All right, that was an interesting soft open.
The first game of the year went down to the wire – from a betting perspective that is. Cal was giving 20 and dominated Hawaii for most of the game. With the score 51-31, Cal, with a minute to go, drove to the Hawaii 1 and then walked off the field. They let the game finish and the year start with a push.
Now it’s time to get this party started!
ESPN has been prompting this weekend’s games as the best opening weekend ever for college football.
Ever!!
No stats are given – they just say it so it must be true. I’m not going to argue. It’s a damn good opening slate
Here are some of the biggest games on tap.
The first game of the year went down to the wire – from a betting perspective that is. Cal was giving 20 and dominated Hawaii for most of the game. With the score 51-31, Cal, with a minute to go, drove to the Hawaii 1 and then walked off the field. They let the game finish and the year start with a push.
Now it’s time to get this party started!
ESPN has been prompting this weekend’s games as the best opening weekend ever for college football.
Ever!!
No stats are given – they just say it so it must be true. I’m not going to argue. It’s a damn good opening slate
Here are some of the biggest games on tap.
Georgia Tech -3.0 vs Boston College – Not really a hyped up game but the Sax Man and Saxy Lady will be there. And there is Dublin Ireland. They have already hit all the good breweries and distilleries so they are primed for the game.
I don’t want their parade rained on so I’ll take the Jackets to roll the Eagles breaking in a new DC.
Houston +10.0 vs Oklahoma - When Oklahoma scheduled this game little did they know that Houston would become last year’s best Non Power 5 team. This is the season for Houston, win it and they have the inside track for a Playoff position.
If Oklahoma plays to their potential they should pound their way to a win behind the running of Samaje Perine. Yet, Oklahoma is known for gaffing on the biggest stages. I’ll take the points.
LSU -10.5 vs Wisconsin – College football in Lambeua! It doesn’t get any better than that. I saw that this is the second highest tickets prices for a regular season game ever at over $500/seat.
Last time we saw Wisconsin taking on the big boys from the SEC they were getting pounded by Bama last year 35-17. LSU is about the same as Bama and Wisconsin is about the same as last year. So I’ll take LSU and give the points.
North Carolina +2.5 vs Georgia – Last year, Carolina HC Larry Fedora’s hot seat was warming up. So all he did was go out and run the table in the ACC, getting to the championship game.
Georgia decided that winning 50 games over the last 5 years wasn’t good enough and sent Mark Richt packing. Enter former Bama DC Kirby Smart.
Based on roster talent, Georgia should dominate. But I want to root for Ellis and the upset so I’ll take the points.ort
Last time we saw Wisconsin taking on the big boys from the SEC they were getting pounded by Bama last year 35-17. LSU is about the same as Bama and Wisconsin is about the same as last year. So I’ll take LSU and give the points.
North Carolina +2.5 vs Georgia – Last year, Carolina HC Larry Fedora’s hot seat was warming up. So all he did was go out and run the table in the ACC, getting to the championship game.
Georgia decided that winning 50 games over the last 5 years wasn’t good enough and sent Mark Richt packing. Enter former Bama DC Kirby Smart.
Based on roster talent, Georgia should dominate. But I want to root for Ellis and the upset so I’ll take the points.ort
Southern Cal +11.5 vs Alabama – Bama hopes to keep a good thing going with another tough opening game. This time they take on USC. Back in 1970, Sam Bam Cunningham destroyed the Tide in a season opener 42-21. It was the game which led to Bama deciding to finally desegregate.
Bama has won 14 straight season openers and are not afraid to schedule the big boys. They return a stud defense and will roll out a new QB as usual.
But Chris is hosting a massive football watching party at his new Southern Command. I’ll root with the host and take the points.
Clemson -7.5 vs Auburn – In the night cap game, last year’s runner up is also playing a tough Power 5 team. Auburn was probably last year’s biggest disappointment. I’m not sure they have made enough progress to take on a fully stocked Clemson team.
Even though the Big Guy will be watching the dogs while we party strong, I’ll still take Clemson to cover and keep Malzahn on the hot seat.
