This week's games

Never before have so many people asked me what the five games are in the days leading up to Week 1 or seriously told me they are going to win the pool this year. This is probably the best group ever in a pool filled with interesting people, or as one entrant (one of Ramon's teammates on the famed '82 Wabbits dynasty) called the list of invitees, "a 'who's who' of bankers, doctors, lawyers, lawn guys, bond guys, car guys, pilots, priests, principals, builders, bums, nomads, and more." I'll add reporters, teachers, architects, engineers, health-care peeps, ad wizards, photographers, students, cartoon-voice actors, playground kings, and chicken pluckers. And we've got fans of a long list of colleges from across the country, so between the contest of picking the games and the actual games on the field, this should be an interesting competition.

Now for the games. We've got two with bad blood lingering from close contests last year (what is the Big East game of the year doing in Week 1?) plus two other big-time interconference match-ups. And you know the pool wouldn't be complete without an unpredictable ACC game to close out the first week.

Remember, all correct picks are worth two points unless otherwise noted, you are picking the games straight up without regard to the spread, and the home team is always listed last unless the game is on a neutral field like the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. So for $800 and the Ramon Escobar Trophy, soon to be the pride of your home or office, select your winners and e-mail them back to me by 8 p.m. Thursday. (If for some reason you don't get to the Thursday game in time, you can still send in your picks for the rest.)

Thursday Night Throwdown
Oregon - Boise State
9:15 p.m., Thursday, ESPN
Line: Boise State by 4

Georgia - Oklahoma State
2:30 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Oklahoma State by 5
* Underdog worth three points

Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
Alabama - Virginia Tech
7 p.m., Saturday, ABC
Line: Alabama by 7
* Underdog worth three points

Cincinnati - Rutgers
3 p.m., Monday, ESPN
Line: Rutgers by 5
* Underdog worth three points

The Florida Cup Series
Miami - Florida State
7 p.m., Monday, ESPN
Line: Florida State by 5
* Underdog worth three points

Good luck.
*****#*****

And my non-pool upset special: Take Louisiana Tech and the points against Auburn.