In an effort to make the schools formerly known as I-AA feel less like second-class institutions, the NCAA has divided Division I football into the Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A, which uses bowl games as its postseason) and the Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA, which uses a playoff and actually crowns an NCAA champion in the postseason).

So when Louisville beats Murray State by about 40 Thursday night, remember the Cardinals aren't playing a I-AA team, they're playing an FCS team.

Same goes for Ohio State vs. Youngstown State; Michigan vs. Appalachian State (the defending FCS champ); Florida vs. Western Kentucky; Texas A&M vs. Montana State; and Boise State vs. Weber State.

As for the competitive games in this opening weekend of college football, No. 12 California hosts No. 15 Tennessee in a Pac-10-Southeastern Conference matchup Saturday. On Monday night, the Bowden family gets together for No. 19 Florida State at Clemson.

THE PICKS

Thursday

No. 2 LSU (minus 17½) at Mississippi State

Tigers have won seven straight over Bulldogs ... LSU 42-14.

Murray State (no line) at No. 10 Louisville

New Cardinals coach, same potent offense ... LOUISVILLE 50-10

Buffalo (plus 32) at No. 16 Rutgers

Scarlet Knights used to lose games such as this ... RUTGERS 42-7

Weber State (no line) at No. 24 Boise State

Broncos break in new starting QB Kyle Tharp ... BOISE STATE 55-14.

Saturday

Northern Colorado (no line) at No. 23 Hawaii

Colt Brennan throws five TDs for Warriors — by halftime ... HAWAII 60-14.

Montana State (no line) at No. 25 Texas A&M

Montana State upset Colorado last season ... TEXAS A&M 42-13.

Idaho (plus 45½) at No. 1 Southern California

All the USC tailbacks get into the end zone ... USC 60-9.<

Western Michigan (plus 23½) at No. 3 West Virginia

WMU ranked fourth in nation against run in '06 ... WEST VIRGINIA 40-14.

Arkansas State (plus 39) at No. 4 Texas

Texas WR Limas Sweed (wrist) will play ... TEXAS 66-12.

Appalachian State (no line) at No. 5 Michigan

First I-AA, whoops, FCS team to visit Big House ... MICHIGAN 44-20.

Western Kentucky (no line) at No. 6 Florida

QB Tim Tebow's first start for Gators ... FLORIDA 53-10.

Washington State (plus 14) at No. 7 Wisconsin

Badgers 7-1-1 in last nine vs. Pac-10 ... WISCONSIN 30-17.

North Texas (plus 40½) at No. 8 Oklahoma

DeMarco Murray could be Sooners' next star TB ... OKLAHOMA 54-10.

East Carolina (plus 26) at No. 9 Virginia Tech

Should be emotional opener for Hokies ... VIRGINIA TECH 39-7.

Youngstown State (no line) at No. 11 Ohio State

Coach Jim Tressel faces his former school ... OHIO STATE 35-13.

No. 15 Tennessee (plus 6) at No. 12 California

Vols beat Bears 35-18 in Knoxville last season ... CALIFORNIA 35-18.

Oklahoma State (plus 6½) at No. 13 Georgia

Bulldogs have won 25 straight regular-season nonconference games ... GEORGIA 31-28.

No. 14 UCLA (minus 17) at Stanford

Bruins blanked Stanford in two of last three meetings ... UCLA 28-6.

Florida International (plus 38) at No. 17 Penn State

First game against Big Ten for Golden Panthers ... PENN STATE 45-13.

Kansas State (plus 13½) at No. 18 Auburn

First meeting since 1979 ... AUBURN 27-16.

Nevada (plus 21) at No. 20 Nebraska

Huskers haven't lost home opener since 1985 vs. Florida State ... NEBRASKA 44-20.

Troy (plus 24) at No. 21 Arkansas

Darren McFadden's Heisman campaign starts with bang ... ARKANSAS 50-17.

Baylor (plus 20½) at No. 22 TCU

Big 12 tune-up for Horned Frogs with Texas next week ... TCU 38-7.

Monday

No. 19 Florida State (minus 3½) at Clemson

Tigers have won three of last four Bowden Bowls ... CLEMSON 24-21.

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Last season record (including bowls): 228-70 (straight); 148-126-7 (points)