Draper: This is really the only marquee game of the week. UGA enters with Heisman hopeful Aaron Murray and a vaunted SEC defense. There are huge hopes in Athens this year in which they're eying more than just Atlanta and the SEC Championship. However, I've been to a big game at Death Valley (at Clemson), and that place is crazy. Clemson is explosive on offense with Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins. I think this game will live up to the hype and Clemson will forget to start Clemsoning this early in the season. The SEC finally takes a hit in one of the years best games. UGA: 31--Clemson: 34
Hoying: Thank the football gods for this game, breaking up the otherwise blah Week 1 matchups. After stellar 2012 campaigns, both teams enter the season with legitimate hopes for the final BCS championship. (After all, Georgia was 5 yards away from having the chance to obliterate Notre Dame for the title last season). Both starting QBs are among the best in the country, so expect a high-scoring affair, even with an SEC DEFENSE on one side of the field. Georgia will miss LB Jarvis Jones more than they'd like, and Clemson will extend their SEC win streak to 2. Also, watch out for Georgia looking ahead to South Carolina and Clemson looking ahead to South Carolina...State. UGA: 27--Clemson: 35
Schweinfurth: It's always fun to have games like this early in the season. I really see these teams as almost equals. However, Clemson has Tajh Boyd and that is enough for me. Sprinkle in some Sammy Watkins and you have a very good offense. While Georgia's offense is no slouch, I just don't think they can score with Clemson. The defenses will keep it somewhat low scoring early (first game slop will help as well) but Clemson pulls away late. UGA: 21--Clemson: 38
Hoying: Thank the football gods for this game, breaking up the otherwise blah Week 1 matchups. After stellar 2012 campaigns, both teams enter the season with legitimate hopes for the final BCS championship. (After all, Georgia was 5 yards away from having the chance to obliterate Notre Dame for the title last season). Both starting QBs are among the best in the country, so expect a high-scoring affair, even with an SEC DEFENSE on one side of the field. Georgia will miss LB Jarvis Jones more than they'd like, and Clemson will extend their SEC win streak to 2. Also, watch out for Georgia looking ahead to South Carolina and Clemson looking ahead to South Carolina...State. UGA: 27--Clemson: 35
Schweinfurth: It's always fun to have games like this early in the season. I really see these teams as almost equals. However, Clemson has Tajh Boyd and that is enough for me. Sprinkle in some Sammy Watkins and you have a very good offense. While Georgia's offense is no slouch, I just don't think they can score with Clemson. The defenses will keep it somewhat low scoring early (first game slop will help as well) but Clemson pulls away late. UGA: 21--Clemson: 38
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Draper: Much ado about nothing. Bama reenters the season as another juggernaut with nothing but a 'reload'. McCarron and Yeldon will have the offense churning and the defense is always ridiculous under Saban. VTech has been mediocre at best for the last few years. Michael Vick ain't walking through that door. Bama: 27--VT: 13
Hoying: The good news for Alabama is that it doesn't matter if they win this game or not; the BCS is always willing to spot them a loss and still place them in the championship. Meanwhile, the Hokies are coming off their worst season in 20 years, thanks to a weak offense and uncharacteristically poor special teams play. Is this game where Beamerball gets back on track? Maybe, but it won't matter. The Tide are still a juggernaut and it'll take a lot more than QB Logan Thomas (who?) and his band of turkeys to end Bama's reign. Bama: 34--VT: 6
Schweinfurth: As much billing as this game will get from the WWL, this one will be ugly. VaTech just isn't the team they used to be and Alabama is a machine. The only question for 'Bama is how the offensive line looks. Regardless, this one is over at half time and Nick Saban will still go looking for his box of puppies. Bama: 42--VT: 3
Hoying: The good news for Alabama is that it doesn't matter if they win this game or not; the BCS is always willing to spot them a loss and still place them in the championship. Meanwhile, the Hokies are coming off their worst season in 20 years, thanks to a weak offense and uncharacteristically poor special teams play. Is this game where Beamerball gets back on track? Maybe, but it won't matter. The Tide are still a juggernaut and it'll take a lot more than QB Logan Thomas (who?) and his band of turkeys to end Bama's reign. Bama: 34--VT: 6
Schweinfurth: As much billing as this game will get from the WWL, this one will be ugly. VaTech just isn't the team they used to be and Alabama is a machine. The only question for 'Bama is how the offensive line looks. Regardless, this one is over at half time and Nick Saban will still go looking for his box of puppies. Bama: 42--VT: 3
