What I'm Watching - 9/6/08

So the first weekend of games is in the books, and there were a number of upsets already. This weekend doesn't have the firepower of what is coming up on 9/13, but this weekend still has a few games worth tuning in for (picks in red).


MORNING

Georgia Tech at Boston College, 12:00 PM, Raycom - As bad as the ACC looked last weekend it appears that anyone could be in the championship game come Decemeber. Paul Johnson's first game in Atlanta was a win over overmatched Jacksonville State, but is the "perfect option" ready for the touch run defense of Boston College?

Southern Mississippi at Auburn, 12:30 PM, Raycom - Auburn had no difficulties in crushing ULM last weekend, but the passing game was very inefficient and the offense didn't score a touchdown until well into the 3rd quarter. Southern Miss is sure to pose a bigger threat this weekend as Auburn begins preparing for LSU in 2 weeks.

AFTERNOON

Ole Miss at Wake Forest, 3:30 PM, ABC - With Clemson losing to Alabama last Saturday Wake Forest has emerged as the front runner for the ACC crown. Houston Nutt always seems to pull the crazy upsets, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them pull this off in North Carolina, but Wake Forest will cause Ole Miss to make just enough mistakes to win.

West Virginia at East Carolina, 4:30 PM, ESPN - ECU knocked off Virginia Tech on Saturday, but West Virginia is not inept on offense like the Hokies were. WVU wasn't incredibly sharp in their opening day win, but Pat White showed he can pass by throwing for a career high in TDs. Look for more running against ECU, and WVU to keep lightening from striking twice for the Pirates.

EVENING

Sept 6: Louisiana Tech at Kansas, 7:00 PM, FSN - Louisiana Tech and transfer QB Taylor Bennett knocked off Mississippi State in Ruston for their first home victory over a BCS school in the history of the program. Now they look to knockoff a BCS team from a year ago an a hopeful for the Big 12 title. Louisiana Tech had to take advantage of a number of MSU miscues to get the win, and they'll have to play MUCH better on the offensive side of the ball to keep this one close. Sorry, Bulldogs, the Jayhawks might be overrated but they'll get the win at home against the overmatched WAC team.

Sept 6: U Miami at Florida, 8:00 PM, ESPN - Is Miami back? Well, probably not quite yet. This would be a massive win for the ACC and for the Miami program, both of which are reeling the last few seasons. Florida steamrolled Hawaii, but they've had a number of injuries during Spring/Fall practice that could start showing effects against a team of Miami's talent level. The Hurricanes have talent, but it is all freshman so probably another two years away from dreaming this big.

Sept 6: Stanford at Arizona State, 10:00 PM, FSN West - Is Stanford ready to be a bowl team again? Is Arizona State ready to be an actual contender to USC for the Pac10? Oregon State isn't going to be very good this year, but it was still a big win for the Cardinal. A win in the desert would be huge for this program, almost on par with the USC thriller a season ago, but again I think we're looking at a team that's a year away. Dennis Erickson wins games like this, which is why he's been a successful coach for so long.