Paul's Picks Week 1
Welcome Back!
Last week, I came very close to perfection with a 3-1 record, a winning percentage of 75%. The game I missed- Montana State over New Mexico- went down to the wire and was decided on a TD with 10 seconds left. Oh well, there are still many, many games to go. And this week, there are a LOT of FBS vs FCS games, which history shows us is won by FBS teams greater than 90% of the time. So I just have to do well on the other games. There are 96(!) games in total this week, which I hope is the most for any week this year, because it took me a long time to prepare for this.
So... on with the picks!
Thursday, August 29
Howard @ Rutgers- The Scarlet Knights are 5-0 against the Bison, who were 6-6 last year, and should handle them easily. Rutgers wins big.
Western Carolina vs NC State- The Wolfpack are 7-0 against the Catamounts (7-4 last year). In case you were wondering, a catamount is a large cat also known as the mountain lion, panther, American lion, and puma. NC State wins easily.
North Carolina A&T @ Wake Forest- The Demon Deacons are 1-0 against the Aggies, who were 1-10 last year. I smell a rout. WF wins big.
New Hampshire @ UCF- This will be a 1st time meeting between the Knights and the Wildcats (6-5 last year), and UNH will probably regret this one for a long time. UCF romps.
Jackson State @ ULM- The Warhawks have won the only matchup between these 2 teams, but they better watch out for the Tigers, as JSU was 7-4 last year. New HC Bryant Vincent needs to start the year with a win, or else it's going to be a long season. ULM wins a close one.
Lafayette @ Buffalo- The Bulls are actually 1-6 against the Leopards, but those meeting all happened between 1954 and 1998 (UB moved back up into the FBS in 1999). Expect Lafayette College to hang tough for a while before fading in the 2nd half. Bulls win in HC Pete Lembo's 1st game.
Fordham @ Bowling Green- This is another 1st time meeting (expect a lot of those this week). The Falcons will devour the Rams, who were 6-5 last year.
Central Connecticut @ Central Michigan- The Chippewas have never faced the 3-8 Blue Devils before, but they should win easily. CMU wins big.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Arkansas- The Razorbacks are 1-0 against the Golden Lions, who were only 2-9 last year. Hogs win in a rout.
Duquesne @ Toldeo- The Rockets have never faced the Dukes before, but will have no problems taking care of the 7-5 Dukes. Toledo wins.
Murray State @ Missouri- The Tigers are 2-0 versus the Racers from Kentucky, and they will make it 3-0 when they destroy the team that was 2-9 last year. Mizzou wins.
Lindenwood @ Kansas- The Jayhawks and Lions will be meeting for the 1st time, but Lindenwood was only 3-7 last year. KU wins big.
North Carolina @ Minnesota- This is one of only 2 FBS vs FBS games on this 1st Thursday night of the season. The Tar Heels won 31-13 last year in Chapel Hill, so the Golden Gophers have a chance for revenge, or to at least make the game a little closer. Last year, this matchup (the only previous meeting) was the 3rd game of the season. Each team has won their last 2 opening games. This has the potential to be a close contest, but I think UNC is just a little bit better. Heels win on the road.
North Dakota State @ Colorado- The Buffaloes have never faced the Bison (11-4 last year), but if there is anything HC Sanders knows how to do it's beating FCS teams. Buffs win, but it could be close into the 4th quarter. Or not.
Coastal Carolina @ Jacksonville State- This is the other FBS vs FBS matchup on this Thursday night. These teams have split their previous meetings, with the Gamecocks winning in 2016, and the Chanticleers winning 30-16 last year, with each win coming at home. Now that Jax State has adjusted to the FBS level, look for them to improve, but the Chants should also improve in their 2nd year under HC Tim Beck. I'm tempted to go with JSU, but CCU wins a close one on the road. Or at least closer than last year's win.
Alcorn State @ UAB- The Blazers are 1-0 against the Braves (7-4 last year) from Mississippi, and they should make it 2-0 with a win this year. UAB wins easily.
SE Louisiana @ Tulane- The Green Wave are 7-0 all time against the Lions, who were 3-8 a year ago. Tulane gets the Sumrall era off to a good start with a big win.
Northwestern State @ Tulsa- The Golden Hurricane are 1-0 against the Demons, and NW State was 0-11 last year. Looks like a recipe for yet another FBS vs FCS rout. Tulsa wins.
Southern Utah @ Utah- The Utes have won both previous meetings with the Thunderbirds, and this year will make it 3 in a row. Utah wins over 6-5 SU.
Eastern Illinois @ Illinois- The Fighting Illini will run their record to 3-0 vs the 8-3 Panthers. Illinois wins big.
Sacramento State @ San Jose State- The Spartans will handle the 8-5 Hornets, as they did in their only previous meeting. SJSU wins.
