National Game of Interest (Week 1)

The SEC stepped up its scheduling game for week 1. The rest of the country did not. There's slim pickens if you're not a fan of The One True Conference, but we're contractually obligated to pick at least one National Game of Interest per week, which is exactly what we're doing: No. 1 Florida State (-17.5) v. Oklahoma State (at Jerry World).

The pick: OK State +17.5

Why you should care: The 'Noles broke the SEC's 7-year streak of dominance in the Mythical National Championship Game and bring back an absurd amount of talent to compete for a spot in the first-ever playoff.

Rationale: When I say "an absurd amount of talent," I mean an absurd amount of talent. Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is back. (Insert your crab-leg joke here.) His No. 1 receiving target Rashad Greene is back. The offensive line returns more than 100 combined career starts. On the other side of the ball, the nation's number 1 defense loses a lot of talent, but I count twenty-six (26!!!) 4 or 5 stars on the defensive two-deep. FSU could realistically eclipse LSU's 9 overall NFL draft picks from last year.

Oh, and did I mention that FSU won all but two games last year by at least 27 points?

But we're still pocking Oklahoma State plus the points. Why? The Cowboys have won their last 6 openers, have scored more than 20 points in their last 52 games, didn't replace either coordinator in the off-season, and return starting experience at the offensive skill positions and both lines. Do I think the Pokes win? No, not a chance. But I do think they keep things close enough to be interesting.

Go Dawgs!