THE WORLD OF BAX: WE’RE BACK!

We’re Back! That’s apparently the mantra of overly optimistic college fans everywhere. If your team hasn’t lived up to your (probably way to high) expectations in recent years, a promising debut performance almost certainly led you to yell that same two word refrain. However, after this weekend, I’m afraid that claiming that one’s favorite gridiron heroes are ‘back’ simply has lost its luster.

Notre Dame fans will gleefully tell you that their team is ‘back’ today. Why? Because they shellacked a WAC team at home? Because former coach and notable Domer Homer Lou Holtz proclaimed that they’re bound for the BCS Championship Game? When did a strong opening performance against an inferior opponent all of a sudden mean that it is time to party like its 1988 in South Bend?

This syndrome isn’t exclusive to the legions of unrealistic Irish fans. In fact, this weekend’s Michigan-Notre Dame game might as well be called the “We’re Back!” Bowl. Michigan began the year with a 31-7 butt kicking against a directional Michigan school and that all of a sudden means that the Wolverines are ‘back’? Back to what, precisely? Winning season openers against teams that Michigan should beat with one arm behind their back? I know that this was the first time since 2006 that the Wolverines started 1-0, but being ‘back’ thanks to beating a MAC team seems like a little much, doesn’t it? At least beat Ohio State for the first time in six years before trying to tell me you’re back.

Speaking of the “We’re Back!” Bowl, it seems like the last five Miami-Florida State games could have earned that moniker if you had been foolish to listen to the winning side’s fans. After an admittedly fantastic game last night, Miami fans are clamoring to let the nation know that ‘Da U’ is back. Meanwhile, FSU fans are even getting in the act, claiming that a close loss to their oldest rival is a sign that they’re ‘back’!

WHAT? I saw two teams that couldn’t rush the passer and combined to allow 72 points on the field last night. Great, you scored some points but you did it against a pair of young and porous defenses that didn’t seem to realize that you’re actually allowed to cover the opposing team’s receivers. Ring up a ten win season before you even try to tell me that you’re back.

This insanity has to stop. I understand that most teams have extremely unrealistic expectations for their team every year (Notre Dame vs. Miami for the National Title?) but this constant shrieking of ‘we’re back!’ has to die and die quickly. What happens if Ohio State beats USC this week, giving them their first win over a top five opponent since 2006? Will Buckeye fans start screaming ‘we’re back!’ despite a 21-5 record during that time period? Actually, don’t answer that because we all know that the notoriously rabid Ohio State fans will be screaming that their team is ‘back’ if they pull out a victory.

And where does it end? Will USC tell everyone that they’re ‘back’ if they rebound the week after? This is like going down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland and it has to stop. Thus, I’m officially putting a moratorium on putting the word ‘back’ after the conjunction ‘we’re’ in any sentence remotely referencing football. This moratorium will be lifted in December ONLY for those fans whose team has actually won a conference title or earned a major bowl berth after emerging from a down cycle.

So, Miami fans, you’re not back until you at least make an appearance in the ACC Title Game for the first time since joining the league.

Florida State fans, you’re not back. You just lost to Miami. By the way, when was the last time you beat Florida?

Notre Dame fans, you’re not back until you beat USC. Check that, you’re not even allowed to say the word ‘back’ until you score a touchdown against USC, something you’ve failed to do since 2006!

Michigan fans, you’re not back until you actually beat Ohio State. You haven’t won the Big Ten since 2004 and haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 2003!

Ohio State fans, you never went anywhere in the first place. So if you beat USC, don’t start telling the world you’re back. You just managed to win a major game for the first time in two years.

To the Tennessee fans, Auburn fans, Wisconsin fans, UCLA fans, Clemson fans, and Texas A&M fans, don’t you even dare to utter ‘we’re’ and ‘back’ in the same sentence after beating minnows to start 2009.

Everyone clear? Good. Now on to this week’s preview.

It was an ugly opening weekend for me, as I only went 5-6 in my predictions. Yecch. With a few high-profile games on tap, I’ll have to do better this week.

Clemson at #18 Georgia Tech

Thursday, 7:00 PM EST

This is a very intriguing early test as both teams kick off ACC play. Clemson started the season with an easy win but did allow 300 yards to lowly Middle Tennessee State and I think that Georgia Tech’s exceptional running game could give them serious trouble. Furthermore, tailback CJ Spiller left the opener injured and the Tigers simply won’t win this game if he doesn’t play. I think that the Yellow Jackets are the better team and playing at home on a Thursday night only makes them a bigger favorite in my book.

Georgia Tech 34, Clemson 20

#17 North Carolina at Connecticut

Saturday, Noon EST

This is the ACC’s biggest road test of the week, which really doesn’t say much about the conference’s schedule outside of league play. Connecticut is rebuilding after losing a ton of talent to the NFL draft so UNC is the big favorite. Quarterback Tyler Yates needs to improve from last week but I expect an easy Tar Heel victory.

UNC 31, Connecticut 16

Fresno State at Wisconsin

Saturday, Noon EST

Conference pride is on the line as the Badgers and Bulldogs meet for the second consecutive year. After Wisconsin pulled out a 13-10 win last fall in California, Fresno State will be out for revenge. After noticeably different debuts ( Fresno won 51-0 over UC-Davis while Wisconsin won 28-20 over NIU), it will be very interesting to see how each team comes out. I like the Badgers to play strong defense and run the ball while enjoying a strong home field advantage in Camp Randall and that’s enough for me to predict a Wisconsin victory.

