Behind The Box Score

With the 2009 season getting underway, Week One has some interesting matchups and today I will explore the possible outcomes and who I expect to majorly contribute. With Oklahoma State and Georgia squaring off in Stillwater, the matchup between the Cowboys and Bulldogs has college football fans biting their nails waiting for Saturday along with the Dr. Pepper Showdown in Atlanta between Tyrod Taylor’s Virginia Tech Hokies and Julio Jones’ Alabama Crimson Tide. Today, I will discuss the biggest games and the winners. I’m as excited as you are for this season and lets kick it off.

#14 Georgia at #5 Oklahoma State, 3:30 PM ABC- Fresh off a Capital One Bowl victory over Michigan State, Georgia returns a squad that yearns the loss of Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and Mohammad Massaquoi. Making up 75% of the offense last season, Joe Cox and the Bulldogs must get in rythm offensively early as the Cowboys are as stacked as anyone on offense. Dez Bryant, who is out to make a case for the Blitnikoff Award, will be in a tight duel all day against a star receiver on the opposite side of the field. AJ Green, who was regarded by some the top wide receiver in the class of 2008,  returns after a freshman campaign in ’08, where Green had over 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. The downside is that he no longer has Matthew Stafford throwing him the ball and if the Oklahoma State defense can step it up and contain Green, we could see Stillwater go crazy with a Cowboy win. Featuring a balanced offensive attack with Zach Robinson and Kendal Hunter, I see the Cowboys winning their home opener and avenging for the bowl loss to Oregon.

PREDICTION- Oklahoma State-28 Georgia-17

#9 Virginia Tech Hokies vs #5 Alabama Crimson Tide, 8 PM, ABC- For these two teams the tales of the 2008 season were rather complete opposites. Roaring to 12 straight wins, the Crimson Tide stormed into the SEC Championship Game to be downed by the eventual national champion Florida Gators and the story of the season was never the same. Losing LT Andre Smith for the Sugar Bowl, the Crimson Tide looked outcoached and relatively slow in a blowout loss to the Utah Utes. Coming back in ’09, this team is rather different as new starters at quarterback and running back emerge. Greg McElroy is the signal caller for Alabama as the prized prospect takes over for John Parker Wilson. At tailback, Glen Coffee’s departure leaves the void for Mark Ingram, a sophomore from Flint, Michigan who rushed for over 700 yards a season ago. Opposing them is a Virginia Tech group that is relishing in the Orange Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats, months removed from a rocky and yet successful season where the Hokies were expected to rebuild but won nine games. Now, Tyrod Taylor is back for a junior season and the expectations are as high as ever. Drawing comparisons to the quintessential Michael Vick, Taylor will be relied upon to lead an offense that is hurting after the indefinite loss of starting running back Darrell Evans. Facing a Crimson Tide defense that shut down opponents seemingly at ease in ’08, Taylor and the Hokies have a tough task at hand. If they can get things going early, it’s possible that Alabama could fold, similar to what they did in the bowl game. If not, I see these two teams going at it for four quarters with the last team to touch the ball winning the game. Breaking in a new quarterback, I think the Virginia Tech defense will have many opportunities to get in the head of McElroy and that’s why I see the Hokies winning this one.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech-20 Alabama-14

Miami Hurricanes at #18 Florida State Seminoles, Monday, 8 PM, ESPN- In the midst of an academic scandal, the Florida State Seminoles return for the 2009 season with one of their top rivals as the opening act. The Hurricanes, who could be one of the biggest surprises coming out of the ACC this season, have their minds set on one goal: Beat Florida State and win the ACC. Returning nearly every started and adding pieces such as SS Ray Ray Armstrong, who at 6’6″ 225 lbs reminds many Canes fans of Sean Taylor, will be a force to be reckoned with this Labor Day. The Seminoles who return a quarterback that is the established starter for the first time in several years, have plans of their own. Offensive coordinator Jim Bo Fisher is in his third year in Tallahassee and the results are likely to show. Quarterback Christian Ponder is one of the best in the ACC and the defense is as good as always. This Seminole team is one of the best in the recent memory fresh off a nine win season where Bobby Bowden’s 33rd team on campus dismantled the Wisconsin Badgers 42-13 in the Champs Sports Bowl. The challenge posed by the Hurricanes is unlike any the Badgers could have managed, this Hurricane team is entering their second full season as a core and the talent is there, the interesting spot will be the experience level. Playing over 20 true freshmen last season, the Canes are led by a winner in Jacory Harris. Similar to Miami legend Ken Dorsey, Harris is a great game manager but the most intriguing feature is his ability to win. Winning numerous national titles at Miami Northwestern High School, Harris and several other teammates from the Warriors’ Class of 2008 look to rock the state of Florida this season. Along with Harris, the top players from the seemingly mythical high school squad, MLB Sean Spence is a force on defense, hitting the opponent all game. WR Aldarious Johnson has the potential to become something like his namesake in Andre Johnson, a fellow Cane. Along with Armstrong on the defense, the Hurricanes look to styphle the Seminole offense and win one in Doak Campbell, something they are more than capable of doing. If Ponder shows signs of the 14 touchdowns he threw last year, the Seminoles are more than capable of winning, but if Ponder gets into trouble like he did against Wake Forest, the Canes will triumph in Tallahassee. Personally, I think Miami has the edge at quarterback and that will be the deciding factor in this matchup.

PREDICTION: Miami-31 Florida State-13