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CNNSI.com college football writer Stewart Mandel weighs in with his forecast of the weekend's biggest games each Friday during the season.
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Week 1
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Fri. 8 p.m. EST | ESPN
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Fresno State (0-0) at No. 25 Wisconsin (0-0)
Does anyone else find it odd Wisconsin would schedule this game? After what happened last year -- Fresno scoring 22 unanswered points to stun the Badgers -- you may see Barry Alvarez break into involuntary convulsions at the sight of those uniforms. Nevertheless, UW won't allow the David Carr-less Bulldogs a repeat.
Wisconsin 31, Fresno State 20
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Sat. 2:30 p.m. EST | ABC
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Texas Tech (0-0) at No. 13 Ohio State (0-0)
It's been sort of the Red Raiders' M.O. in Mike Leach's first two seasons to beat the teams they should and get creamed by the others. Will that trend end against Mike Doss and the Buckeyes? Survey says... not likely. Keep an eye on OSU's Maurice Clarett, the first tailback in school history to start as a true freshman in an opener.
Ohio State 28, Texas Tech 19
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Sat. 4 p.m. EST
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New Mexico (0-0) at N.C. State (0-0)
The Wolfpack are ranked in one poll, not the other. Not for long. AP will likely add them to the mix after Phillip Rivers unleashes a dose of the good stuff on the Lobos. Which is not to say New Mexico, coming off a winning season, is a pushover. More like the Lobos' entire conference is.
N.C. State 23, New Mexico 6
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Sat. 7:45 p.m. EST | ESPN
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Arizona State (0-0) at No. 10 Nebraska (0-0)
As you've probably heard, Nebraska stinks. Yep, ever since those two blowout losses to end last season the program has been tumbling faster than Jay Mohr's career. Soon the Huskers will find it difficult to beat their own J.V. team. But in the meantime, they may still be able to fend off ASU by a score like ...
Nebraska 38, Arizona State 7
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Sat. 8:30 p.m. EST | ABC
at Kansas City
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No. 3 Florida State (0-0) vs. Iowa State (0-0)
For Seminoles fans, it's not a matter of whether their team will improve on last year's 8-4 aberration -- it's whether they'll go undefeated or bother to lose one game. You'd never know their non-conference schedule includes four of last year's bowl teams, starting with the Cyclones. FSU wins, but Seneca Wallace puts on a show.
Florida State 30, Iowa State 16
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