UAB 44 – Rice 24

RECAP

WEEKLY LIVE BLOG

Coverage:

• UAB Official Site
• Rice Official Site
• Birmingham Weekly: UAB season preview
• UAB Football Game Notes
• Rice Football Game Notes

Weekly Pick: Until last season, decades had separated Rice University from relevancy in major college football. The team finished 2008 with 10 wins; the first time the Owls had achieved such a feat since 1949. Rice will have to break in a new quarterback in 2009 (quite possibly Alabama transfer Nick Fanuzzi), but should have enough weapons held over from last season to pull out a week one victory. I’m not worried about UAB’s offense, which should be in good hands this season (those of senior QB Joe Webb). However, until I see some improvement on defense with my own eyes, I’ll have to say…Rice 31, UAB 28

Auburn 37 – Louisiana Tech 13

RECAP

Coverage:

• Auburn Official Site
• La. Tech Official Site
• Birmingham Weekly: Auburn season preview
• Auburn Football Game Notes
• La. Tech Football Game Notes

Weekly Pick: Oh Lord, Auburn had better find a way to win this one, or the same fans that met Jay Jacobs at the airport back in December will be building a tent city outside his office on Sept. 6. The Bulldogs aren’t your typical first-game cupcake. Head Coach Derek Dooley already has one SEC opening-week scalp on his bedpost (Mississippi State, 2008) and was on Auburn’s short list to replace Tommy Tuberville. Can the Bulldogs pull off an SEC upset two years in a row? Maybe, if the game wasn’t at Jordan-Hare. Auburn 28, Louisiana Tech 14.

#5 Alabama 34 -  #7 Virginia Tech 24

RECAP

Coverage:

• Alabama Official Site
• Virginia Tech Official Site
• Birmingham Weekly: Alabama season preview
• Alabama Football Game Notes
• Virginia Tech Football Game Notes

Weekly Pick: Is Virginia Tech the best team Alabama will face in the regular season? It certainly seems like it. Top 10 ranking, cemented starter at quarterback, veteran defense, defending ACC and Orange Bowl champions…the Hokies have the pieces to make a serious run in 2009. Meanwhile, Alabama has some serious holes to fill from last year’s 12-2 team. Sure the defense will be stifling, but new starters at quarterback and along the line of scrimmage could have the offense spinning its wheels early on. The question is, can Alabama win on defense alone in the first few weeks while Greg McElroy gets his feet adjusted to the fire? Virginia Tech 21, Alabama 17.

Other State Games

UCF 28, Samford 24

LaGrange 30, Birmingham-Southern 27

Georgia Tech 37, Jacksonville State 17

North Alabama 31, Carson-Newman 14

Alabama A&M 24, Tennessee State 7

Alabama State 38, Concordia 33

South Alabama 30, Hargrave Military 13