A little different style this season on the previews. Instead of previewing a bunch of dud top 25 games each week I will only be doing the top 10 automatically. After that, well, it'll just be games that peak my interest. These previews will be just my opinions, and I will add a second column with my power ranking picks.
Thursday, September 3rd, 2015
Michigan at Utah, 7:30 pm Fox Sports 1 (Utah -4.5)
#2 TCU at Minnesota, 8:00 pm ESPN (TCU -16.5)
Wooo boy!! The Big Ten had a great post-season to end last sesaon, and all that's gonna go away Thursday night. Michigan visits Utah and the MUSS. Utah is most definitely overrated and that defense seems like a tall task for a Michigan team that has the two weakest units on the field. Utah 27-13 with the second half sleeper hold. As for Minnesota, well the darling of the 2014 Big Ten season, and teh Shutdown Fullcast's (highly recommeded podcast) perenial 25th ranked team looks like the damsel tied to the train tracks. Unfortunately, Dilly man is slower than a train and Gary Patterson will twirl his mustached to a 51-13 Horned Frogs victory.
Friday, September 4th, 2015
#5 Michigan State at Western Michigan, 6:00 pm ESPNU (Michigan State -17)
#4 Baylor at SMU, 6:00 pm ESPN (Baylor -35.5)
A pair of interstate matchups, with big spreads. The Fighting Row Boats of WMU won't beat MSU but they will put up a flight and it'll be a feel good start to P.J. Fleck's last season at WMU. Michigan State wins 48-24, but the Broncos will put up a good fight. SMU, less so. Baylor gonna run house on the Mustangs to the tune of, I don't know, 68-13.
Saturday, September 5th, 2015
ULM at #9 Georgia, 11:00 am SEC Network (Georgia -35.5)
Georgia welcomes the warhawks in a morning slate that leaves a lot to be desired. Georgia is breaking in a new QB to hand off to Nick Chubb and ULM will remind you that dreams come true, and are sometimes nightmares. Georgia drives Chubb through ULM 38-17.
Louisville vs #6 Auburn (Georgia Dome), 2:30 pm CBS (Auburn -10.5)
Virginia at #13 UCLA, 2:30 pm FOX (UCLA -19.5)
Bowling Green vs #25 Tennessee (LP Field), 3:00 pm SEC Network (Tennessee -21)
A nice afternoon slate really gets the season going Louisville-Auburn in the Georgia Dome is going to be fun and informative about both teams. How will the QBs play? Will Muschamp turn that Tigers defense around? Will either of these team factor into the conference and national title conversations? All those answers, and more, start to come into focus at 2:30 pm on saturday. I think Auburn takes it, but close, 24-20. The other two games feature non-top ten teams that I'm very much intrigued by. UCLA is at the top of my pre-season power rankings and Tennessee is going to start seeing the fruits of their recruiting labors. UCLA is relying on Josh Rosen, a heady but tempermental freshman quarterback with extremely high range of outcomes. The rest of the team is talented, but will need Rosen to develope quickly in order to reach their peak. Tennessee has their hopes pinned to their QB as well in Josh Dobbs. Dobbs had a very promising second half to 2014 and if Tennessee is to make a leap under Butch Jones he is the key. Virginia doesn't have much of a chance to take down UCLA but they can derail their season if they can get in Rosen's/the staff's head. I think we see UCLA hit a few bumps, but nothing catestrophic, 48-20. As for Tennessee, well both teams can put up big plays, but the talent cap will eventually catch up to Bowling Green, 42-23. But enough about the appetizers, it's time for the meat and potatoes.
#15 Arizona State vs Texas A&M (NRG Stadium), 6:00 pm ESPN (Texas A&M -3.5)
Texas at #11 Notre Dame, 6:30 pm NBC (Notre Dame -9.5)
#20 Wisconsin vs #3 Alabama (AT&T Stadium), 7:00 pm ABC (Alabama -12)
Eastern Washington at #7 Oregon, 7:00 pm Pac-12 Network
Arkansas State at #8 USC, 10:00 pm Pac-12 Network (USC -27)
The meat and potatoes are a trio of games, that include at least one top 15 team. Although Wisconsin-Alabama pairs two top 20 teams, it's Arizona State-Texas A&M that intrigues me. A&M comes in a 3.5 point favorite (as of 1pm 9/3) and is a darkhorse for the SEC crown. There is talent but Sumlin hasn't fielded a competent defense in his time at A&M. That should at least start to change with John Chavis in town, but how far have they come in a single off-season. Arizona State outperformed expectations in 2014, and have a loaded team returning. Graham is in position to ascend to the Pac-21 throne. I don't completely understand why Arizona State is the underdog here, but I do see a close game, 38-31. I won't spend too much time on Alabama-Wisconsin because I don't see many ways in which Wisconsin wins. I'm thinking Alabama 48-27. Similarly to Alabama is Notre Dame, a team on a slightly lower level but with a match-up to a team that just isn't on it's level. Texas' defense is elite, but Tyrone Swoopes and the offense are going to have firepower troubles and there in-lies the problems facing Charlie Strong and company. I think this game shows us the Longhorns direction and if the Fighting Irish will be playoff contenders, 20-10. USC is the last of the top ten teams to play saturday, in a matchup with what should be one of the top mid-major programs behind Boise State, but that won't be much solace for Arkansas State as they lose 38-13. Lastly, is what many of you who have read any of my work throughout any of the past college seasons will know is that I don't do FBS-FCS predictions, but the Oregon-Eastern Washington game is an interesting exception. Vernon Adams graduated from Eastern Washington a couple weeks ago, before his long awaited transfer to Oregon. Oregon, where Adams is now the starting quarterback. This one should be wrought with emotions and intrigue and a game you should at least peak in on. Oregon still wins, and probably big, 56-30. And thus ends the first Saturday of the college football season.
Monday, September 7th, 2015
#1 Ohio State at Virginia Tech, 7:00 pm ESPN
The Labor Day ESPN game is always nice background noise for my fantasy draft, and some years even an exciting game (see Boise State-Va Tech a few years back.). This year it features revenge. Last year Va Tech was the lone blemish on the Ohio State resume, and knocked around J.T. Barrett. This season Ohio State is looking to repeat, and with two NFL quality QBs, an even scarier set of skill position players, to pair with a ruthless defense. This should be fun for Ohio State, and informative for both teams. Ohio State walks away in Blacksburg 38-24.
Well there we are a look at Week 1, I'll put up my systems break down before UNC-USC kicks off. In the meantime, let me know what you think, what you predict, and as always, how big of an idiot I am.
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