Blaine Train's College Football Preview

By Blaine Fentress
Senior Writer for lancewilkerson.com

Blaine's opinions are his only, and not necessarily Lance's.

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Anyway, I AM HAPPY.  Already have covered two weeks of high school football with a couple of great performance (Mt. Vernon, Hancock Co...I am looking at you.).  The only problem is that when I wake up on Saturday...there was NO COLLEGE OR NFL ON.  That is a bit of a bummer.  With the Astros pretty much done for the year, I have turned my personal interest from Baseball back to Football...the new king sport in America.
 
So, each week, I will be doing what I call, "The College Express"  which will preview your week ahead in college football.  Simple enough.  And, everything is in a "Top 5" format, so debate away.  I welcome it.
 
So, lets start with:
 
TOP 5 NEW COACHES
 
1.  Brian Kelly, N.D. --  Taking over from Charlie Weis will not be an easy task.  After leading the Cincinnati Bearcats to a Big East title last season, Kelly takes over a Notre Dame program that had mediocre success during Weis's run.  They will be leaving a pro-style offense for something more up beat, up tempo pace.  Wonder how much success he will find with Charlie's Boys this season?
 
2.  Lane Kiffin, USC --  Pete Carroll might be the smartest man alive.  Soon after high-tailing it up to Seattle and the NFL, he avoided having to coach this program through NCAA hell.  Kiffin, former Carroll assistant, was more than happy to bail on Tennessee football after just one season to take over the Trojans.  But, what a task ahead of him, less scholarships and no chance at winning a National Title for two seasons.  It won't be easy.
 
3.  Jimbo Fisher, Florida St. --  Bobby Bowden is gone.  After winning over 300 games, 12 ACC Titles, and two National Championships, Bowden is out the door and in walks his forever "coach-in-waiting" Jimbo.  Tough way to start the season though, after a cake against Samford...they travel to Oklahoma and have a home date against tough BYU.  Oh, Jimbo.
 
4.  Derek Dooley, Tennessee -- After the Kiffin Headache and Heartache, in walks one of the most famous last name's in SEC football history, Dooley.  Son of Vince Dooley, Georgia's famous coach for 25 years, Derek inherits a team that has an all-new offensive line, a defense that lost their top three players, and another quarterback with a famous last name.  Let's hope that Matt Simms will turn out better than Ainge.
 
5.  Tommy Tuberville, Texas Tech -- Replacing the man, Mike Leach, that put this program on the map will be hard.  Tuberville isn't a passing whiz like Leach is, so will the offense will change.  But, how much will be the question?  And, they will need to get things going pretty quick, Texas will be in Lubbock in the third week of the season.
 
 
TOP 5 HEISMAN CANDIDATES
 
1.  Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama --- Defending champion + great line in front of him = Front-runner to repeat
2.  Terrelle Pryor, QB, Ohio State --- The dual-threat quarterback can beat you with his arms and his legs.
3.  Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State --- One of the only reasons the Broncos have a chance for a National Championship
4.  Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh ---  Better running back than Ingram who could reach 2,000 yards this season
5.  Jared Crick, DT, Nebraska ---  Picks up where Suh left off and could be #1 overall draft pick next season.
 
 
TOP 5 BEST COLLEGE FIGHT SONGS (since I am a bit of a music geek.)
 
1.  NOTRE DAME
2.  TENNESSEE
3.  USC
4.  MICHIGAN
5.  WESTERN KENTUCKY (only because I performed that one so many times in my one year of marching for WKU.)
 
 
TOP 5 COACHES THAT MIGHT GET FIRED IF THEY DON'T HAVE A GOOD SEASON
 
1.  Rich Rodriguez, Michigan -- Use to be a powerhouse in the College Football world.  Now, they might be lucky to finish in the Top 5...in the Big Ten.
2.  Rich Rodriguez, Michigan -- Don't even know if they will have a chance against Ohio St.
3.  Rich Rodriguez, Michigan -- How bad is it when Michigan looks at winning 6 games as an improvement.
4.  Rich Rodriguez, Michigan -- Wonder if West Virginia will let him come back if this is the end.
5.  Rich Rodriguez, Michigan -- I am not hating on him...well maybe a bit.  Michigan was an awesome powerhouse every year...was.
 
