College Football Week 1 Predictions: Picking the Winners of the 5 Biggest Games

It’s here.

College Football fans, it’s time to celebrate, because the day that we’ve all been waiting for has arrived.

After months of dealing with scandal after scandal after scandal, thankfully, it’s time to put a troubled offseason behind us and dive into the 2011 season.

This year looks like it’s going to offer up a ton of great, action-packed games and there areabout 10-15 legitimate teams that could find themselves sitting in the No. 1 spot when the season ends.

Oklahoma and Alabama start off the year as the two top dogs in both polls, but there are plenty of challengers lurking right behind them that will be looking to rise up and make their presence known nationwide.

As is usually the case, since so many top teams schedule easy cupcakes to start off the season, this weekend isn’t necessarily filled with make-or-break type games. However, there are two match ups that even the most fair-weathered fans should be excited for.

It doesn’t get much better than Oregon vs. LSU and Georgia vs. Boise State to start off the season with a bang. The only sad part is that the two must-see games will take place at the same time.

My condolences to those who have yet to invest in a TiVo.

Those two inter-conference clashes will be the talk of the weekend, but there do happen to be a few other noteworthy games to pay attention to as well.

The day has come for me to dust off my gambling hat and do my best Sam Rothstein impression because it’s time to start picking games again.

Here’s a look at my predictions for this weekend’s top five games, along with a few picks to break the bookies.

LSU Tigers vs. Oregon Ducks

Pick: LSU Tigers

It’s not often that we get treated to a battle between two top five teams on opening weekend, which is why the contest between No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 LSU at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night is so special.

The two teams enter the season with national championship aspirations, but both squads will be shorthanded for this particular game.

Oregon will be without its best defensive player, CB Cliff Harris, who was suspended for speeding with a suspended license during the offseason.

LSU will be without starting QB Jordan Jefferson, who was recently arrested for his involvement in a Baton Rouge bar fight.

Oregon comes into the game with one of the most electric offenses we’ve seen in years and the Ducks might just have the best offensive player in America in dynamic running back LaMichael James.

James is the type of player who can single-handedly alter the complexion of a game and the LSU defense will have to make him the top priority and key on shutting him down.

The Tigers have a strong defensive front seven, led by the likes of LB Ryan Baker, DE Sam Montgomery and DT Michael Brockers, and they are definitely capable of keeping James and his other running back buddies, Kenjon Barner and freshman De’Anthony Thomas, in check.

Brockers, who will be taking over full-time for the departed Drake Nevis, will play a huge role in stopping James and the Oregon running game.

On offense, LSU will rely on new starting QB Jarrett Lee, who was thrust into the role after the Jefferson suspension, to come in and provide steady senior leadership to an offense that has a terrific line, but lacks a proven running back and a go-to wide receiver.

If the Tigers want to win this one, they’re going to need RB Spencer Ware and WR Rueben Randle to step up and become big factors.

While Oregon is the team that has all the glitzy skill position players, I have a feeling that in the end, this game will come down to the battle in the trenches, and that’s where I give LSU a big advantage.

Jarrett Lee has been around the block a few times and this type of stage shouldn’t rattle him.

I’m going with LSU to clip the Ducks in the Jerrydome.

Boise State Broncos vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Pick: Boise State Broncos

The last time Boise State tried to prove its worth against Georgia back in 2005, the result wasn’t pretty.

A 48-13 smackdown let the Broncos know exactly where they stood in the college football hierarchy.

Those were different times though, before Chris Petersen and before Kellen Moore.

This Boise team has proved it can hang with anybody.

Georgia should be no exception.

The Bulldogs have one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks in sophomore Aaron Murray, but they will also walk into the Georgia Dome with their fair share of question marks.

Whether justly or not, Georgia coach Mark Richt has been put on the ominous coaching hot seat and he’s certainly got a lot riding on this game.

Richt will take a talented team into the Saturday night showdown, but it remains to be seen if the lack of proven playmakers at the offensive skill positions will ultimately doom Georgia.

Boise State is a program that has to continually prove itself to the college football world, and here is yet another opportunity for the Broncos to show they belong.

QB Kellen Moore is on the short list of Heisman favorites and he could use a big-time performance in a spotlight game such as this one to really solidify his resume.

It would be every SEC fan's nightmare to see Boise State, the team they've all been ragging on for years, waltz down south and beat one of the conference’s premier programs in practically their own backyard.

