Games to Watch: Week 1

It's time for everyone's favorite post of August, because it means that it's time to start watching football!

The TV landscape has changed, with the launch of the SEC Network.  I think this will benefit more than just the SEC, because now that there is another outlet for SEC games, that opens up those timeslots on the other ESPN channels.  CBS still gets first pick of SEC games, but it's no longer exclusive in the timeslot.

Wednesday, August 27
7 PM
Abilene Christian at Georgia State, ESPNU.  Honestly, I know nothing about these teams, and I don't really care.  But after eight months of no college football, I feel obligated to alert you to the first televised game of the season.

Thursday, August 28
6 PM
Texas A&M at South Carolina, SEC Network.  Look at this, a marquee matchup in week one!  Well, it's a ploy to get the cable companies to pick up the new network, and also to get people to watch it, proving that they're not just dumping the bottom of the barrel games that CBS and ESPN didn't want.  It also gets the nod as the official start of the season, since no one is going to care about that Georgia State game.

8 PM
Boise State vs. Ole Miss, ESPN.  It's another year of a Chick-Fil-A Kickoff doubleheader, although this year, it's on Thursday and Saturday.  This is the chance to see exactly what kind of team Boise State is now in the post-Chris Petersen era.  I see potential for some sort of surprise.

Friday, August 29
There's a few games on this night, but nothing that really stands out.  Just interesting enough for me to flip around the main sports channels to see what might turn out to be interesting.

Saturday, August 30
8:30 AM
Penn State vs. UCF, ESPN2.  Who cares about the teams?  It's in Ireland, and it's being played in the morning.  This means, with some Pac-12 games kicking off at 10:30 PM, that we can get 17 solid hours of college football.  And this one should be finishing just in time to switch over to Gameday to see the headgear pick.

Noon
UCLA at UVA, ESPN.  This is going to be a butt kicking.  If you thought the Sun Bowl beatdown of VT was bad, then this one is going to be worse for Tech's in-state rivals.  UVA is a total mess, and is the only team in the ACC Coastal who is not picked to at least be in contention for the division title.  Although, I'll probably be hoping for an upset because 1.) #goACC, and 2.) anything for the Zima drinkers to get to enough wins to keep Mike London's job.  It's working out so well for us down in Blacksburg.

Appalachian State at Michigan, ESPN2.  2007, that is all.

Ohio State at Navy, CBS Sports Network.  This will be interesting to see exactly what kind of teams we're getting from these two programs this year, even moreso with the Braxton Miller injury.  And is Navy going to be a contender, or even competitive?

3:30 PM
West Virginia vs. Alabama, ABC/ESPN2.  I'm wondering about the prestige of the Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game.  First, it lost out on it's primetime ABC slot.  Then, it slipped out of prime time, kicking off at 5:30 last year.  This year, it's just another mid-afternoon game, and it's being subjected to the reverse mirror.  Still, should be an interesting game as both teams are trying to pick themselves up.

4 PM
William and Mary at Virginia Tech, ESPNews.  If I wasn't a Tech fan, this wouldn't even register.  Still, it's nice to see the new AD in charge.  A year ago, this would have been a 1:30 ESPN3 deal.  Instead, it was originally scheduled for 3:30 (on ESPN3), but bumped to 4 when ESPN decided to move it to television.

Arkansas at Auburn, SEC Network.  How will the SEC champ rebound from losing the national championship?

5:30 PM
Clemson at Georgia, ESPN.  This was arguably the biggest non-neutral site week one game last year, and it was highly entertaining.  This year, Clemson is a bit more of an unknown quantity as Tajh Boyd has moved on from the QB position.

8 PM
Florida State vs. Oklahoma State, ABC.  It's the kickoff at Jerryworld, featuring last year's champions.

9 PM
Wisconsin vs. LSU, ESPN.  It's a new kickoff game in Houston.  Two teams that should be contenders in their respective conferences, but with several question marks across their roster.

Sunday, August 31
Just a couple of games to fill in the gap between the NFL preseason and regular season.

Monday, September 1
8 PM
Miami at Louisville, ESPN.  What a way to welcome a new member to the conference but giving them the Labor Day Monday night game?  And against a team they helped replace in the Big East, no less.