Week 1 Predictions
Aug 27th 2008 - Written by: Scott Swinney
Dude, you bet on WHO?
As one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs mentions, “This train carries, saints and sinners, this train carries losers and winners, this train carries whores and gamblers”, OK we will do our best to leave the losers and whores out of this article. Weekly, we will take a look at all ACC games and some of the top National matchups. Hope you enjoy and if you so wish, I hope you take your bookie to the bank.
Thursday Games:
NC State @ South Carolina (-14) 8pm ESPN: The game of curses (Valvano vs. Chicken) should be quite a defensive battle considering they both are starting new QB’s and the track could be muddy. Look for the Gamecocks to put pressure on Wolfpack signal caller Russell Wilson and try to show him different looks on almost every play. If the Wolfpack is to have a chance, Wilson will have to utilize his scrambling ability and limit the ability of the Chickens to apply pressure. Who will win: The Wolfpack is so banged up with the loss of their top WR, RB, and some key pieces on the two deep defense, that it’s going to be tough for them to keep this one close. Look for South Carolina to establish the run vs. a weak NC State defense and then go to the air for some late scores. I always hate giving double digit points early in the year, but the Cocks pull away with this one in the 4th. South Carolina 27 NC State 10
Wake Forest (-12) @ Baylor 8 PM FSN: Wake Forest takes high expectations and a national ranking in to a Thursday night opener against Baylor. The Bears are coming off a 2007 campaign that ended in a 10 game losing streak that prompted the hiring of Art Briles from Houston. This one looks like a mismatch on paper, but the Deacs better be prepared for a wide open attack. Who will win: Baylor will look to spread the field and utilize the arm strength of QB Blake Szymanski (22 Td’s last season). However, the Deacons are for real and they will be able to put up lots of points behind Riley Skinner and Josh Adams. Look for the Deacons to ruin the debut of Briles and put a major whuppin’ on the Bears. Wake 41 Baylor 20
Jacksonville State @ Georgia Tech 7:30 : I’m going to admit I have no idea what the Paul Johnson era will bring at Georgia Tech and I doubt we get a very good indication during this one. Look for the Jackets to play things close to the vest in this one. Who will win: The Jackets should get the Johnson era off to a good start with this one, but don’t overlook the explosiveness of LSU transfer, Ryan Perrilloux at QB. The Gamecocks have played for the OVC championship the past two seasons so they aren’t a stranger to success. Tech should win this one but it will be closer than many expect. Georgia Tech 24 Jax State 14.
Saturday Games:
Virginia Tech (-10) vs. ECU (Charlotte) Noon ESPN: Look out Queen City, the Hokies and Pie-Rats are coming to town. The bars of uptown Charlotte should be packed and lots of trash talk will be flowing from the ECU fans that are convinced Skipper Holtz has them heading for a BCS bowl. Who will win: The Hokies have decided to hand the reigns over to Sean Glennon at QB in hopes that his accuracy in the short passing game will open up a running game that is very inexperienced at this point. ECU has a dual threat weapon in QB Patrick Pinkney (1400 yards passing and 300 yards rushing) and they will need a huge game from him if they have any visions of pulling the upset. Last year ECU was competitive at Va. Tech in a 17-7 loss, but they won’t sneak up on the Gobblers this year. Va. Tech 21 ECU 10
USC (-19.5) at Virginia 3:30 ABC: How in the hell did AL Groh talk the Trojans in to traveling cross-country for this opener? A better question would be WHY did he talk them in to this opener? The Cavaliers lost 10 starters off last years 9 win team which doesn’t bode well, considering their facing a USC team that will not be looking past them to a 9/13 matchup vs. Ohio State. Who will win: The Trojans got some good news with the return to practice of QB Mark Sanchez this week. Sanchez should pick a weak UVA secondary apart, which will open up a running attack that could rotate as many as 5 players in the TB slot this season. This is not a good spot for Sr. QB Scott Deke to get his first start, and chances are he will be pressured all day. The Cavs must eliminate mistakes and have some sustained drives to keep the USC offense off the field if they expect to keep it close. I can’t see that happening. USC will win this one going away. Trojans 42 Mr. Jefferson’s University 13
UNC vs. McNeese State 6:30: Expectations are high for Butch Davis in his second year in Chapel Hill and with very good reason. The Heels return 18 starters off of last year’s team that was competitive in all but two games. Who will win: McNeese State went in to the FCS playoffs last year ranked #2 behind App. State, so they will not be intimidated by playing a BCS team. Look for the Cowboys to come in to this game prepared and they will challenge the Tar Heels with speed at the skill positions. This one should be close at halftime but TJ Yates, Hakeem Nicks and Greg Little will get on track in the second half allowing UNC to pull away. UNC 38 McNeese State 21.
