Football Future-see 2013: Opening Week

On September 5, 2007, I launched the first ever edition of Football Future-see, a weekly college football preview and prediction post. With the exception of 2009, I’ve offered up weekly predictions every year since then. Last season, I went 62-23 on my picks (picking straight-up winner/loser) for a winning percentage of .729. I provide a score, just to see how close I can get, but it’s more important to me that I get the winner and loser correct.

This year, I offer more of the same. Every week I’ll pick five games. I’m not talking about the easy games (which is almost any game on Ohio State’s schedule), but I go for the tough ones. Opening week and Bowl Season get longer prediction columns. As you can see below, our opening week slate is sort of a mixed bag. There seems to be fewer “big” games this year than in previous years. The SEC typically makes up the bulk of my prediction slate, and Georgia is always on the calendar, when they have a game. Also, again this year, after Week 6, I’ll once again unveil the Right Wing Top Ten. (See, poll voters, it’s really not that hard to wait until you have stats on each team before you throw out a poll.)

So here’s the opening week Football Future-see for 2013.

RECORD
Week One........7-2

North Carolina at 6 South Carolina     CORRECT

The Gamecocks welcome in the Tar Heels of North Carolina for an interesting week one match-up. South Carolina is primed for a run at the SEC Title, assuming they can get by Georgia and Florida. North Carolina, on the other hand, really isn’t expected to make a lot of noise in the ACC. South Carolina’s defense will lead the way for much of this game, as Jadeveon Clowney establishes himself as the premiere defensive player in the nation.

Final Score: South Carolina 34, North Carolina 14

12 LSU vs 20 TCU (in Arlington)     CORRECT

TCU is the trendy pick to play BCS dark horse this year. The Tigers of LSU, though, know what it’s like to play big games. They play Alabama every year. The Horned Frogs may be good enough to challenge for a Big XII title, but in opening week action against LSU, look for the Tigers to roar to victory in a very solid defensive battle.

Final Score: LSU 20, TCU 17

Toledo at 10 Florida     CORRECT

On paper, this should be the closest thing to a blowout we see on this slate. But on the field, Florida has turned into a team that struggles against the MAC, especially in opening games. It doesn’t help the Gators that they suffered a string of injuries during spring ball. Look for Toledo to hang around far longer than the Gators want them to, but Jeff Driskell will eventually power the Gators offense to a win.

Final Score: Florida 31, Toledo 17

1 Alabama vs Virginia Tech (in Atlanta)     CORRECT

When I first started to write this column, I thought that this game would be much harder to predict, given that Virginia Tech is one of the better defensive teams in the nation at any given time. Alabama, though, has a great QB in AJ McCarron and a really good running back in TJ Yeldon. VaTech may hang with the Tide for a quarter, maybe even an entire half. But ‘Bama will pull away to end the game.

Final Score: Alabama 36, Virginia Tech 17

5 Georgia at 8 Clemson      INCORRECT

This is the biggest game of the opening weekend. Georgia, led by star QB Aaron Murray will bring arguably the SEC’s best offense into Death Valley to take on Tajh Boyd and Clemson. Both teams are awfully young on defense and both teams feature really solid offenses. This may be one of those games where the first team to 50 points wins.

Final Score: Georgia 38, Clemson 31

Ole Miss at Vanderbilt     INCORRECT

I don’t often predict that a game will require overtime, but this one has that feel. James Franklin has Vanderbilt feeling like something special, which is not often said for Vandy’s football program. Hugh Freeze recently landed Ole Miss one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. Not since the days of Eli has Ole Miss been this excited about a football season. Look for these teams to battle in the trenches as they both find their footing. Vandy comes away with a win. If this had been at Oxford, I may have chosen differently.

Final Score: Vanderbilt 24, Ole Miss 21 (OT)

Mississippi State vs 13 Oklahoma State (in Houston)     CORRECT

Two Mississippi schools in the same prediction column? You got it. The Bulldogs of Mississippi State travel to neutral site Houston to face the Cowboys of Okie State, who have dreams of a Big XII Title and maybe more. While I don’t really foresee a blowout of epic proportions in this game, I do think Oklahoma State is one of the better teams in the Big XII and Mississippi State is definitely NOT one of the better SEC teams.

Final Score: Oklahoma State 35, Mississippi State 14

Northern Illinois at Iowa     CORRECT

Last season’s “Cinderella” team, Northern Illinois, makes the trip to Iowa to take on a Hawkeyes team that may or may not be worthy of attention. From where I sit, deep in the heart of SEC country, the entire state of Iowa has been rather quiet about football. The Huskies of Northern Illinois will look to prove that their BCS berth last year was no fluke. I look for both teams to struggle at first, but NIU should W-I-N.

Final Score: Northern Illinois 27, Iowa 23

Louisiana-Lafayette at Arkansas     CORRECT

Welcome to the SEC, Bret Bielema. Your first task is to vanquish the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette. This should not be difficult for an SEC school to do. However, the program you’ve taken over suffered one of the worst seasons in SEC history last year (and yes, I know that statistically it wasn’t as bad as others, but check the media representations of Arkansas last season…) This one may be close until halftime, but the Razorbacks should win going away.

Final Score: Arkansas 37, Louisiana-Lafayette 17

11 Florida State at Pittsburgh

Every season Florida State shows up with National Title aspirations. This year may be different, as there is a feeling that FSU is in a sort of rebuilding mode, and not really built for a title run. Going to Pittsburgh in week one will be a nice test, but I look for the Seminoles to roll in this one.

Final Score: Florida State 34, Pittsburgh 20