Folks it is Football Friday the first one of the year and that means EA Sports, NCAA '11 and the rest of the college football world is back reminding you to show your colors.

Make sure you show your team pride and let folks now who you claim heading into the weekend. You now Pat will have on his purple and gold and your's truly will proudly be wearing the Carolina blue.

Photo Credit: Terry Gilliam-AP

The Good

The glorious return of college football. Before the festivities started, Spencer Hall gave us all this inspired and moving piece of writing.

FCS school Presbyterian took on Wake Forest in a rent-a-win game to kick things off. And, Wake Forest certainly got the most for their money (53-13 win) in beating up a team that hasn't won since last November. Wake Forest QB Ted Stachitas scored the first TD of the season (and his career) on a 34 yard scamper. The Demon Deacons' Alex Frye took an errant pass 44 yards for the first defensive score of the new year.

It was only Marshall, but bizarro Jim Tressel returned to coach the Ohio State Buckeyes. We last saw him victorious at the Rose Bowl. Terrelle Pryor was unleashed again and threw often on first down. Pryor finished the game with 17 completions on 25 attempts and 3 TD passes. Pryor has thrown the ball 62 times in his last two outings. That's more than he threw last year against Penn St., Iowa and Michigan combined (51 attempts). You have to go back to October 24, 2009, against Minnesota to find the last time Pryor threw 25 passes in a regular season game. Both RBs Brandon Saine and Jaamal Berry averaged over 11 yards per carry and broke off big runs. It was a total victory for Ohio State except for a special teams miscue. Marshall blocked a 50+ yard FG attempt and Ahmed Shakoor (see above) returned it for a score. The return constituted the Thundering Herd's only points, but they were fantastic points nonetheless.

Stephen Garcia and South Carolina didn't let any nagging offseason distractions (ahem, investigations) get in the way of business: dominating Southern Mississippi. Garcia didn't throw any TDs but he didn't need to with how effective the run game was (at halftime Spurrier opined that all of the TDs might have to be runs). Garcia accounted for two rushing TDs and freshman RB Marcus Lattimore matched him with two of his own. The Gamecock offense was almost perfectly balanced: 225 yards passing, 224 yards rushing. The defense shut down the run and bothered the Golden Eagles WRs just enough went it counted. The result was a lopsided 41-13 victory for South Carolina. The game didn't start out looking like it would end up that way. South Carolina went three and out on their first drive and started out with two false starts on their first TD drive.

So, like most normal, red blooded southern men I'm into football. Probably more so than most because I've played the game, I love the game and as you know from reading this website I'm very "into" my football. Today folks, 09/02/10 is a special day.

Not just because of the television show but because today marks the official start of the 2010 college football season for the big boys.

That's right folks, we're gearing up for the biggest games of the week. All of us have been sending tweets back and forth about how excited we are for the season. My plans, including laundry, have been finally set in motion for the Atlanta trip. We're all in folks, the season has kicked off here for In The Bleachers and for all of us across the country.

All of us except for one group. The ACC. While the rest of us are salivating at the very thought of watching real live football tonight the ACC has decided today is the perfect time to release the 2010-11 college basketball schedules.

Here at ITB we're not ACC homers so much as a guy with a vested interest in the ACC's success. Speaking with Michael Kelly the ACC's Associate Commissioner of Communications and Football Operations earlier this year confidence in the league taking steps in the right direction was high. As John Swofford and Co. closed the new TV deal with ESPN the league appeared to finally be trending upward off the field.

On the field the league also seems to have the rug back underneath their feet post-expansion. Plenty of talent returning to the quarterback position. Coaches in place that seem poised to lead their respective teams closer to the promised land. Five teams ranked in the Preseason Top 20 in both the AP and the USA Today Poll.

Both on and off the field the league has appeared to take steps in the right direction. Hell, here we've even discussed the ACC's move towards an SEC-esque rooting style that would build solidarity through mimmicking the best conference in the land.

So what gives? How does the league appear to be getting it five plus years of allowing football to languish after expanding for the very sake of football?

Why is it that the league, after spending the offseason building up to this much anticipated crescendo, slips back to their comfort zone? Why is it that with the league teeming with talent, staring over edge as they appear poised to leap into legitimacy the "basketball conference" has to rear its ugly head?

There is some merit to the idea that ACC schedules were delayed due to the NBA and ESPN's desire to grab as many Lebron games as possible. 

However, in all of his calendar red-lining and schedule making Karl Hicks, the ACC's associate commissioner for men's basketball operations, couldn't coordinate this better?

He couldn't make a phone call to our guy Michael Kelly and work out a way for "you're just a basketball conference" to not be the easiest joke to slap on the league; again?

At best it is poor coordination from a league that really seemed to be taking major steps down the right path. At worst it is a selfish power play. Depending upon your affinity for ACC basketball I'm sure you'll fall somewhere within that spectrum. Personally I think its a carelessly callous play for attention that directly diverts eyes and conversations from the start of a tremendous ACC football campaign.

