Article Data Imported from Previous NDL SiteThe UnTouchable Report (Weeks 1-2)
Article By: The UnTouchable Report
A rundown of the week's hottest games.
....................WEEK 1....................
#2 Virginia Tech Hokies 
#5 Wisconsin Badgers
0-0 (0-0 ACC) VTrunNgun
0-0 (0-0 B1G) dcane7
BACKGROUND Looking at Dcane's 11-3 record last season with the Badgers, it's easy to say he's coming off a successful year. The reality is the Badgers lost 3 of their last 5 games, including the Big 10 Championship and a shutout by the Longhorns in the Fiesta Bowl. The season that could have been went to VTrunNgun, who finally captured his first NDL title last season after two previous failed attempts. Both coaches head into the game with high expectations for their teams this season and will spend lots of time preparing for this game.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR The Hokies have lost a bunch of the key names that propelled them to such a memorable season last year. RB David Wilson and CB Jayron Hosley both left early for the draft and WRs Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin were both claimed by graduation. There are several young backs that can step up and fill the void left by Wilson but until someone establishes themselves early, look for junior QB Logan Thomas to hold onto the ball more often than not. The Badgers were also plagued by graduation, losing the tandem of QB Russell Wilson and WR Nick Toon. However RB Montee Ball spared Badger Nation complete grief by announcing he'd return for his senior season. Couple that with a plethora of young wide receivers led by junior Jared Abbrederis and Wisconsin is still a contender in the Big 10. The elephant in the room is who will replace Russell Wilson?
THE UNTOUCHABLE PREDICTION Dcane is a great coach and has a solid team no doubt, but with an unestablished QB, it'll be hard to find his rhythm against defending NDL Champ VT.
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20
#19 Arkansas Razorbacks 
#23 Boise State Broncos
0-0 (0-0 SEC) steelcitychaos
0-0 (0-0 MWC) outlaw
BACKGROUND Outlaw enters this season fresh off PAC-12 and Rose Bowl Championships with Arizona last season while Steelcitychoas is still reeling after his best ever NDL season (10-3) with Arkansas. On paper, this may seem like a lopsided affair but when you look at what Steelcitychoas was able to do last season with Arkansas (including knocking off Biffy at Alabama and Champdizzle at South Carolina), it could have Outlaw thinking twice about hosting this game.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR The Broncos are sorely going to miss Kellen Moore but you can bet the Boise State offensive staff have been grooming junior QB Joe Southwick to be every much the gunslinger Moore was and Jared Zabransky before him. The Broncos also lost top RB Doug Martin and top WR Tyler Shoemaker so it'll be interesting to see who steps up to fill the void. As for the Razorbacks, they return star QB Tyler Wilson as well as 2010 standout RB Knile Davis from injury. If Steelcitychoas should choose to start Davis this season, expect him to add some explosiveness to the run game that was somewhat lacking from this squad last year, especially now that star WRs Jarius Wright and Joe Adams have moved on to Sundays.
THE UNTOUCHABLE PREDICTION Steelcitychoas has the skills and the talent to pull off this road win, but the veteran Outlaw will prove to be too much with his carefully-chosen Broncos.
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31
OTHERS TO WATCH FOR:
#22
Stanford Cardinal 0-0 (0-0 PAC-12)
iRoccafella
#10
Oklahoma Sooners 0-0 (0-0 Big 12)
Block M
-- Oklahoma fell all the way to #16 in the draft to Block M and the lofty expectations the school imposes on its coaches may be because of it. There's a tough road ahead of them in the Big 12 which makes this season opener that much more important.
#13
Auburn Tigers 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
vicktim7
BYU Cougars 0-0
ICE
-- ICE is a solid veteran in his fourth season as BYU coach hosting last year's NDL Championship runner-up (albeit with a new playcaller). Vicktim's high ranking is due to that, but last year's winning season with Hawaii was his first in 7 seasons.
***UPSET ALERT***
#3
LSU Tigers 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
shel311
#17
Clemson Tigers 0-0 (0-0 ACC)
LytezOut
-- LytezOut and the Clemson Tigers were the only team to hand eventual Season 24 champion Virginia Tech a loss last season. Shel returns to prominence with his beloved LSU squad after a one-season hiatus from the team (see: Season 22). I'm not saying Shel has lost his touch but don't be too quick to count out the orange Tigers in this one.