Wisconsin 23, Fresno State 13

#25 Iowa at Iowa State

Saturday, 12:05 PM EST

This game is the toughest rivalry games in the country that no one pays attention to. Despite Iowa’s superior record in the last decade, the Hawkeyes have lost four of the last five in this series played on ISU’s home turf! Even last year, when Iowa was en route to a 9-4 season and ISU was beginning a terrible 3-9 run, this game came down to a late punt return for a touchdown. Expect a close game all the way to the wire, especially after Iowa’s poor showing last week, but I’m picking the Hawkeyes to pull out a late win on a last second field goal in a game that never involves much scoring.

Iowa 16, Iowa State 13

#21 Notre Dame at Michigan

Saturday, 3:30 PM EST

I have one hope for this game. Please, please, please be a much better game to watch than last year’s slopfest which featured eight turnovers amidst a driving rainstorm. At one point, Michigan couldn’t even field a kickoff! While Michigan has won three out of the last four games in Ann Arbor, I don’t think that Michigan has an answer for Notre Dame’s strong passing game and that leads me to believe that Notre Dame comes out of this one with a victory.

Notre Dame 27, Michigan 17

 

> Check out the College Sports Fans 2009 college football team previews and the 2009-2010 college basketball previews today!

UCLA at Tennessee

Saturday, 4:00 PM EST

What we know about both teams: They can blow out inferior opponents, winning their openers by the combined score of 96-21 last week. However, we also know that Tennessee is one heck of a defensive team while Rick Neuheisel’s squad is still largely unknown. On top of that, UCLA has to travel to the SEC’s largest stadium and deal with a very hostile crowd. With a strong defense and home field advantage, I’m picking the Volunteers to improve to 2-0 heading into the Swamp next week.

Tennessee 24, UCLA 14

Mississippi State at Auburn

Saturday, 7:00 PM EST

SEC play kicks off with last year’s bottom two teams from the West Division. While both teams have head coaches making their debuts in conference play, I was more impressed by Auburn’s strong showing against an underrated Louisiana Tech squad than I was MSU’s blowout of a D-1AA team. Auburn is the better team and is playing at home, which makes my pick pretty easy. Just remember, this game was a 3-2 final last year that set offense back about four decades, so don’t expect a lot of excitement.

Auburn 20, Mississippi State 9

South Carolina at #13 Georgia

Saturday, 7:00 PM EST

This game has been highlighted by upsets and low scoring affairs ever since Steve Spurrier arrived in Columbia. Neither team has scored more than 18 points and only one game has been decided by more than a touchdown in the last four years! While South Carolina’s defense was impressive to start the year, their offense looked putrid and I expect Georgia to lock them down. However, the Bulldogs aren’t exactly the world’s most dangerous offense either, so expect another tight, low-scoring affair. I’m going with the home team to win a drawn out defensive struggle.

Georgia 16, South Carolina 10

#5 USC at #7 Ohio State

Saturday, 8:00 PM EST

This game is going to make or break the Big Ten and Ohio State’s reputation nationally. Ohio State has been enormously successful in recent years in the Big Ten but hasn’t beaten a ranked non-conference team since 2006, when they beat #2 Texas in Austin. Ironically, they’re facing a very similar opponent in USC. Both the 2009 Trojans and 2006 Longhorns brought back very talented teams that turned their offense over to a freshman quarterback. Both teams blew out a regional mid-major by seven touchdowns to start their seasons. Now USC has one of the country’s most talented young quarterbacks in Matt Barkley, but I think it is pretty fair to say that he’s going to have to face some serious adversity in the Horseshoe with 105,000 fans shaking the stadium and a very tough defense attacking him. Just remember, that freshman Texas quarterback that Ohio State beat in 2006 was a fellow named Colt McCoy and he turned into one heck of a player. BUT, he was pressured into a terrible game three years ago and he didn’t even have to play in the Shoe! I just can’t picture a true freshman quarterback making his first road start in Columbus at night and coming out with a win. I’m picking the Buckeyes to end their big game struggles with a huge victory.

Ohio State 27, USC 20

Purdue at Oregon

Saturday, 10:15 PM EST

Honestly, a week ago this game wasn’t even on my radar. Purdue looked like they were going to have a tough year and Oregon was one of the country’s best offensive teams. However, Purdue found a rushing attack in a major way while putting up 52 points to start the year and Oregon was not only humbled in a 19-8 loss at Boise State which saw them only rush for 31 yards but also lost their best player for the season! Oregon looks to be a team in disarray while Purdue is calm and ready to go under new head coach Danny Hope. On top of that, Purdue had a 20-6 lead in the 4 th quarter in last year’s game that turned into a 32-26 double overtime loss to a much superior Oregon team than the one they’ll face this year. I think that this is going to be a high scoring game at Autzen Stadium but I’m picking Purdue in my upset special to take advantage of Oregon’s week of distraction and win this ballgame.

UPSET SPECIAL: Purdue 34, Oregon 31

By Matt Baxendell
CollegeSports-fans.com Staff Writer

Matt Baxendell is collegesports-fans.com’s football writer. Keep an eye out all fall for his multiple weekly articles discussing everything college football. If you want to get in touch with him, email him at Matt.Baxendell@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @MattBaxendell

More college football articles from Baxendell:

• College Football Preseason Top 25 & National Title Contenders
• 2009 college football conference previews