Any time cocky SEC fans are forced to eat some crow, I'm all for it, so I’m going with the Broncos to beat down the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

South Florida Bulls at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This one will pit two esteemed second-year head coaches—South Florida’s Skip Holtz and Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly—against each other for what should be one of the weekend’s most entertaining affairs.

Kelly appears to have Notre Dame moving back in the right direction, although the Irish still have a ways to go before they can regain the prestige they had during their glory days.

With star WR Michael Floyd back in the fold after missing spring practice, the Notre Dame passing attack has a chance to be lethal, as long as QB Dayne Crist can perform as well as expected.

Crist has all the pieces around him necessary to have a huge year.

The offensive line, which only allowed 19 sacks in 2010, will be put to the test by South Florida’s defensive front four, led by emerging pass-rushing stud Ryne Giddins.

If the line can hold steady and give Crist enough time in the pocket, he should be able to do some considerable damage throwing to the likes of Floyd, Theo Riddick and tight end Tyler Eifert.

South Florida has some scary athleticism on its roster and it all starts with mobile QB B.J. Daniels, who is good for a huge performance every now and then.

When Daniels is on his game, he has shown that he can shred any team in the country. However, the senior signal-caller won’t have it easy this week, going up against a Notre Dame defense, led by All-American caliber linebacker Manti Te’o, that is both experienced and talented.

The Bulls certainly won’t be a pushover, but this Notre Dame team has a chance to make a lot of noise this year and Kelly should have the Irish jazzed up and properly prepared for their first home game of the season.

TCU Horned Frogs at Baylor Bears

Pick: Baylor Bears

Last season, TCU manhandled Baylor 45-10, outgaining the Bears by nearly 300 yards.

The Horned Frogs looked like a well-oiled machine, scoring on their first five offensive drives on their way to building a 35-3 halftime lead.

Friday night’s rematch between these two could be a totally different story, though.

Baylor should have a much better shot to compete this year for two reasons: This game will take place in Waco, and TCU will be playing without Andy Dalton under center for the first time since 2008.

The Horned Frogs still have a formidable defense, led by Tank Carder and Tanner Brock, one of the best linebacker duos in America, but it remains to be seen how smoothly the offensive ship will run with a new captain at the helm.

TCU should be able to run the ball with the strong backfield tandem of Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker, however, I’m always weary any time a team has to break in a new quarterback and a new center, and the Horned Frogs will have to do both at the start of the season.

Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, who totaled over 4,000 yards of offense in 2010, is one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, even though he hasn’t received the proper national exposure he deserves.

Griffin III will have the stage to make a huge statement against a well-respected opponent, and if he brings his A-game, TCU's defense could be in for a long night.

This game’s one of the toughest to call this weekend, but I guess I’m going to have to let my man crush on RG3 get the best of me and go with the Bears to pull off the upset in front of their home crowd.

Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins

Pick: Miami Hurricanes

I know everybody is getting all worked up over the fact that Miami will be without QB Jacory Harris for this game, but did those folks happen to see Jacory play last year?

The kid was an interception machine.

Maybe Miami’s better off without him.

I can definitely tell you who Miami is not better off without: Defenders like LB Sean Spence, DT Marcus Forston and S Ray-Ray Armstrong, who will all be playing on Sundays soon.

The Hurricanes took a few huge hits on the defensive side of the ball and you would have to imagine that Maryland will figure out a way to capitalize.

QB Danny O’Brien, one of the rising star signal-callers in college football, is a special player in the making and he could be in store for a coming out party against the depleted defense that Miami will trot out onto the field on Labor Day night.

The real interesting facet to watch in this game is the coaching match up between first-year head men Randy Edsall and Al Golden, who are both still trying to feel their way out at their new schools.

Last year, Golden actually got the best of Edsall when his Temple team took down Edsall’s Connecticut Huskies early in the season.

The new Miami coach will be hoping he can manage another repeat performance.

I have a feeling that Maryland QB Danny O’Brien is ready to have a big night, but when it comes right down to it, I think the biggest clutch performer in the game will be Miami RB Lamar Miller.

If Miller can get things going on the ground early, the Hurricanes should be able to overcome their personnel losses and show the college football world that even in the face of so much adversity and scrutiny, it’s still all about "Da U."

10 Against the Spread Picks

Diamond Pick: Boston College (-3)

Upset Special: Colorado (+7)

Oklahoma State (-37)

Southern Miss (-13)

New Mexico (+5.5)

Wake Forest (+6.5)

Texas (-24)

Purdue (-18.5)

Western Michigan (+14)

Mississippi (+3)