It won't be long now...

As I sit behind my desk this morning, I'm as happy as I've been in months. I'm also as nervous, excited, and curious as I've been in a very, very long time. This is what the beginning of College Football does to me. More specifically, this is what the beginning of the Florida Gator Football season does to me. I've spent the last 8 months scouring message boards, reading practice reports and holding my breath, all in anticipation of today. Its like Christmas fucking morning, if I got drunk and yelled at the TV for hours on end on Christmas morning. Soon, I'll go to the gym and run a few miles, if only because that will help take up just a little bit more time before today's 12:30 Florida-Hawaii kickoff. Its a beautiful day ladies and gentlemen...and I intend to enjoy every last pad popping, band playing, sweat dripping minute of it.

LSU-Appalachian State (NL): The College Football gods are so fucking cool that they've concocted a hurricane in order to give us football earlier than we would normally have it. Gustav has resulted in the rescheduling of this game to 10 am EST, and I couldn't be happier about it. Will the Mountaineers pull the upset? No fucking way. Any chance of that happening was gone this time last year when App State beat Michigan. Which is really too bad because LSU is ripe for the picking this year. (I'm guessing 3 losses) The offense has major questions at QB and the secondary is very young for the Tigers. Howeva, LSU's defensive line is NFL quality (seriously) and they have the deepest stable of running backs in the SEC, if not the nation. This game will be close early, but LSU will wear the Mountaineers out in the second half which should allow the corndog scented rednecks of Baton Rouge enough time to get home and board up there huts before Senor Gustav's arrival.

Missouri-Illinois (8.5): Has there ever been a game featuring two QBs who were so clearly one race based on there name? I mean seriously, have you ever met a black guy named Chase or a white guy named Isiah (not to mention Juice)? Of course you haven't. This game was terrific last year, due in large part to Chase Daniels' 4 ints and Juice Williams' injury which allowed Illinois to get back in the game by passing the ball. Supposedly, Juice has vastly improved as a passer this year. I have no idea if this is true (Everybody is always inproving under the watchful eye of Towlie, er, Zook) but it damn well better be because Rashad Mendenhall has taken his dumb ass to the NFL and Arrelious Benn is gonna need to get the ball in his hands in ways other than the reverse and the bubble screen if the Illini offense is going to be consistently potent this year. Missouris has no such problems, Daniels is terrific, especially for a fat kid, and Jeremy Maclin is a poor man's Percy Harvin. The Tiger defense is much improved, allegedly, so I'll take Mizzou going away.

Florida-Hawaii (34.5): I've tried to make it seem like I care deeply about many of the other games this weekend, and while I do care (somewhat), none of these games can hold a candle to the return of my beloved alma mater. The return of Florida football is always a major event in my life, but this year its impact is substantially amplified. This is the most loaded, balanced football team that the University of Florida has put on a football field in many years. Unfortunately, this team is also the most injury prone Gator team that I've ever personally witnessed. Tomorrow, Florida will be missing projected starters due to maladies such as ACL tears (Ingram, Munroe), staph infections (Moore), heel surgery (Harvin), toe dislocations (Spikes) and muscle strains (Hunter). And thats only the starters. Everyday has seemed to bring a new injury. Luckily for Florida, this team is deep, talented and experienced enough to overcome these obstacles...for the time being. Will Florida be able to fulfill its preseason promise if injuries to key contributors continue to pile up? Of course not. Should they win in impressive fashion today despite these setbacks. Hell yes. Look for players such as Chris Rainey, Brandon James and Emmanuel Moody (rubs hands together/giggles like school girl) to assume a large part of the offensive load today. Specifically, look for Moody to announce his presence as the feature tailback that the Gators have been missing since Urban Meyer arrived in Gainesville with authority. He's been a monster in fall camp and has the ability to change the way the spread is executed in a manner that will strike fear in the hearts of SEC fans all across the south. Defensively, keep an eye out for a freshman corner named Janoris Jenkins. Not only is his name awesome, he's also forced his way onto the field as the Gators' nickel corner with his play in both spring and fall camp. I anticipate a 30+ point win and a very drunk and jubilant afternoon for yours truly. If all goes as planned, I'll need a nap before I sit down for Alabama-Clemson. Good God, the day we've all been waiting for is here. Whew...I've got to be honest with you. I feel a little like Jesse Spano right now...

Finally! College Football has come back to America!