Erik's College Watchlist, Sept 1

Game To Watch on TV:
Tennessee at Cal, 8:00 EST

Tennessee is a legitimate threat to Florida and the SEC Title. Cal is a legitimate threat to USC and the Pac-10 title. As of 8/28, both have an outside shot at the BCS Title Game. By midnight on Saturday, one of them is donesky.

Unusual Game of the Week:
Northeastern at Northwestern, 12:00 EST

I like the name correlation. Is it east vs west or man against man? Can any nation stand alone? But there is more than what you see on the surface. Last year Northwestern lost at home to a different CAA/A-10/Yankee Conference team, UNH. It can be done. On the flipside, Northeastern went in to Lane Stadium to face the Hokies and 66,000 crazy screaming fans in last season’s opener. Good night, Irene. Stay classy San Diego. I don’t think Northwestern’s home field is gonna have the same effect on the Huskies. And since Northeastern probably plays in 1-AA stadiums that are bigger than what’s happening up in Evanston, the intimidation factor might be gone. Maybe its just two teams playing football. Keep an eye on it.

The Eagles:
Wake Forest at BC, 3:30 EST

BC is Wake Forest’s red-headed step child. Have been playing since the Big East days. The only time we beat them was a ridiculous comeback when they finally put Matt Ryan in the game because the game was officially a lost cause. Some writer asked, was WFU a thorn in Tom O’Brien’s side…. Or Frank Spaziani? I truly feel BC should have beaten them in all three of the losses. I hope they don’t play like a bunch of turkeys again this year. No more awful Quinton Porter type fumbles or Larry Lester fumbles please. I make no predictions.

The Terps:
Villanova @ Maryland, 6:00 EST

RB Curtis Sumpter
QB Tim Thomas
TE Jason Fraser
WR Randy Foye
DE Eddie Pinckney

OK I’ll stop now. For the good of all ACC schools’ reputations – just get the W please.

I Hate Notre Dame
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, 3:30

Let me guess. ND squeezes out a victory, giving their delusional fans the impression they are good and Georgia Tech doesn’t help the league reputation. RT.