NCAA Scouting
NCAA Predictions – Week 1
by Paul Hopkins, James Izzard, CJ Merchant
September 2nd 2010
 
The long, long off-season has finally drawn to a close and the NCAA season starts once again this weekend. The action extends from Thursday through to Monday night when Boise State and Virginia Tech travel to Fed Ex field for a battle between two top ten pre-season teams.
 
Happily, the return of the college season also brings with it the return of our weekly college predictions: a panel of Diner writers will make their picks every week in an attempt to win the coveted Diner bragging rights. With Dang temporarily absent this week, Chris Merchant joins the fray.
 
Pittsburgh @ Utah
DOC – PITTSBURGH - If Dion Lewis gets rumbling on the ground, picking up where he left off last year against a Utes’ defense that was pretty woeful against the run (and only returns four starters) the Pirates will be able to hold off Utah. Whilst Utah are a strong force at home (6-0 last season), Pitt will control the line of scrimmage and the clock and pull away in the second half.
JIZ – UTAH - Pittsburgh are perennial slow starters although I fully expect them to make a run at the Big East conference later in the season. They stumble out of the blocks and fall to Utah here.
CJ - UTAH - Whilst Pitt has a star studded team with the likes of RB Dion Lewis and DE Greg Romeus, they are blooding a new QB in Tino Sunseri who has to play at a competent level for them to win. I’ll go with Utah: they rarely lose at home, and they look to have enough experience in the centre of their O-line to set up the power running game they’ll need to win this one.
 
LSU @ North Carolina
DOC – LSU – North Carolina was already coming into the season with a lot of hype but now they’re ensconced in an NCAA investigation which shows no signs of reaching a conclusion anytime soon. This looks like being a cracking game, but I just see the Tigers nicking a close one.
JIZ – LSU - Two elite defenses match up in a contest which features many future NFL hopefuls. However look for receiver (and former superstar QB recruit) Russell Sheppard to be the X Factor on offense and give LSU enough to get the win.
CJ – NORTH CAROLINA - I think the North Carolina defense will just have too much for an LSU offense that was anaemic last year and doesn’t look to have improved dramatically. It’ll be close because both lack offensively, but I’ll go with the Tar Heels.
 
Connecticut @ Michigan
DOC– CONNECTICUT - Huge game for so many reasons for Rich Rodriguez. With this home opener and Notre Dame in South Bend the week after, Rich knows he cannot afford to lose this one. But the Huskies are an up and coming team and I see them really piling the pressure and misery on Rodriguez ahead of week two.
JIZ – MICHIGAN - Connecticut will have aspirations of challenging in the Big East and Michigan will be looking to return to winning ways. I think this encounter will be close but the home field advantage should give the Wolverines the edge.
CJ – MICHIGAN - RichRod needs to win this year – or else. I think they get off to a winning start in the revamped Big House (now able to hold 109,901), having just enough to get by UConn, but Michigan has to contain what will be a strong running game for the Huskies with Jordan Todman and DJ Shoemate in the backfield.
 
Oregon State @ TCU
DOC – OREGON STATE – Prime-time football in Cowboys stadium for these two much-fancied teams. The Beavers have some excellent weapons and look ready to mount an all out assault on winning the Pac 10 this year. TCU were talked about (wrongly in my view) as being worthy of consideration for the National Championship at times last year, but have some outstanding players and an excellent coach in Gary Patterson, but State nick this by three in a classic.
JIZ – TCU - One of the more intriguing matchups of week 1, both teams will have their eye on a BCS game later in the year. I think the Rodgers brothers help keep this close but TCU ultimately will be too strong at home.
CJ – TCU - The Rodgers brothers return to their home state of Texas, but expect an experienced TCU defense to stop the Beavers’ running game and put the pressure squarely on sophomore QB Ryan Katz’s shoulders. I’ll take TCU to have enough to get by their Pac-10 opponents.
 
SMU @ Texas Tech
DOC – TEXAS TECH – I’m excited about SMU this year. After their Bowl win, they look a year ahead of where June Jones expected them to be. The Mustangs haven’t normally faired well against the Red Raiders who now are adjusting to life under Tommy Tuberville – which I imagine is very different to that under Mike Leach. The Mustangs will run them close but I think Tech nicks this by one or two points.
JIZ – TEXAS TECH - One year ago this would have been a lock for 100 points. I still expect there to be a lot of scoring but Texas Tech will show the gulf that lies between the Big XII and Conference USA. Tech to win by three scores or more.
CJ –TEXAS TECH - SMU have certainly turned it around, and June Jones always produces exciting teams with his version of the run-and-shoot, but I don’t think they have enough to take down a team like Texas Tech yet, especially as they lost NFL-bound RB Shawnbrey McNeal and WR Emmanuel Sanders in spring. Tuberville and the Red Raiders will have just enough talent to take down the Mustangs.
 
Boise State @ Virginia Tech
DOC – VIRGINIA TECH - This really is all or nothing for Boise State. Lose and their hope of getting into the National Championship game (even if they run the table, which is entirely possible based on their remaining schedule) is already over. Everyone seems to expect them to have too much firepower for the Hokies but with Ryan Williams and Tyrod Taylor, I’m not sure Boise State will be able to hold up in this Labor Day matchup.
JIZ – VIRGINIA TECH - Boise have proved me wrong time and time again though so I fully expect this prediction to be way off. Last year they beat Oregon and showed the nation that they can contend with the big boys. Still, I don’t think Boise State can do the same in Virginia against a Frank Beamer defense. Boise to lose and end all talk of a national championship run. Virginia Tech on the other hand…
CJ – VIRGINIA TECH - A hard one to call. Boise returns most of the undefeated team from last year and look to have a great offense under the stewardship of Kellen Moore. The Hokies appear finally to have an offense that can match its defense for quality, with stars such as Ryan Williams, Darren Evans, Tyrod Taylor and Jarrett Boykin. A tough choice but I say Boise State’s national title dreams are killed in week 1 – the Hokies win a close one.
 
Upset Watch
DOC – Illnois to beat Missouri – Mizzou rightly come into this showdown in St Louis strong favourites. In week one of the 2009 season they comprehensively beat down Illinois.
JIZ - Richmond to beat Virginia - The lower ranked ACC teams have struggled somewhat against FCS opposition in recent seasons; Richmond to surprise a Virginia team that went 3-9 last season certainly deserves to be on Upset Watch for me.
CJ – Purdue to beat Notre Dame - Purdue could be playing Notre Dame at the perfect time. The Irish will be implementing Brian Kelly's system for real for the first time. DE Ryan Kerrigan could give Notre Dame some trouble, and the Purdue offense, led by Miami(Fl.) transfer QB Robert Marve and WR Keith Smith could cause Notre Dame some problems.