Next game: vs. Memphis, Saturday, 6 p.m. (ESPNU, Clay Matvick and Herm Edwards)

Welcome to the first prediction thread of the 2010 collegiate football season. This is where we all pretend to have psychic powers and predict the final score of a game contested between dozens of 18-22-year-old men in funny-looking outfits (because seriously, sports uniforms just look silly when worn somewhere besides a sports venue, and by someone else other than the athlete who that jersey number actually belongs to).

Oh, I kid (mostly). To the game.

Mississippi State is a 21-point favorite† and, given a likely sellout and all the offseason anticipation, I could see that happening. Then again, over the past five years, the Bulldogs have not fared well against the spread as a home favorite – only once in nine such games has MSU covered, and that was last year against Jackson State (35-point fave, won by 38). Four of those games, State straight up lost. (Thank you for that info, Phil Steele.)

I'm not sure if MSU will cover, because I could see Memphis, re-energized by new coach Larry Porter (who must be a Dan Mullen clone because he's stolen MSU's copyrighted mantra of "relentless effort"), making things tough on the Bulldogs. Cannon Smith was once a really good high school quarterback, and there's not much useful film to watch on the Tigers.

Most definitely, though, MSU will win. If you happen to be a betting man‡, well, let history be your guide. And as this week's ESPNU analyst will remind you, focus on what's most important: Not covering a spread, but playing to win the game.

My prediction: MSU 35, Memphis 17. (Don't forget to vote on Facebook, fools!)

*–Not really.

†–For entertainment purposes only! Gambling will leave you penniless and gives you severe acne.

‡–I'm not a betting man, thus my immaculate complexion. Not sure how to explain the bank account, though.