Finally, it’s that time.  College football is back.  This article is the beginning of a weekly look at top games, teams, and names making news.  I will also provide predictions for every game, along with some brief thoughts on select games.  So without further ado…

What happens the morning after a night of chipotle-habanero wings?  A HOT SEAT

Oh, no, there’s a wildfire in Indiana…wait, it’s okay folks, it's just the smoke billowing out from under Charlie Weis’ ample backside.

Is it just me or is the Rich Rodriguez tenure starting to feel a little like Billy Gillespie’s time at Kentucky?

Steve Kragthorpe needs to make like the stadium’s name (Papa John’s) and deliver.

Another down year and Al Groh will lose the R and H, and become Al Go.

“I’m sending out an SOS”….Steven Orr Spurrier needs QB Garcia to get the message this season.

Todd Dodge, I hope your son is as good as advertised, and that you have found a defense this offseason.

Finally, a memo to J.D. Brookhart at Akron, don’t open against Penn State when you are fighting for your job.

Another Worthless Ranking:  My Preseason Top 10

10.  Florida State

  9.  Ohio State

  8.  Penn State

  7.  Alabama

  6.  Virginia Tech

  5.  USC

  4.  Georgia

  3.  Oklahoma

  2.  Texas

  1.  Florida

Yes, that is Georgia, projected to be 11-1 against the nation’s toughest schedule.  Yes, that is Florida State, projected to be 11-2.  No, there is no Ole Miss or LSU.  No Oklahoma State either.  It’s my opinion (based on my own ranking system), so deal with it.

Finally, Let the Games Begin

FBS versus FCS…..All these coaches will be preaching Appalachian State

Air Force                     31        Nicholls State              14

Arizona State              45        Idaho State                 10

Arkansas                     38        Missouri State             14

Arkansas State           24        Miss Valley State        6

Boston College           28        Northeastern               3

Duke                           27        Richmond                   17                    Upset Alert

East Carolina               35        Appalachian State       20

Florida                         66        Charleston Southern   7

Fresno State                31        UC-Davis                    13

Georgia Tech               35        Jacksonville State        0

Hawaii                         42        UCA                           26                    Upset Alert

Houston                      45        Northwestern St.         14

Indiana                        31        Eastern Kentucky       16

Iowa                            38        Northern Iowa             3

Kansas                         56        Northern Colorado      14

Kansas State               33        UMass                         17

Kent State                   28        Coastal Carolina          13

La-Lafayette               37        Southern                      9

Michigan State            45        Montana State             7

Miss State                   38        Jackson State              10

North Carolina            52        Citadel                       12

Oregon State               38        Portland State             14

Pittsburgh                    34        Youngstown St.          7

South Florida              39        Wofford                      13

SMU                           44        Stephen F. Austin       23

Southern Miss             49        Alcorn St.                    7

Temple                        23        Villanova                     14                    Upset Alert

Texas Tech                  59        North Dakota              17

UCF                            31        Samford                      8

UNLV                         36        Sacramento St.            17

Vanderbilt                   35        Western Carolina        13

Virginia                       34        William and Mary       10

West Virginia              45        Liberty                         6

Wyoming                    37        Weber State                16

1 Star Games (Well, these will be better than an Arena League Game...)

Texas                           51        La-Monroe                  14                    ULM +41

Ohio State                   42        Navy                           7                     OSU -22.5

USC                            40        San Jose State             7                     SJSU +35

Penn State                   49        Akron                          17                    PSU -26.5

Tennessee                    35        Western Kentucky      10                    WKU +30.5

Utah                            41        Utah State                   17                    UTAH -21

LSU                            31        Washington                  7                     LSU -16.5

Michigan                     40        Western Michigan       17                    UM -11.5

Kentucky                    42        Miami, OH                  20                    UK -14

2 Star Games (Well, these are better than watching the CFL…)

Auburn                        28        Louisiana Tech            9                     AU -13

UCLA                         31        San Diego State          12                    UCLA -17.5

Wisconsin                    34        Northern Illinois          16                    WI -16.5

Oklahoma                    45        BYU                           28                    BYU +22

Florida State               27        Miami, FL                   10                    FSU -5

Clemson                      30        Middle Tenn State      14                    MTSU +19.5

3 Star Games (Well, these are better than watching NFL Exhibitions…)

Ole Miss                      35        Memphis                     21                    MEM +17

Troy                             27        Bowling Green            14                    TR -6.5

Texas A&M                23        New Mexico               10                    NM +14.5

Boise State                  34        Oregon                        22                    BS -5.5

Notre Dame                36        Nevada                        24                    NV +14.5

Colorado                     26        Colorado State            14                    CU -11

Nebraska                     30        Florida Atlantic           20                    FAU +21.5

Arizona                       41        Central Michigan          30                    CMU +12.5

UAB                           27        Rice                             17                    UAB -4.5

4 Star Games (Well, they will beat an NFL Regular Season game any day…)

UTEP                          30        Buffalo                        21                    UTEP -6.5

Purdue                         26        Toledo                         17                    TOL +12

Wake Forest                29        Baylor                         20                    WFU -1

California                    28        Maryland                     20                    MD +21.5

Stanford                      35        Washington State        27                    WSU +17

Missouri                      34        Illinois                         27                    MO +7.5

Rutgers                        21        Cincinnati                    16                    RUT +6

Eastern Michigan        26        Army                           21                    ARMY +6

Minnesota                   24        Syracuse                      19                    SYRA +7.5

5 Star Games (Well, this is what we’ve been waiting for since January…)

Georgia                       24        Oklahoma State          21                    UGA +6.5

The ‘Dawgs running game and defense will make a difference, as Georgia picks up a huge opening season win. 

Alabama                      17        Virginia Tech              14                    VT +7

Two great defensiveve minds square off, but Alabama has a little more explosiveness on offense, though Tyrod Taylor will keep it close. 

Tulsa                            27        Tulane                         24                    TLN +14

The Golden Hurricane break in a new offensive coordinator, while the Wave try to wipe away a dismal season.

New Mexico State      23        Idaho                           20                    ID +4

The Aggies win the initial battle to stay out of the WAC (and nation’s) cellar. 

South Carolina            23        North Carolina St.       21                    SC +4

This is Steve Spurrier’s last chance to prove that he has not lost the magic touch, while the always underrated Tom O’Brien continues to build the Pack.

Connecticut                 23        Ohio                            21                    O +4.5

My prediction is for a stellar season for the Bobcats, so it would not be a huge surprise if they are the MAC’s first winner over a BCS team.

Ball State                    32        North Texas                30                    NT +18

It’s a game that no one will care about, but it should be one of the more exciting match-ups of the opening weekend.  North Texas’ offense should be much improved, while Ball State adjusts to life without Nate Davis or coach Brady Hoke. 

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

I have no interest in gambling away my money, but if you will notice, I made predictions for the point spread for each of the games.  This season, I am attempting to see if my “system” has been refined enough to “beat Vegas.”  Each week, during the weekly recap, you’ll see how well I did.

Also, there are some games each week in which the “system” varies significantly from the Vegas line, what most sites and data folks call “locks.”  The five locks this week:

Ohio State -22.5 over Navy (projection is 35.3)

Michigan -11.5 over Western Michigan (projection is 23.2)

Florida State -5 over Miami, FL (projection is 16.6)

Rutgers +6 over Cincinnati (projection is Rutgers by 5.4)
Tulane +14 over Tulsa (projection is Tulsa by 2.7)

Why it’s not my fault

If these projections are way off, it’s not my fault because I spent too much time dissecting the six preseason snaps taken by Michael Vick.

Comments always welcome.