Posted on 08/28/2006 5:53:39 PM PDT by 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
yeah I think that's what happened to him....
USC might find a surprise in Fayetteville. They'll certainly get a welcome like none they've ever seen...
Well, as a die-hard 'Nole fan, I SURE DON'T!!! I'm liking these friendly season-openers against patsies...NOT.
Mike, add me to your list, please.
Wide right or Wide left this year :)
BOOMER!
Your anti-Irish colors are showing.
They are?
A lot of people are thinking they might lose to GT at GT.....
Yeah? Who?
There're a lot of teams that could beat ND this year--starting with Penn State--but I don't think GT is going to lose by only four.
Herbstreit was talking about it, for one.
I don't know if he'll actually pick against them in the end. I wouldn't.
GT has the type of passing game that Notre Dame has struggled against in the past. ND returns much of the same defense that got torched.
They are the better team, but GT can score on them.
As if things weren't bleak enough for the Herd, WR Hiram Moore was suspended by Marshall coach Mark Snyder from Saturday's game. He was arrested last Friday by Huntington police and charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene, obstructing a police officer and driving suspended.
Go Mountaineers!!!
BTW Mike, did you see the cover of this weeks SI?
Nice, eh?
wow...
Marshall wasn't going to be in the upper tier on the CUSA anyway....that doesn't help
Oops.
Very nice :)
That one is already in a safe place.
I also have the Texas and Notre Dame ones as well :)
What's a Texas and a Notre Dame????
(ducking, dodgeing and runnin' like he//)
};^)
The FSU O-Line has healed (4 starters out last year) and has spent a ton of time in the weight room this summer. Although they don't have tremendous depth, they've be delivering pancakes to the D-Line so far. Also, the WRs are really being pressed hard to deliver serious blocks, they're responding.
After a down turn at QB, FSU is finally getting some stability.
Overrated is a strong term - they're 11th. I think they'll finish 11th or better.
be=been
LOL
From your lips to Gods ears!
God knows how this game will work out...
I'm just some loser who watches WAY too much college football :)
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