• Ellis Johnson’s defense will carry South Carolina much farther than I initially expected.  The defensive backfield was the biggest concern entering the 2009 season, and they answered the bell in their first game.
• The South Carolina offense needs to be centered around the run.  Stephen Garcia showed his “happy feet” several times tonight, but he did not make the critical mistakes against NC State that he showed as a freshman.  The offensive line looked dominant, and Maddox was very tough between the tackles.
• North Carolina State looked like an unmade bed offensively.  Mental penalties and a lack of discipline make me wonder how prepared this team was for the opener.
• The Wolfpack defense was very solid, although Carolina could easily have put up 21 points.  I expect the Gamecocks to grow offensively and put together a much better performance in the next game against Georgia.
• Despite the amazing effort by the SC defense, the offense needs to show remarkable improvement heading into SEC play.  If nothing else, though, the Gamecocks showed a defense that will allow them to compete each week in the SEC.

Michael Vick will be eligible to play in Week 3 of the NFL season.  Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office made that announcement today, clearing the way for the ex-con to suit up for Philly. 

Goodell said on Tuesday that he has been talking to Vick on a weekly basis. “A lot of those issues I’m focusing on are off the field,” Goodell said. “How is he dealing with the transition? … Does he have the right people around him helping him make decisions?”

Road                                                 Home                                    AB’s pick                         BK’s pick                       

South Carolina                             (-4) NC State                      South Carolina              NC State                      

AB’s Comment: It’s moving time in Columbia for the ‘Ole Ball Coach.  He either has to get USC-E out of neutral, or he will probably be moving out of at season’s end.

#12 Oregon                                   (-5.5) #14 Boise State           Oregon                              Oregon

AB’s Comment: This should be a great matchup, so I’ll take the points.

#15 Georgia                                  (-5.5) #8 Ok St.                         Georgia                             Georgia

AB’s Comment: Ok St. is set up for the win (unveiling stadium renovations, UGA is breaking in a new QB) but this will be a dogfight.  UGA lost Stafford and Moreno, but has a ton of talent.  New QB Joe Cox is better than people realize and the Cowboys’ Defense is worse than people think. 

Nevada                                             (-12) Notre Dame                    Notre Dame                     Notre Dame

AB’s Comment:  With everything that is going on with Michigan on and off the field, this could be a tougher early matchup for the Irish than the Wolverines.

BYU                                                   (-21)#3 Oklahoma                        BYU                                      BYU

AB’s Comment: Oklahoma should have its way with the Cougars, but 21 is a ton of points on a (sort of) neutral field (Jerry World) against an explosive offense led by the QB with the Private Eye’s name, Max Hall.

(-5.5)#4 Alabama                         #9 Virginia Tech                         Bama                                    Bama

AB’s Comment:  When I initially tried to type in the “4″ for #4 Alabama, I accidentally held down the shift key, and typed a $ by Alabama.  I thought that was ironic.  Julio Jones and Mark Ingram have been deemed eligible by the NCAA after taking a free fishing trip from a “non-booster”.   Bama is no joke–just ask Tommy Bowden, who is vacationing on Clemson’s dime right about now.

Maryland                                              (-21.5 )#13 California                 Maryland                           Maryland

AB’s Comment: Remember when Cal’s Jeff Tedford was the next big thing in college coaching?  Cal fans do, and they are ready for the results.  That’s too many points to pass on the Turtles, though.

(-15.5) #10 LSU                                    Washington                               Washington                        Washington

AB’s Comment: This is the year that LSU fans find out whether Les Miles is more like Nick Saban than Gerry Dinardo. They should win, but I love double digit home underdogs against the spread, particularly when the road team has to travel across time zones.

(-16) #11 Mississippi                            Memphis                                  Mississippi                          Mississippi

AB’s Comment: The Tigers hope to steal a signature win Sunday, while folks that are heading to the Liberty Bowl just hope their cars don’t get stolen.

Colorado State                                       (11.5)Colorado                     Colorado St.                      Colorado St.

AB’s Comment: This is an odd line to me.  The Rams always seem to play the Buffs tough in this series.

Cincinnati                                                 (-6)Rutgers                             Rutgers                                Rutgers

AB’s Comment: I guess Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano knew what he was doing when he passed on the Michigan job a few years ago.

Miami (FL)                                             (-3.5)Florida State               Miami (Fl.)                         Florida St.

AB’s Comment: This used to be college football’s version of “must see TV”. Now, it’s about as intriguing as a Lifetime Movie marathon.

Missouri St.                                           (-35.5) Arkansas                    Arkansas                             Arkansas

AB’s Comment: If the Hogs struggle against the directionals this year like they did in ’08, it will be a long year.  They should roll, even though Missouri State QB and Rogers, AR, native Cody Kirby is a very solid signal-caller.

Is the American League that much better than the National League?  We’ve seen Cliff Lee dominate and Matt Holliday rake since coming from AL teams.  Now we can add Brad Penny to the list, who was sizzling last night for San Francisco after being mediocre at best for Boston.

Rafa was dominant in his return to major tournament play at the U.S. Open.  Both Williams sisters and Federer also advanced.

Adam “Pacman” Jones is not heading to the CFL after all.

To no one’s surprise, Brett Favre will not play this weekend against Dallas.  He’s out with a lingering schism.

Game on!  South Carolina visits North Carolina State tonight, Utah hosts Utah State, and Boise hosts Oregon in a game featuring two Select 17 teams.

The Arkansas defensive starters look to be crystalizing a bit.

Why is everyone so concerned about a freshman reserve DB that did not arrive on campus until August?

As he so often does, Harry King puts things in proper perspective — this time talking Michael Dyer.

It’s ACC v. SEC tonight as South Carolina goes to NC State.

LSU will introduce its verson of the WildHog this season.

Tim Tebow is healthy.  He must have touched himself.

Vanderbilt’s Bobby Johnson is quite familiar with his team’s opponent, Western Carolina.

The UK defense may be without a major cog this weekend thanks to injury.

Tennessee players did not please their head coach with Wednesday’s effort.

The fate of Anthony Dixon may not be known until Mississippi State takes the field on Saturday.

The Mississippi football coach and his starting TE do not appear to be on the same page.

It looks like the Georgia/Oklahoma State game could turn into must-see TV.

Alabama’s Jones and Ingram are both eligible for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech.

All eyes will be on the Auburn offense when they take the field against La Tech this weekend.