We're two days away from real, meaningful football being played. Congratulations everyone, we've made it!! With the return of football season approaching imminently that also means that we get to make predictions out of thin air, and hope that most of them pay off. We'll be doing that week by week here on the blog, just as you remember it being last year for as many weeks as possible before this thing goes into the tank.
Okay, hopefully not.
Thursday, August 29
North Carolina vs. #6 South Carolina - 6:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
UNC will keep this respectable for the first half, but the Gamecocks will use their defensive prowess beat the Tar Heels in the end. Jadaveon Clowney gets back into the spotlight for the first time since his pulverizing hit on Vincent Smith, and proves to be a terror.
Liberty vs. Kent State - 6:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Presbyterian vs. Wake Forest - 6:30 PM ET, ESPN3
Indiana State vs. Indiana - 7:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network
UNLV vs. Minnesota - 7:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Tulsa vs. Bowling Green - 7:00 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN
Illinois State vs. Ball State - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Akron vs. UCF - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Southern Utah vs. South Alabama - 7:30 PM ET, ESPN3
Towson vs. Connecticut - 7:30 PM ET, ESPN3
Western Carolina vs. Middle Tennessee - 7:30 PM ET
Utah State vs. Utah - 8:00 PM ET, FOX Sports 1
It wouldn't be a Thursday without an upset, right? FOX Sports 1's first college football broadcast of their network's history will result in a Beehive State upset. Chuckie Keaton is back and I've got a feeling he's going to run wild over the Utes in Salt Lake City. Give me the Aggies by a field goal.
Jackson State vs. Tulane - 8:00 PM ET
Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt - 9:15 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
The best conference in college football will be showcased in the nightcap of the ESPN doubleheader. This will feature two teams that have a good shot of surprising a lot of folks in their respective division. I think Hugh Freeze's bunch will walk into Nashville and get a road victory as they start what could be a big season for the Rebels.
Sacramento State vs. San Jose State - 10:00 PM ET
Two words: David. Fales.
Rutgers vs. Fresno State - 10:30 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN
Are the Fresno State Bulldogs an under-the-radar choice to bust the BCS in its final year? This blogger says yes. Give me the Bulldogs to beat the soon-to-be new entrants of the Big Ten Conference, and my home state's main university.
#24 USC vs. Hawaii - 11:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
This may not be as big of a shellacking as it was year at venerable Los Angeles Coliseum, but it's going to be a beat down.
Friday, August 30
Morgan State vs. Army - 7:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
Samford vs. Georgia State - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Western Michigan vs. Michigan State - 8:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Florida Atlantic vs. Miami (FL) - 8:00 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN
Texas Tech vs. Southern Methodist - 8:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
I think this one is going to be a real treat for the Lone Star State. Points will be scored.
Southern University vs. Houston - 8:30 PM ET, ESPN3
North Dakota State vs. Kansas State - 8:30 PM ET, FOX Sports 1
Yeah, you read that correctly. I'm picking an enormous upset here in Manhattan, Kansas. North Dakota State is the reigning and defending two-time FCS Champions. A large majority of the players from those teams are coming back this season, having only graduated their starting center and one cornerback. This is going to be a very good game as the hits will keep coming for FS1.
Northern Arizona vs. Arizona - 10:00 PM ET, Pac-12 Network
Saturday, August 31
Buffalo vs. #2 Ohio State - 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN
Massachusetts vs. #23 Wisconsin - 12:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Elon vs. Georgia Tech - 12:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Villanova vs. Boston College - 12:00 PM ET, ESPNEWS
Southern Illinois vs. Illinois - 12:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Purdue vs. Cincinnati - 12:00 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN
Toledo vs. #10 Florida - 12:21 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan
Florida International vs. Maryland - 12:30 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan
Louisiana Tech vs. North Carolina State - 12:30 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan
Rice vs. #7 Texas A&M - 1:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
I'm not even going to pretend like Johnny Manziel being held out of the first half is going to be a big benefactor in this one. A&M trounces the Owls.
Colgate vs. Air Force - 3:00 PM ET
Mississippi State vs. #13 Oklahoma State - 3:30 PM ET, ABC or ESPN2, WatchESPN
This Big 12-SEC matchup should be a doozy. The Bulldogs have been pretty consistent over the last few years but the Pokes will present some very big problems for them I think. The Big 12 gets the better of the SEC in this clash, but don't expect that to be a constant occurrence or anything.
Temple vs. #14 Notre Dame - 3:30 PM ET, NBC
The Golden Domers get off on the right foot as they try to forget about the thrashing that they took a few months back in the National Championship. Healing for that will still take a while, though.
