The college football season gets underway officially a week from today. While most of the big schools open against lesser opponents, the season starts with a half-dozen marquee contests including Georgia Tech and Notre Dame getting it on in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus in South Bend.
Dust off those old letterman jackets and break out the foam fingers -- college football is back. And while many top teams are taking it relatively easy in Week 1 with cupcake non-conference opponents, there are some juicy matchups on the schedule. Here are six of the best.
Yellow Jackets, Fighting Irish highlight Week 1 tilts
No. 2 Louisiana State at Mississippi State (+17½)
Thursday, Aug 30, 8:00 p.m. (ET), ESPN
Okay, this one might look like a fairly easy one for LSU. And it should be. The Bulldogs haven’t done much in four years under Sylvester Croom; they were 103rd in the nation in total offense in 2006.
Don’t fear the chalk: although LSU failed to cover the 34-point spread last year, the Tigers cashed in the previous nine times these two teams clashed.
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame (-2½)
Saturday, Sep 1, 3:30 p.m., NBC
The Fighting Irish have lost quarterback Brady Quinn. The Yellow Jackets have lost QB Reggie Ball. The clear difference here is that the Jackets are better off for it.
Ball was every bit as unreliable as he was talented; having Taylor Bennett under center should make Georgia Tech even more dangerous in the ACC this year. Watch out for a Jackets’ upset victory.
Wake Forest at Boston College (-6½)
Saturday, Sep 1, 3:30 p.m., NBC
Wake came out of nowhere to take the ACC last year, winning seven games straight up as the underdog. It is widely assumed the Deacs will fall back to earth in 2007, maybe even to the point of posting a losing record. That seems a bit harsh, but a loss to the Eagles appears to be in the cards. Boston College is a sleeper pick to win the conference now that Jeff Jagodzinski has taken over for the yawn-inducing Tom O’Brien as head coach.
Kansas State at No. 14 Auburn (-13½)
Saturday, Sep 1, 7:45 p.m., ESPN
We saw two different versions of the Wildcats last year. There was the team that beat Texas, and the team that got pasted by Rutgers at the Texas Bowl. This year’s squad, bolstered by eight JUCO transfers, should be better across the board in its second year under coach Ron Prince.
Beating the Tigers? Not likely, but there are enough questions on the Auburn offensive line to consider K-State against the spread, especially if it hits 14 or preferably more as bettors pound the Tigers.
No. 15 Tennessee at No. 12 California (-5½)
Saturday, Sep 1, 8:00 p.m., ABC
East Coast bias? Not in this matchup. The Golden Bears are getting their due as Jeff Tedford continues to lure top recruits to Berkeley. Cal has a tremendous offense despite losing running back Marshawn Lynch; the defense, however, might be too suspect to threaten for a BCS bowl.
Tennessee’s no slouch, either, but tight end Brad Cottam is out long-term with a wrist injury, and backup TE David Holbert (torn ACL) is also on the shelf. That’ll force the Vols to lean even more on the running game; the total of 52½ might be tough to reach even with Cal’s air attack.
No. 21 Florida State at Clemson (+3)
Monday, Sep 3, 8:00 p.m., ESPN
One of two games on the Monday docket, and it should be a barnburner. FSU is back in business after dumping offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden; now the Seminoles can start running the ball again. Getting a win at Clemson will go a long way toward restoring FSU’s status as a national title contender.
But let’s not get carried away here; the ‘Noles have yet to prove that they’ve corrected their offensive imbalance. The Tigers also figure to run the ball all night long, and they’ve won the 'Bowden Bowl' three of the last four seasons SU and ATS. They should be able to make it four out of five with this year’s matchup taking place in Death Valley.
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Yellow Jackets, Fighting Irish highlight Week 1 tilts
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