FOUR GAMES TO WATCH

WASHINGTON STATE at No. 7 WISCONSIN

* Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. PDT

* TV: Channel 7

* Line: Wisconsin by 14.

* Washington State update: The Cougars open against a top-10 team for the second consecutive season. Last season didn’t go that well when they lost to No. 4 Auburn, 40-14. After that, they seemed to play tough against ranked teams, giving USC a scare and then defeating Oregon. With quarterback Alex Brink and leading receiver Michael Bumpus back, the offense has the firepower for an upset if the defense, which likes to take chances, can avoid giving up too many big plays.

* Wisconsin update: The Badgers have won 31 games over the last three seasons -- more than any other Big Ten team -- yet they are sometimes an afterthought. The hope to change that lies with sophomore running back P.J. Hill, who rushed for 1,569 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. The strength of the team is a defense that returns seven starters from a unit that gave up an average of only 12.1 points a game.

* Story line: The Badgers, on a nine-game win streak, are trying to prove that last season’s 12-1 record was no fluke. The Cougars are hoping to gain momentum and become a factor in the Pacific 10 Conference race.

* The pick: Wisconsin -- but it will probably be a lot closer than most experts expect.

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OKLAHOMA STATE at No. 13 GEORGIA

* Kickoff: Saturday, 3:45 p.m.

* TV: ESPN2.

* Line: Georgia by 6.

* Oklahoma State update: The Cowboys are loaded with playmakers on offense, led by receiver Adarius Bowman and running backs Dantrell Savage and Keith Totson, who each averaged more than 6.0 yards a carry last season. They were the key cogs in an offense that scored 35.2 points a game last season. The defense is a question mark after giving up 364 yards and 25.6 points a game last season.

* Georgia update: The Bulldogs begin with Matthew Stafford entrenched at quarterback. Last season, they used a quarterback rotation that seemed to backfire as the team struggled in the middle part of the schedule. Stafford seized the job and Georgia defeated Auburn, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech in its last three games. The Bulldogs defense is solid, though not quite as strong as last season when it ranked eighth in total defense.

* Story line: Oklahoma State lost five games by a total of 26 points last season and could be a factor in the Big 12 Conference. It’s also a litmus test for Georgia, which hopes to contend in the Southeastern Conference

* The pick: Oklahoma State. Georgia doesn’t have the offense to keep pace with the Cowboys.

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No. 15 TENNESSEE at No. 12 CALIFORNIA

* Kickoff: Saturday, 5 p.m.

* TV: Channel 7.

* Line: California by 6.

* Tennessee update: The Volunteers are using a no-huddle offense, led by senior quarterback Erik Ainge, who will play despite a broken pinkie on his throwing hand. Ainge passed for 2,989 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He’ll need to find new targets, though, because his top five receivers from last season are gone. Running back Arian Foster had five touchdowns in a reserve role last season. The Volunteers have three new starters in the defensive backfield.

* California update: Quarterback Nate Longshore and receiver/returner DeSean Jackson begin the season as Heisman Trophy candidates and the combo should flourish now that starting running back Marshawn Lynch is in the NFL. The defense took some hits, though, losing Brandon Mebane, Desmond Bishop and Daymeion Hughes, so the newcomers could struggle against the no-huddle. Running back Justin Forsett starts at running back.

* Story line: This is the only Week 1 matchup of top 25 teams and is a rematch of Tennessee’s 35-18 season-opening victory that haunted Cal all last season.

* The pick: California. Each team is inexperienced on defense, but the Bears’ offense is better equipped to take advantage.

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No. 19 FLORIDA STATE at CLEMSON

* Kickoff: Monday, 5 p.m.

* TV: Channel ESPN.

* Line: Florida State by 3 1/2 .

* Florida State update: After ranking 70th in offense, the Seminoles enter this season with a new offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, formerly of Louisiana State. Fisher hopes to inject life into quarterback Drew Weatherford, who had 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. Running back Antone Smith takes over as a starter after averaging 5.2 yards a carry last season. The defense, led by safety Myron Rolle, is typically strong.

* Clemson update: The Tigers stumbled to losses in four of their last five games last season, averaging only 17.4 points in that span after scoring more than 50 in four of their first seven. The running back tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller returns after combining for 2,125 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The Tigers defense has to replace All-American end Gaines Adams but has leading tackler Nick Watkins.

* Story line: It’s only Week 1, but the inside track to the Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division title goes to the winner of this Bowden Bowl. Florida State finished out of the top 25 last year for the first time in 20 seasons.

* The pick: Clemson. The Tigers rushed for 168 yards against Florida State last year and Spiller carried only twice.

-- Peter Yoon