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College Football Preview Guide: Week Three

Michigan football tries to get on track, Miggy to Megatron is the ultimate combination, a Volcano Selfie, 'College Gameday' is headed north, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry have major beef and Drunk Dancing.

By Zooby Q.
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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Usually, when Ohio State AND Michigan State both lose on the same weekend, it's a great day for Michigan football.

However, that couldn't be farther from the truth.  It was an ugly Saturday for Michigan and an all-around awful day for the "Big" Ten Conference.

Things have gone from bad to worse in Ann Arbor.

Remember when Michigan used to win Big Ten Championships, be in the National Championship discussion and actually win big games on the road?

If it seems like it's been a long time since that happened, you're right.  Rich Rodriquez came and went in a brutal three year stretch, and if Brady Hoke's track record is anything, things are not looking much better for Meeeeeeeechigan.

Hoke is a heck of a recruiter and by all accounts, and all-around good guy.  That's fine and dandy if you're talking about an assistance at a mid-tier level college.  At Michigan, that's not good enough.  Not close.

If I sound a little angry, I am.  Maybe not a level of anger like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, but that's another story.

This isn't someone being irrational.  I expect big things from Michigan, and so should any Wolverine fan.

While the recruiting classes at Michigan have been stellar for Hoke, the proof is in the pudding.  Either they're not developing talent properly, and if so, that's falls on the coaches.  Or, Michigan is not targeting the right players and falling in love with rating systems when it comes to recruiting.  Whatever the case may be, no one would argue that the Michigan roster is void of talent.

There are some future NFL caliber guys on the Team 135 roster but, as a whole, they unit still appears to have no identity.  After an embarrassing loss at Notre Dame and another L on the road, the Wolverines are in a delicate position.

A season full of promise and high hopes looks like it could have a downward spiral.  The Wolverines might be 7, 8 or 9 games, appear in a New Year's Day bowl game and look as though they are better.  Beyond winning at Michigan State AND Ohio State, Hoke's job, from the outside, looks to be in serious jeopardy.  However, as long as Dave Brandon is in charge of the Michigan Athletic program, Hoke's job in safer than it should be.

Michigan needs to be better.  The Big Ten needs it.  The fans should be shouting for it.  No more mediocre seasons.  Enough is enough.  The money is there, there is an unlimited amount of resources and a loyal fan base that packs the Big House year in and year out.

All Michigan can do for now is take things one game at a time and try to rack up some W's.

On to the next one:

MIAMI (OHIO) AT MICHIGAN - 3:30 P.M. EST. - BIG TEN NETWORK

Michigan will look to get back to some sense of normalcy this weekend by returning back to The Big House.

Miami of Ohio isn't exactly the toughest competition in the world, but for Michigan, the opponent's these days are not the issue.  Michigan needs to look from within to play up to it's potential and work toward achieving some legitimate success.

Michigan has quite the weapon in Devin Funchess.  Rumor has it that he was seen wearing a walking boot around Ann Arbor this week, and that could spell big trouble for the Wolverines.  Funchess is the best target for QB Devin Gardner and if the two are on the same page, they are quite the duo.

Maybe not as good as this other duo in Michigan, but that's another story.

Gardner's performance at Notre Dame last weekend was bad, to say the least.  He tried to force things and couldn't make the correct reads on the defense.

As bad as it was, it could've been worse.  Take a look at this during the first Sunday of NFL action:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2014

There a few things to look forward to this Saturday beyond the slate of college football games.

'College Gameday' is headed up to Fargo for the second consecutive year.  If it's anything close to last year, it'll be must-see television.

Also, Maryland will be wearing some patriotic uniforms.

#6 GEORGIA @ #24 SOUTH CAROLINA - 3:30 P.M. EST. - CBS

Georgia is a hot team when it comes to the College Football Playoff.

A lot of "experts" have them in final four, as either the top 1-loss team in the SEC or the SEC Champion.  Whatever the case may be, they'll earn their spot there if they keep winning.

They already beat Clemson in week one and now face another tough test against South Carolina.

Steve Spurrier's crew got embarrassed during the first week of the season and they'll be out to prove they're not a joke in 2014.  Georgia had better be careful and be ready for a hostile environment.

KENTUCKY @ FLORIDA - 7:30 P.M. EST. - SEC NETWORK

So far, so good for Florida's new offense.  The Gators destroyed Eastern Michigan last week, 65-0.

This will be their first SEC game of the season and while the Wildcats are more of a basketball school, to say the least, they're still a competitive bunch.

Florida missed out on an easy win during week one, being rained out against Idaho.  The Gators are finally healthy after an injury-filled 2013 season and they'll need every win they can get to save their coaches job.

TENNESSEE @ #4 OKLAHOMA - 8:00 P.M. EST. - ABC

What a difference a week makes.

From a wild time last weekend to now, they premier games are quite different.  Oklahoma is a prohibitive favorite to make the College Football Playoff and this will be an important game for their resume.

Tennessee is rebuilding and trying to get back to it's winning ways like it did with Peyton Manning on campus.  The Volunteers aren't there yet but they are playing a tougher brand of football and will look to crash the dreams of Bob Stoops and company.

#12 UCLA vs. TEXAS - 8:00 P.M. EST. - FOX

One of the only teams who can feel Michigan's pain is Texas.

A former powerhouse just lost to BYU and is now facing another rough season.  The Longhorns know that their program has buckets of money and should be competing for conference championship, at the least, every season.

UCLA hasn't been impressive thus far in 2014 but they're a favorite to win the PAC-12 conference.  If the Bruins want to get back into the National Championship discussion, they'll need to play a more impressive level of football.

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Game Three: Michigan vs. Miami (OH) 9/13/14

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