WEEK 1 PRIMER : ON TV

* North Carolina State at No. 13 Syracuse, ESPN2, 9 a.m.: Syracuse no doubt learned from last year’s mistakes, when it opened with consecutive losses to North Carolina and Minnesota. The Orangemen’s thumping of Wisconsin in last week’s Kickoff Classic was impressive. The question now is whether Syracuse peaked too early. Donovan McNabb is still a longshot in his Heisman race against Manning, but he made a nice opening statement, completing 11 of 14 passes for 211 yards. North Carolina State is coming off consecutive 3-8 seasons and Coach Mike O’Cain’s job might be in jeopardy.

The Line: Syracuse by 25

* Virginia Tech at Rutgers, ESPN, 9:30 a.m.: The Hokies can’t be happy about opening the season with three consecutive Big East games, breathers against Rutgers and Temple sandwiched around a critical home game Sept. 13 against Syracuse. Hardly the way to break in a new quarterback, as Al Clark tries to fill Jim Druckenmiller’s cleats. Rutgers is still in major rebuilding mode, last year ranking 108th in total offense.

The Line: Virginia Tech by 21

* Southern Mississippi at No. 2 Florida, ESPN2, 3 p.m.: The Golden Eagles’ 3-0 record in August and reputation as a Southeastern Conference dragon-slayer are on the line against the defending national champion in Gainesville. Southern Mississippi, Brett Favre’s alma mater, shocked Florida State in the 1989 season opener and last season defeated Georgia at Athens. You have to love the Golden Eagles’ spunk. This season, they also play at Alabama and Tennessee.

The Line: Florida by 27 1/2