Boston College (-10) Vs. Kent State @ Cleveland: What will happen to BC in the post Matt Ryan era is very much up for debate at this point. The Eagles led a charmed life all the way down to the end of the ACC season last year, but after 8 bowl trips in a row the Eagles could be in for a long season. Kent State is the typical MAC team that will compete, and has a strong group of athletes passed, over by the Ohio State’s and Michigan’s of the world. Who will win: The Eagles will find out what life without Ryan will be like in this early season road test. However, the Golden Flashes are coming off a 3-8 season and expectations are that they will be lucky to reach that win total this year. Chris Crane gets the nod at QB for the Eagles and it will be very interesting to see how he directs the offense. BC could struggle to find its identity early so look for this game to be competitive until the 4th Qtr. BC 24 Kent State 17
Delaware @ Maryland: The Terps catch the Blue Hens a year after 1st Round draft pick Joe Flacco heads up the road to Baltimore, and that’s a good thing. Maryland will face a wide open attack that will throw the ball all over the field and if they aren’t prepared, Delaware could prevent some problems. Who will win: Jordan Steffy seems to have settled in nicely at the QB slot for the Terps and I can’t see the Fridge losing a home opener to Delaware. This game could be one of the more entertaining of the D1A-D1AA matchups with lots of scoring on both sides. Maryland 41 Delaware 27.
Duke vs. JMU 7:00: JMU faced UNC in the Butch Davis opener last year and they get the same honors for David Cutcliffe this season. The Blue Devils will be much improved this season and will find out where they are after facing this D-1AA powerhouse. Who will win: Duke will find out quickly that JMU can’t be taken for granted, but the Cutcliffe era begins on a positive note and all 3,000 fans in the stadium storm the field. Duke 37 JMU 14
Alabama vs. Clemson (-4 ½) at Atlanta 8PM ABC: Did you guys think I’d forgotten about this one? Man, what a way to start the season with this ACC/SEC matchup in prime time. Expectations at Clemson are sky high as they enter this game with a top 10 ranking. A win over Bama would go a long way in establishing the Tigers as a true title contender this season. The Tide was 7-6 last season, but all six losses were by a TD or less and expectations are that they should improve on that if some of the young talent on offense lives up to the hype. Who will win: The Tiger team heading in to this season has the chance to be as good as any Tiger team in the past 25 years. Saturday night in Atlanta presents an outstanding opportunity to prove to the country they are for real. Clemson’s defense should be one of the tops in the conference and possibly the nation, but John Parker Wilson will try to stretch the field with speedy newcomers Julio Jones and B.J. Scott. Offensively, the Tigers will look to attack a Tide D that lost 6 starters with lots of Spiller and Davis and a dose of Harper. This is probably the top game of the week and the folks heading North on I-85 will have visions of championships dancing in their head. Tigers 31 Tide 21.
National Games of interest:
Hawaii at Florida (-33 ½): No Colt Brennan + No June Jones = NO Chance. Gators 52 Rainbows 14 Utah @ Michigan (-3 ½): Rich Rod’s first game ends just like last year’s opener for the Wolverines in an upset. Utah 27 Michigan 24.
Michigan State @ California (-5 ½): Trips out West are never kind to the Spartans and this one is no different. Cal 28 MSU 21.
Kentucky @ Louisville (-3 ½): Steve Kragthorpe is already on the hot seat and a loss to the Wildcats won’t help his cause. Lucky for him the Cards get it done this week. UL 29 UK 24
Tennessee (-7 ½) @ UCLA: This one kicks off on Monday night and will be an early season test for the Vols. Look for the Vols to win this one, but UCLA (despite QB injuries) keeps it close. UT 24 UCLA 20
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