Three games to watch

The second week of college football had excellent matches (LSU-Texas), imbalances (BYU-Tennessee) and near-misses such as (Army-Michigan). All the while, my picks stood up and went 3-0 straight and 3-0 against the gap. Hopefully, I will be able to continue to play in the biggest clashes of the third week.

Record after the second week: Straight up: (5-1). Against propagation: (5-1).

No. 19 Iowa (2-0) at Iowa State (1-0) (4 pm EST on FS1)

I always look forward to this rivalry within the state. The last two games of the series were decided by a combined total of 13 points. ESPN's Gameday College will be on site and the Hawkeyes will land at Ames after winning four consecutive games against the Cyclones.

While Miami (Ohio) and Rutgers are not the two most difficult teams to open a season, Iowa do business and win by a combined score of 68-14. The Iowa defense gave Rutgers an absolutely incompetent air. Granted, Rutgers can do a pretty decent job in itself, but Iowa still dominates the defensive side of the ball.

Hawkeyes quarterback Nate Stanley was effective and cautious with the ball. He totaled nearly 500 yards and six touchdowns without any interception and completed nearly 64% of his passes. Meanwhile, Mekhi Sargent and Toren Young have an average of over 5 meters per race. I do not think it will continue in this game because it is on the road and Iowa State has a superior defense, but the ground game will definitely be a strength and an asset for Iowa .

The state of Iowa, which was ranked at the start of the season, had to regroup to score a goal on the field at the last minute, so that its game of the season against Northern Iowa in overtime is extended. Once the hurricanes arrived, it took another three hours to repel the Panthers. Iowa State was on leave last week. The Cyclones had a week off to get ready and prepare to face their rivals.

Quarterback Brock Purdy is a player and a mill. He has the clutch gene and all the intangibles you want from a guy who runs the band. He completed over 73% of his passes and had two touchdowns without any interception. The offense gained a lot of yards against the Panthers, but only managed 13 points in regulation. This is not going to be done against Iowa.

The X factor in this game will be the battle between the offensive and defensive lines of both teams. Iowa has the ability to impose its will on both sides of the ball and dictate tempo to the attack, while frustrating and putting pressure on Purdy and the Cyclones in defense. Purdy has the ability to beat Iowa with his arm, but it will be difficult if his offensive line does not give him time to throw against the Hawkeyes pass. Iowa are well balanced in attack, so wait for the Hawkeyes to start the race early, then let Stanley air it with an action game.

The propagation: Iowa (-2.5)

My choice: I think the Cyclones will scare the Hawkeyes, but I take advantage of Iowa to win on the road and cover the gap.

# 1 Clemson (2-0) at Syracuse (1-1) (7:30 pm EST on ABC)

Syracuse went to unlisted Maryland last week in 21st place in the country and left College Park tail between the legs. The Terps triggered a complete and total defeat on the Orange. The final score was 63-20.

The Maryland ran more than 350 yards and averaged nearly eight yards per race. These statistics would seem to indicate that more and more bad news is coming for the Syracuse fans, because the Orange must now face one of the best offensive lines in the country and the biggest trap threat in the country, to Travis Etienne.

After a slow start against the top-15 Texas A & M, Clemson woke up and started playing dominant football in the second quarter and imposed his will in the second half, en route to a 24 victory. -10 at home. Syracuse nearly thwarted Clemson on the road last year, but both teams have clearly been in very different places since last year's game.

Quarterback Tommy DeVito scored for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns, but the pressure was released as the Orange quickly broke down and was never really competitive.

Etienne played a monster match against Georgia Tech in the first game of the season with more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in just 12 races, but Texas A & M managed to contain it well last week. According to what I saw of Syracuse last week, Etienne is ready for another monster game. And although Trevor Lawrence's numbers last week will not disappoint you, he managed to drop the clutches under the pressure of a very good defense and led the Tigers to a tough victory.

The propagation: Clemson (-27.5)

My choice: Vegas teases us with such a high line, but Clemson has one of the best offensive and defensive lines in the country, plus a quarterback and running game that can beat you alone. Syracuse may be playing at home, but nothing in this shameful demonstration against Maryland gives me a reason to think that this match will not become so ugly. I take Clemson to win and cover.

Oklahoma No. 5 (2-0) at UCLA (0-2) (8:00 pm EST on FOX)

Let's start with the UCLA Bruins. After losing on the road during their opening match against Cincinnati, they lost last week to the state of San Diego, a team that they had never lost in 100 years of existence. They are now 0-2 for the second time in as many years, making it the first time UCLA has made consecutive 0-2 starts since The Second World War.

This offense and this vaunted innovation that Chip Kelly was supposed to bring to the Rose Bowl? I hope you do not hold your breath. As Edward Aschoff of ESPN it is noted, the Bruins scored just 28 points and rank 127th overall with 239.5 total offensive yards per game. The Bruins also have an average of only 3.7 yards per game, which places the 128th nation on a national scale.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma is averaging close to 60 points per game, an almost unfathomable pace. Head Coach Lincoln Riley turned transfers Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray into Heisman Trophy winners. Jalen Hurts could be next after his transfer from Alabama. He completed almost 83% of his passes and scored six touchdowns and nearly 600 yards. He also has 223 yards and three touchdowns. Oh, and he has not started interception this season yet.

Although this number is not sustainable, Oklahoma averages nearly nine yards per race. The Sooners running is one of the best in the country. I expect Trey Sermon to have an excellent game, but I also think Jalen Hurts could combine five more goals and six touchdowns. The X factor in this game will be Hurts against the UCLA linebackers. Can they contain wounds and force it to be one-dimensional? If Hurts manages to break free for big winnings, it will be a long night for the Bruins.

The propagation: Oklahoma (-23.5)

The choice: The Bruins look awful so far this season and they are ready to do it again tonight. Oklahoma's offensive is as explosive as the whole country, and I hope the Sooners will have a great night in attack and defense. I'm taking Oklahoma to win and cover.

Noah Niederhoffer (@Niederhoffer) is a producer at SiriusXM and a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Originally from Atlanta, he now lives in Washington, D.C.