That says it all, until there's a care and commitment, not just from guys on the football side of things but from the conference as a whole the "you're irrelevant in football" and "you're a basketball only conference" tags will continue to stigmatize the ACC and ACC football.

A few weeks ago, the people over at kontrolfreek.com (a video game controller accessory maker) sent me their new product, the TD Freek. You can use the TD Freek on either PS3 or XBox 360 controllers (I only tried it on PS3). According to the manufacturer's description, "TD Freek was created for all of you armchair quarterbacks who dream in X's and O's and love the sound of crunching pads. A must-have for fans of Madden and NCAA Football, the TD Freek helps you gain the upper thumb during tense situations, like fourth and goals, when precision is a must." After playing dozens of games with the TD Freek on NCAA Football 11, I am ready to give you the full ITB review below (just in time for college football season).

We're back and this is the first Live Chat where we actually get to discuss the football that is going on, ON THE FIELD. But of course that would be too good so we're going to have to hit on some quick off the field issues as well, starting with the Jeremiah Masoli case where he was denied a transfer waiver by the NCAA. Clay Travis makes an excellent argument for why the NCAA did the right thing in denying Masoli.

However, I don't agree with Clay. Tony Barnhart of the AJC has a great take on the rule that really cleared up the need for me to wordify on this subject beyond this chat discussion. The issue isn't what Masoli did at Oregon or before he got to school. The issue here is that the rule makes zero discussion of the role discipline plays, it simply tells how a player gets the waiver; classroom success. Something Masoli, for all his troubles, did have.

Another topic we've got on the docket is the Ohio State-Michigan game and the role that will play in the Big Ten's move towards divisions. Some folks hate moving the game, others equate this to the ACC selling their souls for the hopes of getting Florida State and Miami in the championship game. No matter where you stand I'm sure there will be plenty to debate.

Finally after we sift through all the housekeeping we'll be down for talking football. Bring whichever games you want and we'll break them down and if you don't bring any games you'll be subjected to hearing us further wax philosophical on this week's Slate of Eight.

If you haven't heard the podcast you might want to listen and brush up your knowledge so you don't bring no weak 'week one' action. Don't sing it folks, bring it.

Enjoy the livechat and be sure to bring the UNC-LSU smack if you so dare.

This is the inaugural edition of ITB's Slate of Eight and we bring on friend of the program Aaron Torres from fellow Bloguin site Aaron Torres Sports stops by to kickoff the season. Since this is the first edition let me explain how this works:

We've selected eight games. To be more specific we've selected the eight games that, regardless of your allegiance, location or rooting interest, every college football fan should tune in to watch. For some games the sheer magnitude of the contests might be enough to make them a must see. Others have very intriguing match ups while a couple games feature great storylines that will help shape not only the 2010 season but the future of programs going down the road.

The ITB Slate of Eight, Week One Edition:

Utah - Pitt
Southern Miss - Sakerlina
UConn - Michigan
Oregon State - TCU
Purdue - Notre Dame
Cincinnati - Fresno State
North Carolina - LSU
Virginia Tech - Boise State

Give the show a listen folks as we squeeze a ton of predictions, discussion, information and thoughts into the show just for you to consume as game time quickly approaches. We'll do this weekly and there will be a running tab as I take on my weekly co-host when we pick games. You've got us on the record and make sure that you're playing along with us in the "home version of the game" by joining the ITB Pick'em Pool over at Fun Office Pools (password: inthebleachers)!

To listen to the show click here or subscribe to one of the methods listed below.

If you want the podcast you must subscribe to the Feedburner, but if you want to subscribe to the blog please use the RSS Feed. This is for iTunes to be able to archive the shows. You can also search for "In The Bleachers"on iTunes and subscribe to the podcast that way.

Got a question? Email it in to InTheBleachers @ GMAIL (dot) COM

Hit us up on Twitter @InTheBleachers!

So yesterday, yes on a Sunday, I spent the day knocking out my conference predictions which was a monumental task since mostly on weekends I lay around watching fantastic films and eating popcorn. Today folks we here and In The Bleachers go that extra mile. We don't just pick a BCS Title game for you, no, that would be too easy. Too predictable. We here at ITB strive to give you the very best. To drop knowledge and TRUTHBOMBS to get you thinking as we fully prepare you for the 2010 college football season.

With that in mind we are going to give you all 10 BCS selections. Just like our conference predictions from yesterday these are guaranteed to be 100% correct at the moment. They're accurate because they definitely could happen right now. We're going with the real formula folks so this is our defacto "selection" process in deciding who plays in each game and you'll get our at-large picks as well.

Read more to get the scoop on your friends for who will be playing in each of the five BCS games...

