Football Friday Discussion - Season Openers!

Every Friday Through The Football Season

I will be featuring Guest Commentators,
fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes, to give their pre-game opinions.
Additionally, I will be featuring fan opinions from other
Big 10 teams and teams
from the Big 12
& Pac-12.

Am still looking for more Guest Commentators...are you a fan or know a fan of a team not represented?
Check at the end of this post for information on how to guest commentate.

We are welcoming a new commentator this week...A big Shout Out to Bill who will do a weekly feature called Bill's Big 10 Corner where he will highlight the Big 10's HOT and anticipated games. Welcome Bill!

The Day Before

the

Season Opening

Games!!!!

Grab your cup of coffee or soda;

Let's see what these fans

have to say about tomorrow's

opening games...

---

Big 10


Iowa
Silver Fox:

Black and Gold Girl: This week's game against Tennessee Tech will be a "mix and match" kind of a game, where Iowa figures out what works and what doesn't.  The pros have the benefit of exhibition games, so these first few games are (UNI game last year excluded) Iowa's way of warming up.  Expect to see a couple of second stringers thrown in the mix, especially later in the game if things are going well.  Prediction: Iowa 35, Tennessee 7.

Hawk Guy:

Turnkey Tim: This week's Iowa game against Tennessee Tech should be a good tune-up game for the Hawks. I use the word "tune-up" softly, as you all know with the 2009 game against UNI, sometimes the Hawks struggls with their early season foes. This game is not to be taken lightly. Tennessee Tech returns 21 starters. They play a very uptempo offensive scheme. Same type of offensive schemes and uptempo offense that Oregon uses. And I mean fast. If you've ever watched Oregon play, you can see how fast they war down a defense. This is good for Iowa. We'll get to see what type of shape the defense is in and how they respond. On the offensive side, expect Tennessee to load up the box to stop the run, forcing Vandenberg to beat them with his arm. Defensively Tennessee Tech will try to use a variety of blitz packages to try to confuse Vandenberg to try to make something happen for a chance for them to possibly win the game. Not to be concerned. Vandenberg has looked sharp in practice and is very book smart. He's the one quarterback that can beat you with his arm. Tennessee Tech's defense should get softened up a little bit with the running of Coker and possibly true freshman RB McCall. Turnkey Tim predicts Hawks 34, Tennessee Tech 10. 

Hawkinator: (Holding Hawkinator's family in prayer.)
 

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Steve:Wisconsin stepped up to the plate in this first season opening game.  Russell Wilson stole the show and ran for a 40 yard touch down run.....passed for two touchdowns total.  Not a bad beginning hey!!!   Final score was 51 to 17!  I say how about those Badgers........    I am thinking that last weeks predictions just might come true.  Nick Toon son of football great Al Toon is gonna have a hellava year and is finally  healthy.  Al Toon was a Badger great and jet pro bowler.  I say thank you football gods for producing an exciting talented team here in the Badger state!!!!

Minnesota
Ace: Hopefully the Gophers won't look like the Goofers as they open the season in southern California against USC.  The Gophers had them on the ropes last year before running out of gas and losing 31-21.  USC is on probation so they will either be angry or flat.  Look for some highlights from Marquis Gray the Gophers talented quarterback but a victory in Cali would still be a huge upset.  Best guess, a repeat of last year as the Gophers fall 38-24.  What other Big Ten teams are starting of with a top tier opponent?  Wussies!!



