Must Watch Games

College Football is finally here! While most teams play low level DI teams and even some play DI-AA teams opening weekend, there are also some games that you MUST watch. I take a look at some of the key games coming up this weekend.

Friday

#14 TCU at Baylor: The Horned Frogs get back on the field after a 13-0 season last year an a Rose Bowl victory. Many say that they are ranked to high in the preseason but we'll see what Gary Patterson has done this offseason to make up for the loss of Andy Dalton and his top targets on offense. The TCU defense that gave up only 12 points a game last season will be tested early and often while trying to stop Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

Saturday

Duck's quarterback Darron Thomas is back

#3 Oregon vs #4 LSU: This is the best match up in the opening weekend and one of the best all season as two top 5 teams will face off. Oregon starts their campaign to get one step further and win the national title while LSU looks to shrug off their recent offseason troubles at Cowboys Stadium. This will also be a battle between elite defense and elite offense.

#5 Boise St vs #19 Georgia: This game sets up very well for Mark Richt and his Bulldogs because in all likelihood 90% of the Georgia Dome will be in Red and Black. The Broncos knocked off Virginia Tech in a hostile environment at Fedex Field last season and it looks like they can do it again. This will also be the measuring stick for quarterback Aaron Murray, who some say is the best in the SEC.

South Florida at #16 Notre Dame: Brian Kelly enters his second season at the helm of the Irish program as he looks to bring them back to a BCS Bowl for the first time since an embarrassing Sugar Bowl loss to LSU in 2007. B.J. Daniels leads an underrated and athletic Bulls team that could surprise many in this opener. Daniels will also test a Notre Dame defense that has been terrible the last few seasons. There are always high high hopes in South Bend come football season but this looks like it could be the year that those hopes pan out.

Cyrus Grey could be the best
running back in the Big 12

Akron at #18 Ohio St: This should be an easy win for the Buckeyes but it should be interesting to see how Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller preform. Also I'd like to see how Luke Fickell manages his team in his first game in command of The Ohio State football team.

Sunday

SMU at #8 Texas A&M: Could this be the beginning of the Aggies last season in the Big 12? Looks like it will. They start off vs the Mustangs, who are coming off of two straight bowl games, and look to keep the ball rolling with a win over a top 10 opponent. This should be the Aggies game from the beginning but don't be surprised if the Mustangs hang around during this instate rivalry.

Miami (FL) at Maryland: The Hurricanes will be playing their first game since the Nevin Shapiro scandal that will result in some huge coinsecquences and possible destroy the program. Look for Al Golden and the Hurricanes to try and prove themselves vs quarterback Danny O'Brien and the rest of the Terps in College Park.

Preseason Outlook: Pac 12

Utah and Colorado join the conference to help form the new Pac 12 conference. The Pac 12 has the two best players in College Football from last season and pre season Heisman favorites Andrew Luck and LaMichael James. The Pac 10 is now two teams bigger and has a championship game but will it be better? I take a look at key players in the conference and what you should expect from the Pac 12 in 2011.

North

1. Oregon: Head coach Chip Kelly says that the Ducks are better then they were last season and are poised to make another title run. Darren Thomas will lead the face paced offense once again with running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner at his sides. The only problem for the Ducks offense is the graduation of their two best receivers but they have many speedy athletes to fill in. Ducks defensive leader Casey Matthews graduates but first team all american PR/CB Cliff Harris will carry the 2011 defense. More on LaMichael James and the Ducks here: Oregon's LaMichael James

LaMichael James leads Oregon in the hunt
for another National Championship appearance

2. Stanford: Jim Harbaugh is gone and Andrew Luck is gone...wait. The consensus #1 overall draft pick stayed for another year and Cardinal fans are ecstatic. Andrew Luck comes into the 2011 season as the Heisman front runner, face of College Football, and likely #1 draft pick in 2012. Luck will be helped by 1,000 yard rusher Stepfan Taylor and his top targets  will be TE Coby Fleener and WR Chris Owusu, who missed half of the season with injury. Stanford's 3-4 defense should limit the bleeding while Luck and the offense take over. More on Luck and Stanford here: Andrew Luck

3. Washington: Jake Locker is gone but RB Chris Polk pops out from under his shadow and everyone realizes that the little guy can play. Polk almost got to 1500 rushing yards last season and will try and improve on that performance this year behind a veteran line. The quarterback situation will hold the Huskies back but overall they should still be able to keep it close with the likes of Oregon and Stanford.
4. Oregon St: QB Ryan Katz returns to lead one of the best passing attacks in the conference, if James Rodgers comes back and is performing well from his injury last season. James' brother Jacquizz left early for the draft so their is a wide open hole in the backfield but whoever it is will have a veteran line blocking for them. The front seven will be a very big problem for the Beavers with only two mediocre players returning.

