A rundown of what's on TV.
a.k.a. 11 am Central
Best Game: Navy at Ohio State, ESPN
Ohio State in finally replacing all those defenders you've been hearing about since the 2006 national title game, and the Buckeyes are firmly Terrelle Pryor's team. They have the big showdown with USC in a week, but they better not be sleeping on Navy's flexbone attack.
Prediction: It will be a long a frustrating game for the scarlet and gray, but they'll pull away late for a 34-21 win.
Next Best Game: Minnesota at Syracuse, ESPN2
The pickings really are this slim. Um, woo for Greg Paulus?
Prediction: I won't watch more than a quarter (if that), and Minnesota wins comfortably.
SEC Games
Western Kentucky at Tennessee, SEC Network (your former Raycom affiliate)
Kentucky at Miami (OH), ESPNU
Best Game: Georgia at Oklahoma State, ABC, 3:30 ET
cocknfire did a good job of covering this one. I've thought Oklahoma State would win this one for most of the off season, but when I see the amount of turmoil that OSU has been going through, it's giving me cold feet. I suppose I have to stick with my preseason prediction in Week 1, but I don't like it so much anymore.
Prediction: OSU will find a way to outscore a very game Bulldog team, 31-28.
Next Best Game: Nevada at Notre Dame, NBC, 3:30 ET
Baylor at Wake Forest is a bit intriguing, but it's on ABC regional and if you have the Georgia game, you see it. So, I'm going with this one simply because I think Nevada will probably be able to score enough on the irish defense to keep it close for the whole game. The Wolfpack is a disaster defensively though, so they'll need to keep the scoring going.
Prediction: The pistol set gives Nevada a decided schematic advantage, and they pull off the upset over the Irish in a wild one, 38-35.
Other SEC Games
Jackson State at Mississippi State, ESPNU, 3:30 ET
Best Game: Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (Atlanta), ABC, 8:00 ET
Again, cocknfire covered this one well. I think at this point Alabama has both the better offense and defense, so you know where this prediction is going.
Prediction: Alabama wins, but not as convincingly as last year, 21-10.
Next Best Game: BYU vs. Oklahoma (Dallas), ESPN, 7:00 ET
The other good game is the other big neutral site matchup. If BYU wins it will vault them over Thursday night's darlings Boise State for the time being, but it's been more than a half decade since BYU beat a team that was ranked at the time of the game.
Prediction: The Cougars will play the Sooners tough for a while, but Oklahoma will run away with it in the second half 45-21.
Other SEC Games
Charleston Southern at Florida, FSN South/Sun Sports, 7:00 ET
Louisiana Tech at Auburn, ESPNU, 7:00 ET
Missouri State at Arkansas, ESPN360.com streaming, 7:00 ET
Western Carolina at Vanderbilt, ESPN360.com streaming, 7:30 ET
Best Game: Maryland at California, ESPN2, 10:00 ET
The first expected contender for the Pac-10 crown laid a gigantic stinkbomb on Thursday night. Cal laid one last year against these Terps in College Park. Now that it's in Berkeley, the Bears should be fine.
Prediction: It won't be pretty, but Jahvid Best is the difference in a 30-17 Cal win.
Next Best Game: LSU at Washington, ESPN, 10:30 ET
Once again, cocknfire covered this one too. All I have to say is, remember that one time when LSU went to Arizona when Arizona was bad? It'll be like that.
Prediction: LSU will work out some growing pains and shake off some rust in an easy 55-17 win.