Some early thoughts on Week One

The night is still young as I write this, but I'll offer a few random thoughts before they evaporate into the ether:

Texas Tech is overrated. If a middle-of-the-pack Big Sky team can come to Lubbock and put 24 points on the board, the Red Raider defense is going to have a hard time keeping UT, OU and even SMU out of the end zone.

The Wolverines stink in August. Michigan apparently hasn't secured a Week One opponent yet for 2009. But since the Ann Arbor boys can't seem to get motivated for opening day, I'll place my bet right now that whoever comes to the Big House -- even the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers -- will walk away with a victory. I'll even spot you three points.

USC is the real deal. These guys could win the NFC West. At halftime of the massacre in Charlottesville, the sideline reporter asked Virginia coach Al Groh what his team could do to improve in the second half. Groh is no coaching slouch -- you may remember he used to coach the New York Jets. But he said that while his team had prepared meticulously and had seen all of SC's plays during film sessions, they simply could not stop the Trojans from exerting their will. That's how I felt last Thanksgiving at Sun Devil Stadium. SC's players are so talented and physical, it seems they cannot be stopped unless they self-destruct. Not to mention, they grow QBs on trees. Sanchez is a step up from Booty, which is kinda scary.