5. California: Ever since Aaron Rodgers graduated back in 2004 the Bears have failed to  thrive and this could be another one of those season with an inexperienced QB. The Bears return a solid line and receiving core and they always have loads of talent and athleticism on the defensive side of the ball but I think this season will be another disappointing one.

6: Washington St:  The Positive is that they return 16 starters. Negative: The 16 starters came from a team that went 2-10 and 1-8 in the conference last season. The Cougars have won two conference game since 2007 seven, Two! Jeff Tuel will try and have the Cougars match that this season. Tuel is a very underrated quarterback and can make some great throws while also being able to scramble away from pressure. The Cougars have some rising stars on defense but as a whole it looks to be pretty weak. Washington St hopes to get out from under the losing cloud and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sophomore Robert Woods will be Matt Berkley's
top receiving target

South

*1. USC: This looks like it could be the year that Matt Barkley carries the Trojans back to a double digit win season. The Trojans have the most talent out of anyone in the Pac 12 and its Lane Kiffin's job to put them in the right places on the field. Berkley's top targets will be offensive rookie of the year Robert Woods and Kyle Prater while sophomore Dillion Baxter and senior Marc Tyler will be in the backfield. The Trojan defense is always one of the most athletic in the nation but the past few season the athletes have failed to produce. Look for the defense to step up once again this season and carry the Trojans to a 10-2 season.

2. Arizona St: The Sundevils not only have a new logo for the upcoming season but also have 20 returning starters, yes 20! The Sundevils are by far the most  depth in the conference for the upcoming season. Quarterback Brock Osweiler, who started the final two games, is the least experience player on an electrifying offense that returns all their key skill players and the entire line. MLB Vontaze Burfict isa freak of an athlete and will lead a veteran defense. Look for the Sun Devils face Oregon in the first Pac 12 Championship game.

3. Utah: Welcome to the Pac 12 , Utes' fans. No more easy conference games vs New Mexico, Colorado St, and Wyoming\ but they still have the easiest schedule in the conference, no Stanford or Oregon and they face Arizona St and Washington at home. Scrambler Jordan Wynn will lead the Utes' offense that should be very successful under their new offensive coordinator. Utah lacks a proven running back and will hamper the offense and their defense need some improvement in the secondary but they should challenge Arizona St for that Pac 12 championship appearance.

Nick Foles look to have another
3,000 yard season

4. Arizona: The Nick Foles to Juron Criner connection will be seen very often this upcoming season for Wildcat football fans. Foles passed for more than 3,000 yards last season but he may struggle more this upcoming season after Arizona lost all five starters on their line. The defense also took their own hit with after losing their very productive defensive ends, Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore. Arizona shocked many last season with a 7-1 start but fell back to normalcy after losing five straight. They'll look to start off strong with a week on game vs Northern Arizona.

5. UCLA: The Bruins come into the season with experience, 17 returning starters, and amazing young talent but once again go into the season with uncertainly at the quarterback position. There is support for who ever steps in at quarterback as he  will have some amazing athleticism at the WR receiver position and 1,000 yard rusher Johnathan Franklin in the backfield. Look for the defensive line, especially the ends, to cause havoc on the opposing quarterback all season long.

6. Colorado: Its very surprising that this program has fallen so far after winning the national championship twenty years ago. This season doesn't look like it will relieve any pain for Buffaloes fans, even with the switch to the Pac 12 and a new coach at the realm. This looks to be a tough year in Boulder with arguable the hardest schedule in the Pac 12. The Buffaloes face Ohio St, Stanford, Oregon, Washington, and the entire Pac 12 south. Running back Rodney Stewart had over 1,300 yards last season and will anchor a struggling Buffaloes offense while linebacker John Miller with be a leader on defense that lost first round draft pick CB Jimmy Smith.

Andrew Luck comes in as the Heisman favorite
and my favorite for Pac 12 POY

*USC is banned from participating in a Bowl game and the Pac 12 championship game.


Big 12 Championship Game: Oregon over Arizona St


Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Defensive Player of the Year: Vontaze Burfict, LB. Arizona St

Coach of the Year: Dennis Erickson, Arizona St

Freshman of the Year: James Vaughters, DE/LB, Stanford

More Previews:

ACC

Big 12

Big East

Big Ten

SEC

Non AQ

Heisman Watch: LaMichael James

The small but  shifty Oregon running back has had trouble off the field but when he puts on those Nike cleats and steps on the turf the little guy is a great one. The star running back for an Oregon team that scored almost 50 points a game last year is going to be a player that the whole nation will be watching in this upcoming season.

