SO CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE IT - PART IV

Let's jump right into breakdown of the 3:30 - 6:30 games for the first Saturday of College Football (9/4/2010).




(All times are listed in EST)

Purdue @ Notre Dame
3:30 PM - NBC
Fresh off telling NBC how and when they should go to commercial, Brian Kelly will show everyone just exactly what all the fuss is about. Notre Dame is very glad to have Charlie Weiss out the door and the fast paced Brian Kelly offense in the house. The defense will be better and the Irish will win the close games, that they have been losing in the past. Sophomore Dane Crist is set to have a very good year in Kelly's system. He'll be handing off to a very talented tail back in Armando Allen who is a Senior. Michael Floyd (WR) and Kyle Rudolph (TE) are both Juniors, and if both can stay healthy, they look to put up some amazing numbers this year.The defense returns 9 starters from last year. The Irish kick it off with a nice test, but they are at home and Brian Kelly is a winner. Look for the Irish to win by 14.


Kentucky @ Louisville
3:30 PM - ABC/ESPN Game Plan
Joker Phillips takes over for a class act in Rich Brooks, who retired last year. Knowing that Coach Phillips has been an integral part of Kentucky for years, I look for Kentucky to continue on, but this year they have just 5 returning starters on Offense and just 6 on Defense. They start the Joker Phillips era on the road against a Louisville team that went 4-8 last year. Most notably they were dead last in Big East Offensive and Defensive production. The Wildcats on the other hand have some sizzle, so be sure to keep an eye on Randall Cobb, Derrick Locke, Mike Hartline, and Morgan Newton. Look for Kentucky get up on the good foot, give Joker is his first win and beat Louisville by 7.



Connecticut @ Michigan
3:30 PM - ABC/ESPN2
Talk about a pressure cooker right off the bat. Imagine if Michigan gets beat, because the sharks have been circling Rich Rod's office ever since he rolled into Ann Arbor fresh off of shredding documents in his West Virginia office (that he left in the middle of the night). He's got to win this year. Michigan has to make it to a bowl game. This UCONN team shut down South Carolina in last year's bowl game and had the Gamecocks working on the punt team all day. Michigan should be improved, but they were awful last year...the question is how much. This one has all the makings for an upset special, but I think the Wolverines get a W at home and keep the sharks at bay for a couple weeks longer. Look for the Wolverine D which was next to last in 2009 (Big Ten) to improve.They return 8 starters on Defense, most notably 2 Juniors upfront in Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen. And on Offense they bring back a standout sophomore in Tate Forcier. I want to go with UCONN, but I like the Wolverines by a field goal. Michigan gets out with a win, but just barely.


North Texas @ Clemson
3:30 PM - ESPNU
Coming off an excellent bowl victory against Kentucky last year, Clemson is very pleased to see Kyle Parker back in action at Quarterback. That should account for at least 3 wins, that Clemson might not have achieved otherwise this year by my count, but Parker's #1 target in C.J. Spiller has moved on to the NFL (Buffalo Bills). So Clemson will have to rely a little bit more this year on the big men upfront. As they are stacked on the Offensive and Defensive lines. It is hard to miss Da'Quan Bowers, Brandon Thompson, and Jarvis Jenkins up front on Clemson's D line. The Tigers went 9-5 last year, but they should roll today. Look for Clemson by 28.


Texas vs Rice
3:30 PM - ESPN
This game will be held in Reliant Stadium, and the Longhorns will dominate. They led the Big 12 last year in Offensive and Defensive production, but much of that offense has departed (Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley). They do return with a very talented Garrett Gilbert and 7 returning starters on Defense. I don't think Texas goes undefeated this year, but that's for another day. Look for Texas to light it up and win by 52.


UCLA @ Kansas State
3:30 PM - ABC / ESPN Game Plan
This one should be a close one, as these 2 teams are very similar in a lot of regards. KState went 6-6 last year, while UCLA went 7-6. KState has 5 Offensive starters back, and 6 on Defense. While UCLA has very similar numbers. Kansas State and UCLA were both pitiful in Offensive numbers last year when compared with their respective conferences, but both had decent production from the Defense. This one comes down to play makers, and I like UCLA winning on the road here, but it all hings on QB Kevin Prince, who is currently listed as questionable for season opener. Look for a punt-fest, and look for UCLA to win by 3. If Prince is out swing it the other way.



New Mexico @ Oregon
3:30 PM
Life after Massoli. It will probably be hard for the Oregon squad to see highlights of Jeremiah Massoli down in Ole Miss, but they have to put it aside. Oregon has a very solid squad with 17 returning starters, and New Mexico will be outmatched at every position all day. New Mexico went 1-11 last year, while the Ducks played in the Rose Bowl (and lost to a very revved up Ohio State team). Ducks win by 28.


We'll be back at this weekend for a look at Saturday's night games, and some insight into the Labor Day games as well.