AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 01
Friday, September 1, 2006
Answers on the way
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Questions, questions, we have questions. Here are our five biggest questions going into the first weekend of play.
1) What will happen if Tennessee loses to California? If the Vols beat the No. 9 Bears it will send the signal to the Volunteer Nation that the 5-6 nightmare of 2005 is officially over. But if Tennessee loses, it will be two weeks until Florida comes to Knoxville. How difficult will those weeks be for Phillip Fulmer and his staff?
2) Will Matthew Stafford get on the field against Western Kentucky? And if he doesn’t, what does that mean? Does it mean he might be red-shirted? And if that happens, will part of the Bulldog Nation go absolutely bonkers?
3) Can Arkansas keep it respectable? USC might have lost Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart but trust me, the Trojan dynasty ain’t over. USC is still loaded. The Hogs would have a much better chance of keeping it close if running back Darren McFadden had not chosen to kick somebody in the head at 4 o’clock in the morning and injured a toe. He might play but how effective can he be if he hasn’t practiced? But I digress. Coach Houston Nutt said that there is more excitement around this home game than any one he can remember. I say the Hogs play tough. They don’t win, but they play tough.
4) Can the Georgia Tech defense force three turnovers? If they can, then Notre Dame’s hopes of a national championship may be dealt an early blow Saturday night on The Flats. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will show Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn some things he hasn’t seen. The question is, what will happen when Charlie Weis makes his halftime adjustments? If Georgia Tech is plus-three or more in turnovers, it wins.
5) What will be the weekend’s biggest upset? Barring a Tech victory over Notre Dame, we’re going with Baylor over TCU. TCU went 11-1 last season and has hopes of going to a BCS bowl. But Guy Morriss has given Baylor a new attitude and has the Bears on the verge of finally being competitive in the Big 12.
