The first big Saturday of college football is ready to kick off, leaving college football bettors and fans salivating at the opportunity to watch and wager from morning till night. As usual, the schedule is a little soft on marquee matchups; however five contests have caught our eye and deserve attention. What follows is a preview of each contest, which we hope helps you be on the right side of the action. Be sure to open our Free Foxsheet on one of these encounters and Good Luck to you. All lines shown are from Sportsbook.com.

Virginia Tech (-9.5, 45) vs East Carolina 12:00E ESPN

If there is a mysterious game on the Saturday board, it has to be Virginia Tech and East Carolina being played in Charlotte. The Hokies are still considered one of the best teams in the ACC, just not THE team. The ACC Coastal appears extremely milquetoast, which works out well for Frank Beamer’s bunch, with holes on both sides of the ball that need to be filled. Beamer is taking a calculated risk is going with senior Sean Glennon as quarterback and red-shirting sophomore Tyrod Taylor. Though skill positions look shaky, the offensive line is a real strength, with four quality starters with tons of experience returning. The defense has been thinned out with only four returning starters from a season ago; fortunately two of them are linebackers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall. Virginia Tech is 12-3 ATS in first road game since 1993.

Don’t expect Skip Holtz’s East Carolina crew to be intimidated by the Hokies. Last year they trailed by three points into the fourth quarter at Blacksburg, before losing 17-7 as 28-point underdogs. The Pirates sacked Glennon four times and hurried him on several other occasions, holding the Hokies to 1.1 yards net rushing. Nine of those defensive starters are back for East Carolina with All-C-USA defensive ends Zack Slate and C.J. Wilson back to create more havoc. Offensively, Holtz is going with senior Patrick Pinkney to start as his quarterback, however junior Rob Kass is essentially 1-A on the depth chart. Whatever QB plays, a nice mixture of available wide receivers is available to throw to. Brandon Simmons will be given the task of replacing multi-talented Chris Johnson, now in the NFL. Holtz’s teams are 26-11 ATS since his arrival in Greensville.

East Carolina is 4-8 against current ACC members with 8-4 ATS mark. Virginia Tech is 32-9 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 10 points since the elder Bush was president and will want to run the pigskin with authority, since they are 23-7 ATS when they rush for 4 to 4.5 yards per attempt.

StatFox Forecaster – Virginia Tech covers
StatFox Power Line – Virginia Tech by 21

While most presume USC will be far better later in the season having to retool offensive and defensive lines and a little uncertainty with at quarterback, much the same was thought when a sophomore QB named Matt Leinart took over the reins from Carson Palmer and all that team did was go 12-1, with 11-2 ATS record. In truth, more work is needed than previous Trojans teams with only one starter back on offensive line, which has normally super-positive head coach Pete Carroll concerned. The receivers dropped too many passes and ran poorer routes than bad MapQuest directions until the final part of the season. This group along with a stable of running backs should be better. The defensive line will have to sort itself out with bountiful talent, yet not one question comes to mind about the back seven. This group boasts no less than four sure-fire All-Pac 10 defense players, led by All-American Roy Maualuga. The secondary might rank as the school’s best ever. USC is 10-1 SU and ATS in first road adventure of a new season.

Virginia is coming off a surprising 9-4 campaign and bowl bid will look to build on unexpected season. It was the defense that carried the Cavaliers, led by top NFL draft choice Chris Long. However you want to look at, Al Groh’s team was lucky or good, or some combination in between, as they set NCAA-record with five wins by two or less points (3-2 ATS). The Cavaliers are picked fifth in the ACC Coastal Division, with a big portion of the reason being only 11 returning starters. The starting quarterback job has been kept a secret, yet whoever it is will have the benefits of Cedric Peerman, who was leading the conference in rushing before season-ending foot injury. The front is anchored by Eugene Monroe, one of the best tackles in the ACC. The defensive line will have new faces meaning linebackers like Clint Sintim have to have big senior years.

Virginia is 13-3 (4-9 ATS) in home openers since 1992 and will be home underdog for just the second time in this situation. The Cavaliers are 15-6 ATS as home underdogs and 9-6 against the number if they are ranked.  USC is 20-14 ATS as road favorites under Carroll and have won last 10 opening games by 25 points a game.

StatFox Forecaster – Virginia covers
StatFox Power Line – USC by 14

The sidelines will look mighty different in Ann Arbor this football season. Lloyd Carr, Mike Hart, Jake Long and Chad Henne are all no longer in the maize and blue, signally sweeping change. Controversial Rich Rodriquez has been instilled as the head man and has weathered a tumultuous off-season. Rodriquez spread option will be a far cry from the pro-style pass and run game employed for decades at Michigan Stadium. The offensive transition will take time, nonetheless, it’s not like the team with the funny helmets doesn’t have talented players. To start the year, the eight returning starters on defense will be called upon to carry the club. Terrance Taylor and Tim Jamison should anchor a formidable defensive front and the secondary, though talented with Brandon Harrison, needs to make more big plays. Obi Ezeh is lone returning linebacker and he’ll work with new partners for what coach Rodriquez becomes dominant defense. The Wolverines are just 19-29-2 ATS as single digit favorites.

