What We Learned In College Football's First Saturday

We've waited all through the offseason to get some answers.  And although there are many new questions that come out of this first weekend of college football, there are many things that we can now say with some certainty about some of the teams and/or conferences. 

To that end, I'm going to run down what I came away with from watching the early games on Thursday and Saturday's slate of games.

The ACC is horrible.  This conference has not won a BCS bowl game since 1999.  This year looks to continue that trend.  We've been told that Clemson and Virginia Tech were both solid.  They both lost.  And NC State was shut out to a South Carolina team that looked very average most of the game.

Clemson was overhyped again.  Tommy Bowden is like that Senior VP at the Fortune 500 corporation that only has that job because his uncle is the CEO.  He is living off of his last name.  To think that he did a "head fake" by interviewing with Arkansas to get a raise when he is already making more money than he deserves is sickening. 

There may be talent on that team but it just isn't utilized.  Their tailback Davis was eligible for the draft last year.  He should have gone.  As it is, he will toil on a mediocre team while sharing carries and being vulnerable to injury.

Virginia Tech found out that Karma is a b!tch.  They have won games on cheap punt blocks and today they lose one.  That is both ironic and classic.

Georgia Tech won big over an overmanned school, so it's hard to tell if the triple option will work in the BCS leagues, but the start looks promising.

The SEC was 11-1 but not all is well.  LSU wallops last year's media darling, Florida toyed with Hawaii, and Alabama made the Clemson game look easy.

Florida looks as if they have improved their defense.  Their offense appears to be fine with or without Harvin.

Georgia was very workman-like, which is common for them.

LSU has two QBs which means they have no QB, but they didn't need one.  Their D is stout.

Bama's recruiting class (especially Ingram and Jones) are as advertised.  If they aren't competing for the SEC West this year, they definitely will next year.

Ole Miss gave Nutt the very comfortable opening game margin that they haven't had in the past few years.  Snead was shaky at times but the potential is there.

Arkansas had no business having to come back from 10 down at home to beat a Division I-AA (FCS—I hate that moniker) school.  But for the first time in his career, Casey Dick won a game all by himself rather than being bailed out by the second most prolific running back tandem ever of McFadden and Jones, so there is a positive takeaway there.

Miss. State was the SEC's lone loser.  I have been saying that last year was a fluke for them.  They won three games they should not have and their real conference record should have been 1-7 versus 4-4.  This year, they go back to being a paycheck game for the big boys in the conference (which is fine as the SEC needs some).

The Big 12 was a mixed bag.  Some SEC and ACC teams played other BCS conference schools on opening weekend, but the only team in the Big 12 to do that was Missouri—and they won.  The jury is still out on the Big 12.

Missouri did look good against Illinois, a team expected to be bowl bound this year.  I'm sure they would have liked to have not given up 40+ points.  When they face a team that won't give up 50, that defense could be a problem.

Texas A&M has to be wondering if the many critics that wondered why they hired Sherman were on to something.  He promptly loses the home opener against Sun Belt Arkansas State.  They don't look ready for primetime and they will be hammered in Big 12 conference play.  Texas is licking their chops now and Texas Tech sees their recent streak continuing.

Speaking of Texas Tech, this media darling did what they always do which is give up way too many points to a team it shouldn't have.  Defense is always the Achilles heel on this team.  For those that see Texas Tech as a trendy Big 12 champion pick, remember: "defense wins championships."

Oklahoma played a Div I-AA school but I should point out that it was because they had another team shceduled that bailed on them.  I should also point out that the other team wasn't any good either (Middle Tennessee State) but they're at least from Div I-A.  Oklahoma creamed them but that was expected.

Texas was called "soft" by their Sun Belt opponent's coach.  Bad move!  Will Muschamp will change the culture at Texas on the defensive side of the ball and that was evident already.  They won handily.

Nebraska beat up a cupcake but, since it's Pelini's first game, we learned that he can get his boys ready to play and not let an Appy State happen to them.  But, as a former defensive coordinator, Pelini has to be concerned about giving up 24 to Western Michigan.

The Big Ten looks like the Big Two again except this year it's Ohio State and Wisconsin instead of Michigan.

Illinois lost for the second straight year to Mizzou but was able to put up 40+.  They will fare ok in Big Ten play.

Ohio State did nothing more or less than expected against their cupcake.  Wells injury was scary.  They're saying he shouldn't miss time.  They could win most of their game without him, but they need him to have a chance at USC.

Michigan looked lost at times.  And I read some of their fans on message boards calling the offense "cute."  That's classic.  It's only a matter of time before this sandlot, playground, backyard offense is no longer in vogue.  Can we go back to playing real football please.  It's not a coincidence that they don't run this crap in the NFL.  Michigan is in for a few losses this year.

Wisconsin took care of business, but the Spartans lost in a year where they were the "darkhorse" to challenge Ohio State.  Minnesota had to sweat too much against a team that a Big Ten school should overpower.

The Big East took a hit in the prestige department today.  Pitt may be (and most likely is) overrated but it didn't help the Big East that one of their "good" teams lost to Bowling Green.  Dave Wannstadt probably lost his job today though they will wait until the end of the year to make a move unless it gets really bad.

West Virginia fans were grumbling on the message boards that their offense was outgained by by Villanova.  In fact, Villanova turned the ball over 3 times.  If not for that, this game is closer to a nail-biter.  WVU fans are right to worry.

Syracuse continued their losing ways.  Coaching changes may not even wait for the season to end there.

Finally, the Pac 10 had some of the more illuminating games because conference play has already started out West.

Oregon State (who was picked by some to challenge USC) fell woefully to Stanford and are now 0-1 in conference play.  Fans point to slow starts and good finishes in prior years, but you can't walk on the edge of a cliff too long or you'll fall off.  With the level of competition this year, it's hard to see Oregon State much better than .500.

Stanford, however, is much improved.  They won't get lucky enough to be given turnover after turnover and have another USC gift wrap job but they will win some games.  That is to say that, if they do get a gift wrapped game, it won't come from USC.

USC won in a walk and got lots of players into the action.  They will get better as the year goes on offensively and they look like they might be back at the level they were a few years ago.  I think Booty was a letdown between the Palmer/Leinart eras and this new Sanchez guy.  The defense is stout.  They will probably be in the NC game.

Arizona is playing with some intensity.  They only won by 70.  Think Mike Stoops might want to keep his job?  More games like that and he just might.

Arizona State should have won more handily against an in-state directional school.

Oregon won handily.  Cal squeaked one out.

Hope you readers enjoyed my recap of what we learned about the conferences and select teams.  Please feel free to agree or disagree.