What to watch for in week 1

Saturday is finally here and as excited as I am for the gameday food, drinking beer all day, yelling at the TV, and celebrating WVU blowouts, no one, and I mean no one, should have to wake up at 9am to see Notre Dame winning.  Seriously guys?  Couldn't move this to mid-day and let it get brushed aside like all the other Notre Dame games the past five years?

Already I've realized what I hate about ESPN - the constant hammering of the same damn story line throughout the week (see anything related to Penn State.  I don't give a shit about the pep rally!), the incessant references to past players (see the Friday night crew during the Michigan State/Boise State game.  The Kellen Moore drinking game may just catch on this season!), but College Gameday makes up for it all.  This show is incredible.  The on-site atmosphere, the witty signs, wondering what Lee Corso will do next, and all the game predictions.  It's all deadly.  Week 1 has a lot of intriguing games and stories, here's just my favorite.

1. How will Zach Mettenberger look in his debut?  All offseason we heard about the atrocious LSU offense in the national championship game.  The O-line is one of the best in the nation, the receivers are talented, and the running back group as a whole is the best in the nation.  If the Tigers have found a quarterback to keep defenses like Georgia and Alabama honest, then the Tigers may be in their second consecutive championship.
2. Denard Robinson and the Alabama defense.  This should be a great battle all night, and could set the tone for the entire season.  How does Denard look in his senior year?  Has his accuracy improved?  He'll need to make big plays if Michigan has any shot.  With a win, you'll be looking at the Heisman front runner.  The Alabama defense lost a slew of players to the NFL, but noone has recruited better than Saban the past few years.  The team will start a lot of youngsters, but many think this will still be the top defense in the SEC.
3. Does the WVU continue where it left off in the Orange Bowl?  WVU returns most of the offense and all of the skill players for Geno Smith.  Tavon Austin is supposedly faster and better than last year, Geno Smith is a preseason Heisman candidate, and the running backs have a year of experience under Holgorsen's offense.
4. How does Maryland rebound from a year ago?  Their roster seemed to drop players left and right, not to the NFL, but because Edsall is a "dick".  Is it because they couldn't adhere to rules and change of culture?  Is it because he truly is a dick?  They start a freshman quarterback after the injury to Brown, but had a great recruiting class.  A loss to FCS I-AA William & Mary will surely put Edsall at the top of the coaching hot seats.
5. Which Top 25 team falls first?  Boise State lost a tough game to Michigan State, but I'm talking upsets here.  Does VT go down to the triple option?  Does Michigan upset Alabama?  Will the Auburn defense take advantage of an incomplete Clemson offense?  How about the Louisville Cardinals?  Do they fall to a down Kentucky to perpetuate the Big East Mess perception?

Here we go!  Enjoy the games and be careful playing the Brent Musburger Drinking Game tonight!