James finished third in the Heisman voting last year but is still coming off of a bittersweet season after a devastating loss to Cam Newton and Auburn in the National Title game. James was one of the stars on an undefeated Oregon Ducks team that lit up the scoreboard . They ran and ran till teams started to fake injuries to stop the play and get some air.

James missed the first game of the season because of some off the field problems and when his backup ran for over 200 yards and five touchdowns in a 72-0 win some thought that James may not be the starting when he came back. He proved all of those doubters wrong in the next game when he scampered 72 yards while breaking tackles left and right for a touchdown in one of the best college football plays of the season. He backed that run up with another 10 unbelievable games and ended the season with a rushing total of over 1700 yards and got into the end zone 24 times.

James will return to the Oregon backfield this season focusing on one goal: A National Title. The 5'9 running back will be joined in the backfield once again with dual threat quarterback Darren Thomas and fellow running back Kenjon Barner while Chip Kelly will once again conduct a fast paced offense. These three will try and carry the Ducks to another National Title game run, and this time resulting in a Championship trophy that they can bring back to Eugene, Oregon for the Duck faithful.

Its hard to improve on the outstanding numbers that LaMichael James put up last season, but James stayed out of trouble this off season so he will get one more game in...could be a 200 yarder. This kid can run with the combination of speed, agility and strength. This skill set put him at the top of the College Football world and these skills will keep him up their for this season and hopefully the next season as well. You better not let him get a step on you or next time you'll see him he'll be in the end zone.

Andrew Luck Article

LaMichael James Highlights

Top 5 Bowl Games

5. Rose Bowl                           TCU 21 Wisconsin 19

With the win TCU proved that they were a force to be reckoned with and proved that a playoff system is a necessary to insure that the best team wins the National Title. TCU also proved that their offense was good and their defense was even better. They held one of the best offenses in the nation to a measly 19 points. Andy Dalton aired it out for the Horn Frogs with 219 yards and a touchdown. TCU finished the season ranked 2nd in the polls and 13-0 while Wisconsin dropped to 7th.

4. Sugar Bowl                           Ohio St 31 Arkansas 26

Ryan Mallett led the Razorback from 28-7 deficit to a game that they could have easily been won by. Arkansas blocked a Ohio St punt and took over inside the Buckeyes 30 but failed to protect Ryan Mallet so he was sacked then pressured again and threw a forced throw and it was picked off. The five Ohio St suspended players in 2011 were huge in the win. Terrelle Pryor won MVP honors with 336 total yards (221 and 115) and two passing touchdowns, Devier Posey had 70 receiving yards and a touchdown, "Boom" Herron had 87 rushing yards and a touchdown, Solomon Thomas has the game clinching interception and Mike Adams anchored the O-line. Without those five players the Razorbacks would win in a landslide. Ohio St finished the year ranked 5th while Arkansas fell to 12th.

3. New Era Pinestripe Bowl            Syracuse 36 Kansas St 34

This game was a back and fourth battle between Syracuse and Kansas St which had 7 lead changes and was tied three times in the game. It ended when Kansas St scored a touchdown with a minute to go. They needed to go for two to tie up the game but got a celebration penalty, which was a bad call, and failed on the 20 yard two point conversion. Delone Carter led the the Orange with a career high 198 rushing yards and two scores and Ryan Nassib had 239 and three passing yards in the win. Syracuse finished with a a 8-5 compared to Kansas St's 7-6 record.

2. Music City Bowl                    North Carolina 30 Tennessee 27 2OT

The thriller between North Carolina and Tennessee was one that you won't forget for a while. It had overtimes, a questionable call, good offense and good defense. North Carolina ran out of time and the coaches were shaking hands but the officials reviewed it and figured out that their was a second left so North Carolina kicked a field goal as time expired to sent it into overtime. North Carolina eventually got the win in double OT thanks to a interception and a field goal but not without criticism. Shaun Draughn had 160 rushing yards and a touchdown and T.J. Yates had 234 passing yards and a touchdown in the win. North Carolina picked of three passes. North Carolina finished with a 8-5 record while Tennessee was below. 500 again this season with a 6-7 record.

1. National Title Game                               Auburn 22 Oregon 19

This wasn't the high scoring game that we expected it to be but instead two good defenses and a bad field that were playing in this one. The Auburn run defense was amazing while Oregon shutdown Heisman winner Cam Newton. Auburn won their second national title with a game ending 19 yard field goal and a 22-19 win. the game didn't have any points in the first quarter but the fourth quarter was a great one with fake plays, LaMichael James scoring with 2 minutes left the Auburn rolling down the field for the game winner. Michael Dyer was the star for the Tigers with 143 rushing yards and a huge run in the 4th quarter. Oregon was hoping that the highlighter green socks would blind the offense but they couldn't help out much on the final drive. Oregon will look to get their first National Title next season with several key players returning.