What happens then is that you get so tired of the constant prognostication and postulating that the start of the season is more of a relief than a rush of excitement. Finally! Enough with Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit filling time because ESPN has 12 channels. Let's get on with it already! If I were in charge, we'd not be allowed to start with the Christmas push until after Thanksgiving, and we'd not be allowed to start the college football blitz until August. But that's just me.
And so here we are, relieved that the season is finally here. Which is good, because it should be a great season. The potential exists for this to be the greatest college season ever. Which, by the way, is a statement that anyone could make any year - it's quite ambiguous and based on nothing more than sheer whimsy and speculation. But the substance is there this year. Tebow. Bradford. McCoy. The Florida defense. The fact that so many immensely talented players decided to stay in school makes the collection of talent this year, perhaps, greater than in decades.
The first week should reveal a good deal about who's a contender and a pretender. There are intriguing games all weekend - kicking off Thursday with a slightly under the radar Oregon team visiting the goofy blue turf of Boise State, and capped by the annual clash between Miami (FL) and Florida State. So enough talk already, I'm becoming guilty of what I just ranted about - lets get to the games!
1. Alabama vs. Virginia Tech
The biggest game of the week, at least if determined by rankings, is this one between the Crimson Tide and Hokies. Last year Alabama used this game as a springboard into the national discussion, when they whipped highly touted Clemson in Atlanta. This year the Tide don't have the luxury of playing underdog, and their opponent doesn't have quite the hype surrounding them. I'm going with Virginia Tech in this one, primarily because of the tall order it will be for Greg McElroy to make his first college start against a defense as strong as the Hokies. I expect McElroy to become a solid QB this season, but he needs a few cupcake games to ease into things, not a neutral site test against a top-10 defense. It might be just as tall an order for Tyrod Taylor to find a way to make a dent in the Alabama defense, but I expect a Beamerball touchdown - defense or special teams - and a Hokie win.
Virginia Tech 21, Alabama 7
2. Georgia at Oklahoma State
This game might be the one that tells us the most about what's to come this season. The Big 12 gets their chance to show that it's stronger than the SEC, and Oklahoma State gets their chance to prove they belong in the national championship race. Georgia is lurking in the middle of the top 25, primarily because of the tremendous losses in Stafford and Moreno. But under Mark Richt the Bulldogs have become a program that reloads rather than rebuilds, and this is a great opportunity to show that they, and to some degree the SEC as well, have simply reloaded and are looking at another dominant season. If you've read this the last 2 weeks, my pick is obvious. It will be close and entertaining, but Oklahoma State will pull it out. Georgia's defense was surprisingly porous last year, and the Cowboys trio of Robinson, Bryant, and Hunter will punch holes in the Bulldogs. And the equally porous Cowboy defense catches Georgia's offense at the right time, as they break in a new QB/RB combo. Home field advantage doesn't hurt either.
Oklahoma State 41, Georgia 34
3. Oregon at Boise State
This might be the biggest game ever played on the blue turf, and you know the fans in Boise will be rabid. The Broncos just don't lose at home, and they, and their fans, have had months to prepare and anticipate. If it were played in the middle of the season this game might have a different result. But I just can't see Oregon escaping the atmosphere, and the offense, they'll find in Boise on Thursday.
Boise State 41, Oregon 31
4. BYU vs. Oklahoma
Will the college punters be able to hit the monstrosity of a scoreboard in the Cowboys swanky new digs too? That might be the only reason left to watch by the middle of the second quarter. This is the fourth game pitting two top 20 teams this week, and this one is clearly the most one-sided.
Oklahoma 49, BYU 21
5. Miami (FL) at Florida State
The success of Miami's season may ride on this game. A win, and the Hurricanes have some momentum and moxie to head into their stretch against Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma. Suddenly a split in their first four, which would be better than they could hope, seems very possible and almost likely. A loss, and it seems impossible. So there's more than a bit of pressure on the shoulders of the youthful Hurricanes. Florida State is young too, but have more experience at the most important position on the field - quarterback. And they get to host the game at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Florida State 27, Miami (FL) 24
6. South Carolina at N.C. State
The first kickoff of the season once again. Last year the Gamecocks unloaded on N.C. State, winning 34-0 in Columbia. That was before N.C. State got their legs under them and made a run to a bowl game. This is a new year and a rapidly improving team under a proven coach. The Wolfpack get their revenge, and South Carolina starts another season destined for disappointment.
