Around the nation in college football
Game of the weekTennessee at UCLA
It’s Missouri-Illinois, but there are plenty more intriguing matchups this weekend. On Monday, Tennessee visits UCLA, giving the Bruins an opportunity to capture the Los Angeles sports spotlight for an evening. It’s the UCLA debut of alum Rick Neuheisel, and as part of his introduction, the school bought an ad in the Los Angeles Times that exclaims: “The Football Monopoly in Los Angeles is Officially OVER.” Beneath that statement is a picture of Neuheisel, pointing straight ahead and ostensibly talking to Southern California coach Pete Carroll: “Yeah, I’m talking to you, surfer boy.”
Upset special
Utah over Michigan
We’re going along with the pack here. The Wolverines are 3-point favorites, but we all know what happened in this spot last year. Utah in 2008 is better than Appalachian State in 2007, and this Michigan team is going through a transition phase under new coach Rich Rodriguez. The problem with backing the Utes strongly is they haven’t been good in openers against major BCS schools under coach Kyle Whittingham, beating Arizona in 2005 and getting thumped at UCLA and Oregon State the last two seasons. Other upset special possibilities: East Carolina over Virginia Tech in Charlotte and Florida Atlantic keeping it close at Texas.
Also worth watching
Alabama vs. Clemson in Atlanta
The time to win for both programs is now. Clemson is running out of patience with Tommy Bowden, who is in his 10th season and has yet to deliver an ACC title. This is Nick Saban’s second year, and he used up much equity losing to Louisiana-Monroe and extending the program’s losing streak to Auburn to six.
Michigan State at California
Competing vibes. The Spartans are flush with confidence heading into Mark Dantonio’s second season, while the Bears collapsed horribly last season and have bounced last year’s starting quarterback, Nate Longshore, in favor of Kevin Riley.
Appalachian State at LSU
Not. Going. To. Happen. But the Mountaineers, three-time defending champion of what once was known (and should continue to be known) as Division I-AA, run the spread like West Virginia with quarterback Armanti Edwards. The Apps will have the advantage at that position, as LSU is starting former Harvard JV quarterback Andrew Hatch. But that’s about it.
Hawaii at Florida
The team that played in a BCS bowl is a five-touchdown underdog to the team that didn’t.
On the horizon
Georgia Tech at Boston College (Sept. 6). Winner could be Clemson’s top challenger.
South Florida at Central Florida (Sept. 6). Neither has been a Division I-A program for long, and now it’s the best game in the Sunshine State not involving the Gators.
Northwestern at Duke (Sept. 6). Wildcats vow to avenge the Blue Devils’ only victory last season.