The Michigan defense will have to buckle down, since Utah brings a senior-laden offensive cast into the Big House. Quarterback Brian Johnson is one of eight senior starters and is primed for monster final year. The last two seasons have been injury plagued, though he did well in 2007, despite limitations with bum shoulder. He’ll have four beefy linemen coming back, with RG Robert Conley and LT Zane Beadles contenders for All-MWC honors. RB Darrell Mack is shifty and had third-best rushing total in school history with 1,204 yards. The defense has seven starters back and is still one of the youngest in the Mountain West. Paul Kruger and Koa Misi made life miserable for opposing offenses up front and rover Stevenson Sylvester played the position with abandon, roving all over the gridiron to be second-leading tackler. It’s not often a kicker receives pub; however Louis Sakoda is the best in the nation as combination of place kicker/punter and could play a role in this contest. Utah is 20-7 ATS as road underdogs when in 3.5-10 point range.

Michigan is only 18-26 ATS against non-conference teams the last decade and figures to face a stiff challenge versus a Utes squad that is 15-6 ATS as away dogs. Utah is 9-5 ATS in road openers. Very intriguing matchup.

StatFox Forecaster – Michigan covers
StatFox Power Line – Michigan by 4

This should be a great way to start ABC’s prime time Saturday night football schedule, with a neutral site encounter between two storied football programs. Many long time Clemson followers believe the Tigers can finally take the next step and become ACC champs this season. QB Cullen Harper returns for senior season and the terrific tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller, are back to give defensive coordinators nightmares. The receiving core has Aaron Kelly and Tyler Grisham returning, with the offensive line needing four new starters. The Tigers defense only allowed more than 21 points twice in 2007 and has eight ferocious players back, which could translate into even better results. The defensive front should be special, even without departed Phillip Merling. Watch for DaQuan Bowers, a true freshman at DE, he might be the best frosh in the land. The secondary sustained no losses from stellar group and kept three top replacements. S Michael Hamlin is the eye-catcher. Clemson is only 2-6 ATS in last eight neutral site encounters.

It appears to be only a matter of time until Alabama is a top team in the SEC again. Noted perfectionist Nick Saban, has 15 starters back in the fold and a loaded recruiting class that will add depth and push the upperclassmen. For the Crimson Tide to take the next step, QB John Parker Wilson has to play like a senior. Though lacking great arm or athleticism, it will be his decision-making in big games like this that will lead to what kind of season Bama will produce. The running game is in good shape with potential All-American candidates LT Andre Smith and C Antoine Caldwell, creating running lanes for Terry Grant and other Tide backs. Saban will employ preferred 3-4 defense in second season in Tuscaloosa. Lorenzo Washington should blossom up front in new scheme. The linebacker situation gives Saban furrowed brow and will have to be sorted out, with various issues. Team captain Rashard Johnson is coming off breakout season. Bama is 5-1-1 against the spread versus Top 10 teams as an away or neutral site dog.

This contest could set the table for exceptional season for the winner. Clemson is just 6-12 the last five years when favored by less than double digits. Alabama is hardly on a roll in the season’s first game with 4-10 ATS record

StatFox Forecaster –Clemson covers
StatFox Power Line –Clemson by 8

Illinois (+9, 59.5) vs. Missouri 8:30E   ESPN

Two rivals, better known for hoops exploits, have seemingly turned a corner, raising the stakes on the gridiron for up and coming programs. Illinois posted nine wins and went to the Rose Bowl, after totaling four victories the previous two seasons. Head coach Ron Zook has proven you can recruit football players to Champaign. If QB Juice Williams can make quantum leap as passer, this offense is set up to be deadly. The option offense installed by OC Mike Locksley is powerful and explosive. The running game will come around, with Williams needing greater accuracy to use WR Arrelious Benn, a certain first round draft pick. The defense has holes that need to be filled immediately. Two spots secured are the defensive line and CB Vontae Davis, who is the best pure cover corner in college football. Zook’s defense must make plays, since Missouri is 18-1 ATS when they gain 6 to 6.5 total yards per play.

The Tigers had the misfortune of meeting Oklahoma twice; otherwise a BCS bowl slot was available. With 16 black-clad Tigers’ starters back in Columbia, they might be poised to roar to next level. Chase Daniel epitomizes what’s good about college football. He’s smart, talented and does what it takes to lead his squad to victory. Once again, bountiful weapons surround the competitive signal caller, being able to take advantage of blazing WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman. A couple of offensive line spots need filling and go-to running back will have to emerge for Gary Pinkel’s offense. On defense, this unit came up big when needed. Names to watch here are LB Sam Weatherspoon and S William Moore. The Tigers have mauled non-conference foes with 10-2 ATS mark since 2002.

Missouri has held the upper hand in this “Bragging Rights” showdown, with 6-1 spread record (5-2 SU). Illinois is 12-19 ATS when catching less than 10 points.