CFB Channel Cruisin’ Week 1: Missouri-Illinois, Clemson-Alabama, UT-UCLA are where it’s at
After months and months of anticipation, the college football season is finally getting underway on Thursday, and my sanity could not be more excited.
Let’s all take a deep breath, and…….ready? IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE! IT’S HERE!
There’s a slate full of action on TV starting tomorrow night, and while you can check that out here, I’ll make it all the easier on your remote, and whoever’s in the room with you, by telling you which games you should watch, and which ones you should avoid.
Unfortunately, none of them involve Keith Jackson coming out of retirement for just one more ‘Whooooooooa Nellie!,” but you’re sure to find something that tickles your football-watching fancy.
Games to Watch
Thursday
South Carolina vs. N.C. State, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN: I’m not expecting this to be much of a contest, but it’s getting the national spotlight on Thursday night nonetheless.
Friday
Rice vs. SMU, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN: June Jones makes his debut, scoreboard shorts out after someone reaches 100 points. Really though, a lot of eyes will be on how Jones’ offense clicks with new starting QB Bo Levi Mitchell, but Rice’s offense will generate plenty of fireworks with the duo of QB Chase Clement and WR Jarett Dillard.
Saturday
Clemson vs. Alabama (in Atlanta), Sat., 8 p.m. ET, ABC: It’s not imperative that Alabama wins this game to have a good season, but it is for Clemson, because all of the hype that the Tigers have generated in the build-up to this season, it’d be a mite disappointing for them to lay an egg on national TV in their season opener.
Sunday
Louisville vs. Kentucky, 3:30 p.m., ET, ESPN: Marquee matchup last year, when Brian Brohm and Andre’ Woodson were still in the collegiate ranks, but now, not as much. If Louisville’s defense still is a little stop-impaired, you can punish yourself a little more after a weekend of boozing by raising your glass/red plastic cup/funnel/shoe every time Kentucky gets a first down. [Disclaimer: I don’t take any responsibility for any alcohol-related hospital bills you incur by listening to my suggestion.]
Monday
UCLA vs. Tennessee, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN: If Rick Neuheisel wants to steal a speck of the spotlight that USC gets, then it starts here. The Vols and Bruins are in much the same boat when it comes to starting quarterbacks with minimal starting experience, so maybe this one will come down to who makes less mistakes.
Regional Game That Should Be National: Utah vs. Michigan, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC: The sexy upset pick of the week, it seems, and that’s reason enough to watch, provided you’re not a still-bitter West Virginia fan who feels like going to the electronics store to replace your shattered TV in the middle of the day.
National Game That Should Be Regional: Northwestern vs. Syracuse, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN2: Not that there’ll be that many people up at that time. Not a slight against Northwestern, because they’re actually shaping up to be a pretty decent squad this year, but feel free to go back to sleep if Syracuse still plans on stinking it up this season, which for the program’s sake (and theirs, and Gregg Robinson’s), I hope they don’t, but…
Game That I’d Steal the Neighbors’ Cable For: Missouri vs. Illinois, 8:30 p.m., ET, ESPN: Given that I’ll be watching Mississippi State-La. Tech when this one starts, I may not see at least half of it. This one may not be as exciting as last year’s 40-34 thriller was (raise your hand if you watched it, and I can tell if you’re lying through your teeth), but I’m looking forward to this one a lot more than Alabama-Clemson.
Time Slot Worth Getting Picture-in-Picture For: Saturday evening - Like I said, I’ll be watching Mississippi State-La. Tech when Missouri and Illinois kick off, but for the rest of you, this one’s good because it offers up the Missouri-Illinois contest and the Alabama-Clemson one at the same time. And if your significant other starts complaining, well, just make them listen to this, and they’ll be okay. Feel free to send all thank-you donations to EDSBS and say that I sent you. Now if you name the resulting offspring Orson, well, that’s another story.
Late Game Worth Staying Up For: Stanford vs. Oregon St, Thurs., 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2 - Not a lot of people outside the Pacific time zone might be interested in seeing two middle-of-the-road Pac-10 teams go at it, but if you like defense, both of these teams have a lot of talent on defense, especially on the line. Unfortunately for Stanford, their defense has to contend with a Beaver running attack that could run wild.
I’ll be back every week to let you know what to watch and what not to watch, so keep checking back this time every week to get my picks, and make sure you check out Mark Scott’s upcoming videocast for his predictions for the first week of the college football season.
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