NCAA (Week 1) Th, Fr, Sat

[United]

North Carolina/SC over 64 1/2 (1)

Both teams can light it up and also give it up. I'm expecting a very offensive game in this opener. NC scored 33.2 ppg and gave up 39 ppg. SC scored 32.,6 ppg and allowed 30.4 ppg.

Charlotte @ Georgia St -5 1/2 (1)

Georgia St at 1-11 last year but do return a bunch of starters. Charlotte started playing foots in 2013. Foes like Johnson Smith and Wesley College helped get them to 5 wins in each season. I'm thinking their first game as a FBS team will not go their way.

Kent St @ Illinois -15 1/2 (2)

Illinois at 6-7 last year and should be improved with some solid starters and returning players back. The Illini have won 17 straight home openers by a average margin of 24 ppg. I'll be happy if they win by 17.

BYU @ Nebraska -6 1/2 (2)

Let the new era of Nebraska foots begin with coach Riley. With 9 starters back on this offense they will put up even more points this year. They 9-4 last year and with losses to Mich St by 5 and Minny by 4 and Bo is gone after losing the key games. I have a lot of respect for the BYU program and its gutsy qb Hill. The dude is a maniac on his feet and loves to hit people. I just think their coming into a tough place at the wrong time for an opener with this Husker team and new coach. Fans will be rocking and I think they get it done.

Texas @ Notre Dame -9 1/2 (2)

ND got off to a good start (6-0) last year and their first loss was the penalty that called back the go ahead TD at Florida St. Injuries decimated this team down the stretch as they were not very deep. Because of that a lot of players got very valuable experience which should make them much deeper this season. They are always a tough out at home. The Irish are 15-4 in season openers the last 9 years. Texas at 6-7 last year under coach Strong first year at the helm. When I look at their wins (North Texas, Kansas, Iowa St, Texas Tech, WV & Okl St) they were all teams that they should have beat. They did finish the season strong, no pun intended, winning 3 out of their last 4 games. Strong is a good coach and very disciplined. Texas will be better this season but just think they will lose their 3rd straight road opener.


Good luck friends!

 

[DropDimes]

Nebraska returns six starters on offense, not nine, and two of those six are in serious danger of losing their starting spots. Nebraska will have new starters at for sure one (and most likely two) WR spot(s), LG, C, RG, RB and likely RT. The RT and one WR are returning and started last year, but both are expected to lose their starting spots to more talented younger players. This of course if you aren't counting players that may have one career start.

 

[CFBLore]

My only two thoughts are 1) doesn't SC have turnover at almost every offensive position. They have one great WR but their QB's are all average at best (it appears) and 2) NEB has quite a few suspensions and injuries. BYU usually plays well in their big openers, beat a Bradford led OU, destroyed Texas twice.

 

[United]

Nebraska returns six starters on offense, not nine, and two of those six are in serious danger of losing their starting spots. Nebraska will have new starters at for sure one (and most likely two) WR spot(s), LG, C, RG, RB and likely RT. The RT and one WR are returning and started last year, but both are expected to lose their starting spots to more talented younger players. This of course if you aren't counting players that may have one career start.

Thanks for the correction on the starters. My action is already in. Good luck

 

[United]

My only two thoughts are 1) doesn't SC have turnover at almost every offensive position. They have one great WR but their QB's are all average at best (it appears) and 2) NEB has quite a few suspensions and injuries. BYU usually plays well in their big openers, beat a Bradford led OU, destroyed Texas twice.

Welcome to the community. BYU is a very good team. On SC, just thinking they will have to open it up to keep up with NC on offense. I'm wrong a lot!

Good luck

 

[BigdaddyQH]

My stats have Nebraska with 7 offensive starters back. The thing to remember is how rags determine what is a "starter'. Some definitions of a starter is anyone who started a game for their team last season even if it were for as little as one play. Others use a much tougher formula. Also remember that Nebraska has lost starting WR De'Mornay Pierson-El or at least 8 weeks. Projected defensive starting OLB David Santos and SS LeRoy Alexander are also gone. Nebraska is 4-6 against Power 5 teams in non-con games over the past 10 years. That does not tell us much. Pass.

North Carolina and South Carolina both boast better defenses than the excuses for the defenses these two had last season. I expect to see a team get a lead of more than one score and then try to control the game and the clock by running the ball. The last time these two got together the total was 38. A lot lower than the 64 1/2 projected here. Another game 1 pass.

