The Kickoff Classic: LSU vs N.C. Is This Year's First SEC Surprise Loss

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fla.) While the case may still be made that the SEC is the best conference top to bottom in the NCAA, the Kickoff Classic in Atlanta, Ga. on September 4, 2010, may not help make that case.

LSU may come into the game a favorite based on Las Vegas odds, but Butch Davis and company may very well have the last say in the debate.

LSU comes in with a still shaky quarterback situation and an overall sputtering offense. This won't bode well in this game against North Carolina for two huge reasons.

Every coach in America will tell you that defense always comes around first because of the very nature of it. Its great athletes reacting to what they see.

Offense takes practice and timing and in the first game of the season, there is usually little of both to be seen on an offense that ended the prior season so shaky.

Secondly, LSU will be playing against the best defense they may see all season until they play Alabama. Yes, North Carolina's defense is just that great. While LSU may have a good defense, the Tar Heels have a great one.

Given LSU's propensity to turn the ball over, the Tar Heel defense could score as many points as the N.C. offense.

Not only will the Tar Heels make an early season statement for the ACC, they may well be on their way on making a run for the ACC title as well.

Butch Davis is a winning coach and everybody knows it. Entering his fourth season, he now has his recruits in place and is finally expected to start showing the reason why he was hired after back to back 8-5 seasons.

The Tarheels' offense is led by T.J. Yates at quarterback. Last college football season, the Tarheels scored 28 touchdowns and averaged 311.4 yards/game. The defense allowed 21 touchdowns and held their opponents to an average 267.8 total yards per game.

Those are great building blocks for the 2010 season.

Conversely, LSU is led by Jordan Jefferson at quarterback. Last season, they scored 39 touchdowns and averaged just 304.5 yards/game; the defense allowed 19 touchdowns and their opponents averaged 327.6 yards per game—almost 60 yards more than North Carolina.

Should it be close at the end, the edge still goes to North Carolina since Les Miles can't read the scoreboard clock and Jordan Jefferson seems to melt down under pressure.

Should the game turn into a rout, it may be the kickoff of the Les Miles farewell tour as LSU fans are increasing becoming more vocal of the shortcomings of Miles and his ability to turn top talent into top contenders.

This is certainly an interesting game for fans to watch and a game that may settle the picture of the rest of the season for both games. Twice Alabama has used this game to catapult itself into the top 10 and title talk while the losers fared much worse fates.

It could be the same again this year.