....................WEEK 2....................
#3 LSU Tigers 
#16 Ohio State Buckeyes
0-0 (0-0 SEC) shel311
0-0 (0-0 B1G) buckeye76
BACKGROUND Before Season 22's abysmal 4-8 season, Shel had amassed a 52-2 record and 3 NDL titles in his previous 4 seasons with LSU. Flash forward two years and a Mid-American Conference Championship later, and Shel is drafting first and reclaiming his team (he should also thank AJ and Nole for their equally abysmal seasons with LSU). Our esteemed leader Buckeye has also returned to his beloved school after a 3-season stint at Baylor. We can just call this the Reunion Game.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR The Tigers have lost a plethora of players, including QBs Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, WR Reuben Randle, CB Mo Claiborne and S Brandon Taylor. Redshirt junior Michael Ford will likely get the start in the backfield for LSU while the Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu will continue to light up opposing offenses. On the flip side, look for QB Braxton Miller to emerge as the true leader of this team as he looks to rebuild the Buckeye brand after a few less-than-stellar seasons without Coach Buckeye. Dan Herron is gone from the backfield but the duo of Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde can add a dynamic to the offense we haven't seen since Beanie Wells.
THE UNTOUCHABLE PREDICTION This is going to be a tight game and will ultimately come down to who has the ball last. Tigers win on a walk-off field goal.
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24
Ole Miss Rebels 
#11 Michigan State Spartans
0-0 (0-0 SEC) UCWeiser
0-0 (0-0 B1G) Weasel
BACKGROUND This is UCWeiser's first coaching job outside of Cincinnati since Season 11. He largely went MIA last season and was booted from the school because of it. He takes over a team that hasn't seen a winning season in over 7 seasons. In his 14th season as Michigan State coach, Weasel began his career there the same season UCWeiser took over in Cincinnati. Weasel's built a winning program there the last several years and looks to capitalize on his Big 10 title win last season.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR Ole Miss is going to have a huge uphill battle to fight in the SEC with 8 other preseason-ranked opponents in the conference. As a QB battle ensues in Oxford, the only thing close to a sure thing they have is RB Jeff Scott who slowly but surely proved himself to be the starter. UCWeiser will need to rely heavily on a strong defense if he wants to stay in most games. Although, the Spartans don't necessarily have a walk in the park on their hands. Kirk Cousins is gone. BJ Cunningham is gone. Edwin Baker is gone. That right there was 75% of their offense last season. Le'Veon Bell is still a solid running back so look for him to pick up a lot of slack on offense.
THE UNTOUCHABLE PREDICTION UCWeiser is a great coach but I think ultimately his team will be too slow to keep up with the Spartans.
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21
OTHERS TO WATCH FOR:
#5
Wisconsin Badgers 0-0 (0-0 B1G)
dcane7
#24
Texas A&M Aggies 0-0 (0-0 SEC)
swellvermin
-- The Aggies have a new conference, a new (and relatively young in NDL years) coach, and host the Badgers in the latter's second straight game against ranked opponents. This is only Swelly's third NDL season and it'll be interesting to see how he fares in A&M's season opener against a solid veteran.
#22
Stanford Cardinal 0-0 (0-0 PAC-12)
iRoccafella
Southern Miss Golden Eagles 0-0 (0-0 C-USA)
sammy33
-- iRoccafella has his work cut out for him the first two weeks, including a showdown in Hattiesburg that could easily be this week's upset alert. Sammy saw only his second losing season in the NDL last season with USC (and his first since Season 8, his first season in the league). A lot of talent ended up in Conference USA this season and a win here for the Golden Eagles could be Sammy's way of differentiating himself from the crowd.
***UPSET ALERT***
#9
USC Trojans 0-0 (0-0 PAC-12)
rworkman83
Texas Tech Red Raiders 0-0 (0-0 Big 12)
UnTouchable8
-- You're damn straight I'm calling this. Do you think I would have scheduled the game if I didn't think I'd have at least a fraction of a chance? :D
-UnTouchable8
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