FINALLY!

The 2008-2009 season is FINALLY here as a slate of games kickoff tonight before opening weekend starts this Saturday. Tonight's games include:

Vanderbilt at Miami University, 7:00 PM, ESPNU
Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech, 7:30 PM, ESPN 360
Charleston Southern at Miami, 7:30 PM, ESPN 360
NC State at South Carolina, 8:00 PM, ESPN
Wake Forest at Baylor, 8:00 PM, FSN
Oregon State at Stanford, 9:00 PM, ESPN2
Troy at Middle Tennessee State, 7:30 PM, Gameplan

I personally will be at the Georgia Tech vs Jacksonville State game seeing two interesting previews. It is Ryan Perrilloux's first game for the Gamecocks after being dismissed from defending national champion LSU's squad in the spring, while Paul Johnson brings his spread option attack to the Yellow Jackets from the Naval Academy. I've been a Paul Johnson fan for a number of years so this should be exciting. Perrilloux will be the best offensive player on the field for either team, but will have to face one of the better defensive lines in the country. It should be interesting early as GT is sure to put the ball on the ground a few times, but in the end I think the Jackets will just be too much.

Also look for a few interesting games involving lower tier BCS teams that will mean a lot to the ACC. First is the NC State/South Carolina game. Spurrier has had some decent teams in his first two years, but this should be his best. NC State is still a few years away from competeing in the ACC. I wonder how much Tom O'Brien is still kicking himself for leaving BC. Also important for the ACC's image is Wake Forest traveling to Waco, TX, to play Baylor. The Demon Deacons should win in a walk, but if Baylor pulls this upset it could be devastating to the entire conference for the ACC. Clemson would have to hope for the entire rest of the country to have two losses for an undefeated Tiger team to get into the BCSCG.