Pigskin picks

College football season came along at just the right time.
Finally, mercifully, we have something to talk about other than a certain quarterback/canine torturer and the Atlanta Braves' slow fade to unconsciousness.
I'm watching ‘‘College Football Live'' on ESPN right now and I have chills. They just showed footage from Mississippi State's pep rally and Sylvester Croom was talking about ''seizing the opportunity.''
The guy may not win many football games, but he gives a good speech.
I'm going to seize this opportunity to make a few predictions. Feel free to contribute your own in the discussion forum:

Thursday night

No. 2 LSU at Mississipp State
LSU returns 15 starters from an 11-2 team. Matt Flynn takes over for JaMarcus Russell at quarterback, but he’ll have no trouble thanks to targets like Early Doucet.
Prediction: LSU 31, Mississippi State 10

Saturday’s games of SEC/ACC interest

Oklahoma State at No. 13 Georgia
The Cowboys could present problems for the Bulldogs, who are breaking in new starters at defensive end, linebacker and cornerback. Oklahoma State averaged more than 200 yards per game rushing and passing last season, but their opponents moved the ball almost as well against a suspect defense.
Prediction: Georgia 28, Okie State 24

Kansas State at No. 18 Auburn
The absence of tailback Brad Lester could prevent Auburn's offense from breaking out in a big way. Auburn may get tested a little, but next week’s game against South Florida should really worry them.
Prediction: Auburn 21, Kansas State 13

Troy at No. 21 Arkansas
This could be a trap game for Arkansas, given Troy’s quirky offense and confidence coming off a bowl season. If the Trojans follow the lead of some enterprising Razorback fans and file a Freedom of Information Act request for Houston Nutt’s cell phone records before kickoff, they might distract him into forgetting for a moment that he has Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to carry the offense.
Prediction: Arkansas 31, Troy 21

Western Carolina at Alabama
The Nick Saban Era begins. Reckon anybody will show up for this one?
The Tide drew more than 92,000 for their spring game, but that occasion offered the promise of better competition.
Prediction: Ragin’ Sabans 42, Catamounts 3

Georgia Tech at Notre Dame
Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis declined to reveal the identity of his starting quarterback to the masses until the first offensive snap.
Yawn.
Might be a bigger deal if the Irish were expected to be better than 7-5.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 20, Golden Domers 10

No. 15 Tennessee at No. 12 California
The Vols administered a 35-18 beatdown last year in Knoxville, but Cal acts as if it never happened. Tennessee’s secondary should handle Cal star wideout Desean Jackson and QB Nate Longshore well enough to expose another Pac-10 pretender.
UT Erik Ainge has a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand, but will still play.
Prediction: Tennessee 21, Cal 17

Western Kentucky at No. 6 Florida
Why even bother scheduling this one?
Better still, why bother talking about it?
Prediction: Defending National Champions 45, Western Kentucky 7

Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky
The Wildcats should take an early lead in the race for the state championship. That should hold up until they face Louisville.
Prediction: Kentucky 38, Eastern Kentucky 20

Richmond at Vanderbilt
The Commodores keep hope alive that they will end their bowl drought this season. Which means it won't be until next week before the extinguishment of all hope begins.
Prediction: Vandy 28, Richmond 13

Louisiana-Lafayette at South Carolina
Academic problems will keep South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell on the sidelines, but coach Steve Spurrier has dealt with turmoil at the position in the past. Prized recruit Chris Smelley will get the start and he might not relinquish the job.
Prediction: South Carolina 28, Laughfayette 10

Ole Miss at Memphis
I ranked Ed Orgeron at the bottom of my preseason ranking of SEC coaches. One Ole Miss fan wrote back: ''You'd better be ready to apologize when we're in Atlanta.''
The e-mailer probably meant he would be in Atlanta on vacation.
Surely he didn't mean to suggest the Rebs would be playing for the league title.
Prediction: Ole Miss 14, Memphis 10