College football - Week One

ESPN.com Scoreboard ^ | For the week of August 28th to September 4th

[MikefromOhio]

It's finally here!!! College football at it's best!!

The scheduled games (and my picks) are below:

Week One – College Football

Yes the season is finally here. It’s about freakin time too. Anyway, I am in several pick’em type leagues and here is how I am going to be filling my card out. Debate, criticize or whatever, but let’s remember that it’s just a game ok?

All rankings are from the ESPN.com Scoreboard page. I will also list any games of interest and any other games listed in my Public Yahoo league.

GAME(s) of the WEEK

Saturday, September 2nd, 2006

(9) California at (23) Tennessee (-1.5)

Cal faces a pretty stiff challenge going into Knoxville against a Tennessee team that everyone is expecting to rebound after a sub-par year. This is going to be a hard game to win right out of the chute and I don’t think they can do it.

Tennessee 24 – Cal 17

Monday, September 4th, 2006

(11) Florida State at (12) Miami (-3)

Now there normally won’t be two games that qualify as games of the week, but seeing that the preseason rankings aren’t exactly accurate by any stretch, I’ll go with two here. First off, last year’s defensive struggle won’t be repeated this year. FSU and Miami both lost key players on the defensive side of the ball. FSU lost more and they have more question marks on offense. Look for Miami to win a close and relatively offensive game.

Miami 32 – Florida State 28

Thursday, August 31st, 2006 – 10:00 PM ET

Northern Arizona at (24) Arizona State (NL)

ASU has an offense to hang with the big boys, but can they develop a defense? Certainly their offense will click against Northern Arizona, but how will their defense look? This game might even be close for a half or so.

The Prediction:

ASU 47 – Northern Arizona – 17

Saturday September 2nd 2006 (in ranking order)

Northern Illinois at (1) Ohio State (-18.5)

Northern Illinois isn’t a pushover by any stretch of the imagination. Although they aren’t on the caliber of Texas or Notre Dame, they can go into Columbus and sneak away with the win IF Ohio State is looking ahead. On paper this game doesn’t look like much of a contest.

The Prediction:

Ohio State 45 – Northern Illinois 10

(2) Notre Dame (-7.5) at Georgia Tech

Can Notre Dame find a defense to go along with the great offense? Calvin Johnson and GT will be a great first test. This game will go closer than many think.

ND 28 – GT 24

North Texas at (3) Texas (-41)

This game is all about getting experience for Colt McCoy. Texas will blow North Texas off of the field.

Texas 60 – North Texas 0

Washington State at (4) Auburn (-14.5)

Some people say Auburn is for real. Others don’t seem to pay much attention to them. Auburn thrives off of that type of non-hype, or at least they have in the past. This year they aren’t starting out of the top 10, they start at #4. Wazzu is improving, but they aren’t quite there yet.

Auburn 45 – Wazzu 13

Marshall at (5) West Virginia (-22)

All West Virginia has to do is win ONE game (at Louisville) and they are in the BCS title game. Marshall is a shadow of it’s former self and this is going to be another long year for the Thundering Herd.

WVU 42 – Marshall 14

(6) USC (-8) at Arkansas

USC 52 – Arkansas 20

Southern Miss at (7) Florida (-20)

Florida 44 – Southern Miss 13

Louisiana – Lafayette at (8) LSU (-30.5)

LSU 45 – LALA 7

UAB at (10) Oklahoma (-21.5)

Oklahoma 33 – UAB 13

Kentucky at (13) Louisville (-22.5)

L-ville 45 – Kentucky 10

Vandy at (14) Michigan (-26)

Michigan 33 – Vandy 9

Western Kentucky at (15) Georgia (NL)

UGA 35 – WKU 14

Montana – (16) Iowa (NL)

Iowa 52 – Montana 10

Northeastern at (17) Virginia Tech (NL)

VT 32 – Northeastern 0

Florida Atlantic – (18) Clemson (NL)

Clemson 38 – FAU 7

Akron – (19) Penn State (-16.5)

Penn State 24 – Akron 0

La Tech at (20) Nebraska (-20.5)

Nebraska 37 – La Tech 3

Stanford at (21) Oregon (-11)

Oregon 34 – Stanford 12

(22) TCU (-7.5) at Baylor

TCU 35 – Baylor 10

SMU at (25) Texas Tech (-26)

Texas Tech 59 – SMU 13

0-0 Straight UP 0-0 Against the Spread

[mainepatsfan]

Then Louisville answers right back. It's been more entertaining than I thought.

[MikefromOhio]

sorry.... :)

[MikefromOhio]

This is like a WAC game LOL

[Cyclopean Squid]

And now UL has gotten the one they gave back, um, back.

[mainepatsfan]

Yup. Pretty safe money to bet on WV going to a BCS bowl.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah

Who would've thought that barring a complete disaster for WVU, that they would more or less have the BCS bowl bid sewn up in the first week of the season?

[mainepatsfan]

That's the way the Big East is set up right now. Of course the WV faithful have their sights set on just one BCS bowl and that's the one in Arizona.

[MikefromOhio]

yeah but I don't think they'll get there...

Don't be surprised if a one loss Ohio State and a one loss USC make it to the BCS title game over an undefeated WVU....

I just saw that replay again. I don't need to ever again.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I have a 15 year old son - I've heard worse.... ;^)

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I agree that beating Miami was a longshot, but the WVU game just got a whole lot easier for the Mountaineers, who already have too easy a schedule to be in the BcS title game. I think Louisville still has a slim shot against the 'Canes and West Virginia, but it's going to take a heroic effort by the rest of the Cards to pull it off.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

[MikefromOhio]

yeah....

Well there's aways a maybe until the game is played...

But I'm not 100% convinced that they will be able to mount a running game sufficient to grind those games out against Miami and WVU like they were going to do....

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Like I said, it'll take a 'heroic' effort on Louisville's part to win those games now.

BTW: is FSU-Miami on our Pick'em slate or does it slide under the radar because it's a Monday nighter?

[MikefromOhio]

It's not on there because it's a Monday game.

Generally the games on the weekdays aren't on there.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

M'kay. Since it doesn't count, I'll take Miami. ;^)

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

[MikefromOhio]

Kentucky at (13) Louisville (-22.5)

L-ville 45 – Kentucky 10

Louisville 59 - Kentucky 28

[LA Woman3]

Report: Brown faces drug, weapons charges




Texas starting cornerback Tarell Brown was arrested early Monday on marijuana and weapon charges, the Austin American-Statesman reported on its Web site.

The newspaper reported that Brown and former Longhorns teammate Aaron Harris, who played on last year's national championship team, were booked at Travis County Central Booking Facility on Monday morning.

Brown was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor in Texas, and both Brown and Harris were charged with possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor, the newspaper reported.

Brown was released from Travis County Jail on personal bond on Monday, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper said according to a team official, Texas coach Mack Brown was aware of the situation but had not yet spoken to Brown.

If Brown starts against No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, he is expected to draw the assignment of covering wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., a Heisman Trophy hopeful.

[MikefromOhio]

holy crap...

I'll post a new thread for that one....

Thanks

[MikefromOhio]

(11) Florida State at (12) Miami (-3)

Now there normally won’t be two games that qualify as games of the week, but seeing that the preseason rankings aren’t exactly accurate by any stretch, I’ll go with two here. First off, last year’s defensive struggle won’t be repeated this year. FSU and Miami both lost key players on the defensive side of the ball. FSU lost more and they have more question marks on offense. Look for Miami to win a close and relatively offensive game.

Miami 32 – Florida State 28

Can my good week continue? For those of us in the pick'em league, the scores are up now.