College Football: Week 1 Watchlist - UCLA v TENNESSEE

UCLA vs. TENNESSEE
How will Ben Olson play after breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot during spring practice? How will Jonathon Crompton play now that Erik Ainge is gone and he’s the starter? Which running back, Arian Foster of Tenn. or Kahlil Bell of UCLA, will run for more yards? Whose D will step up and prove to be a dominating force?



All very good questions, but the answer to who will win this game lies in the answer to this question. What Team will grasp and execute their new Offensive Coordinators scheme.

Norm Chow is one of the best ever and is as much responsible for the re-emergence of USC football as Pete Carroll. New coach Rick Neuheisel is lucky the Titans let him go and he came back to the “City of Angles” but this time the richer side of town. He will help Ben Olson to live up to the hype he once had after returning from a Mormon mission and going to UCLA over first committed BYU. Chow wont have the best receivers under his watch as they try to replace Brandon Breazell and Joe Cowan. Marcus Everett a talented senior who was granted a medical redshirt after an injury last year will need to step up and lead by example to a younger receiving core. One weapon Chow has to utilize and will is Kahlil Bell who averaged just less than 100 yards a game in split duty last year. Chow brings a pro style offense and experience witch will need to catch on immediately with his new team.



The other new offensive coordinator in the game isn’t as well known as Chow, but he will have a bigger significance in style of play if not wins/losses. The Vols pulled Dave Clawson out of 1-AA Richmond to bring their offense up to speed in this fast changing world of college football. Clawson brings with him a more open offense than Tennessee fans are used to featuring 4 wide sets and a “G-Gun” package witch is like Arkansas “Wild Hog” formation to utilize gifted wide out Gerald Jones. This is a great system for Jonathon Crompton who is an athletic QB who can run and most of all is nothing like drop back passer Erik Ainge. With a pass to set up the run mentality look for RB Arian Foster to make some big plays behind an experienced O line.

Both teams have solid Defenses but winner of this game will comedown to the offensive coordinators.

PREDICTION
UCLA TENNESSEE
20 27