College Football 2011: Predicting the 10 Biggest Blowouts in Week 1

Since most fans are just excited to see the college football season get under way again, almost no one cares who that opening week game is against.

So matchups like Northern Arizona at Arizona and Akron at Ohio State are the norm.

Everyone just expects this.

The big-time program is looking for an easy win, while Northern Arizona is looking to get paid.

Not every team takes the easy route, but most do.

Here are the 10 biggest blowouts that will occur in the first week of the 2011 season.

UNLV at Wisconsin (Sept. 1)

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 20: James White #20 of the Wisconsin Badgers treies to get around the tackle of Jordan Kovacs #32 of the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wisconson won the game 48-28. (Photo b

Bobby Hauck's first season at UNLV didn't go quite as well as he would have liked.

The Rebels went 2-11 and fought the injury bug during all of 2010.

Hauck won big at Montana and should turn UNLV around before long. However, that turnaround won't begin at Camp Randall Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Wisconsin will throw a steady dose of Montee Ball and James White at the Rebels, and the Badgers' running game will wear them down.

Prediction: Badgers 60, UNLV 17

Western Kentucky at Kentucky (Sept. 1)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 04: Joker Phillips the Head Coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team during the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on September 4, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by

Western Kentucky is one of the five worst teams in the nation, but Willie Taggart has returned to his alma mater determined to rebuild this once proud program.

Taggart's first season was a struggle, as the Hilltoppers finished 2-10.

The Hilltoppers still lack the talent to compete with any SEC team, even Vanderbilt.

Kentucky, who also had a first-year head coach in 2010, reached a bowl game and looks to be getting better under Joker Phillips.

Prediction: Wildcats 42, Western Kentucky 10

San Jose State at Stanford (Sept. 3)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Andrew Luck #12 of the Stanford Cardinal throws pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty

OK, San Jose State was probably the worst team in the Football Bowl Subdivision last year.

The Spartans went 1-12 and must replace Jordan La Secla at quarterback.

Then there is Stanford, which has the nation's best quarterback in Andrew Luck and will likely be a Top-10 team most of the season.

Luck will likely be on the bench early in the third quarter as the Cardinal rest their star.

Prediction: Cardinal 63, San Jose State 7

Louisiana-Monroe at Florida State (Sept. 3)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Taiwan Easterling #8 of the Florida State Seminoles against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Florida State folks expect some pretty big things in Jimbo Fisher's second season since taking over for the legendary Bobby Bowden.

The Seminoles expect to win the ACC as they challenge Virginia Tech, but there are those who also think FSU is ready to become a national power again.

Either way, the Seminoles will put a whipping on Louisiana-Monroe.

Prediction: Seminoles 77, Monroe 20

Kent State at Alabama (Sept. 3)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Keshawn Martin #82 of the Michigan State Spartans has a pass broken up by DeMarcus Milliner #28 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Capitol One Bowl at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo b

This may be the blueprint for a blowout.

Take a below-average mid-major program and ask it to travel into SEC country.

Kent State will get a nice check from Alabama, and the Crimson Tide will kick off a potential undefeated season with an extremely easy win.

Trent Richardson should have a big game, and the Alabama defense, which returns nine starters, will control the tempo.

Prediction: Crimson Tide 50, Kent State 3

Louisiana-Lafayette at Oklahoma State (Sept. 3)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

WACO, TX - OCTOBER 24: Justin Blackmon #81 and Cooper Nicholas #89 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys celebrate a touchdown in front of Jordan Lake #21 of the Baylor Bears at Floyd Casey Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/G

Oklahoma State boasts one of the most efficient offenses in the nation.

It helps that Brandon Weeden has Justin Blackmon to throw to, and these two may set some records in this game.

Louisiana-Lafayette went 3-9 last season, and it's hard to predict a major improvement for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Prediction: Cowboys 66, Lafayette 24

Minnesota at USC (Sept. 3)

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Matt Barkley #7 of the USC Trojans is sacked during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on September 18, 2010 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

With Jerry Kill replacing Tim Brewster at Minnesota, one has to expect the Gophers will be much better prepared than in the past.

Minnesota actually played USC well last season.

But the long road trip and having to stop USC's super stud quarterback Matt Barkley will be too much for the Gophers.

Prediction: Trojans 44, Minnesota 14

Utah State at Auburn (Sept. 3)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nosa Eguae #94 and Antoine Carter #45 of the Auburn Tigers celebrate against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo

There are those who think the defending BCS champs are going to fall off a lot in 2011.

Maybe so, considering the SEC is always tough, but Auburn should still have a solid defense.

Auburn will have better players, and the reigning champs will open the season 1-0.

Prediction: Tigers 63, Utah State 14

Arkansas State at Illinois (Sept. 3)

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Nathan Scheelhaase #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini passes the ball under pressure from Quentin Williams #88 of the Northwestern Wildcats during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by J

It would behoove Illinois to stay focused on Arkansas State and not start looking ahead to Big Ten play.

The Red Wolves went 4-8 last season, but they are getting better.

One key reason is quarterback Ryan Aplin, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

Illinois has a balanced attack on offense and should wear down Arkansas State.

Prediction: Fighting Illini 48, Arkansas State 10

Western Michigan at Michigan (Sept. 3)

Rick Dole/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines passes against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on January 1, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo by Rick Dole/Getty Images)

If the Wolverines were facing Central or Eastern Michigan, predicting a blowout would be a no-brainer.

However, Western Michigan has the potential to compete for the Mid-American Conference championship.

Still, the fans in Ann Arbor expect close games and even losses to programs like Western Michigan to have come to an end since Rich Rodriguez was ousted and Brady Hoke was hired.

It also helps to have Denard Robinson.

Prediction: Wolverines 54, Western Michigan 17