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News Junkie
Tomorrow means predictions, but you might want to bookmark this post to get ready for this weekend's games in front of the TV. But just because I'm not doing it doesn't mean you can't. Let's hear your predictions for Week 1 in the comments.Here's who's playing who when, where and on what channel this week (all times ET):
THURSDAY
Northern Illinois at Iowa State (8 p.m., Fox Sports Net): The Cyclones easiest nonconference matchup, Thursday night's game sets up a nice duel between two great pinballers at running back, Iowa State's Alexander Robinson (5-foot-9, 191 pounds) and Northern Illinois' Chad Spann (5-foot-9, 197 pounds), both of whom topped 1,000 yards in 2009.
SATURDAY
Missouri vs. Illinois in St. Louis (12:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net): Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be without top running back Derrick Washington, but will have a chance to throw against an Illinois secondary missing two starters.
Colorado vs. Colorado State in Denver (2 p.m., The Mtn.): Colorado will try to avoid duplicating last season's embarrassment in the annual rivalry game, this time with quarterback Tyler Hansen, who's starting his first nonconference game.
UCLA at Kansas State (3:30 p.m., ABC): Wildcats lost the first half of the home-and-home out in Los Angeles last year. It might be different in Manhattan this time around as Bill Snyder kicks off his second year back at Kansas State.
No. 5 Texas vs. Rice in Houston (3:30 p.m., ESPN): So what if Rice is the home team in a game in the same city as their campus? This will be a Longhorn-friendly crowd. Not that it will matter.
Washington State at Oklahoma State (7 p.m., Fox Sports Net): Cowboys are kicking off against a BCS conference opponent, but the Cougars might be the worst team in any of the big six conferences.
Sam Houston State at Baylor (7 p.m., none): Robert Griffin's return won't be high profile, but the FCS Bearkats should be a nice warm-up. And hey, their punter is Australian!
North Dakota State at Kansas (7 p.m., Fox College Sports): Coach Turner Gill and sophomore quarterback Kale Pick will make their Jayhawk debuts against the FCS Bison, who finished last season 3-8.
Western Kentucky at No. 8 Nebraska (7 p.m., pay-per-view): The Huskers will take on the Hilltoppers (and their mascot, Big Red), who enter Memorial Stadium with the nation's longest losing streak, 20 games. The main attraction is obvious: As the only team in the Big 12 who hasn't announced a Week 1 starter, which quarterback will take the first snap of a long-awaited 2010?
Utah State at No. 7 Oklahoma (7 p.m., pay-per-view): Oklahoma lost a Heisman winner, a game and national title hopes in its season opener last season. Though this year's debut lacks the glitz of JerryWorld, coach Bob Stoops will likely sleep a little easier before putting on his headset against the Aggies.
Stephen F. Austin at Texas A&M (7 p.m., none): Jerrod Johnson and the Aggies will kickoff one of the most anticipated seasons in recent history against the Lumberjacks as Tim DeRuyter's 3-4 defense will get its first workout.
SUNDAY
SMU at Texas Tech (3:30 p.m., ESPN): Kyle Padron will be a nice challenge for Tommy Tuberville's defense in Week 1, but he'll be trying to make his debut a sweet one against June Jones' upstart Mustangs, who won seven more games in 2009 (8) than they did in 2008 (1).
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