South Carolina (0-0) at N.C. State (0-0)
7:00 p.m. ( ESPN)
Carter-Finley Stadium (Natural Grass)
Sports.com Line: N.C. State -5, O/U 46

Hard to believe this will be my 10th year of handicapping on VegasInsider.com. There have certainly been some hot streaks and a few cold slumps along the way but I’ve honestly enjoyed every minute of it.

What better way to kick off my 10th season than a Thursday night doubleheader, with one of the games carrying major BCS implications. Of course, that would be when the 16th-ranked Oregon Ducks fly over to Idaho to face the 14-th ranked Boise State Broncos. But first – as was the case last year – we’ll catch a little ACC/SEC action as South Carolina visits N.C. State.

To give you a little perspective on just how much has changed in the college ranks since I started at VegasInsider, just consider the career of the “ole ball coach,” Steve Spurrier. Back in 1999, Spurrier was still comfortably at the helm of one of the most powerful programs – and offenses – in the country, at his alma-mater Florida.

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Of course, as we all know, Spurrier just had to scratch that NFL itch and bolted for the Washington Redskins and big bucks in 2002. After that experiment proved to be another Daniel Snyder bust, Spurrier made his way back to the college ranks and to Columbia, S.C.

Similarly, head coach Tom O’Brien was in the midst of a very impressive run of his own - at Boston College - ten years ago. In 2006 O’Brien felt the need for change and headed to Raleigh, N.C. to take over the Wolfpack.

Florida fans such as VegasInsider’s own Brian Edwards might chime in at this point and say that besides the coach, not a whole lot has changed at Florida as the Gators are still winning a ton of games and piling up the points. Maybe there is something in the water in Gainesville because Spurrier doesn’t seem to be winning games the way he once did.

You certainly don’t think of Spurrier teams being offensively challenged but let’s face facts – South Carolina has won a lot more games with their defense over the past couple of years than with their offense. Once the coach with the golden touch when it came to producing QBs, Spurrier hasn’t had a reliable signal-caller in Columbia in years.

Maybe that will change this season. Then again, maybe it won’t.

This much is certain: South Carolina can’t lead the nation again in interceptions as they did in 2008 with 27 and possibly hope to win seven games and go bowling again. It just won’t happen.

The Gamecocks started 2008 with Tommy Beecher under center and he was intercepted by N.C. State less than three minutes into the season opener. USC ended the season in much the same way as Stephen Garcia threw four picks in a 31-10 loss to Iowa in the Outback Bowl. And as the above stat would indicate, there were plenty of interceptions in between those games.

Spurrier might have had a tough decision on his hands if a QB with any experience was returning along with Garcia. But Chris Smelley (All-name team) transferred out and Beecher graduated so the keys have been handed to Garcia.

With just five returning starters on offense and having to find a new ground game, it looks like Spurrier will again be leaning on his defense to carry the team. The good news is that LB Eric Norwood is back after passing up the NFL draft. The senior seems to have been in Columbia forever and considering he had nine sacks last year and was second on the team in tackles, Spurrier is thankful he is back.

The bad news is the rest of the defense is pretty green, including two corners who have never played a college game. Making matters worse is that suspensions will keep three defensive starters from playing against North Carolina State. DE Clifton Geathers (resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness), tackle Ladi Ajiboye (marijuana arrest), and CB C.C. Whitlock (arrested for trespassing at a nightclub) are all out. Those three would make an interesting episode of COPS but unfortunately won’t provide much else entertainment this Thursday night.

All that bunch will have to do is go on the road and face an N.C. State team that is just dying for a little payback after getting embarrassed by the Gamecocks 34-0 last year in Columbia.

This is certainly a different Wolfpack squad than a year ago. Unlike Spurrier, coach Tom O’Brien has found his QB in sophomore Russell Wilson. The ACC Freshman of the Year in 2008, Wilson led an offense that got better every game and ended the year on a roll, averaging 34 points in the last three games.

Like South Carolina, N.C. State also returns six starters on defense and have their share of issues on that side of the ball. O’Brien was dealt a big blow this summer when LB Nate Irving was injured in a car accident and will likely miss the season.

The difference here seems to be that Wilson and the Wolfpack appear better equipped to exploit those defensive issues than does the Gamecocks offense. Running back Toney Baker is back after sitting out two seasons due to knee surgeries and should form a nice 1-2 punch with Jamelle Eugene.

One thing is for sure, it doesn’t get any easier for Spurrier. After the opener, the Gamecocks travel to Athens to face Georgia in Week 2 and wrap up September by welcoming the No. 8 team in the nation, Ole Miss into Williams-Brice Stadium.

#16 Oregon (0-0) at #14 Boise State
10:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Bronco Stadium (Blue AstroPlay)
Sports.com Line: Boise State -4, O/U 64

I’m no programming executive at ESPN but after a 34-0 snooze fest between the two above schools to start 2008, I’m not sure why these teams were again selected to lead off 2009. Regardless, I’ll skip the appetizer and head straight for the main course because the nightcap between Oregon and Boise State should not only be the best game this week but maybe one of the best all season.

And for Boise State, it could define its entire season since it’s pretty easy to see the Broncos going 13-0 if they can get past the Ducks, especially catching the other contender in the WAC, Nevada, at home. The stats just don’t lie: Boise State is 64-2 at home in the past 10 years.

With those kind of numbers it’s easy to see why Oregon is just the first ranked opponent to visit Bronco Stadium for a regular-season game and just the third program from a Bowl Championship Series conference to do so. In short, not many programs want a taste of what Boise State is dishing out on the “Smurf Turf."

Obviously, the Broncos are certainly no stranger to success as the program has posted an undefeated regular season in three of the past five years. That said, the early hype is something new for this squad as their No. 14 preseason ranking is an all-time record. Considering that over the past seven years Boise State has ended the season in the Top 25 the five times they weren't ranked in the preseason and finished out of the Top 25 the two years they were ranked. Some may wonder if the hype is a good thing.

One thing is certain – there will be some fireworks in this game.

Oregon will have to contend with Boise State sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore, who was the WAC Freshman of the Year last season when he completed 69.4 percent of his passes. Oregon certainly remembers Moore who – as a freshman – walked into Autzen Stadium and shredded the Ducks for 386 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-32 Boise State win.

On the other side, the Broncos will have to deal with junior QB Jeremiah Masoli who started last season 5th on the depth chart but is now the man in Eugene. Masoli can burn a defense with his arm and legs – just ask Oklahoma State – and is a perfect fit for coach Chip Kelly’s spread attack. Masoili put up 364 total yards of offense to go with four touchdowns en route to the Ducks 42-31 victory over the Cowboys in the Holiday Bowl.

When Masoli doesn’t tuck it and run, he can look to speed on the outside with WR Jamere Holland or simply hand off to RB LeGarrette Blount - who rushed for 1,002 yards while splitting time with Jeremiah Johnson last season. With Johnson gone, the stage is all Blount’s and the bruising back with sneaky speed should have a big year.

Looking at overall numbers, neither team has much leadership returning as Oregon just brings back nine starters from 2008 while Boise State is just a bit better with 11 returning starters.

Both teams have questionable defenses – especially Oregon – and the Ducks will have to contend with a largely rebuilt offensive line. With all the focus on the potent offenses, this game will likely be won by the team with the defense that can make that one extra stop.