I know that most diehard college football fans can only focus on one big non-conference matchup: Ohio State at USC on September 13. Well, I'm here to tell ya there are a whole bunch of other non-conference games that you need to get excited for. Check out some of these games on the schedule! Keep in mind, these are only non-conference matchups.
Thursday, August 28#23 Wake Forest at Baylor - Okay, okay, I know this matchup doesn't exactly fit the above description, but I had to throw this out there for 3 reasons: 1. It is Baylor's first game of the season, 2. It is Art Briles' debut as Baylor head coach, and 3. It is the highlight of the first day of college football (along with NC State-South Carolina and Oregon State-Stanford). I can't wait for the season to start! Much as I'd love to pick Baylor to spring the upset, I'll pick Wake to win this one by 10.
Saturday, August 30#17 Virginia Tech at East Carolina - UPSET ALERT! East Carolina is really under the radar, and the crowd will be insane that night. I'll go with East Carolina in the first upset of the year.
Appalachian State at #7 LSU - Is it possible for Appalachian State to pull off another one of the greatest upsets in major college football history? Given LSU's quarterback situation, it may be possible. Given playing against LSU in Death Valley, it may not be possible. I'll go with LSU by 3 touchdowns.
#24 Alabama at #9 Clemson - Great matchup. Clemson is one of the toughest places in the country to play, but Nick Saban is a great coach and has a lot of his players back. Has the potential to be a classic. I'm picking Clemson by a touchdown.
#20 Illinois vs #6 Missouri (in St. Louis) - This one was an awesome back and forth game last year, and I expect the same this season.....for the first half. I think Mizzou just has too much firepower. I'll take them by 14.
Monday, September 1#18 Tennessee at UCLA - This test may be tougher than expected for the Vols, given UCLA just lost their starting quarterback for the season. However, it is Rick Neuheisel's first game back in college football. I have a rooting interest in the game, with Katy High School's Aundre Dean making his debut at running back as a freshman. Word around campus is he won't redshirt and will play! I'll take Tennessee by 7.
Saturday, September 6Oregon State at #22 Penn State - Did you know Oregon State won 8 games last year? Neither did I. This has the potential to be a great game, but Penn State is just so tough at home. I'll take Penn State by 13, but this one will be close into the fourth quarter.
#8 West Virginia at East Carolina - Kudos to East Carolina for scheduling two great non-conference game, and getting both of them at home. I think at best, they split the two games, so I'll go with West Virginia by 17 in this one. Way too much firepower on the Mountaineers' side.
Texas A&M at New Mexico - Will be aired on the Versus channel, which most of us Dish Network people don't get, but we may wish we did. I've got a rooting interest in this one since Tabaitha is an Aggie, and it brings me nothing but joy to pick New Mexico to spring the mild upset by 7 :)
Miami at #5 Florida - This one could turn out to be one of the best games of the season thus far. These two teams really dislike each other, and Miami will be much improved this year, in my opinion. Randy Shannon is an awesome coach. Have you heard some of the rules he implemented at Miami? Try these two rules on for size. All players must hold doors open for women as they are entering campus buildings, or they will be punished. Also, if a player gets caught with a cell phone in class, he and every other player in that class must hand their cell phones to the coaching staff, who will return them to said players at the end of the season. Talk about doing things the right way. Florida in a barnburner, by 10.
Friday, September 12#14 Kansas at #19 South Florida - Should be a basketball-type of score here. Both teams have great offenses, and both surprised nationally last season. Much as I'd like to appease Jill Harrison, I'll take South Florida in a shootout, something like 42-38.
Saturday, September 13Arkansas at #11 Texas - Remember what happened the last time Arkansas went into Austin and played Texas, Laura Kaye? The Hogs pulled the upset on UT, and before the game, Laura made sure that she told everyone how great it was to be a Longhorn, with her sitting in the front row. Little did she know at the time that I would remember that, and put it into this blog entry! It'll make her feel better though that I'm picking history to not repeat itself. Texas by 17.
#21 Oregon at Purdue - I really don't know much about either team, except that Dennis Dixon isn't the Ducks' quarterback anymore, and Curtis Painter is a pretty good quarterback for a Purdue team that many see as a sleeper in the Big Ten. Purdue in a shootout, by I'll say 13.
#2 Ohio State at #3 USC - The game everyone has been waiting for. I think it lives up to the hype, with it being one of the great
first halves in recent memory. Surprisingly to some, I think Ohio State has too much talent for USC to hang, particularly on defense. Ohio State 37, USC 28.
#13 Wisconsin at Fresno State - Fresno State is many experts' pick to crash the BCS party this year, but to do so, they have to beat Wisconsin. Folks in Fresno are pegging this game as the biggest game in their stadium's history, and I don't think they will be disappointed. This game is a true toss-up, and I'll take Wisconsin by a touchdown or less, possible in overtime.
Saturday, September 20#1 Georgia at #15 Arizona State - Has the potential to be a great one in the desert, but I think Arizona State's defense is a little suspect. If Georgia wins at South Carolina the week before, I think they really start believing in themselves and win. If they fall victim to the upset at South Carolina, I think they have the potential to fall apart a couple weeks in a row. I'll take the former scenario and go with Georgia by 10.
Saturday, September 27#17 Virginia Tech at Nebraska - Will the Hokies be swallowed up in a sea of red? QB Joe Ganz will have the Nebraska offense rolling by this point (with only 3 cupcakes on the schedule before this one), so as long as they don't find themselves looking ahead to their matchup with Missouri the next week, they can knock off Virginia Tech. I think they can take it one game at a time, and I think the Huskers knock off the Hokies in a close one by a touchdown.
Thursday, October 23#10 Auburn at #8 West Virginia - This could be a huge game with massive BCS implications, especially if West Virginia is undefeated at this point in the season. I think Auburn is very much overlooked in the rugged SEC, and although they might even have a loss or two by this point, will still be one of the best teams in the country. In a salute to Matty Salvador, I'm picking Auburn to knock off West Virginia in Morgantown by 10.
WHAT A SCHEDULE! Keep in mind, these are just
non-conference games! Can't wait to see all of these games play out? Me either!
Next week, I'll predict all of the conference champions and make my national championship matchup prediction, as well as predicting the scores of a handful of the best games each week.
Happy reading!
