College Football's Top 10 Games of Week One

Two years ago, the Mountaineers shocked the college football world by going into the Big House and defeating Michigan. Last year, App. State opened at LSU, but the Tigers learned from Michigan's mistake and won handily.

This year, the 'Neers stay in-state and travel east to Greenville, where the Pirates have high hopes of repeating as Conference USA champions and are being touted by the national media as a possible BCS buster.

The game could feature two of the best quarterbacks in the country that nobody is talking about.

Armanti Edwards hurt his foot in early August, and while he's practicing again, he's doubtful for the opener. ECU's Patrick Pinkney (pictured) was granted a sixth year of eligibility and is back for his third season as ECU's signal caller.

Two of last year's most disappointing teams meet at the Edward Jones Dome out to prove that the 2007 season wasn't a fluke.

Mizzou was ranked No. 1 late in the year and went on to trounce Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. Illinois finished its season in the Rose Bowl.

The Illini then went out last year and limped to a 5-7 record, including three straight losses to Western Michigan, Ohio State, and Northwestern to close the season.

Mizzou won 10 games, including an exciting win over Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. The Tigers were embarrassed, however, in two lopsided losses to Texas and Oklahoma.

Gone from Mizzou are stars Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman and Jeremy Maclin. Taking Daniel's spot under center is sophomore Blaine Gabbert—a highly touted H.S. quarterback who spurned Nebraska to attend Mizzou.

Countering for the Illini is senior quarterback Juice Williams and his outstanding receiver, junior Arrelious Benn (pictured).

Last year's game was a 52-42 Missouri win. Expect fireworks again on Saturday.

This is pretty much the make or break year for Charlie Weis in South Bend. There are high expectations for the Fighting Irish, and they open with a good test at home against a 2008 bowl winner.

The Wolf Pack have a lot of firepower on offense and are coming off their 42-35 loss to Maryland in last year's Humanitarian Bowl.

Notre Dame, Lou Holtz' silly pick to play for a national championship, also went 7-6 and beat Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. The Irish bring a lot back, including starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen (pictured), whose fate is joined at the hip with Weis.

Nevada counters with its own outstanding junior QB, 6'6" Colin Kaepernick, who has 41 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in two seasons.

There might not be a better quarterback matchup on Saturday than Riley Skinner vs. Robert Griffin.

As a freshman Griffin got better as the season went along. He threw for over 2,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and only three picks. He was also second on the team with 846 rushing yards.

The Bears won just four games last year but return with confidence. They lost three games by seven points or less, and that experience could have them as a sleeper team in the Big XII.

Wake boasts a veteran group led by senior quarterback Skinner (pictured). The Demon Deacons trounced Baylor last year, 41-13, but this year promises to be a much closer contest.

It's almost like a broken record, but this is the year Cal expects to challenge USC for the Pac-10 title.

The Bears had high expectations last year, only to be upset at Maryland in week three. Cal lost three weeks later to Arizona, another game it should not have lost.

Kevin Riley has another year of experience under his belt and will be asked to just manage the game. That basically means, turn around and hand it to Jahvid Best (pictured) most of the time, and when we ask you to pass, don't screw it up.

Maryland will try again for the upset, but its defense will be challenged by a good offense that boasts arguably the nation's best tailback.

The 'Noles and 'Canes renew their longstanding rivalry and open conference play in the ACC. Florida State won last year's barnburner 41-39.

The good news for the 'Canes is that Antone Smith, who scored four touchdowns in that game, has graduated. The bad news is that Florida State brings back quarterback Christian Ponder (pictured), who ran for 144 yards, and Jermaine Thomas, a very capable replacement for Smith.

Miami has to shore up its rush defense if it has any hope of beating its in-state rival.

The game promises to be close, as the last six contests have all been decided by eight points or less.

The Broncos have recorded double-digit wins each of the last three seasons, including a pair of unbeaten regular seasons.

They were the nation's only 13-0 team in 2006 and finished 12-1 last season after falling to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl. One of their wins was a 37-32 triumph at Oregon.

Sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore (pictured) assumes the leadership role with the graduation of running back Ian Johnson. Moore was fantastic last year as a freshman. The southpaw threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions.

The Broncos simply reload every year but do have to replace their top four receivers from last year.

Revenge-minded Oregon will have its hands full, but it's a winnable game for the Ducks.

This could be a statement game for Oklahoma State, but it could also be a trap game for the Cowboys.

It would be understandable if the Cowboys were a little distracted Saturday afternoon after learning that starting tight end Jamal Mosley quit the team Tuesday because of personal reasons.

The sophomore caught just five passes for 57 yards last year but was supposed to be the replacement for all-conference tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who was drafted in the first round by Detroit.

Georgia might be this year's most overrated team, coming in at No. 13. But that doesn't mean the Bulldogs don't have talent and can't win this game. It'll be tough, though, for the Georgia offense to replace Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno.

Like Boise State and East Carolina, BYU has hopes of crashing the BCS party. One way to make a statement would be to upset the nation's third-ranked team led by the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

Still unsure of their offensive line starters, the Cougars face a monster test in OU's defense. The Sooners are loaded on both sides of the ball.

BYU does have talent on offense in quarterback Max Hall and receiver McKay Jacobson, but the line play will be crucial against the Sooners.

As good as Oklahoma is on defense, its offense is even better with Sam Bradford (pictured with tight end Jermaine Gresham) returning at quarterback with a wealth of talent around him.

Oklahoma hammered Mountain West foe TCU last year 35-10. BYU might keep it closer, but OU will still win.

The 2009 season apparently doesn't officially get kicked off until two marquee teams from the ACC and SEC tangle at the Georgia Dome Saturday night in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

Virginia Tech and Alabama both enter 2009 with national championship aspirations. A loss doesn't necessarily take the loser out of the national title hunt, but a win surely gives the victor a head start in the race.

Alabama used last year's demolition of Clemson in this game as a springboard toward a No. 1 ranking late in the year.

The Tide may be ranked higher, but it'll be hard for three new offensive linemen to face the always aggressive and talented Hokie defense. Virginia Tech returns a strong core from a defensive unit that ranked seventh in the nation last year.

On offense, the Hokies return explosive sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who won the starting job early on last year.