The Visor is Back

A big, "Welcome Back!" to the ole ball coach. The SEC just wasn't the same without him.

USC kicks off tonight against Central Florida on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET, starting a weekend of intriguing SEC match-ups against non-conference opponents. This weekend UGA plays Boise State, Florida matches up with Wyoming, Mississippi heads north to Memphis, Knoxville welcomes UAB, and UK squares off against their rival Louisville.

Also tonight, Vandy travels to play the Deacons. And in the SEC game of the weekend, Georgia Tech visits the Plains.

Most SEC fans will know a lot more about their teams after this first weekend of play. Some teams however are playing class A patsies; STATE v. Murray State, Middle Tenn at Bama and Southwest Missouri State at Arkansas; these teams (as long as they win) will still have a lot of questions about the upcoming season. And LSU, who had North Texas on the schedule, has postponed that game due to Katrina.

The SEC will take some blows this weekend, most likely from Louisville, Memphis and Wake Forest and possibly from Wyoming and Boise State, if either can catch Florida or UGA taking them lightly, however unlikely that may be. Georgia Tech also has a great opportunity for an upset at Auburn, however if history teaches us anything, Reggie Ball will make a costly mistake in the second half that will seal the win for the Tigers.

We're thinking the SEC will be 8-3 this weekend, with Vandy, Mississippi and Kentucky starting the season in an 0-1 hole.