Tailgater: College Football Week 1 Preview

Mitchell: Now let’s get a look at some of the big games of the week and give our predictions. Brian Kelly makes his head coaching debut at Notre Dame with Purdue coming to South Bend. Will Brian Kelly’s first game at Notre Dame be successful, or will it be a bitter start to his Irish career?

Bigalke: I honestly like this year’s Boilermakers. While the game will be in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus to get things started off for Kelly in style, the inclusion of Robert Marve from Miami to a team that is bringing a healthy blend of youth and veteran leadership to 2010 should be explosive. Look for Purdue — who last year lost by three points to Notre Dame (as well as just two to Oregon in Eugene) — to steal back the victory in this series. PICK: Purdue

Strobl: Purdue is still rebuilding, and Brian Kelly is Brian Kelly.  Even with some questions left to answer, I think he and the Irish win their opener. PICK: Notre Dame

Mitchell: Brian Kelly’s career is going to get off to a strong start and the Fighting Irish are going to knock off Purdue in South Bend. I think it should be a good game. Purdue should be improved this season with Robert Marve, the former Miami QB, taking over. But, Brian Kelly will have his offense rocking in the season opener and Michael Floyd will be too much to cover for the Boilermaker secondary. PICK: Notre Dame

Connecticut is looking at capturing the Big East Title this season and Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez is looking to start the 2010 season on a strong note. Which one of these teams will get off to the 1-0 start and get their season rolling in the right way.

Bigalke: The Huskies are going to make short work of this still-green Wolverines team. On sheer coaching ability alone Randy Edsall is far superior to Rich Rodriguez, and the talent gap between the two schools has narrowed greatly over the years as  UConn recruited more good players and fewer were culled by guys like, well.. Michigan. PICK: UConn

Strobl: As I said above, I like UConn.  I picked the Huskies to win the Big East, and I think they can make a statement in week one.  Last year’s heartbreaking losses are behind them, and 2010 is rife with possibilities. PICK: UConn

Mitchell: I’ve gone back and forth on this game for quite a while and honestly, I’m still pretty conflicted on who to pick. I’ll tell you one thing I’m tired of is Michigan fans cocky attitude. I’ve read too many things about this game and heard too many people say that Michigan is so much better than Connecticut. Has everyone forgotten how bad Michigan has been the last two seasons? I agree that they are going to be improved this year, but they certainly won’t run right past Connecticut in the season opener. I’ll take the Huskies. PICK: UConn

The Arch Rivalry is in its usual position as Illinois battles Missouri. Which one of these teams will win this installment of the rivalry?

Strobl: Illinois is terrible.  If Ron Zook lasts the season I’ll be impressed.  Mizzou should take this one easily behind Blaine Gabbert. PICK: Missouri

Mitchell: Missouri was in a transition year last season with Chase Daniel gone and Blaine Gabbert taking over at QB. This season, the expectation for Missouri with 17 returning starters is to get back to Big XII North contention and be a force. For that to happen, they won’t be able to lose a game to Illinois – one they should for sure win. Missouri is the better team and they should win this one. PICK: Missouri

Bigalke: Is there any nagging voice in the back of your head telling you to bet heavingly on Illinois? If so, you might want to go get that checked. Not the fact the voice is there, mind you… just its outlandish prediction. Missouri has the deeper roster, more experience at key positions and little if any hope of coming back home empty-handed in this rivalry match. The Illini have little to offer in the way of resistance or comparable firepower… PICK: Missouri

Jake Locker looks to lead Washington to bigger and better things in 2010 as they get a tough start to the season on the road against BYU. Will it be Washington getting off to the strong start, or BYU holding home field?

