A pair of teams that won 10 games last year will do battle on the very first day of the 2010 college football season this Thursday.

Dave Wannstedt’s crew comes to Utah looking to force their brand of power football down the throats of the Utah defense. Pitt returns Dion Lewis, who rushed for 1,799 yards a year ago, making him college football’s most prolific returning tailback.

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Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Fighting Irish:
Saturday, September 4, 3:30 NBC

College Football Betting Lines:
Purdue: +11 ½
Notre Dame: -11 ½
Total Points: 54 ½

New coach Brian Kelly brings a championship pedigree to Notre Dame, after back-to-back Big East titles at Cincinnati. And, while he comes to South Bend to revive a team that finished 6-6 last year (4-8 ATS), former coach Charlie Weis didn’t leave the cupboard bare.

Back to lead the Irish is quarterback Dayne Crist, a former high school All-American, who was an understudy to current Carolina Panther Jimmy Clausen last year. While Crist is coming off knee surgery, he has help on this offense, as Notre Dame also brings back superstar wide receiver Michael Floyd, who made 45 catches last year.

Purdue, on the other hand, enters this one with a whole lot of questions. Quarterback Robert Marve hopes to replace graduate Joey Elliott, but doesn’t return nearly the talent around him Crist does. The Boilermakers were dealt a major blow when it was revealed their best running back, Ralph Bolden, would miss the season with injury.

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Oregon State Beavers vs. TCU Horned Frogs (Dallas, TX):
Saturday, September 4, 7:45 ESPN

NCAA Football Betting Lines:
Oregon State: +13 ½
TCU: -13 ½
Total Points: 50 ½

After a disappointing loss in the Fiesta Bowl last January, the TCU Horned Frogs are looking to start this season off with a bang. It won’t be easy when they face Oregon State at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.