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By The Pigskin Prognosticator, PubClub.com College Football Expert
The Pac-12 has run aground, the ACC is in danger of sinking, the Big 12 has grabbed a lifeline and the Big 10 and SEC are the mother ships of college football. Hundred-year rivalries are dropping like apples from a tree while others are being rekindled by default with conference realignments.
The next thing you know, a hurricane will hit Los Angeles.
Just think back to the good ‘ol days when the biggest issues in college football were unlimited transfers and the NIL. And that was just last year. But as we head into the 2023 college football season, realignment has become like the so-called silly season in motorsports when rumors abound about which drivers are changing teams. And with the NCAA becoming like a disappearing sun at sunset, TV has become the sport’s bad moon rising.
Don’t go around tonightWell it’s bound to take your lifeThere’s a bad moon on the rise
TV has ruled college football ever since Georgia and Oklahoma sued the NCAA in 1984 over broadcasting games and today the situation is so out of control that USC’s women’s volleyball team – to site just one example – will have to travel to New Jersey instead of Stanford to play a conference game.
The only way to survive it in the short term for fans, athletes and administrators is to play the games to get our minds off the madness. And that time is now. Week 1 of college football is Labor Day Weekend. Tho most teams won’t be doing much heavy labor as the once dramatic weekend of many marquee games is reduced to a single meaningful matchup. Starting next year, the mega conferences should use this weekend to schedule some of its heavyweight matchups, like USC-Michigan and Oklahoma-Georgia. That would spice up opening weekend and somewhat sooth the loss of the the traditional regional conferences.
Now onto the top Labor Day Weekend games, few as they may be this year. There are a bunch of no-need-to-leave-the-beach-or-lake-party games with these dog matchups: UT Martin-Georgia, Michigan-East Carolina, Middle Tennessee-Alabama, Ohio State-Indiana, Nevada-USC and so forth. But there’s a few that serve as appetizers for the big feasts coming later in the season.
All times are Pacific because the Pigskin Prognosticator lives on the West Coast, the former home of the Pac-12.
Thursday, Aug. 31
Florida at Utah (5 p.m., ESPN)
If there’s any Pac-12 pride left, then the witty Whittinghams will try to show it while at the same time looking to make up for last year’s loss to the Chompers. After all, winning your league after losing to a 6-7 team doesn’t say much for the quality of competition in your conference. At least the game is at home this year and the Gainesville group will be breaking in a new QB. Winner: Utah
Saturday, Sept. 2
Colorado at TCU (9 a.m., FOX)
The Dion Deal begins in Boulder and he has a taller mountain to climb than Mount Elbert. The Buffs were anything but that the past few years, going 1-11 last year and just 5-19 the past two. Even if he falls on his face, Neon will be able to save face because the program he took over is just. That. Bad. The opening game is a golden opportunity for the Ralphies to see if they are headed in the right direction. This is actually the ideal opening opponent because it’s a no-lose situation. Win and it’s a big upset. Lose big and well that’s what most people expected. All the pressure is on the Toads. Last year they looked up and found itself in the National Championship game. They were 6-0 in one-score games and 9-0 in games within 10 points but were a few bounces away from being, say, 10-5 instead of 13-2. Winner: TCU.
Virginia at Tennessee (9 a.m., ABC)
The hype is high for Heupel, with UT fans posting videos all over TikTok with “Rocky Top” music. Before Heupel’s arrival, it was pretty much a pity life for Vols faithful but now they are feeling as sweet as soda pop. But will UVA pop their bubble right after the team splits the T? Doubtful. Yes, Virginia, you are bad. The Wahoos are coming off a three-win season and fans are not likely to be doing many “wa-hoo” chants this year because the team is breaking in a new quarterback, has to replace its top four wide receivers and is rebuilding the offensive line. Winner: Tennessee
Boise State at Washington (12:30 p.m., ABC)
The Dubs will be “sailgating” – their version of tailgating because the stadium is on a lake – looking to ride the wave created by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. They are woofing in anticipation of winning bigger games against USC and Oregon. The once-bucking Broncos are feeling frisky again but don’t have the horsepower to hang with these Dogs. Winner: Washington
West Virginia at Penn State (4:30 p.m., NBC)
The Pennsylvania Panthers are on the prowl in 2023. They are stalking their Big 10 prey but first must chase off a bunch of mountain men who could either be charging into Happy Valley fully loaded or firing blanks. Preseason predictions have the Couch Burners either going 3-9 or 10-2. If the game is close in the fourth quarter keep this in mind: The last time West Virginia won at Penn State was October 28, 1944. Winner: Penn State
Sunday, Sept. 3
LSU at Florida State (4:30 p.m., ABC)
The Bayou Boys feel they are ready to swamp all opponents in just the second year of the Brian Kelly Experiment. But the Spears – who beat Kelly in his LSU debut a year ago – feel they have the “Spear-It” mentality to send the Tigers home with their tail between their legs. And they will do that in a tight and tense opener that will set the stage for a dramatic 2023 college football season. Winner: Florida State
Monday, Sept. 4
Clemson at Duke (5 p.m., ESPN)
This is the last-beers-of-the-three-day-weekend game, a yawner that will hold your attention for, oh, about a quarter and a half. By that time, the only people watching will be those who spent their college years at the Tiger Tail Tavern and bar employees out on SIN night. Winner: Clemson
About The Pigskin Prognosticator
The Pigskin Prognosticator has covered college football for daily newspapers and has been the beat writer for Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina and Clemson. He has been to games all over the country, including Tennessee, Texas, USC and UCLA.
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