Gonna pick the Auburn game last since I'm an Auburn fan and I believe in saving my own team for last. Here's the rundown of the Top 25 to begin with. I'll go by the AP Poll. Sometimes the AP Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll don't have the same rankings, so I'm letting everyone know these are rankings based upon the AP Poll to avoid confusion.
#1 Florida State vs. Oklahoma State (at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)
Defending national champion Florida State is favored to repeat as they are the #1 ranked team in both polls. If they do it, they will start the season at AT&T Stadium and end it there as the first time college football playoff championship game will be held there. They'll open their defense against Big 12 contender Oklahoma State. FSU lost a few key players to the NFL, but still has the most important guy, Heisman Trophy winning QB Jameis Winston. Yeah, he may be prone to steal some crab legs, but let's face it, he's very, very good. I don't see the Okie State defense having any answers for the Seminoles offense. A new starting QB for the Pokes will get a rude welcome to the 2014 season.
My Call: Florida State 42, Oklahoma State 23
#2 Alabama vs. West Virginia (at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia)
There's a bit of a QB controversy for the Crimson Tide as Florida State transfer Jacob Coker and senior Blake Sims are listed as "co starters" at the moment. Sooner or later, I do believe the Crimson Tide will have to find a true answer to that controversy, but I don't see it being a big problem against a West Virginia team that will struggle mightily to contain running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry. I don't expect Nick Saban will make this complicated for his QBs. Just a heavy dose of Yeldon and Henry will be plenty to defeat the Mountaineers handily.
My Call: Alabama 41, West Virginia 14
South Dakota at #3 Oregon
Nice warmup for the Ducks before going up against defending Rose Bowl champion Michigan State at home in Week 2. Marcus Mariotta and the Oregon offense will play for about a half and put up some big numbers before giving way to the backups. They can name the score here.
My Call: Oregon 70, South Dakota 3
Louisiana Tech at #4 Oklahoma
Poor Louisiana Tech. They have an awful 4-8 season in the first year of the Skip Holtz era and get to start his second season with a trip to Norman to take on the powerhouse Sooners. We'll see over the course of the season if OU quarterback Trevor Knight is the guy who had some struggles during the 2013 season or the guy who was simply brilliant in the Sugar Bowl stomping of Alabama. Fortunately for Knight, he won't have to be the latter guy for OU to win this one big. He'll have his moments for sure though in this non-conference showdown.
My Call: Oklahoma 42, Louisiana Tech 10
#5 Ohio State vs. Navy (at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland)
To me, this is a game that would be a little more interesting if it were being played a couple weeks into the season. Navy's triple option offense can be a pain to stop, but Ohio State has maybe the best defensive line in the country and Urban Meyer has had all summer to figure out a way to slow down the complex Navy offense. Even without Braxton Miller, the Buckeye offense should put up plenty while the Navy offense has its moments but is unable to keep up.
My Call: Ohio State 38, Navy 20
#7 UCLA at Virginia
Two potential Heisman Contenders will make their 2014 debuts for the UCLA Bruins; QB Brett Hundley and linebacker/running back Myles Jack. Those two are worth the price of admission alone. Virginia head coach Mike London enters this year on the hot seat following a nightmare 2013 for the Cavaliers which saw them go 0-8 in conference play and 2-10 overall. He and the Cavs will start out 2014 0-1. UCLA rolls.
My Call: UCLA 44, Virginia 17
Jacksonville State at #8 Michigan State
As mentioned above, Sparty will be going to Eugene to take on Oregon at Autzen Stadium next week. Like Oregon this week, they get a tuneup before the real test starts. I don't expect Michigan State to light up the scoreboard to the degree of Oregon, but they'll light it up plenty to win this one big.
My Call: Michigan State 48, Jacksonville State 6
#21 Texas A&M at #9 South Carolina
A fantastic first week SEC showdown will be displaying two teams with new starting QBs. The Johnny Manziel era is over at Texas A&M while the same applies to the Connor Shaw era at South Carolina. I don't know about the rib injury to South Carolina running back Mike Davis, but a few days after saying he may miss this game, now coach Steve Spurrier expects him to play. I'm not sure Davis will be 100 percent, but whether he is or not, that wouldn't change my pick for this game. When in doubt, go with the team you have faith in to come up with a defensive stop when needed. Being at home certainly doesn't hurt, either.
My Call: South Carolina 38, Texas A&M 31
Southern Methodist at #10 Baylor
SMU will put up some points, June Jones offenses always tend to do so, but won't put up nearly enough to keep up with Heisman contender Bryce Petty and that Bears offense. The senior QB will get his final college season off to a booming start.
My Call: Baylor 62, SMU 27
UC-Davis at #11 Stanford
For those who thought the Stanford football program may come down to earth after Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, think again. David Shaw has the program running as big and bad as ever before. The Cardinal may be thinking slightly ahead to their game against USC next week, but UC-Davis won't put up much of a fight either way.
My Call: Stanford 41, UC-Davis 7
#16 Clemson at #12 Georgia
Like with Texas A&M and South Carolina, both these programs are also going through QB changes. Aaron Murray ran out of eligibility at Georgia while it was the same story for Tajh Boyd at Clemson. The Bulldogs will be turning to senior QB Hutson Mason while Clemson will be turning to a combo of senior Cole Stoudt as well as very talented incoming freshman Deshaun Watson. Stoudt has only seen the field for Clemson during garbage time while Mason at least has some legit game experience against the likes of Georgia Tech and Nebraska. Unfortunately that experience came as a result of Murray getting hurt, but that's football for you. And it's also why I give the Dogs the edge in this one. Being in Athens rather than Clemson also helps.
