Opening weekend

College football is in the air! There aren't many great matchups this weekend, but after App. State beat Michigan on opening day of last season, you never know what will happen.


There are a couple of great games within the top 25 and a couple good ones outside of the rankings:

Michigan St. @ Cal (-7) [+/-55]
I like Cal at home, and Michigan State has enough offense returning from last year to put some points on the board. Cal and the over.

NC State @ South Carolina (-13) [+/-45]
NC State deserves a little more credit than this, but South Carolina is a much improved team this season. At home, opening day, I like them to win big. South Carolina and the over.

Tennessee (-5.5) @ UCLA [+/-46]
Interesting matchup here. The oddsmakers don't respect UCLA's new coach and new offense. I'm not gonna join the haters. UCLA and the over.

Alabama @ Clemson (-5.5) [+/-46]
Probably the best game we'll see this weekend. Clemson has a lofty expectations coming into the season, and Alabama has that SEC blood running through its veins. Defense and ground game control the tempo. I'm taking the upset in Carolina. 'Bama and the under.

Illinois @ Missouri (-7.5) [+/-60]
I'm not gonna start hating on Ohio State YET, but I can still rip the rest of the Big Ten to shreds. They can't even compete with the mid-level Big 12 teams. Missouri and the over.

and the steal of the week:


obviously

Virginia Tech @ East Carolina (+11.5) [+/-50]
I will not vouch for the Hokies' offense until I watch this game. Frank Beamer redshirted QB Tyrod Taylor, the phenom who showed flashes of brilliance last season as a true freshman (to take pressure from competition off of senior QB Sean Glennon), and one of Tech's starting Wide Receivers was arrested for driving drunk or something like that. VT's D will do the job against ECU and the ground game should put up big numbers. I'll be shocked if Carolina puts up double digits.
VT and the under.