College Football's Seven Best Games: Week One

With the start of the season less than two months away, it is a good time to look at the best games for the opening week of college football.

Week One will help show whether the WAC will rise up and challenge the MWC for the title of best non-AQ conference.

Other great games will help establish which teams are on the way up. Oh, and Florida, Penn State, and Texas do not make the list for obvious reasons.

Oregon at Boise St.

Thursday September 3

Last year Boise went to Eugene and beat the wounded Ducks, whose high-powered offense struggled at quarterback. The Broncos went on to an undefeated regular season, only to fall to TCU and the nation’s number one defense in the non-BCS Poinsettia Bowl—one of the best bowl games of last year.

Oregon will be looking for revenge and comes loaded. Boise must win for a chance to return to BCS glory, as the rest of their schedule is nothing to celebrate.

A 5-star start to the season.

Louisiana Tech at Auburn

Louisiana Tech, under 3rd year coach Derek Dooley, with its high powered running attack and solid defense is always ready to take on its powerful neighbors in the SEC. Last year, Tech beat Mississippi State and now they have a chance to take it to rebuilding Auburn.

Gene Chizik left a disaster behind at Iowa State. Couldn't Auburn bring in a winning coach?

This could be a long start to a bad season for Auburn. Look for a potential upset here.

Nevada at Norte Dame

Is Norte Dame BCS bound, or just going to have another mediocre season?

While Nevada will not be the hardest team on the ND schedule, Nevada brings its high powered running attack in what is sure to be an interesting game.

Last year, ND struggled with San Diego St., one of the worst teams in the FBS. Will a loss to the Wolfpack signal the end of Charlie Weis’ tenure at ND?

Georgia at Oklahoma State

Unlike most of its SEC brethren (especially Florida), Georgia has tried to upgrade its OOC slate with quality games out of the region.

While last year’s trip to Arizona State was hurt by the Sun Devils’ unexpected defeat at the hands of MWC also-ran UNLV the week before, this year’s trip to Stillwater is not just one of the best games of the week, but one of the OOC games of the year. Thank you Georgia!!!

Mark Richt’s squad faces Mike Gundy’s super-powered offense in what is sure to be an entertaining game. A Georgia win here will establish them as a true challenge to Florida.

Gundy may be a man, but his teams do not know the meaning of the word "defense".

Get ready to have a goooooood time!

BYU as Oklahoma @ Arlington

Get ready to hold onto your hats and look for lots of touchdowns, as Jerry World opens with of the top offenses in college football. Jerry Jones is planning on many more college games in his stadium, with high profile games throughout the season.

Last year, OU benefitted from the BCS standings to leap over rival Texas into the Big 12 title game and into the BCS championship game.

While OU continued its BCS failure, it returns most of its defense (ranked 99th last year) and its backfield, including Heisman winner Sam Bradford and a pair of powerful RBs.

A brand-new O-line may damper the offense, leaving OU vulnerable and making Bradford question coming back for another season.

BYU failed on its “Quest for Perfection” last year, getting manhandled by Jerry Hughes and TCU, and getting beat up by eventual No. 2 Utah.

However, BYU returns QB Max Hall and RB Harvey Unga to power the BYU attack. BYU suffered last year as its defense fell apart mid-season due to injuries. BYU will also be breaking in a new O-line.

Alabama vs. VT @ Atlanta

In another example of what college football needs more, two BCS teams from last year tangle in a neutral site game.

Alabama starts the season tring to begin again after losing its final two games (to the top two teams in the country).

Virginia Tech started off last season with a surprising loss to non-AQ East Carolina, but recovered to win the ACC title and the Orange Bowl.

Was last year’s Alabama season merely a fluke in a down year in the SEC, with the Sugar Bowl loss a sign of the true Crimson Tide?

Can Virginia Tech return to the top of college football and earn a BCS title game berth for the first time in ten years?

I look forward to some answers.

Miami at Florida State

This traditional rivalry puts North Florida against South Beach (though both on now second tier compared to UF).

Before Miami joined the ACC, this contest was one of the top annual OOC games year in, year out, but both teams have fallen from their former paramount status.

FSU is poised to make another run at the ACC title, while Miami is hoping to come back into relevance.

This may be Bobby Bowden's last game versus Miami.