My Call: Georgia 41, Clemson 31
#14 Wisconsin vs. #13 LSU (at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas)
If you're Wisconsin and the Big 10, you're looking for some credibility here. The Badgers could have a chance to get it as LSU has questions on offense. Coach Les Miles is gonna go with a two QB system with Anthony Jennings and true freshman Brandon Harris. Another thing this game features is two fantastic running backs. The Badgers received great news with Melvin Gordon returning after an outstanding 2013 where he established himself as one of the best running backs in college football. LSU counters with true freshman Leonard Fournette. He doesn't have Gordon's body of work at the college levels, but Fournette has drawn comparisons to NFL superstar running back Adrian Peterson. Certainly high praise and putting no pressure on him, right? Ultimately, I like the Badgers in this game for a couple reasons. Yes, there may be more purple and yellow in Houston this weekend, but LSU has a lot of uncertainty surrounding its QB situation, which to me isn't good when they lost receivers like Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham to the NFL. No doubt the LSU offense will get better as the season goes on, but this is a good time for Wisconsin to catch LSU. This should be a classic.
My Call: Wisconsin 30, LSU 27
Fresno State at #15 USC
Let's see... Fresno State had Derek Carr and Davante Adams against USC on a neutral field at the Las Vegas Bowl last season and got blown out. This year, both Carr and Adams are in the NFL while this game is being played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That's not good for Fresno State.
My Call: USC 35, Fresno State 17
Rice at #17 Notre Dame
This game marks the return of QB Everett Golson, who helped lead Notre Dame to a BCS title game appearance two years ago before sitting out last year due to academic issues. The Irish are dealing with more academic issues right now as they'll be without the services of four players for this one. It shouldn't matter much for this game though. Next week against Michigan? Maybe.
My Call: Notre Dame 31, Rice 14
Boise State vs. #18 Ole Miss (at Georgia Dome in Atlanta)
The Boise State Broncos have made habits of being giant killers in the past, but that was while Chris Peterson as head coach. With Peterson gone to Washington, they'll have to develop a new identity under Bryan Harsin. Harsin called plays at Boise State from 2006 to 2010 before taking the same job at Texas for a couple years and then having his first head coaching gig at Arkansas State last year. He's hoping to follow in the path of his coaching counterpart in this one, Hugh Freeze. Like Harsin, Freeze also coached one season at Arkansas State before becoming the head coach at Ole Miss. Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn was the head coach at Arkansas State after Freeze and before Harsin for a year, so you can see the type of coaching talent that's began at Arkansas State. In a battle of former Red Wolf coaches, I'll take Freeze and the more talented Rebels.
My Call: Ole Miss 34, Boise State 27
Weber State at #19 Arizona State
Like a few other top 25 teams, the Sun Devils also get to open the season with a gimme. Led by underrated QB Taylor Kelly offensively, he, running back D.J. Foster and wide receiver Jaelen Strong, the Devils can name their score this week. I'll name my prediction, we'll see how close I come.
My Call: Arizona State 62, Weber State 6
Stephen F. Austin at #20 Kansas State
A 3-9 Southland Conference team from a year ago in Manhattan against Bill Snyder's Wildcats? This one won't end well at all. At least the Lumberjacks should get a decent paycheck for this beating they'll take. K-State can name the score as well.
My Call: Kansas State 55, Stephen F. Austin 10
Florida Atlantic at #22 Nebraska
The Owls tabbed a new head coach for the 2014 season; grabbing long time Bret Bielema assistant Charlie Partridge. His coaching debut is not an easy one with a trip to take on head coach Bo Pelini's Nebraska Cornhuskers. While Coach Pelini may or may not be on the perennial "hot seat", no doubt Husker fans are looking for him to take the program to the next level. His teams haven't been bad, but 9-4 or 10-4 seasons are becoming a bit of a tiresome norm in Lincoln. I'm not sure the Huskers will take that next step forward this year, but they'll get this year off to a 1-0 start. Running back Ameer Abdullah should run wild in this one.
My Call: Nebraska 34, Florida Atlantic 14
Liberty at #23 North Carolina
Like a few non-FBS schools also on this list, Liberty is simply in this game for the paycheck it will receive for taking a hellacious beating. UNC rolls.
My Call: North Carolina 48, Liberty 10
South Dakota State at #24 Missouri
Just another team in it for the paycheck, the Jackrabbits will take it on the chin from new starting QB Matty Mauk and the defending SEC runner up Missouri Tigers.
My Call: Missouri 56, South Dakota State 17
#25 Washington at Hawaii
As mentioned above, the Washington Huskies also have a new head coach. After losing Steve Sarkisian to USC, they did a spectacular job in getting Chris Peterson to leave Boise State to take over in Seattle. He gets somewhat of a tricky opener as this will be a long flight to Hawaii. However, the Warriors just aren't very good. That means it could take some time for the Huskies to get going, especially under a new head coach, QB and running back, but they'll gradually pull away in the 2nd half and start worrying about tougher games down the road.
My Call: Washington 35, Hawaii 13
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