At last the college football season here! The ACC opens up with a mixture of national marquee games and games that are basically tune-ups for the next week. Let's check out what's on tap for week 1 and offer up some predictions.
Game of the Week
Boise St. vs Virginia tech 9/6 8 PM
Virginia Tech is widely considered the ACC's best team. Boise St. is a top 5 team that can begin making their case for a national title game appearance with a win. It's too bad the Broncos run ends in game 1.
QB Kellen Moore of Boise St. can hurt an inexperienced Hokie Defense with his accuracy. In his career he's completed over 65% of his passes.
The Hokies have too many playmakers on offense, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Ryan Williams, RB Darren Evans, and WR Jarrett Boykin, and the game is a virtual home game for Virginia Tech. It's in Landover, Maryland. The Hokies also won't underestimate Boise St. They've been hearing about them for months.
I would really be surprised if Boise St. wins.
Virginia Tech 27 Boise St. 17
Don't miss this one
LSU vs North Carolina 9/4 8 PM
How do you predict this one? No body knows what's going on at UNC. Will they circle the wagons and pull off the win or will the bottom fall out?
LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson went through an uneven year last season at quarterback, but he showed glimpses of being a very good player. He threw for over 2100 yards in 2009.
There's a lot of athleticism on the Tigers team, but there's also a lot inexperience.
I don't like UNC coming into this one. Even if there are no suspensions, Butch Davis has had to mix up practices with starters playing on the scout team. The offense isn't good enough to get into a shootout.
LSU 24 North Carolina 13
Keep an eye on this game, it will be better than you think.
Navy vs Maryland 9/6 4 PM
This is a difficult game for the Terrapins, but they have weapons too. RB Da'Rel Scott and WR Torrey Smith have plenty of ability. A win would get the season off to a nice start, but I don’t think the Terps can pull it off.
Navy 24 Maryland 20
Upset Alert
Richmond vs Virginia 9/4 6 PM
All I have to say is William & Mary 26 Virginia 14 and Richmond 24 Duke 16. Remember those scores from last year? If the Cavs start turning the ball over this upset could happen. I'd like to see the Cavs win by 20+, but I see this one being a dogfight.
Virginia 21 Richmond 17
Get the kinks out this week and don't get anyone hurt.
Presbyterian vs Wake Forest 9/2 6:30 PM
Let the post Riley Skinner era begin.
Wake Forest 34 Presbyterian 10
Florida A&M vs Miami 9/2 7:30 PM
Jacory Harris gets to pad his state in this one.
Miami 48 Florida A&M 10
Samford vs Florida State 9/4 12 PM
Christian Ponder gets to pad his stats in this one.
Florida State 44 Samford 7
South Carolina St. vs Georgia Tech 9/4 1 PM
SC St is a quality FCS program; they'll push Georgia Tech for a half.
Georgia Tech 38 Samford 14
Weber St. vs Boston College 9/4 1 PM
If Mark Herzlich plays just 1 snap it's a great story.
Boston College 31 Weber St. 7
North Texas vs Clemson 9/4 3:30 PM
I'll be at this one. I'm hoping to see Tajh Boyd get in the game at quarterback.
Clemson 49 North Texas 6
Western Carolina vs NC State 9/4 6 PM
If Tom O'Brien loses to Western Carolina; he shouldn't coach the following week.
NC State 38 Western Carolina 17
Elon vs Duke 9/4 7 PM
Duke isn't good enough to overlook anyone, but they should win comfortably. I think.
Duke 27 Elon 10
Game of the Week
Boise St. vs Virginia tech 9/6 8 PM
Virginia Tech is widely considered the ACC's best team. Boise St. is a top 5 team that can begin making their case for a national title game appearance with a win. It's too bad the Broncos run ends in game 1.
QB Kellen Moore of Boise St. can hurt an inexperienced Hokie Defense with his accuracy. In his career he's completed over 65% of his passes.
The Hokies have too many playmakers on offense, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Ryan Williams, RB Darren Evans, and WR Jarrett Boykin, and the game is a virtual home game for Virginia Tech. It's in Landover, Maryland. The Hokies also won't underestimate Boise St. They've been hearing about them for months.
I would really be surprised if Boise St. wins.
Virginia Tech 27 Boise St. 17
Don't miss this one
LSU vs North Carolina 9/4 8 PM
How do you predict this one? No body knows what's going on at UNC. Will they circle the wagons and pull off the win or will the bottom fall out?
LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson went through an uneven year last season at quarterback, but he showed glimpses of being a very good player. He threw for over 2100 yards in 2009.
There's a lot of athleticism on the Tigers team, but there's also a lot inexperience.
I don't like UNC coming into this one. Even if there are no suspensions, Butch Davis has had to mix up practices with starters playing on the scout team. The offense isn't good enough to get into a shootout.
LSU 24 North Carolina 13
Keep an eye on this game, it will be better than you think.
Navy vs Maryland 9/6 4 PM
It goes to show you how far the Maryland program has fallen that they enter this game with Navy a 6 1/2 - 7 point underdog. Navy is coming off a 10 win season, and may run the Triple Option offense as well as anyone in the country. Rickey Dobbs is an outstanding QB that ran and threw for over 1,000 yards in each category last year.
This is a difficult game for the Terrapins, but they have weapons too. RB Da'Rel Scott and WR Torrey Smith have plenty of ability. A win would get the season off to a nice start, but I don’t think the Terps can pull it off.
Navy 24 Maryland 20
Upset Alert
Richmond vs Virginia 9/4 6 PM
All I have to say is William & Mary 26 Virginia 14 and Richmond 24 Duke 16. Remember those scores from last year? If the Cavs start turning the ball over this upset could happen. I'd like to see the Cavs win by 20+, but I see this one being a dogfight.
Virginia 21 Richmond 17
Get the kinks out this week and don't get anyone hurt.
Presbyterian vs Wake Forest 9/2 6:30 PM
Let the post Riley Skinner era begin.
Wake Forest 34 Presbyterian 10
Florida A&M vs Miami 9/2 7:30 PM
Jacory Harris gets to pad his state in this one.
Miami 48 Florida A&M 10
Samford vs Florida State 9/4 12 PM
Christian Ponder gets to pad his stats in this one.
Florida State 44 Samford 7
South Carolina St. vs Georgia Tech 9/4 1 PM
SC St is a quality FCS program; they'll push Georgia Tech for a half.
Georgia Tech 38 Samford 14
Weber St. vs Boston College 9/4 1 PM
If Mark Herzlich plays just 1 snap it's a great story.
Boston College 31 Weber St. 7
North Texas vs Clemson 9/4 3:30 PM
I'll be at this one. I'm hoping to see Tajh Boyd get in the game at quarterback.
Clemson 49 North Texas 6
Western Carolina vs NC State 9/4 6 PM
If Tom O'Brien loses to Western Carolina; he shouldn't coach the following week.
NC State 38 Western Carolina 17
Elon vs Duke 9/4 7 PM
Duke isn't good enough to overlook anyone, but they should win comfortably. I think.
Duke 27 Elon 10
