Five games I am amped (and Amp Lee’d) for in the opening week that no one is talking about:
1. Hawaii at No. 1 USC
So many weapons on offense for the AP No.1 team. Can you believe that in its opener last season the Trojans barely scraped past Minnesota, at home, 19-17?
2. No. 14 Clemson at Auburn
Halftime show should include a performance of the Zombies’ classic “He’s Not There” in honor of Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins and Auburn center Reese Dismukes, both of whom are serving substance-related suspensions. Still, it’s tusslin’ Tigers in Jordan-Hare.
3. Texas A&M at Louisiana Tech
Bulldogs won their last seven –and should’ve beaten Houston – before falling by a TD to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl. This is the upset everyone has circled for Week 1.
4. Washington State at BYU
The Pirate Captain, Mike Leach, returns, as does the best quarterback mane in college football, that belonging to Cougar QB Riley Nelson. Cougars versus Cougars from the shadow of the Wasatch Range.
5. Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech
Last April Virginia Tech won the National Collegiate Soil Judging Championship, so why not a football title? The Hokies have lost three of their past four season openers, but all of those defeats occurred on – you’re way ahead of me – foreign soil.