Brett Ludwiczak
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MC&J: Clemson-Georgia and Notre Dame-Texas A&M top Week 1 nationally
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
The two games between ranked teams highlight the opening weekend slate.
Last year ATS: 133-120-2 (71-73-2 National, 62-47 B1G)
Picks for this weekend’s games involving Big Ten teams can be found here.
TCU (-9.5) v. Stanford - Friday 8/30 10:30 p.m. ET - ESPN
Normally I’d leave this game alone, but I needed a game to at least make it to five nationally and this feels like it’ll be more competitive than Colorado State-Texas.
After making the national title game the previous year, TCU found life after Max Duggan pretty difficult, posting a 5-7 record. The Horned Frogs raided the transfer portal, bringing over 20 transfers, as well as former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos to be the defensive coordinator.
Stanford feels like they have a couple pieces in quarterback Ashton Daniels and wide receiver Elic Ayomanor. The problem is they don’t have much of note besides those two. Maybe the seven returning starters on defense step up, but this is a group that gave up 37 points per game last year.
The Cardinal hang around but TCU pulls away and covers in the fourth.
TCU 37, Stanford 23
No. 14 Clemson v. No. 1 Georgia (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC
These teams opened up the 2021 season in Charlotte, with Georgia winning 10-3. Now the Tigers and Bulldogs square off a few hours down I-85 in Atlanta.
Dabo Swinney spent the offseason pretty much ignoring the transfer portal, and will now be ignoring callers on his coaches show. While Cade Klubnik had a lot of hype coming out of high school, he hasn’t lived up to it yet.
Much like Ohio State does, Georgia isn’t rebuilding, they’re reloading. Kirby Smart brought in Florida running back Trevor Etienne, who might not play because of an offseason DUI arrest. Then again, knowing how strict Smart is when it comes to crimes involving cars and Georgia players, Etienne will probably get double the workload on Saturday.
I’m backing Georgia here because I want Dabo humbled in the season opener. Plus, I just feel like the Bulldogs are the better team. Carson Beck and those returning from last year’s squad have to feel snubbed after they were left out of the CFP following the loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia wins in their home away from home by at least two touchdowns.
Georgia 31, Clemson 13
No. 19 Miami (FL) (-2.5) v. Florida - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC
The U is back! Alright, a win over Florida isn’t what it used to be, but Miami can’t be choosy when it comes to wins. The Hurricanes should be fun to watch this year after landing Washington State quarterback Cam Ward in the transfer portal. If Ward can lead Miami to some early wins, the Hurricanes could be a sleeper for the College Football Playoff.
Apparently Graham Mertz is still playing college football. I just realized that a few minutes ago when doing some research on this game. Normally everyone would know who is quarterbacking the Gators, which shows you just how far Florida has fallen over the last decade. I’m not convinced Billy Napier has the juice to turn things around in Gainesville.
Napier’s seat gets even hotter with a loss to Miami on Saturday.
Miami (FL) 28, Florida 20
No. 7 Notre Dame v. No. 20 Texas A&M (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
After bringing in Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman last year, Notre Dame again hit up the ACC for Hartman’s replacement. Duke quarterback Reilly Leonard is the starter for the Fighting Irish, and with his experience he won’t be rattled by the raucous environment he’ll face in College Station.
What Leonard will have a hard time overcoming is he’ll be facing his former head coach. After firing Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies hired Duke head coach Mike Elko. Even though Elko isn’t as big of a name as some of the other coaches floated for the job, he has shown he can do a lot with a little, and at Texas A&M he is going to have a lot to work with.
This is a double revenge game for Elko. He not only faces his former quarterback, he used to be on the Notre Dame coaching staff. Leonard may get his, but Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman will hang with Leonard.
In the end, the relentless pass rush of the Aggies will get to Leonard in the second half and be the difference.
Texas A&M 31, Notre Dame 24
Boston College v. No. 10 Florida State (-15.5) - Monday 9/2 7:30 p.m. ET - ESPN
D.J. Uiagaleleli ain’t it, bro. The Seminoles didn’t impress at all in the opener against Georgia Tech in Ireland. While Florida State’s season isn’t lost because of just one setback, now they have no margin for error. Apparently it isn’t easy to replace a bunch of talent that is now on NFL rosters.
Ohio State coaching legend Bill O’Brien will be making his debut as Boston College head coach on Monday night. I am intrigued by the combination of Thomas Castellanos at quarterback and running back Kye Robichaux.
Last year Boston College pushed the Seminoles to the limit, and I could see the same happening this year.
Florida State 24, Boston College 21
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
The two games between ranked teams highlight the opening weekend slate.
