NCAA Football Matchups of the Week: Week 1

No. 5 Alabama @ No. 7 Virginia Tech: This early matchup of Top 10 teams is extremely intriguing. The Crimson Tide from Alabama and the Hokies from Virginia Tech have two of the top defenses in the country. Leading Alabama’s star defense is monster nose tackle Terrance “Mount” Cody, who can easily blow through any offensive line and who has slimmed down to 354 pounds (he used to be 380). The Tide did lose star quarterback John Parker Wilson and dominant tackle Andre Smith on offense. Greg McElroy will take over in his first year at quarterback and will have to deal with playing against the tremendous and intimidating defenses of the SEC all year. For the Hokies to succeed against that brutal defense, QB Tyrod Taylor must excel and put their defense in a good position to win. Alabama needs to win big games like this because every lose they suffer could not only hurt their chances against No. 8 Mississippi and No.11 LSU in the race for the SEC West title, but could also put them out of a chance to go to the national title game now that so non-BCS schools are getting more recognition. A victory would mean a lot not just for the Hokies who are part of a much tougher ACC Coastal Division, but for the ACC itself, who thinks they deserve a better reputation among the other main BCS conferences as well as better representation in the BCS bowl games. Alabama wins to prove the SEC’s dominance over the ACC.

No. 13 Georgia @ No. 9 Oklahoma State: Despite losing star quarterback Matt Stafford and star running back Knoshown Moreno, the No. 13 Bulldogs may have a productive offense with QB Joe Cox and star wide receiver A.J. Green. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs, like most other teams in the SEC, will pride themselves on defense. Oklahoma State returns an offense prolific enough to challenge the Georgia defense. Senior quarterback Zac Robinson is expected to have a breakout year after throwing for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Cowboys also return juniors Dez Bryant and Kendall Hunter. Bryant is easily the best wide receiver in college football, but he seems to struggle a bit when the games mean more. Hunter is one of the nation’s top running backs and should put up another season with great numbers in the defense-lacking Big 12. Speaking of Big 12 defense, Oklahoma State’s D had been horrendous over the past few years, but that might change this season with new defensive coordinator Bill Young and a more aggressive approach. If that Cowboy’s defense can hold Cox and the Bulldogs to a reasonable score, and if Hunter and Byrant can step up to help Robinson, Oklahoma State could pick up a huge non-conference win. Oklahoma State will top this SEC power, especially with the knowledge of what an early loss does to a team that has to compete in the same division of a conference as Texas and Oklahoma.