There will be 6 Premium Picks for Week 1!
Premium Picks are made public once the games are played.
Week 1
Thursday ( August 29th ) – Utah Vs BYU Winner Utah 30-12
(Vegas Utah -5 ) (Game Picker Utah by 6.92 )
Utah has seven starters back this year and feature one of the best DLines and defensive backfields in college football. Utah will have 8 starters back on offense including 2018 – 1000 yard rusher Zack Moss. BYU will return an experienced team as well but a good many are sophomores that gained experienced on an extremely young team last year. Utah has been BYU’s daddy in the holy war winning 8 straight games. This will be a defensive battle, but look for Utah (dark horse playoff team) to pull away in this one.
Saturday ( August 31st ) – S Carolina Vs N Carolina
(Vegas S Carolina -9 ) (Game Picker S Carolina by 16.52 )
South Carolina returns an experienced offense (7 starters back) including Senior QB Jake Bentley. Having a senior QB is a huge advantage in opening games in loud environments. North Carolina will likely be starting a freshman QB. NC coach Mack Brown is back for another go and will have the Tar Heels playing much better. However, there will be a transition period. S Carolina returns an extremely solid team across the board and will be much improved this year. Look for South Carolina to cover the spread in this neutral site rivalry.
Saturday (August 31st) – Boise St Vs Florida St
(Vegas Florida St -3.5 ) (Game Picker Florida St by 8.765 )
This line moved because of the move of venue. Hopefully most folks jumped on it early! Everyone talks about the woeful offensive line of Florida St last year. The injury bug hit early and often and caused Florida St to have to use a different OL starting combo 9 times last year. Florida St has a healthy and huge O line returning and should be one of the most improved in the country. With QB James Blackman and Running Back Cam Akers having time to operate, this will be a completely different offense this year. Florida St returns a great defense with 8 starters back. Boise St will be starting a freshman QB and will be experiencing life after four year starting QB Brett Rypien. Florida St will be able to shut down the Boise St offense in this one and cover the spread.
Saturday (August 31st) – GA Southern Vs LSU
(Vegas LSU -27 ) (Game Picker LSU by 35.21 )
GA Southern QB Shai Werts got pulled over speeding and had questionable bird residue/cocaine on the hood of his car. He is considered probable for the opening game versus LSU. GA Southern runs the option and will be shaky at best against one of the best defenses in the country with their main man having off the field distractions. LSU returns an experienced defense with 8 starters returning. On offense, LSU will look to open things up with second year starting QB Joe Burrow returning. This game should be a shut out and a blow out for LSU. Look for LSU to cover the spread.
Saturday (August 31st) – Wyoming Vs Missouri
(Vegas Missouri -16 ) (Game Picker Missouri by 28.59 )
Every year on opening weekend there is a head scratcher line put out by Vegas. This is that game this year. On paper, Missouri should wax Wyoming with a huge offensive unit ranking advantage versus the defensive unit ranking of Wyoming. Missouri QB Kelly Bryant (Clemson starter last year) is a winner and will have a chip on his shoulder to show what he can do. Wyoming will return an inexperienced team with 5 returning starters on offense and 6 returning starters on defense. Look for Missouri to pull away in this one and cover the line.
Monday (September 2nd) – Notre Dame Vs Louisville
(Vegas Notre Dame -20 ) (Game Picker Notre Dame by 28.59 )
Louisville players and coaches quit about halfway through the season last year. It will take a couple of years for first year Louisville coach Scott Satterfield to repair the broken program. Notre Dame returns an experienced QB in Ian Book after going 12-1 last year. This line is down right disrespectful to the Irish after the campaign they had last year. If ND did not have to play Michigan and Georgia on the road, they would be favored to make a return to the playoffs this year. Look for Notre Dame to try to make a statement in this game and cover the spread.
Week 0 Results:
Saturday (August 24th) – Arizona Vs Hawaii Loss Hawaii 45-38
(Vegas Arizona -10.5 ) (Game Picker Arizona by 22.43 )
Arizona QB Khalil Tate was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the beginning of the season last year being touted as the best QB in college football. A season-long ankle injury derailed his junior year. He is once again healthy and will be somewhat unstoppable this year with most of his starting offensive line back. Arizona’s defense returns 8 starters and should be much improved after an injury plagued 2018 campaign. Arizona should be one of the most improved teams in college football in Coach Kevin Sumlin’s 2nd year. Hawaii returns an experienced team that faded down the stretch last year allowing an average of 40 points a game over the last seven games. Arizona will have much more talent on the field. Look for Arizona to cover the spread in this one as QB Khalil Tate has a great opening game.
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