Notre Dame should rip Texas if they really want to be considered a contender for the playoffs. The Irish had their QB question answered early, allowing Malik Zaire plenty of reps with the first string. The Irish have 17 starters returning, including 10 on the defense. The defense also has plenty of experience because of all the playing time reserves got last season due to injuries. Texas still does not have a decent QB and are just 4-8 against Power 5 non-con teams in the past 5 years. Texas has a lot of talent returning to the offensive line, but without a decent QB to lead the way, It will be very tough for the Longhorns to stay in this game. You may not want to take the Irish, but with a line under 10 points, you really cannot afford to take Texas.

 

[DropDimes]

Alexander was never going to start this year. He was being projected as a 2nd string or 3rd stringer under the new staff. Pierson-El is projected as being out 6-8 weeks, not "at least 8". Nebraska is going to have four players suspended, and the coaches have said only one is a starter. BYU is expected to have 10 players suspended and at least five starters out through suspension or injury. It will be a very interesting game to say the least. FWIW United, I like your wager, just wanted to make sure others who read this and has good a grasp as possible on Nebraska.

 

[BLAK_MAMBA]

emotional game for charlotte, their OL/assistant coach recently died at age 44. this is the type of game when everyone play their hearts out.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Nebraska returns six starters on offense, not nine, and two of those six are in serious danger of losing their starting spots. Nebraska will have new starters at for sure one (and most likely two) WR spot(s), LG, C, RG, RB and likely RT. The RT and one WR are returning and started last year, but both are expected to lose their starting spots to more talented younger players. This of course if you aren't counting players that may have one career start.

Returning starters is almost an outdated term with all the personnel packages and shuffling during games. I'd place more weight in "career starts". That diatribe aside, the line, outside of LT, doesn't have a lot of starts. There is still a nice bit of in game experience, for example RG played in every game in 2014, the C has played in 21. It's not completely brand new to the lights, but it's new as far as in game chemistry and that could be a challenge. I think it will be solid after about half a season, but early on it's one reason why I am not convinced they can run against BYU. You think they can and I hope you are right because that puts them ahead of schedule. I saw a 2014 BYU team that forced opponents to move away from the run game, and I see that for this game as well. NU passing the ball is not a Big Ten West winning formula, but it very well could be for this game. my 2 bits.

 

[RunLeeRun]

Alexander was never going to start this year. He was being projected as a 2nd string or 3rd stringer under the new staff. Pierson-El is projected as being out 6-8 weeks, not "at least 8". Nebraska is going to have four players suspended, and the coaches have said only one is a starter. BYU is expected to have 10 players suspended and at least five starters out through suspension or injury. It will be a very interesting game to say the least. FWIW United, I like your wager, just wanted to make sure others who read this and has good a grasp as possible on Nebraska.

With the way the state of Arizona's football player of the year, Young, has done at OLB, I'm not convinced Santos would have held his job either.

 

[rolltide]

Returning starters is almost an outdated term with all the personnel packages and shuffling during games. I'd place more weight in "career starts".

i'm not even sure career STARTS is all that important anymore. teams only list 2 CB/WR as "starter" but the #3/#4 CB & WR see a ton of time as well. example, when talking career playing time if Wisconsin really do debut 3 offensive lineman (1 true frosh, 2 RS i think) against that Bama dline...well...good luck with that. these would be 3 kids that have never played a down in college football but in the "career starts" category their "0" would count as much as new starters on other teams that played a bunch, just not as starters.

maybe we can ask Steele to start digging down deeper for a "career plays" that a kid has seen action?

 

[indiana]

United.............thank you and welcome back for another successful season..........BOL with all your action.............indy

 

[United]

emotional game for charlotte, their OL/assistant coach recently died at age 44. this is the type of game when everyone play their hearts out.

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that. I think the talent level will show in this home opener for GS. They won't have to many opportunities to get w's and this one they stand a decent shot at.

 

[United]

United.............thank you and welcome back for another successful season..........BOL with all your action.............indy

Indy, great to see you back sir!

 

[HawkerJimbo73]

Good luck this season United, agree with most

 

[Ilovetobet]

Bol in week 1 and all season long.

 

[bigike]

Good luck United....hope you have another great season!

 

[alkimyst]

Good luck, United!!

 

[thekeyman]

​good luck this year buddy

 

[MackDonald]

I follow your posts weekly United; Thanks for your efforts. We "older" football fans need all the help we can get....ha..

Good luck this season. It should be another great college football year.