Last year ATS: 133-120-2 (71-73-2 National, 62-47 B1G)
Picks for this weekend’s games involving Big Ten teams can be found here.
National games (All games Saturday unless otherwise noted):
TCU (-9.5) v. Stanford - Friday 8/30 10:30 p.m. ET - ESPN
Normally I’d leave this game alone, but I needed a game to at least make it to five nationally and this feels like it’ll be more competitive than Colorado State-Texas.
After making the national title game the previous year, TCU found life after Max Duggan pretty difficult, posting a 5-7 record. The Horned Frogs raided the transfer portal, bringing over 20 transfers, as well as former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos to be the defensive coordinator.
Stanford feels like they have a couple pieces in quarterback Ashton Daniels and wide receiver Elic Ayomanor. The problem is they don’t have much of note besides those two. Maybe the seven returning starters on defense step up, but this is a group that gave up 37 points per game last year.
The Cardinal hang around but TCU pulls away and covers in the fourth.
TCU 37, Stanford 23
No. 14 Clemson v. No. 1 Georgia (-13.5) - 12:00 p.m. ET - ABC
These teams opened up the 2021 season in Charlotte, with Georgia winning 10-3. Now the Tigers and Bulldogs square off a few hours down I-85 in Atlanta.
Dabo Swinney spent the offseason pretty much ignoring the transfer portal, and will now be ignoring callers on his coaches show. While Cade Klubnik had a lot of hype coming out of high school, he hasn’t lived up to it yet.
Much like Ohio State does, Georgia isn’t rebuilding, they’re reloading. Kirby Smart brought in Florida running back Trevor Etienne, who might not play because of an offseason DUI arrest. Then again, knowing how strict Smart is when it comes to crimes involving cars and Georgia players, Etienne will probably get double the workload on Saturday.
I’m backing Georgia here because I want Dabo humbled in the season opener. Plus, I just feel like the Bulldogs are the better team. Carson Beck and those returning from last year’s squad have to feel snubbed after they were left out of the CFP following the loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia wins in their home away from home by at least two touchdowns.
Georgia 31, Clemson 13
No. 19 Miami (FL) (-2.5) v. Florida - 3:30 p.m. ET - ABC
The U is back! Alright, a win over Florida isn’t what it used to be, but Miami can’t be choosy when it comes to wins. The Hurricanes should be fun to watch this year after landing Washington State quarterback Cam Ward in the transfer portal. If Ward can lead Miami to some early wins, the Hurricanes could be a sleeper for the College Football Playoff.
Apparently Graham Mertz is still playing college football. I just realized that a few minutes ago when doing some research on this game. Normally everyone would know who is quarterbacking the Gators, which shows you just how far Florida has fallen over the last decade. I’m not convinced Billy Napier has the juice to turn things around in Gainesville.
Napier’s seat gets even hotter with a loss to Miami on Saturday.
Miami (FL) 28, Florida 20
No. 7 Notre Dame v. No. 20 Texas A&M (-2.5) - 7:30 p.m. ET - ABC
After bringing in Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman last year, Notre Dame again hit up the ACC for Hartman’s replacement. Duke quarterback Reilly Leonard is the starter for the Fighting Irish, and with his experience he won’t be rattled by the raucous environment he’ll face in College Station.
What Leonard will have a hard time overcoming is he’ll be facing his former head coach. After firing Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies hired Duke head coach Mike Elko. Even though Elko isn’t as big of a name as some of the other coaches floated for the job, he has shown he can do a lot with a little, and at Texas A&M he is going to have a lot to work with.
This is a double revenge game for Elko. He not only faces his former quarterback, he used to be on the Notre Dame coaching staff. Leonard may get his, but Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman will hang with Leonard.
In the end, the relentless pass rush of the Aggies will get to Leonard in the second half and be the difference.
Texas A&M 31, Notre Dame 24
Boston College v. No. 10 Florida State (-15.5) - Monday 9/2 7:30 p.m. ET - ESPN
D.J. Uiagaleleli ain’t it, bro. The Seminoles didn’t impress at all in the opener against Georgia Tech in Ireland. While Florida State’s season isn’t lost because of just one setback, now they have no margin for error. Apparently it isn’t easy to replace a bunch of talent that is now on NFL rosters.
Ohio State coaching legend Bill O’Brien will be making his debut as Boston College head coach on Monday night. I am intrigued by the combination of Thomas Castellanos at quarterback and running back Kye Robichaux.
Last year Boston College pushed the Seminoles to the limit, and I could see the same happening this year.
Florida State 24, Boston College 21
Continue reading...