What a great night it was last night as college football finally kicked into high gear.  I have to be honest the first game was a definite snoozer, but at least the 2nd game between Stanford and Oregon State made it all worth it.  OSU wasn't able to mount the comeback I had hoped, which obviously cost me since I had picked them to cover, but late comebacks with fumbles through the back of the endzone as a guy tries to stretch to tie the game with under a minute to go is what college football is all about.  On to this weekend's matchups...

For whatever reason, I don't feel Va. Tech gets much love early on in the season.  Since 2000, they are 7-2 ATS in openers, and one of those games was a 50 point spread, so I can't really fault them for only winning by 42 points.  This year they are returning a decent number of starters on offense, including their two QB tandem of Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor.  As always, one is more of a pure passer, and the other more of duel threat.  The Hokies, despite returning 6 starters on Offense, will be lacking in the skills positions, so expect some early dropped balls or wrong routes, but I think they will come around.

East Carolina played very well last year, earning a trip to the Hawaii bowl where they took down Boise State.  Their defense is returning 9 starters, and they also have two potential QBs.  However, at the end of the day, I don't think the talent level will be there, and the Hokies will cover.

Boston College -10 at Kent +10

This game seems like a misprint to me.  You have the Eagles who finished  11-3 last year going against a team that was only 3-9 that same year, yet the spread is only 10.  BC has lost their most prized possession in Matt Ryan, which means they will be pounding the living daylights out of the ball.  Call it good ole' smashmouth football.  On the opposite end you have BC returning 3 Defensive lineman, which will spell definite troubles for the Pirates all night long.  Whoever controls the line wins the game...and that honor will go to BC in a blowout.

Finally, I am going to have to agree with Mr. Lewass in this one and go with the Tigers.  I saw Alabama play last year, and despite some random patches of success, they weren't that great of a football team.  Clemson has been on the rise recently, and are currently representing the ACC as the perennial favorite of the league.  With Davis and Spiller in the backfield, it will be tough for 'Bama to stop.  

Bama will be returning its starting QB from last year, so that will help relieve some of the pressure from WRs, but to be honest, Clemson is probably going to be too fast in this one overall.  Look for the Tigers to cover.