Some Friday Previews.

[Greenbacks]

Central Connecticut State at Syracuse.

Following a disappointing finish to the 2016 season, Syracuse aims to get its current campaign off on the right foot Friday against visiting Central Connecticut State. The Orange sat at 4-4 last year before losing their final four contests amidst a total collapse by the defense.
Syracuse gave up 54, 35, 45 and 76 points in its final four games last season, losing those outings by an average of 28.8 points. On the other side of the field, Syracuse put up some big numbers in coach Dino Babers' first season behind now-junior quarterback Eric Dungey, and the duo are hoping to play at an even faster pace in 2017. "I mean, fast is never fast enough," Dungey said recently. "That's the one thing I've learned from Coach Babers, is no matter how fast we're going, we're not going fast enough." Central Connecticut State suffered seven double-digit losses as part of a 2-9 campaign last year.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra. LINE: Syracuse -46.5

ABOUT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE (2016: 2-9, 1-5 Northeast Conference): The coaches in the Northeast Conference predicted the Blue Devils to finish fourth in the league even though the team struggled mightily a season ago. Among the top returners for Central Connecticut State are senior wideout Joey Fields, who had a team-high 46 catches in 2016, and junior K.J. Smith, who reeled in 38 catches last year. In all, the Blue Devils return 18 starters - eight on each side of the ball - under fourth-year coach Pete Rossomando.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (2016: 4-8, 2-6 ACC): The Orange return 20 players who started at least six games last season - tops in the nation - and bring back players who accounted for nearly 95 percent of their offensive production in 2016. Dungey threw for 2,679 yards and 15 touchdowns last year and also scored six rushing scores, but he must stay healthy this season after missing significant time as both a freshman and as a sophomore. Linebackers Zaire Franklin and Parris Bennett combined for 211 tackles last year, but Syracuse was one of only seven teams nationally to give up more than 500 yards per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Syracuse ranked second in the ACC in passing (321.3 yards per game) in 2016.

2. Since 1978, Syracuse is 15-0 against FCS opponents.

3. The Orange are looking to win their season opener for the fourth straight season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Colorado State vs Colorado.

Fresh off one of the more surprising turnarounds of 2016, Colorado kicks off a new season Friday in its annual Rocky Mountain Showdown contest against Colorado State in Denver. The Rams, meanwhile, don’t look to be the 44-7 pushover they were a year ago in this matchup, having opened their season with a 58-27 thumping of the Pac-12’s Oregon State in Fort Collins on Saturday.
The Buffaloes jumped from 4-9 in 2015 to 10-4 a season ago, going 8-1 in conference play en route to the Pac-12 South Division title. The season, dubbed by the program as “The Rise,” didn’t exactly have a storybook ending, though, as Colorado was crushed by Washington 41-10 in the conference championship game and routed by Oklahoma State 38-8 in the Alamo Bowl. Entering 2017, the Buffaloes are predicted to finish fourth in South by conference media members, and coach Mike MacIntyre - winner of several 2016 national coach-of-the-year honors - says it’s on his team to quiet the "one-season wonder" chatter. “We have a lot to prove,” MacIntyre said last month during his Pac-12 Media Days news conference. “We’re still a team that people don’t believe in, and we’d like for people to believe in us. The only way you do that is put back-to-back (strong seasons) together, and that’s what we plan on doing.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Colorado -3.5

ABOUT COLORADO (2016: 10-4): Sophomore quarterback Steven Montez has the difficult task of replacing the school's all-time passing yards leader, Sefo Liufau, after throwing for 1,017 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions in 10 games (three starts) last season. He’ll have plenty of help with the Buffaloes returning their top four wide receivers, four starting offensive linemen and second-team All-Pac 12 tailback Phillip Lindsay, but there are questions on defense as Colorado must replace eight starters, including a trio of NFL draft picks in the secondary.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE (1-0): The Rams opened their new and sold-out on-campus stadium in style Saturday, outscoring the visiting Beavers 34-7 in the second half. Quarterback Nick Stevens threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, the ground game produced 191 yards and three TDs and the defense forced five turnovers, which directly led to 27 of the Rams’ 57 points. Wide receiver Michael Gallup got a good start after his preseason All-Mountain West Conference First Team recognition, hauling in 11 passes for 134 yards to post his sixth straight 100-yard receiving performance dating to last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Colorado leads the series 64-22-2 and has won two straight meetings and seven of the last 10.

2. The Buffaloes’ top four returning receivers – seniors Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo and Devin Ross and junior Jay MacIntyre – combined for 189 receptions, 2,523 yards and 17 TDs a year ago.

3. Colorado State has topped 500 total yards and 40 points in each of its last five games dating to last season.

 

[Greenbacks]

Washington at Rutgers.

