The Enquirer

Oregon State at No. 4 LSU

QUICK SLANT: USC struggled in its opener. Will the same happen to LSU, which shared the national title with the Trojans last season?

ABOUT OREGON STATE: The Beavers will be breaking in a new tailback to replace Steven Jackson, which means there probably will be more pressure on senior QB Derek Anderson. That's not necessarily a good thing, as Anderson often melts down under fire.

ABOUT LSU: The Tigers will be breaking in a new quarterback and some new receivers. There's a ton of pressure on QB Marcus Randall, a good athlete who didn't always produce when he started in 2002.

THE BUZZ: Oregon State is the only team in the country that plays both of last season's co-national champs. The Beavers host USC on Nov. 6.

THE LINE: LSU by 17 1/2.

No. 13 California at Air Force

QUICK SLANT: California is expected to be USC's prime competitor in the Pac-10, and a powerful Golden Bears offense will be going against an Air Force defense that returns just three starters.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA: Junior Aaron Rodgers will be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the nation, and he and WR Geoff McArthur form one of the best pass-catch combos in the nation.

ABOUT AIR FORCE: Shaun Carney will be the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for the Falcons. Darnell Stephens is the Falcons' best running back.

THE BUZZ: In the past five seasons, Air Force is 22-3 in its first five games of the season - but just 14-21 in the remaining games.

THE LINE: Cal by 13 1/2.

Wake Forest at No. 15 Clemson

QUICK SLANT: Clemson closed last season on a five-game winning streak.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST: The Demon Deacons mauled the Tigers 45-17 last season, and their funky, option-based offense can be tough to defend. TB Chris Barclay is the main weapon. Wake's passing game needs improvement.

ABOUT CLEMSON: Charlie Whitehurst is the best quarterback in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and he and a solid receiving corps could put up big numbers today. The defensive front could be weak.

THE BUZZ: If Clemson plans to be a player in the ACC race, it can't afford to lose this game.

THE LINE: Clemson by 12.

Northern Illinois at No. 22 Maryland

QUICK SLANT: Northern Illinois has beaten South Florida, Wake Forest and Maryland in its past three season openers.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: The Huskies want to win with defense and a strong rushing attack, but there are concerns about the rushing attack with the departure of TB Michael Turner. QB Josh Haldi likely will be asked to do more in the passing game this season.

ABOUT MARYLAND: The Terps are breaking in a new quarterback (Joel Statham), so NIU can expect a steady dose of TB Josh Allen running behind a good line. The defense will have seven new starters.

THE BUZZ: Maryland has started slowly each of the past two seasons. Will it happen again?

THE LINE: Maryland by 14 1/2.

Toledo at No. 25 Minnesota

QUICK SLANT: A win by Toledo and the Rockets have a chance to go 11-0.

ABOUT TOLEDO: The Rockets are loaded offensively. QB Bruce Gradkowski oversees a unit that could flirt with averaging 40 points. WR Lance Moore, T Nick Kaczur and TE Andrew Clarke are the standouts. Defense? Let's just say it's good Toledo can score.

ABOUT MINNESOTA: The Golden Gophers were third in the nation in rushing offense last season and want to run the ball down opponents' throats again. TBs Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney are a devastating 1-2 duo, and they run behind a good line.

THE BUZZ: This one should be an offensive show. Both offenses are good, both defenses questionable.

THE LINE: Minnesota by 11 1/2.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt

QUICK SLANT: The winner has the inside track to a fourth-place finish in the Southeastern Conference East - which probably would mean a bowl bid.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA: The Gamecocks are perhaps the biggest mystery team in the SEC. The defense, especially a line led by Moe Thompson and George Gause, looks good. The offense is the concern.

ABOUT VANDERBILT: The Commodores return 20 starters, including all 11 on defense. QB Jay Cutler and T Justin Geisinger head an offense that should be productive.

THE BUZZ: This is a huge game for Vandy. A win could propel the Commodores to a 4-1 start, which would put them in great position for their first bowl since 1982.

THE LINE: South Carolina by 3 1/2.

Oklahoma State at UCLA

QUICK SLANT: This looks to be an intriguing game between a Big 12 team replacing most of its skill-position talent and a Pac-10 team with lingering questions about its offense.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE: Redshirt freshman Donovan Woods will be new starter at quarterback, and his brother, D'Juan, should be his go-to receiver. The new tailback is junior Vernand Morency.

