The Reason:
Every college football season one of my favorite things to do is try to predict the winners of several games. I usually do five games per week, but opening week gets ten. Looking back at past seasons, I’ve been pretty good and picking straight up winner/loser. That said, it took until last season for me to have the “perfect week” of 5-0. Then I did it again, and again, and again. I had four perfect weeks last season.
So….the rules… I pick the games, and tell you who will win. By that, I mean I predict a score. The score selection is just for fun. If I pick Georgia to beat Buffalo 56-10, and Georgia actually wins 48-14, I still count that as a correct pick.
As the weekend progresses I'll update this post to account for correct and incorrect picks. With any luck (which I don't believe in) I'll have ten correct picks this week. Let the game(s) begin!
The Games:
9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt - CORRECT
An SEC East showdown that “highlights” the opening evening of play for the 2012 season. James Franklin has given the Commodores reason to believe, and South Carolina is carrying a chip on their shoulder from last year. The Gamecocks need a fast start and some breaks to go their way to reach Atlanta in December. Vanderbilt is just looking to keep building momentum.
FINAL SCORE: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 21
Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech **POSTPONED until Oct. 13**
SEC Newcomer Texas A&M faces a decently tough challenge in week one, as Louisiana Tech is being talked about as a BCS dark horse this season. A&M, though, now plays in the premiere BCS conference, which means you have to bring a premiere BCS defense to the table to hang with your new conference mates.
FINAL SCORE: Texas A&M 24, Louisiana Tech 20
24 Boise State at 13 Michigan State - CORRECT
This Boise State team is vastly different from the Boise State team that faced off against Georgia in a hastily thrown together kickoff game last season. The bulk of the offensive firepower is gone. Michigan State is breaking in a new QB, but that shouldn’t stop Sparty from beating up the Broncos.
FINAL SCORE: Michigan State 27, Boise State 14
This Boise State team is vastly different from the Boise State team that faced off against Georgia in a hastily thrown together kickoff game last season. The bulk of the offensive firepower is gone. Michigan State is breaking in a new QB, but that shouldn’t stop Sparty from beating up the Broncos.
FINAL SCORE: Michigan State 27, Boise State 14
Buffalo at 6 Georgia - CORRECT
Okay, so we know I’m a Georgia fan, and as such Georgia always ends up on my prediction list, regardless of opponent. Buffalo might be a decent football team, but Georgia is coming out of the gate with something to prove. The last line I saw on this game has UGA as a 37 point favorite. Maybe Mark Richt takes the binders off the offense this year and lets the team score some points.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 56, Buffalo 10
Okay, so we know I’m a Georgia fan, and as such Georgia always ends up on my prediction list, regardless of opponent. Buffalo might be a decent football team, but Georgia is coming out of the gate with something to prove. The last line I saw on this game has UGA as a 37 point favorite. Maybe Mark Richt takes the binders off the offense this year and lets the team score some points.
FINAL SCORE: Georgia 56, Buffalo 10
Notre Dame at Navy - CORRECT
Rick Reilly caused a bit of a firestorm when he wrote that Notre Dame was not deserving of its perks. I agree with him, but I also understand that Notre Dame didn’t heap unto itself those things, but they were given to the Irish by others. Now, Notre Dame goes to Dublin to face off with Navy. There is gimmickry to this move, but it will still be fun to watch. Also, the game kicks off at 9am Eastern time, so that means that September 1st will be college football all day long. I’d love to pick Navy, but I think ND has enough weapons on offense to win this one.
FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 27, Navy 20
Rick Reilly caused a bit of a firestorm when he wrote that Notre Dame was not deserving of its perks. I agree with him, but I also understand that Notre Dame didn’t heap unto itself those things, but they were given to the Irish by others. Now, Notre Dame goes to Dublin to face off with Navy. There is gimmickry to this move, but it will still be fun to watch. Also, the game kicks off at 9am Eastern time, so that means that September 1st will be college football all day long. I’d love to pick Navy, but I think ND has enough weapons on offense to win this one.
FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 27, Navy 20
14 Clemson vs. Auburn - INCORRECT
Call me crazy if you want, but this is your upset alert game. Clemson, like Florida State…and frankly every team in the ACC…hold a spot in my mind of “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Auburn is breaking in a new coordinator or two, but their new Defensive Coordinator is Brian Van Gorder, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, who averaged nearly 11 wins per season in his tenure with the team. That’s not easily accomplished in today’s NFL. Auburn hopes that experience translates well to the speed of the SEC. Still, look for Auburn to pull the upset over Clemson.
FINAL SCORE: Auburn 26, Clemson 24
Tennessee vs NC State - CORRECT
The Volunteers have a coach on the hot seat. Derek Dooley needs a good season. It doesn’t have to be a national title or even a conference title. But he needs at least 9 wins, maybe 10, and a solid bowl game berth to solidify his job security. NC State gets a national spotlight game to start the season. I don’t look for the Wolfpack to make much noise in the ACC, but who knows. A win here could start the ball rolling on a good season for either team. Still, look to Rocky Top for the win.
FINAL SCORE: Tennessee 24, NC State 17
The Volunteers have a coach on the hot seat. Derek Dooley needs a good season. It doesn’t have to be a national title or even a conference title. But he needs at least 9 wins, maybe 10, and a solid bowl game berth to solidify his job security. NC State gets a national spotlight game to start the season. I don’t look for the Wolfpack to make much noise in the ACC, but who knows. A win here could start the ball rolling on a good season for either team. Still, look to Rocky Top for the win.
FINAL SCORE: Tennessee 24, NC State 17
Hawaii at 1 USC - CORRECT
The Men of Troy come off their postseason ban and vault immediately to the #1 Spot in the polls. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that Hawai’i was playing big time football, but since the Sugar Bowl debacle against Georgia, the Warriors have fallen off the map. Don’t look for USC to show any mercy in this contest, as Lane Kiffin wants to establish dominance over the polls early.
FINAL SCORE: USC 63, Hawaii 7
The Men of Troy come off their postseason ban and vault immediately to the #1 Spot in the polls. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that Hawai’i was playing big time football, but since the Sugar Bowl debacle against Georgia, the Warriors have fallen off the map. Don’t look for USC to show any mercy in this contest, as Lane Kiffin wants to establish dominance over the polls early.
FINAL SCORE: USC 63, Hawaii 7
8 Michigan vs 2 Alabama - CORRECT
It is safe to say that this game is the marquee match-up of the weekend. The defending National Champion Crimson Tide square off with the surging Wolverines. Michigan wants to establish itself as a Top Ten power, and to do that requires at least not letting Alabama run roughshod over you. The joke at the end of last season was that the LSU team bus was stuck at the stadium, after the NC Game, because an Alabama fan painted a 50-yard line in front of it. The Tide can do that to you. The scary thing is, they might be better this year than last year.
FINAL SCORE: Alabama 31, Michigan 20
It is safe to say that this game is the marquee match-up of the weekend. The defending National Champion Crimson Tide square off with the surging Wolverines. Michigan wants to establish itself as a Top Ten power, and to do that requires at least not letting Alabama run roughshod over you. The joke at the end of last season was that the LSU team bus was stuck at the stadium, after the NC Game, because an Alabama fan painted a 50-yard line in front of it. The Tide can do that to you. The scary thing is, they might be better this year than last year.
FINAL SCORE: Alabama 31, Michigan 20
Georgia Tech at 16 Virginia Tech
The big ACC match-up of opening weekend pits the Jackets and the Hokies against one another. Georgia Tech wants to prove it belongs, but Frank Beamer’s Hokies play a very-much smash-mouth style of defense. Georgia Tech likes to run the ball, as that is the staple o Paul Johnson’s offense, but against this defense that won’t be enough.
FINAL SCORE: Virginia Tech 27, Georgia Tech 17
2012 Record
Week 1 ........... 7-1
The big ACC match-up of opening weekend pits the Jackets and the Hokies against one another. Georgia Tech wants to prove it belongs, but Frank Beamer’s Hokies play a very-much smash-mouth style of defense. Georgia Tech likes to run the ball, as that is the staple o Paul Johnson’s offense, but against this defense that won’t be enough.
FINAL SCORE: Virginia Tech 27, Georgia Tech 17
2012 Record
Week 1 ........... 7-1
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