Big Willy Style's Football Friday

Welcome all to the first edition of Big Willy Style's Football Friday. Like all of us, I am thrilled the season is underway. Is there anything better than football saturdays and sundays in the fall, especially when you're hammering the books? Anyways, on to the picks for week 1 of the college football season.

5* Oklahoma State (-7) over Washington State - The cowboys come into Qwest Field this weekend sporting one of the country's best offensive lines and rushing attacks. Washington State is the bottom of the barrel in the Pac-10. They are weak on both sides of the offensive and defensive lines, not a good formula for winning football games, I dont care how "hostile" the wazzou crowd is. Okie State rolls here.

4* Clemson (-4.5) over Alabama – One of the marquee matchups of the weekend. Clemson has all the pieces in place for an ACC championship (finally) and they will come out guns blazing in this one. They are a more experienced team than the Tide and they will pull away late in the game as I don’t believe’s Bama’s defense can stay with them for 4 quarters.

4* Missouri (-9) over Illinois - Both these teams seem to be mirror images of each other, both coming off breakout seasons both have high aspirations coming into the season. However the Tigers’ aspirations are much more realistic. The key in this game is Missouri’s much improved defense that will force Juice Williams into bad decisions, especially without star RB Rashad Mendenhall to bail him out.

3* East Carolina (+9.5) over Virginia Tech – Upset alert here in week 1. Last year the Pirates gave Tech all they could handle in Blacksburg. This year they get them at home with an improved squad going up against a Tech team with an inexperienced backfield. If the hokies don’t come to play Saturday their BCS title hopes will be over before it even gets started

1* UCLA (+7.5) over Tennessee – Your classic opposite action play here. Bettors all over the country are betting their mortgages on the Vols (including some of my pick slip colleagues). Personally, I think it is not the best of ideas. UCLA’s defense is better than people think and will make up for lack of experience on the offensive side of the ball. Plus, has Philip Fullmer’s Vols ever come up big in a meaningful game? I thought so, take the Bruins on labor day.

Thats all for this week, GL to all. Check back early next week for some NFL season win total picks and some fantasy thoughts on the upcoming week 1 of the NFL season. Football is here ladies and gentlemen....