[ColoradoTree]

Aside from our obvious game of interest on Friday evening, there are some other interesting matchups around the college football world that could have ramifications on overall conference perceptions when we start talking about playoff teams down the line.

Pac-12 Teams:

Thursday, September 1:

* Oregon State @ Minnesota.  Not super exciting, but it's racking up wins like this that help make the case for the Pac-12 champ over another conference champ down the line.  I'll be conflicted, though: since Minnesota is my second team, I'll be at a watch party for this game with other Minnesotans.  Result: Minnesota 30, Oregon State 23. Oregon State showed flashes, but just doesn't seem very good. That said, Minnesota is a popular pick to win or challenge in the Big Ten West, so maybe losing by 7 on the road to a team that will go bowling isn't too bad. 
* Southern Utah @ Utah.  Nothing to be gained, only to be lost.  Result: Utah 24, Southern Utah 0.  The 0 is good, but folks will wonder about the 24.  Whatever, a win in the first game is a win. 

Friday, September 2:

* Colorado State vs. Colorado at Mile High in Denver.  Colorado State isn't a bad team, and this is always a tough game, but still. Have to win this one.
* Us vs. them.

Saturday, September 3:

* Rutgers @ Washington.  See the Oregon State-Minnesota comment above.  Rutgers isn't good, but going 2-0 vs. the Big Ten in Week 1 is a statistic I want. 
* #16 UCLA @ Texas A&M. Great opportunity for national exposure. Very winnable, but tough.
* UC Davis @ #24 Oregon. I don't want to talk about UC Davis.
* #20 SC vs. #1 Alabama in Arlington, TX.  May SC at least acquit themselves well.  Going 0-2 vs. the SEC in Week 1 is a statistic I really do not want. 
* Eastern Washington @ Wazzu.  A must-win, obviously, but EWU can be a dangerous FCS team.
* BYU vs. Arizona in Glendale, AZ.  Basically a home game at the Cardinals' stadium, but this would be a nice win.
* Northern Arizona @ ASU.  Just don't mess it up. 

Non-Pac-12 Games:

Saturday, September 3:

* #3 Oklahoma vs. #15 Houston (technically a neutral site game, but it's at the Houston Texans' stadium).
* Bowling Green @ #6 Ohio State. Dare to dream.
* Hawaii @ #7 Michigan. Dare to dream, uh, more.
* #5 LSU vs. Wisconsin (at Lambeau Field in Green Bay). This one is at least a plausible upset, since it's basically a road game for LSU.
* #2 Clemson @ Auburn.  I think Auburn will lose plenty of games this year, so here's hoping they give Clemson a run for their money at home.

Sunday, September 4:

* #10 N.D. @ Texas. As usual, I want ND to be highly ranked when we play them.

Monday, September 5:

* #11 Ole Miss vs. #4 Florida State in Orlando, FL.  I think Ole Miss will pick up losses elsewhere, so I'm rooting for them here.

[ColoradoTree]

Aside from our obvious game of interest on Friday evening, there are some other interesting matchups around the college football world that could have ramifications on overall conference perceptions when we start talking about playoff teams down the line.

Pac-12 Teams:

Thursday, September 1:

* Oregon State @ Minnesota.  Not super exciting, but it's racking up wins like this that help make the case for the Pac-12 champ over another conference champ down the line.  I'll be conflicted, though: since Minnesota is my second team, I'll be at a watch party for this game with other Minnesotans.  Result: Minnesota 30, Oregon State 23. Oregon State showed flashes, but just doesn't seem very good. That said, Minnesota is a popular pick to win or challenge in the Big Ten West, so maybe losing by 7 on the road to a team that will go bowling isn't too bad. 
* Southern Utah @ Utah.  Nothing to be gained, only to be lost.  Result: Utah 24, Southern Utah 0.  The 0 is good, but folks will wonder about the 24.  Whatever, a win in the first game is a win. 

Friday, September 2:

* Colorado State vs. Colorado at Mile High in Denver.  Colorado State isn't a bad team, and this is always a tough game, but still. Have to win this one.
* Us vs. them.

Saturday, September 3:

* Rutgers @ Washington.  See the Oregon State-Minnesota comment above.  Rutgers isn't good, but going 2-0 vs. the Big Ten in Week 1 is a statistic I want. 
* #16 UCLA @ Texas A&M. Great opportunity for national exposure. Very winnable, but tough.
* UC Davis @ #24 Oregon. I don't want to talk about UC Davis.
* #20 SC vs. #1 Alabama in Arlington, TX.  May SC at least acquit themselves well.  Going 0-2 vs. the SEC in Week 1 is a statistic I really do not want. 
* Eastern Washington @ Wazzu.  A must-win, obviously, but EWU can be a dangerous FCS team.
* BYU vs. Arizona in Glendale, AZ.  Basically a home game at the Cardinals' stadium, but this would be a nice win.
* Northern Arizona @ ASU.  Just don't mess it up. 

Non-Pac-12 Games:

Saturday, September 3:

* #3 Oklahoma vs. #15 Houston (technically a neutral site game, but it's at the Houston Texans' stadium).
* Bowling Green @ #6 Ohio State. Dare to dream.
* Hawaii @ #7 Michigan. Dare to dream, uh, more.
* #5 LSU vs. Wisconsin (at Lambeau Field in Green Bay). This one is at least a plausible upset, since it's basically a road game for LSU.
* #2 Clemson @ Auburn.  I think Auburn will lose plenty of games this year, so here's hoping they give Clemson a run for their money at home.

Sunday, September 4:

* #10 N.D. @ Texas. As usual, I want ND to be highly ranked when we play them.

Monday, September 5:

* #11 Ole Miss vs. #4 Florida State in Orlando, FL.  I think Ole Miss will pick up losses elsewhere, so I'm rooting for them here.