The Verdict: Week 1 (Or Why Boise State's Win Isn't All That Impressive)

Week 1 Rant...

What's with all the Boise State love all of a sudden?

Not to diminish a decent win, but Oregon is not a great football team this year. The Ducks returned exactly one starter on the defensive line and one starter on the offensive line.

Guess what?

It showed. Heading into the season they were not a top 20 program like so many prognosticated. They don't have the talent in the trenches to get that initial push. As the season wears on this win for Boise, it will lose it's luster.

If their best victory is at home against a 7-5 Pac 10 school then they won't have the resume to be in a BCS bowl. Sorry Broncos, that's just the reality.

...End Rant

While most of the country was BBQ-ing hot dogs, swimming, or sleeping on Monday night, the other 0.5% watched the best college football game of the weekend.

Florida State and Miami served up an instant classic that reminded the country what college football is all about. In a seesaw rivalry game everything was left on the field.

There were no sucker punches, injured QBs, or (for the most part) sloppy offenses.

Instead we saw a freshman kicker nail a 50+ yard field goal, Jacory Harris play with dry ice in his veins, and Christian Ponder show FSU how to be a true leader. Harris and Ponder are everything that fans wanted Kyle Wright and Drew Weatherford to be.

It looks like the ACC isn't quite dead yet.

But I'm not done speaking...

Don't sleep on Missouri or Cincinnati this year.

I don't want to sound blasphemous but Blaine Gabbert might (gasp!) be a better QB than Chase Daniel was. He did everything in a game where Missouri was a heavy road underdog. 

As for Cincinnati...I don't think last year was a fluke, not if their 47-15 pasting of Rutgers is any indication. They piled up 564 yards of offense against a supposedly decent defense. If you're looking for the most underrated team in the country, the Bearcats could be your answer.

Now I'm just listing...

Well, normally I would but I refuse to create a top 25 until after the third week.

If I did one now, 90% would be based on pure speculation and that's not a indication of anything. It's merely a prediction.

The unbelievably, ridiculously, extremely (insert your adverb) early BCS predictions...

National Championship: Florida vs. Texas
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. BYU
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Cincinnati 
Orange Bowl: Miami vs. Ohio State
Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State

Signing off...

Kudos to Northern Iowa, Richmond, and William & Mary.

Just because these teams aren't in the FBS does not mean that they can't hang with and beat FBS teams.

In all honesty, Virginia and Iowa would probably win these games handily 98 out of a 100 times (I won't say the same for Duke). But it makes me wonder when FBS college kids are going to start taking FCS teams seriously in the same way they would any other game.

Do none of these kids remember Michigan-Appalachian State? Vile upsets can happen to anyone. Yes, even to your favorite team. Just a friendly reminder.

Enjoy the season.