Wow, the season is already off to an incredible start. Russell Wilson, who was N.C. State's QB last year and tranferred to Wisconsin for this season, was electric in his debut with the Badgers on Thursday night. Tonight, Baylor and TCU played one for the ages, with the Bears topping the Horned Frogs 50-48. Saturday should have even more great action in store for us as the college football season gets under way with a full slate of games, including Oregon-LSU in Cowboys Stadium and Georgia-Boise State in the Georgia Dome.
Top 25
East Carolina at No. 12 South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN3.com
South Carolina will be without starting quarterback Stephen Garcia who is suspended and will start sophomore Connor Shaw under center. The Gamecocks should have enough to get by ECU, as they return wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey and running back Marcus Lattimore. And the Pirates couldn't stop anybody last year.
South Carolina 41, ECU 22
South Florida at No. 16 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Coach Brian Kelly is getting things turned around at Notre Dame but it'll take time. Coach Skip Holtz and South Florida are no slouches this could end up being a great game but I like the Irish with new QB Dayne to pull it out.
Notre Dame 26, USF 23
No. 5 Boise State vs. No. 19 Georgia at the Georgia Dome, 8 p.m. ESPN
Boise State opened up last year on a "neutral" site and downed top 25 team Virginia Tech. This year, the Broncos go into the Georgia Dome to face UGA. Can they pull out another win in a hostile big-time atmosphere, this time against an SEC opponent? I say yes. The Bulldogs are good and should improve on their 6-7 record last season but I like Boise State in this one.
Boise State 27, Georgia 21
**Game of the week: No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU at Cowboys Stadium, 8 p.m. ABC
This week's marquee matchup features last year's national runner-up, Oregon, and a traditional SEC power in LSU. The Ducks return both QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James. The Tigers have a great defense but will be without starting QB Jordan Jefferson, who is suspended for this game. LSU should be able to keep it close, but inside a dome where the weather won't affect the Ducks' fast spread attack, Oregon will eventually wear down the Tigers.
Oregon 28, LSU 24
ACC
Monday: Miami at Maryland, 8 p.m. ESPN (prediction to come later)
Northwestern at Boston College, Noon ESPNU
Definitely the hardest opening-game opponent for any ACC team. The Wildcats are a dangerously high-scoring team under coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats return nine starters on offense. BC, meanwhile, returns just five starters on defense and lost its emotional leader, LB Mark Herzlich.
**Breaking news: I saw on College GameDay that Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa has a torn Achilles and will not play. I originally had Northwestern winning this game 31-23, but I think this injury swings the game in BC's favor.
Boston College 23, Northwestern 20
Appalachian State at No. 13 Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
No way is another talented FCS school sneaking up on the Hokies in Lane Stadium. Tech learned its lesson last year against JMU, and the Dukes caught the Hokies in a perfect letdown situation in that game. Tech was spent emotionally and physically from the Boise State game, had a short week of rest, went home to play an FCS squad, and relaxed too much. And the weather was sloppy to top it all off.
Virginia Tech 35, Appalachian State 14
Louisiana-Monroe at No. 6 Florida State, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
I think FSU is overrated at No. 6, but the 'Noles will take care of business in Doak Campbell against the Warhaawks.
FSU 36, LA-Monroe 12
James Madison at North Carolina, 3:30 ESPN3.com
I've said for a couple weeks now JMU has a legitimate shot at the upset in this game. UNC has had a new coach for just a month now and is still trying to get it all together for the season. JMU is a confident team that knows it can win at FBS schools' home fields -- the Dukes did it last year in Blacksburg. I'm going to pick UNC though. The Tar Heels have a lot of talent and will be ready forJMU, unlike last year when the Dukes were able to sneak up on the Hokies. UNC will struggle on offense early but the get job done.
UNC 26, JMU 14
Troy at Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Troy is a solid Sun Belt Conference team that has won that league's title six years running. Clemson has been up-and-down with Dabo Swinney but the Tigers have enough to get it done in Death Valley over the Trojans.
Clemson 27, Troy 10
Liberty at N.C. State, 6 p.m. ESPN3.com
The Wolfpack must be yearning for Russell Wilson after his performance Thursday night. Hopefully new QB Mike Glennon can help the Pack forget about Wilson. Against Liberty, N.C. State should be fine but they better not take the talented Flames lightly.
N.C. State 31, Liberty 13
Richmond at Duke, 7 p.m. ESPN3.com
Coach Latrell Scott was charged with a DUI several days ago and is no longer the coach of the Spiders. Duke has a good offense and should get by Richmond with relative ease.
Duke 38, Richmond 17
Virginia
William & Mary at Virginia, 6 p.m. ESPN3.com
And finally, here it is. My rambling about the ACC and Virginia have come down to picking a winner in this matchup. So I'm calling myself out to make the first prediction of the year for UVa. In 2009, when William & Mary defeated Virginia, the Cavs had switched to a spread offense and were ill-equipped to pull it off. Virginia should benefit from having a more traditional offense and I'm sure it will attempt to ram the ball down the Tribe's throats with several young and talented running backs. The Hoos should also benefit from not wanting to lose to W&M again. I'm worried about Virginia QBs though, and also the defense. How improved will it be? The Tribe have a good running back in Jonathan Grimes. W&M also, however, is starting a new quarterback, Mike Paulus, who is a UNC transfer. In the end, the Hoos will lean on their running game and get it done, though it might not be pretty at times.