Michigan
A'maize'n Blue: Game 1 of the Hoke era this weekend with a match-up against Western Michigan.  I wouldn't worry about the offense putting up points, Denard will be spectacular and it looks as if Shaw has gotten the nod as the starting running back.  Big points and tons of yards are going to be happening week in and out with this offense.  This game will definitely be a chance to see if the defense has been revived at all under the new defensive coordinator, new defensive scheme...well new defensive everything.  No brush off game here though, while Michigan should get the win it may not be the usual Week 1 blowout victory we are used to seeing across the Big 10.  WMU's offense averaged 32.3 points/game last year and more specifically averaged 41.3/game over the last 3.  The Wolverines defense really needs to step up and prove they are a Big 10 caliber defense.  To its credit Western Michigan could be deemed a "Big 10 Slayer" boasting wins over Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State, but against the Wolverines they are 0-5.  Look for Michigan to be too big and too fast for the Broncos to keep up with for 4 quarters.  Final Score: Michigan 48  Western Michigan 24.



Ohio State
Buck-I: (Holding Buck-I's family in prayer)

Nebraska
Bo Big Red:There’s no official Big Ten preseason poll, although a couple of media outlets conducted unofficial polls. Both revealed Nebraska as the favorite to win the new Legends Division; one said the Huskers will win the overall title. Is it realistic to think a league newcomer can flex its muscles so quickly? Much of Nebraska’s success will depend on how the Huskers adapt to the Big Ten style. Or maybe it’s vice-versa. “We’re going to do what we do and we’re going to do it well,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “We’re not really going to adapt what we do to the conference. We’re going to hopefully make the conference adapt to what we do.” Nebraska’s new hurry-up offense (something similar to Oregon, perhaps?) could cause headaches for Big Ten defenses. The Huskers have starting players returning at all skill positions, along with three starters back on the offensive line. On defense, the Blackshirts will return to a traditional three-linebacker look after having retooled its scheme over the past three seasons to defend the many spread offenses of the Big 12. Nebraska has cornerstone players returning at each level of defense—defensive tackle Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who was limited in mid-August by a muscle strain but should be ready for the opener. All three are preseason All-America candidates.   This should be an easy win for Nebraska ,look for them to run up the score this week,and let the other Big 10 Teams know they mean business!!!!   BO BIG RED

Bill's Big 10 Corner:  Bill's Big 10 Corner is a new feature here on Football Friday Discussion. Every week Bill will give his perspective on the HOT or anticipated Big 10 games of the week. With my Cardinals seemingly out of the baseball hunt, glad to see college FB kicking off this week.  In the Big 10 Wisconsin get's things started on ESPN Thursday night against UNLV.  That should be a bit one sided so I will highlight some of the more difficult games for Big 10 teams this week:  
Minnesota at USC - surprisingly USC was only (8-5) last year but Minnesota was worse at (3-9)  
Northwestern at Boston College - two (7-6) teams from last year wonder if NW can pull a surprise?  Have to see if Dan Persa will play for NW and how effective he will be.  The Hawks have lost 5 of their last 6 games vs NW so I have October 15 circled on my calendar this year.  
Indiana vs Ball St (at Indianapolis) - Probably Indiana but watch out for the MAC.   Look ahead to next week (9/10/11):  Notre Dame at Michigan, Alabama at Penn State  
GO HAWKS!

Big 12

Texas
Bevo Jr.:
Bevo jr. – Longhorns depth chart released today; c’mon Mack, are you blowin’ smoke still? Starting freshmen? I know Jaxson is Jordan Shipley’s lil bro, but is he really that good? Oh well, we’ve been anxiously awaiting a depth chart so we’ll roll with it if you say so. We don’t need to be deceptive for playing Rice, but….

Garrett Gilbert @ QB –let’s protect him this year; Fozzy running the ball with Joe Bergeron @ the no. 2 – get ready Joe, Foz is prone to injury.(where’s Malcom?)  Acho and Hicks @ LB – I pity the fools who run at them; and if you get by the LB’s better keep your head on a swivel cuz Vaccaro will be waiting to knock it off.

UT will run a bunch; lotta talent (potential) in the backfield, but then this is Rice – we better be able to punch up 240 yards or I’ll be getting flashbacks to ’10.

Passing – after #1 Mike Davis this should be good op to work in Jaxson & others slowly but effectively with sure tosses. (Don’t drop ‘em boys) RUN-RUN-RUN!

