Week 1

Virginia Tech-Alabama

Tom- This one has all the makings of a great game.  Hope the good guys aren’t reading too much of their own press.  TechWRONG!

Kevin-For those Hokies not stuck selling tickets in Hooville vs. William and Mary for a 3 game overpriced sucker bet, this should be a great trip.  Hope the game can come close to the tailgate and expected weather.  To say we're a QB injury away from a 6-6 season is simply an understatement. I can only hope the Wild Turkey is in more than just my cup.  Tech wins its first game in Atlanta of the 2009 season in a close one.WRONG!

Jay-In a game which will be dominated by both defenses, an experienced running back capable of running north/south and picking up tough first downs could make all the difference. The Hokies lost that guy to a torn ACL. Advantage Tide. Bama wins, barely.

Vip-As much as I like this Tech team, we are one Tyrod Taylor sprained ankle away from being a bad offense again.  Going into a nationally-televised game with virtually no experience at tailback is not a recipe for success.   I'll do my reverse mojo and pick Saban's stormtroopers, 24-17.

Ivan- roll in a fetal position, you stoopid dumbos.  ass-kicking chicken rulz.WRONG!

Paul- Hokies go down to GA and steal the Tide's soul.WRONG!

Curmudgeon- Sorry to do this, but I'm going with Bama.  I'll be very happy to eat crow.   Alabama

John- Since it's indoors, we shouldn't fall victim this time to the handicap of practicing for months in the cool mountain air prior to a big date in Baton Rouge.  VTWRONG!

Jim- Winning these types of games has not been Frank's strongest suit. What the hell, I never pick against Tech. Hokies win.. WRONG!

South Carolina- NC State

Tom- This wasn’t much of a game last year in Columbia, the Cocks pounded the Pack.  Pack’s turn to lick the Cocks.  State WRONG!

Kevin- I'm sure the Raleigh hotels will be eagerly anticipating the arrival of Thee ESPN Thursday night crew.  Unlike last year, this should be a great game to get a sneak peek of how things should go for both teams.  If State wins this like I am picking them to, they can look at themselves in the mirror and size up that things look good (and even 7-0 is within sight).  They shouldn't have any reason to call 9-1-1 unnecessarily before Halloween when the treats will end.WRONG!

Jay- The Pack is much better but still has a bit of catching up to beat USC.

Vip- A healthy Russell Davis could make the 'Pack a special team this year.  NCSU wins 28-20.WRONG!

Ivan- raleigh hyenas tear visor-boi a new one.  ncsu stfu usc.  poetry!WRONG!

Paul- Edge to the Wufpak, just a gut feeling, not sure why.WRONG!

Curmudgeon- Is blood thicker than conference ties.?  Will FB help SB? USC-e aka Cocks

John- Spurrier sputters all year. It's what he does.  NCS WRONG!

Jim- This year's ACC derision begins early. Cocks win.

Baylor- Wake Forest

Tom- Who knows the first damned thing about Baylor?  WakeWRONG!

Kevin- Green Day was off by a month on "American Idiot".  Let the season begin - and wake me up when the Baylor Bears lose.WRONG!

Jay- I like Wake giving 2.5 points. Take the Deacs to win and cover.WRONG!

Vip- The annual battle for Baptist Braggin' rights.  Wake is better, 20-10.WRONG!

Ivan- do bears crap in (wake) forest?  ask a 3rd grader.  da bears!

Paul- Wake loses a lot of talent, but manages to hold of Da Bears at home.WRONG!

Curmudgeon- Not looking good for the home conference.  The Baptists will win, but unfortunately it's the one fm Baylor

John- Skinner skins the Bears pass defense. WtFU WRONG!

Jim- Skinner finds a way. Deacs win.WRONG!

Maryland- California

Tom- Maryland certainly comes up with some interesting opening opponents.  Losers.  Cal

Kevin-A late night Saturday treat.  This will be either one to watch in celebration or simply one to ignore otherwise.  As much as I'd like to see the ACC start off strong, the writing is on the wall for this one in particular.  Likely off to sleep before the Cal Bears win.

