College Football Rankings 2011: Picking the Top 25's Week 1 Winners

Week 1 of college football is already less than three weeks away, and it features some very exciting matchups.

From the Georgia-Boise State game to the LSU-Oregon game, the Top 25 poll will certainly see a lot action in the first slate of games.

Although many of the Top 25 teams play tune-up games against vastly weaker opponents, fans across the nation are anxious for the college football season to finally commence.

It will be a great week of football, and fans will have to keep their eyes peeled for potential upsets and close games.

Here are my week 1 winners for every game in the Top 25.

No. 25 Penn State vs. Indiana State

Penn State enters the 2011 college football season facing FCS opponent Indiana State.

The Nittany Lions had an up-and-down season last year with two different quarterbacks in Robert Bolden and Matt McGloin. While head coach Joe Paterno hasn't declared a starter for 2011, Penn State should still boast a very talented football team that could surprise some teams in the Big Ten behind running back Silas Redd and wide receiver Derek Moye.

This game will merely be a tune-up for the Nittany Lions before their Week 2 matchup against the highly-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

Winner: Penn State

No. 24 Texas vs. Rice

The Texas Longhorns will look to reverse their fortunes from 2010 against the Rice Owls in Week 1.

Garrett Gilbert had an underwhelming 2010, but the Longhorns certainly have the athletes to make some noise in 2011. 

Last season, the Owls made it a closer contest with the Longhorns than many Texas fans would like, as they lost only by 17 points. 

But this season, the Longhorns figure to have better chemistry, especially since Gilbert has a full year of starting under his belt. Simply put, the Longhorns have better athletes and the better overall team in this game.

Winner: Texas

No. 23 Florida vs. Florida Atlantic

Head coach Will Muschamp will makes his debut in Gainesville against Florida Atlantic.

And it's probably not a bad way to make a first impression on Gator fans.

Florida should dominate this game, especially behind running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps.

This will also be a great game for fans to get an assessment of Dan Quinn and the new-look Florida defense. Expect the Gators to blitz the Florida Atlantic offense several times throughout the game, which should highlight the young and athletic players on the Gators' defense.

Winner: Florida

No. 22 Georgia vs. No. 7 Boise State

One of the best matchups in Week 1 will be Boise State against Georgia inside the Georgia Dome.

In past years, this opening game has provided some great moments, such as when Alabama faced off against Virginia Tech in 2009 and against Clemson in 2008.

Boise State will certainly be looking to spoil the BCS once again in 2011, especially with Kellen Moore returning at quarterback.

The Broncos have one of the best offenses in the country and have one of the best head coaches in the nation in Chris Petersen. After their victory against Virginia Tech in 2010 to open up the season, you know the Broncos will be ready for this game.

Georgia, on the other hand, comes into 2011 with a lot of questions.

Aaron Murray and Orson Charles will certainly be the highlights of the Bulldogs' offense, but this will be the first test for freshman running back Isaiah Crowell. With both Caleb King and Washaun Ealey off the team, one must wonder how the Bulldogs' running game will be affected.

Head coach Mark Richt will be on the hot seat again this season, and the Bulldogs' performance in this game could dictate how they play the rest of the season, not to mention the fate of Richt's tenure at Georgia.

Although the Bulldogs will have home-field advantage, you cant deny the Broncos' past history in big games like this.

Winner: Boise State

No. 21 Missouri vs. Miami (OH)

Missouri will start its 2011 season against Miami University out of the MAC.

Although Missouri lost their starting quarterback and first-round pick Blaine Gabbert, the Tigers still have a very talented offense behind T.J. Moe and Michael Egnew.

The Tigers also had one of the best defenses in 2010, only allowing 16.1 points per game, which ranked them sixth in the nation.

Missouri should take care of Miami fairly easily in this matchup. The Tigers have too many athletes when lining up against the Redhawks, so expect Missouri to dominate this game.

Winner: Missouri

No. 20 Mississippi State at Memphis

The Bulldogs of Mississippi State have a lot to be excited about in 2011. Quarterback Chris Relf and running back Vick Ballard both return after having breakout seasons last year. Ballard ran for 892 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Relf had more than 2,000 total yards and 14 touchdowns.

All around, the Bulldogs are an experienced group of players, and they should play very well against their Week 1 opponent, the Memphis Tigers.

Although the Bulldogs are actually playing at Memphis to open up the season, that should have no bearing on the outcome.

Expect Mississippi State to easily handle Memphis in Week 1.

Winner: Mississippi State

No. 19 Auburn vs. Utah State

Last year's BCS champions face off against Utah State in their 2011 season-opener.

The Auburn Tigers lost a lot from their championship team, but will still feature a dominant running attack behind Onterio McCalebb and sophomore sensation Michael Dyer.

Head coach Gene Chizik had a stellar recruiting class last season, and it will be interesting to see if Kiehl Frazier and other standout freshmen can make an impact in 2011.

Utah State will be entering a hostile environment at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the Aggies will be vastly overmatched in this game.

Look for Auburn to flex its muscles in the first game since their BCS Championship victory.