 
AND NOW, THE MAIN EVENT....
 
TOP 5 GAMES OF WEEK 1  ..
 
But, before that, here are other games of consideration:
 
San Jose St. @ Alabama -- Defending champs open with a really easy cakewalk.  Bet the starters don't play all four quarters
USC @ Hawaii -- So, to start the first of two postseason ban seasons, USC has to fly out to Hawaii, could be an upset here.
Arizona @ Toledo -- Kind of weird to see a Pac-10 team traveling to a MAC school...
Minnesota @ Mid. Tenn. St. -- No, this is weirder to see a Big Ten school travel to a SUN BELT school.  (IU @ WKU next week)
UConn @ Michigan -- Seriously, how will Wolverine fans feel if Michigan were to lose the home opener...and they just might.
Kentucky @ Louisville -- Two new coaches take over these two programs.  I think both teams will improve within the next few years.
Washington @ BYU -- Jake Locker and the Huskies look to end their postseason drought this year.  Tough road game to start.
Illinois vs. Missouri -- This rivalry game is always a fun one to watch, both teams looking for a better season.
SMU @ Texas Tech -- June Jones and the Mustangs continue to get better; tough home opener for Tuberville and Red Raiders.
 
 
5.  Pittsburgh @ Utah --  The Panthers, led by their sophomore running sensation, Dion Lewis, heads out west to start the season against the Utes.  They are the front-runners to win the Big East and have four All-Americans on the roster.  But, a tough road date with Utah, who is just counting the seasons down before heading out west to the Pac-10.  The Utes always has an underrated defense and will bring a good defensive line, led by Christian Cox and Sealver Siliga, to slow Lewis and the Panther's spread offense down.
 
4.  Purdue @ Notre Dame -- No, neither team is in the top 25, but you are going to watch.  You want to see if Brian Kelly can get his first win with the Irish.  You want to see if it will be the same old or not for Notre Dame.  Purdue will be out there without Joey Elliot, so the Boilermakers have something to prove to.  But, can the new style of offense be able to stay on the field for four quarters, or will they tired out and give up crazy plays to Purdue. 
 
3.  LSU vs. North Carolina --- Game being played in Atlanta.  LSU knows that they are going to be in a tight race again in the SEC West.  I think the Tigers also have a bit of an outside chance at the National Championship, so a loss in week 1 would hurt a bit.  North Carolina, led by Butch Davis, has a chance to put a dent in the ACC this year.  Behind the arm of Senior T.J. Yates, they know that an upset win over the Tigers would help propel them up the Top 25 and then, who knows.
 
2.  Oregon St. vs. TCU --- Game being played in Cowboys Stadium outside of Dallas.  Yes, you probably are wondering how on Earth Oregon St. could be in the second best game of the week in my opinion.  But, it is simple...believe it or not...they could win the Pac 10 this season.  Quit laughing.  Anyway, behind the legs of Jacquizz Rodgers, they open up a tough non-conference schedule against a very talented Horned Frogs squad.  TCU knows they are favored to win the Mountain West and break into the BCS once again.  But, they are going to need to have quarterback Andy Dalton connect with wide receiver Jeremy Kerley against the Beavers defense.  This game could go either way.
 
AND, THE ONE GAME YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS WEEK...
 
1.  Boise State vs. Virginia Tech --- Game being played in Washington D.C.  If there was ever a National Championship elimination game, this would be it.  But, you say, it is the first week of the season, how can this game eliminate either team?  Well, let's take both teams.  If Virginia Tech loses, they still have a chance at the National Championship, but they will have to contend with the SEC and Big 12 teams ahead of them.  They will probably still win the ACC and get into the BCS, but they have a chance at the big prize.  If Boise St. loses, then they are in deeper trouble.  They don't have a really hard schedule.  If they go undefeated and all the other teams have one loss, what happens then?  See, don't you want to see the BCS boil over once again with that scenario.  But, the only way that works is for Kellen Moore to lead the Broncos into the nation's capital and defeat the Hokies, not an easy task.
 
 
So, there you go.  Check back here each week to get yourself ready for college football.  And, if you disagree with me, which I am sure you do, feel free to leave a comment about it.  Until next time, the Express rolls on...