The FootballScoop Upset of the Week is back. Each week, the three of us will give you the game we see as the best chance for an underdog to dump a bucket of ice cold water on their opponents' (and Vegas') heads. Last week, Scott was right with Cal over Northwestern, while Zach and Doug whiffed on Rice over Notre Dame and Utah State over Tennessee, respectively.
Zach: Western Kentucky over Illinois
I have no idea why Western Kentucky is a touchdown underdog here. The Hilltoppers were a better team than Illinois a year ago, and nothing appears to have changed through one week of 2014. Western Kentucky opened their season by committing assault with a deadly weapon against Bowling Green's defense as quarterback Brandon Doughty hit 46-of-56 passes for 569 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions, and Illinois started their season by falling behind Youngstown State 17-14 midway through the fourth quarter. The Illini didn't put the Penguins away until the game was nearly 58 minutes old. They won't have that opportunity on Saturday. Give me the 'Toppers. (I have no idea if people refer to WKU as the 'Toppers but, if not, I'd like to start that movement right now.)
Scott: Colorado State over Boise State
Colorado State found their running game (and their identity) in the second half of last week's win over Colorado in Denver. I expect Colorado State to pound the rock right at Boise State in what I think will be a good game. I like CSU to pull the upset and love them plus the 10.5.
Doug: Virginia Tech over Ohio State
As far as upset picks go, week two's pickings were pretty slim. That's why I decided to go big. As a Midwesterner and fan of Big Ten football in general, one top team that failed to impress me in week one was Ohio State. With Braxton Miller out with an injury, and Carolos Hyde and Ryan Shazier now playing in the NFL, they're just not the same team that they were a year ago. This will be an epic match up of two of college football's best coaches, and I feel like Beamer and his gang will have just enough offensive firepower, defensive prowess, and special teams efficiency to pull this one out.