Jay- A stone cold no brainer. Cal in a romp.

Vip- The new slimmed-down version of the Fridge should play well in Cali.  His team, not so much.  Golden Bears win 41-14.

Ivan- too many bears around.  it's a septem-bear fest.  da bears!

Paul- Maryland makes a long trip out west...and an even longer one back east, with an "L". Cal.

Curmudgeon- Maryland isn't going to surprise Cal this year.  California.

John-  Cal is on the upswing, Terps, not so much so.  CAL

Jim- Not a good opener for all of the new Terps. Cal wins.

Miami-Florida State

Tom- I didn’t think these guys were going to be doing this anymore.  I’m sure Shannon loves it.  NolesWRONG!

Kevin-I suppose the Canes can still throw out "hoping for 2-2" after this one, but I'm not feeling it much. There won't be any horseplay in the locker room to lie about once FSU is done here.  Noles win a game the NCAA can't touch (for now).WRONG!

Jay- When the ACC expanded I doubt it envisioned playing this game on week one, even if it is nationally televised- wow! FSU by 10 in a game no one will remember by November. Unbelievable.WRONG!

Vip- A dearth of "back-ness" in this game for both teams.  F$U wins 27-17.WRONG!

Ivan- hey, it's in tra-la-la-ha-ha-ha-si-si-si. the backness of beach pigeons will have to wait. tribals win.WRONG!

Paul- Wide Right MCMXLIV? Not sure, but I'll go with the 'CanesBONUS!

Curmudgeon- I'm guessing Miami is still one year away from Backness.  Florida $tate UniversityWRONG!

John- Have to go with the home team in a toss-up.  FSUWRONG!

Jim- The Canes go into 'Next Year' mode early. FSU wins.WRONG!

Georgia- Oklahoma State

Tom- Georgia looks better in the pre-season.  DawgsWRONG!

Kevin-Probably the next-best matchup of the opening weekend.  I'm sold on the T.Boones and the Georgia players to watch are the guys recently dispersed to the teams playing on Sundays.  The Windmills should win, but I wouldn't bet a million dollars for anyone to prove me wrong.

Jay-I’ll take OSU to win but Dawgs to cover the 5.5.

Vip-Mike "I'm a man!" Gundy vs. Mark "I'm God's man!" Richt.  Go with the holy roller, here.  UGA wins 31-21.WRONG!

Ivan- it ain't like going to south ossetia, so, finally, a dub-u that saakashvili can claim.  tbilisi.WRONG!

Paul- Oklahoma State by a dawg hair.

Curmudgeon- Georgia actually leaving the state of Georgia for a non=SEC game?  Oklamoma State

John- SEC vs. Big 12, but a close call - ah-ooh - GAWRONG!

Jim- Who scheduled this trip? Dawgs win.WRONG!

Missouri- Illinois

Tom- Not much interest here either.  Mizzou

Kevin-About the only two states that probably care about this one, really.  Mizzou to win

Jay-It looks like Illinois finally outscores Missou this time.

Vip-UI gets Zook-ed.  Mizzou wins 44-30

Ivan- fubar game of the week. mizzooks win.

Paul- Missouri, cause they're better than Illinois.

Curmudgeon-Big Ten/11 Illini will lose to Big 12. Missouri

John- Got to go with the mo-MO

Jim- Nothing but the big games for Week 1. Mizzou wins.

BYU- Oklahoma

Tom- Sam Bradford picks up where he left off.  SoonersWRONG!

Kevin-Funny that no one is talking about Oklahoma flirting with "2-2" like the Canes are dreaming of.  And for good reason.  Bradford's 7 on 7 drills end in 2009, but this one is still winnable. Sooners.WRONG!

Jay- Sooners by a bunch.WRONG!

Vip-The Mormons don't have a prayer.  OU wins 45-20.WRONG!

Ivan- lol! bandwagon-cheaters stampede the moor-men.  la-homa.WRONG!