Florida State -4.5 vs Mississippi – The weekend ends with yet another great game. FSU and Clemson are on a path to an Oct 29th play in game for the playoffs.
Ole Miss is a quirky team. They can beat LSU and Bama but then go around and lose to Memphis (I know, Memphis was pretty good last year but not as good as Bama and LSU)
It’s a coin flip as to which Rebel team will show up so I’ll go with tails and take FSU and Dalvin Cook and give the points.
Just a quatloo on those games but I am going to Mega Bet one of the hyped games.
Sunday’s match up features
Bama has won 14 straight season openers and are not afraid to schedule the big boys. They return a stud defense and will roll out a new QB as usual.
But Chris is hosting a massive football watching party at his new Southern Command. I’ll root with the host and take the points.
Clemson -7.5 vs Auburn – In the night cap game, last year’s runner up is also playing a tough Power 5 team. Auburn was probably last year’s biggest disappointment. I’m not sure they have made enough progress to take on a fully stocked Clemson team.
Even though the Big Guy will be watching the dogs while we party strong, I’ll still take Clemson to cover and keep Malzahn on the hot seat.
Florida State -4.5 vs Mississippi – The weekend ends with yet another great game. FSU and Clemson are on a path to an Oct 29th play in game for the playoffs.
Ole Miss is a quirky team. They can beat LSU and Bama but then go around and lose to Memphis (I know, Memphis was pretty good last year but not as good as Bama and LSU)
It’s a coin flip as to which Rebel team will show up so I’ll go with tails and take FSU and Dalvin Cook and give the points.
Just a quatloo on those games but I am going to Mega Bet one of the hyped games.
Sunday’s match up features
tre Dame -3.5 vs Texas – Notre Dame was this close to taking down Clemson last year while Texas stumbled to 5-7. And, oh yeah, one of those losses was to ND 38-3.
Texas will be better this year behind a thunder and more thunder running attack of D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III. And they have a good enough DL to stuff the Irish running attack featuring Tarean Folston and Josh Adams.
But ND’s DL is pretty good too so the running games will cancel each other out.
Which means it will come down to the QBs. I like ND’s QBs of Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer more than a Texas’ freshman Shane Beuchele. On a huge stage in his first start he will make some WTFs. Enough for ND to get the win and the cover.
As usual at the beginning of the year, I’m only to go with one Mega Bet until I get a better feel for teams.
I will go with some Mini Megas though including
Kansas State +14.0 vs Stanford – Stanford is a slow starting team. Remember last year’s opening loss to Northwestern. Fourteen points is way too many to a solid Wildcat team. I’ll let Mrs H get her victory but I’ll take the points and a cover.
UCLA +3.0 vs Texas A&M – UCLA’s secondary is going to give new Aggies QB Trevor Knight fits and an improved DL will keep him uncomfortable.
UCLA QB Josh Rosen will tee off and score the upset.
And here are all the games, times, TV channels, picks and much much more
Texas will be better this year behind a thunder and more thunder running attack of D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III. And they have a good enough DL to stuff the Irish running attack featuring Tarean Folston and Josh Adams.
But ND’s DL is pretty good too so the running games will cancel each other out.
Which means it will come down to the QBs. I like ND’s QBs of Malik Zaire and DeShone Kizer more than a Texas’ freshman Shane Beuchele. On a huge stage in his first start he will make some WTFs. Enough for ND to get the win and the cover.
As usual at the beginning of the year, I’m only to go with one Mega Bet until I get a better feel for teams.
I will go with some Mini Megas though including
Kansas State +14.0 vs Stanford – Stanford is a slow starting team. Remember last year’s opening loss to Northwestern. Fourteen points is way too many to a solid Wildcat team. I’ll let Mrs H get her victory but I’ll take the points and a cover.
UCLA +3.0 vs Texas A&M – UCLA’s secondary is going to give new Aggies QB Trevor Knight fits and an improved DL will keep him uncomfortable.
UCLA QB Josh Rosen will tee off and score the upset.
And here are all the games, times, TV channels, picks and much much more
week_1_predictions_sept_3_2016.xlsx |
Remember - the GO Jumbo trip is Nov 5th at the Westgate Resort