Some
big-time matchups to start off with…
By
Jeff Sallas
Well it is
finally that time of year again. This
has got to be one of the best opening weekends ever. I don’t think I have ever seen as many SEC teams play this many
big-time games the first game. I don’t
think I have ever seen as many SEC teams start the year on the road. Let’s get right to the action…
LSU at
Virginia Tech – The Game Of The Week (SUNDAY at 1:30 CDT on ABC)
The defending
SEC champs head to Blacksburg to take on the Hokies. Virginia Tech’s record at home over the last few years is as good
as anybody. LSU will have an extremely
difficult time getting out of town with a wind especially breaking in a new QB.
I expect
Virginia Tech to be similar to the way they have been the last few years, solid
run-centered offense and a good attacking defense. Their target will be new LSU QB Matt Mauck. The guy delivered in a relief appearance in
the SEC title game last year but can he do it over the long haul? That is the question. Again if he doesn’t pan out or gets hurt,
all LSU has to turn to is a JUCO QB and Casey Clausen’s brother who hasn’t been
very good. In other words, they will be
in trouble.
Elsewhere the
Tigers look good. LaBrandon Toefield is
back at TB, Michael Clayton is back at WR and they have a lot of talented
recruits coming up on defense. However
it all goes back to QB and I think the attacking Tech defense will force some
LSU turnovers. If LSU can somehow grab
this game look out… but I just don’t see it happening.
VIRGINIA TECH
OVER LSU
Auburn at USC
(Monday at 7:00 CDT on ABC)
Another one of the best games this week. Two traditional programs who finished last year about the same and want to make a big jump this year. A win here would help in a big way. I think both coaches will let everything fly for this rare Monday Night Football college matchup. A coach can really get some exposure by a good outing here. The flip side is true too so I look for some nerves early on the playing field and the sideline. It should be a great atmosphere.
I admit, I
don’t know a whole lot about USC. They
have a veteran senior QB in Carson Palmer who has had his ups and downs. However it sounds like they are expecting
big things from him this season. As
with most Pac-10 teams I expect USC’s offense to be much better than their
defense. I think the key matchup will
be how USC’s defense does against Auburn’s offense which has plenty of
questions of it’s own.
As everyone
knows Auburn will be led by RB Carnell Williams. The problem is Auburn’s patchwork OL. Will it hold is the biggest question for Auburn. Auburn also features good TEs and a mix of
veteran and talented freshman WRs.
Everyone sees kind of the same thing for Auburn: running with Carnell,
throwing to the TEs a good bit and going for the occasional deep ball. If they can put some points on the board and
get some confidence I think USC is in trouble.
Auburn’s
defense looks to be very strong and I don’t see the Trojans running up a whole
lot of points unless Auburn has some bad turnovers. Again I think if Auburn’s OL can hold their own then Auburn
should win this game. If not this
season could start like the last. USC
should be able to always be within striking distance even if things get a
little out of hand. Tuberville is
notoriously conservative when he gets a lead.
If USC can somehow grab a good lead that would take Auburn out of their
game plan and put an uncertain passing game to the test. A tough call but I think Auburn wants this
game more…
AUBURN OVER
USC
Clemson at
Georgia (Saturday at 6:45 CDT on ESPN)
Another great game!!! This might turn out to be the funnest game to watch out of all these games. You would think that these 2 teams will put up some points since offense is their strength. This matches up two Bobby Bowden disciples in his son Tommy Bowden and long-time offensive coordinator Mark Richt. Georgia is predicted by many to do big things this year and Clemson is looking to rebound after a disappointing season last year.
I look for
Clemson to throw a wide-open offense at the Bulldogs. However the key for the Tigers will be their defense. Two years ago in Bowden’s rookie season a
senior-laden defense led the Tigers to a great season. Last year when the defense fell off a good
bit the Tigers lost all those close games.
Clemson will be breaking in a new starting QB as well but he will be
senior Willie Simmons.
The Dawgs
return last year’s SEC freshman of the year in QB David Greene, veteran TB Musa
Smith and maybe the SEC’s best WR corps in Terrence Edwards and Fred
Gibson. Georgia lost a good bit on
defense this year but are hoping some talented recruits will step up.
Again I see
this game being a bit of shootout but I think Georgia is the better team and
they are at home.