Paul- Oklahoma may be reloading on their line, but they'll take care of the MormonsWRONG!

Curmudgeon- BYU is going to be put out of their misery early.  OklahomaWRONG!

John- The young men at BYU wouldn't miss a fifth straight bowl in Vegas for love or money.  OKLAWRONG!

Jim- Scratch one BCS mid-major. Sooners win. WRONG!

Oregon- Boise State

Tom-Why do people with a blue field bring in an opponent wearing green?  Blech!  DucksWRONG!

Kevin-One of two teams possibly able to keep Boise out of a BCS bowl in 2009.  Cheering for the Boise hype to continue into 2010 to set up the anticipated matchup at FedEx field next October. The hoos assure us it's probably better to be seen playing Boise than at Boise.  I concur. Boise wins at home.

Jay-The Ducks away from Oregon are like Ducks out of water. Boise makes it 2 in a row.

Vip-Oregon's unis are bad enough without clashing with blue turn.  Boise puts their blinders on and wins 54-30.

Ivan- oy-wei! hey, if ya evah need a puke stimulant, watch this in hi-def. ducks-of-death vs blue-astro-turds... tsk-tsk-tsk, that's ugly, right there. ...aqua-chickens in choppers talk "payback's'a'b1tch", turds say "up'yours". let's go with ponies.

Paul- The game that could wreak havoc on everybody's TV sets. Maybe Nike will chose Oregon's uniforms so that everybody will be so distracted by the contrast that they'll win going away? Nah...Ducks win, by a beak.WRONG!

Curmudgeon- Dare I hope Boise State is put out of the BCS picture early.  Let's hope so.  OregonWRONG!

John-Smurfs want mo' blue heaven; Ducks remember last year.  OREWRONG!

Jim- Scratch another. Oregon wins. WRONG!

Cincinnati- Rutgers

Tom- Last year’s LE champion isn’t going to repeat.  DorksWRONG!

Kevin-Looks like the Little E gets sorted out in week 1.  That will save ESECPN a few precious minutes each week of otherwise obligatory airtime devoted to a conference race.  Wonder what they'll fill their time with?  Seems Entirely Challenging.  RUTSgers to win.WRONG!

Jay-You have to like the way the Knights finished last season with 7 wins in a row. Rutgers to avenge last year’s loss to the Bearcats.WRONG!

Vip-This qualifies as an elite early-conference showdown in the Lil' East.  That tells you all you know to know about that conference.  RUTSgers wins 17-10.WRONG!

Ivan- conferences with manhood inadequacies compensate by having "big" in their name. lol! crudgers might challenge, but this week i'm picking da bears! BONUS!

Paul- Dorks.WRONG!

Curmudgeon- Cincinnati shot their load last year.  I'll go with RutgersWRONG!

John- Schiano continues to lead the little engine that could.  Could this be their year to win the li'l East?  RUTSWRONG!

Jim- Exciting Li'l E Monday afternoon football. Dorks win.WRONG!

Name That RUTS

San Jose State- USC

Tom- Nothing like playing the big boys eh Pete.  Trojans by 39

Kevin-I'm sure that freshman QB will be ready for the Horseshoe after this one.  Trojans by an easy 43.WIN!

Jay-SoCal is really reloading this year. No doubt they’ll be strong but I’ll wager this week the USC Coaches will want to look at the 2 and 3 deep which will keep the RUTS down to a reasonable 30.

Vip-If you must start at true Freshman at QB, make sure you surround him with 10 returning starters and a total turd of an opponents.  Trojans win 45-7.

Ivan- the state is ablaze and they gonna play this game?  lol, LA ain't Rome but Nero would be proud.  Trojanes by 35.

Paul- San Jose State- USC by 37.

Curmudgeon- USC will win by 24-13.

John- Being a middle of the pack team in the WAC doesn't exactly prepare you for opening against the mighty men of Troy - USC wins 48-6

Jim- A nice way for USC's frosh QB to get his feet wet. Trojans by 27.