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
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
AAC | C-USA | Ind | MAC | MW | Sun Belt
– Contact/Follow @PeteFiutak
And now it’s on for real, but it’s a painfully light Saturday of FBS vs. FBS games. The real show is on next weekend, but it’s the first big college football Saturday of the year. Let’s have some fun.
This is all just for spits, giggles, and entertainment purposes only, however, just in case you dabble …
You seriously want to be on the other side of Ohio State when it absolutely needs to make a statement in the opener? Florida Atlantic will be better and stronger than it was last season, but under Ryan Day, the Buckeyes were unstoppable in three of the first four games in 2018. The 27.5 might seem relatively big, but OSU might be up by four touchdowns in the first half.
– Florida Atlantic at Ohio State Game Preview, Prediction
The world is in love with Nebraska. You’re in love with Nebraska, We’re all in love with Nebraska … sort of. The pressure is on to not just beat South Alabama, but do it in ugly blowout fashion. It’ll happen, but the Jaguars will do just enough offensively to keep it closer than the 36. Nebraska could put up 50 points and crank out over 500 yards of total offense and still not cover.
– South Alabama vs. Nebraska Game Preview, Prediction
I feel like I’m missing the obvious with NC State vs. East Carolina. The Wolfpack will win, but I’m putting way too much stock in new Pirate head coach Mike Houston … to a point. The chronically underappreciated Wolfpack should come up with an impressive defensive performance to get to the 17.5. Liked it when it opened at State -20.5, love it more now after it dropped.
– East Carolina at NC State Game Preview, Prediction
Watch out for Illinois. It’s going to win six games, it’s going to go bowling, and it’s … it’s … it’s still Illinois. It should be able to handle Akron without much of a problem, but it still should have a few problems getting past the 17.5. It’s 18 in some areas after starting out at 15 and hanging at 16.5. If you need to go one way, take the Big Ten team over the MAC program in transition – even one that came back and shocked Northwestern last season. And why? It’s still Illinois. Speaking of the Big Ten vs. the MAC …
– Akron at Illinois Game Preview, Prediction
Indiana shouldn’t have too much of an issue taking care of Ball State in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Cardinals were plucky at times last season, but they won’t have the offensive pop to keep up the pace after getting out to a big start. The 17.5 won’t be a concern – IU should be able to hang up close to 40. Get ready … Hoosier QB Michael Pennix will be talking point next week.
– Indiana vs. Ball State Game Preview, Prediction
There’s nothing sexy about Kentucky. There’s no Benny Snell, and no Josh Allen, and it’s not the type of team that’s going to do anything flashy, but it’s going to be rock-solid sound against a good Toledo team that should sputter and cough a bit. Like the under on the 61.5, love the Cats giving away 11.5 – especially after it came down from 13.5.
– Toledo vs. Kentucky Game Preview, Prediction
Don’t think about this one … just do it. Mississippi State. -19 over Louisiana. Done and done. To be an elitist, it’s the SEC vs. the Sun Belt in a pro stadium. It won’t be 56-10 like it was last year, but in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Bulldogs will have few problems with the number, even though the Ragin’ Cajuns will be players in the Sun Belt.
– Mississippi State vs. Louisiana Game Preview, Prediction
Ole Miss vs. Memphis is way too scary. The Tigers are good enough to be in the mix for the AAC title, and they’re at home, but the SEC is the SEC, even if it’s an Ole Miss team that lost a ton of talent to the NFL. The Rebels were the cautious play when the line was Memphis -6, and I shouldn’t be worried now that it’s -4.5, but … the Tigers will win at home. Maybe. The better play is the over – WAY over – on the 64.5.
– Ole Miss at Memphis Game Preview, Prediction
The line hasn’t moved on Eastern Michigan -6 on the road at Coastal Carolina. As long as it doesn’t bump up, the Eagles are a nice call as long as the defense has a good day. There was a time when EMU wasn’t within ten miles of being a road favorite – it’ll win by a touchdown in a low-scoring battle.
– Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina Game Preview, Prediction
Tennessee is way overdue to take out a whole lot of frustrations. After the way last season ended, and with the power outage offensively, it can be forgiven if it’s about open it up. Even so, watch out for Georgia State to come up with just enough garbage-time points to get by the 26.5 point spread, but stay away from the total. The 57 is about right on the mark.
– Georgia State at Tennessee Game Preview, Prediction
NEXT: Alabama vs. Duke, North Carolina vs. South Carolina, Northwestern at Stanford, and more …
How are we not getting at least a few points of a break on Alabama? Name another team – maybe ever – that loses its two NFL starting running backs for a half, and it’s top-ten overall draft pick of a linebacker for the year, and still not see the line slip. Okay, it went from 34 to 33.5 over the last few weeks … oooooh. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of the fun when the passing game goes off in the first half.
– Alabama vs. Duke Game Preview, Prediction
Oooooooooh, now North Carolina has Mack Brown. He’ll make a difference this year, and the veteran Tar Heels have hope after losing so many close games last season, but grab the Gamecocks at the lowest number you can find. It started at USC -7.5 and is around 11 at most places, but if you can get the extra half a point, go for it. Will Muschamp’s team won’t need it.
– South Carolina vs. North Carolina Game Preview, Prediction
Really? You have a firm handle on the Northwestern – Stanford game? The Wildcats might have had the right formula to get to the Big Ten Championship and beat Utah in the bowl, but on the road, this is Stanford’s game. The Cardinal will be every bit as sound on both sides of the ball, and they’ll be more explosive to pull this off. But stay away from this – the line is right on at six, but see if you can get the Wildcats at 6.5.
