College: Miami (FL) vs. Ohio State
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2:40pm ET, ESPN
Let's face it, this is the first real weekend of college football (Alabama vs. San Diego St. isn't a football game, it's a...OK, it's technically a football game. But it's a very lopsided one.) And this year a lot of people are picking the second-ranked Buckeyes to ditch the Poinsetta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Bowl, Little Caesars Pizza Bowl or the Beef O'Brady's Bowl to make it all the way to BCS Championship Bowl (think of it as a sort of "super" bowl for college students). But to get there they're going to have to get past a 13th-ranked Miami team who've been described as "also very good." And since most top-ranked teams wait three or four weeks before taking on a formidable foe, this match-up is an early September treat.
Who Will Win and Why: Ohio State because they've got a Heisman candidate quarterback, and the Buckeyes prefer to wait until much later in the season to lose important football games.
Random Fact: The Beef O'Brady's Bowl actually exists.
Pro: Green Bay vs. Philadelphia
Date: Sunday, 4:15 PM, FOX
This should be an offensive spectacle, with mega-QB Aaron Rodgers at the helm of the pass-happy Packers. And while Rodgers is a proven commodity, Philly fans are sure to be picking apart their new starter, QB Kevin Kolb, taking over for much hated/loved Donovan McNabb, now with the 'Skins. Of course, during Kolb's two starts last year he threw for over 300 yards per game. If he can attain those stats on Sunday, this could be one of the season's best shootouts. Still, we're most excited about turning this into a Brett Favre drinking game, where everybody pounds a cold one when the game commentator says, "Nobody's missing Brett Favre in Green Bay now!" over and over AND OVER again.
Who Will Win and Why: It's not often that an opponent can head to the Eagles home turf and expect to walk out a winner, but it'll happen this Sunday. Even if it's just by a field goal.
Random Fact: There will be a lot of drunk NFL fans on Sunday.
If You Have to Watch One: Watch the pro game. If only to see Rodgers unleash hell, or to see how quickly Philly fans turn on Kolb if he throws a pick. Either way, it's Week 1 of the NFL. Finally! Now where's our cold beverage?