:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/19115775/20120922_jla_sc5_163.0.jpg)
With college football back in full flow and the Jets about to get their 2013 campaign off and running tomorrow, I really am in my element. Here at GGN we are going to keep you up to date with that happenings in college football. If you didn't see GGM's new weekly college stock report feature, then check it out HERE. This weekly feature is more general, looking at some stories but more importantly the best match-ups of the weekend.
Games You Just Gotta Watch
Notre Dame @ Michigan
If you've been here at GGN for more than 10 minutes, you probably know that I'm a Notre Dame fan, but putting them here is from being bias, this is an outstanding match-up between two top 20 teams that look to be equally matched. This will be Notre Dame's final trip to Ann Arbor for the foreseeable future, as these traditional rivals failed to agree to a schedule after 2014. Both teams started their season with a win last week, Michigan coming away 59-9 winners against Central Michigan, and Notre Dame recording a 28-6 win against Temple.
Michigan are breaking in three new interior lineman this season in Jack Miller, Graham Glasgow and Kyle Kallis and the front of Notre Dame will be a much tougher test than Central Michigan. QB Devin Gardner will also face a tougher test, and is coming off a two interception game.
However Michigan do have one of the finest tackles in the country in Taylor Lewan. He'll be a top 5 selection in 2014 and his job will be to keep his QB clean against a defense who looks to rack up the pressure. This will be a massive test for a young Wolverine offensive line as they will be facing two likely first round selections in 2014 in Louis Nix the 360lb NT, and Stephon Tuit an athletic defensive lineman who already looks in fine form.
Plenty of players to watch, but keep an eye on Lewan for Michigan and Tuit for Notre Dame.
South Carolina @ Georgia
This is the best match-up of the weekend for my money, as the 6th ranked Gamecocks visit the 11th ranked bulldogs. You have Jadeveon Clowney who's off to a slow start following conditioning questions, but who's unblockable when he gets going. Teams will be falling over each other to select him in the 2014 NFL draft. You have Aaron Murray, a Quarterback who got off to a terrible start last week, but who possesses a lot of talent, regardless of his week one effort, he's still one of my favorite QB's.
Georgia are coming off a 38-35 loss to Clemson last week, and will want to avoid going 0-2 and losing to the Gamecocks for the third consecutive season. The Gamecocks battled through to a 27-10 win against North Carolina last week, but as GGM mentioned in his stock report, Clowney as well as a lot of other defensive players for South Carolina looked gassed trying to keep up with the up-tempo North Caroline offence.
Georgia will be without receiver Malcolm Mitchell as he is done for the season after tearing his ACL in the week one loss. It's a shame to see him go down as with the Jets needing help at the receiver position, he was a guy I was looking at closely this year. Georgia running back Todd Gurley rushed for 154 yards and 2 scores against Clemson, so keep an eye on him against an active front 7 for South Carolina.
Obviously you want to watch Clowney, and if you think the Jets may need to take a QB next year, Murray is a guy worth watching. Connor Shaw the South Carolina QB will likely be a late round pick. I would also keep my eye on Victor Hampton the South Carolina cornerback and return man.
Enjoy your college football today, and pop any questions, comments or observations from today's game in the comments below.