30
AUG
2017

NCAAF Week 1

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NCAAF Season: 1-0, (100.00%) +1.0 Units
NCAAF Last Week: 1-0, (100.00%) +1.0 Units

Got off to a nice start with an easy winner on my only “Week 0” play with Colorado State rolling Oregon State. Now hoping to follow it up here in the true Week 1…

Indiana (+21): Yet again Ohio State should be very good this year and they’ll likely be in the hunt for the National Title when December rolls around.  They do however find themselves in a bit of a look ahead spot to start the season as a big showdown with Oklahoma is waiting for them on deck after this contest with the Hoosiers. Indiana head coach Tom Allen has already called this game “The biggest home opener in the history of our program.” So while of course talent is important it seems pretty clear this game means more to Indiana than it does to Ohio State. At QB Indiana returns Richard Lagow who isn’t great or anything but he did throw for 3363 yards and 19 TD’s last season. I’m not expecting an Indiana win or anything but a night game at home to open the season against a team as good as Ohio State should lead to a ton of energy in the building and max effort from the players. Throw in the already mentioned Ohio State look ahead angle and something like 34-20 Buckeyes seems about right.

Colorado State (+5.5): **I know this line is lower now but I took in earlier in the week at 5.5 and would still suggest playing it at 4.5.** Hit Colorado State with an easy blowout win last week and I’m going to go back to the well this week. In my write up last week I mentioned how the Rams ended last season by averaging 48.3 points per game in their last 6 games. Sure enough the picked up right where they left off by dropping 58 on Oregon State. This is a high powered offense with a good QB, a stud WR and a stable of solid RB’s. There’s also revenge on the menu for Colorado State after getting blown out by Colorado 44-7 last year. The Buffs overachieved a bit last year and following up with another season like that will be tough. They also lost QB Sefo Liufau who is currently trying to make it in the NFL with Tampa Bay. At QB now it’ll be Sophomore Steven Montez who steps in. Montez had decent numbers in limited action last year but it would be naive to think he just steps in and performs at Liufau’s level. Meanwhile that Colorado State offense is clicking on all cylinders right now and should be a handful to deal with. I’m expecting this one to come down to the final minutes and for the Rams to have a good shot at winning outright.

Florida State (+7): I know Alabama is excellent yet again this season but I don’t think FSU should be getting a Touchdown on a neutral field against anyone. Back at QB is Sophomore and now team leader Deondre Francois. Francois put up 3350 passing yards and 20 TD’s with only 7 INT’s last year. He also earned all his teammates respect by taking huge hits over and over last season and continuing to get up and keep battling. He’s a classic “teammates would run through a wall for him” type. Yes Dalvin Cook is gone at RB but now stepping in is Senior Jacques Patrick who is a big bruising back and he’ll be complimented by Freshman Cam Akers who was one of the top recruits in the nation. On the defensive end it’s an embarrassment of riches for FSU with studs on the D-Line, at Linebacker and what many think is the best player in the country Safety Derwin James. Yes Alabama is excellent again but I’ll take FSU +7 on a neutral field against anyone. I truly think this team is good enough to win a national title this season.

These three will be it for Week 1. It’s early in the season and there’s no need to go nuts right off the bat. Likely a much bigger card in Week 2 but these will do for now.

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