GEORGIA OVER
CLEMSON
Miss St at
Oregon (Saturday at 5:00 CDT on Fox Sports Net)
The last really good matchup. This one features probably the biggest contrast in styles. Oregon features a big-time “new age” offense and is led by the most in-demand coach in college football in Mike Belotti. The Bulldogs are a throw-back physical defensive football team led by veteran coach Jackie Sherill. This ought to be pretty good.
Actually I
think we will see Miss St throw the ball a good bit more this year with Kevin
Fant this year. They have some good
up-and-coming WRs to help out. Senior
Dontae Walker is back for his senior season and leads some good talent at RB. The key as always for State will be Joe Lee
Dunn’s defense. It slipped a long way
last season and the team followed suit.
He will have his hands full Saturday.
Oregon may
have lost Joey Harrington but I believe they still have a lot of weapons. I think State will need some good breaks to
have a shot at winning this one. I have
to go with…
OREGON OVER
MISS ST
MTSU at Bama
(Saturday at 11:30 CDT on Jefferson Pilot)
Things kickoff down in Tuscaloosa with this better than average opener. While MTSU is not big enough for a home and home game they are a pretty good team. They beat the heck out of Vandy last year who nearly knocked off Bama and they gave Miss St fits 2 years ago. Their offense is led by former Lee-Huntsville RB Dwone Hicks who had an unbelievable season his last year at Lee. I always wondered why no SEC school recruited this guy. He has turned out to be a heck of a playmaker and they are even hyping him for the Heisman to get the school some publicity.
I expect this
game to feature a lot of running especially by Bama. Bama led the SEC in rushing last year and it is by far their strength. Bama is low on WRs and Tyler Watts, while
not as bad as some suggest, is a mediocre passer. On the flip side Bama features maybe the best OL in the
conference and 2 hosses at TB in Ahmaad Galloway and Santonio Beard. Bama will pretty much try to do the same
thing all year, get the lead EARLY and then pound the heck out of the other
team and shorten the game. With this
line I expect the dam will break sooner or later on the MTSU DL and the Bama
rushing yards will pile up.
Meanwhile
MTSU will probably run up a few yards but like the OL I expect Bama’s big
two-deep DL to take it’s toll as well on the MTSU OL. I don’t think this will get too out of hand as Bama will not want
to show a whole lot with the big Oklahoma game coming up next week.
BAMA OVER
MTSU
Vanderbilt at
Georgia Tech (Saturday at 5:00 CDT)
A pretty interesting matchup featuring 2 new coaches in Bobby Johnson and Chan Gailey. The only question anyone has regarding Vandy is how long this guy will last?…
GEORGIA TECH
OVER VANDERBILT
Kentucky at
Louisville (SUNDAY at 5:00 CDT on ESPN2)
Always a great season-opener. I hope these 2 teams don’t end or move this game. It has really become a good traditional opener for both teams and usually tells a lot about how the year will go. It hasn’t gone to good for Kentucky lately and I don’t see it changing…
LOUISVILLE
OVER KENTUCKY
Tennessee at
Wyoming in Nashville (Saturday at 4:30 CDT on ESPN2)
I believe Wyoming is the “home” team and they moved their home game to Nashville because they could make a whole lot more money. With star WR Kelly Washington out and a stable of TBs to try out I would look for UT to run the ball a LOT. Wyoming is a half-decent team as well so I look for this one to stay fairly close…
TENNESSEE
OVER WYOMING
UAB at Florida
(Saturday at 5:00 CDT)
The Ron Zook era officially begins after the greatest 12 years in Florida football history. Steve Spurrier is truly a legend. Florida has ZERO SEC title before him and now they have 5 SEC titles and a national title. The Rex Grossman Heisman campaign should get off to a good start but again UAB isn’t your average cupcake so they could take some of the luster off Florida’s opener.
FLORIDA OVER
UAB
New Mexico at
South Carolina (Saturday at 6:00 CDT)
Lou Holtz and South Carolina open the season quietly and should roll up some big rushing yards…
SOUTH
CAROLINA OVER NEW MEXICO
LA-Monroe at
Ole Miss (Saturday at 6:00 CDT)
The only real stinker of the week. However I am sure Rebel fans will enjoy watching Manning and Co pad their passing stats…
OLE MISS OVER
LA-MONROE
Arkansas is
open this week.