Everyone Loves A Good Investigation: North Carolina held a press conference which told us that there is an academic cheating investigation in addition to the ongoing investigation by the NCAA over possible improper contact with agents. Beyond this scant information, we learned nothing about this academic investigation. We did learn that UNC really doesn't seem to know how to handle such events. The person of interest at the center of the academic investigation is Butch Davis' nanny (ok, she probably isn't a nanny, but this is trash talk week due to the LSU v. UNC game). In any event, reviewing the lengthy list of UNC starters/potential starters relegated to the scout team, the vaunted Tar Heels defense could be decimated just in time for the game this Saturday against LSU. Bonne chance!

Another Exercise in "Indefinite" Suspensions: Trojans Head coach Lane Kiffin already has a thin squad for the 2010 season (70 players on scholarship). Kiffin has decided to whip out the "indefinite" suspension card again (last time starting FB Stanley Havili enjoyed a day off during his indefinite suspension for breaking the cheekbone of starting DB T.J. Bryant). The recipient this time around is Freshman Safety Patrick Hall. The Trojans are bringing 80 guys to Hawai'i to face the Warriors on Thursday. A walk-on has replaced Hall on the travel squad.

NFL Preseason Blitz (Rookie tracking continues and Favre demands attention): Rams Rookie QB Sam Bradford did well against the Patriots going 15/22 passing for 189 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INT. The Rams won 36-35. Colt McCoy is still playing like he should get cut by the Browns. He was 10/14 for 76 yards which isn't bad. However, he didn't feel Lions Rookie DE Willie Young coming and Young slapped the ball out of McCoy's hand--this was another huge play for the 7th round draft pick which will go a long way toward earning him a roster spot. The Lions recovered the fumble and scored the TD which put the game away seven plays later. McCoy was able to get the Browns from their own 20 to the Detroit 36 with 1:08 remaining when he overthrew a pass which would have converted the fourth down. What made this telling picture happen was none of the above narrative. Instead, it was McCoy's Hail Mary attempt that sailed out of bounds on the final play of the game. Tim Tebow threw his first TD as a Bronco in Denver's 34-17 pasting of the Steelers. He also spotted the Steelers 7 with a near pick six which turned into a TD two plays later. Brett Favre was rusty awful (8 series played, 2 INT, 1 pick six, 2 fumbles [1 lost], no TD), yet the Vikings still won the game against the Seahawks 24-13. Last but not least, Saints Rookie RB Chris Ivory continues to play his way onto the roster, having put together this little number during the win against the Chargers...

It's Finally Game Week. THE SEASON STARTS THURSDAY. Maintain, dear readers, maintain.

I've been kicking around how to get this information out to the public for about three plus weeks now. Debating between a daily roll out, giving each conference prediction a spotlight post and then I realized something. When people want some in depth analysis of your own team you head over to your favorite beat writer, respective team blog or team fan site. No sense in knocking out some fancy schmancy countdown.

Thus we've waited until the witching hour, the season is upon us and, mostly for the right to say I TOLD YOU SO, here are the In The Bleachers 2010 predictions. All neatly packaged, quickly explained and 100% accurate as of right now. We knock out the conference division and championship predictions. Eat that fools.

Is there rhyme or reason to this lay out? Sort of. We roll alphabetical but in a sort of "fair" pattern where we will alternate between the BCS leagues and non-BCS leagues. So what you're getting is ACC-CUSA-Big East-MAC and so on and so forth. Expect a few twists and turns as we run through this PREDICTINATOR!

As you read this and make you're predictions against ours be sure to sign up for the In The Bleachers Pick'em Pool (password inthebleachers) to take on Pat and Michael for mediocre gifts of gratitude.

Read more for our predictions...

Folks we are closing in on the start of the season as we ease through the single digits remaining in the countdown and that means giddiness is at an all time high. In our infinite quest to give you the best of the college football world we're going to spend this afternoon's livechat going all positive for the 2010 football season. That means . . .

IN THE BLEACHERS 2010 FAVORITE THINGS!

Yes folks, we're going all Oprah on the college football world today and no that doesn't mean our weight will balloon and shrink at random intervals or we'll be sexually ambiguous with no real clue as to who our long term partner is. It also doesn't mean we'll control the minds of droves of housewives, though that would be nice in certain cases.

It means we're going to kick out our favorite things for the season and give you folks an idea of the best gifts the approaching year has to offer. We're talking both on the field and off the field so bring all your selections to the livechat and we'll discuss the things we're most looking forward to for the season.

On the field we'll be giving you our favorite plays, players, schemes and ultimately our favorite team for the 2010 season. Off the field get ready for the real fun as we hit food, clothes (NO MORE WEARING JERSEYS EVER!), gadgets, fanbases and of course the always hotly debated and tremendously enjoyable discussion of drinks (BRING THAT CRAFT BEER NOISE AT YOUR OWN RISK!).

That's right folks livechat will be a fun one before we kickoff with game week next Wednesday so get excited and let's have some fun. Sort of that last party before the school year or, even better, that Saturday before classes start in college when freshmen don't know much except everything the older kids do looks awesome and warming up for next week's tailgates is a brilliant idea.