Week One of the college football season has come to a close. It was an exciting weekend and the play on the field gave us a little of everything.
We had our upsets (East Carolina over Virginia Tech, Bowling Green over Pitt), we saw some teams get exposed (yes, I’m pointing my finger at you Clemson, as well as, the aforementioned Virginia Tech and Pitt), we had inspired play (LSU facing the impending Hurricane Gustav), and we had sad and somewhat mysterious injuries to star players (Ohio State’s Chris Wells and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin).
In week one of my Picking College Football’s Biggest Games article, I went 13-5. Not bad for the first week of the season. Now it’s time to assign grades to the teams who played in those games.
August 28
Vanderbilt at Miami (OH) Prediction: Vandy, 24-17 Final: Vandy, 34-13
Vandy quarterback Chris Nickson can run the ball, but can he throw it? Nickson had a career high 166 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, but call me old fashioned, I’d rather have my tailbacks get the bulk of the carries.
Vandy’s defense did force three turnovers and hold Miami to 13 points, but they allowed 340 yards total offense, 244 of which were threw the air. This performance was good enough against a MAC team, but unless they improve it will be a long SEC season for the Commodores.
Grade: C+
The RedHawks need someone to step up in the running game and quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh has got to cut out the turnovers.
Defensively, Miami is in for a long season. If you can’t stop the run, it makes it pretty hard to win football games.
Grade: D-
(23) Wake Forest at Baylor Prediction: Wake, 38-10 Final: Wake, 41-13
Wake Forest and quarterback Riley Skinner looked impressive against an overmatched Baylor squad. The Demon Deacons performance was the bright spot in a dismal showing by the ACC this opening weekend. Wake just became the team to beat in the ACC.
Grade: B+
Baylor has a long way to go under first year head coach Art Briles. The Bears were dominated in every facet of the game.
Grade: D
NC State at South Carolina Prediction: SC, 35-20 Final: SC, 34-0
A rocky start for the Gamecocks turned into total domination. I smell a quarterback controversy brewing in Columbia, although I don‘t know how much controversy there would be. The starter Tommy Beecher was abysmal, throwing four interceptions before being benched in favor of Chris Smelley. The offense didn’t get going until Smelley entered the game, who led the Gamecocks on three fourth-quarter drives.
Grade: C-
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