Week 1: College
Football Preview
After an uneventful summer for Ohio sports fans where we had
to witness the collapse of the Indians, and the Reds…well, playing like the
Reds, it’s time to move forward to the most wonderful time of the year, college
football season. So dust off your alma maters jersey that you angrily threw in
the corner of your basement after your teams bowl loss last year and check out
a few compelling week one match-ups.
By: Eric Geier
Thursday August 28th,
2008
North Carolina St. at South Carolina
This is the first match-up of
interest and you don’t even have to wait until Saturday to see it. NC State coach
Tom O’Brien is going into his second year and would like to post a better
record than 5 -7 as he did a year ago. It took him three years to make Boston College
into a contender, so if his track record is any indication, there should be
some improvement in their record this year.
South Carolina returns after
going 6-6 a year ago and head ball coach, Steve Spurrier wants to get his team
into SEC contention. After starting the season 6-1 last year, SC dropped five
straight, something Spurrier would rather forget. Spurrier has decided to give
redshirt junior Tommy Beecher his first start, a player he believes has the
talent to lead SC.
This game features two first time
starting QB’s and a win here could make or break their confidence early in the
season.
Thursday August 28th
@ 8:00 p.m. on ESPN
Bowling
Green at #25 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s huge upset of West Virginia last year ended their season
on a high note and could be the main reason for their preseason #25 ranking
this year. Coach Dave Wannstedt is excited about quarterback Billy Stull, a guy
who would have been the starter last year if he had not injured his hand during
a pre-season game. He believes Stull has the skills to get the ball to their
top receiver Oderick Turner, a player who emerged last year as the go to guy
for the Panthers. Also, running back LeSean McCoy is coming off a monumental
freshman season in which he averaged over 110 yards a game. However, there are
question marks on defense for Pitt, most notably their passing coverage; if
their defense improved they could indeed be the contender critics think they
can be.
Bowling Green enters the season after a 63-7 beating at
the hands of Tulsa
in the GMAC bowl last year. The Falcons bring back eight starters on offense
including quarterback Tyler Sheehan who threw for over 3,000 yards last season
and led an offense that ranked fourth in the MAC. Bowling Green has been predicted to win the MAC
with a high powered offense and an improved defense led by senior linebacker
Erique Dozier.
Expect Bowling Green to give the
Panthers a run for their money. The Falcons are used to playing in hostile
environments and certainly have a chance to knock off Pitt in the first game of
the season.
Saturday August 30th
@ noon on ESPNU
Michigan State at Cal
Many believe that Cal will
annihilate Michigan
State in their home
opener, but State may have a few surprises come Saturday. Michigan State
quarterback Brian Hoyer could have a break-out season, not only does he have
good arm strength but he has a deep group of receivers to throw the ball to. Running
back Javon Ringer will also get the ball quite a bit, he has the ability to run
and catch, look for him to be in the end zone on a pretty consistent basis this
season.
On the other side of the ball, Cal will showcase its
speedy offense and an experienced offensive line that has the ability to open
up big holes and protect quarterback Kevin Riley. Cal’s defense boasts some of the best
linebackers in the country and returns three members of its secondary.
Michigan
State will have their hands full with
the Cal
offense, but the Spartans will show heart and could ride all-purpose back Javon
Ringer to victory.
Saturday August 30th@
8:00 p.m. on ABC
Other notable week
one matchups
Thursday-
Oregon State
at Stanford- 9:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Saturday- Appalachian State at #7 LSU- 5:00 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday- #24 Alabama
at #9 Clemson- 8:00 p.m. on ABC
Saturday- #20 Illinois
at #5 Missouri- 8:30 p.m. on ESPN