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College Football Week 3: 5 teams on upset alert

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Gehrig Dieter (11) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the second half against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Gehrig Dieter (11) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the second half against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Week 3 of the college football season is officially upon us and here are the five teams on upset alert around the country.

The college football season seems to be just flying by right now. After waiting all offseason for football to come back, we are nearly a fourth of the way through the regular season and bowl season will be here before we know it.

Before that can take place, though, there will be dozens of upsets to predict and nearly as many that will actually come to fruition. The season is still very young, but the 2016 campaign is no stranger to shocking defeats of heavy favorites by underdogs.

The year opened with an overtime thriller in Knoxville as the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers nearly fell victim to one of the biggest upsets of all-time against Appalachian State. That set the tone for the season as Texas took down No. 10 Notre Dame at home in the opening week and Wisconsin defeated fifth-ranked LSU. Both Texas and Wisconsin jumped into the Top 25 the following week.

Upsets weren’t exactly brewing in Week 2, though. College football’s radar was quiet as there were very few notable games. My last installment of the upset alert wasn’t nearly as accurate as my first as I had picked North Carolina vs. Illinois, Syracuse vs. Louisville, Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech, Florida vs. Kentucky and was successful with my TCU vs. Arkansas choice.

Let’s see if my Week 3 selections are any better with plenty of must-see games on the viewing schedule between ranked foes.

The Miami Hurricanes have smothered opponents to the tune of 103-13 to start the season. While that may seem impressive, they really haven’t played anyone worth noting. Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic are in-state foes, but nothing more than warm-up games for the ACC regular season.

Next on the schedule is Appalachian State. You can’t possibly hear the name of that program and not think of the major upset the Mountaineers pulled off at the expense of Michigan back in 2007 when the Wolverines were ranked No. 5.

Heck, to start the 2016 season, Appalachian State nearly defeated No. 9 Tennessee, but this team is much stronger than it was nine years ago in Ann Arbor. The Mountaineers are coming off an 11-win season and have plenty of confidence after nearly escaping Knoxville with an upset victory.

March Richt is in his first year with the Hurricanes and he’s trying to avoid a loss like this which would set his team’s progress back a bit. Brad Kaaya might be one of the best quarterbacks in college football, but so is Joshua Dobbs and his Volunteers were nearly a victim of a massive upset.

Appalachian State at home against No. 25 just screams ‘upset alert.’

Next: 4. Stanford Cardinal

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