For some Telluridians, the chill in the air is an alarm clock setting off a last-ditch effort to “get outside” and be active in the San Juans before the snow flies. For others, it means much, much more – college football season.
There are definitely some games to get excited about this weekend. To start with, there’s the Mile High Showdown where the CSU Rams (team of the people) will take on the CU Buffs (wannabe thugs) who went 2-10 last season.
What will happen in this game is anybody’s guess. Both teams are coming off mediocre-poor seasons, with CSU winning last year’s showdown, 14-10.
CU will be led on offense by head coach Dan Hawkins, with his freshman son Cody Hawkins at quarterback. CU is a young team, with the majority of the roster made up of freshman. CU’s defense will be led by senior linebacker Jordan Dizon, who told The Denver Post earlier this week that he is ready for the return of CSU running back Kyle Bell, who went down to a knee injury in practice just before last year’s season opener.
“You hardly ever see someone 6-2, 230 coming at you through a hole,” Dizon told The Post. “He's a big back, and he's a blue-collar guy who likes to bring his hard hat.”
The loss of Bell last season seemed to knock the wind out of the Rams’ offense. Hopefully with his return, the excitement that he brought to the Rams, and the Mountain West Conference for that matter, will return.
As I said before, it is anybody’s guess as to what this game’s outcome will look like. Some bookies aren’t even posting a line on the game. But one thing you can bet on is a heated rivalry, and the fans will be just as exciting to watch, with more than 70,000 expected to pack the stands at Mile High to cheer on their Colorado favorites at 10 a.m.
Is that right – 10 a.m.? Seems a bit early, but it is an effort to prevent excessive alcohol consumption by students before the game. Yeah, right. You think these young adults don’t know how to make a Bloody Mary? The game will be televised on FSN – go Rams.
College Preseason Match-ups
For some of the top ranked football squads in college football, week one is a weak one.
There is nothing better for teams like USC, Penn State and Texas to have a first week match-up against an opponent who is unlikely to show up with much game.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it is great when a smaller school gets put on the national stage by playing a big time school – and if they win, better yet. But that usually isn’t the case.
For the big time coaches, these unbalanced match-ups are preseason games. It gives the coaches a chance to test new players, patch any holes in the defense and work out any hiccups in the offensive scheme. Nobody wants a big game the first week. It takes guts to enter a key, week-one match-up.
Here are some top teams in less than impressive season openers: Appalachian State at Michigan, Florida Int. at Penn State, Western Kentucky at Florida, Arkansas State at Texas, and yes, number one ranked USC will take on Idaho at home…I hope the Trojans blow it.
Here are some games where the teams will actually be playing: Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, Wake Forest at Boston College, Kansas State at Auburn, and Oklahoma at Georgia. The game of the week: Tennessee at Cal, which will be televised on ABC at 6 p.m.
AP Top 25
1. USC
2. LSU
3. West Virginia
4. Texas
5. Michigan
6. Florida
7. Wisconsin
8. Oklahoma
9. Virginia Tech
10. Louisville
11. Ohio State
12. California
13. Georgia
14. UCLA
15. Tennessee
16. Rutgers
17. Penn State
18. Auburn
19. Florida State
20. Nebraska
21. Arkansas
22. TCU
23. Hawaii
24. Boise State
25. Texas A&M
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