I can't recall an opening weekend with so many conference games that could have divisional and conference implications. South Carolina opens with a sneaky good Vandy team that has been competitive the last few years. People and players are buying into Franklin out in Nashville, so if Spurrier isn't careful they could start 0-1 in the East division leaving Georgia in the drivers seat with the conferences best QB. You never want to drop a game in the SEC and you especially don't want to start the season in the hole. How about that VT/GT matchup? VT is pretty much penciled in at the start of the season to win the division, but it's always easier to play GT's triple option later in the season to figure out the latest wrinkle in the offense. Opening with GT and being in the same division is crazy scary. If VT hasn't figured out their offensive question marks then they could be on the outside looking in after week 1. The ACC also has Miami and BC facing each other in week 1, not that either are expected to win the conference, but neither can really afford to drop a conference game so early and not hear fans and media members calling for some firings. Not that anyone outside of these two teams really cares, but Eastern Michigan and Ball State are divisional foes squaring off in week 1 as well.
How about week 1 rivalries? WVU and Marshall, Kentucky/Louisville, Notre Dame and Navy, Colorado and Colorado State all face each other the first week. Rivalries are always a different beast and several of these teams can't afford a surprise loss to start the season.
How about prime time matchups? Clemson opens with Auburn. How bad would a loss here hurt Clemson's national championship run? Probably not terribly, but definitely sets them back. Auburn may be rebuilding, but it's an SEC team and Clemson is known for...well, being Clemson. Michigan and Alabama in a Top 10 matchup that probably won't be that close, but could have significant impacts. A huge Alabama win could rattle Denard Robinson or hell, the vicious Alabama defense could injure Denard. Imagine if Michigan actually wins? Not only do we all have to live in the hell that has Michigan being nationally relevant again, but Alabama may be out of the championship picture. You could mention the Boise State/Michigan State game, but I'm not sure Boise will pose much of a challenge. Petersen is a great coach and Boise will be a good team, but Michigan State has one of the best defenses in the nation, while Boise is completely retooling. Love the matchup, just not the storyline.
The game I'm most excited for is the Texas A&M/Louisiana Tech game. Sounds crazy, but a play here and there in the Poinsettia Bowl against TCU and they win the game. They return a ton of talent and are my dark horse BCS invite. A&M will be a good team, but this is my upset pick of the week.
How about week 1 rivalries? WVU and Marshall, Kentucky/Louisville, Notre Dame and Navy, Colorado and Colorado State all face each other the first week. Rivalries are always a different beast and several of these teams can't afford a surprise loss to start the season.
How about prime time matchups? Clemson opens with Auburn. How bad would a loss here hurt Clemson's national championship run? Probably not terribly, but definitely sets them back. Auburn may be rebuilding, but it's an SEC team and Clemson is known for...well, being Clemson. Michigan and Alabama in a Top 10 matchup that probably won't be that close, but could have significant impacts. A huge Alabama win could rattle Denard Robinson or hell, the vicious Alabama defense could injure Denard. Imagine if Michigan actually wins? Not only do we all have to live in the hell that has Michigan being nationally relevant again, but Alabama may be out of the championship picture. You could mention the Boise State/Michigan State game, but I'm not sure Boise will pose much of a challenge. Petersen is a great coach and Boise will be a good team, but Michigan State has one of the best defenses in the nation, while Boise is completely retooling. Love the matchup, just not the storyline.
The game I'm most excited for is the Texas A&M/Louisiana Tech game. Sounds crazy, but a play here and there in the Poinsettia Bowl against TCU and they win the game. They return a ton of talent and are my dark horse BCS invite. A&M will be a good team, but this is my upset pick of the week.
Wow...there are some good week 1 matchups. I am nervous about that VT vs GT game. I'm glad its at home...but I don't like the fact were facing the triple option 1st game in the season. One thing to watch for though is how Bud Foster adjusts during the course of the game. If we're getting beat, he is awesome at adjusting the game plan to stop whatever is beating us. That Clemson vs. Auburn game should be wild too
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