Seventh-ranked Washington is being discussed as a national championship contender entering Friday's season opener at Rutgers, but coach Chris Petersen prefers the word "rebuilding" over "reloading." The Huskies went 12-2 last season and lost in the College Football Playoff semifinals to Alabama, but Petersen is attempting to decrease the hype surrounding the Jake Browning-led squad.
"Because you start from scratch," Petersen told reporters about why rebuilding is the proper term. "This is not even kind of the same team it was last year. The program is similar in the things we believe in. But this is a new team, so we rebuild the team every year. We rebuild a new team every week, because you're different week-to-week." Washington will be without preseason All-American senior linebacker Azeem Victor against Rutgers after he was suspended for a violation of team rules - sophomore cornerback Austin Joyner received two games for his own violation. Rutgers coach Rob Ash will be looking to make progress in his second year after the team lost its final nine games last season, and the fact that standout kick returner Janarion Grant received a medical redshirt from the Big Ten certainly didn't hurt. Grant, who suffered a season-ending broken ankle last season, is tied for the all-time NCAA record with eight return touchdowns -- five coming via kickoffs and three on punts.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Washington -27.5

ABOUT WASHINGTON (2016: 12-2, 8-1 Pacific-12): Browning is recovered from offseason surgery on his passing shoulder after matching the Pac-12 record of 43 touchdown passes and finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season. The backfield is stacked with junior Myles Gaskins (1,373 yards in 2016) and Lavon Coleman (852 yards, school-record 7.5 average), while senior Dante Pettis (53 catches) is now the go-to wideout after collecting 15 receiving scores last season, tying for third-most in school history. The Huskies will miss the suspended Victor but have three other standouts in junior defensive tackle Vita Vea (five sacks), senior inside linebacker Kieshawn Bierria (national-best five fumble recoveries) and sophomore free safety Taylor Rupp (four interceptions).

ABOUT RUTGERS (2016: 2-10, 0-8 Big Ten): Fifth-year senior Kyle Bolin, a graduate transfer from Louisville, won the starting quarterback gig and will be making his seventh career start. Bolin, who has passed for 2,104 career yards, has sophomore wideout Jawuan Harris (39 catches) to throw to, while seniors Robert Martin (1,822 career rushing yards) and Gus Edwards (a transfer from Miami) will share the ball-carrying duties. Junior linebackers Trevor Morris (102 tackles) and Deonte Roberts (95) are the leaders of the defense, while promising junior cornerback Blessuan Austin had 14 passes defensed last season for a unit that allowed just 186.5 passing yards per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington scored a school-record 585 points last season but totaled just 20 in its two defeats (USC, Alabama).

2. Former Minnesota coach Jerry Kill is the new offensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights.

3. Pettis has recorded five career punt-return touchdowns, one shy of the Pac-12 record held by California's DeSean Jackson (2005-07).

 

[Greenbacks]

Navy at Florida Atlantic.

The faces may change through the years for Navy, but the Midshipmen continue to roll forward with one of the top ground games in the country. Navy takes that running arsenal to Florida Atlantic on Friday, where the Owls open the Lane Kiffin-era with a tough challenge to begin a new chapter in program history.
The triple-option offense run by Navy finished third in the FBS last season with 4,342 yards rushing and led the nation with 61 touchdowns on the ground behind quarterback Will Worth, who combined for 2,595 yards of offense. New Midshipmen quarterback Zach Abey, who started the final two games last season after Worth was lost to injury, is the latest to take command of the potent Navy attack that set school records in points (531), touchdowns (70) and total offense (5,136 yards) last season. Starting the final two games last season leads to hope of a seamless transition for Abey, a 6-2 junior. “My one word for Zach is confidence. It's all about confidence," Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper told the Capital Gazette. "My goal going into the first game is for him to be comfortable. Because if he feels comfortable, he's going to play fast and be a much better football player."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Navy -10

ABOUT NAVY (2016: 9-5): The offense drives the Midshipmen to success and looks to the defense to get them back on to the field, something that didn’t happen with regularity last season as they allowed 31 points per game. Navy figures to improve with seven returning starters on defense, which includes seven of the top eight tacklers from a year ago led by senior linebacker Micah Thomas and his team-leading 107 tackles. Senior fullback Chris High (546 yards, seven touchdowns) is the top returning rusher.

ABOUT FAU (2016: 3-9): The Owls entered final preparations for the season opener unclear of their quarterback situation. Jason Driskel, last year’s starter, has not secured his role and was expected to be challenged by junior college transfer De’Andre Johnson, a former Florida State recruit who has been slowed by injuries during preseason workouts. That has allowed former redshirt freshman Daniel Parr to enter the conversation to earn the opening-night start under center.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kiffin returns to the head coaching ranks for the first time since 2013. Kiffin served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders, University of Tennessee and USC before spending the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator at Alabama.

2. The Midshipmen were last in the nation by stopping only 46 percent of third-down conversion attempts on defense last season.

3. Navy completed 93 passes for an average of 19.3 yards in 2016.

 

[Greenbacks]

Utah State at Wisconsin.

