College Football Week 1 Preview

After over seven months, the offseason is about to finally end as a full slate of games start the action on Thursday that gives fans five days of college football. Similarly to previous seasons, I will look to spotlight a few interesting games and then a top 5 list for the week.

Games to highlight in Week 1:

Rutgers at Fresno State: As a Rutgers' grad, I'm excited for another season and it will be an interesting challenge to start the year with a visit to Fresno State who is quarterbacked by the younger brother of David Carr. A nice way to end the first official day of the college football season!

Temple at #13Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish look to start the 2013 season strong and Temple could be a good way to see what type of team they might be this year.

Buffalo at #2Ohio State: Much like Notre Dame, it should be interesting to see how the Buckeyes start the year. Unlike the Fighting Irish, it would not be a big surprise if this gets ugly by halftime.

Rice at #7Texas A & M: The hype has been building and Johnny Manziel will be out for the first half so it could be closer than expected up to halftime and then we will get a taste in the second half the type of team the Aggies might be this year.

#19Boise State at Washington: Boise State enters this season similar to last year without much preseason hype and big expectations to be a BCS buster. Washington has been a rising team in the Pac-12 and this contest could get interesting and a fun way to cap what will be a loaded Saturday of football.

Top 5 Games of Week 1:
5) Syracuse vs Penn State (at Met Life Stadium): This is an old school matchup. Penn State is coming off a fairly good season despite the off the field issues for the school and program before the season. While Syracuse had one of its best seasons in a while and looks like a team on the rise before they head to the ACC next year. This could be a smash mouth type of game early and ultimately lead to Penn State using enough versatility to pull away. PICK: PENN STATE

4) #1Alabama vs Virginia Tech (at the Georgia Dome): Virginia Tech is always willing for a solid challenge to start the season. They generally do not start with "cupcake" opponents and this might be their toughest opponent to start a season in recent memory as the Crimson Tide will roll into Atlanta with the Hokies as their first victim in what could be another title run. Virginia Tech will need to play "Beamer ball" during the first half to keep it close. Michigan did well early on last year in the kickoff game against Alabama before the defense and offense equally got going for Alabama. That is when they become dangerous and something that Virginia Tech will likely start to have trouble with in terms of slowing down the defending champs. Virginia Tech should prevent a blowout though. PICK: ALABAMA

3) Mississippi State vs #15Oklahoma State (at Reliant Stadium): This is a slightly underrated SEC-Big 12 battle to start the season. Both teams have mostly been under the radar the last couple years yet they have had nice wins at times and could provide for an interesting contrast of styles. The Bulldogs have usually been mostly defense-based and the Cowboys have usually been mostly offense-based and those two elements could collide in this one. Oklahoma State will likely put up enough points yet Mississippi State will keep it interesting going into the fourth quarter. PICK: OKLAHOMA STATE

2) #12LSU vs #20TCU (at Cowboys Stadium): TCU has been looking for more challenging foes as they have risen in the polls and have picked up very nice wins against top teams. They will have a good chance to showcase if they are ready for the next level with this contest against LSU. The Tigers also have a little something to prove with focus on the SEC on a handful of other teams and Les Miles will likely remind everyone that his team is still dangerous. This could be a feel out game with a few tricks during the first half before a potential big play or two in the third before things slow down again. LSU likes low scoring games and a field goal or two might be the difference if TCU keeps it close. LSU's speed and how TCU slows that down will be a big factor in the score. LSU looks to have too much talent all around. PICK: LSU

1) #5Georgia at #9Clemson: It would not be a true kickoff weekend without a top tier battle. This is likely by far the best game during the first week of college football. Georgia wants to redeem themselves for letting a SEC title slip through their fingers and thus a great chance to bring a national title back to Athens. Clemson equally had high hopes last year and a couple of tough losses knocked them back and out of the title picture. The loser will certainly have to climb back into the title picture during the season. Speed and physical play could be highlights of this one. Clemson will force Georgia to come up big late and it will serve as a great chance to put their loss to Alabama last season behind them in some form. A true showcase of talent that the Bulldogs do enough in. PICK: GEORGIA

It should be a good weekend of games and a great way to ease back into what could be another interesting season. There are certainly some really good games ahead on the road to the title game.

College Football Week 1 Power Rankings

 After what seemed like a long offseason, the games about to commence and a season is upon us. Fall is near and a quest to crown a national champion in college football is ready to kick off. After the national title between Alabama and Notre Dame left something to be desired, there are a few big games right out the gate to get people's juices going. Can Alabama make it a 3-peat? Will Johnny Manziel play the full season with a recent string of unfavorable news and be able to lead the Aggies to a national title? How good will the SEC be again and can a team from another conference break the string of national title game victories they have going back to 2006? Ohio State had one of their best seasons in team history and now without a ban against them, they could easily run the table again with a slightly more experienced team and last year's season as a guide. Oregon and Stanford remain powerhouses out west in the PAC-12 and Georgia will certainly look to finish what they believe was their shot at a national title last year when they let Alabama off the hook in a crushing defeat for the SEC title. And can Notre Dame rebound from their equally tough loss to Alabama and replicate the success they saw in 2012? Time will tell how the season will ultimately end and there are always upsets waiting to occur.

