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Washington
Huskies (-4) @ Syracuse Orangemen:
8/31/07 8:00pm EST
I don't know what else to say besides the Huskies are
the better team here. Washington had some tough bounces
last season, but they were a much better team under
the guidance of Tyrone Willingham. He hasn't gotten
much credit for his job well done, probably because
he finished out of bowl eligibility, and he's on the
hot seat this season because the UW job is highly sought
after these days. To make matters worse, the Huskies
have the Nation's toughest schedule. Fortunately, this
game isn't one of those tough ones. Freshman quarterback,
Jake Locker, is an amazing athlete who will breathe
life into the program. I expect a win of a couple touchdowns
in this one. Hopefully Tyrone can find some wins this
season, he's a very good coach.
UCLA
Bruins (-17) @ Stanford Cardinal:
9/1/07 3:30pm EST
The Bruins have been inconsistent at best, as they ousted
cross town rival, USC, to knock them out of the National
Championship last season before losing their bowl game
against FSU. The Bruins have the talent to give USC
a run in the Pac 10, but Karl Dorrell needs to coach
these kids to consistency. Stanford isn't a tough match-up,
and UCLA has a history of starting the season playing
well. Even though Jim Harbaugh is doing his best to
turn Stanford around, he'll have to do it with a new
quarterback - as Trent Edwards is in the NFL. Look for
Stanford to take some bumps early, one of them will
be this weekend against UCLA.
UAB
Blazers (+21.5) @ Michigan State Spartans:
9/1/07 12:00pm EST
I just don't think the Spartans have it in them. They
aren't a good football team, as was seen by losing game
after game as the season went on last year. UAB played
a lot of close games in 2006, and they're returning
a lot of starters. New MSU coach, Mike Dantonio, will
have to work with the little talent he has, and that
will be apparent early as they have to fight tooth and
nail to beat UAB. Michigan State will not be in a bowl
in 2007.
Iowa
Hawkeyes (-12.5) @ Northern Illinois:
9/1/07 3:30pm EST
Iowa had a tough season in 2006, and NIU played way
above their talent level to finish 7-6. Garret Wolfe
is gone, and so is NIU's starting quarterback from last
season. Iowa will be dominant defensively in this game,
and will make a run at the Big 10 title, despite what
people think. Kirk Ferentz is one of the best college
coaches around. His first losing season was last year,
and he'll be back with at least 9 wins in 2007. I just
don't think this team can continue to lose, they have
enough talent all over the field to turn '07 into a
success, and I'll believe they're going to do just that.
They should route NIU.
Georgia
Tech Yellow Jackets (+2) @ Notre Dame Fighting
Irish:
9/1/07 3:30pm EST
I initially wanted to take the Fighting Irish at home,
but I just love GT's toughness too much for a soft Fighting
Irish club. Last year the Irish needed their own luck
to skip past the Yellow Jackets, but I don't see it
happening this year. Notre Dame had too much resting
on their freshman quarterback's shoulders, and since
he injured one of those shoulders, they could fumble
early in the season. None of the 3 Irish quarterbacks
have played well enough to take the starting job, but
that's all Charlie Weis has, so it'll have to do. Georgia
Tech's defense might be the toughest and fastest unit
Notre Dame sees all year. That's not who I'd like to
start the season with. Look for Tech to out-muscle Notre
Dame at every step.
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