College Football 2011: Predicting The Winner Of The 10 Biggest Opening Week Game
The opening week of the college football season is a time when coaches and fans alike can gauge their respective team's progress over the off-season.
While most universities' schedule inferior teams they know they’ll dominate in the opening week, some give their players' the opportunity to begin the season on a high note by scheduling an intense match-up.
This list of the 10 biggest Week 1 games and predictions should give fans something to look forward to while the season is still almost seven months away.
ULM Vs. Florida State
1 of 10
Florida State will be "officially" starting the Jimbo Fisher era this year with starting QB E.J. Manuel. A solid passer who has the explosiveness to leave the pocket and run for a first down, Manuel now has his chance to prove what type of player he can be after the departure of Christian Ponder.
Coach Fisher’s No. 1 2011 recruiting class will also have an immediate impact on the field by starting in Week 1 against the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
With eight starters returning to both sides of the ball, Florida State will begin their season on a high note with a convincing Week 1 victory.
Predicted Winner: Florida State
San Jose State Vs. Stanford
2 of 10
This Week 1 game will be all about Stanford and the return of QB Andrew Luck.
Despite hiring a new head coach after Jim Harbaugh took his talents to San Francisco, the Cardinals should be a mainstay in the Top 10 if Luck can match his 2010 performance.
By scheduling San Jose State from the WAC in Week 1, Stanford will ease into 2011, as head coach David Shaw gets a feel for his new team.
Predicted Winner: Stanford
UNLV Vs. Wisconsin
3 of 10
After a successful season where the Badgers saw themselves ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation, Wisconsin will hurt in 2011 after losing so many starters from last year.
Without Scott Tolzien, Gabe Carimi and David Gilreath, to name a few, the Badgers will look for production from their new starters going into Week 1.
UNLV has been overshadowed throughout the years by another Nevada team and since second-year head coach Bobby Hauck at the helm, not much is expected in 2011 from the Running Rebels.
Predicted Winner: Wisconsin
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BYU Vs. Ole Miss
4 of 10
The Rebels posted a fairly solid recruiting class this year and coupled with the loss of QB Jeremiah Masoli, all indications point toward a rebuilding year for Ole Miss.
A few four-star receiving recruits will help the Rebels’ offense and the new QB will be on the same page as the freshmen, so if big things happen for the Rebels in 2011, it'll come as a surprise.
While the Rebels do have some promising years ahead, that won’t help them in Week 1 against the experienced Cougars from BYU.
10 returning starters on offense should give the Cougars the edge, as they look to begin their season with an encouraging win.
Predicted Winner: BYU
USF Vs. Notre Dame
5 of 10
The return of WR Michael Floyd and a top ten recruiting class will help the Fighting Irish reclaim some notoriety in the college football world.
After a respectable 8-5 record for the 2010 season, Notre Dame could finally be at the cusp of becoming a national powerhouse. Look for them to exert their power in Week 1 against a Big East shocker, the University of South Florida Bulls.
The Bulls matched Notre Dame’s 2010 record, but due to the loss of many starters on both sides of the ball, the Bulls may have a tough road ahead of them.
Predicted Winner: Notre Dame
Northwestern Vs. Boston College
6 of 10
Quarterback Dan Persa for the Northwestern Wildcats will be back under center after missing the last three games of last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. His loss was a major hit to the Wildcats offensive game.
Persa is looking to help Northwestern become BCS bowl eligible again, but their first roadblock begins in Week 1 against the Eagles of Boston College.
BC's quarterback, Chase Rettig, now has a year of service and experience under his belt and is hoping to improve the Eagles' standings in the ACC.
Despite Rettig’s tremendous developments, his offensive weapons will hold him back as they stumble out of the gate.
Predicted Winner: Northwestern
ECU Vs. South Carolina
7 of 10
Eastern Carolina hasn’t been headlining the news recently, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing big things in Greenville, N.C.
Dual-threat passer/runner Dominique Davis is an underrated star that will show us that he is due more credit than he has gotten. It will all begin Week 1 against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Marcus Lattimore will be going all out from the get-go for the Gamecocks after being sidelined early last year in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Florida State.
Coach Spurrier is also a recruiting mastermind, putting together the 13th ranked class, consisting of more than enough freshmen capable of starting in Week 1.
Predicted Winner: South Carolina
Boise State Vs. Georgia
8 of 10
The loss of Austin Pettis and Titus Young to the Boise State offense will definitely hurt their chances to match their 2010 12-1 record, but with a move to the Mountain West Conference, star QB Kellen Moore has the skill set to overcome the team's loss.
Playing Georgia and redshirt sophomore QB Aaron Murray will prove to be a difficult task for the Broncos because of Murray's development at the passer position.
The Bulldogs have also revamped their defense, beginning with a new defensive coordinator in Todd Grantham and will be returning eight starters to that side of the ball.
It’s going to be a good game at the Georgia Dome, but look for the visiting team to triumph.
Predicted Winner: Boise State
Appalachian State Vs. Virginia Tech
9 of 10
After last year’s 21-16 loss to Division I-AA James Madison in Week 2 and a Week 1 loss to No. 3 Boise State, Virginia Tech will be looking to start the 2011 season on a good note.
FCS Appalachian State, who’s known for the big upset, may give the Hokies a run for their money.
Don’t expect Tech to match their 10 straight wins from last year, due to the loss of QB Tyrod Taylor and defensive play-maker Rashad Carmichael. A Week 1 upset is always exciting to watch.
The Mountaineers will look to ignite the fire early on in their season with a huge Week 1 upset.
Predicted Winner: Appalachian State
Oregon Vs. LSU
10 of 10
The match-up between the Oregon Ducks of the Pac-10 and the LSU Tigers of the SEC may be the biggest of Week 1.
We will know for sure if Oregon has bounced back strong after their National Championship loss to Auburn and scheduling a Week 1 prime-time game will give the Ducks a confidence booster.
The game will be Sept. 3, 201, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas and has been dubbed the “Cowboy Classic.”
Oregon returns QB Darron Thomas and star running back LaMichael James and while they lost six starters on the defensive side of the ball, don’t expect LSU to keep up with the Ducks fast-paced game.
Predicted Winner: Oregon
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