ABOUT UCLA: The Bruins were anemic offensively last season, and the hope is that eight returning starters on that side of the ball will eliminate that problem. The running game has potential.

THE BUZZ: An all-new defensive front bodes ill for UCLA, as Okie State should be able to run all over the Bruins.

THE LINE: Pick.

Memphis at Ole Miss

QUICK SLANT: The post-Manning era begins for Ole Miss. Can the Rebels cope?

ABOUT MEMPHIS: The Tigers should have a mighty potent offense. QB Danny Wimprine and WR Maurice Avery are a solid pass-catch combination, and TB DeAngelo Williams is one of the nation's best.

ABOUT OLE MISS: Junior Micheal Spurlock makes his first start, and you can expect Dunn to come at him from all angles. Ole Miss has an excellent line and wants to keep the ball on the ground to lessen the pressure on Spurlock.

THE BUZZ: Memphis beat Ole Miss 44-34 last season. The last two-game winning streak for the Tigers in the series was 1993-94.

THE LINE: Ole Miss by 3 1/2.

Colorado St. at Colorado

QUICK SLANT: It doesn't get much notice nationally, but this is a nasty rivalry.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE: There are high hopes for new starting QB Justin Holland, and he has good targets in WR David Anderson and TE Joel Dreessen. The running game is a concern.

ABOUT COLORADO: QB Joel Klatt is a good passer, but do the Buffs have any receivers? The running game should be OK.

THE BUZZ: For the first time since 1997, the game will be played on a campus rather than in Denver.

THE LINE: Colorado by 5.

SUNDAY'S GAMES

Syracuse at Purdue

QUICK SLANT: Purdue wants to find out if its defense will have anything this season. Syracuse just wants to find out if it has a quarterback.

ABOUT SYRACUSE: TB Walter Reyes will be the centerpiece of the offense, and with good reason: The Orange have a new quarterback and no go-to receiver. No quarterback on the roster has attempted a college pass. The back seven on defense has some potential, especially the linebackers. The secondary will be tested by Purdue's passing attack.

ABOUT PURDUE: The Boilermakers may have the best offense in the Big Ten. Kyle Orton should be one of the most productive quarterbacks in the nation, and a running game led by Jerod Void will be a nice complement to the passing game. But the Boilers have just three starters back on defense, and an all-new linebacking crew is a huge concern Sunday.

THE BUZZ: The Boilermakers think they can be a surprise team in the Big Ten. If they lose this, though, it'd be hard to believe they could even qualify for a bowl.

THE LINE: Purdue by 12.

Fresno St. at Washington

QUICK SLANT: Nice schedule for Fresno - at Washington this week and at Kansas State next week.

ABOUT FRESNO STATE: The Bulldogs are a legit WAC contender, and with good reason. All five starters return on the offensive line, and they'll block for a solid backfield in QB Paul Pinegar and TBs Bryson Sumlin and Dwayne Wright. The defensive line may be the team's strength. The linebackers are a concern. SS James Sanders is a big hitter.

ABOUT WASHINGTON: The Huskies have a new quarterback and a questionable running game - not a good combination. In addition, some receivers are banged-up. The defense may have to prop up the offense, at least early in the season. The Huskies have seven starters back on that side of the ball, including three members of what should be a solid secondary.

KEY INJURIES: Fresno backup OT Chris Stevenson (shoulder) is expected to miss the game.

THE BUZZ: Fresno has the line play to pull the upset. Washington Coach Keith Gilbertson is on shaky ground, and a loss here makes it even shakier.

THE LINE: Washington by 3.

MONDAY'S GAME

Pittsburgh at South Florida

QUICK SLANT: This is a matchup of future Big East foes (USF joins the league next season). But it may not be played because of Hurricane Frances. A final decision is expected Sunday.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH: Sophomore QB Tyler Palko makes his first start, and he'll operate behind a rebuilt line and with a new tailback and a new go-to receiver (likely Princell Brockenbrough). The defense has the potential to be stout, as long as the line plays better than it did last season.

ABOUT USF: The Bulls have six new starters on defense, but they will be fine on that side of the ball. It's the offense that is the concern - again. But big things are expected from JC transfer Andre Hall at tailback. If the Bulls can run effectively, that takes pressure off sophomore QB Pat Julmiste. The Bulls need a playmaker to emerge at receiver.

THE BUZZ: USF shocked the Panthers 35-26 in 2001 for its first big win over a I-A program.

THE LINE: USF by 1.