Thursday
Pittsburgh @ Utah (2.5): Unless you are a fan of rodeos or Extreme Cage fighting (who isn't?) it might take a little searching through the guide to find this Versus televised game. In one of the best games of the weekend the Big East favorites head to Utah with Dion Lewis, a solid defense, and high expectations. Quarterback play and the interior of the line will be under a microscope against a Utah defense that will crowd the line of scrimmage and make Pittsburgh through the ball to win. (WR) Jonathon Baldwin's matchup against Thrope candiate (CB) Brandon Burton will be a barometer of the game. Utah QB Jordan Wynn is coming off one of his best performances last year in the Poinsetta bowl and is an ideal quarterback for an offense that is committed to the run with (RB's) Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has had success when given time to prepare for an opponent (ask Nick Saban and Alabama) and that coupled with home field and early season stability at the QB position makes Utah (-2.5) the play.
Northern Illinois @ Iowa State (-3): Northern Illinois is improved and should contend in the MAC this season with returning (QB) Chandler Harnish, but they will not sneak up on Iowa State in Ames. Iowa State plays the toughest schedule in the country this year and they will be ready for the home opener at night on Thursday. (QB) Austin Arnaud returns for Iowa State along with equally athletic (RB) Alexander Robinson and 6 other offensive starters. Early season trends can be as unreliable as a Tom Cruise flick, but Northern Illinois' 1-20 record the last four years against teams with over .500 records makes Iowa State (-3) the play.
Saturday
Missouri vs. Illinois (-11.5) in St. Louis: I did a double take when I saw a Ron Zook coached team giving up double digit points to a Big 12 opponent on a neutral field. Zook is 21-39 in five seasons and has two new cordinators this year after firing his cordinators from last year. Wouldn't this be like the captain of the Titanic blaming the boat for hitting the iceberg? Redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase takes over at quarterback after the Juice Williams era mercifully came to an end. Scheelhaase is more comfortable using his feet to make plays, which could be difficult against a Missouri defense that returns 9 starters. Missouri returns another good quarterback in Blaine Gabbert who torched this same Illini secondary last year for 319 yards and 3 TD's along with four returning offensive linemen. Even with (RB) Derrick Washington suspended Missouri has the firepower to put up too many points against Illinois' best side of the ball. Missouri plus 11.5 and the money line at +365 both are the play.
Colorado State vs. Colorado (-13) in Denver: One of the worst games on the schedule features two teams fighting for .500 and one of 125 available bowl invites. Wait 125 might be the number of golfers who make the Fed Ex playoffs, either way both numbers are way too high. This series has been even over the the last 11 meetings with Colorado holding a 6-5 advantage with the average margin of victory hovering around a touchdown. Double digits points in a pillow fight of a rivalry make Colorado State plus 13 the play.
Connecticut @ Michigan (-3.5): For my money one of the most interesting games of the weekend. Rich Rod searching for a quarterback and trying to get off to a start like last year against one of the most underrated teams in the nation. UConn returns 16 starters to team with a bruising rushing attack and a hard hitting defense. (RB) Jordan Todman will be the catalyst on offense and experienced (QB) Zack Fraser will benefit from his success through play action. Michigan hasn't made a quarterback decision between Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson proving the adage correct; if you have two QB's you really have none. Neither quarterback will look forward to facing UConn's hard hitting defense led by (DE) Greg Lloyd and (LB) Lawrence Wilson. UConn's style of play will remind Michigan fans of Michigan teams before the arrival of Rich Rod with his spread and lackluster defense. Randy Edsall is one of the best coaches in the country and this trip to Ann Arbor might be a first look at the program he will be interviewing to take over after the season. UConn plus 3 and the hook is the play along with the money line at +130.
Washington @ BYU (-3): BYU is coming off a 11-2 year with wins over Oklahoma, Utah, and Oregon State, but their two losses were both home blowouts vs. FSU and TCU. This year BYU has a lot of questions having to replace 6 of their front seven on defense along with 6 starters on offense including last year's (QB) Max Hall and both their leading rusher and receiver. Washington returns 17 starters and QB Jake Locker provides the early season stability BYU lacks at the position though Rivals #1 (QB) recruit Jake Heaps might have as much talent. By seasons end I expect BYU to be a strong team, but all the early season question marks leave the door open for Washington to make an early statement with a win and make some Mormons angry. Washington plus 3 and +130 are both the play.
Washington State @ Oklahoma State (-15.5): The last few years OK St. has been more flash than substance, but I expect that to change this year with a team that is strong on both lines. (RB) Kendall Hunter returns this year after missing last season with a foot injury. He will be the focus of the offense and will look to match his 08' numbers (1,555 yds, 16 TD's, 22 rec, 220 yds) running behind an offensive line that will be a strength even after losing Russell Okung to the NFL. Hunter could not have asked for a better start to his under the radar Heisman campaign vs. a Wash. St. defense ranked 117th against the run last year. Defensively OK St. has the best secondary in the Big 12 and they will be helped even more by the emergence of (DE) Ugo Chinasa who can put pressure on the quarterback. The play is OK St. to cover the 15.5 and blowout one of the worst teams in D-1. It always helps to have a 40 year old man as your coach, if you don't believe just ask Mike Gundy.
Oregon State vs. TCU (13.5) in Dallas: Oregon State will start a new QB this year in sophomore Ryan Katz and in turn the offense will lean heavily on RB Jacquizz Rodgers. This is a matchup of strength vs. strength as the Oregon St. offensive will go up against one of the best defenses in the nation. TCU gave up an average of 13 pts/game last year and should be just as tough this year returning 7 starters featuring (LB's) Tank Cander, Tanner Brock and (DE) Wayne Daniels. I don't see Oregon State scoring more then 20 points and with a seemingly always rebuilding defense they will be unable to keep up with TCU and their productive running game. TCU will be looking to make a national statement in Cowboy stadium and with a dynamic defense they are the play to cover the 13.5.
North Carolina vs. LSU (NL) in Atlanta: An important game for both teams and conferences has been overshadowed by the UNC agent/tutor scandal. UNC has the most NFL talent in college football and it looks like they were paid this year like NFL players. (DT) Marvin Austin has been suspended indefintely while the majority of the defense (all communication majors with the same tutor) are awaiting decisions on their eligibility for Saturday night. If (DE) Robert Quin and the best linebacker unit in the country play Saturday UNC should be a one or two point favorite, but if more suspensions are issued LSU could jump to a TD favorite. In a move as surprising as Jersey Shore's Ronnie not cheating on Sammi everytime he is at the club I was going to take the ACC team over the SEC team as a small favorite, so maybe the game going off the board for now has saved me from beating against the best conference in college football.
Monday
Virginia Tech vs. Boise St (-2) in Landover Maryland: Boise State, like Nascar will start the year with their most important game and with a win put themselves on the inside track to an undefeated season. Boise State has earned the right to be a favorite vs. a major conference heavyweight in a virtual road game due to their recent BCS success and QB Kellen Moore. In a sport dominated by quarterbacks he is an ideal college signal caller who inspires confidence in the rest of his team. The big question for Boise St. will be if their defense can hold up against the power running of Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. I think both running backs will have success and this game could come down to the late fourth quarter, in that case you want Moore and Boise (-2) as oppossed to VTech and Tyrod Taylor.
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