Tulsa +25 at (1) Oklahoma
Oklahoma opens the season as the #1 ranked team in the land. They definitely have more talent than Tulsa, but the Golden Hurricane can hang around in this game. Oklahoma has had a tendency in recent years to let lesser teams hang around. GJ Kinne will match Landry Jones for a half or so, but Oklahoma gets the win.
Prediction - Oklahoma 42 Tulsa 31
Kent St. +38 at (2) Alabama
The Crimson Tide open the season as the top ranked SEC team. With that comes expectations of a national title. Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, and Greg McElroy are gone on offense. But Trent Richardson and a nasty defense will lead the way to an easy win over Kent St.
Prediction - Alabama 42 Kent St. 3
(3) Oregon -3 vs. (4) LSU
It's rare that we see a game with national championship implications in Week 1, but we have just that in this game at Jerry's House in Arlington. Returning Heisman finalist, LaMichael James, returns to his home state to start another Heisman campaign. Oregon's high-octane offense will have to wear down a ferocious LSU defense. Jarrett Lee will get the start at QB for the suspended Jordan Jefferson for LSU. The bright lights will be too much for him to handle, and Oregon will be on their way to another BCS run.
Prediction - Oregon 34 LSU 24
(5) Boise St. -3.5 vs. (19) Georgia
For the second straight season Boise St. opens the year against a ranked BCS team on a "neutral" field. I say "neutral" because Georgia will certainly have the majority of the Georgia Dome crowd on their side. Kellen Moore could become the NCAA's all-time winningest QB this season, this game won't help him. Georgia is eager to turnaround last season's 6-7 record. They have tons of talent and will use their speed and athleticism to end Boise's BCS aspirations early.
Prediction - Georgia 30 Boise St. 28
UL-Monroe +29.5 at (6) Florida St.
The Seminoles are loaded on defense. They are sure to wreak havoc against a lowly UL-Monroe team. EJ Manuel eases his way into what could be a special season in Tallahassee.
Prediction - Florida St. 37 UL-Monroe 3
San Jose St. +28.5 at (7) Stanford
Everyone's Heisman favorite, Andrew Luck, opens his season versus San Jose St. Luck and his new head coach, David Shaw, will coast to victory in this one.
Prediction - Stanford 49 San Jose St. 7
SMU +15.5 at (8) Texas A&M
There are high expectations for the Aggies in 2011. This will be no easy contest though. SMU is my pick to win C-USA and I think they can give A&M trouble. This one will be close, but the Aggies survive the scare behind the running of Cyrus Gray.
Prediction - Texas A&M 35 SMU 27
UL-Lafayette +37.5 at (9) Oklahoma St.
OK State returns an explosive offense from last season. Record-setting duo Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon are back for more highlights at the QB and WR positions. They should have no problem passing over one of the worst teams in the FBS.
Prediction - Oklahoma St. 44 UL-Lafayette 14
Chattanooga +35.5 at (10) Nebraska
Nebraska will ease their way into their inaugural Big 10 season, by taking on an FCS school in Week 1. The Huskers should have one of the nastiest defenses in the nation. Don't expect Chattanooga to score much.
Prediction - Nebraska 56 Chattanooga 6
UNLV +35.5 at (11) Wisconsin
QB Russell Wilson makes his Badger debut against UNLV on Thursday night. He has one of the nation's best ground games to make his transition to the Big 10 a little smoother. Wisconsin should have no problem in this one.
Prediction - Wisconsin 48 UNLV 17
East Carolina +20.5 at (12) South Carolina
This could be Steve Spurrier's best team since leaving Florida. The Gamecocks have SEC title aspirations and have two All-Americans to lead the way in RB Marcus Lattimore and WR Alshon Jefferey.
Prediction - South Carolina 41 East Carolina 21
Appalachain St. +25.5 at (13) Virginia Tech
Could it happen again? Appalachain St. pulled off a major upset by beating Michigan a few years back. Virginia Tech then lost to James Madison last year. Could the FCS get another win over the FBS. Not in this one.
