A guest post by Donk…
Thunder Treats college football analyst and guest poster, Donk, has provided us with a Top 10 must watch games for the first week of college football. Donk thought it necessary because he figured most dudes would be so excited to watch any football, that they might miss out on some of the most intriguing games. Thanks Donk, awesome job and you can expect to see a Top 10 each week here at Thunder Treats so make sure to check back!
1.
(5)ALABAMA VS. (7)VIRGINIA TECH
Can you say DEFENSE. Alabama and VaTech return a combined 15 starters on defense. Two of the toughest defenses from a year ago will square off against two quarterbacks that have a lot to prove. With the loss of Darren Evans on offseason, Tyrod Taylor will have added pressure putting point on the boards against Alabama, in the heart of SEC country.
Sept. 5th – 8:00 p.m. EST *Game played in Atlanta, GA
2.
(13)GEORGIA @ (9)OKLAHOMA STATE
A high powered, lights out defense to collide with a high powered star studded Oklahoma State offense. Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson, Dez Bryant, and Kendall Hunter are all back trying to dethrone Oklahoma and Texas as the class of the Big 12 South. Georgia has big shoes to fill from last year with the losses of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to the NFL. If the Cowboys find themselves behind at any point during the game, I expect Coach Mike Gundy to come through with a heated speech. Remember, he is a man, and he is 40. Well I guess he’s 42 now, but that still works.
Sept. 5th – 3:30 p.m. EST
3.
(16)OREGON @ (14)BOISE STATE
This will be a battle between the team with 4 million possible jersey combinations and the team that plays in blue jerseys camouflaged by the blue turf of Bronco Stadium. The Ducks’ have lots of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but with 4 new starters on the offensive line Oregon will win or lose the game in the trenches. Boise State coming off a 12 win season, will not surprise anyone this year, but the Broncos will be prepared to make a run for yet another BCS Bowl birth.
Sept. 3rd – 10:15 p.m. EST
4.
MISSOURI VS. ILLINOIS
This may be the Big 10’s best shot at winning a non conference game against a team from a Big conference. Starting in his 4th year at Illinois, Juice Williams will have one of college football’s most talented targets at his disposal, in Arrelious Benn. Mizzou lost all it’s star power with the losses of Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, and Jeremy Maclin. Mizzou will have it’s hands full when Illinois makes the trip down to Missouri, somehome as the home team.
Sept. 5th – 3:40 p.m. EST *Game played in St. Louis, MO
5.
(20)B.Y.U @ (3)OKLAHOMA
Unless the Cougars can pull off the Hitch and Ladder and the Statue of Liberty play, Oklahoma may put this game out of reach quickly. As long as the Sooners can keep the BYU Sack Machine that is Jan Jorgensen away from Sam Bradford, the Sooners will have too many weapons for the Cougars to handle. Max Hall, who threw for 3957 yards and 35 TD’s last season will keep the OU defensive backs on their heels.
Sept. 5th – 7:00 p.m. EST
6.
CINCINATTI @ RUTGERS
The Big East Conference is up for grabs by several teams. Cincinnati, Rutgers, West Virginia, South Florida and Pittsburgh are all capable of taking the conference title and booking their tickets to the Orange Bowl. But which will it be. After stumbling out of the gates last season the Scarlet Knights ended the regular season with 7 straight wins. For Cincinnati, getting the ball in the hands of playmaker Mardy Gillyard will be crucial.
Sept. 7th – 4:00 p.m. EST
7.
MIAMI @ (18)FLORIDA STATE
Most schools use their non-conference schedule to add cupcake games against FCS teams or directional universities. Most teams won’t schedule their arch-rival in Week One, but that’s exactly what the Hurricanes and Seminoles have done. The two teams that dominated college football for much of the 90’s have fallen significantly over the past few years. Both teams are on the rebound, Miami coming off a 7-6 season including a bowl loss to Cal, and Florida State coming off a 9-4 season including a Citrus Bowl trouncing of Wisconsin.
Sept. 7th – 8:00 p.m. EST
8.
NEVADA @ (23)NOTRE DAME
Coming off a 8-6 season, and the program’s first bowl win in 15 years, Notre Dame is looking to get back to a BCS Bowl. Look for Jimmy Clausen to improve from his sophomore season, now that he has an offensive line to stand behind. Nevada who boasts on the best kept secrets in college football this year, Colin Kapernick, will not be a push over. Nevada returns 2651Rushing yards (Vai Tuau 1521 yards & Kaepernick 1130 yards) as well as 2849 Passing yards (Kaepernick). The expectations are high for Notre Dame this year (especially in Lou Holtz’s and Beano Cook’s senile eyes) but they better not be overlooking the Wolf pack.
Sept. 5th – 3:30 p.m. EST
9.
BAYLOR @ WAKE FOREST
The Bears are coming off a 4-8 season. Robert Griffin’s accumulated 2091 yards in the air and 843 on the ground in his freshman season. Griffin is an explosive dual threat quaterback that will continue to give sluggish Big 12 defenses nightmares. The Deamon Deacons future will rest squarely on the shoulders of Riley Skinner. Skinner is the winniest quarterback in school history as well as the ACC’s career completion percentage leader.
Sept. 5th – 3:30 p.m. EST
10.
(11)L.S.U. @ WASHINGTON
Coming off an 0-12 season, the Huskies can only improve from last season. With Locker healthy, Washington will at least be interesting to watch while on offense, escpecially with Steve Sarkesian calling the shots. LSU will once again will rely on their fast, shut down D. With some improved QB work from a year ago, LSU should have this one out of reach in a hurry.
Sept. 5th – 10:30 p.m. EST
Just Missed the Cut – (12)Cal @ Maryland, Navy @ (6)Ohio State, South Carolina @ NC State, Minnesota @ Syracuse, Florida Atlantic @ Nebra
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* AP Rankings as of 9/1/2009
