College Football: A New York City bar guide for September 11, 2010 (Week 2)
Week 2 in 2010 is fairly loaded; there are at least five or six compelling games, including one game -- Michigan at Notre Dame -- that doesn't even involve a team in the top 25. We pinpointed five important games, a little about each, and where to watch them in the Big Apple.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (Noon, ESPN)
The central reason this is compelling is because both teams looked pretty good in Week 1. Thing is, neither team played an SEC school. Georgia will not like A.J. Green's absence; after this, they get a high-scoring Arkansas team that you must rack up points against. Ugh. South Carolina could be good, but once they get into the meat of their schedule, it's going to be an uphill battle, likely. This one could stay close; Gamecocks at home is likely an edge. If you want to be with Georgia people, go to Village Pourhouse. If you're into the other USC, Van Diemen's and The Gin Mill, which is ironically also a Florida bar.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3:30 pm, NBC)
This is important because (a) it's a big rivalry and (b) each team looked pretty good opening weekend, which ups the ante. (C) would be "This game mandates that either Rich Rod or Brian Kelly opens the year 1-1." For these programs, 1-1 is "OHGODTHEWORLDISENDING." It's an interesting matchup in that Denard Robinson is perfectly designed to run circles around ND's defense -- and Dayne Crist is perfectly designed to carve apart Michigan's secondary. Could be a barn-burner. Michigan fan, or want to be one for the day? Professor Thom's is a good bet, as is Blondie's West; you can go almost anywhere and talk ND football with heads, but Public House is a primary option. We hit up Dempsey's last week and it was also pretty strong -- and none too crowded.
Florida State Seminoles vs. Oklahoma Sooners (3:30 pm, ABC)
Oklahoma looked like crap in Week 1 vs. inferior competition; FSU looked great against a crap team (that's the point). Christian Ponder can put himself on Heisman short lists with a win here; Bob Stoops can put himself on the overrated stool with a loss (he had a bad year last year). FSU central is Rogue, and, because they're an ACC school, the BroJo's in Murray Hill; we've still yet to go here (sad, because we like the Sooners), but apparently Overlook is a great place to watch 'em.
Miami Hurricanes vs. OSU Buckeyes (3:30 pm, ESPN)
Ideally, this game will be as dramatic as the 2002 national title game. The key issues are: can Jacory Harris hold up against a really good defense -- and/or will Terrelle Pryor fall back to Earth from his last couple of games dating back to last season? You can likely get this game anywhere; while the 3:30 hour has a couple of doozies, this is likely going to be most people's focus. It's two huge programs who, the last time they met, played an epic national title game. Miami fans, you can get at it at that BroJo's in Murray Hill; an underrated place to watch the Bucks is Manny's on Second uptown, although spots like Blondie's West will always do you right -- if Michigan is losing and OSU is winning around 7pm in that bar, WHOA! Look out.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (7pm, ESPN)
Penn State has almost no realistic chance in this game, but if they were to win, WHOA! It'd be a nice upset and prove JoePa has the magic going (forever and ever). They're almost utterly outmanned and playing a frosh QB, though. Go to Tonic East or Sidebar for the full PSU experience; The Ainsworth is a good spot for Bama. There aren't many elite 7pm games this week, so you should be able to get this at any spot.
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