College Football 2021: Top 3 under-the-radar games to watch in Week 1

1. (16) LSU at UCLA

Another game featuring a team that played in Week 0 versus a team that did not. The Bruins disposed of Hawaii pretty handily 44-10 last week. LSU is out to prove their 5-5 record a year ago was an anomaly, a product of a pandemic stricken season and losing several starters to the NFL.

UCLA returned 19 starters from a year ago and Chip Kelly’s fourth year started off with a fairly easy victory last week. The competition certainly kicks up a notch this week with the Tigers rolling into the Rose Bowl. Speaking of the Rose Bowl, the Bruins athletic department is attempting to bring the fans back out after dismal attendance against Hawaii. They will need the crowd to help in taming the Tigers.

LSU’s quarterback Max Johnson closed out last season on a high note with two victories in his first two starts. He looks to keep the momentum rolling with a loaded backfield and talented wide receivers.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, they were displaced this week due to Hurricane Ida. They have been practicing in Houston this week before flying out to the west coast. It could throw them off being out of their routine, away from campus.

These two programs have never met in football which adds an interesting wrinkle. Kelly picked up his first non-conference win last week since becoming the Bruins head coach. Getting a signature non-conference win this week would go a long way to jump-starting the season.