Boomer's Urban Renewal: College Football is Back!

Here on The Rock, we are very happy that CFB is back!

The 2012 edition of the College Football season is underway and this opening weekend will give everyone an early idea of what sort of season their favorite teams (some may be looking forward to CBB, already) will be having for the next several months. Last night, the season opener on ESPN had South Carolina traveling to Nashville to take on the up and coming Vanderbilt Commodores (Go Commodores!). The Gamecocks used THREE QB's while Heisman candidate RB Marcus Lattimore went for 131 total yards and 2 TD's, as the Gamecocks rallied back for a 17-13 win on the road. Storylines to follow this season, the impacts new coaches have at their schools. Will it hurt or help guys that decided to put the NFL on hold to come back for another go at the Crystal ball? From the entertaining non-conference slate of games, to the competitive conference schedules, this 2012 edition of college football will surely be one of the best in recent years.

Games to keep an eye on in Week 1: (Complete Week 1 schedule)

- #24 Boise State at Michigan State (8PM ESPN, FRI)

• Can the Broncos pull off another road win vs. a ranked opponent?

- Miami (OH) vs. #18 Ohio State (Noon BTN, SAT)

• The Urban Era finally gets started in Columbus.

- #8 Michigan vs. #2 Alabama (8PM ABC, SAT) *Cowboy Stadium* "Jerry's World"

• The Tide begins its title defense vs. do-it-all D-Rob.

- #14 Clemson vs. Auburn (7PM ESPN, SAT) *Georgia Dome* "Chick-fil-A Kickoff"

• Which Tiger comes out of the Georgia Dome, with early season MO?

- Kentucky vs. #25 Louisville (3:30 ESPN, SUN) "Governor's Cup"

• The Cards try to make it two-in-a-row vs. in-state rival Kentucky.

- Georgia Tech at #16 Va. Tech (8PM ESPN, MON)

• The winner of this game, has gone on to play in the ACC Championship the past 7 seasons.

Buckeyes Game Preview vs. Miami (OH)

Come noon on Saturday, the Urban Era will finally be underway in Columbus. The Buckeyes begin their 2012 bowl-ban season vs. in-state opponent Miami (OH) Redhawks. The two teams have played each other four times (all coming in Columbus) with the last time being the season opener back in 2005, Buckeyes won 34-14. What most Buckeye fans are looking forward to, is a fresh start from the nightmare that was the 6-7 2011 campaign. With the hire of Urban Meyer last November, the Capital City received an early Christmas gift from Ohio State University AD Gene Smith (by the way, how does he still have a job?). Urban was quoted by saying, "if it won't for Ohio State" or "this was the only school" that got him back into coaching college football after taking a year off and broadcasting games on ESPN. I'm looking forward to how the offensive unit excels in Urban's "Spread Offense", led by Sophomore QB Braxton "Atlanta R&B sensation" Miller. The RB unit is deep and will be counted on in the early stages of the season, as they wait on SOMEONE to emerge out from the WR unit on the outside. Is this defense really going to be back to being the "silver bullets" of years past, after giving up big plays/points just a season ago, with 9 starters back. Although, the Redhawks shouldn't give the Buckeyes much of a contest (Line: Buckeyes by 25), it will be very interesting/entertaining/amazing to see this squad for the first time under Head Coach Urban Meyer. Let's Go Buckeyes!

Weekend Game Picks

Michigan State over Boise State

Ohio State routs Miami (OH)

Alabama rolls over Michigan

Auburn upsets Clemson

Louisville flies past Kentucky

VA Tech in a close one over GA Tech

*Bonus Pick*

NFL Season Opener (8:30PM NBC, Next Wednesday): Giants win over division-rival Cowboys.

• Giants begin their Super Bowl reign vs. the "window closing" Cowboys.