A new season bring new hope and a fresh slate as every team is 0-0 and has an open chance to end up in the title game come January. With that said, its time to kick off a new season with fresh power rankings.

1) Alabama (vs Virginia Tech)- They are the two time defending national champions and are searching for a rare 3-peat and seem like the team to beat again early on.
2) Ohio State (vs Buffalo)- It's hard to argue with the Buckeyes here considering their perfect season last year. If it wasn't for a postseason ban it could have been them and Alabama in the title game last year and that might be the final game of the year this year.
3) Oregon (vs Nicholls State)- Chip Kelly might be gone but the talent and speed at Oregon is not and they will likely not only battle for a PAC-12 crown but could be on the doorstep of playing for a national title again.
4) Stanford (BYE)- If there is a team that could stand in the Ducks' way, it will likely be Stanford. The two teams have crossed paths the last couple of years with a lot on the line in the conference and nationally and this year should be the same.
5) Georgia (at Clemson)- They were a couple of errors away last year of beating Alabama for the SEC title and it could have been them beating Notre Dame for a national title. They enter again this year with a lot of promise.
6) South Carolina (vs North Carolina)- Under head coach Steve Spurrier, this team has continued to become a top tier team in the tough SEC. They have arguably the best player in all of college football and should be in the conversation for a potential SEC title and that could also mean a national title game birth.
7) Texas A&M (vs Rice)- They made a big splash in their first year in the SEC and with the reigning Heisman in the backfield, they could duplicate last year's success. A rematch with Alabama could dictate their season.
8) Louisville (vs Ohio)- They were pretty much under the radar all of last year until they came up big against Florida in the Sugar Bowl and have national title aspirations and a potential Heisman candidate.
9) Clemson (vs Georgia)- They have a lot of talent and continue to get stronger each year and likely a matchup with Florida State at home could decide their fate in the ACC.
10) Florida State (at Pittsburgh)- They were a tough loss away from being a potential participant in the national title game. They could run through the ACC if they come to play each week with a team that still has a lot of good players.
11) Florida (vs Toledo)- They finished the year on a low note and lost a couple key conference games during the year but still should be a team in the shuffle in the SEC.
12) LSU (vs TCU)- They continue a strong trend once again for the SEC as they are still this high as being barely in the top half of the conference.
13) Notre Dame (vs Temple)- While they got beat badly in the national title game and lose some leadership with Mante Te'o gone, they should still be a tough nosed team that will fight hard each week.
14) Oklahoma (Louisiana-Monroe)- They looked poised to take back the Big 12 mantle with Kansas State likely to take a step back this year.
15) Oklahoma State (vs Mississippi State)- If the Sooners are not the best in the conference, it will likely be the Cowboys and make Bedlam that much more important if it is for a conference title game birth.
16) Texas (vs New Mexico State)- The Longhorns have had to go through a growing pains process since losing the national title game to Alabama a few years ago but seem to be ready to battle with the two Oklahoma teams for a conference title.
17) Michigan (vs Central Michigan)- They might see a little drop from last year but should still be dynamic and not willing to just give Ohio State the conference crown.
18) Nebraska (vs Wyoming)- Similarly to Michigan, the Cornhuskers have some dynamic play ability and could be a contender in the Big 10.
19) Boise State (at Washington)- They seem to retool each year and field a top 25 team and this year looks to be the same.
20) TCU (vs LSU)- They will certainly be tested again this year but still look like a team with the right balance to make some noise.
21) Wisconsin (vs UMASS)- The Badgers again have a formidable squad that could threaten for a conference title.
22) USC (at Hawaii)- They had a rough second half to the season after QB Matt Barkley went down. He is gone and the Trojans will look to redeem themselves.
23) UCLA (vs Nevada)- The Bruins the last couple years have inched closer to their cross town rival and the two teams could be battling for a birth in the PAC-12 title game.
24) Northwestern (at California)- This team has been getting a little closer to be a contender in the Big 10 and could see another step forward this year.
25) Michigan State (vs Western Michigan)- The Spartans had a down year last year compared to the previous couple and might be a team to watch for against the Big 10 teams ahead of them in the poll.

NEXT 5
1) Virginia Tech (vs Alabama)- They probably are worthy of being in the top 25 and could rise to be there, but they draw defending champion Alabama in Week 1 and would be pulling a big upset if they win.
2) Oregon State (vs Eastern Washington)- They had a top 25 squad a few years ago and look to be on that level again.
3) Miami (FL) (vs Florida Atlantic)- They have flirted with a return to their glory days of being a top tier team and could make a run in the ACC if they stay healthy and not make the same mistakes that have cost them crucial games in recent years.
4) Baylor (vs Wofford)- They might not be the same type of team they were a couple years ago but could be a sleeper team in the Big 12.
5) Kansas State (vs North Dakota State)- They have been a top team in the Big 12 in recent years and like Baylor could be a sleeper team.

Now let's get the season started and see how quickly some of these rankings might start shifting!