Thanks for the kind words. My PR process is below. This is my 4th year doing PRs for individual FBS teams. I tried FCS teams last year but it is wayyyy too time consuming for the returns and very difficult to add that many additional box score reviews on Sunday.
I mostly use Bill Connelly team previews/stats to assist with my PRs. I do the PRs and write my own blurb about every team. I note percentage of returning production on offense/defense and TO margin for previous year. I make notes regarding offensive and defensive identities. I specifically include pace and percent run/pass. Of course I also note for and try to adjust for any coaching changes. I then go through position by position. My maximum PR is 100 points. I break it down as follows: QB - 15, RB - 10, WR - 10, OL -15, DL - 15, LB - 10, DB - 10, Coaching - 10, STs - 5.
Perhaps I'm giving too much to the offensive side of the ball and maybe that's something I need to adjust in how I do my PRs. I will say I haven't noticed an incredible shift to having offensive teams rated significantly higher in my PRs but it's something I need to look deeper into.
My spreadsheet has End of 2015 PR, Preseason 2016 PR and then I will adjust them on a weekly basis based on box score review and injury. I have found it key to not overreact to one game
Twitter is also essential as I keep a CFB twitter list that helps me find out any injury/suspension information. This is particularly helpful in the offseason
DonBest injury page is absolutely a must review as the season approaches and through the week before the games. It's the best injury list I've found by far.
GSU vs Ball St: I have GSU -2 on a neutral field. I realize that playing it early can be affected by kids doing stupid stuff during the summer. However the Ball St players have the same chance of doing something dumb as the GSU players. Reasons I like the play: Lembo left Ball St and their new HC is very inexperienced in terms of the college game. I think Lembo was a solid coach and there will be an adjustment period here for Ball St. They do return a fair amount but all of those players will be learning new systems. Concern with GSU is that they lose Arbuckle and if he's irreplaceable then the bet could be in trouble. At the end of last year I would have had GSU -5 on a neutral so I have Ball St improving but I don't have them improving to the point that they would be -6.5 on a neutral field which is basically what a line of GSU -3.5 suggests. That would be an 11.5 adjustment in the PR and I just don't see that much or anything close to it. Getting the hook here was crucial as well and part of the reason I wanted to jump on the line early. Barring a major injury/suspension I don't think I'll get a better line than Georgia St +3.5