First off, I can't even begin to tell you how excited and pleased I've been with all the positive comments and feedback that I've received from the people that read these each week during the college football season. I can't thank y'all enough for the encouraging comments, and I hope we live up to your expectations for the 2015 season.
Secondly, I'd like to introduce y'all to the fine gentleman that will be writing with me this year. His name is Justin Godsey, and he's from the great state of Alabama. Justin grew up as (and is still very much so) an Auburn fan, and I had the privilege of serving with him at Balad Air Base in Iraq in 2010. He's as knowledgeable of a football fan as you'll find, and while this is his first experience with writing picks, it's certainly not his first time picking games. We hope you enjoy reading our work this season!
Now it's time for the fun part! Here's our picks for week one of the 2015 season:
South Carolina vs. North Carolina
Godsey: I see South Carolina as being a little ahead of North Carolina when comparing the two football programs. South Carolina will be looking to rebound from last year and start this season off right. I give the nod to the Gamecocks.
The Pick: South Carolina 34 North Carolina 24.
Griff: Spurrier looks to start 2015 on a better note during this year's Thursday night opener. The Gamecocks will be starting a new quarterback and mostly new receivers, but South Carolina still has some weapons in Pharoh Cooper and Brandon Wilds to help them move the ball. Pharoh Cooper scores at least two different ways, and South Carolina succeeds at playing "keep away" with the Tarheel defense, along with fans seeing some improvement on defense.
The Pick: South Carolina 34 North Carolina 16
Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
Godsey: I don't see this as a tune-up game for the Commodores, but I'm also not saying the Hilltoppers aren't ready to pull off the upset on the road.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 31 Western Kentucky 17
Griff: Not even Ralph Webb can save the day for Vandy. Is this considered an upset though?
The Pick: Western Kentucky 27 Vanderbilt 24
Louisiana-Monroe vs. (9) Georgia
Godsey: This game is a great opportunity for Georgia to work out any kinks that still linger in week one.
The Pick: Georgia 45 Louisiana-Monroe 10
Griff: It will be interesting to see how Mark Richt and Brian Schottenheimer distribute the ball among Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Keith Marshall. Another point of intrigue will be the Bulldogs' signal-caller Greyson Lambert, who was an off-season transfer from Virginia and was the winner of the a very close quarterback battle coming out of camp.
The Pick: Georgia 52 Louisiana-Monroe 13
Godsey: The Rebels will be looking to make a big statement after the beating they took from TCU in the Peach Bowl to end 2014.
The Pick: Ole Miss 49 UT-Martin 17
Griff: The Rebels' defense starts 2015 by pitching a shut out.
The Pick: Ole Miss 31 UT-Martin 0
UTEP vs. (18) Arkansas
Godsey: I'm anxious to see how 2015 shakes out for Arkansas. Can they handle the competition that comes from playing in the SEC West? We will just have to wait and see, but Arkansas blasts UTEP in this one.
The Pick: Arkansas 38 UTEP 13
Griff: The Hogs use their brutal rushing attack, and Twitter fills up with #WPS after they thrash the Miners in Fayetteville.
The Pick: Arkansas 32 UTEP 16
Louisville vs. (6) Auburn
Godsey: This is an interesting game for the Tigers. There's a lot of hype down on the Plains with Will Muschamp bringing in a new defense. With a new scheme, however, there's always some growing pains. Look for Bobby Petrino to make some half-time adjustments and keep it close, but I like Auburn over Louisville.
The Pick: Auburn 38 Louisville 34
Griff: A lot will be learned about both of these teams during this matchup, and that will either confirm or discourage a lot pre-season expectations for both Auburn and Louisville. Both of these teams have the potential to win their conference, and I have Auburn winning this one by winning the turnover battle late in the game against Bobby Petrino's squad.
The Pick: Auburn 31 Louisville 21
Southeast Missouri State vs. (24) Missouri
The Pick: Missouri 52 SE Missouri State 21
Griff: I hope I get this one right. That's all.
The Pick: Missouri 56 SE Missouri State 10
Bowling Green vs. (25) Tennessee
Godsey: The Vols have high hopes this year, and their fans' expectations are even higher. Tennessee starts the year off right and takes care of Bowling Green.
The Pick: Tennessee 34 Bowling Green 17
Griff: This will be our first look at some of Butch Jones' fresh talent. Bowling Green isn't an awful team from the MAC, but the Vols will be able to handle them. Tennessee's offense shines under the direction of junior quarterback Josh Dobbs in this one.
