Bold Predictions for Week 2 - 2024 College Football

Week 1 of college football was a blast. We started with a Florida State loss overseas and ended with a Florida State loss at home. The Seminoles’ 0-2 start is the most shocking development so far, but we are in for a long, fun season of surprises.

Week 2 has several intriguing non-conference matchups and I can assure you that Florida State is just the beginning of the craziness.

Three bold predictions for the upcoming slate include everybody’s favorite (or least favorite) team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and Dabo Swinney’s 0-1 Clemson squad.

Colorado Stuns Nebraska On The Road

The former Big 12 rivalry was renewed last year, as the Colorado Buffaloes rode to a 36-14 win over the Cornhuskers at home behind a 393-yard performance from Shedeur Sanders.

This year, expectations are a bit different. The big game will be played under the lights in Memorial Stadium and is one of the most anticipated Nebraska home games in years. The Power Four team with the longest bowl-game-appearance drought has many reasons to be optimistic, starting with quarterback Dylan Raiola.

The five-star freshman did not look like a freshman in his NCAA debut last weekend against UTEP, as he went 19-of-27 for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Under Raiola, Nebraska is favored at home against a Buffaloes team that faced apparent struggles in the trenches last weekend.

Travis Hunter is RIDICULOUS pic.twitter.com/pkJArTctor

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 30, 2024

Nebraska is more physical and has a home-field advantage. But how many big games have the Cornhuskers won in recent years? Give me Shedeur and Travis to dazzle in prime time and upset Nebraska for the second straight year.

Iowa State Shut Out By Hawkeyes

One of college football’s most underrated rivalries takes place this week as the Iowa State Cyclones travel to Iowa City to play the Hawkeyes. Aside from Cooper DeJean, the Hawkeyes defense did not suffer any significant losses from a season ago.

Iowa State, meanwhile, struggled to put points up against an FCS opponent in North Dakota last week. Sophomore Rocco Becht impressed as a freshman, but this Hawkeye defense is a contender for the best in America.

This should be one of the toughest matchups on Iowa’s schedule. The Hawkeyes are only favored by 2.5 points in the rivalry game. I think in Kirk Ferentz’s first game back behind a rowdy crowd at Kinnick, the Hawkeyes do not surrender a single point to Iowa State.

Florida State Isn't The Only High-Caliber ACC Program With 0-2 Start

Florida State’s 0-2 start has shocked the college football world, but my final bold prediction is that another ACC team will join them with a 0-2 mark.

Clemson could not move the football in Week 1 and while it was playing against one of the nation’s best in Georgia, there is a major reason for concern with Dabo Swinney’s squad. On paper, Week 2 is a bounce-back game for the Tigers. They are 17-point favorites against Appalachian State in their home opener.

App State is not a team to be taken lightly. Senior quarterback Joey Aguilar has experience, as he threw for 3,546 yards and 33 touchdowns a year ago. Aguilar took Drake Maye’s North Carolina team to double overtime a season ago, and the Mountaineers upset sixth-ranked Texas A&M in 2022. 

Week 1 Performance

QB Joey Aguilar - Appalachian State

• 326 Passing yards 2 TDs
• 19 Rushing yards 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/2N3d3pA0yb

— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) August 31, 2024

This game is getting overlooked with so many other intriguing games on the night slate, but it should not be ignored. I think the Mountaineers will go into Death Valley and knock off the Tigers, pitting them at the bottom of the college football world with Florida State.

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