(Deadline to pick for Week 1 is Thursday, Sept. 3, at 6:55 p.m. EDT)
South Carolina at N.C. State (Sept. 3, 7 p.m.)
Nothing like a little border war to kick off the college football season. These two teams met last season in Columbia, S.C., and the Gamecocks embarrassed the Wolfpack, 34-0. But this matchup is a little different. First, N.C. State is hosting this game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Secondly, Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson only made a brief appearance against South Carolina before being carted off the field after sustaining a Grade-3 concussion. His absence truly affected the outcome of the game. Also, this is a big contest for head coach Tom O'Brien, who has yet to have a winning campaign in two years at N.C. State. However, Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier isn't just going to lie down. He probably has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Hurc's breakdown: N.C. State will make it a game but South Carolina will prevail.
Oregon at Boise State (Sept. 3, 10:15 p.m.)
Chip Kelly's debut as Oregon head coach takes place on the road on the blue gridiron of Bronco Stadium. If playing a top 25 team away from home wasn't enough pressure, Kelly also has deal with the demands of having to avenge the Ducks' 37-32 loss against Boise State last season at Autzen Stadium. Oregon has the weapons in quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back LeGarrette Blount to get the job done, but Boise State is no slouch. They went undefeated last season before losing to TCU by one point in a bowl game, and they return quarterback Kellen Moore, who passed for nearly 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns as a first-time starter in 2008. Oregon has a legit shot at national championship aspirations, but Boise State will definitely be looking to play BCS spoiler in Week 1.
Hurc's breakdown: Oregon won't be able to show their faces if they lose again to Boise State. The Ducks, ugly uniforms and all, will be ready for the rematch.
Minnesota at Syracuse (Sept. 5, noon)
Thanks to a NCAA loophole, Greg Paulus is now the quarterback at Syracuse after finishing his career as a point guard at Duke. Paulus was a high school All-American gunslinger before hitting the college hardwood, and apparently he can still sling the football because he easily unseated Ryan Nassib, who was named the Orange's starting quarterback during spring drills, very early into fall camp. This will also be our first glimpse at Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone, who took over for an ineffective Greg Robinson. Robinson won three Big East games in four seasons. Luckily, Syracuse doesn't play a Big East team Week 1, but they get a promising Big Ten squad in Minnesota. Tim Brewster has done some great things in two years at Minnesota, including turning a 1-11 team into a 7-6 squad last season. He has a top dual-threat quarterback in Adam Weber, a potential All-American receiver in Eric Decker and an impact junior college transfer in Hayo Carpenter. The only concern is how affected will the team be with the loss of defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who is now at Auburn.
Hurc's breakdown: Minnesota has the weapons to win and won't be in awe of Paulus.
Baylor at Wake Forest (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.)
Like many Week 1 matchups, the Bears and Deamon Deacons square off again in the opener after Wake Forest trounced Baylor 41-13 last season. Quarterback Riley Skinner picked apart the Bears secondary, as he completed 27 of 36 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. However, that was Baylor's first game under head coach Art Briles and they were still undecided at quarterback. A year later, they have had time to adjust to Briles' system and sophomore gunslinger Robert Griffin has developed into one of the nation's most exciting quarterbacks. He brings world-class track speed to the gridiron. It could be to Baylor's advantage that Wake Forest has to replace seven starters from a defense that finished in the top 20 last season, but Jim Grobe has become one of the nation's top coaches and it won't be easy to steal a win on Wake's home turf.
Hurc's breakdown: Baylor squeaks out an upset win thanks to the legs of Griffin.
Georgia at Oklahoma State (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.)
Talk about a gigantic Week 1 showdown. Not only do we have two top 15 teams, but this also pits arguably the two best conferences in college football against each other -- the SEC vs. the Big 12. The Cowboys still have a nasty taste in their mouth after the Bulldogs handed them a 35-14 loss down in Athens, Ga., in 2007. But this year's Oklahoma State squad is ready to turn the tables. They are led by three Heisman Trophy candidates in quarterback Zac Robinson, running back Kendall Hunter and wide receiver Dez Bryant. Georgia, on the other hand, will have to face a loaded Cowboys team as they try to replace Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Knowshon Moreno at running back. Georgia has a lot of returning talent on defense and that could end up being the difference, if they can shut down State's three-headed monster.
Hurc's breakdown: Oklahoma State is out to prove they are a contender in the Big 12 and getting Georgia at home should help them overcome whatever the Bulldogs throw their way.
Nevada at Notre Dame (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.)
