Sure, majority of the games on opening weekend are tune-ups for conference play or a big non-league game on the horizon. You’ll have a couple of games of note, thanks to the Chick-Fil-A and Cowboy Classics, but by and large, there are more cupcakes lined up in week one than at a bakery. However, there are still lessons to be learned from the opening week of games. Here is what I took away from Labor Day weekend.
Boise State is legit. I DVR’d the game with Georgia while watching LSU-Oregon. Boise State has team speed. As much as the elite of the SEC? No, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t go unbeaten in a BCS conference. They were bigger and quicker up front on the defensive line than I expected. Plus, QB Kellen Moore is about as accurate as you can get. He rushed a few throws, including the INT where he read man-to-man when Georgia was playing zone. Is Boise State deep enough to go undefeated in the SEC when they would most certainly lose a few starters here and there to injury from the increased physicality? No. However, you can say that about many teams out there. I am not saying they should automatically play for the title if they go 12-0, but they can line up and play with anyone. If the MWC had stayed together, they would have had a pretty legit schedule.
People will mistakenly write off Notre Dame. New year, same Irish. Lots of pre-season hype, home loss to a Big East team to start 0-1. Don’t be fooled. Notre Dame is good. Check the stat sheet. They had 27 first downs, allowed one offensive TD, held South Florida to 2-14 on third downs and outgained USF 508-254. They also had five turnovers (three in the red zone) and missed a short FG, and yet they only lost 23-20. Now that Tommy Rees is the QB, if they stop beating themselves, they are capable of beating everyone else on their schedule. Of course, as they showed Saturday, they are capable of losing any given week too.
While we are on the subject of Notre Dame, Michael Floyd is a beast. In addition to his 12 catches for 154 yards, have you seen him lately? His arms are massive. He is officially listed at 6-foot-3, 224 pounds. One look at him Saturday and I could only surmise that he spent his offseason suspension in the weight room. Or possibly on a used car lot bench pressing Honda Civics. It will be difficult for anyone to take him out of a game.
Les Miles + big time non-league game = LSU victory. The Tigers did it again. Just when you are ready to write off the Bayou Bengals, they play their best ball. Since Les Miles took over in Baton Rouge, LSU has won all 23 regular season non-conference games. In fact, the only non-SEC loss for LSU under Miles was a 19-17 defeat to Penn State in the 2010 Capital One Bowl. They are a great representative for SEC dominance. Them and the league’s control of the crystal football the last five Januarys.
2010 was worth at least one more win for Auburn. Trailing Utah State by ten with three minutes remaining, the defending champs played like... well... champs. They quickly drove the field for a score, recovered the onside kick and score again. When you get used to winning, you won’t accept losing, even when it seems inevitable. The Tigers did not panic. They played until the gun. I still think they will be lucky to be be bowl eligible this year, but for one day, they showed the fight of champions.
Games of the Week
Alabama @ Penn State -This is the only match-up of ranked teams this week in college football. The Tide easily handled the Lions last year in Tuscaloosa. This year, it will be Bama with an inexperienced QB making his first road start in hostile territory. In fourteen previous meetings, PSU has scored 20 or more points only three times, and two of the teams that did won national championships. What does that mean? Good PSU teams struggle to score against the Tide. PSU is better defensively from a year ago, and the home crowd will help. I think the Lions stay within striking distance most of the day, but the Tide will be in control. Bama wins 24-13.
Notre Dame @ Michigan - This is the hottest ticket in Big House history. Andy why not? It is the first night game ever at Michigan Stadium. As I demonstrated earlier, the Irish dominated South Florida everywhere but the scoreboard. Conversely, take a look at the stat sheet from the Michigan opener versus Western Michigan. Same number of first downs. Nine more yards. Time of possession favored WMU. Difference was turnovers (two returned for TDs) and penalties (8-1). ND can’t start 0-2. I say they won’t. 31-24 Irish.
Utah @ USC - It is the first conference game for the Utes as a member of the Pac 12. Utah won their opener, but not too convincingly over Montana State 27-10. The Trojans had their hands full themselves with perennial Big Ten bottom feeder Minnesota, winning 19-17. The game is in LA, and USC will have the best player on the field in QB Matt Barkley. The Utes will eventually win this division, but only because USC is not eligible this season. USC wins this one 28-16.
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