College Football Final Thoughts, Investment Advice: Week 1 Friday Games
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The final thoughts, a few predictions, and some investment advice to make your life a heck of a lot better than it currently is.
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– CFN Week 1 Expert Picks: Friday
– Week 1 TV Schedule & Game Times
Week 1 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
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Well that was certainly an interesting Thursday night.
A late Texas State score screwed up what should’ve been a sure-thing Texas A&M cover – depending where you got the line – a late Clemson score screwed up what should’ve been a sure-thing Georgia Tech cover, and a late Kent State score screwed up what should’ve been a sure-thing Arizona State cover.
It was all a whole lot of fun, but there were also too many FBS vs. FCS games. Not tonight.
Eight games, and all of them FBS vs. FBS, with seven involving Power Five programs, and the other one kicking things off with Army.
This is all just for spits, giggles, and entertainment purposes only, however, just in case you dabble …
Just how devastating will the Army offense be right out of the box? Rice has nothing on defense, nothing on offense, and it might be the worst team in major college football … but it’s going to grind the game down to a stop.
The line was just fine when it opened up at Army -24 – Rice was the solid call – but now that it’s down to 22 at some places, 22.5 at others, be wary. If the Army O is on, it’s uh-oh time and you cover with ease. However – and this gets lost in the glory of the 11-2 season – out of the last ten wins, seven were by fewer than 20, and that includes dates with Colgate, Lafayette, and a slew of MAC teams.
Go with Rice and the points … and go very, very, very light.
– Rice vs. Army Game Preview, Prediction
There’s nothing that feels good about the Utah State-Wake Forest game except for the over on the 60. This isn’t going to be the Utah State of last year – it was a cover machine, but it beat a fat load of nobody – while Wake Forest was as inconsistent as any Power Five program.
Expect Jordan Love and the Aggie offense to be ultra-efficient against the questionable Wake Forest secondary, but more than any other game on Friday, this all depends on where you’re getting the line and – duh – which side you like.
It should be a see-saw game will plenty of mood swings that comes down to the end. If you want Wake Forest, you can get it at -3.5 – go with the ACC team at home.
At playMGM it’s up to Wake Forest -5 – that’s just enough to side with the Aggies in what should be a dead-even shootout. Utah State could win this outright.
– Utah State vs. Wake Forest Game Preview, Prediction
There’s a shot the Wisconsin-USF game misses the rain of Dorian – at least a little bit. It’s supposed to thunderstorm all day, but it might just clear up by game time. No matter what, though, it’s going to be a wet and sloppy track. USF isn’t going to tackle a lick as this game goes on.
Go with the under on 58.5. Nine of the 13 Badger games last year went over that, and this season, the defense should be closer to the 2017 version that didn’t give up a thing. In what should be questionable conditions, go with the Big Ten power running game and the Big Ten lines to cover the 10.5.
Considering the line shot up to Badgers -13 at some places, 10.5 is a gift. Seven of the eight wins last season were by 11 or more, and ten of the 13 in 2017 were in blowouts.
– Wisconsin vs. USF Game Preview, Prediction
Michigan State isn’t going to make it easy on you. The Spartans always seem to sputter and cough out of the gate, mainly because they do. Mark Dantonio rarely pulls out the stops, the team relies on the defense and just enough points to get by, and there’s always a point in the first half when you’re wondering if there might be an upset.
No, you’re not going to have fun with the first half. But you’ll enjoy the second half as the Spartan defense shuts down the Tulsa offense to a dead stop. Go with the under on the 48 – there’s an outside shot the Golden Hurricane can’t get more than seven points – and take Michigan State and the 23.5. You’re going to hate-watch this, though – it’s never going to seem like covering that is in the bag.
– Tulsa vs. Michigan State Game Preview, Prediction
Some of the seemingly obvious covers – Arizona State over Kent State tops the list – died late on Thursday night, but this one isn’t that bad if you can get past the idea of taking Rutgers and give away 15.5 points.
The date with UMass started out at -11 but roared up fast. It’s up to 16 at some places, but it shouldn’t matter either way. The Minutemen are going to be in for a boatload of blowouts this season, and this will be one of them. Be angry if the Big Ten team doesn’t win by at least 20.
You’ll be stunned. Rutgers will look good – this week.
– UMass vs. Rutgers Game Preview, Prediction
What have we learned from the early rivalry games? Talent might win out when it comes to Florida over Miami and Utah over BYU, but it’s all about the mistakes. Do you think Colorado can limit them against Colorado State?
The line was just fine when it was Colorado -10, and it wasn’t awful at -12.5. At 13.5, you’re a little worried, but this should be a two touchdown win in Mel Tucker’s first game for the Buffs. Colorado has won each of its last three in the series in relative blowouts – this year’s team is flying a bit under the radar.
Buff QB Steven Montez is about to go off. Expect and enjoy the fireworks.
– Colorado vs. Colorado State Game Preview, Prediction
Yeah, Purdue lost to Eastern Michigan last season, and it’s certainly not above coming up with a big clunker, but it’s not quite time to assume Nevada is just that good, even at home.
Yeah, Nevada beat Oregon State last season when the Beavers went to Reno. It also got obliterated by Vanderbilt. However, and here’s the concern, the Pack played Boise State and Fresno State really, really tough at home.
This should be a tough Nevada defense, but Purdue has too much pop. The 11 is a bit large after it opened up at 8.5, but the Boilermakers have a potentially devastating passing game, and the Wolf Pack will need the whole game to find a groove. Go with the over on the 58, and grit teeth through taking Purdue to give away the 11. It”ll happen, but it’s going to be a grind.
– Purdue vs. Nevada Game Preview, Prediction
The line went down in the Oklahoma State-Oregon State game, but you didn’t need it to move. The Beavers might be better, and there’s reason to worry about a road game for the Cowboys, but the program has always seemed and played unfazed away from Stillwater under Mike Gundy.
It started out at Ok State -16.5, everyone hammered the Beavers, and now it’s down to 14. Oklahoma State will win this by more than two touchdowns, and that 71.5 point total should be going down, too.
Put it this way. Utah was solid against BYU, but what else so far about the Pac-12 has made you think there’s anything special coming? It’s a holiday weekend – stay up late, watch the shootout, and enjoy.
– Oklahoma State vs. Oregon State Game Preview, Prediction
Week 1 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | MW | Sun Belt
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
