College Football '11: Week 1

Last night, the 2011 College Football season began last night. And it has been a wild offseason for a few programs, with players receiving improper benefits, and a few surprise coaching changes.

Last night, the College Football season started with a couple of games. At Camp Randall, we got to see a glimpse of the multi-headed Badger running backs as Wisconsin rolled over UNLV 51-17. The Badgers have a Halloween weekend showdown against Ohio State. Ohio State's next opponent, Toledo had a field night against New Hampshire in a 58-22 win. The Buckeyes have more issues than they have players (more on that in another post).

THURSDAY NIGHT RESULTS:
# 11 Wisconsin 51, UNLV 17
# 20 Mississippi State 59, Memphis 14
Syracuse 36, Wake Forest 29 (OT)
Kentucky 14, Western Kentucky 3
Rutgers 48, North Carolina Central 0
Bowling Green 32, Idaho 15
Temple 42, Villanova 7
Florida International 41, North Texas 16
Louisville 21, Murray State 9

Tonight:
Youngstown State @ # 17 Michigan State
# 14 TCU @ Baylor

SATURDAY'S BIG MATCHES:
Akron Zips @ # 18 Ohio State Buckeyes- Noon

The Buckeyes will start more inexperienced players than they have players suspended for receiving improper benefits. Three more players were suspended yesterday for taking money at a charity event. The last thing that OSU Head Coach Luke Fickell needs in his debut is more distractions. Akron's defense had given up 200 yards on several occasions last year, and OSU could have a field day against Akron.

Revised Prediction: Ohio State 27, Akron 7

Kent State Golden Flashes @ # 2 Alabama Crimson Tide- Noon

The Crimson Tide begin the season ranked # 2 in the Nation, and are looking to win yet another National Championship. They begin their season with an easy test against Kent State, who debuts former Ohio State assistant Darell Hazell. The Darell Hazell era at Kent State will begin with a long, hot afternoon.

Prediction: Alabama 58, Kent State 0

Appalachian State Mountaineers @ # 13 Virginia Tech Hokies- Noon

The Mountaineers are no stranger to BCS teams. Four years ago yesterday, they pulled off the biggest upset in the history of college sports, with a 34-32 win in Ann Arbor against the University of Michigan, which happened to be the "jump the shark" moment for college football's all-time winningest program. Appalachian State travels to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech. Could an upset be on the horizon? Um...no.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Appalachian State 6

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ # 25 Southern Cal Trojans- 3:30PM

Prediction: USC 41, Minnesota 10

South Florida Bulls @ # 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish- 3:30PM

Prediction: Notre Dame 34, South Florida 13

Western Michigan Broncos @ Michigan Wolverines- 3:30PM

The Brady Hoke Era officially begins with the hope of promise and the restoration of a winning tradition at the University of Michigan. Hoke knows Michigan. He was an assistant under Lloyd Carr for eight seasons. Hoke knows defense. He was part of the defensive coaching staff under Lloyd Carr that won the National Championship in 1997. Hoke hired Greg Mattison, most recently a defensive coach for the Baltimore Ravens as the Defensive Coordinator. Expect some of the hard-hitting defense that Ravens fans are familiar with to be seen in the Big House. The Hoke era begins on a high note.

Prediction: Michigan 56, Western Michigan 7

Northwestern Wildcats @ Boston College Golden Eagles- Noon

Prediction: Northwestern 27, BC 24

Miami Red Hawks @ # 21 Missouri Tigers- Noon

Prediction: Mizzou 41, Other Miami 7

San Jose State Spartans @ # 7 Stanford Cardinal- 5PM

Prediction: Stanford 49, San Jose State 0

James Madison Dukes @ North Carolina Tar Heels- 3:30PM

The Tar Heels, like the Buckeyes and Miami Hurricanes, had issues during the long, hot spring and summer. Butch Davis was fired on July 28 as Head Coach. The Tar Heels have a lot of distractions off the field. Will they be focused for on the field? The Dukes upset Virginia Tech last year, and would love an upset in Chapel Hill over a distracted Tar Heel squad.

Prediction: James Madison 19, North Carolina 15 (UPSET PICK)

# 5 Boise State Broncos vs. # 19 Georgia Bulldogs (at the Georgia Dome)- 8PM

Prediction: Georgia 28, Boise State 20

# 3 Oregon Ducks vs. # 4 LSU Tigers (at Dallas Cowboys Stadium)- 8PM

Oregon will pick up where they left off. LSU has a lot of distractions off the field. Oregon will be too fast for these Tigers.

Prediction: Oregon 44, LSU 20

Tulsa Golden Hurricane @ # 1 Oklahoma Sooners- 8PM

The # 1 Team in both Preseason Polls (AP and Coaches) begins with a hurricane, and the Sooners will ride this hurricane and stay # 1.

Prediction: Oklahoma 52, Tulsa 6


UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
Miami Hurricanes @ Maryland Terrapins- 8PM on Labor Day Monday

This game could put the Hurricanes at a disadvantage. Like, their opponent in a couple of weeks, Ohio State, a lot of starters are sitting out in this trip to College Park, and that could result in the Terps spoiling Al Golden's debut as Head Coach for the Canes. Which is faster? The Terrapin or the Hurricane? Well, if a dozen of your players are suspended, these Tortoises will get to the finish line before the Hare does.

Prediction: Maryland 32, Miami 12


Other Top 25 Games this Week:
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks @ # 6 Florida State Seminoles- Sat. 3:30PM
Chattanooga Moccasins @ # 10 Nebraska Cornhuskers- Sat. 3:30PM
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns @ # 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys- Sat. 7PM
East Carolina Pirates @ # 12 South Carolina Gamecocks- Sat. 7PM
Missouri State Bears @ # 15 Arkansas Razorbacks- Sat. 7PM
Florida Atlantic Owls @ # 18 Florida Gators- Sat. 7PM
Utah State Aggies @ # 23 Auburn Tigers- Sat. Noon
SMU Mustangs @ # 8 Texas A&M Aggies- Sun. 7:30PM
Marshall Thundering Herd @ # 24 West Virginia Mountaineers- Sun. 3:30PM

Other Division I Games of Interest:
Colorado Buffaloes @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors- Sat. 10:15PM
Alcorn State Braves @ Grambling State Tigers- Sat. 7PM
BYU Cougars @ Ole Miss Rebels- Sat. 4:45PM


LOCAL DIVISION II/III COLLEGES*:
*- Colleges in Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison, Knox, Clark, Fayette, Licking, Muskingum, Fairfield, Marion, Pickaway, and Ross Counties
Capital Crusaders @ Wittenberg Tigers- Sat. 7PM
Otterbein Cardinals @ Gallaudet Bison- Sat. 1PM
Kenyon Lords @ Oberlin Yeomen- Sat. 1PM
Denison Big Red @ Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops- Sat. 7PM
St. Joseph's (IN) @ Ohio Dominican Panthers- Sat. Noon
Muskingum Muskies @ Defiance Yellow Jackets- Sat. 1:30PM