Week 1 Preview

You have been waiting almost 8 months for college football to return, and you will be waiting one more week for a great weekend of college football. Don’t get me wrong, there are a couple of good games this weekend, but overall, you don’t have many great match ups. Finding five games to break down won’t be nearly as difficult in the coming weeks, but here we go for week one of the 2010 college football season.

Southern Mississippi v. South Carolina (ESPN 7:30 pm, Thursday)

The Bulldog nation should tune in to get a look at Georgia’s first real opponent of the season. The Gamecocks are coming off a 7-6 season a year ago. You wouldn’t expect to see a Steve Spurrier team struggle to score points, however, the 2009 edition of the Gamecocks ranked 102nd in the nation in scoring at just over 20 points per game. Steven Garcia will be the starting quarterback, but in true Spurrier fashion, another quarterback will get a share of the snaps. True freshman Connor Shaw from Flowery Branch, GA will see the field regularly, and many Gamecock fans think Shaw will eventually be the starter.

Southern Mississippi also went 7-6 in 2009, however, playing in Conference USA is very different than playing in the SEC. Because of their weaker schedule, their statistics look a lot better. With senior quarterback, Martevious Young under center Southern Mississippi should be able to stay with South Carolina for at least the first half. However, with a national audience turning their attention to Columbus, don’t expect the Gamecocks to blow this one.

South Carolina will win but I don’t think they will blow the Golden Eagles out, because I don’t think the Gamecock offense can score enough, but I fully expect South Carolina to win. The bigger question is whether the two-quarterback system will be an advantage or a distraction against teams later in the season, namely the Dawgs next weekend.

UNC v. LSU (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game: ABC 8 pm, Saturday)

I believe this game will be close, low-scoring, and eventually a pivotal point for LSU coach Les Miles. LSU’s defense carried them last season, but the offense will have to step up this year. The offense will get an SEC-style test when they meet the Tar Heals. UNC sports one of the best defenses in the nation, with possibly 5 future NFL players on their roster.

LSU comes into the season ranked #21, but they are just 8-8 since winning the National Championship in 2007-2008. Miles will need to improve on that record this year, or he will be looking for another job after the season. Here is the problem for Miles and LSU this season. They have to go on the road to play three of their four biggest games of the year. The Tigers travel to Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas in 2010. The other big SEC game is at home…. against Alabama. I don’t think it would be ridiculous to think that LSU could lose all four of those games. If that is the case, LSU can’t do better than 4-4 in the conference again this season. Add on top of that schedule an early season loss to UNC in the Georgia Dome, and there will be real trouble on the Bayou.

For UNC, they have a chance to get to their first ACC title game this year, but they play in the harder of the two ACC divisions. To make it to Tampa, UNC will have to overcome defending champion Georgia Tech, Miami, and Virginia Tech. Not going to happen.

When we look back on this game at the end of the season, I don’t think either of these team will be ranked, but on Saturday night, give me Butch Davis over Les Miles. UNC wins the game by 3.

Oregon State v. TCU (ESPN 7:45 pm, Saturday)

This is the only game that TCU will play this season versus an opponent that is ranked in the preseason. By ranking TCU so high in the polls (#6 in the coaches poll), the Horned Frogs could be playing for a spot in the national title game on Saturday night. I don’t know anything about TCU, and I don’t want to know anything about TCU. I hope Oregon State beats them by 40.
With all of this talk about realignment, you haven’t heard one person from TCU, Boise State, or Utah ask to be put in one of the big 6 conferences. These guys don’t want to play the big boys week in and week out, so they don’t deserve to play for the national title. I’ll take a one loss Ohio State team and a two loss SEC champion over one of these “mid-majors” any day of the week.

Boise State v. Virginia Tech (ESPN 8 pm, Monday)

Please re-read everything I said above and insert Boise State every time you see the word TCU. These teams are a joke, and the people who voted them in the Top 10 should lose their voting privileges.

Louisiana-Lafayette v. Georgia (SEC Network/Peachtree TV 12:20 pm, Saturday)

Aaron Murray and Todd Grantham will be making their Georgia Bulldog debuts “Between the Hedges” and I’m not really sure which I’m more excited about. I don’t want to see a Stafford like performance on Saturday out of Murray. I want to see the calm, steady David Greene type of performance that lead Georgia back to the top of the polls in 2002. Aaron Murray is the only new starter for the Bulldogs on offense, and his job will be to manage the game and distribute the football.

On defense, Georgia needs to get back to that aggressive style of defense that thrived in the mid 2000’s.

This game should be well over by halftime, but if you want to look for a few things, keep an eye on penalties. A new quarterback needs to get the team in and out of the huddle and avoid delay of game penalties.

Georgia wins by about 30. The real question is whether Hutson Mason will play in the 2nd half. Mason is listed as Georgia’s backup quarterback, but playing him will mean losing his redshirt and an extra year of eligibility.