Bad Advice, Bold Predictions and Something Else: NCAA Week One

Week one of the college football season is upon us, which means its time for fool-headed pundits (me) to tell football-starved fans (you) about the order of the universe. Then it's your job to pop my inflated head.

The first name on Georgia Tech's 2009 schedule card is a familiar one. Jacksonville State was Tech's initial opponent last year as well, and the Gamecocks served as a comfortable red carpet upon which the Jackets rolled out their option offense.

Saturday's 1 p.m. kickoff will almost-assuredly be the beginning of a similar story, as the Rambling Wreck return a year wiser and perhaps even hungrier for success than last year.

But as we all know, every game matters in college football, so here are three little chestnuts to consider when considering the pending showdown at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Bad Advice

Well, good advice, actually, primarily because it isn't mine.

Tony Barnhart, the venerated college football reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, put his prediction for this game at a pretty tame 31-7.

The reason? The Jackets play Clemson in five days, and Miami seven days after that. Barnhart reasons—and probably rightly so—that Paul Johnson will want to put this one away early to give his starters plenty of rest for two far more important games on the horizon.

But rest for the starters wouldn't be the only benefit. The top of Georgia Tech's depth chart is pretty square, especially on offense.

But go a level deeper, and there are some question marks, particularly at quarterback.

The most-proved backup, sophomore Jaybo Shaw, is out with a broken collarbone for at least four to five more weeks. True freshman Jordan Luallen is out as well with an ankle injury.

That leaves redshirt freshmen Tevin Washington and Quentin Sims, the latter of which just made the switch from wide receiver this fall to alleviate issues brought on by injuries.

Getting Nesbitt and Co. out early keeps them fresh and healthy, but it also gives one of those two the chance to prove themselves on the field, and get some meaningful playing time. It lets Johnson know what he's got down the chart and, if Tech is lucky, gets one or both of these guys some needed experience/confidence.

If Nesbitt goes down against, say, Miami, 30 minutes of game action for Washington or Sims could be a world of difference for Georgia Tech in a tight, important game.

Bold Prediction

The Jackets' top rusher against Jacksonville State will be Anthony Allen.

The former Louisville man, who sat out last season due to transfer rules, has drawn solid-to-stellar reviews from teammates since even last year. And while the cliche about the backup being everyone's favorite player might be true in some cases, compliments to running backs aren't handed out freely in Georgia Tech's spread option scheme.

Allen's Georgia Tech bio says he'll compete for a starting slot at A-back (one of two wing backs at either end of the offensive line) and also spell star junior Jonathan Dwyer at B-back (the back behind the quarterback).

It's hard not to see the 6-foot, 231-pound Allen in the latter role later in this game, assuming Tech puts JSU away and Dwyer sits down, but it will be interesting to see how Allen handles the possible dual roles Saturday.

Note: Allen is listed as one of the No. 1 A-backs on the depth chart, but that's slightly deceiving—Roddy Jones, last year's top A-back and a playmaker with breakaway speed, is out with a dislocated wrist. Paul Johnson said Tuesday that Jones could play, but don't expect much of him with Clemson on the horizon.

Something else

Look out for Stephen Hill.

I could be wrong, and it's easy to overrate true freshmen, but Hill made the depth chart as the backup to No. 1 receiver Demaryius Thomas, so that's something.

He's a big guy—6-foot-4, 196 pounds—and he's got 4.4-40 speed and owns the Georgia state high school long jump record.

Georgia made a late play for Hill last spring, but he stuck to his commitment to the Jackets.

And with Paul Johnson promising more focus on the passing game this year, a tall, fast weapon like Hill could be a serious weapon if he finds his sea legs early. What better time to do that than against Jacksonville State?

Finally, a prediction: The last game Georgia Tech played saw them blown out 38-3, probably in part because of overconfidence. Paul Johnson is a tough man, and I doubt many nights have gone by since that saw his players fall asleep with something other than his voice in their ears.

The Jackets can't afford to get overconfident at all this season, because it could be a special one if they keep their collective head. But even if they do peek past Jacksonville State on Saturday, it won't matter. The system is too good to be stopped by low-caliber defenses.

Jackets cruise, 45-10.