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Week 1 Upset Alert
Potential Week 1 Upsets
Last year the season started with a bang! Few gave Appalachian State any shot at winning in the Big House, but a late field goal block and some great play by Armanti Edwards gave the men from Boone, NC the biggest upset in College Football history. Not only did this upset give folks a reason to watch the Big 10 Network for the next week, but started a weekly trend of huge upsets. This year expect more big upsets as parity is at an all time high in the sport.
Here's our list of week 1 potential upsets. We're not saying they will happen, but they are games you might want to keep an eye on.
1. Fresno State at Rutgers(9/1 4:30 on ESPN)-We've seen it in the past. A ranked team from a BCS conference decides to play Pat Hill's Fresno State Bulldogs. Big mistake!! Fresno is the giant killer in college football and by no means will be intimidated by a the Big East team Rutgers.
Upset Chances-60%
2. East Carolina vs Virginia Tech in Charlotte, NC(12:00 on ESPN)-East Carolina proved last year it was ready to become a non BCS conference power when it upset Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl. The Pirates have improved each year under Skip Holtz and last year they played a tight game against the Hokies on an emotional game in Blacksburg, VA. The game is sold out at the Carolina Panthers' stadium and many will be wearing Purple and Gold.
Upset chances-50%
3. Utah at Michigan(3:30 on ABC)-The first game of the Rich Rodriguez Era is a tough one. Last season we saw Michigan fold against a spread offense. The Wolverines lost several key offensive weapons and their QB of the future. Adjusting to a new system in game 1 can always be tough and against a Utah team that went 9-4 last season could be ugly. Can it happen 2 years in a row?
Upset chances-50%
4. NC State at South Carolina(8:00 8/28 on ESPN)-For the 3rd time in Spurrier's four seasons the Gamecocks open up the College Football Season on ESPN Thursday Night. While the Gamecocks are 3-0 under Spurrier in those openers, they haven't performed very well against lesser competition. The Pack are picked by many to finish last in their division, but Tom O'Brien is a good coach and has the potential to pull off this win. This is an old rivalry that NC State leads 26-25-4 and the Pack will be pumped to play on the road against a SEC team.
Upset chances-45%
5. Alabama vs Clemson in Atlanta, GA(8:00 on ABC)-Clemson is in everyone's top 10 list. They have one of the nation's top backfields and Vic Koenning is one of college football's top defensive minds. Alabama is young, but well coached, much has been made about their loss to ULM last season. This is a game Clemson should win, but we've seen Tommy Bowden's Tigers lose these kind of games before. Clemson does have some questions on the offensive line and you know Saban's defense is aware of this. Clemson has lost 3 of its last 4 games against SEC schools.
Upset chances-40%
6. Tennessee at UCLA(9/1 8:00 on ABC)-The Vols will be starting a new QB and things didn't go so well during last year's West Coach trip. UCLA is now coached by Rick Neuheisel and there is talent to pull an upset over a top 25 Tennessee team. It's a long ways from Rocky Top, although expect plenty of Orange in LA as few travel like Tennessee
Upset chances-35%
7. Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech(6:45 on ESPN 2)-Why Mississippi State agreed to play in Ruston, LA is strange. Nothing against the city of Ruston, but it isn't typical for a SEC team to travel to play at a WAC team's stadium. Derek Dooley(son of UGA legend Vince) knows the SEC very well serving as an assistant at LSU under Nick Saban and is a young name to look out for in the future. The loss of Ellis Johnson as DC could hurt more than many realize. The cowbells will travel well, but in the past we've seen Croom lose to Maine, UAB, Houston, and Tulane.
Upset chances-25%
8. Wake Forest at Baylor(8/28 8:00)- Two coaches that don't get the respect the deserve meet in this game. More are starting to know the name Jim Grobe, but the name Art Briles is only familiar to true CFB fans and those in Texas. Briles rebuilt the Houston program into a power among non BCS schools. His Cougars won 10 games in 2006 and played SEC teams Alabama and South Carolina very tough. Wake Forest is on most preseason top 25 lists and Riley Skinner is a great QB, but they better be careful in Waco
Upset chances-20%
9. Southern California at Virginia(3:30 on ABC)-Virginia Fans get a bad rep by many nationally(Colin Cowherd) as being very wine and cheese, but there are instances where the Hoos have been known to create an intimidating atmosphere during big games(02 South Carolina for example). The Trojans generally play very well out of conference, but this is a long trip and UVA does still have some talent despite losing Long. Will The Good Old Song play over and over?
Upset chances-15%
10.Florida Atlanta at Texas(Gametime and TV TBA)-We've seen Howard Schnellenberger pull off huge upsets in the past(84 Orange Bowl). Winning in Austin with FAU would be his biggest. The Owls are led by a potential NFL QB in Rusty Smith. Last season the school won its first ever bowl game over Memphis and did beat Big 10 team Minnesotat at home. Texas is much better than the Golden Gophers and should win big, but don't overlook the Owls.
Upset chances-5%
11. Appalachian State at LSU(5:00 on ESPN)-I included 11 instead of 10 because I know many of you are thinking about this game. Well, stop. It won't happen again. Yes, LSU does have some issues at QB, but they are still loaded everywhere else and won't overlook ASU. Edwards is great and a big game could get him some Steve Mcnair type Heisman talk, but he won't be LSU. No chance, not going to happen.... Ok I give it some chance
Upset chances-.01%
Matt Barber
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com
