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.
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
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment