Week 1 Game Previews - National Games of Note

The Week 1 games are, for the most part, preseason games. We'll take a weekly look here at the national games of note and get to the Big 12 previews later in the week:

• Alabama at Clemson - There are a lot of questions about these teams headed into the year. Many pundits have big things predicted for the Clemson Tigers. These pundits feel an obligation to pick a team coached by someone with the last name of Bowden to be in the top 10. They forget that Clemson has lost at least four games in all but one of the seasons Tommy Bowden has been coach. Alabama will be improved this year, as Saban signed 80 players to scholarship offers in the spring and setup a cocaine sting to get back under the NCAA imposed scholarship limits. A review of common opponents from 2007 indicates that Clemson beat ULM. Pick: Clemson
• Appalachian State at LSU - Many people are asking the question, "Can Appy State pull the upset two years in a row?" The answer is...No. Pick: LSU
• La-Monroe at Auburn - Louisiana Monroe looks to continue its winning streak against Alabama-based SEC schools. This game is for additional bragging rights in Alabama, as Auburn has already made their "At Least we beat Louisiana-Monroe" bumper stickers to be passed out after the game to all Auburn fans that stay the entire game. Of course, Troy could make the same bumper sticker. Prediction: Auburn
• Tennessee at UCLA - The Vols last travelled to UCLA to play the Bruins in 1997 and beat UCLA 30-24. The Bruins were so upset about this they travelled to Austin the following week and beat Texas 66-3. I love that I was able to work mention of that game into this preview. UCLA now has Slick Rick as HC and Norm Chow as offensive coordinator. Unfortunately, the UCLA QB competition this summer has been sponsored by the Darwin Awards. Pick: Volunteers

We'll have the Big 12 Previews later in the week.