College Football 2010 Week 1 Picks

Finally College Football is back this week. So it’s again time for me to make picks. So here are 13 games and my picks for those games.




Thursday September 2nd

7:30 ESPN: Southern Miss at South Carolina

It seems every year South Carolina opens the season on Thursday Night. This game has no appeal, except that it’s the opening game on ESPN. I’ll take South Carolina to win 17-13.

8:30 Versus: #15 Pittsburgh at Utah

This is the best Thursday Night Game. I expect a shootout with many points. I’ll take the home team in this one. Utah 34 Pittsburgh 27.

11:00 ESPN: #14 USC at Hawaii

The first game of the Lane Kiffin regime at USC. I think Hawaii will keep this close for a half. But in the end USC has waaaaaayyyy too much talent to lose this game. USC 42 Hawaii 24.



Saturday September 4th

12:00 ESPNU: Samford at #20 Florida State

Bobby Bowden went to Samford. However, he will not be the alumn on the sideline as head coach for Florida State on Saturday. That will be Samford alumn Jimbo Fisher. It will be weird not to see Bowden on the sidelines, but it won’t affect FSU’s play in this game. Florida State 61 Samford 10.

3:30 NBC: Purdue at Notre Dame

Brian Kelly’s first game as Notre Dame Head Coach. I expect a close low scoring game. I think it’s going to take at least one game for this Notre Dame offense to gel under Kelly. I still think they have the talent to win over Purdue despite the lack of offense. Notre Dame 16 Purdue 13.

3:30 ABC: UCONN at Michigan

Can Rich Rod finally get on track in his third season as head coach of Michigan? It won’t be easy to do that if he can’t win this game. This is a must win for Michigan. UCONN may finish the season with more wins than Michigan, but the fact is Michigan has more talent and should win this one. Michigan 30 UCONN 20.

Rich Rodriquez and Michigan have a must win game on Saturday.

3:30 ABC: UCLA at Kansas State

Two great head coaches in this matchup with UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel and Kansas State’s Bill Snyder. I expect a well played game here. I’ll take the UCLA in this one 27-24.

7:45 ESPN: #24 Oregon State vs. #6 TCU at Cowboys Stadium

This is the game College Gameday should be at, not LSU vs. North Carolina. Both these teams have legit shots to go to a BCS game this year. However, the chances TCU will go will fall to virtually 0% if they lose this game. I look for the TCU defense to keep the Rodgers brothers in check, and for TCU QB Andy Dalton to have a prolific day through the air. TCU 24 Oregon State 17.

I expect a big day from Andy Dalton and TCU against Oregon State on Saturday.

8:00 ABC: #21 LSU vs. #18 North Carolina at Georgia Dome

College Gameday is here for this game. I expect to see a low scoring, turnover high game, between two great defenses and two mediocre offenses. These teams are mirror images of each other. I’ll take the SEC team in this case. LSU 16 North Carolina 10.

11:00 Versus: #12 Wisconsin at UNLV

This will be an easy win for Wisconsin. Look for over 200 yards rushing by Wisconsin RB John Clay. Wisconsin 42 UNLV 10.



Sunday September 5th

3:30 ESPN: SMU at Texas Tech

This will be a fun barn burning shootout. Not the best matchup of teams this week, but this could very well be the best game of the week. I’ll take Texas Tech 44-38 over SMU.



Monday September 6th

4:00 ESPN: Navy vs. Maryland

Maryland will have no chance of stopping this option attack of Navy. This will be one of the most embarrassing moments for the ACC this season I hate to say. Navy 45 Maryland 17.

8:00 ESPN: #3 Boise State vs. #10 Virginia Tech at Fed Ex Field

The best game of the first week of college football belongs on Labor Day Night. And that’s what we get with Boise State vs. Virginia Tech in Washington D.C. I will be rooting hard for Virginia Tech for ACC pride. But I just don’t trust Virginia Tech in out of conference games. I think Tyrod Taylor will struggle throwing the ball at times, while Boise State QB Kellen Moore will have his biggest game for his Heisman campaign right here. Boise State 31 Virginia Tech 23.

Kofod

Classic Game of the Week August 31st

This week's classic game of the week is a game from last season. It was a Week 2 Sunday Night Matchup between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. It was the first game for the Cowboys in the new Cowboys Stadium aka Jerry World. The Giants won this crazy game 33-31. The Cowboys would have the last laugh, however, as they won the NFC East crown, while the Giants missed the playoffs.



Kofod

Music Video of the Week August 31st

I love this song right now. Quietly I am becoming a fan of every new song Flo Rida makes. If Flor Rida ever made a remix song with the FloRida State Warchant as the background sound that would be amazing. I suggest he does that haha. As for this week's Music Video of the Week here is his song Club Can't Handle Me ft. David Guetta.



Kofod

NFL Preview and Predictions

I made my college football preview picks a couple of weeks ago. So now here is my NFL preview picks.

AFC East

New England Patriots 13-3- This team is going to bounce back in style in 2010. Look for Brady to have his second best statistical season of his career (behind 2007 of course).