Tenth-ranked Wisconsin looks to live up to its lofty ranking when it opens the season at home against Utah State on Friday. The Badgers are on their third defensive coordinator in as many years after Justin Wilcox left Madison to take the head-coaching job at California, and Jim Leonhard is tasked with spearheading a unit that's finished in the top 10 in total defense each of the last four seasons.
Wisconsin won the Big Ten West Division title in 2016 but dropped a 38-31 decision to No. 6 Penn State in the conference championship game, and it hopes to reach double digits in wins for the third straight season under Paul Chryst. Sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook is the undisputed starter after sharing snaps with Bart Houston last season and looks to turn the corner in his development by breathing life into an inconsistent offense that finished 67th nationally in points per game (28.4) in 2016. Wisconsin, which returns 15 starters, has won 21 consecutive home openers and can extend its winning streak against teams currently in the Mountain West Conference to 10 games since 2007. Utah State is coming off its worst season since 2008 but played the Badgers tough in their previous two meetings, most recently a 16-14 loss in 2014 and a 20-0 victory 49 years ago.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Wisconsin -28

ABOUT UTAH STATE (2016: 3-9): Quarterback Kent Myers returns after throwing for 2,389 yards and 10 touchdowns in his junior season, as does leading rusher Tonny Lindsey Jr., who ran for 763 yards and six scores, and top receiver Ron'quavion Tarver (46 receptions for 602 yards). "We have a lot of good, talented people this year and a lot of experience within the receiving corps," Myers told reporters. "It really helps me out, especially for my senior year, to go out and do something big." The offensive line lost three starters from last season, but BYU transfer Quin Ficklin has impressed at center and will be counted on to anchor an inexperienced unit.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (2016: 11-3): Hornibrook threw for 1,262 yards and nine touchdowns in nine starts last season and will have leading receiver Jazz Peavy and senior tight end Troy Fumagalli as his security blankets. Leonhard will have to replace the production of linebackers T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel, who both were selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, while this year's unit already is down two key contributors as Jack Cichy (knee) and Zach Baun (leg) suffered season-ending injuries in training camp. "It was unfortunate with Zach," Chryst told reporters. "You feel bad for a guy that missed a lot of games last year, and I thought he was doing some really good things."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wisconsin is 17-3 at home since the start of the 2014 season.

2. The Badgers have won 37 straight home games against non-conference opponents.

3. Chryst is 21-6 since taking the head-coaching job in 2015.

 

[Greenbacks]

Boston College at Northern Illinois.

Boston College has been unable to keep pace on the offensive side of the football in recent years, a trend the program hopes to reverse in 2017, beginning with a challenging road game at Northern Illinois on Friday night. The Eagles, who won a bowl game last year for the first time since 2007, have ranked as one of the best defensive teams in the country several times under head coach Steve Addazio, who expects a more balanced product this season.
"All phases are better. Every phase is better," Addazio recently told reporters of his offense. "Now it's about hammering out the consistency of it all." Grad student Darius Wade and redshirt freshman Anthony Brown are battling it out for the starting quarterback job, while senior Jon Hilliman leads a deep group in the backfield and former quarterback Jeff Smith has big-play potential at receiver. Addazio's defense, which led the nation in yards allowed per game in 2015 and was eighth in that category last year, has a star in preseason All-American defensive end Harold Landry, who led the country in sacks (16.5) a year ago and will take aim at a Huskies squad that has all sorts of uncertainty on offense. Either junior Ryan Graham or sophomore Daniel Santacaterina will start under center for head coach Ron Carey, who was 23-5 in his first two years at the helm but is just 13-13 over the last two seasons.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Boston College -4

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (2016: 7-6): Injuries have limited Hilliman since he had 860 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman in 2014, but he appears in great health and will be supported by Davon Jones and freshman standout A.J. Dillon. Even Smith will get into the act on the ground, but the junior is expected to give either Wade or Brown a target with electric talent. "He's an every down receiver now," Addazio said of Smith. "He's fast in a fast conference. He runs away from people in our conference, which is probably the fastest conference in the country."

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2016: 5-7): Graham has thrown for 1,371 yards and 14 TDs over the last two seasons while Santacaterina saw action in the last two games of 2016. The receiving corps will be looking for someone to step into the leading role after Kenny Golladay (87 catches, 1,156 yards) went to the NFL, and top rusher Joel Bouagnon (885 yards, eight TDs) also needs to be replaced for a team that is coming off its first losing season since 2008. Iowa State transfer Jauan Wesley figures to be a top target through the air and senior Jordan Huff - who averages nearly seven yards a carry in his career - will have every opportunity to fill Bouagnon's shoes.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hilliman ran for 119 yards and a TD as the Eagles squeaked by the Huskies 17-14 at home in the previous meeting in 2015.

2. Landry also led the ACC in forced fumbles (seven) and was second in tackles for loss (22) last year.

3. BC ranked 127th out of 128 FBS teams in total offense (292.8 yards per game) in 2016.