Over the past week or so, we have covered upcoming games for this monster opening weekend of college football. Dubbed "So Close You Can Almost Taste It", read below and you will see why. Below are links to the previous articles, in case you need to catch up:
Thursday Night - 9/2/2010
Friday Night - 9/3/2010
Saturday Afternoon - 9/4/2010
Saturday Early Evening - 9/4/2010
Now that you're caught up let's jump into the night caps for Saturday (9/4/2010).
(All times are listed in EST)
Arkansas State @ Auburn
7:00 PM - FSS / ESPN Game Plan
Gene Chizik did not arrive in Auburn under a whole lot of fan fare. In fact a lot of people were scratching their heads. He did not arrive with a bright shiny resume with a ton of wins and just a few losses. But make no mistake, he's the real deal. He had a great year last year taking over after Coach Tuberville moved on, and Coach Chizik led Auburn to an 8-5 season, which included a thrilling overtime win in the Outback Bowl over a hot Northwestern team. Auburn returns 7 offensive starters this year, most notably Sr. Mario Fannin, Jr. Darvin Adams, and a couple studs on the O line in Lee Ziemba and Ryan Pugh.As for the Defense, they return 8 players, a couple that you should keep your eye on include 2 Sr. linebackers: Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes. They also have a talented pair of corner backs in Neiko Thorpe and Desmond Washington. The tigers do break in a new QB in Cam Newton. He's a dismissed Florida Gator > JUCO Transfer, so it should be fun see how he handles the SEC defenses. He will not have to worry about that today as they beat up on Arkansas State, who won just 4 games last year in the Sun Belt conference. Look for the Tigers to win by 35.
Western Kentucky @ Nebraska
7:00 PM - Pay Per View
Bo Pelini went 10-4 last year. The defense returned to a nastier style, led byNdamukong Suh who departed for the NFL (Detroit Lions). With a ton of starters returning, the Cornhuskers should pick up where they left off.There have been some injuries leading up to the season, but Nebraska should be able to continue on. If Zac Lee can improve his accuracy the yardage should pile up. Lead RB Roy Helu is the go to tailback and a pair of Sr. receivers in Niles Paul and Mike McNeill. I really don't see Western Kentucky scoring too much. Look for Nebraska to win by 49.
Washington State @ Oklahoma State
7:00 PM - FSN
OSU was 9-4 last year, but they have just 8 returning starters (4 on Offense and 4 on Defense). Washington State pulled in just a lone victory last year and that came over SMU. OSU will hand the ball off to Kendall Hunter, as they deal with losing QB Zac Robinson and WR Dez Bryant. WSU is no match for OSU, but they keep it close early. Look for the Cowboys to win by 14.
Utah State @ Oklahoma
7:00 PM - PPV
Utah State is some serious trouble in this one.The Sooners under Bob Stoops have been reeling in recruits consistently year after year. They do loose Bradford and Gresham to the NFL, but they should not miss a beat. Look for OU to win by 49. Will have more on Oklahoma in Week Two when the Sooners host Florida State.
Washington @ BYU
7:00 PM - CBS College
Heisman hopeful Jake Locker (Sr.) is clearly one of the better QBs in the country, and he will have some big time numbers this year. The Defense will have to step it up, and overall the Huskies will have to win some road games. And...this game is on the road, but BYU is starting a freshman quarterback and Washington is not. Go with Washington in this one. Jake gets is Heisman party started and wins by 7.
San Jose State @ Alabama
7:00 PM - ESPN3.com
What can really be said about San Jose State? They went 2-10 last year in the WAC. There 2 wins were over Cal Poly and New Mexico State. Bama will trounce them. Look for Ingram and Richardson to pick up right where they left off running behind a dominating offensive line. And keep an eye on the defense which breaks in some new faces, but you'll know them all very well by halftime of next week's showdown as Penn State comes to town, in what looks to be Joe Paterno's last season. Bama wins 35.
UPDATE: (9/2/2010) Mark Ingram suffered a knee injury and underwent almost immedaite arthroscopic knee surgery to repair it. Coach Saban said he'll miss the season opener. I expect he'll miss a couple more than than, otherwise they risk him playing hurt in the Penn State game and risking futher damage.
UPDATE: (9/3/201) Marcell Dareus has been declared ineligible for 2 games (San Jose State and Penn State) for accepting improper benefits during trips to Miami.
Memphis @ Mississippi State
7:00 PM - ESPNU
Dan Mullen is bringing the sizzle to Starkville. He left a good thing at Florida and a lot of people were doubting him even though he's put a ton of talent into the NFL. Well they can doubt no more, as he comes fresh off his first year as Head Coach at Miss. State where they finished 5-7 last year. Sure that's a loosing record, but they gave LSU all they could handle and they should have won they game had they pitched it to the outside late in the game. Plus they finished the season last year on such a high note they way the Bulldogs stuck it to rival Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, beating them 41-27. I think they will definitely miss Anthony Dixon, who will be regarded as one of the greatest of all time at MSU. They do return 14 starters, and they should prove too much for a Memphis team who went 2-10 last year in Conference USA play. I like MSU by 24.
