The Picks Are In! College Football is Back Even if UGA Football Is off This Week
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and UGA football will have to wait until next weekend to kickoff the season, but college football is back. Here is what will happen this weekend... according to the Dawg Post crew.
Navy (+20.5) vs. Notre Dame - 2:30 PM, NBC
Matt’s Take: College football in Dublin? Love to see it. Of course, I have to take the Irish out there in Ireland. This is a big season for Marcus Freeman and I think the Irish start the season strong and cover the -20.5.
Ryan’s Take: Of course the first game is one I am not totally confident in, but I am going to give Navy the points. Notre Dame is going to win this game. Sam Hartman is a good quarterback, and I think he is an upgrade from Tyler Buchner. Year two tends to be an improvement for new regimes, and Marcus Freeman is a player’s coach. The Irish win in Ireland, but give me Navy and the points.
Dean’s Take: I have established dominance in my household to make clear that we will be done with all foolishness by the kick of this game on Saturday. I will take the Midshipmen against the line here. A fair amount of change for both programs in the offseason. I bet Navy gets a slick fourth-quarter cover on the back end... and that counts. More than what happens is what it looks like on the screen. USC and Notre Dame, both, need to lay a marker in my mind - show the nation that you are better than what you looked like much of the season (USC with back-to-back losses to Utah and Tulane; Notre Dame lost to Stanford, Marshall and nearly lost to Navy). We will see.
UMass (+7) at New Mexico State - 7:00 PM, ESPN
Matt’s Take: UMASS is bad. I know last year was last year, but they really terrible down the stretch, including a 10-point loss to New Mexico State. The Aggies ran the ball well last year and return plenty of experience. I’ll take New Mexico State -7.
Ryan’s Take: I have a hard time seeing UMass traveling across the country and winning that game. New Mexico State has been getting beat up by bigger programs recently. They will be doing the beating here - I have NMSU covering the line.
Dean’s Take: These are two of the worst football teams in our sport. Watching this one is not for the weak. I will take NMSU to cover this line, but I don’t like it.
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Ohio (+2.5) at San Diego State - 7:00 PM, FS1
Matt’s Take: I like this Ohio team. They’ve got a lot of returning players offensively, and I think quarterback Kurtis Rourke is bound for a big senior season. He’ll lead Ohio to an upset victory on the road. Bobcats +2.5.
Ryan’s Take: Ohio with the points. They lost some close one’s last year. They have an older QB, and I think they atart off with a close win.
Dean’s Take: So this is the game of the weekend for me. Tight line; garbage network; night game. What is there not to love here? I will take the home team to cover the small line at their new stadium.
Hawaii (+17) at Vanderbilt - 7:30 PM, SECN
Matt’s Take: Give me Vandy. The ‘Dores get Hawaii at home and get the season off to a nice start. They won’t win a lot of games this year, but they’ll beat Hawaii and cover the -17.
Ryan’s Take: Vanderbilt went to “paradise” and crushed the Rainbow Warriors a year ago. Vanderbilt being a two touchdown-plus favorite does not happen much because they are not favored to win their SEC games. Take the Commodores while you can.
Dean’s Take: I have Vandy here. This is a tough one for Hawaii for a slew of reasons - most notably The tragedy that's going on in our 50th state. It is going to be tough to collect themselves and be ready to go for an entire four quarters. Vandy talked a good game in the summer. I think they believe what they were saying. I will take Vandy to cover this week.
San Jose State (+30.5) at USC - 8:00 PM, Pac 12 Nework
Matt’s Take: The Trojans will win big, but that’s a lot of points. San Jose St. is returning their quarterback, a reliable running back, and a 1,000-yard receiver back this fall. They can score, and I’m not buying USC’s defense. Theey have to prove it. I’ll take San Jose State +30.5 here.
Ryan’s Take: No hesitation, I am taking the Trojans here. I think USC is going to be a problem this year. Caleb Williams won an uneventful Heisman race, but he won the race. He could totally win it again. I was talking about year twos earlier. We have another one here with Lincoln Riley.
Dean’s Take: So I think I will grab the four and a half touchdowns and roll with SJSU. This is a game I am eager to watch. USC is quite a story these days. One reason am curious about this game, and the particular reason I am taking the Spartans, is that the Trojans couldn’t stop anyone. I am skeptical they’ve figured that out in an offseason.
Florida International (+10.5) at Louisiana Tech - 9:00 PM, CBS Sports Network
Matt’s Take: Louisiana Tech was bad last year, but they have a lot of guys returning on both sides of the ball. FIU has a lot of defenders returning, and beat Louisianna Tech in double OT last year. Louisianna Tech should be improved this year, but I don’t think they’re better than FIU by 10.5 points. Give me FIU +10.5.
Ryan’s Take: This game went to OT last year? Louisiana Tech gets revenge from last year, but I am rooting for a close game, so give me the points and FIU.
Dean’s Take: When you need "revenge" against Florida International... things are going well. Give me the double-digit points and FIU. I really would love a tight late-night game to start the season.
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