For lots of reasons, the reject crew didn't pick the games last year, but now we're back with a vengeance.
The Rejects are the losers - and there will be plenty of them this year.
In full disclosure, I've been a Gamecock fan since I was kneehigh to a cricket. However, I've always tried to predict all the games realistically. And so it will continue.
On to this week's games.
In the SEC
Georgia Southern at Georgia
Mark Richt's Dawgs are top notch this year and are looking to break in the season with a whoopin' of the Eagles and a first victory for the new UGA. Chris Hatcher's Bird Crew will be lookin' to pull a national shocker, but will only get de-feathered in the process. The Dawgs make early believers out of the college football nation with a good-ole Sanford Stadium woodsheddin'.
Rod's Reject - Georgia Southern
Kentucky at Louisville
The Wildcats have had a good run recently, but they're missing a lot of claws this year. And to have to start the season playing at Louisville is not doing them any favors. Steve Kragthorpe and his Red Birds are tryin' to get the UL program back in gear, and think a good spankin' of in-state rival UK will do the trick. Rich Brooks and the Cats put up a good fight, but will use up all of their nine lives in the process.
Rod's Reject - in a close one - Kentucky
Tennessee at UCLA
Phil Fulmer's musket-toters head west, hopin' to get out of Cali with a quick win. But they're gonna run into a feisty bunch of Bruins who ain't gonna want them to get it. Things were lookin' pretty good for Rick Neuheisel's Blue and Gold bears until some of the fur started comin' off with some key injuries. But Tennessee has a few issues to resolve, too, so this one will be a slobber-knocker til the end.
Rod's Reject - UCLA
Appalachian State at LSU
Well, Jerry Moore's Mountain Boys shocked the world last year with a season-opening win at Michigan, but it wasn't a shock to them. And this year, they go for the daily double - this time against LSU. Les Miles and the Batawn Rouge Felines ain't about to let the Mountaineers make headlines again (I don't think, anyway). A little closer than expected, but the home crowd will go home happy.
Rod's Reject - Appy State
Memphis at Mississippi
The Tiggers from Memphis rumble into Oxford, ready to give Houston Nutt his first Rebel loss. But this ole' nut will be tough to crack, and the Confederate Crew will be ready to make an early season statement to the hometown fans. Tommy West and the Cats will be in this one for a while, but will run out of fur by game's end.
Rod's Reject - Memphis
In The ACC
Southern California at Virginia
The Trojan's head east for an opening joust with the Cavaliers, and Al Groh's sword-toters are gonna be ready. But Pete Carroll and the Horse Riders have been down these roads before, and know that Virginia will bring the full load - but it ain't gonna be enough.
Rod's Reject - Virginia
James Madison at Duke
Why is this one on the board this week? Well, kind of a shortage of good ACC games - but, it is also the first game for David Cutcliffe coaching the Blue Devils. Mickey Mathews and the Harrisonburg Dukes will try to get into Durham and steal the Big Blue Poker from the Lucifers, but will end up being the one with a couple of holes poked in 'em.
Rod's Reject - James Madison
Wake Forest at Baylor (Thursday Night)
Jim Grobe's Preachermen take the tent revival to Waco, Texas, hopin' to make believers out of the Art Briles' Bear Den, but Deacons run fast in this part of the world, and the Bears won't be fast enough to catch 'em. But don't breathe too easy, Deac Fans...Art Briles will throw it around the yard a good bit, and will make this one pretty interesting.
Rod's Reject - Baylor
Virginia Tech at East Carolina
The Hokey Pokes from Blacksburg head south to take on a bunch of Pirates ready to pull an upset. Skip Holtz and the Sea Bandits will have the crowd believin' that it's gonna happen, too, but Beamer Ball rules in the end, and the VT defense comes up big.
Rod's Reject - East Carolina
Charleston Southern at Miami, Fla.
The Big Wind from Coral Gables is ready to get their storm straightened out this year, and the Buccaneers from Charleston will be just what the Canes need to get the year started. Jay Mills and the Bucs won't back down - and ain't gonna be skeered, but the Canes will have way too much punch and will end this one early.
Rod's Reject - Charleston Southern
National Games
Western Michigan at Nebraska
The day of hope has come for Cornhusker fans as the Bo Pellini era begins in Lincoln. The Broncos from Kalamazoo saddle up to do battle with the Corn Feds, but will end up getting branded faster than Bubba shuckin' an ear of midwest corn. Don't look for a super-great turnaround for Nebraska this year, but it ain't gonna be near as bad or ugly as it got last year.
Rod's Reject - Western Michigan
Illinois at Missouri
Illinois turned some heads last year with a 9-3 season, and the Zooksters from Champaign are ready for the encore. But the crowd ain't gonna be hollerin' Bravo at Mizzou this Saturday, and Gary Pinkel's Cats will be ready to put an end to the show. This one was close last year, and will be tight again this year - but the result will be the same.
Rod's Reject - Illinois
Washington at Oregon
Tyrone Willingham's Big Dogs stumbled to 4 wins last year, but lost a lot of close ones along the way. Saturday, they sled over to Eugene, lookin' to sink their teeth into some pond birds. But, Mark Bellotti's green and gold Ducks ain't aimin' to be on anybody's supper table anytime soon. The Ducks fly high in week one, and the Husky's are left to lick their wounds.
Rod's Reject - Washington
The Big Two
Alabama vs Clemson in Atlanta
The Crimson Tide faithful are ready to re-assert Alabama Dominance, and Nick Saban that the Herd are headin' to Atlanta to make the fans happy and make that happen. But when they get there, they're gonna get ripped in the mouth by a bunch of Tigers who are tired of hearing about how they don't finish the job. Tommy Bowden and his Picken's County Cats are ready for big things this year, and they ain't about to let some bunch of Tide Box, Tissue Rollers throw a kink in the plans. The Tigs have too much talent and prove it in Hotlanta Saturday night.
Rod's Reject - Alabama
NC State at South Carolina (Thursday Night)
Williams-Brice will be the scene for Kickoff 2008 as the college football gets underway in Columbia Thursday Night. Tom O'Brien and The Red Dawgs from Raleigh have sharpened up the claws and the fangs and will be ready to draw blood from Steve Spurrier's Yardbirds, but this ain't the same bunch of Chickens that left the field in late November last year. The Cock Crew will start slow on the o-side, and the defense will keep things going until they finally put a stake in the Wolfpack. The Garnet-n-Black go home happy - the Wolfpack go home black and blue.
Rod's Reject - NC State
Other Losers
Jacksonville State will lose to Georgia Tech
Vanderbilt will lose to Miami, Ohio
Youngstown State will lose to Ohio State
Akron will lose to Wisconsin
Coastal Carolina will lose to Penn State
Bowling Green will lose to Pittsburgh
Hawaii will lose to Florida
Villanova will lose to West Virginia
Delaware will lose to Maryland
Northern Iowa will lose to Brigham Young
Chattanooga will lose to Oklahoma
Louisiana-Monroe will lose to Auburn
Florida Atlantic will lose to Texas
Eastern Michigan will lose to Texas Tech
Florida International will lose to Kansas
Western Illinois will lose to Arkansas
Arkansas State will lose to Texas A&M
Tennessee-Martin will lose to South Florida
Northern Arizona will lose to Arizona State
