Alrighty, here's my two-cents, for now:
NFL - Next week we'll see the Ravens open up with Kansas City; here's hoping the Ravens put together a Super Bowl run this year; I can't stand the Steelers (and their fans) anymore than I could stand Patriots (and their fans) last year. Let's hear it for shutting the defending champs up!
Also, I'm amazed; the Redskins might just make themselves contenders this year because of their good defense; it'll need to be good, though, to pick up all the slack their offense will likely leave them.
I'm calling the Vikings and Dolphins to put together good seasons this year as well.
NCAA - So the best game of week one is coming up: the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Those Turkey Dudes aka the Hokies. Let's break this matchup down, shall we?
On the one hand, VT has (on paper) an experienced O-Line. However, it is an ACC line, which means that relatively speaking, its decent. On the other... Well, there's Terrance Cody. Cody is a monster on the D-line, and should be mauling VT's line all night. Not gonna be much hope running the ball inside. Then there's Alabama's superb secondary, led by Javier Arenas, who played excellently last year, and is likely to repeat his great performances.
This totals up to a VT offense being shut-down and mauled by the Tide.
Now for offense.
The Tide arguably is the best team still playing power football. Other teams have had success with passing, spread, flexbone, whatever. But nothing trumps a well-played power-i, with a good line (with three reliable, if a little raw, incoming linemen. SEC linemen, by the way) allowing the running game to simply shove the ball down VT's throat. Then over the air, there's Julio Jones, who helps head up Alabama's useful, if secondary-in-nature, passing-game. Alabama's QB, like parts of his line, is a little untested, but looks to be a talented individual. Result?
Tide's offense should be able to gain some good yards on the ground, and might pick up some decent yardage and scores in the air. However, look for the Crimson D to pick up some of the slack here.
I'm calling a Crimson Tide victory by two scores. Probably a TD and a FG, maybe more.
Oh, how about that Boise State game? And Navy, holding their own in their against a much-higher ranked Ohio State?
How about National Championship prospects? I'm saying it'll likely be an SEC team, either Florida (with their amazing offense), Alabama (with their dominating defense), or, possibly, Ole Miss, who surprised people last year with their bowl victory over Texas Tech. If a non-SEC team wins it, it'll likely be Texas, who look about as strong as average (which is quite strong). As usual, I'm fairly USC has been overrated. We'll see.
! Man I love college football.
