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It's hard to prepare for openers

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Posted: Saturday September 04, 1999 11:57 AM

Saturday, we get our first full slate of games, and every coach I talked to this week reminded me that these first matchups are very difficult to game plan. They pointed to the way Penn State steamrolled Arizona as an example. The Wildcats spent all summer preparing for a typically bland Nittany Lion offense. But Penn State blindsided the 'Cats by coming out throwing passes and running reverses in a 41-to-7 win.

So this week don't be surprised if some of the nation's top teams take a while to get rolling against lesser opponents.

Tennessee opens against Wyoming, and defensive coordinator John Chavis told me this year's defense has the ability to be even better than last's -- despite the loss of emotional leader Al Wilson. Linebacker Raynoch Thompson has added 15 pounds of muscle and will be one of the best in the country. Tennessee wins but probably won't show too much, knowing that next up on their schedule is Florida in Gainesville.

Meanwhile, Florida takes on Western Michigan. Jon Hoke, the Gators new defensive coordinator, told me to expect a more intense unit. Only one starter returns, and everyone is hungry. Western Michigan will throw the ball from many formations. But in the end, the Florida defense won't be caught off-gaurd. Remember, it faces the Gators' offense every day in practice.

New Colorado head coach Gary Barnett makes his debut against Colorado State, and the country club is over in Boulder. Barnett told me that the river tubing trips and end-of-practice ice creams have disappeared. Expect the Buffaloes to be physical -- as Barnett told me, you can't win in the Big 12 with a finesse passing attack.

In the best game of the weekend, Notre Dame travels to Ann Arbor. Michigan has hinted that it was disappointed Notre Dame didn't abide by a gentleman's agreement to not schedule a game prior to this one. But Michigan coaches told me there's a benefit to having seen Notre Dame play already. Sure the Irish were very vanilla in a win over Kansas last week, but at least the Wolverines got to see personnel groupings.

I like Michigan at home.

Trev Alberts is a college football analyst for CNN/SI and appears on CNN's College Football Preview, Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. ET.

 

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