COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Many ranked teams are taking it easy in Week 1
By Ralph D. Russo
Associated Press
Division I-A and I-AA football no longer exist.
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In an effort to make the schools formerly known as I-AA feel less like second-class institutions, the NCAA has divided Division I football into the Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A, which uses bowl games as its postseason) and the Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA, which uses a playoff and actually crowns an NCAA champion in the postseason).
So when Louisville beats Murray State by about 40 tonight, remember the Cardinals aren't playing a I-AA team, they're playing an FCS team.
Same goes for Ohio State vs. Youngstown State; Michigan vs. Appalachian State (the defending FCS champ); Florida vs. Western Kentucky; Texas A&M vs. Montana State; and Boise State vs. Weber State.
As for the competitive games in this opening weekend of college football, No. 12 California hosts No. 15 Tennessee in a Pac-10-Southeastern Conference matchup Saturday. On Monday night, the Bowden family gets together for No. 19 Florida State at Clemson.
The Picks
Today
No. 2 LSU (minus 17 1/2) at Mississippi State
Tigers have won seven straight over Bulldogs ... LSU 42-14.
Murray State (no line) at No. 10 Louisville
New Cardinals coach, same potent offense ... LOUISVILLE 50-10
Buffalo (plus 32) at No. 16 Rutgers
Scarlet Knights used to lose games such as this ... RUTGERS 42-7
Weber State (no line) at No. 24 Boise State
Broncos break in new starting QB Taylor Tharp ... BOISE STATE 55-14.
Saturday
Idaho (plus 45 1/2) at No. 1 Southern California
All the USC tailbacks get into the end zone ... USC 60-9.
Western Michigan (plus 23 1/2) at No. 3 West Virginia
WMU ranked fourth in nation against run in '06 ... WEST VIRGINIA 40-14.
Arkansas State (plus 39) at No. 4 Texas
Texas WR Limas Sweed (wrist) will play ... TEXAS 66-12.
Appalachian State (no line) at No. 5 Michigan
First I-AA, whoops, FCS team to visit Big House ... MICHIGAN 44-20.
Western Kentucky (no line) at No. 6 Florida
QB Tim Tebow's first start for Gators ... FLORIDA 53-10.
Washington State (plus 14) at No. 7 Wisconsin
Badgers 7-1-1 in last nine vs. Pac-10 ... WISCONSIN 30-17.
North Texas (plus 40 1/2) at No. 8 Oklahoma
DeMarco Murray could be Sooners' next star TB ... OKLAHOMA 54-10.
East Carolina (plus 26) at No. 9 Virginia Tech
Should be emotional opener for Hokies ... VIRGINIA TECH 39-7.
Youngstown State (no line) at No. 11 Ohio State
Coach Jim Tressel faces his former school ... OHIO STATE 35-13.
No. 15 Tennessee (plus 6) at No. 12 California
Vols beat Bears 35-18 in Knoxville last season ... CALIFORNIA 35-18.
Oklahoma State (plus 6 1/2) at No. 13 Georgia
Bulldogs have won 25 straight regular-season nonconference games ... GEORGIA 31-28.
No. 14 UCLA (minus 17) at Stanford
Bruins blanked Stanford in two of last three meetings ... UCLA 28-6.
Florida International (plus 38) at No. 17 Penn State
First game against Big Ten for Golden Panthers ... PENN STATE 45-13.
Kansas State (plus 13 1/2) at No. 18 Auburn
First meeting since 1979 ... AUBURN 27-16.
Nevada (plus 21) at No. 20 Nebraska
Huskers haven't lost home opener since 1985 vs. Florida State ... NEBRASKA 44-20.
Troy (plus 24) at No. 21 Arkansas
Darren McFadden's Heisman campaign starts with bang ... ARKANSAS 50-17.
Baylor (plus 20 1/2) at No. 22 TCU
Big 12 tune-up for Horned Frogs with Texas next week ... TCU 38-7.
Northern Colorado (no line) at No. 23 Hawaii
Colt Brennan throws five TDs for Warriors -- by halftime ... HAWAII 60-14.
Montana State (no line) at No. 25 Texas A&M
Montana State upset Colorado last season ... TEXAS A&M 42-13.
Monday
No. 19 Florida State (minus 3 1/2) at Clemson
Tigers have won three of last four Bowden Bowls ... CLEMSON 24-21.
Last season record (including bowls): 228-70 (straight); 148-126-7 (points). Bowl record: 24-7 (straight); 16-15 (points).
