Football is Back!

Football season is back and boy am I glad to see it. After an entire summer looking at out of shape and lazy baseball players and a sport with two trade deadlines, in which I'm still confused about, it's time to see some hard hitting football. Time to see some great one hand catches and see some outstanding QB's move their team down the field in a two-minute warning. I get excited just thinking about it. Yes I know that the college season started last weekend, but this will be the first full weekend of football, college and pro. We already had a great game on Thursday, the defending Super Bowl champ Steelers defeating the Titans in overtime 13-10. I'm sure after that great game there's a few more like that one to come.

Here are a few games, including a sleeper match-up, from both the college schedule and the pro schedule:

College
#18 Notre Dame @ Michigan: This is a match-up of two coaches that need a big win. Charlie Wiess is being called an intern coach in South Bend, and Rich Rod has already been called out on possible NCAA violations by his players none the less. Both teams are coming off a blowout win against Nevada and Western Michigan respectively, but the question is still out there...What kind of team are they? Saturday's game will tell us the answer. Well some of it at least. 3:30pm on ABC.

Central Michigan @ Michigan State: Central Michigan is coming off an embarrassing game against Arizona, scoring just 6 points with an offense that is suppose to be great. Michigan State on the other hand is coming off a good showing against Montana State, but the question still remains who will be their starting QB in the long run. Central has the capability to pull of the upset if their offense comes together and State can't come up with the right formula at QB. Noon on ESPN 2

#3 USC @ #8 Ohio State: The big match-up of the weekend. USC is starting a freshman QB on the road at night. Will Barkley be able to handle the noise from the crowd inside the horseshoe? For Ohio State they are trying to finally show up in big games, losing 35-3 in this same match-up last season, and also losing in the national championship to both Florida and LSU. A win hear could mean a lot for them but mean a whole heck of a lot more for the Big Ten. The Big Ten's power conference reputation has been getting trampled over lately. It's sad to say but they need to root for "The Ohio State University" this weekend to win this game Saturday night. 8pm on ESPN

SLEEPER MATCHUP-UCLA @ Tennessee: Last year they played and it was a great game. UCLA won 27-24. But after that game both teams floundered. UCLA finished 4-8 and Tennessee finished 5-8, leading to the firing of long time coach Phillip Fulmer. For Tennessee this should be a revenge game. They lost this game last year and it lead to a bad season and wholesale changes in the off-season. Don't count this game out. 4pm on ESPN.

NFL
Dolphins @ Falcons: This is a battle of, who was the fluke team last season? Both teams came out of nowhere to finish 11-5 last season. The Falcons added TE Tony Gonzalez to a powerful offense which already consist of WR Roddy White and RB Michael Turner. The Dolphins will probably turn out to be more contender than pretender. 1pm on CBS.

Eagles @ Panthers: This is a great match-up. The last time the Eagles played in Carolina, they lost in the NFC Championship game 14-3. Will this time be different? The Panthers are coming off of a 12-4 season but many feel that they will not be that same team. The Eagles need to get off to a good start seeing that they will introduce Mike Vick into the equation week 3. Who really knows what that will bring? 1pm on FOX

Bears @ Packers: This Sunday night game will be a classic black and blue match-up. Many experts expect the Packers offense to be powerful this season. Fantasy Football players look out for Aaron Rodgers. The Bears defense is coming off an injury plegged and highly disappointing season. And don't forget, Jay Cutler doesn't have Brandon Marshall to throw to this season. 8:20pm on NBC

SLEEPER MATCHUP-Jets @ Texans: Many people will be watching this game for what else? Mark Sanchez. Can Sanchez be the Matt Ryan of this year's QB class? The Texans need this game. They have been touted the up and coming team for probably 3 straight years now, but every year they start off slow and can't recover. This game is very important for their season. 1pm on CBS.