Prediction - Virginia Tech 38 Appalachain St. 13
(14) TCU -5.5 at Baylor
This is one of the best matchups of the opening weekend. TCU is attempting to replicate last season's performance that included a Rose Bowl victory. Baylor is attempting to go to back to back bowl games for the first time since 1991 and 1992.
Prediction - TCU 38 Baylor 27
Missouri St. +40.5 at (15) Arkansas
The Ryan Mallett era is over in Fayetteville and the Tyler Wilson era begins. Wilson has an All-American RB and one of the nation's top receiving corps to rely on.
Prediction - Arkansas 59 Missouri St. 7
South Florida +10.5 at (16) Notre Dame
Skip Holtz leads South Florida into South Bend to face his alma mater. Many believe that Notre Dame will be back in the national spotlight this year. They need to win this game if that is going to happen. Both of these teams could wind up in the BCS this year - USF as the Big East Champ, and Notre Dame as an at-large. That makes for one of the weekends most intriguing games.
Prediction - Notre Dame 28 South Florida 21
Youngstown St. +34.5 at (17) Michigan St.
Michigan St. could be a sleeper to crash the BCS party this year. They return QB Kirk Cousins and RB Edwin Baker to lead the way. Expect Sparty to breeze past the Penguins Friday night.
Prediction - Michigan St. 56 Youngstown St. 6
Akron +33.5 at (18) Ohio St.
The Buckeyes' tumultuous offseason can finally be put behind them as play begins this Saturday at the Horseshoe. Luke Fickell begins his head coaching career against the school that gave him his first assistant coaching job. Ohio St. may be missing the "Tattoo 5" but they will have no problem getting past the Zips.
Prediction - Ohio St. 42 Akron 7
(20) Mississippi St. -27.5 at Memphis
Dan Mullen is building a program down in Starkville. Mississippi St. has been an SEC bottom feeder for years. Times are changing though. The Bulldogs are ranked to begin the season for the first time since 2001. Chris Relf and company will win this one going away.
Prediction - Mississippi St. 48 Memphis 7
Miami (OH) +16.5 at (21) Missouri
Missouri has produced some great QBs in recent years and Saturday James Franklin attempts to become the next. He will lead a Missouri team that is looking to make some noise in the Big 12 against the defending MAC champ, Miami (OH). The Red Hawks will hang for a bit, but Mizzou is too talented to lose this one.
Prediction - Missouri 37 Miami (OH) 14
Florida Atlantic +34.5 at (22) Florida
Urban Meyer is out and Will Muschamp is in as Florida's Head Coach. Muschamp begins his new job against Florida Atlantic. QB John Brantley will try to put last year behind him and prove he can be the man for the job in Gainesville.
Prediction - Florida 38 Florida Atlantic 9
Utah St. +21.5 at (23) Auburn
The Auburn Tigers begin their national title defense against Utah St. this weekend. Gene Chizik's crew must replace a boatload of talent, including last year's Heisman winner Cam Newton. Will they be up for the challenge?
Prediction - Auburn 41 Utah St. 17
Marshall +20.5 at (24) West Virginia
This inner-state rival was a dandy last year. Marshall can only hope to be as fortunate this year. Geno Smith could have a breakout year in new Coach Dana Holgerson's system. Bruce Irvin and the Mountaineers D could be nasty too.
Prediction - West Virginia 35 Marshall 12
Minnesota +21.5 at (25) USC
USC is still another year away from returning to postseason play, but they still have plenty to play for. The Trojans want ti prove that they are better than last year's 8-5 team. QB Matt Barkley is poised to have a breakout season.
Prediction - USC 38 Minnesota 14
Here is what nest week's Top 25 could like if these predictions hold true:
1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Oregon
4. Florida St.
5. Stanford
6. Texas A&M
7. Oklahoma St.
8. Nebraska
9. Wisconsin
10. LSU
11. South Carolina
12. Virginia Tech
13. Georgia
14. TCU
15. Arkansas
16. Boise St.
17. Notre Dame
18. Michigan St.
19. Ohio St.
20. Mississippi St.
21. Missouri
22. Florida
23. Auburn
24. West Virginia
25. USC
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