Central Michigan vs. #17 Michigan - 3:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Syracuse vs. Penn State - 3:30 PM ET, ABC or ESPN2, WatchESPN
The annual battle at MetLie Stadium. I think the Nittany Lions get a victory over the porous Syracuse Orange in this one. Penn State, still facing sanctions from the mess that occurred in the last two years, may surprise some folks in the Big Ten this year again. That is a testament to how good a coach Bill O'Brien is.
Brigham Young vs. Virginia - 3:30 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN
Northern Illinois vs. Iowa - 3:30 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Not many good things will happen in Iowa City this year, as far as I can see.
Nicholls State vs. #3 Oregon - 4:00 PM ET, FOX Sports 1
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Arkansas - 4:00 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan
The Ragin' Cajuns will give Arkansas a run for their money in this one. Bielema's crew will pul this one out of their hats though.
NC Central vs. Duke - 4:00 PM ET, ESPN3
#1 Alabama vs. Virginia Tech - 5:30 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
This one is going to get ugly and it will get ugly in a hurry.
Eastern Washington vs. #25 Oregon State - 6:00 PM ET, Pac-12 Network
Howard vs. Eastern Michigan - 6:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Austin Peay vs. Tennessee - 6:00 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan
Louisiana-Monroe vs. #16 Oklahoma - 7:00 PM ET
This one will be... interesting. I want to put Oklahoma on upset alert, but I just can't do it. I would absolutely not be shocked if Louisiana-Monroe pulled out the victory though.
Washington State vs. Auburn - 7:00 PM ET, ESPNU, WatchESPN
McNeese State vs. South Florida - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky - 7:00 PM ET, ESPNEWS
Bobby Petrino, everybody.
Murray State vs. Missouri - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3, Gameplan
Old Dominion vs. East Carolina - 7:00 PM ET
Idaho vs. North Texas - 7:00 PM ET
Miami (OH) vs. Marshall - 7:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Arkansas State - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Texas State vs. Southern Miss - 7:00 PM ET
UAB vs. Troy - 7:00 PM ET, ESPN3
Wofford vs. Baylor - 7:30 PM ET
#5 Georgia vs. #8 Clemson - 8:00 PM ET, ABC
The game of the day is in prime time, and boy is it going to be a dandy. Georgia's rushing attack is one of the best in the nation and the speed that Clemson brings to the table is almost unparalleled. Look for Sammy Watkins to be an impact player in this one. In a matchup of teams that do their best to beat themselves (you HAVE heard of Clemsoning, haven't you?) I'm going with the home team in this one. I think that Tajh Boyd will shine brighter than Aaron Murray and the early rebuild for the Georgia defense doesn't go as planned. Give me the Tigers.
New Mexico State vs. #15 Texas - 8:00 PM ET, Longhorn Network
I bet the 10 people waiting to watch this game on the Longhorn Network are absolutely PUMPED!
Wyoming vs. #18 Nebraska - 8:00 PM ET, Big Ten Network
Eastern Illinois vs. San Diego State
Northern Iowa vs. Iowa State - 8:00 PM ET
If for nothing else, you should see Northern Iowa's jerseys. They're reminiscent of the Dillon Panthers.
UTSA vs. New Mexico - 8:00 PM ET
#12 LSU vs. #20 TCU - 9:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
The Cowboys Classic has some interesting storylines. How will new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron fare for the LSU Tigers? What is going to be the reaction if Jeremy Hill plays, and how well will he do? Do Gary Patterson's Horned Frogs begin a march towards a Big 12 Championship? I'm going with the SEC in this one, because overall I like LSU's chances in this game, even with the fact that the game will be played in TCU's backyard. I think Zach Mettenberger looks great under Cameron's system.
#19 Boise State vs. Washington - 10:00 PM ET, FOX Sports 1
The hits keep on coming for FOX Sports 1. Washington's Husky Stadium has been revamped and it looks absolutely tremendous. Furthermore, I think we see the good side of Keith Price this season under Steve Sarkisian's tutelage. Yes, Price still does go to UW. Boise State has all the pickens to make another run to the BCS, but I think that under a tremendous home field advantage, Washington pulls this stunner off.
Nevada vs. #21 UCLA - 10:00 PM ET, Pac-12 Network
#22 Northwestern vs. California - 10:30 PM ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN
Sunday, September 1
Ohio vs. #9 Louisville - 3:30 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
Colorado vs. Colorado State - 6:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
Monday, September 2
#11 Florida State vs. Pittsburgh - 8:00 PM ET, ESPN, WatchESPN
It would be so FSU of the Seminoles to lose this game. Too bad they won't. Right?
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