College Football Week One Saturday Games You Might Want to Watch
By Dave Bevan
As far as the Ole Miss Rebels, our week one is over. Our team is looking to prepare themselves against Vanderbilt as they carry over a season opener victory to Nashville. But, as far as the majority of the country, their college football weekend is just kicking off.
If you’re like me, you love to watch college football, and that goes for any game. If the Rebels aren’t playing, I love to watch other schools’ games, especially in week one. For two reasons – 1.) I have been waiting for college football for so long, I need to reenergize myself due to offseason boredom. 2.) I want to see what other teams look like. I want to see if they’re as good as all the hype has built them up to be in the preseason.
A few things I want to see today…
- I want to see who is going to be Alabama’s starting quarterback.
- I want to see what Lane Kiffin will be bring to the table at Alabama.
- I want to see if another SEC team will be upset like South Carolina in week one. LSU has a tough game against Wisconsin. The Auburn and Arkansas game is a game that might or might not surprise you.
- I want to see if Mississippi State is built up to their hype. My gut says no.
- I want to see if Ohio State’s season is fucked without Braxton Miller.
Games To Watch
#2 Alabama vs West Virginia – 2:30 p.m. CT, ABC/ESPN2, Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Alabama will be picking up where we left off on Thursday. They’re the second part to the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Weekend in Atlanta. The Tide will take on West Virginia in the Georgia Dome in a primetime 2:30 p.m. slot. Alabama comes into the 2014 season after a disappointing loss to Oklahoma in last season’s Sugar Bowl. They’re already a heavy preseason favorite to make it to the 2014 College Football Playoff and no one knows who their starting quarterback will be. The Tide is also under first year offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin. Everyone knows this will be interesting.
Arkansas at #6 Auburn – 3:00 p.m. CT, SEC Network, Location: Auburn, AL
We have already seen a conference game go down in unexpected fashion this week, could we see that happen again? I am going to have to say no, but it would make things interesting. Bret Belema is in just his second year at Arkansas and I don’t see the Razorbacks making any improvements from last season. However, this is one of those games that if you see the score close at the bottom of your TV screen, you might want to tune in and check out an upset alert. The only advantage that I see the Razorbacks having is that Nick Marshall is not projected to start in the game.
#16 Clemson at #12 Georgia – 4:30 p.m. CT, ESPN, Location: Athens, GA
This game was exciting to watch last season, and I don’t expect it to be any different this season. Both teams are projected to give a run in their conferences this season. Georgia will be starting senior quarterback Hutson Mason, who will be making his first collegiate start against Clemson. With South Carolina losing their opener to Texas A&M on Thursday, the Bulldogs have a chance to take an early advantage in the SEC East. The game is a 4:30 p.m. CT slot game and will be aired on ESPN. If I see Alabama is blowing West Virginia away, I might switch over to see this game.
#1 Florida State vs Oklahoma State – 7:00 p.m. CT, ABC, Location: Dallas, TX
I don’t see Florida State getting upset this early in the season, but if there is a team known for pulling off upsets over the years it is Oklahoma State. I can see this game staying close through the first half, but the Seminoles should pull it away in the second half. But, who knows? If this game stays close to the end, it maybe a game to switch over and check out. I find that hard to believe with returning Heisman Trophy Winner Jameis Winston returning behind-center for the Seminoles.
#14 Wisconsin vs #13 LSU – 8:00 p.m. CT, ESPN, Location: Houston, TX
This game is expected to be like the Clemson-Georgia game. It could go down to the wire. Where LSU might be at a disadvantage is that they will not play freshman star wide receiver Malachi Dupre and star cornerback Rashad Robinson. The media reported that Robinson was suspended. Then LSU reported that was not the case. So, no one knows the real reason that Robinson is not going to Houston. It was reported Dupre will not be playing in the game due a leg injury in practice. LSU will also start a new quarterback this season. Like Saban at Alabama, Les Miles has pretty much kept it under wraps of who will be the starter against Wisconsin. We do know it is between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris. Nevertheless, a lot of concerns are surrounding LSU heading into tonight’s game. This is a team who had to win it late over TCU in the season opener last year.
Southern Miss at Mississippi State – 6:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network, Location: Starkville, MS
It would not hurt my feelings to see that Dak Prescott Heisman hype and the preseason (9-3) hype of Mississippi State to go down early. At some point in the season, it will come falling down for the Bulldogs, but a season opening loss to Southern Miss would just sting.