TODAY’S COLLEGE GAMES TO WATCH

Georgia Southern at Florida

Georgia Southern managed to win the Division I-AA championship last season in only its fourth year of college football. But playing Florida today may really be rushing it. Eagle Coach Erk Russell, who led his 1985 team to a 13-2 record, admits as much. “Realistically we don’t have a chance to beat Florida.” The Gators, 9-1-1 last season at a somewhat higher level of competition, return passing sensation Kerwin Bell. Bell is a former walk-on player who might be more famous today if his team hadn’t been prevented from appearing on TV because of NCAA sanctions. Bell has thrown for 4,301 yards and 37 TDs in his last two seasons. For the first time, Bell will be throwing with a bowl in mind; although the Gators won’t be on TV during the regular season, they do qualify for the Southeastern Conference championship and postseason bowl play. The Eagles, who dropped football in 1941 and didn’t resume it until 1982, showcase an under-6-foot tandem. Quarterback Tracy Ham, 5-10, throws to Monty Sharpe, 5-9. It’s called the Hambone Offense because Ham accounted for 54% of Georgia Southern’s total offense last season. However, Russell wonders how it will fly in Gainesville, Fla. “I’m wondering how our players will react to playing in front of 72,000 screaming fans. Most of our players have never even been in a stadium with that many people, much less played in front of them.”

Hawaii at Air Force

Air Force astonished the college football world last season, challenging for No. 1 late in the season with a small and slow team. But the Falcons had a great equalizer in their option quarterback, Bart Weiss. He’s gone, and so presumably are hopes of another 12-1 season. But there is some thinking that it’s the system that works at Air Force. After all, they wondered what they would do when Marty Louthan left, and then Weiss stepped in. This year it’s Troy Calhoun who will operate the wishbone, and he has a better arm. Don’t discount the system. Anyway, the system isn’t expected to get too much of a test against Hawaii, which was 4-6-2 a year ago. However, Hawaii, which returns 15 starters, gave the Falcons a tough game (27-20) last season.

Miami at South Carolina

Miami, which does not have one of the country’s toughest schedules, eases into the season with the rebuilding Gamecocks, a 5-6 team that is scrapping its veer offense for a run-and-shoot scheme. The Gamecocks came into the previous season with high hopes, a good record and a good defensive nickname. But the so-called “Fire Ant” defense allowed more than 200 yards rushing a game. Could be more of the same this season, although South Carolina is a lot healthier coming into this season than last. Miami, meanwhile, is making a push for national championship candidacy and figures to push early and often. The Hurricanes throw quarterback Vinny Testaverde at you, early and often. Testaverde threw for 250 yards or more eight times last season. He is surrounded on offense by eight other returning starters.