Missouri @ Toledo
Arkansas State @ Tennessee
Akron @ Penn State
Eastern Washington @ Washington
Ball State @ Iowa
Middle Tennessee @ Minnesota
Richmond @ Virginia
Wagner @ Florida International
Gardner-Webb @ Wake Forest
Towson @ West Virginia
....Which do you think have the potential to be upsets? Toledo is always very tough at home. I wanted to have this game in the Pick'em, but I felt there was too much "MACtion" and that nobody would pick Toledo. Tennessee last night, as I see it, was a fluke. They still had the characteristic miscues on offense that plagued them last year. The defense will keep Arkansas State in check, but I think this will be a much closer win for the Vols than it was last night. Utah State's running game is just completely hapless.
Akron I think could hang in with Penn State. Wouldn't surprise me to see the Nittany Lions have a bit of a hangover after their great win in Ireland, but Hackenberg is too good and should pick them apart in the second half. Vernon Adams will be the best QB on the field in the EWU/UW game. I don't know if Cyler Miles has been reinstated, but I think this game will go down the wire for a close Washington win. I'm picking Ball State over Iowa for no reason, just a hunch. It seems like a very Kirk Ferentz kind of thing to do. BSU will need to get lucky, but they can win a low-scoring game if Iowa's offense sputters. Middle Tennessee has a shot against the Gophers since Minnesota is so one-dimensional and not high scoring. A couple of breaks can keep the Blue Raiders in it, but the jury is still out on their offense since they weren't tested against pathetic Savannah State.
Historically, I think Richmond would give Virginia a good match, but I think Virginia will win this one easily. Some of the Colonial teams just were complete duds last week and this might not be any different. If Johns can be an efficient passer and UVA's defense rocks from the get go, they win this. I included Wagner and FIU just because I have no idea how bad it can get for Florida International. I could see them getting pushed by a Northeast Conference private school that doesn't even really have a good football team. Wagner actually played Florida Atlantic two years ago and lost 7-3, but they were much worse in 2013 than in 2012. If FIU is so bad that they can't score, it will be a close game by default.
Gardner-Webb and Wake probably won't be close, but Wake is playing a true freshman and their offense looked pitiful in a loss to UL Monroe in Louisiana. Maybe a home game and a lesser opponent will make it easy. Gardner-Webb has been pretty terrible on offense since the beginning of the last season though. Towson still has a very talented team and they've been through the fire against FBS schools before. I think they could push West Virginia and, after a tough and physical loss to Alabama, this could blindside the Mountaineers if they don't take them carefully. I wasn't expecting much from West Virginia in the preseason and I was inclined to take Towson, but they look like they might have fixed some things this offseason and the defense played with a lot of intensity against the Crimson Tide. If that team shows up instead of the one that finished 2013, they should handle Towson even though it will be a challenge.
EDIT: Wow, Towson lost to Central Connecticut State. I thought the Tigers were supposed to be good this year?
Disregard what I said about Towson and West Virginia 
huge upset.
