency, I think they have a real shot at shutting down Florida’s offense and walking away with the win.
Tennessee 28, Florida 14
Pittsburgh @ West Virginia – The Backyard Brawl. It’s a rivalry that’s guaranteed to stir up excitement and drama, leaving both fans and players on the edge of their seats. While some may argue that the Panthers have the upper hand, I’m not convinced. I have a feeling that West Virginia is going to bring their A-game this weekend, especially playing on their home turf. I predict a close game, with the Mountaineers coming out on top in the end.
Pittsburgh 20, West Virginia 24
Minnesota @ North Carolina – Buckle up folks, it’s going to be a wild ride as Minnesota and North Carolina meet in a football showdown. While Minnesota may have had an easier road leading up to this game, North Carolina has been battle-tested and is ready to make a statement on the field. The pride of South Carolina and Georgia will be on full display as each team fights to represent their state with every pass, tackle, and touchdown. So take a seat, grab some popcorn, and gear up for a high-energy game that’ll have you on the edge of your seat.
Minnesota 20, North Carolina 31
South Carolina @ Georgia – Both teams have shown their strengths and weaknesses leading up to this game. South Carolina has definitely been struggling. Georgia, on the other hand, looks strong on both sides of the ball and has one of the best defensive lines in football. This spells trouble for South Carolina’s quarterback, who will be running for his life with the pressure coming from every direction. It’s no secret that this will be a challenging game for South Carolina, while Georgia is expected to dominate and come out with a decisive win.
South Carolina 10, Georgia 56
Florida Atlantic @ Clemson – The Tigers are looking for a clean and complete game, something they have struggled to achieve so far this season. It’s time for the offense to step up their game and avoid the kind of costly mistakes that have plagued them in the past. As the Tigers take on Florida Atlantic, all eyes will be on the field, watching for the kind of stellar performance that can give the team and the fans the confidence they need heading into the weekend’s matchup against FSU.
FAU 7, Clemson 65
Casey Cregan – Staff Writer (7-3)
Tennessee @ Florida – Why is Tennessee on upset alert? I just don’t see it. Florida looked better last week against…checks notes…McNeese State. Statue Graham Mertz is still quarterback for Florida, and Tennessee still has an extremely stingy defense. I don’t think this game is close, and not sure why anyone else does.
Tennessee 51, Florida 17
Pittsburgh @ West Virginia – If I’m being honest, the only game I’ve watched of either of these teams is three minutes of Pitt vs. Wofford, and that was by accident. The Backyard Brawl is a fun game, and it may bring about some craziness, which will be fun. I really liked Phil Jurkovec at BC, therefore I’m going with the team that lost to Cincinatti last week over the team that beat Duquesne.
Pitt 31, West Virginia 28
Minnesota @ North Carolina – What face is PJ Fleck going to put on while taking his Golden Gophers into Tobacco Road. His football team is 2-0 to start the season and so is UNC, which needed overtime versus App State last week to win. As long as Drake Maye is leading the offense and Omarion Hampton runs like he did a week ago, UNC will run away and hide in this one.
Minnesota 23, UNC 41
South Carolina @ Georgia – The battle of 2-0 teams in Athens. Spencer Rattler is getting a lot of love for his performances through the first week, but that offensive line is still there and they’re still running a backup QB at running back. Georgia is just too good for our feathered friends in the midlands. And Brock Bowers is still at Georgia as far as I know.
South Carolina 17, Georgia 54
Florida Atlantic @ Clemson – I expect a clean game offensively and I don’t think this Florida Atlantic team, even with Nebraska and Texas grad transfer Casey Thompson leading the offense will have much for the stellar Clemson defense. Clemson offense, whether fans think so or not, are really starting to click. If they can eliminate the mistakes, and I think they will, this game will be a runaway early.
Florida Atlantic 10, Clemson 48
Garrett Mitchell- Staff Writer (7-3)
Tennessee @ Florida– So there are some folks out there who really think Tennessee is going to lose to Florida? The same Florida team who lost to Utah while only scoring 11 points? Utah isn’t an SEC Powerhouse, hoss. This one gets ugly by halftime and the Gators get swamped again.
Tennessee 45, Florida 13
Pittsburgh @ West Virginia– The Backyard Brawl is always one of the more fun games of the college football season. Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati last week, but the Panthers can put points on the board. West Virginia has not been the best version of themselves for a while, and I think you will hear a few Panther roars in this one. It’s not going to be almost Heaven for the Mountaineers.
Pittsburgh 35, West Virginia 24
Minnesota @ North Carolina– This is a battle of unbeatens. That doesn’t mean it is a battle of evens. P.J. Fleck and the Golden Gophers will try to slow the game down and grind it out. Drake Maye and the Tar Heels don’t speak that same language. This one “Maye” get out of hand by the second half.
Minnesota 17, North Carolina 38
South Carolina @ Georgia– I hear Uga is going to skip breakfast before this one. He might be hungry. Woof woof.
South Carolina 10, Georgia 45
Florida Atlantic @ Clemson– Clemson flipped a switch last week after halftime and looked like the dominant Tigers of old. Quarterback Cade Klubnik came to life, and receivers got loose in space, and the running game churned out the yards. Oh, and the defense held Charleston Southern to 73 total yards. Clemson has some confidence now, so look out. This one is a tune-up for those other guys from Tallahassee.
Florida Atlantic 13, Clemson 52
Anthony Weeks – Sports Director (6-4)
Tennessee @ Florida – It’s an interesting statistic: Iowa and Clemson have recorded more explosive pass plays than Tennessee so far this year. However, I also don’t find Florida’s offense particularly impressive. As a result, I anticipate that this game will be a closely contested one. In the end, my prediction is that Tennessee will narrowly emerge victorious in the Swamp.
Tennessee 31, Florida 28
Pittsburgh @ West Virginia – This matchup is famously known as the “The Backyard Brawl,” and it lives up to its name every time – an intense battle. In this instance, the outcome is quite uncertain, making it challenging to predict. Nevertheless, I’m going with Pittsburgh for the win.
Pittsburgh 28, West Virginia 21
Minnesota @ North Carolina – PJ Fleck vs. Mack Brown – My pick is Mack Brown and Drake Maye to put up big points and hand Minnesota a loss.
Minnesota 17, North Carolina 41
South Carolina @ Georgia – Haha, you believe I’d choose Carolina to win against Georgia? You must be joking! Bulldogs by fifty, no doubt.
South Carolina 10, Georgia 48
Florida Atlantic @ Clemson -Can Clemson manage to play a game without any turnovers? If they do, will the fanbase be confident heading into the Florida State game next week? I believe Cade Klubnik will deliver his best performance of the season on Saturday night.
FAU 7, Clemson 42
