Week One College Football Picks....

Last year we hit 65% of our games and this year we're going to surge higher like the Owls as well....Those of you who followed my picks last year know that i always start with the Temple game...

Temple -7 @ Army: The unbridled enthusiasm of the Owls fanbase is amazing for this year. Al Golden pointed to this as the beginning of our time to shine and I truly think it could happen. The problem is that the rise will have to occur on the road. Clearly, Temple is a better team then Army but will they revert to the Owls of old who lose to worse teams on the road. I have the utmost faith that Temple will win this game but I will NEVER feel easy laying points with them on the road. Plus, they almost never kill anyone....Give me Army +7 but take the Owls ML. With regards to the total, i'm hesitant to play either side but gun to my head i like the under.

Elsewhere:

South Carolina/NC State Under 45: It's the perfect matchup to exploit the under....The Wolfpack is solid enough on D to keep it close while the Gamecock D is good enough to keep the young Wolfpack offense down. Russell Wilson is going to be a star in the ACC but he's not ready to win on the road especially in an SEC atmosphere. Get to know Alan Michael Cash as he's going to wreck havoc on South Carolina in a 23-14 type game.

Va Tech/ECU Under 47.5: Another game that screams for an under. The Hokie offense will need time to gel with all of the new RB's and WR's. ECU's defense is just good enough to slow them down while the Hokie defense despite not having the big names of last year's team, will do just enough to not let the Pirates run away. Neither of these teams have big play potential which kills the under. Also love ECU +9.5. While i'm on the side of the Hokies in the UVA/Tech rumble down here in Richmond, I think that the Pirates will keep this game close. Pinkney last year kept ECU in the game in Blacksburg and that's with all the "Names" on defense.

UVA +20: Man, i hate games like this. USC has more talent then the hoos....heck their 2nd team may have more too. The Trojans do their business in games like this in workman-like manner. UVA's linebacker corps is very underrated in the scope of college football. I can see a 31-13 game.

La Tech +8: A rare chance for this WAC team to host an SEC team. I'm a big fan of the homedog early on especially before their fanbase realizes whether or not their team will suck. Patrick Jackson is gonna do some damage in this game.

La Monroe +26: Look I must be nuts and last year in this situation when i've taken the Sun Belt at the SEC, it was nailbiter city. I feel like the new clock rules benefit a team like ULM and Auburn. The Tigers will want to get this game moving and once they get a lead they can milk the clock. ULM has the veterans at skill positions to put up some points.

More will be added later or taken off but these are my early picks....