An Amatuer's Opinion On Week One

The 2010 college football season is upon us, with the first kick off in less that two hours.  While I would watch any game, I do have my favorites and so I will limit myself to commenting on only those that I have a greater interest or those that involve ranked (Using the AP rankings until the BCS ones are available) teams.  As you can see below I have a wide ranging interest but I am not so egotistical to claim expertise on all the contests that might arise.  To be honest I can claim no expertise on any of them but I do have opinions on the outcomes of the games that interest me and so without any preamble here is what I think of week one of 2010.

[Disclaimer: I am a homer for the Big Ten and especially for the University of Michigan but I try to be objective in my views.]

Weekly Highlights:

 - The game of the week with no disrespect to any other contest has to be Boise State vs. Virginia Tech. VA Tech will be breaking in many starters on defense and Boise will be bringing back more starters that any other team I have heard of this year, so the prevailing logic and thinking by some experts suggests that this one even played in Maryland should go the Broncos way.  I howeverreally believe Coach Beamer and his team can pull out a victory as I do not think they will take Boise as lightly as some other programs have in recent years.  If VA Tech wins it should end the chants and any possible claim that Boise deserves to be in National Championship consideration.  I am not willing to call a VA Tech win an upset as it is so early in the season and besides they are both preseason top ten teams according to the experts.

Potential Routs

Florida A&M at (13) Miami (FL)

(5) Texas vs. Rice

Texas State at Houston

- I personally believe that Houston will run the score up whenever they can so if pushed to pick one this will be the rout of the week.

Potential Upsets:

Minnesota at Middle Tennessee

- I do not think now that MTSU first choice for QB is out that Minnesota will be upset but this is still a potential one.  It is just not as likely now.

(15) Pittsburgh at Utah

- Pittsburgh also is primed to be upset here but I think hunger and a good running game saves Pitt for the upset.

Purdue at Notre Dame

-This is more wishful thinking probably than probability but Purdue maybe can catch Notre Dame looking past the Boilermakers, The Irish want nothing more than to revenge what happened to them in Ann Arbor last year and that may be enough to seal their fate in this game.

Connecticut at Michigan

- Neither team is ranked but most experts are picking the Huskies even if Vegas is not.  I think the Wolverines can get the win if they can get some ground yards early and not put the ball on the ground.  I am not if this is much of an upset

(24) Oregon State vs. (6) TCU

- If the Rodgers brothers shine the Beavers could ruin TCU’s season before it even gets started.  This will be the upset of the week.

Thursday, September 02    

Hampton at Central Michigan

- CMU may not rout Hampton but the Chippewas Should win at home.

Marshall at (2) Ohio State

- The Buckeyes will win it is only a matter of by how much the sweater vest wants to win.  The Offense may go vanilla after half time to save some mystery for the Hurricanes and avoid injuries.

Florida A&M at (13) Miami (FL)

- The margin of victory for Miami is the only question.

Towson at Indiana

- FCS school will make Hoosier fans happy this week

Minnesota at Middle Tennessee

- If MTSU’s suspended quarterback were available I would have picked against Minnesota.

(15) Pittsburgh at Utah

- Utah will not be intimidated but Pittsburgh should be able to rely on its running to overcome the altitude and a new QB to have a narrow victory.

(14) USC at Hawaii

- USC will take out its anger against Hawaii and win by at least three touchdowns.

Friday, September 03  

Arizona at Toledo

- The Rockets only have ability to hang for maybe a quarter.

Saturday, September 04     

Miami (OH) at (4) Florida

- The gators will run up the score on this Saturday

Youngstown State at (19) Penn State

- Jo Pa will be one more victory closer to 400.

Samford at (20) Florida State

- how many points will Jimbo Fisher pound against his former school.

Western Michigan at Michigan State

- The Broncos will lose and will prove any form of test for the Spartans

Eastern Illinois at (9) Iowa   

- Iowa will remember a close call against a lesser team last year and pull away early.

Louisiana-Lafayette at (23) Georgia

- The Bulldogs collect their payday victory

Illinois vs. Missouri

- Missouri continues to beat Illinois at the neutral location series.

South Carolina State at (16) Georgia Tech

- The Yellow Jackets should have over three hundred yards rushing in this win.

Weber State at Boston College

- Boston College will not be tested.

(5) Texas vs. Rice

- Texas will run up the score more than any other school this weekend.

New Mexico at (11) Oregon

- Victory for the ducks even though the school with the ugliest uniforms

Coastal Carolina at (25) West Virginia

- Noel Devine starts his senior campaign in this victory

Purdue at Notre Dame

- If the boilermakers have any speed, they will pull out a victory with a trick play.

Connecticut at Michigan

- The huskies say they will not be intimidated by the bigger house.  They say they will not be intimidated by the Michigan brand.  I still think that the Wolverines can pull out a victory by using speed on the edge over the experienced but slower Uconn lines.

Richmond at Virginia

- Virginia’s new coach beats his old school.

San Jose State at (1) Alabama

- Even without Ingram the tide rolls.

Utah State at (7) Oklahoma

- The Sooners will win at least 28 points

Western Kentucky at (8) Nebraska

- The cornhuskers pound the WKU

Tennessee Tech at (17) Arkansas

- Even with his foot less than 100% Mallet leads his team to victory

Arkansas State at (22) Auburn

- Ugly win for the tigers

Northwestern at Vanderbilt

- SEC starts 2010 0-1 to the Big Ten

(24) Oregon State vs. (6) TCU

- Oregon wins one few think they can and end TCU chances of being a BCS buster.

(21) LSU vs. (18) North Carolina

- If it were not for the NCAA distractions and personnel disruptions I think North Carolina would have won but now LSU wins a sloppy game.

Texas State at Houston

- The only team that might score more than Texas is Houston and this will begin the run of weaker opponents Houston faces.  A few more victories with this schedule and talk will start moving Houston up in the polls where it does not belong.

(26) Cincinnati at Fresno State

- The Bearcats squeak on out on the road

(12) Wisconsin at UNLV

- John Clay starts his claim to many post season awards in this win.

Monday, September 06      

Navy vs. Maryland

- I am not sure Maryland can stop Navy but I am not sure the Middies can stop the Terrapins either.  Last one with the ball wins. 

(3) Boise State vs. (10) Virginia Tech

- The Hokies closer to home and having all camp to prepare should win this game and end Boise States chances to have an in road to the national championship.