Winner: Auburn 

No. 18 Notre Dame vs. South Florida

Although Notre Dame is ranked and playing USF at home, the Fighting Irish need to be on upset alert for this game.

Notre Dame has an excellent squad this season, and head coach Brian Kelly has fans hoping for a BCS appearance in 2011.

But the USF Bulls are certainly a team on the rise, especially with Skip Holtz leading the team. Coach Holtz has been able to change the entire demeanor of the program, and the Bulls have played some good football under him. B.J. Daniels is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who has the potential to put the Bulls over the top in the Big East this season.

I expect USF to be ready for Notre Dame, and they have a great shot of upsetting the Irish in Week 1 of the season.

Winner: South Florida

No. 17 Michigan State vs. Youngstown State

While the Michigan State Spartans ended last season on a sour note against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl, the Spartans have high expectations for 2011.

They finished 11-2 in 2010 and return a lot of those players from last year's roster.

Youngstown State, the Spartans' first opponent in 2011, will have a tough time against Michigan State.

As an FCS team, Youngstown State will be outmatched in virtually every aspect of the game and will struggle to make this much of a game.

Michigan State will be big winners in Week 1.

Winner: Michigan State

No. 16 Ohio State vs. Akron

Ohio State certainly kept the offseason interesting with the Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor controversies.

But the Buckeyes still have a lot of talent and will be able to compete in many of the games on their 2011 schedule, especially against Akron in Week 1.

Sure, Ohio State will miss Pryor and what he meant to the Buckeye offense, but Ohio State has been stockpiling recruiting classes for several years. 

The Buckeyes should steamroll over Akron, and this should be a great tune-up game as Ohio State prepares for the Miami Hurricanes in Week 3.

Winner: Ohio State 

No. 15 TCU at Baylor

TCU is fresh off their Rose Bowl victory against Wisconsin back in January and looking to have another successful season before moving over to the Big East.

The Horned Frogs will have to rebuild somewhat after losing Andy Dalton to the NFL, but they had the nation's best defense last season, which should experience similar success in 2011.

And their defense will be tested in Week 1 against Robert Griffin III and Baylor. Not to mention, TCU is on the road to start the season against this Big 12 opponent.

I believe TCU will win this game, but it could be much closer than people think, especially if Griffin can avoid injury and stay on the field. He is a game-changer.

Winner: TCU

No. 14 Arkansas vs. Missouri State

Arkansas enters the season as a dark horse to win the SEC West and possibly the entire conference. While many are favoring Alabama, the Razorbacks have a lot of talent on their roster and could make a lot of noise in 2011.

New starting quarterback Tyler Wilson showed what he could do when he played against Auburn last season, throwing for four touchdowns against the eventual BCS champions.

It is now Wilson's show, and he has a lot of weapons around him, including three outstanding wide receivers in Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs.

In Week 1 against Missouri State, this potent offense should give the Razorbacks an easy win to begin the 2011 season.

Winner: Arkansas

No. 13 Virginia Tech vs. Appalachian State

Virginia Tech faces off against formidable FCS Appalachian State in Week 1 of the college football season.

The Hokies have a lot to replace on offense after the departures of Tyrod Taylor, Darren Evans and Ryan Williams, three players who were very important to the Hokies' success in 2010.

But Virginia Tech has young stars in Logan Thomas and David Wilson to lead the offense in 2011, along with a stout defensive unit that only allowed 20.6 points per game last season.

Appalachian State certainly has a history of upsetting big-time college football programs, and the Mountaineers return senior dual-threat quarterback DeAndre Presley. 

The Hokies cannot take the Mountaineers lightly, but Frank Beamer and the Hokies will be ready for them come Sept. 3. 

Winner: Virginia Tech

No. 12 South Carolina vs. East Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks face a tough test in Week 1 as they take on the East Carolina Pirates.

Head coach Steve Spurrier has a loaded team that features stars at several positions, including running back Marcus Lattimore, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and cornerback Stephen Gilmore. 

This Week 1 game will also be the first appearance of top-rated freshman Jadeveon Clowney, a stud defensive end who has garnered a lot of attention before even playing a game.

But the Gamecocks will have their hands full against an experienced East Carolina team. The Pirates feature a dominant passing attack behind the play of senior and former Boston College quarterback Dominique Davis. Davis threw an incredible 36 touchdown passes and almost 4,000 yards in 2010.

South Carolina's secondary will certainly be tested in this game, but the running attack of Marcus Lattimore should make the difference for the Gamecocks.

Winner: South Carolina

No. 11 Nebraska vs. Chattanooga

To start off Nebraska's first season in the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers face off against UT-Chattanooga.

Taylor Martinez had an explosive freshman season and should have even more success this year. And while the offense will be in good hands behind Martinez, the defense of Nebraska should suffocate Chattanooga's offense.

The Cornhuskers have a stellar defensive line and top-notch secondary this season. It will be tough for any team, let alone an FCS team like Chattanooga, to put up many points against them.

Nebraska should have an easy win here against the Mocs as they prepare for their first season in the Big Ten.

