IT'S HERE! Week 1 picks

The 2010 College Football Season is upon us! Now for some last-minute predictions for this week. Some have changed from earlier this summer due to new developments / suspensions (sorry, UNC).

Each week I will have 10 predictions (usually games that interest me, whether they are big matchups (Boise-VaTech) or below-the-radar games (Northern Illinois-Iowa State?). I'll pick games that I could see going either way. Feel free to comment on selections - see you on the other side of *fingers crossed* 10 out of 10!


Thursday, September 2
Minnesota 27 @ Middle Tennessee 20. Dwight Dasher's suspension severely damages the Blue Raiders' hopes of an upset victory.
Southern Miss 13 @ South Carolina 24. Gamecocks' D is too strong.
Pittsburgh 20 @ Utah 30. The Panthers are a long way from home, and the Utes are anxious to get their final Mountain West season off to a stellar beginning at home.
Northern Illinois 21 @ Iowa State 23. Cyclones come together after floods wiped out most of ISU's athletic facilities this summer.


Saturday, September 4
Connecticut 27 @ Michigan 25. Randy Edsall's team is aiming high this season, and winning at the Big House would push the Huskies into the thick of the Big East title contention.
UCLA 20 @ Kansas State 16. The Bruin's D is too strong to be pushed around by the KSU rushing attack, and the Wildcats have no passing game to speak of.
Washington 28 @ BYU 21. Washington QB Jake Locker scores 3 TDs and leads the Huskies to victory in Provo.
Oregon State 10 vs TCU 23 (in Dallas, TX). TCU starts another undefeated regular season?
LSU 27 vs North Carolina 13 (in Atlanta, GA). Tarheels could be starting their 2nd stringers after all the suspensions are handed down.


Monday, September 6. 
Game of the Week! - Boise State vs Virginia Tech (in Landover, MD)
The Broncos bring their #3 AP ranking into a battle with the #10 Hokies.

• Boise State O vs Virginia Tech D. The Broncos' Offense is led by quarterback Kellen Moore, who had an incredible TD to interception ratio of 39 to 3 in 2009. And did you know the BSU rushing attack was more highly ranked than the passing game was? Virginia Tech is breaking in 7 new defensive starters, and the onus will be on them to prove they can withstand the formidable BSU assault. Boise -3
• Boise State D vs Virginia Tech O. Quick! Which defense was better in 2009, Boise State or Virginia Tech? If you answered Virginia Tech, you're wrong. Boise State, operating in the wide-open WAC, bottled up a #7 defensive ranking. Virginia Tech's running game is special, true. But Boise's rushing defense was no slouch either, finishing #25 nationally. Virginia Tech +1
• Special Teams. Advantage: Virginia Tech. Call it Beamerball, whatever. The Hokies pride themselves on special teams. Then again, the BSU punter had that amazing toss to seal the deal against TCU.... Virginia Tech +1
• Homefield Advantage: Virginia Tech +2
• Part 1 of a 2-Game Season: Boise -1

Totals: +/- 0

Prediction

What an outstanding match-up. My eyes will be glued to this one from start to finish. It's time for me to believe in the Broncos: Boise State 24, Virginia Tech 19.