On paper, this game might not jump out at you. However, this could be an easy trap game for the Irish. Everyone knows Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis is on the hot seat. Hot? Maybe more like nuclear. The last thing he needs to deal with is an embarrassing home opening loss against a team from the WAC. Especially after the Notre Dame brass went to bat for Weis. However, Nevada isn't going to be a team just willing to lie down. Not with dual-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the helm. If you don't know anything about Kaepernick, start brushing up. He ranked 11th in the nation last season in total offense (306.1 ypg) and became just the fifth player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards. He has proven to be the perfect player to run head coach Chris Ault's pistol offense. And Kaepernick is not the only offensive weapon Nevada has. Don't forget about the running back tandem of Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott. Ault has been raving about Lippincott, who missed most of the '08 season with a torn ACL after rushing for 1,000 yards in 2007. Taua ranked eighth in rushing last season, averaging 117 yards per game.
Hurc's breakdown: This is a prime-time quarterback duel between Kaepernick and Jimmy Clausen. However, Clausen and the Irish should prevail or else Weis needs to put his home on the market ASAP.
Western Michigan at Michigan (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.)
Again, this is a matchup that might not strike many people as intriguing, but the Broncos could be poised for the upset. Don't forget Appalachian State went into the Big House a few years ago and pulled a stunning defeat of the Wolverines. Michigan is still licking their wounds from a 3-9 campaign last season under then first-year coach Rich Rodriguez. He does have his personnel finally in place, but the quarterback situation remains a mystery as Rodriguez said he intends to play Tate Forcier, Nick Sherdian and Denard Robinson in the opener. Great, more quarterback controversy at Michigan. Well, there is no quarterback quandary at Western Michigan, where Tim Hiller has passed for 6,679 yards and 56 touchdowns the last two seasons. He did lose a lot of quality targets in Jamarko Simmons, Schneider Julien and Branden Ledbetter, but Western Michigan knows how to beat a Big Ten team. Just ask Illinois, who fell to the Broncos 23-17 last season.
Hurc's breakdown: Even if Rodriguez is rotating quarterbacks, Michigan still should have enough talent to overcome any shortcomings and the Wolverine faithful should be able to help intimidate the Broncos.
Missouri at Illinois (Sept. 5, 3:30 p.m.)
Last year, these two teams put on a show at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The two teams combined for 94 points and 1,081 yards of offense. This year, however, it could be a little different. Missouri opens the season trying to replace offensive stars like Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin and Chase Coffman. On defense, they also lost tackle Ziggy Hood and coordinator Matt Eberflus to the NFL. Illinois lost offensive coordinator Mike Locksley (New Mexico), but they still have a solid core returning, including quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn. Williams threw for 451 yards and five touchdowns against Mizzou last season, while Benn chipped in seven receptions for 92 yards.
Hurc's breakdown: It should to be Illinois advantage that a first-time starter (Blaine Gabbert) will be under center for Missouri.
Brigham Young at Oklahoma (Sept. 5, 7 p.m.)
Before the Dallas Cowboys get to play a regular-season contest in their new billion-dollar digs, the Cougars and Sooners will christen Dallas' new stadium. The Sooners still have a nasty taste in their mouth following a 24-14 loss to Florida in the national championship game and BYU is their first shot at erasing those memories. BYU is coming off a 10-3 season and also ended the '08 campaign on a sour note losing their final two games. The Cougars still had one of the nation's best offenses (444.7 yards per game, 16th) led by quarterback Max Hall and running back Harvey Unga, who both return in '09. The Mountain West has made a strong case in recent seasons to become a BCS conference and a huge upset win over the Sooners would give the conference leaders some impetus for their argument. However, Oklahoma -- which had the nation's top scoring offense (51.1 ppg) -- won't be a pushover. Heisman winner Sam Bradford is back and still has at his disposal the likes of running backs DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown, as well as tight end Jermaine Gresham.
Hurc's breakdown: Oklahoma's talents should shine through on both sides of the ball.
Alabama at Virginia Tech (Sept. 5, 8 p.m.)
If you like high-scoring games, then you might not want to watch these two teams slug it out. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer and Alabama head coach Nick Saban have built their reputations on defense and special teams. They both like to run the football and preach ball control, which is rare in this day in age. The Virginia Tech backfield was devastated by the loss of running back Darren Evans, who tore his ACL early in fall camp. The onus now falls on quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who has worked on improving his passing in the offseason. Defensively, Virginia Tech lost just four starters from a unit that finished in the top 10 in total (279.4 ypg) and scoring defense (16.7 ppg). On the flip side, Alabama has Julio Jones at receiver, but open the season trying to replace John Parker Wilson at quarterback and Glen Coffee at running back. Don't be surprised if Saban leans on his defense, a unit that was also top 10 in total and scoring defense. Alabama returns nine starters and 28 letterwinners on defense.