If Horns don’t win by at least 45 – 14 against the Owls, UT fans will be squirming in their aluminum seats; coaches will be too! It’s the new-look HORNS.

HOOK ‘EM!!!


Oklahoma State
Boones Boy: This week’s game against the Louisiana – Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns will be a nice test run for the new offensive coordinator to implement his scheme against someone other than the Cowboy’s practice squad.  Luckily he has a veteran quarterback in Brandon Weeden who is expected to apply his maturity (he’s like 28 years old) and skill to a new and fresh offense.  We should see quite a bit of Bullet, Pistol Pete’s trusty steed, storming the field after several Cowboy TD’s.  Prediction OSU 56 – LLRC 17.  Defense has  a chance to step up and get a win under their belt, but I’m still reluctant to give them a shutout victory.

Need to see short balls early, long balls late and the quick/shifty Joseph Randle put 100+ yards on the ground.  Go Pokes


Texas A&M
Hullabaloo: Finally we can focus on actual football instead of worrying about this conference and that conference!  It’s ironic though that this week’s opponent, SMU, is openly campaigning for the Big 12 spot that A&M is so hell-bent on deserting.  It’s time to kickoff the most anticipated Aggie football season since 1998 which will hopefully end with a BCS victory.  This is a program far removed from high expectations so it should be very interesting to see how the 8th! ranked team in the country looks against the Mustangs. 

Several questions need to be answered for the Aggies.  On offense: will QB Tannehill fulfill the all-conference potential he showed last year?  Will RB Michael team up with Cyrus Gray to give the team dual 1,000 yard rushers?  How will new C Patrick Lewis do (he played guard last year) and how will his replacement do at guard?  On defense, it’s all about how the new linebackers will fare and how top coverman Coryell Judie comes back from his offseason shoulder surgery.  On special teams the key is finding a punter when no one has stood out..  Punting has been one of the biggest weaknesses under Sherman so maybe this kid, freshman Drew Kaser can step it up.

I want a Big 12 championship on the way out the door so we better start this 2011 campaign out by smashing our old Southwest Conference foe.  Sherman just named Jameill Showers as the backup QB so let’s get him so mop up duty in the 4th quarter!  Final score: 52-17.  Farmers fight!

Pac-12

Colorado
Buffalo Up:

Utah
Red 5 Standing By:The Utah Utes open their season at home against Montana State, a FCS opponent from the Big Sky Conference.  While Utah is heavily favored and has never lost to a Big Sky team, expect Montana State to put up a fight.  They upset Colorado in Boulder a few years ago to ruin Dan Hawkins’ debut as CU’s head coach (which seemed to go downhill from there), and they will be looking to do the same Thursday night in Salt Lake City.  But with Kyle Whittingham at the helm, I would be very surprised if Utah comes out unprepared or looking ahead to next week’s Pac-12 opener at USC.  Utah should prevail by a healthy margin, hopefully large enough to get some live-game reps to Utah’s newcomers.  As I’ve said before, this year’s Utah team is talented but not very deep, so it is imperative that Utah get out to a big lead and let some of the 2s see some action.  Prediction:  Utah 38, Montana State 10.  And if you want to watch the game, it will be streaming live on www.utahutes.com. 

               

A Very BIG Thank You To The
Guest Commentators!!!

Check back throughout the weekend as commentary comes in!

Still Needing Volunteer Fan Commentators From:

Big 10
Illinois
Michigan state
Purdue
Northwestern
Indiana
Penn state

Big 12
Have Texas and Oklahoma State, Texas A&M...how about Oklahoma, Iowa State etc

Pac-12
Any fans out there? I have Colorado and Utah covered, how about other team fans?

Independent team fans?
Open to suggestions, Notre Dame? etc :)


Email me (Angie) at [email protected]
or comment on this here post with your email and I'll touch base.
Thanks!

---