BYU, LSU, North Carolina Open with Dangerous 1-AA Schools

Do you remember the shocker Appalachian State pulled off in Ann Arbor last year?  They're going to try to do it again...this time against the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

LSU, Maryland, San Diego State, North Carolina, Duke and BYU are among a dozen or so 1-A teams, or what we now call the "Football Bowl Subdivision" that open their season against 1-AA teams, or the "Football Championship Subdivision."

Many so-called "experts" will tell you these games are going to be walkovers, but I'm saying we shall see some upsets. 

If you don't believe me, here are some scores from 2007 besides Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32:

How about Northern Iowa 24, Iowa State 13, New Hampshire 48, Marshall 35 and North Dakota State 27, Minnesota 21.

Six of these games really stand out.

1.  Appalachian State @ LSU:The 1-A champion vs. the 1-AA Champion

The Appalachian State Mountaineers from the Southern Conference have won the last three 1-AA National Championships. 

There's really nothing that has to be said, because they went on the road and beat Michigan in front of 112,000 Wolverine fans, but they are going to be very good this year.  They've been picked No. 1 in a couple of preseason polls, and Jerry Moore is a great coach who has taught his team not to be intimidated.

Appalachian State returns 14 starters, and their quarterback, Amanti Edwards, is actually getting mentioned as a possible 2008 Heisman Trophy candidate.  Les Miles will not let his club take anything lightly about this game.

2.  Delaware @ Maryland: Mid-Atlantic Border War

Delaware, under coach K.C. Keeler, is picked fourth by Phil Steele and fifth by the "Sporting News."  In case you are unaware of the Blue Hens, they average over 20,000 fans a game and have won six National Championships. This is the first meeting between the two since 1948.

Maryland was not picked to finish in the top of the ACC, and last year they did not run away from 1-AA Villanova last year or 1-AA William and Mary the year before.  Delaware has to replace their quarterback, Joe Flacco, who is a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

3.  Cal Poly @ San Diego State: Upset Special!

The Mustangs from Cal Poly of San Luis Obispo, Calif., are coached by Rich Ellerson.  Last year, they finished 7-4 and return 10 starters from an offense that was second in total production, right behind Appalachian State. 

Cal Poly is 10th in Phil Steele's poll and 13th in the Any Given Saturday poll and were also voted the "Program Most on the Rise."  They are also showing signs of growth as they have scheduled Wisconsin, a Top 10 1-A team,  later in the season.

San Diego State gave up 413 points last year and finished 4-8.  They return half their starters and have to find a new quarterback.  Most analysts are not expecting much from the Aztecs this year.  This is where the 1-AA will surprise the 1-A.

4.  James Madison @ Duke: Best Chance for 1-AA Win

Phil Steele rates James Madison No. 1 in the 1-AAs.  They won the championship in 2004 and have experience playing in tough places.  Mickey Mathews took over in 1999, and since then they have been a 1-AA power.

Duke is trying to upgrade its program and has had some recruiting success lately.

5.  Northern Iowa @ BYU: N. Iowa beat Iowa St. on the road last year

The Northern Iowa Panthers made it to the National Championship in 2005.  Coach Mike Farley must find four new starters for the offensive line, but they return seven of 11 on a very good defense. BYU is ranked in the top 25 of the Coaches Poll.

What's interesting about this game is that BYU was supposed to open with Nevada, who pulled out.  When that happened some said BYU football coach, Bronco Mendenhall, scheduled his team a "win to open the 2008 season."  Northern Iowa will not be happy to hear about this.

6.  McNeese State @ N. Carolina.....Boys vs. Heels

The McNeese State Cowboys of the Southland Conference finished 11-1 last year and were upset in the first round of the 1-AA playoffs.  They made it to the championship game in 2002, and this year they return 13 starters from last year's team.

Butch Davis is expecting a lot of improvement from his Tar Heels this year.  In 2004, North Carolina struggled with 1-AA William and Mary, winning 49-38.