Hurc's breakdown: Taylor's experience and decision making should lift the Hokies.
Maryland at California (Sept. 5, 10 p.m.)
After Cal made the trip to Maryland in 2008, the Terps are returning the favor to play the Golden Bears on their home turf. Maryland won a tightly-contested battle, 35-27, in '08. The rushing tandem of Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett was enough to wear down Cal. The defense also stepped up big by shutting down Jahvid Best (30 rushing yards) and forcing him out of the game at one point with an injury. Kevin Riley did complete 33 of 58 passes for 423 yards and three touchdowns for the Golden Bears, but the absence of the running game proved to be the difference. Many of the same key players are back in 2009.
Hurc's breakdown: Maryland went 1-4 on the road last season and having to travel cross-country is not ideal. Cal, who has national title aspirations, will be rested and waiting for the Terps.
Mississippi at Memphis (Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m.)
Only 90 minutes and about 85 miles separate Ole Miss and Memphis. It might look like a David vs. Goliath matchup, but this showdown has a lot of local ramifications, including recruiting. Ole Miss ushered in the Houston Nutt era in 2008 with a 41-24 rout of Memphis. The win sparked the Rebels to a 9-4 record and the Tigers opened the season with three straight losses. But they were still trying to assess their quarterback and running back situation, which is in much better shape heading into 2009. Arkelon Hall is back under center and Curtis Steele has returned at running back following a 1,223-yard campaign in '08. He reminded a lot of folks of how things used to be when DeAngelo Williams was skirting around the field. Unfortunately, all eyes will probably be on Ole Miss when this game kicks off since they are serious contenders to win the SEC West crown. Led by quarterback Jevan Snead, Ole Miss is primed for a big season. Snead really put himself on the map in '08, and let's not forget about his talented receivers in Shay Hodge and do-it-all Dexter McCluster. Thanks to coordinator Tyrone Nix, Ole Miss returns as a top 20 defensive unit.
Hurc's breakdown: Despite the rivalry implications, Ole Miss is going to show Memphis what SEC football is all about.
Colorado State at Colorado (Sept. 6, 7 p.m.)
Outside of Colorado, this game might go unnoticed if it were not on a Sunday in primetime. During the Bill McCartney/Rick Neuheisel/Sonny Lubick days, the Colorado/Colorado State rivalry was an event that drew national attention. Now that both programs continue to rebuild under Dan Hawkins (Colorado) and Steve Fairchild (Colorado State), the game has lost some of its luster. We can't promise this game is going to be one for the ages since both programs are unsettled at quarterback and many other positions. Colorado won this game in 2008 (38-17) and hold the all-time record (59-19-2).
Hurc's breakdown: Can I choose the flip-a-coin method? Even if Colorado has to use Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen at quarterback, they still are in a little better situation heading into the season.
Cincinnati at Rutgers (Sept. 7, 4 p.m.)
It's great to see two of the best teams in the Big East play opening week. This game could carry significant implications in determining the Big East champion and rightful heir to the conference's BCS bid. The Bearcats are the defending champs and a surprise one at that. But behind quarterback Tony Pike, Cincinnati finished 11-3 and made an appearance in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech. Bearcats head coach Brian Kelly doesn't get enough credit as an offensive mastermind, but his issue to open the year will be defense. Cincinnati must replace 10 defensive starters and also transition to a 3-4 scheme. Rutgers, on the other hand, is coming off a disappointing 8-5 campaign. They started slow but finished strong -- winning their last seven games. It had a lot to do with quarterback Mike Teel, who is now in the NFL. Cincinnati squeaked by Rutgers last season, winning 13-10.
Hurc's breakdown: Rutgers has the talent to be a force in the Big East, but Cincinnati should be able to win this game if it gets to a shootout.
Miami (Fla.) at Florida State (Sept. 7, 8 p.m.)
Even though the Hurricanes and Seminoles have fallen on some hard times in recent seasons, this game is always seems to bring the best out of both teams. Thanks to a 24-3 halftime lead, Florida State was able to hold off the Hurricanes 41-39 down in Miami last season. The key to Florida State's victory was limiting Miami to 51 rushing yards while they put up 310 of their own. It also helped that Miami quarterbacks completed just 20 of 48 passes for 154 yards. Well, Jacory Harris now has a year of experience under his belt and no longer has to worry about sharing snaps with Robert Marve. Christian Ponder is also far more experienced in 2009, but his receivers are a little bit green in that area.
Hurc's breakdown: Bobby Bowden isn't happy the NCAA is taking away some of his victories for academic infractions, and you know his team will be looking to win one back for the gipper.