Miami Dolphins 9-7- The Dolphins will fight all year and be as tough a team to face as their can be in the league. Chad Henne is another year away from being really great.

New York Jets 7-9- I don't buy the hype. I love Hard Knocks, and Rex Ryan is a blast, but the Jets just have too many headcases. LT, Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and so on and so on. Mark Sanchez will also have struggles this year as well.

Buffalo Bills 3-13- I'm not buying this preseason success. Trent Edwards still sucks. C.J. Spiller will win them a couple of games but that's it. Look towards 2010 and Jake Locker, Andrew Luck, Ryan Mallett, or Christian Ponder.

C.J. Spiller will be one of the few bright spots for the Bills in 2010.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens 14-2- I think this will be the best team in football. I expect monster years from Ray Rice, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, and the whole gang. Baltimore will get it done on offense and defense all the way to a Super Bowl XLV victory.

Pittsburgh Steelers 10-6- I think the Steelers will survive the first four games without Big Ben. Mike Tomlin will work wonders with this team. Dennis Dixon and Bryon Leftwich will do what they can to help out the team prior to Big Ben's return. Pittsburgh's defense will improve greatly Troy Polamalu back. The Steelers will make the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals 6-10- I'm not buying T.O. and Chad Ochocinco saving the day. The Bengals were wearing down at the end of last season and I expect it to continue.

Cleveland Browns 4-12- It will be a long year for the Browns. But on the bright side they will beat the Bills again for a third straight season. So they got that going for them. Which is nice.

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts 12-4- Colts will be regular season stars again. And come the playoffs they will fall short once again.

Tennessee Titans 11-5- I think Chris Johnson will have another 2,000 yard season. Vince Young will make plays on the ground. The defense will play well again. The Titans will bounce back in the playoffs in 2010.

Chris Johnson will have another 2,000 yard season for the Titans.

Houston Texans 9-7- I think this is just a 9-7 type team as long as Gary Kubiak is the head coach. They have all the talent in the world, but I just don't trust him. Plus I'm not sure Matt Shaub is a good 4th quarter QB.

Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11- This is the fall out year. David Garrard will be awful. Jack Del Rio will wished he would have taken the USC job.

AFC West

San Diego Chargers 10-6- It will be a flacky season for the Chargers. Lots of bickering and fighting. Much like the 2008 Dallas Cowboys team. But because this division is so bad they will still make the playoffs as the division winner.

Denver Broncos 7-9- Kyle Orton will have another good statistical season. But in the end he's not good enough, he has no weapons, and the defense is not that good. Tim Tebow will have a couple of exciting red zone plays in the Wildcat for the Broncos.

Oakland Raiders 6-10- Jason Campbell is much better than JaMarcus Russell. But it's not going to get this team to .500. I just don't see it happening.

Kansas City Chiefs 5-11- Bill Simmons can bet all the money he wants on the Chiefs winning the AFC West in Vegas, but I'm not buying it. Don't like the chemistry of this team. I have a feeling Todd Haley will spend a lot more time at the Bemus Point Village Casino in the spring of 2011 than he would normally like to.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 11-5- The most talented team in the NFC East. They will be the champions of the NFC East. Expecting a monster season from Miles Austin.

New York Giants 10-6- I think the defense will be better than last year, even though I'm not a Perry Fewell fan. Eli will have a great season, and just do enough to get the Giants into the playoffs.

Philadelphia Eagles 7-9- Kevin Kolb will have struggles this season. I think the Eagles are a year or two away from being Super Bowl contenders again.

Washington Redskins 7-9- This will be a fun season for Redskins fans. Fans will enjoy the Donovan McNabb/Mike Shannahan duo much more than the Jim Zorn/Jason Campbell duo. And there will be some new story every week with Albert Haynesworth. Fun team to follow, but until the Redskins get more weapons to help McNabb this is not a playoff team.

Albert Haynesworth will keep the Redskins entertaining all season long.

NFC North
Vikings 13-3- I think Brett Favre will have one last great season. He will survive even without Sidney Rice, and potentially Percy Harvin. Minnesota will lose in Week 1 to New Orleans, but will win the rematch in the NFC Championship. The Vikings will come up short in the Super Bowl to Baltimore, in part because of a late interception thrown by Brett Favre.

Brett Favre will make it to his third Super Bowl this season.

Packers 10-6- Aaron Rodgers will have a great season. But I don't quite trust that defense and offensive line of Green Bay. They are a year away from a Super Bowl run.
Detroit Lions 6-10- Detroit will be vastly improved in 2010. Stafford will play well. Jahvid Best will have the best season a Lions running back has had since Barry Sanders. And Ndamakong Suh will help improve the Lions on defense. It will be a fun season for Lions fans.

Chicago Bears 4-12- I don't buy the Mike Martz hype. The offense will suck. Cutler will throws picks left and right. It will be a long season for the Chicago Bears.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints 13-3- I see another great season for the Saints. No Super Bowl hangover here. Drew Brees will win the MVP. However, the Saints will fall just short to the Vikings in this seasons' NFC Championship.

