One Moore Chance for Boise State
#5 Boise State begins their 2011 campaign with another trip east for a high profile season opener. This year the Broncos travel to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to tangle with the #19 Georgia Bulldogs. A year ago Boise State embarked on what they hoped would be a championship season in Landover, Maryland against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Broncos got the high profile victory they had been looking for, but their championship hopes fizzled on Thanksgiving weekend at Nevada in overtime.
In an attempt to help their standing a bit nationally Boise State has jumped from the WAC into the Mountain West Conference this season. Their strength of schedule should be helped since fellow upstart TCU remains in the league for this season before heading to the Big East in 2012. If they can get by Georgia, the Broncos would be in good shape once again to make a run for an undefeated season. They get a rematch with last year's spoiler, and former WAC rival, Nevada at home, and also get Air Force and TCU on the blue turf in Boise. Those three appear to be their toughest hurdles following Saturday night.
The Broncos return quarterback Kellen Moore for his senior season (cue Mark Richt shaking his head). Moore has had an outstanding career in Boise and hopes to cap it off with another BCS berth. He loses his top 2 targets from 2010 in Austin Pettis and Titus Young, but does return 2010 All-WAC running back Doug Martin. With Martin and three returning offensive linemen some of the pressure should be removed from Moore's shoulders as he tries to work in a new group of receivers. Mitch Burroughs and Tyler Shoemaker (38 combined receptions in 2010) will look to step up and freshman Matt Miller will join them in the starting lineup. The defense returns 7 starters to a unit that has become a strength over the last couple of seasons.
The Bronco defense will be charged with stopping Aaron Murray and company. Murray, a sophomore, will have a lot of pressure on him in 2011. The season is critical for Mark Richt as he resides in the SEC's hot seat this season. The Dawgs are coming off of a 6-7 2010 campaign. They have an opportunity to make a big statement in the first two weeks of the season and remove some of the pressure off of their head coach. After their trip to The Dome tomorrow, Georgia returns home next Saturday to host #12 South Carolina.
The Bulldogs will need to answer a lot of questions to make that statement though. Their running game is in flux right now. Their top two rushers from 2010 are gone and junior Carlton Thompson has been suspended for the opener. Projected starter Richard Samuel IV (not to be confused with the future Uga IX) has been battling a quad injury and freshman Isaiah Crowell could be thrust into the spotlight immediately. Crowell has the Georgia faithful extremely excited as he was the number one rated high school running back last year. Receiver Tavarres King and tight end Orson Charles (preseason All-SEC along with Murray) return to aid the passing attack. The defense returns eight starters and field position should be constantly in their favor as they return Drew Butler at punter and Blair Walsh at kicker, both of whom could be All-Americans this season.
Prediction: Boise State (+3) over Georgia
Controversy Bowl I
#4 LSU and #3 Oregon will play in the other prime time matchup Saturday night in Texas at Cowboy Stadium. I have dubbed this game Controversy Bowl I, which will be followed by Controversy Bowl II in two weeks in Miami (Miami-Ohio State), because both of these teams have made headlines for the wrong reasons this offseason.
Both teams were implicated in the Willie Lyles recruiting saga and they have both made recent headlines for run-ins with the law. Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris will not play in the game due to a suspension stemming from a June traffic stop. He was pulled over by police for driving 118 MPH and was questioned about marijuana. Quarterback Darron Thomas was a passenger in the car but was determined to have done nothing wrong and will play against the Tigers. Thomas hopes the Tiger defense doesn't find him as easily as weed does, as he was also in the car with former quarterback Jeremiah Masoli when he was pulled over with marijuana.
LSU's quarterback was not as fortunate in his dealings with law enforcement. Jordan Jefferson is out against Oregon and suspended indefinitely after his role in a Baton Rouge bar brawl. Jefferson and teammate Josh Johns were arrested for their role in the fight. Details have been sketchy, but Jefferson has been rumored to have kicked a man on the ground in the head during the fracas. His apartment was searched and he and Johns turned themselves in to police soon after.
Stepping in to fill the void left by Jefferson will be former starter Jarrett Lee. Lee struggled mightily as a freshman, including having 7 interceptions returned for touchdowns. He has only started once since that season but came on in relief several times last season. He showed some promise in those appearances, including throwing the winning touchdown pass in The Swamp against Florida. The Tigers now need him to step up and play a complete game.
The LSU defense will also face a tough task in stopping Thomas and running back LaMichael James. James ran for over 1,700 yards last season and scored 21 touchdowns. He was stymied by an SEC defense in the national championship game though. Auburn held James to 49 yards on 13 carries in that game. Auburn's defensive line, led by Nick Fairley, dominated that game up front and LSU hopes to do the same thing. LSU is fairly young inside on the defensive line this season and they will have to step up quickly to slow down Oregon's high speed attack.
Prediction: LSU (-3) over Oregon
True Dedication
I have to give a quick tip of the cap to The Ohio State Buckeyes. Controversy Bowl II was already shaping up to be one for the ages, but that wasn't enough for Ohio State. The university has suspended three players, running back Jordan Hall and defensive backs Corey Brown and Travis Howard, for their opener against Akron for receiving impermissible benefits at a charity function. Ohio State is still waiting for a ruling from the NCAA COI investigation stemming from the Terrelle Pryor, Jim Tressel, tattoo parlor mess, and it remains to be seen if these infractions could have any effect on that. With two weeks before their matchup with the Hurricanes in Miami it will be interesting to see if The U finds a way to step up and add a little more spice to the matchup (paging Yahoo Sports...).
Weekly Quick Picks (Home team in CAPS)
Northwestern (+10) over BOSTON COLLEGE
Texas Christian (-10) over BAYLOR
OLE MISS (+1) over Brigham Young
NOTRE DAME (-7) over South Florida
Minnesota (+16.5) over SOUTHERN CAL
CAL (-4.5) over Fresno St.
Colorado (+11) over HAWAII
Ucla (+3) over HOUSTON
Record for 2011: 0-0
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