– Northwestern at Stanford Game Preview, Prediction
2018 was a blip for Virginia Tech, and the public appears to see it. Boston College has the talent to win at home, and it has the grinding ground game, but the Hokies are good enough to win the ACC Coastal … really. The Hokies would’ve been the play at -2 – where it opened – and even up to 3, but now it’s at 4.5, and even five at some places. Take the home Eagles to cover it in what should be a tight battle.
– Virginia Tech at Boston College Game Preview, Prediction
Don’t get into the fun stats about how great Liberty is as a massive dog. Don’t get into the thought that it’s a road game for a Syracuse team that might be looking ahead to Maryland. The 18 shouldn’t be any sort of a barrier for what’s supposed to be the ACC’s second-best team. At least, this shouldn’t be a problem if Syracuse is the real deal.
– Syracuse at Liberty Game Preview, Prediction
Of course Arkansas State is going to play at an inspired level following the tragic loss of head coach Blake Anderson’s wife to cancer. The Red Wolves would’ve been the favorites at home anyway over SMU in what should be a shootout – love the over on the 56.5. The line going down to ASU -2.5 helps that much more.
– SMU at Arkansas State Game Preview, Prediction
Middle Tennessee isn’t bad enough get blown out, but it’s about to run into a buzzsaw against a Michigan team that’s going to try to beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten title in one Week One performance. The new-look Wolverine offense is about to go off, but the line going up to 35 is a big, big problem. At around 30, okay, but hold your nose and take the Blue Raiders to at least cover the monster number, even if it’ll be a blowout.
– Middle Tennessee at Michigan Game Preview, Prediction
Get ready for the Iowa lines to take over right away against Miami University. The Hawkeyes won’t be able to pull away and win in a walk, but there won’t be a problem winning easily – just not by more than 22.5. The RedHawks will get just enough points to not let this get out of hand.
– Miami University at Iowa Game Preview, Prediction
LSU is awful against the spread when it’s a double-digit favorite under Ed Orgeron, and Georgia Southern has the funky offensive style that gives defenses fits. The Tigers won’t have any problems winning, but this should be just low-scoring enough, and the clock will grind fast enough, to make blowing past the 27.5 a problem.
– Georgia Southern at LSU Game Preview, Prediction
Don’t get caught up in it being a road game, and don’t care about it being an SEC battle. Georgia is every bit the third-best team in college football – if not better – and Vanderbilt isn’t going to be able to hold up. The under on the 57 works – the Bulldog defense will have a big game – and even though it might take a bit, getting past the -22.5 won’t be a concern in the second half.
– Georgia at Vanderbilt Game Preview, Prediction
NEXT: Oregon vs. Auburn, Houston at Oklahoma, Notre Dame at Louisville, and more …
Make your call – Virginia or Pitt. The -2.5 spread Virginia’s way doesn’t matter. The Cavaliers weren’t good on the road last season, and the Panthers have rocked the series over the last several tries, but Bronco Mendenhall has the team to be the best in the Coastal.
– Virginia at Pitt Game Preview, Prediction
Mizzou has the offense that can explode for big things. Wyoming doesn’t have one of those. Mizzou has the SEC talent across the defensive side, even if the tackles are a question. Wyoming is plucky. After the fact, this will seem way too obvious – the Tigers will have the 17 points made up by the third quarter.
– Missouri at Wyoming Game Preview, Prediction
Oregon is better than Auburn. It has the all-star talent across the lines. It has an NFL starting quarterback. It has the experience, the offense, the swag, and the expectations to do something big this season.
Auburn has a true freshman quarterback, a questionable offense, and overall, it’s roughly the 7thish-best team in the SEC. Oregon might just be the top team in the Pac-12. Absolutely everything points to this being the national coming out party for Oregon to be a really big thing in 2019.
Take Auburn and the -3.5 anyway. It’s the Pac-12 in a massive non-conference game. You know what to do.
– Auburn vs. Oregon Game Preview, Prediction
It’s one of the stranger things in Week 1. In most cases, the money has come in on the favorites. The coin is rolling in on Louisiana Tech, though, against Texas. The line has gone now, and you can probably get the Longhorns at around 19.5. You can get them at 21 and not have a problem.
– Louisiana Tech at Texas Game Preview, Prediction
Stay away hard from Washington State vs. New Mexico State. The Cougar defense should be able to slow down the Aggie offense to a stop – go with the under on the 64.5 – but the line of Wazzu -31.5 is about right. It won’t be any fun taking New Mexico State in this, but it’s the correct play, especially if you can get it at 32.
– New Mexico State at Washington State Game Preview, Prediction
The smart, correct play is USC -13.5. It’s a desperate program looking for a massive start, and it needs to make a huge statement against Fresno State that this 2018 was just a blip. Take Fresno State with the points anyway, and ask for the defense to keep this from getting out of hand.
– Fresno State vs. USC Game Preview, Prediction
It stinks that the line went up from Florida State -3 to -6.5 against Boise State. On the other side, it stinks that the line didn’t go up more after this became a Florida State home game. You take Florida State if it dips below six, and you take Boise State it if stays above it. Take Boise State and the points.
– Boise State at Florida State Game Preview, Prediction
Oh yes, you want in on everything about this Houston-Oklahoma shootout-to-be. You want the over on the 80 – even though you can get it at 79 – and you want Houston getting 23 points. Oklahoma will win, but the Cougars will have themselves a game. Jalen Hurts will be fantastic, but get ready for America to be talking about D’Eriq King after this is over.
– Houston at Oklahoma Game Preview, Prediction
There’s absolutely no reason to take Louisville getting 20 against Notre Dame. People close to the Cardinals are saying the team need a total rebuild – but it will be better. The lines aren’t there to hold up against the Irish – but there’s a bit of NFL talent on the UofL offensive front. There’s no rational argument to go with the Cardinals and the points, but if you can get them at 20, do it.
– Notre Dame at Louisville 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