Atlanta Falcons 9-7- I just see another 9-7 season from this team. I don't trust Michael Turner. I don't see this being a Super Bowl contender team this year. I don't even see this team making the playoffs.

Carolina Panthers 7-9- Carolina will stay around .500 all year. The running game will be great again. Matt Moore will have moments of greatness. But in the end it just won't be enough.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-14- Josh Freeman will look awful. Raheem Morris will seem to not know what he is doing coaching (because I don't think he does). Morris will be fired, and the Buccaneers will stare at the top pick in the 2011 draft wondering if they should still stick with Josh Freeman.

NFC West

Seahawks 10-6- I don't think Pete Carroll will work out in the long run. But in the short run I think this division is so bad, and I expect one last great run from Matt Hasselbeck that Seattle will make it to the playoffs one more time.

49ers 8-8- Patrick Willis, Michael Crabtree, and Frank Gore are great. But I don't trust Alex Smith at all. So 8-8 is what I will give San Francisco.

Cardinals 7-9- Matt Leinart is stuggling, and Derek Anderson is not the answer. Look for a frustrating season for Larry Fitzgerald.

Rams 3-13- The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together with Sam Bradford now. However, the Rams will still need a few more pieces over the next few years.

AFC Playoff Seeds

1.) Ravens 14-2

2.) Patriots 13-3

3.) Colts 12-4

4.) Chargers 10-6

5.) Titans 11-5

6.) Steelers 10-6



NFC Playoff Seeds

1.) Saints 13-3

2.) Vikings 13-3

3.) Cowboys 11-5

4.) Seahawks 10-6

5.) Giants 10-6

6.) Packers 10-6



AFC Wildcard

Colts 24 Steelers 20

Titans 20 Chargers 17



NFC Wildcard

Cowboys 27 Packers 24

Giants 31 Seahawks 17



AFC Divisional

Ravens 23 Titans 13

Patriots 31 Colts 27



NFC Divisional

Saints 34 Giants 20

Vikings 24 Cowboys 21



AFC Championship

Ravens 24 Patriots 17

Vikings 30 Saints 24



Super Bowl XLV

Ravens 31 Vikings 20

Ray Lewis will celebrate another Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens this season.

All NFL First Team Offense

QB: Drew Brees Saints

RB: Chris Johnson Titans

FB: Le’Ron McClain Ravens

WR: Andre Johnson Texans

WR: Randy Moss Patriots

TE: Jason Witten Cowboys

T: Joe Thomas Browns

T: Jake Long Dolphins

G: Steve Hutchinson Vikings

G: Kris Dielman Chargers

C: Jeff Saturday Colts



All NFL First Team Defense

DE: Jared Allen Vikings

DE: Dwight Freeney Colts

DT: Haloti Ngata Ravens

DT: Darnell Dockett Cardinals

OLB: DeMarcus Ware Cowboys

ILB: Patrick Willis 49ers

ILB: Ray Lewis Ravens

CB: Darrelle Revis Jets

CB: Nnamdi Asomugha Raiders

S: Ed Reed Ravens

S: Troy Polamalu Steelers



All NFL Special Teams First Team

K: Garrett Hartley Saints

P: Brian Moorman Bills

KR: Josh Cribbs Browns

PR: DeSean Jackson Eagles



NFL MVP: QB Drew Brees Saints

NFL Head Coach of the Year: Mike Tomlin Steelers

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: RB Chris Johnson Titans

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: CD Darrelle Revis Jets

NFL Comeback Player of the Year: QB Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks


Kofod

Bobby Bowden Forced Out

Look I'm very excited for Florida State this year. I'll love Florida State forever. I'm looking foward to what Jimbo Fisher can do as a coach. But I hated how last year ended. Bobby Bowden should have gotten one final year to coach. This should have been his final season as coach. He should have gone out on a farewell tour to remember. He built Florida State out of nothing. I mean there is a statue outside the stadium of him. The field is named Bobby Bowden Field for goodness sakes! So this video below hurts. That 2009 season will always have hurt feelings for me. The Gator Bowl brought emotions I have never experienced watching a football game. I wanted Florida State to win, but I did not root the way I usually would. I did not go crazy. I just sat back and let the emotions go. When Bowden threw the flaming spear to the ground the tears started and would not stop. I cried before the game. I cried during the game. I cried after the game. It was saying goodbye. And no matter how it's done saying goodbye is never easy. I will never forget January 1, 2010 and that Gator Bowl. I know I will never experience watching a game like that ever again. It did bring some closure. But the force out forever tarnishes Florida State. Not Bobby Bowden, but Florida State. I only hope Penn State learns this lesson with Joe Paterno. So when I heard Bobby Bowden this week talk about his departure it reopened those December 2009, January 2010 wounds. It hurt. Watching the begining of this video hurts. But I think by typing all this, and getting it off my chest I can finally let go in a sense. Certainly never forget, but let go as much as I can. So good luck Jimbo Fisher. I hope 2010 is a dream season to remember for Florida State. Because 2009 was certainly not.


Kofod