Guest Post: 2012 College Football Week 1 Upset Picks

The appeal of rooting for the underdog often draws people to college football, and week 1 provides several opportunities for upsets. Some of these upsets are more likely to happen than others, but football games are not played on paper. Can Michigan defeat last year’s national champions? Will Boise State pull off its typical early season upset? Can Tennessee right their foundering team? The odds may not be in these teams’ favor, but that does not mean that none of these teams will overcome the odds. Michigan over Alabama This upset is unlikely according to Vegas due to Alabama’s status as the defending national champions, but Big Ten powerhouse Michigan is not bereft of talent. Star quarterback Denard “Shoelace” Robinson is one of the game’s most electrifying players, and Michigan’s last game was their Sugar Bowl victory. Alabama has faltered in big games in the past, but so has Michigan. Both teams have lost a lot of starters to graduation, attrition, and the draft, but Alabama has the edge in terms of available players due to Nick Saban’s recruiting tactics. The Tide hold the edge in almost every category, and will likely win decisively. Yet if Bama starts slow and Robinson is on his game, the Wolverines could make things difficult for the defending national champs. Vanderbilt over South Carolina This upset stands a much greater chance of happening due to the combination of Gamecock RB Marcus Lattimore’s uncertain health and Vanderbilt’s recent resurgence. Many people have made South Carolina their early pick to win the SEC East, but Vandy had a better-than-usual season last year and played several solid teams close for all four quarters. South Carolina has more talent on both sides of the ball, but the Commodores get the Gamecocks at home, where they carded a 5-2 record last year. If Lattimore is not at full strength and if starting QB Connor Shaw is inconsistent, Vandy could pull off an upset in the first SEC game of the year. NC State over Tennessee College football fans last saw the Vols losing to Kentucky in an ugly 10-7 affair that doomed them to spend the bowl season at home. Coach Derek Dooley’s seat has grown quite warm in Knoxville; finishing 5-7 and losing to Kentucky for the first time in decades is not good enough for the Volunteers. Tennessee has talented but inconsistent skill players, yet the Wolfpack have approximately 7 starters returning on defense. Vols' star wide receiver Da’Rick Rodgers has been indefinitely suspended, so if the Pack’s defense can contain Justin Hunter and disrupt QB Tyler Bray’s rhythm, they will have a chance of pulling off an upset over an SEC team to start the season. Auburn over Clemson The early loss to ACC's Clemson last season left a bad taste in Auburn’s mouth, so this year they will try to avenge last year’s loss. Clemson returns starters at skill positions, yet inconsistent quarterback Tajh Boyd will be without one of his favorite receiver weapons in Sammy Watkins due to suspension. While Auburn wants to show people that last year’s loss is not the norm, Clemson desperately wants to show that they are more than the team last seen getting destroyed by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. Auburn had a more successful postseason outing, defeating Virginia in the Chick-fil-a Bowl. If Auburn can rattle Boyd, stall the offense, and use their advantage of line experience, they could pull off the upset and get off to a fast start. Boise State over Michigan State The Spartans are favored to win this one due to the fact that they are hosting the game and that the Broncos no longer have star quarterback Kellen Moore and running back Doug Martin, but Coach Petersen usually has his teams up for big games for which they have months to prepare. Michigan State is also fielding an inexperienced quarterback, and both teams will likely have solid defenses. If the Broncos can use some of their big game magic on the Spartans, they could pull off the upset and stay relevant in the national title discussion. Washington State over Brigham Young BYU is coming off of a successful season, and Washington State is excited about their new head coaching hire, Mike Leach. True, this is only Leach’s first season and he has not had time to install his offense or recruit his type of prospects, but Cougar QB Jeff Tuel is supposed to have a strong arm. BYU is expected to win this one, but Mike Leach’s teams can rarely ever be counted out of any ballgame. If Tuel is as good as some think he is and if Leach’s offensive players are quick studies, the Cougars could surprise some people. By Don Phan - Just another sports enthusiast.