This week: The pre-season classics.

The best of the "pre-season" games is likely to be the very first one. Colorado State has been anointed as the last best hope for the conference formerly known as the WAC. If they can win their first two games (they play Colorado in week two), they have an excellent chance of fashioning a season very much like BYU's run in '95. They return 16 starters from a squad that won 11 games last year, but QB Moses Moreno is not one of them. Still, this should be a very good team in 98.

Michigan State is a bit of a Schizophrenic bunch. They can roll over a top-10 PSU team one week, and then turn around and lose to a sub .500 Northwestern squad. RB Sedrick Ervin (Jr) posted 1000 seasons in both his freshman and sophomore years, and there is no reason to think he can't do it again. On the other hand, CSU returns TWO 1000-yd rushers from last year. MSU's passing game is a mess, however, with a new starting QB and no big-play receivers. The most significant point to note is the man calling the shots on offense. That's right, MSU's OC is Maurice DeShazo's bestest buddy ... Gary Tranquill !

Pick: Colorado State

La. Tech was a pretty darn good (9-2) team last year, and the are very capable of putting up points. At last count, their 85 scholarship players consisted of QB Tim Rattay and about 84 wide receivers ... defense, however, is a problem.

Nebraska? Well, they're Nebraska. Starting RB DeAngelo Evans is out for the opener ... however, as we all know, RB at NU is pretty much plug and play.

The line is ridiculous though. New head coach, new QB, and only the #2 RB will start. Nebraska will win, and they will win big ... but not by 5 TDs. Take Nebraska, give the points.

Pick: Louisiana Tech

Yup, here's a winner. Purdue was one of college football's Cinderella stories last year, unfortunately they lost an awful lot from that squad to graduation. Time to find out just how much of a miracle worker coach Joe Tiller is.

USC ... well, will they be good or bad ? Flip a coin. They're kinda like Notre Dame: Lotsa talent, but they just can't seem to put it all together. Paul Hackett is the new coach, and he built his reputation as the head man at Pitt (13-20-1 from 89-92), and then as the offensive coordinator (93-97) for the high-scoring juggernaught known as the Kansas City Chiefs. *LOL*

The line is USC by 7, but I doubt I'll be able to stay awake to see the finish.

Pick: Purdue

This should also be an interesting game. FSU is always very good, and this year is no exception. Their new QB is older than I am ... but that's really the only question mark for the team ranked pre-season #2 in both major polls.

Texas A&M is no slouch, however. They are the run-away favorites to win the B-12 South, and ranked in the top-15 pre-season. A very good defense will serve as the main weapon, with a steady (if not flashy) offense capable of beating most teams.

Too bad for the Aggies, that Florida State is not "most teams". Embarrassed by last year's poor showing in their opener, look for Saint Bobby to really open it up on Monday night.