2018 Top Games of the Week: Week 1
College football is back, hallelujah! Keeping with this blog’s tradition, every week I’ll be previewing the best games each week. There will be the overall Top Ten Games of the Week, which I believe I’ve been doing for 5 years now. We’ll also have the 5 Group of 5 Games of the Week as well as the FCS Games of the Week.
Due to my new job and its time constraints, I don’t think I’ll be doing recap posts of the games after they’re played. It’s a big departure, but I think it’s a bit redundant as I talk about most of the same teams in the next week’s preview anyway.
The Top Ten Games of the Week
10. Ole Miss vs Texas Tech (Houston, TX)
Series Ledger: 3-2 Ole Miss
Last Meeting: 47-34 Ole Miss ½/2009 (Cotton Bowl)
I think the Texas Kickoff people were hoping these teams would be better when this game was scheduled, but this is what we have to work with. Both Texas Tech and Ole Miss are big unknowns in their respective conferences. Neither is expected to seriously compete, but a strong showing in Houston might be a sign of a good season.
9. Northwestern at Purdue
Series Ledger: 50-31-1 Purdue
Last Meeting: 23-13 Northwestern 11/11/2018
I like the occasional early season conference game, and we have an intriguing Big Ten West matchup right off the bat. Northwestern was the second best team in the division last year and should compete for the title once again. Purdue surprised everyone last year, and the Boilermakers are hoping to turn in an even stronger season in 2018. We’re gonna get a sneak peek at an interesting division early with this game.
8. #22 Boise State at Troy
Series Ledger: 1-0 Boise State
Last Meeting: 24-13 Boise State 9/2/2017
This should end up being one of the best G5 vs G5 nonconference games of the season. Boise State is the favorite to win the Mountain West and Troy should be the best team in the Sun Belt. If the AAC fails to produce a NY6 team, this game should have a part to play in that conversation.
Series Ledger: N/A
Last Meeting: First Meeting!
We’ve got two G5 games in the Top Ten this week, a special treat! FAU was one of the best G5 teams in the country last year and should be very strong yet again. Oklahoma needs no introduction. The Sooners are the perennial Big 12 Champions, but they’re replacing all world QB Baker Mayfield. Make no mistake, the Owls can challenge OU if they play like they did at the end of last season.
Series Ledger: 3-1 Texas
Last Meeting: 51-41 Maryland 9/2/2018
Oh look, Texas is ranked. It’d be a shame if they lost in Week 1 to Maryland…
5. Louisville vs #1 Alabama (Orlando, FL)
Series Ledger: 2-1 Alabama
Last Meeting: 34-7 Louisville 1/1/1991 (Fiesta Bowl)
I don’t give Louisville much of a chance here, but I think we could learn a lot about each team just by how Alabama wins and Louisville loses. The Cardinals have lost their Heisman winning quarterback, but are still considered a tough out by most teams that aren’t Bama. The Crimson Tide are, of course, expected to win the SEC and make the Playoff yet again.
4. #20 Virginia Tech at #19 Florida State
Series Ledger: 23-12 Florida State
Last Meeting: 28-22 Florida State 11/8/2012
Now this is a great cross-division game to start the season. Most people predict that these teams will be the second best in their respective conferences. The winner will make some waves early in the season in the ACC. The loser will be humbled but certainly won’t be out of their race. It’s a nice and refreshing matchup with conference-wide implications in Week 1.
3. #8 Miami FL vs #25 LSU (Arlington, TX)
Series Ledger: 9-3 LSU
Last Meeting: 40-3 LSU 12/30/2005 (Peach Bowl)
The second best kickoff game is one that I’m really excited about. Miami was one of the feel-good stories last year and are looking to capitalize on their successes. LSU is feeling a bit embattled, but they have enough talent to bloody somebody’s nose if cornered. There are big ramifications for the SEC and the ACC in their battle to be the best conference in college football.
2. #14 Michigan at #12 Notre Dame
Series Ledger: 24-16-1 Michigan
Last Meeting: 31-0 Notre Dame 9/6/2014
One of the great blue blood rivalry games returns to the field and it’s about damn time. Michigan and Notre Dame are two dark horse contenders for the Playoff and that race starts now. It’s a great rivalry game and both teams and their fanbases will be fired up for this meeting.
1. #6 Washington vs #9 Auburn (Atlanta, GA)
Series Ledger: N/A
Last Meeting: First Meeting!
Two Playoff caliber teams meet in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Washington is far and away the PAC-12 favorite and Auburn is as solid as ever, coming off a season where they beat both National Championship contestants. The game has huge ramifications for both teams and their respective conferences. I think a loss for Washington would knock the whole PAC-12 out of the Playoff race in just week 1. Those are some pretty high stakes.
5 Group of 5 Games of the Week
5. Colorado vs Colorado State 0-1 (0-0)
Series Ledger: 65-22 Colorado
Last Meeting: 17-3 Colorado 9/1/2017
The Rocky Mountain Showdown is a perennial favorite on this list, mostly because it’s a good P5 vs G5 rivalry and it’s always played earlier in the season when it’s easier to make the list.
Series Ledger: SMU 31-5-1
Last Meeting: 54-32 SMU 9/9/2017
A DFW rivalry with two sneaky good teams.
3. Washington State at Wyoming 1-0 (0-0)
Series Ledger: 4-2 Washington State
Last Meeting: 31-14 Washington State 9/19/2015
Did y’all see Wyoming play in Week 0? That defense is no joke. I know I don’t want my team playing in Laramie in the first week of the season.
Series Ledger: 2-1 Tulane
Last Meeting: 7-3 Wake Forest 9/1/2016
Wake Forest had a pretty good offense last year. Tulane did as well and should have an even better one this season. Yeah it’s nerdy private schools but so what?
1. San Diego State at #13 Stanford
Series Ledger: 3-2 Stanford
Last Meeting: 20-17 San Diego State 9/16/17
Last year SDSU beat a legit P5 team when they toppled Stanford. The Aztecs now have to defend themselves against the Cardinal’s revenge game. I’ll be there! Go Aztecs!
I’m having trouble finding my last meeting/all-time stats so bear with me.
5. #13 Northern Iowa at #24 Montana
Two solid FCS programs with Playoff hopes battle it out in Missoula.
4. #19 Villanova at Temple
A rivalry game featuring the two best college teams in the City of Brotherly Love. The Mayor’s Cup is up for grabs in this contest.
3. #19 North Carolina A&T 1-0 (0-0) at East Carolina
If ever there was an FCS upset you could be on, this would be it. A&T has already taken down one of the best FCS teams in the country with their week 0 win over Jacksonville State. East Carolina has had some serious issues on the football field lately and will be given a very hard time by the Aggies.
2. #3 South Dakota State at Iowa State
One of the FCS’s very best takes on a regional FBS opponent who is also looking to have a big year. This one could get fun.
1. #2 James Madison vs NC State
James Madison looked like the best FCS school in the country for almost all of the past two seasons. The Dukes face off against a quality NC State team that was one of the best squads in the ACC last year.
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