College football is back everyone; and they’re some great opening weekend match ups. Here are some of the best games you need to watch this weekend.
Thursday 8pm ESPN – UNLV at #11 Wisconsin
Wisconsin is now lead by Russell Wilson, QB who was given a released from North Carolina State due to dual commitment of football and playing baseball for the school. Wilson was able to transfer to Wisconsin without sitting out for a season due the transfer exception of going to any school with a graduate program NCSU doesn’t offer. Wisconsin are pre season favorites to win the Big Ten conference.
Friday 8pm ESPN – #14 TCU at Baylor
TCU last year was the best team in the state of Texas with a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin and a 13-0 record. TCU will miss starting QB Andy Dalton “now with the Cincinnati Bengals” and want to continue their claim as the king of “Texas”, already expected to join the Big East in 2012-2013, TCU wants to remain a viable option for any conference in case the inevitable conference expansion changes the college football landscape. Baylor on the other hand is on the outside looking in for joining a BCS conference if the Big 12 dissolves and Texas goes independent, a victory over TCU on the national stage could be a boost to the programs resume.
Saturday 3:30pm NBC – South Florida at #16 Notre Dame
Brian Kelly begins year two in South Bend, and the Irish are a team many analysts are predicting as a breakout team. Given a 10-2 record assures Notre Dame a BCS game, it is hard to argue but given an upcoming game with Michigan they can’t look past the USF Bulls. South Florida aren’t afraid to play on the road, in the last few seasons had earned signature away wins at Auburn, Florida State, and Miami respectfully. Oh by the way the Holtz family will not rooting for the Irish, with Lou Holtz son, Skip is the head coach of South Florida. I expect this to be the upset of the weekend with an USF win.
Saturday 8pm ESPN – #5 Boise State vs. #19 Georgia
Boise State will take their #5 ranking to the Georgia Dome and face the Georgia Bulldogs. This game is intriguing because if Boise St. can win, they set themselves up to run the table and have a right to play in the national championship like last season when they defeated Virginia Tech at FedEx Field but later lost to Nevada in conference play. Mark Richt is on the hot seat in Athens and cannot afford a lost to Boise State in Georgia on the national stage.
Saturday 8pm ABC – #3 Oregon vs. #4 LSU
Both teams have endured a troubled off season. Both teams have been mentioned in the ongoing investigation of Willie Lyles, one of those players mentioned RB Lache Seastrunk transferred from Oregon to Baylor. LSU is also dealing with the investigation of a bar fight that led to the suspension of QB Jordan Jefferson. Winner of this game set themselves up for a “control your destiny run the table equation” for the BCS national championship game.
Monday 8pm ESPN – Miami at Maryland
ACC has exclusive rights for the Labor Day night game, once Florida State refused to play in the game, they chose Miami vs. Maryland because of the coaching debuts of Al Golden-Miami and Randy Edsall-Maryland who coached against each other at Temple and Connecticut respectfully. The conference will definitely have the nation’s attention with the allegations surrounding the Miami program. Despite the loss of eight players, the Canes have enough talent to go on the road and compete, even defeat Maryland. Remember the name “Lamar Miller” expect the redshirt sophomore to have a breakout game at RB for the Hurricanes.
