Hooray! College football is back once again! This year, I plan to take a different approach to my posts. Each week I will break down the top game of the week into detail and then give my prediction. In addition, I will give my prediction about the other major games being played during the week. Also, I am opening a group on ESPN College Pick em'. The group will be called "Evan's Blog Group", and anyone is welcome to join and pick games with me (my entry is Evan5880). Now that I've mentioned that, let's get started.
WEEK ONE'S BIG GAME
#3 OREGON (0-0) vs #4 LSU (0-0)
8:00 PM ET ABC
This year's Cowboys Classic features two national title contenders. The Oregon Ducks come to Cowboys Stadium with a renewed vigor after losing their first chance at a national title. Last year's offense was an nearly unstoppable force leading the nation in scoring (47.0) and total offense per game (530.7). This year looks to be no different. The Duck's high-powered offense is led by returning Heisman candidates LaMichael James and Darren Thomas and looks poised to be more efficient and move even faster (if that's even possible). Although the offense looks to be good, there are major questions on defense. Last year, the Ducks defense was a major key to their success and held a high powered Auburn offense to 22 points in the BCS title game. Unfortunately, the Ducks lost several key players including MLB Clay Mathews and all three starters on the defensive line. New leaders will have to step up if the Ducks want to have any chance to succeed this year.
LSU has been a consistent winner in the SEC, and this year, it would appear that this trend will continue. Les Miles has once again put together a top-notch squad that will be a force to be reckoned with in the SEC. LSU's defense has always been a top-ten defense and, with seven returning starters, will have no problem keeping it's opponents off the scoreboard. The offense, however, has some questions. Last year's offense was disappointing, but the squad has eight returning starters and looks to be more efficient this year. That was until QB Jordan Jefferson was arrested. Now Sophomore Zach Mettenberger will have to shake off his inexperience and step up to lead this team. Whether he can or not is yet to be seen.
THE VERDICT: Oregon 35, LSU 21
The roads to New Orleans goes through Dallas, but unfortunately only one team can continue on their path. That team will be OregonThis game would be better if Jefferson was playing, but without him, it would seem that LSU may be overmatched. LSU's offense will have trouble scoring without its senior leader, and the tiger's defense, though a stout SEC squad, will not be able to keep the high-powered and experienced Ducks from scoring.
THE OTHER GAMES
#5 Boise State (0-0) vs #19 Georgia
8:00 PM ET ESPN
Winner: Boise State
Colorado (0-0) vs Hawaii (0-0)
10:15 PM ET ESPN2
Winner: Hawaii
UCLA (0-0) vs Houston (0-0)
3:30 PM ET
Winner: UCLA
Northwestern (0-0) vs Boston College (0-0)
12:00 PM ET ESPNU
Winner: Northwestern (close game though)
That's all for this week. Leave a comment and I'll see you all next week!