Mitchell: This was my upset pick of the week. I think Washington is going to go to Provo and earn the victory. This is no longer a team that has to just depend on Jake Locker at QB with the emergence of Chris Polk at RB. He’s a special player and him and Locker will be too much for the Cougars. PICK: Washington

Bigalke: As I said earlier, Washington serves as my Upset Special of the week. DC Nick Holt is going to have his defensive charges ready for a battle against BYU. The Cougars are without a proven QB, and the dismissal of RB Harvey Unga will put even more pressure on the passing game to perform. Jake Locker and company should be able and ready to put up some points, and the Huskies head back to Seattle up 1-0 in 2010. PICK: Washington

Strobl: I’ve mentioned previously that I’m not into the Locker-hype.  He’s a great athlete, but until Washington does something worthwhile on the field, I just can’t get excited about his talent.  BYU is the better all-around team by far, and while Washington will want to extract some revenge for the loss back in 2008, this won’t be the year the Huskies get it. PICK: BYU

The SEC and Big Ten face off in the opening weekend with Northwestern traveling to Nashville to battle Vanderbilt. Will it be the Big Ten or SEC getting the first laugh?

Bigalke: It’s a battle of the geniuses! We’ve got a duel on our hands between Pat Fitzgerald, who has guided the Wildcats to mid-table Big Ten respectability during his time in Evanston, and a completely unknown commodity in rookie Commodores coach Robbie Caldwell. Northwestern — even without QB Mike Kafka — is the deeper team in most respects and should cruise… PICK: Northwestern

Strobl: Northwestern is bowl bound while Vandy doesn’t even have its reliable head coach anymore.  2010 could be truly painful for Commodores fans.  Expect the Wildcats to move to 1-0 after week one. PICK: Northwestern

Mitchell: I’ve seen multiple people pick this as the opening week upset. But, I can’t really understand why. Mike Kafka might be gone from the Wildcats, but Northwestern is by far the superior team. I really like Robbie Caldwell and he has certainly said the right things, but they don’t have the talent to do much this season. PICK: Northwestern

Butch Jones debuts at Cincinnati as they travel to play Pat Hill’s Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday night. Can Butch Jones lead his team to a road victory over a tough opponent in his first game?

Strobl: I already stated that the line in this one has me irritated.  Why is Cincinnati getting so little respect?  Last year they won the Big East while returning only 1 defensive starter, yet once again the defense is being questioned.  It may not be one of the country’s better units, but as a whole this team is plenty powerful.  Jones knows Kelly’s offense almost as well as Kelly himself.  I have faith in him, and other Bearcats fans should too. PICK: Cincinnati

Mitchell: I have to agree with Matt that it is ridiculous for Fresno State to be favored in this game. I know Tony Pike is gone and Brian Kelly is no longer the head coach, but Zach Collaros might actually be a better fit running this offense and they shouldn’t miss a beat with Butch Jones coming in and running the same scheme. I think it will be a tough game against Pat Hill’s Bulldogs in Fresno, but Cincinnati should have enough to edge out the win. PICK: Cincinnati

Bigalke: Matt is exactly right. The lack of respect for the two-time defending Big East champion is simply astounding. The defense, one of the least experienced in the nation in 2009, has a lot more returning this year after acquitting itself nicely last season. And as I said earlier, Zach Collaros is poised to become one of the best quarterbacks that Bearcats fans have ever enjoyed in Cincinnati. No disrespect intended toward the Bulldogs, who will always be game competitors as long as Pat Hill is coaching in Fresno. But losing Ryan Mathews, the nation’s top RB in 2009, will be too much to endure in the opener. PICK: Cincinnati

The first of three ranked matchups in the opening weekend is Oregon State going on the road to face TCU. Can TCU get their season started well and keep their BCS hopes alive?

Mitchell: I picked Oregon State as my preseason pick to win the Pac-10 and while I still think that is true, I don’t see them going on the road and knocking off a team of the Horned Frogs caliber. I commend Oregon State for scheduling tough out of conference games against TCU and Boise State, but it will do them no favors record-wise, especially since both games are on the road. TCU is the real deal and they should win a close game over the Beavers. PICK: TCU

Bigalke: From my perch here in Eugene, it has been apparent the past couple years that Mike Riley is building something special and lasting in Corvallis. But the Beavers are always prone to slow starts out of conference, and TCU is one hell of a season opener. It all comes down to new OSU quarterback Ryan Katz — if he can guide this offense on some long scoring drives they have a chance. But TCU got where they are on the strength of their defense, and it would truly be an upset for the Beavers to walk out of the Big D with a W… PICK: TCU

Strobl: I don’t think there’s any question that TCU is the better team, and the Frogs should defense their turf with vigor.  Oregon State has some solid weapons including the celebrated Rodgers brothers, but QB Sean Canfield is gone.  The transition under center will lead to some stumbles, and no team can afford to have offensive weaknesses when facing TCU on the road. PICK: TCU

The Chick Fil-A College Kickoff has featured Alabama the last two years, but this season LSU takes the SEC spot as they go up against North Carolina in the Georgia Dome. Which conference title hopeful will earn the victory in Atlanta?