Virginia 27, William & Mary 14
Top 25
East Carolina at No. 12 South Carolina, 7 p.m. ESPN3.com
South Carolina will be without starting quarterback Stephen Garcia who is suspended and will start sophomore Connor Shaw under center. The Gamecocks should have enough to get by ECU, as they return wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey and running back Marcus Lattimore. And the Pirates couldn't stop anybody last year.
South Carolina 41, ECU 22
South Florida at No. 16 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m. NBC
Coach Brian Kelly is getting things turned around at Notre Dame but it'll take time. Coach Skip Holtz and South Florida are no slouches this could end up being a great game but I like the Irish with new QB Dayne to pull it out.
Notre Dame 26, USF 23
No. 5 Boise State vs. No. 19 Georgia at the Georgia Dome, 8 p.m. ESPN
Boise State opened up last year on a "neutral" site and downed top 25 team Virginia Tech. This year, the Broncos go into the Georgia Dome to face UGA. Can they pull out another win in a hostile big-time atmosphere, this time against an SEC opponent? I say yes. The Bulldogs are good and should improve on their 6-7 record last season but I like Boise State in this one.
Boise State 27, Georgia 21
**Game of the week: No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU at Cowboys Stadium, 8 p.m. ABC
This week's marquee matchup features last year's national runner-up, Oregon, and a traditional SEC power in LSU. The Ducks return both QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James. The Tigers have a great defense but will be without starting QB Jordan Jefferson, who is suspended for this game. LSU should be able to keep it close, but inside a dome where the weather won't affect the Ducks' fast spread attack, Oregon will eventually wear down the Tigers.
Oregon 28, LSU 24
ACC
Monday: Miami at Maryland, 8 p.m. ESPN (prediction to come later)
Northwestern at Boston College, Noon ESPNU
Definitely the hardest opening-game opponent for any ACC team. The Wildcats are a dangerously high-scoring team under coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats return nine starters on offense. BC, meanwhile, returns just five starters on defense and lost its emotional leader, LB Mark Herzlich.
**Breaking news: I saw on College GameDay that Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa has a torn Achilles and will not play. I originally had Northwestern winning this game 31-23, but I think this injury swings the game in BC's favor.
Boston College 23, Northwestern 20
Appalachian State at No. 13 Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
No way is another talented FCS school sneaking up on the Hokies in Lane Stadium. Tech learned its lesson last year against JMU, and the Dukes caught the Hokies in a perfect letdown situation in that game. Tech was spent emotionally and physically from the Boise State game, had a short week of rest, went home to play an FCS squad, and relaxed too much. And the weather was sloppy to top it all off.
Virginia Tech 35, Appalachian State 14
Louisiana-Monroe at No. 6 Florida State, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU
I think FSU is overrated at No. 6, but the 'Noles will take care of business in Doak Campbell against the Warhaawks.
FSU 36, LA-Monroe 12
James Madison at North Carolina, 3:30 ESPN3.com
I've said for a couple weeks now JMU has a legitimate shot at the upset in this game. UNC has had a new coach for just a month now and is still trying to get it all together for the season. JMU is a confident team that knows it can win at FBS schools' home fields -- the Dukes did it last year in Blacksburg. I'm going to pick UNC though. The Tar Heels have a lot of talent and will be ready forJMU, unlike last year when the Dukes were able to sneak up on the Hokies. UNC will struggle on offense early but the get job done.
UNC 26, JMU 14
Troy at Clemson, 3:30 p.m. ESPN3.com
Troy is a solid Sun Belt Conference team that has won that league's title six years running. Clemson has been up-and-down with Dabo Swinney but the Tigers have enough to get it done in Death Valley over the Trojans.
Clemson 27, Troy 10
Liberty at N.C. State, 6 p.m. ESPN3.com
The Wolfpack must be yearning for Russell Wilson after his performance Thursday night. Hopefully new QB Mike Glennon can help the Pack forget about Wilson. Against Liberty, N.C. State should be fine but they better not take the talented Flames lightly.
N.C. State 31, Liberty 13
Richmond at Duke, 7 p.m. ESPN3.com
Coach Latrell Scott was charged with a DUI several days ago and is no longer the coach of the Spiders. Duke has a good offense and should get by Richmond with relative ease.
Duke 38, Richmond 17
Virginia
William & Mary at Virginia, 6 p.m. ESPN3.com
And finally, here it is. My rambling about the ACC and Virginia have come down to picking a winner in this matchup. So I'm calling myself out to make the first prediction of the year for UVa. In 2009, when William & Mary defeated Virginia, the Cavs had switched to a spread offense and were ill-equipped to pull it off. Virginia should benefit from having a more traditional offense and I'm sure it will attempt to ram the ball down the Tribe's throats with several young and talented running backs. The Hoos should also benefit from not wanting to lose to W&M again. I'm worried about Virginia QBs though, and also the defense. How improved will it be? The Tribe have a good running back in Jonathan Grimes. W&M also, however, is starting a new quarterback, Mike Paulus, who is a UNC transfer. In the end, the Hoos will lean on their running game and get it done, though it might not be pretty at times.
Virginia 27, William & Mary 14
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