N.C. State 24, South Carolina 13
7. Missouri vs. Illinois
The dropoff at Missouri could be pretty severe. A look at their roster shows just how much they've lost, particularly on offense. No-names fill out skill positions, whereas last year they were loaded with Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, and Chase Coffman. Illinois, meanwhile, has something to prove after last year's dismal 5-7 campaign. This is a team way too talented to finish near that level again. A win here over an arch-rival would be big for the Illini, and a loss could be devastating.
Illinois 38, Missouri 24
8. Maryland at California
Last year California got ambushed in their trip to Maryland, sleepwalking through the noon start on the east coast to a bad loss. This year the tables turn, as this game starts at 10pm Eastern. Maryland has also lost a good deal of talent. Cal hasn't.
California 33, Maryland 13
9. Louisiana Tech at Auburn
Watch out Tigers! Louisiana Tech is better than you expect and won't be the first week pushover you thought you signed up for. Gene Chizik got a great reputation as a defensive coordinator, but is he a good head coach? His 5-19 record, albeit at Iowa State, is suspect. The Tigers look much the same as last year, a good defense balanced with what could be the worst offense in the SEC. This is my upset special of the first week.
Louisiana Tech 16, Auburn 14
10. Cincinnati at Rutgers
This could be a very important game in the Big East schedule when it all shakes out. Rutgers is a trendy pick to win the conference, and it must start here, against the defending champ. I think Cincinnati will be better than most expect behind experienced Tony Pike at QB and a good set of receivers. Defense is the big question mark though, as they replace nearly everyone. It's the opposite story at Rutgers, where the questions are on offense. Mike Teel and an excellent pair of receivers are gone. This is probably the most difficult game to pick of the week. I'm going with Cincy in a toss-up. Rutgers got off to a poor start last year, and Tony Pike is a very underrated QB who could light up the Scarlet Knights secondary.
Cincinnati 30, Rutgers 24
11. Colorado State at Colorado
Colorado State was one of the most improved teams in all of college football last year, and that should continue this year. Colorado might emerge as the most improved team this year though, with a strong running game and a coach who put himself on the line by setting the bar at 10 wins for his team this year. This is a rivalry game so you never know what might happen, but I'll stick with the Buffaloes.
Colorado 27, Colorado State 13
12. Baylor at Wake Forest
Two similar schools, two programs moving in different directions. Both these schools are bastions of academia, and Wake Forest has grabbed their share of athletic glory on the football field in the past few years. Baylor, to put it bluntly, has not. The Bears are taking some big strides forward though - Robert Griffin might be the most electrifying player in the Big 12 and they got a taste of success last year with 2 conference wins. Two conference wins a success? Yes, this is Baylor we're talking about. They should make a bowl this year with 18 starters back. Wake, on the other hand, looks like they could be ready to slide a bit. They've lost a lot defensively, and those losses could be too much for a program like Wake Forest to absorb and just keep winning. Perhaps the weirdest thing about this game is that 2 of the top 4 players selected in this past NFL draft were from these brainiac schools.
Baylor 23, Wake Forest 20
13. Nevada at Notre Dame
You probably think I'll pick against Notre Dame, right? Well, you'd be wrong. Don't typecast me! I think Nevada could put a scare into the Fighting Irish, especially since Nevada runs sort of a funky offense (lots of "pistol" formations) that can ring up points quickly, and Notre Dame will trot out an unproven and perhaps shaky defense. But the Nevada defense won't do more than just get in the way of the Irish offense, and that will spell doom for the Wolf Pack upset hopes.
Notre Dame 49, Nevada 35
14. Western Michigan at Michigan
Rich Rodriguez probably wishes he could reschedule the token MAC cupcake of the year the Wolverines always play. Western Michigan is the favorite in the MAC, and won't be intimidated by walking into the Big House. Not after Toledo won there less than 12 months ago. A third straight season opening home loss is probably about a 50/50 shot. If the Wolverines fall behind in the second half, the crowd could get pretty restless and silent. But, I'm going to pick Michigan here. Rich Rodriguez has a history of significant improvement from season one to season two, and I think Michigan will have just enough defense to slow down Tim Hiller and the Bronco offense.
Michigan 27, Western Michigan 24
15. Minnesota at Syracuse
I'm on the Syracuse bandwagon (or did I just start the Syracuse bandwagon?), but I don't think the Orange will win this one. Minnesota made a big leap last year and should have too much offense for Syracuse to stop. But Syracuse's day is coming, and it's coming soon.
Minnesota 38, Syracuse 20
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