TV's five best college football games today

Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen starts the Irish run for a BCS Bowl today on NBC (AP) 

 

The first week of the college football season is often the time when things don’t go according to plan.

When the big boys aren’t paying attention and stump their toes.

This week I caught up with ESPN.com senior college football writer Ivan Maisel and we talked about four games that could  offer some very interesting storylines.

Here are some quick notes on what should be the most interesting games this weekend.

Maisel:” Navy goes to Columbus to face Ohio State and here is what we can expect. The Mids will be a very disciplined team. While they do run the triple option which could cause the Buckeyes some problems also look for Navy to pass when you least expect it. OSU can’t play sloppy or be looking ahead to next week’s showdown with USC. Navy will keep this a close game but expect the Buckeyes to win.”

Maisel on the USC opener:”On paper this game with San Jose State should not even be close. But Matt Barkley will be the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Trojans. There are plenty of talented players on offense around the young signal caller after all this is USC where they have great talent. But what will the offense look like remains to be seen. Defensively USC is young and talented but SJS running back Patrick Perry is very good and will provide USC with a good first test.”   

Maisel on Notre Dame:”Well this the year the Irish return to a BCS Bowl and it all starts today against a very tough Nevada team. If that is going to happen then Jimmy Clausen will have be able to throw the ball. Can Nevada’s secondary shutdown the Irish passing game? Possibly, yes, likely no.”

Maisel on Georgia – Oklahoma State:”This is a heck of a place for OSU QB Zack Robinson to return. Georgia has a very strong defense and vastly improved offensive line which should get the Dawgs off to a good start. That said if Robinson is healthy and his star RB Kendall Hunter and WR Dez Bryant are on then this talented trio can put points on anyone. This one is a real good SEC – Big 12 bragging rights game to open the season.”

 

Maisel on Virginia Tech and Alabama:”Nick Saban has made recruiting in Atlanta a top priority for the Tide. Alabama in Atlanta is becoming almost a home game. Bama has a shutdown defense that is quicker and maybe better than last year’s team. Tech comes into the game beginning the Tyrod Taylor era at QB. He is a gifted athlete and if Tech harbors any BCS National Championship aspirations then beating Alabama in Atlanta is the best place to start. It is also a statement game for the ACC that has gotten a lot of grief about not competing against the power conferences. It might not be fair but Virginia Tech win would go a long way toward gaining the ACC some much needed credibility.”