Northwestern @ Vanderbilt
7:30 PM - ESPN3.com
If you did not see some of the highlights from SEC Media Days in Alabama, then you really missed a treat as new Head Coach Robbie Caldwell stole the show. With a great attitude that beckoned of, "Hey I'm just glad to be here", Coach Caldwell stepped in quickly as longtime HC Bobby Johnson stepped down this summer. Vandy quicly removed the interim tag and Coach Caldwell is the man in Nashville, and he's got one heck of a test early as he faces a Northwestern team (8-5 last year) that gave Auburn everything it wanted to handle in the thrilling OT game in last year's Outback Bowl. Northwestern lost that game, but they put a brilliant fight. They return 13 starters this year, and I like Northwestern. Keep a close eye on slot back Drake Dunsmore. Northwestern by 10.
Oregon State vs TCU
7:45 PM - ESPN
This game will be held on Arlington, TX at Jerry's World. This game has all the makings you could ask for as both are ranked in the Top 25, and it is one of the few games during the weekend's festivities that does account for two Top 25 squaring off. Oregon State (8-5 last year) will have their hands full against TCU, who went 12-1. The Beavers came very close to the Rose Bowl, but only saw it slip away to arch rival Oregon. They ended up going to the Las Vegas Bowl and having a tough go at it with BYU in a losing effort. With 15 returning starters most notably the Rogers Brothers (Jacquizz at RB and James at WR), they should be improved. TCU returns a ton of talent and they have the edge for me with QB Andy Dalton who is a Sr. this year. He was the most efficient passer in the Mountain West last year, and I think he post even bigger numbers this year. Look for a thriller in this one -- TCU by 10.
LSU vs North Carolina
8:00 PM - ABC
The season can't start soon enough for UNC. This off season has been one of the most reported on in football school history. Marvin Austin is regretting coming back and not going Pro, and there is some serious smoke signals coming up for Chapel Hill...and I think where there is smoke there is some serious talent. The jury is still out on who is playing and who is not, but one thing is for sure --- If LSU looses this one, then Coach Les Miles better be ready for the onslaught. Tiger fans are in the "show me something now" state, and for good reason. He had some seriously questionable game management slip-ups last year, and everyone knows they should have lost to Miss. State. That does not sit well on the Bayou. LSU has the talent in Drake Nevis (DT), Kelvin Sheppard (LB), Patrick Peterson (CB), Russell Shepard (WR) and Levingston (DT), but so does UNC. As they will be trotting out one of the best defenses in the country with Robert Quinn (DE), Marvin Austin (DT), Bruce Carter (LB), Quan Sturdivant (LB) and Deunta Williams (FS). One more note on Marvin Austin: If he's in the game, he will be playing angry. He's going to take out all of this off season on some poor unlucky soul. As for UNC's Offesne, they worry me a bit, as I'm not crazy about the production outside of Greg Little (WR). To be honest, I like the backup QB. He's a redshirt freshman by the name of Bryn Renner. He has some serious mojo, command of the offesne, and he could see some playing time if Sr. TJ Yates stalls. This is flat out pick 'em as LSU was awful on Offense last year, but stout on Defense. Almost identical, UNC was pretty lousy on Offense, but straight up stifling on Defense. Some might call this game in the Georgia Dome too close to call, but I think in the end it comes down to a field goal and LSU by 3.
UPDATE: (9/2/2010) Marvin Austin will not be playing in Saturday night's game. He'll be serving at least a 1 Game Suspension. LSU by 7.
UPDATE: (9/3/2010) UNC declared 6 players ineligible and 6 others will be out for tomorrow's season opening showdown matchup against LSU in the ATL. Marvin Austin was already out, but the 5 others include: (WR) Greg Little,(DE) Michael McAdoo, (DE) Robert Quinn, (CB) Charles Brown, and (CB) Kendrick Burney. The 6 others include(RB) Ryan Houston, (RB) Shaun Draughn, (S) Brian Gupton, (S) Da'Norris Searcy, (S) Jonathan Smith, (DE) Linwan Euwell.
Cincinnati @ Fresno State
10:00 PM - ESPN2
Well Brian Kelly has moved onto Notre Dame, and in his place is Butch Jones. He takes over a squad that went 12-1 last. They had an amazing undefeated regular season, but they did get shown the door in pretty nasty fashion in the Sugar Bowl as Florida beat them up 51-24. Zach Collaros is an efficient QBand he's surrounded by some talented individuals on Offense: Isaiah Pead (RB), DJ Woods (WR), Armon Binns (WR) and Ben Guidugli (TE). The Defense is what worries me though. They only return 5 starters and last year they really had to outscore everyone they played to win, as they ranked almost dead last in Big East Defensive production. Freson State, led by Pat Hill, went 8-5 last year in the WAC. They return a ton of talent, that had the Bulldogs near the top of the conference in Offense and Defense. The offensive line is stout, and their QB Ryan Colburn is a Sr. I like Cincinnati with more play makers in this one, keeping the Brian Kelly faith, and winning by 7.
Wisconsin @ UNLV
11:00 PM - Versus
Wisconsin went 10-3 last year. They have a Sr QB in Scott Tolzien, and one NFL prospect at RB in John Clay. He's a big bruiser that runs angry. They have a nice trio of weapons to throw to in Nick Toon (Jr), Isaac Anderson (Sr), and Lance Kendricks (TE), and the offense overall just about returns the entire unit. The defense looses some but keeps it going as they return 6 starters from last year where they ranked 4th Overall in Big Ten Defensive production. I like the Badgers in the is one by 24, as they control the ball and the scoreboard.
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