Winner: Nebraska

No. 10 Wisconsin vs. UNLV

The Wisconsin Badgers emerged as Big Ten champions in 2010 and look to continue that success in 2011 behind running back James White.

White rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season as just a freshman and should rack up even more yards as a sophomore.

But the Badgers begin their season against the UNLV Rebels, an opponent that should not be much of a challenge for Wisconsin.

Wisconsin was one of the best all-around teams in 2010 with a top five offense and a defense that was ranked 25th.

They have a lot of momentum heading into 2011, and the Rebels will feel the brunt of that momentum in Week 1.

Winner: Wisconsin

No. 9 Texas A&M vs. SMU

Senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill takes over as Texas A&M's starting quarterback against SMU in Week 1 of the college football season.

The Aggies had an above-average 2010 with a 9-4 record, but the running back duo of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael should make things very exciting for Aggie fans in 2011 and very tough for SMU on Sept. 4.

SMU features an excellent passing attack under quarterback Kyle Padron and head coach June Jones, but it won't be enough for the Mustangs against Texas A&M.

The home-field advantage will be too great for the Mustangs to overcome in this game.

Winner: Texas A&M

No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. UL-Lafayette

The nation's second-best passing attack returns for another season at Oklahoma State. Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden both decided to return to school, along with the entire offensive line.

When the Cowboys take the field against UL-Lafayette, it will be an air raid against them. Weeden and Blackmon should connect on several big plays, as the Cowboys will score a lot of points in this game.

Expect Oklahoma State to get off to a quick start and put UL-Lafayette away early with its very potent passing attack.

Winner: Oklahoma State

No. 6 Stanford vs. San Jose State

Stanford has a lot of momentum heading into 2011 as Andrew Luck returns for another season fresh off an Orange Bowl victory. 

And when Stanford takes the field against San Jose State, it will be tough for the Spartans to have much success against Luck and the rest of the Stanford team.

Luck would have been the top overall pick in last spring's NFL draft, so one can imagine the success he will have throughout this season, especially against a bottom-feeder team like San Jose State.

Also keep an eye on running back Stefan Taylor. While Luck gets a lot of the attention at Stanford, Taylor rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2010. He has a lot of potential to have another high-impact season for Stanford in 2011.

Winner: Stanford

No. 5 Florida State vs. UL-Monroe

Perhaps the most-hyped team heading into 2011 is the Florida State Seminoles. Like Stanford, FSU has a lot of momentum heading into the season, coming off a top-ranked recruiting year and a 10-4 record in Jimbo Fisher's first year.

In Week 1, the Seminoles face UL-Monroe, and FSU should have an easy win. FSU simply has too much firepower on both sides of the ball for UL-Monroe to be competitive in this matchup.

Look for the Seminoles to show why so many people believe they could be BCS contenders in 2011.

Winner: Florida State

No. 4 LSU vs. No. 3 Oregon

The best matchup of Week 1 and maybe the entire college football regular season goes to the Oregon Ducks and LSU Tigers.

It will be a matchup of epic proportions as they play in the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The winner of this game could also jump up in the Top 25 poll, especially since it's a game between two highly-ranked teams.

Oregon is fresh off their BCS Championship appearance in 2010 and return a good portion of their roster from last year. Quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James will be tough for LSU to stop throughout the game.

LSU also has a very good team with a tough defense that will be tested against Oregon. But the difference in both teams' quarterbacks could hurt LSU in the long run.

I give the game to Oregon solely based on the fact that I believe Thomas will play better than LSU's quarterback, Jordan Jefferson.

Winner: Oregon

No. 2 Alabama vs. Kent State

Alabama comes into the football season once again ranked in the Top Five. The Crimson Tide features Heisman Trophy candidate Trent Richardson and a tough defense led by Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron and Dre' Kirkpatrick.

The Crimson Tide take on Kent State in Week 1, a game the Tide should easily win.

Kent State will have a tough task coming into Bryant-Denny Stadium and taking down Alabama. Richardson will be too tough to bring down for their defense, and Alabama's defense is arguably the best in the nation.

While Kent State will be hoping for a miracle, I just don't see it happening here. Expect Alabama to win big in this Week 1 matchup.

Winner: Alabama

No. 1 Oklahoma vs. Tulsa

The No. 1 ranked team in the nation faces off against Tulsa in Norman, Okla. The Oklahoma Sooners have a lot of expectations this year as the top-ranked team in coaches' poll.

Heisman Trophy candidates Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles both return for the Sooners; they could be the best quarterback-wide receiver duo in the country.  

The Sooners are also one of the best all-around teams in the nation. Despite their losses at linebacker due to some injuries and the tragic death of Austin Box, the Sooner defense still has a lot of talent. They return at least 15 starters from last year's team, and the Sooners should be heavily favored to be BCS champions this season just based on the experience that returns.

As the home-opening opponent for the Sooners, Tulsa will need a miracle to pull off the victory against Oklahoma.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma can win this game with their eyes closed. 

Winner: Oklahoma