The Pick: Tennessee 41 Bowling Green 21
(15) Arizona State vs. Texas A&M
Godsey: Arizona State is one of those teams that when they're hot, they're really hot. This being said, however, I like the Aggies in what is essentially a home game for them in Houston.
The Pick: Texas A&M 42 Arizona State 31
Griff: Kevin Sumlin and John Chavis aren't ranked to start the year, but the Aggies have a lot of talent. The hiring of Chavis in the offseason provides the A&M defense with a little more credibility. This game will be one of the better contests in a week where there's a lot of one-sided warmup games.
The Pick: Texas A&M 28 Arizona State 27
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Kentucky
Godsey: Not an easy game for the Wildcats, but they'll be able to outlast the Ragin' Cajuns.
The Pick: Kentucky 31 Louisiana-Lafayette 27
Griff: It's an important season for the Mark Stoops' regime, as they'll try to take another step forward in 2015. The Wildcats start off their season with a win here in week one before they travel to Columbia, South Carolina to play the Gamecocks.
The Pick: Kentucky 27 Louisiana-Lafayette 10
Godsey: Les Miles will have his team ready to bounce back from a mediocre 2014 season.
The Pick: LSU 52 McNeese State 7
Griff: The 2015 version of LSU has the potential to be a playoff-caliber team, if they can pick up some key conference victories on the road. That won't be decided this week, though.
The Pick: LSU 48 McNeese State 3
New Mexico State vs. Florida
Godsey: I really don't know what to expect from the Gators, but they don't lose this one down in the Swamp.
The Pick: Florida 38 New Mexico State 10
Griff: It's important that Florida finds consistency in their new offensive scheme under Jim McElwain, so they can score some points and keep their defense off the field. The Gators have some talent, but how do they preform under their first-year coach? A lowly New Mexico State will give McElwain a chance to make that offense feel good after week one.
The Pick: Florida 58 New Mexico State 14
(20) Wisconsin vs. (3) Alabama
Godsey: This is it folks, the marquee matchup of the weekend in the SEC. There's no doubt Nick Saban will have the Tide prepared, and Alabama has faired well playing in Arlington too. Wisconsin is looking to build off of a great 11-win season last year, but the Tide will be too good at stopping the run.
The Pick: Alabama 31 Wisconsin 24
Griff: Alabama's defense will make this game more one-sided than a lot of people think. Wisconsin quarterback situation is very "average," and the Badgers will be trying to replace the best running back to come through Camp Randall since Ron Dayne in Melvin Gordon. A lot "Roll Tide!" shouts in Jerry World on Saturday night.
The Pick: Alabama 31 Wisconsin 10
Godsey: Home field advantage won't help the Golden Eagles, and they'll feel the Bulldogs' bite.
The Pick: Mississippi State 45 Southern Miss 10
Griff: Dak Prescott will be on the prowl to silence the haters that picked Mississippi State last, after they surged all the way to number one spot in the top 25 last season. The Bulldogs start things off with a bang in 2015.
The Pick: Mississippi State 54 Southern Miss 13
Wofford vs. (12) Clemson
Godsey: Probably going to be a decent pay day for Wofford, as Clemson rolls.
The Pick: Clemson 52 Wofford 10
Griff: The Terriers will be pesky during the onset of this game. By the fourth quarter though, Deshaun Watson and the first-team offense will be hanging out like a wet tee shirt on a clothesline.
The Pick: Clemson 49 Wofford 20
Texas vs. (11) Notre Dame
Godsey: Texas has been disappointing the last few seasons. I don't see them getting past what appears to be a good rushing attack for Notre Dame. The Irish will be starting a new quarterback after the transfer of Everett Golson to Florida State. However, the Longhorns' lack of experience will be the difference in this game.
The Pick: Notre Dame 33 Texas 13
Griff: I see Charlie Strong's Longhorns making an improvement in 2015, and this game ends up being closer than people think.
The Pick: Notre Dame 26 Texas 20
Godsey: This game is prime time on Monday night, but it won't be that close. Ohio State, fresh off a championship season, will be looking to repeat. Buckeyes win big in week one.
The Pick: Ohio State 42 Virginia Tech 14
Griff: The Buckeye defense punishes the Hokies, and we'll get to see how Urban Meyer will manage his quarterbacks an how Braxton Miller looks at his new position of wide receiver.
The Pick: Ohio State 37 Virginia Tech 10
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