Picks at the wire: Week 1

Game day is nearly here.

Finally.

Thank heavens.

And that means it's time for misguided predictions on a game-by-game basis.

Fun, huh?

Usually, these will be reserved for Thursdays. But here in the opening week, it's best to get them done now rather than scrambling at the last second.

There's 12 games --- a full one out of six involving an ACC team --- on the schedule. Some of them are quite a bit easier to figure out than others.

All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

* Presbyterian at Wake Forest (Thursday, 6:30, ESPN3.com): Demon Deacons 42-3. Wake Forest could have some difficulties this season now that Riley Skinner is gone. Tomorrow night against the Blue Hose (0-11 in 2009) will not be one of those times.

* Florida A&M at Miami (Thursday, 7:30, ESPN3.com): Hurricanes 41-10. The Rattlers are actually a rather respectable opponent, but the Hurricanes should still roll to an easy opening win.

* Samford at Florida State (Noon, ESPNU): Seminoles 51-7. Florida State could hang half a hundred, but the real story would be the Seminoles stopping anyone. That includes the Bulldogs, who were 5-6 a year go.

* Weber State at Boston College (1, ESPN3.com): Eagles 42-7. Montel Harris' services won't be needed after halftime.

* South Carolina State at Georgia Tech (1, ESPN3.com): Yellow Jackets 35-3. Anthony Allen's services won't be needed after halftime.

* North Texas at Clemson (3:30, ESPNU): Tigers 45-17. For a week, anyway, no one in Death Valley will be wondering how Clemson will replace C.J. Spiller. Should be a good day for the Andre Ellington/Jamie Harper combo.

* Western Carolina at N.C. State (6, ESPN3.com): Wolfpack 41-7. Pity both the poor Catamounts and fantasy owners stuck facing Russell Wilson. He'll have a field day picking apart an undermanned foe before yielding to Mike Glennon.

* Richmond at Virginia (6, ESPN3.com): Spiders 21-16. It should shock no one if the CAA takes the early lead in the de facto ACC-CAA Challenge. Granted, Mike London knows his old team. But the Cavaliers are rebuilding, and this could wind up being a scary game for them. The talent, at least this year, is probably pretty comparable.

* Elon at Duke (7, ESPN3.com): Blue Devils 24-17. Duke needs to quit playing good teams from the former Division I-AA, particularly in a season in which it breaks in a new quarterback. Nonetheless, the Blue Devils should survive a a date with the visitor from 35 minutes down I-85.

* North Carolina vs. Louisiana State in Atlanta (8, ABC): Tigers 20-10. To quote Ben Stein: "Au-stin? Au-stin? Au-stin?" Let's just say it could be an interesting night for a beat writer taking roll during warmups.

* Maryland vs. Navy in Baltimore (Monday, 4, ESPN): Midshipmen 31-24. Convinced that Maryland will make things very interesting. Not convinced that Maryland will win. Hunch is the Mids' fullbacks will end up with more statistically impressive days than Ricky Dobbs. Know that if that's the case and Navy wins, Dobbs won't care a bit.

* Boise State vs. Virginia Tech in Landover, Md. (Monday, 8, ESPN): Hokies 21-20. Not sure who will win, but here's guessing this one doesn't disappoint. Both defenses should play well in the showcase game.

2009 record: 70-34 (32-16 conference plus 1-0 title game plus 2-5 in bowls)

Comments

[Bird]

If you have put 5 bucks on every game, you would've made 180 bucks...

[Eddie T]

I'm inclined to think if the FedEx showdown is close, it's the Broncos that will find a way to pull it out. But it should be fun either way...

[Shraf]

I think people are underestimating the talent on the UVa roster.

[D1scourse]

Shraf ---

Defensively, I agree. Theyll be competent on that side of things.

The offense is something else. But if they turn out to be decent there, Ill be the first to admit I underestimated them.

[Shraf]

I agree that the offensive side is lacking but to compare the talent to Richmond is a little over the top. I believe Richmond is breaking in 15 new starters so it is not like this is the same team that Mike London led to back to back great years. Additionally, while there is a lot of unproven talent on the UVa offense, it is there. Kris Burd was effective last year despite the fact there were three different quarterbacks throwing him the ball, two of whom do not know how to throw. Tim Smith was a 4 star receiver out of the Chesapeake area. Joe Torchia, the starting Tight End, was a 4 star out of Jersey. The new right tackle, Oday Aboushi, was a 4 star out of Brooklyn. They are replacing players that were adequate at best. The running back situation has a lot of unproven players but talent does exist there between Perry Jones, Dom Wallace, Raynard Horne and Keith Payne. Obviously the biggest driving force behind how the UVa offense will perform, as you mentioned, will be the performance of Marc Verica. But as many Maryland fans can attest to, he can be good when he has the confidence of the staff and some momentum on his side (see 31-0). The talent is there for him and Al Groh tugged him back and forth to the point where he had no confidence left. Maybe I am being a little overconfident but I think 6-6 is attainable and 5-7 is likely with a very outside chance of winning 7 games.

I also think we will have the best secondary in the ACC.

[D1scourse]

Shraf ---

I agree the wins are out there to get to 5-7, 6-6 in a best-case scenario. But well have a pretty good idea in two days and change whether Virginia has the goods to get there.

Id be careful measuring talent with recruiting rankings, at least at an individual level. The football evaluators try hard, but thats a much more inexact science than basketball is. Ive seen more than a few sure things covering Maryland who turned out to be decent (but not overwhelming) college players.

[Shraf]

I guess we do have a little offensive talent.

[D1scourse]

Shraf ---

So it would seem. Impressed by Dontrelle Inman as much as anyone, really. Him and Verica, who was really sound in Week 1.

Barring a shock in L.A. next week, Im reserving judgment on the Hoos until next month. They could be a very predictable 2-3 heading into their date with North Carolina.