Bigalke: Suspensions have doomed the Tar Heels’ season before it could even get started. Butch Davis takes a depleted roster to the Georgia Dome to face Les Miles’ more-intact crew, and it will be those disparities in depth that prove UNC’s undoing. That’s not to say I am predicting good things to come in the Tigers’ long-term forecast; just that they’ll have the personnel to finish off North Carolina. PICK: LSU

Strobl: Considering that UNC will be without 12 players, I think LSU has this one in the bag.  I hope I’m wrong, because I don’t care for the overrated Les Miles.  But Butch Davis has an uphill battle ahead if he wants to avoid early season misery. PICK: LSU

Mitchell: I had a lot of high expectations for North Carolina coming into this season, but with all the off field stuff and the fact that they will be without at least twelve players if not sixteen for the Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff at the Georgia Dome against LSU, I just can’t see them winning this game. I really thought earlier in the offseason that North Carolina could win the ACC, but this is looking like it is going to turn into a disappointing season for the Tar Heels. PICK: LSU

The big matchup of the first week doesn’t take place until Monday Night when Virginia Tech plays Boise State at a neutral site in Maryland. It will essentially be a road game for the Broncos. Can Boise State get away from the Blue Turf, beat Virginia Tech, and keep their national title hopes alive?

Strobl: I really want Boise to pull this off, because it will be irrefutable proof that they are a BCS worthy team.  Beating a Top 15 team in what amounts to a road game just can’t be written off, no matter how weak a conference schedule the team has.  Unfortunately, I think Virginia Tech will be good this year, and I think their success begins in week one.  Last year Fresno’s Ryan Mathews took Boise State to task, rushing for a career-high 234 yards on 19 carries.  This year another Ryan could do some damage.  Tech’s Ryan Williams racked up 1600 yards of his own last year as a freshman, and did it as a backup.  Remember that he entered 2009 as a reserve behind Darren Evans, who enjoyed a 1200+ yard season in 2008 before tearing his ACL last year.  Now both tailbacks are present and accounted for, which means a healthy dose of power running.  I think that, coupled with Tyrod Taylor’s skills as a QB, will be enough to earn Va Tech the victory. PICK: Virginia Tech

Mitchell: I really like Matt bringing up how dominate Ryan Mathews was on the ground against Boise State in what was a pretty close game. This year in the season opener Boise State goes up against a formidable rushing attack with Ryan Williams and Darren Evans. I think Boise State is really good, but the pressure of going all the way across the country for a game against a top ten opponent in a season opener will be too much for the Broncos to overcome. If this was played in Boise, then I would have no trouble picking them, but I can’t see them getting the better of the Hokies in a virtual road game. PICK: Virginia Tech

Bigalke: That has to be the biggest question mark for me — “Tyrod Taylor’s skills as a QB” — coming into this game. He improved his yardage and touchdown numbers last year, sure. But he completes just 56% of his passes, takes a couple of needless sacks a game and is certainly not going to be the best QB on the field. That distinction belongs to my preseason Heisman pick, Kellen Moore, who last year put up three times as many touchdowns as Taylor — with two fewer interceptions to boot. Boise State simply returns too deep a team for Virginia Tech to prevail… no matter how close to home the Hokies may be compared to the Broncos. PICK: Boise State

Mitchell: Thanks for joining us on this first in-season edition of the Tailgater. Make sure you tune it every week to Sports Nickel for our weekly preview on Fridays and our Packing up the Grill wrap up of the week’s action on Mondays. Enjoy the opening week of games, everyone!