LSU Tigers vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Draper: SEC gets another 'big-game' in week 1. I'll give the Tigers credit for scheduling this one because most powerhouses duck the middle programs. That being said, LSU should take care of business. TCU is no longer the Cinderella. They're not snake-biting anyone. The defense of the Tigers will keep the Horned Frogs in check in a low scoring affair. 'Should be suspended for arrest' RB Hill will score a TD and no one will comment on why he is playing. LSU: 20--TCU: 10
Hoying: Another SEC juggernaut against another mediocre team. TCU's first season in the Big XII (7-6) served as a nice reminder to the mid-majors that going 12-0 against the Little Sisters of the Poor doesn't translate into being able to hang with the big boys week in and week out (see also: Utah). Les Miles still prowls the sidelines at LSU, and as long as he doesn't have to make any late-game clock management decisions (*cough* Clemson *cough*), the Tigers will stay on track in their hunt for Les's 2nd title. LSU: 24--TCU:9
Schweinfurth: TCU doesn't sneak up on anyone any more and that tends to happen when you play in one of the power conferences. I still think that TCU's defense is very good and LSU still has Mettenberger (who is just bad). Both of these factors keep this score pretty low, but LSU has more talent. LSU: 14--TCU: 10
Hoying: Another SEC juggernaut against another mediocre team. TCU's first season in the Big XII (7-6) served as a nice reminder to the mid-majors that going 12-0 against the Little Sisters of the Poor doesn't translate into being able to hang with the big boys week in and week out (see also: Utah). Les Miles still prowls the sidelines at LSU, and as long as he doesn't have to make any late-game clock management decisions (*cough* Clemson *cough*), the Tigers will stay on track in their hunt for Les's 2nd title. LSU: 24--TCU:9
Schweinfurth: TCU doesn't sneak up on anyone any more and that tends to happen when you play in one of the power conferences. I still think that TCU's defense is very good and LSU still has Mettenberger (who is just bad). Both of these factors keep this score pretty low, but LSU has more talent. LSU: 14--TCU: 10
Buffalo Bulls @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Unlike most of the fans in Columbus, I believe this team is not one of the greatest in history (or even the past 10 years). That being said, it's a very talented group that should steamroll the joke of a schedule. If we take a loss, I'm guessing it will come from a team no one suspects. And that team is Buffalo...just kidding. This should be over by the end of the 1st quarter. Urban won't call off the dogs as the Bucks make a statement offensively. The Bulls are horrendously mismatched in this game. Braxton throws for 3 TDs and runs for 1. OSU RBs combine for 3 TDs of their own. The only interest is watching the cohesiveness of the front 7 defensively and whether the WRs have improved. Buff: 13--OSU: 58
Hoying: I seem to say this every year, but it merits repeating: this game will tell us nothing about how good this year's Ohio State squad is. Buffalo is a garbage opponent from a garbage conference, and with the fully armed and operational Urban offense in place, there'll be no one to stop us this time. Use this game as an opportunity to watch the new defensive starters in action and try to memorize OSU's extensive list of captains. (Seriously? 8 captains? If we get any more we'll need a team Major...) Buff: 9--OSU: 45
Schweinfurth: This offense is very, very good. Miller has been improving this offseason (or so we have heard) and the addition of Diontre Wilson and Ezikiel Elliot will just add to the home run threats. The lack of Hyde and Smith won't show up too much in this game as the offense rolls for about 500 yards. The defense is what I am worried about. The young front seven need some game experience and this game will surely allow them to tip toe into the season. No slow starts this year and Urban plays his young guys for an appreciable amount of time. Buff: 17--OSU: 63
Upset Special
Draper: Washington over Boise State
Hoying: California over Northwestern
Schweinfurth: Hawaii over USC
Hoying: I seem to say this every year, but it merits repeating: this game will tell us nothing about how good this year's Ohio State squad is. Buffalo is a garbage opponent from a garbage conference, and with the fully armed and operational Urban offense in place, there'll be no one to stop us this time. Use this game as an opportunity to watch the new defensive starters in action and try to memorize OSU's extensive list of captains. (Seriously? 8 captains? If we get any more we'll need a team Major...) Buff: 9--OSU: 45
Schweinfurth: This offense is very, very good. Miller has been improving this offseason (or so we have heard) and the addition of Diontre Wilson and Ezikiel Elliot will just add to the home run threats. The lack of Hyde and Smith won't show up too much in this game as the offense rolls for about 500 yards. The defense is what I am worried about. The young front seven need some game experience and this game will surely allow them to tip toe into the season. No slow starts this year and Urban plays his young guys for an appreciable amount of time. Buff: 17--OSU: 63
Upset Special
Draper: Washington over Boise State
Hoying: California over Northwestern
Schweinfurth: Hawaii over USC
