 |
|---|
|
CNNSI.com college football writer Stewart Mandel weighs in with his forecast of the weekend's biggest games each Friday during the season.
|
|
|---|
|
Week 1
|
|---|
|
|---|
 
Sat. Noon EST | ABC
|
No. 11 Washington (0-0) at No. 13 Michigan (0-0)
Some coaches are secretive, some coaches are Lloyd Carr. This guy wouldn’t tell you what he ate for breakfast for fear it might indicate what play they’re running on third-and-five. Therefore, I couldn’t tell you whether the Wolverines’ re-jiggered offense is taking shape or not, but I do know it won’t be able to keep pace with the high-powered Huskies.
Washington 27, Michigan 24
|
|
|---|
 
Sat. 8 p.m. EST | ABC
at East Rutherford, N.J.
|
Notre Dame (0-0) vs. No. 21 Maryland (0-0)
Notre Dame is a shell of the program it once was. Maryland, without RB Bruce Perry, is a shell of the team that won the ACC last year. And the Kickoff Classic is a shell of its own self, relegated to sharing the spotlight on a regular Saturday while the Pigskin Coaches Hispanic Foundation Classic had all the fun last week. Eh, we’ll probably watch anyway.
Maryland 19, Notre Dame 12
|
|
|---|
 
Sun. 2:30 p.m. EST | ABC
|
No. 14 LSU (0-0) at No. 16 Virginia Tech (1-0)
If there’s one quote I heard more than any other this summer, it was Nick Saban saying he asked his team, “Are we going to be a flash in the pan or are we going to become a nationally recognized program?" If he said it to his team half as much as he did the media, they probably got the message. But unfortunately for Saban, the Hokies are one of those programs already.
Virginia Tech 27, LSU 21
|
|
|---|
 
Mon. 8 p.m. EST | ABC
|
Auburn (0-0) at No. 20 USC (0-0)
If you’re a serious college fan, you and your friends have surely played the “how long was that guy in college?” game. DeShaun Foster. Darrell Bevell. Ortege Jenkins. And don’t even get me started on basketball. USC quarterback Carson Palmer is 2002’s clear contribution. This will be billed as his showcase game, but watch for Auburn LB Dontarrious Thomas to steal his thunder.
Auburn 26, USC 16
|
|
|---|
 
Sat. 1 p.m. EST | ESPN2
at Denver
|
No. 7 Colorado (0-0) vs. Colorado State (1-0)
Here’s the thing: Colorado coach Gary Barnett and season-openers just don’t get along. He’s 0-for-3 in Boulder, coming at the hands of Mountain West (CSU, twice) and WAC (Fresno State) teams. And at Northwestern, he took two defending Big Ten title squads to lowly Wake Forest and came away with L’s. A little relationship counseling may be in order.
Colorado State 31, Colorado 27
|
|
|---|
 
Sat. 7:45 p.m. EST | ESPN
|
Clemson (0-0) at No. 8 Georgia (0-0)
After a long summer of hearing how good it is and why this is its year to win the SEC, Georgia now has to actually play a football game. Should the Bulldogs be able to beat Clemson? Well, yeah. But it won’t be the cakewalk most are expecting -- Tigers QB Willie Simmons is the real deal, and UGA’s secondary is a work in progress to say the least.
Georgia 29, Clemson 23
|
|
|---|
 
Sat. 6 p.m. EST | Fox Net
|
Mississippi State (0-0) at No. 15 Oregon (0-0)
By now you’ve surely heard about how loud Oregon’s Autzen Stadium gets. Now, imagine it with cowbells -- oh mama! A few Bulldogs fans will likely make the trek to the Northwest for this one (if you could get out of Starkville, Miss., for a weekend, wouldn’t you??), but it won’t be enough to overcome the fact that the Ducks are … well, a lot, lot better.
Oregon 33, Mississippi State 13
|
|
|---|
 
Sat. 1:30 p.m. EST
|
Miami of Ohio (0-0) at North Carolina (0-0)
Each week, I’ll try to include one off-the-radar upset special, even if it means you’ll be having a good laugh at my expense come Saturday. The Tar Heels won eight games last year almost solely from its Julius Peppers- and Ryan Sims-led defense. They’re gone. Miami, meanwhile, is always good for one of these a year, and QB Ben Roethlisberger is a star in the making.
Miami 24, North Carolina 17
|
|
|---|
|
Last week: 5-0. Overall: 5-0.
|