Friday, August 30
Lehigh @ Army- The Black Knights are 8-2-1 against the Mountain Hawks, all played in West Point, but the 1st 6 matchups were between 1893 and 1911 (5-1 Army), with the others in 1972, '75, '80 (the tie), '83 (the other Army loss), and the most recent meeting in 1995. Lehigh was only 2-9 last year, and Army usually dominates FCS teams. The caissons go rolling along. Army wins.
Temple @ Oklahoma- In contrast to Thursday night, 4 of the 6 games on Friday involve FBS vs FBS teams. This series is tied at 1 win apiece, with each team winning at home- OU in 1940, and Temple in 1942. The Sooners will undoubtably break that tie with a win over the Owls, probably by a lot of points.
FAU @ Michigan State- Surprisingly, these teams have played 3 times, with the Spartans winning each, in 2008, 2010, and 2011, with all games taking place in Michigan (2010 game was in Detroit). While MSU has been down the last couple of years, and they are rebuilding under new HC Jonathan Smith, they are still better than the Owls. I think. Spartans win.
Elon @ Duke- The Blue Devils are 7-0-1 against the Phoenix, with the games occurring between 1920 and 2014. Elon was 6-5 last year, and though Duke is starting over once again, they should romp in this one.
Western Michigan @ Wisconsin- The Badgers lead the series 4-1, including a 24-16 win in the 2017 Cotton Bowl! The other meetings were all in Madison, like this one, in 1963, 1981, 1988 (WMU's lone win), and 2000. The Broncos are coming off 2 straight losing seasons, but should be improved this year, but not enough to defeat the Badgers. UW wins.
TCU @ Stanford- The Horned Frogs will be making their 2nd trip to Stanford to take on the Cardinal, but they already hold a 3-0 series advantage, with wins in 2007 there, 2008 in Ft. Worth, and in the 2017 Alamo Bowl. The 1st and last wins were each by 2 points, with the middle win by 17. The teams were a combined 8-16 last year, so they should be relatively evenly matched, but I look for the Frogs to get the win on the road.
Saturday, August 31
Clemson vs Georgia (Atlanta)- The Dawgs lead the series 43-18-4, having won the last 2 (in 2014 and 2021) and 7 of the last 8 (since 1991, with the lone win for the Tigers in 2013. But this was a big rivalry back in the 70s and 80s, as the ledger was 7-7-1 between 1974 and 1990, and for many UGA fans of a certain age, this was THE game of the season during much of that time period. In fact, the 1st UGA game I attended as a freshman was against Clemson on Labor Day night in 1982, with the Tigers coming off their 1st national championship in 1981, and the Bulldogs having been national champions in 1980. In my 4 years in Athens, we were 3-0-1 against the Tigers, with the tie occurring when CFB Hall-of-Famer Kevin Butler missed a 67-yd FG right after Clemson kicker Donald Igwebuike missed a 66-yarder! The teams 1st played in 1897, and after 3 wins by the Bulldogs, Clemson reeled off 7 straight victories from 1900-1906. From 1907-1973, UGA won 26 of 32, with 3 ties (they didn't play much in the 20s or 30s). Anyway, none of that really affects this game, which is one of only 3 games pitting preseason AP top 25 teams against each other, and quite possibly is the best game of the entire weekend (in my unbiased opinion). The big question is when (or if) Clemson returns to their former prominence, or if they'll always be in that "good but not great" area that they were for so many years before HC Swinney took over. They will almost always be a threat to win the ACC, and to make the CFP, but much will depend on if they win this game, lose a close one, or get blown out. Dawgs win a close, hard fought game.
Penn State @ West Virginia- The Nittany Lions have dominated this "rivalry" to the tune of a 49-9-2 record against the Mountaineers. This series started in 1904, with PSU winning the 1st 5 contests, but WVU hasn't been without its successes, going 2-0-1 between 1923 and 1931, and winning 3 in a row from 1953-1955, but since a tie in 1958, the Lions have won 33 of the last 35, with the losses coming in 1984 and 1988. These teams played every year from 1940 to 1992 (except for 1945 and 46 for WWII), but hadn't played again until PSU defeated WVU 38-15 last year in State College. But this year, the game is in Morgantown, and I smell an upset. WVU wins!
Illinois State @ Iowa- The Hawkeyes are 1-0 against the Redbirds, and they should easily take care of a team that was 6-5 a year ago. Iowa wins.
Virginia Tech @ Vanderbilt- The Hokies lead the series 6 wins to 3, and have won the last 5, but they haven't played since 1989. The Commodores won games in 1930, 1965, and 1982, with a VT win sandwiched in (1966), and the other VT wins were from 1983-1986. Va Tech is coming off their 1st winning season since 2019, and many see them as a dark horse to win the ACC. the 'Dores, on the other hand, haven't had a winning season since they were 9-4 in 2013 under former HC James Franklin, and haven't won as many as 6 games since 2018. Despite all that, I'm tempted to pick the upset, but I just can't get there. Hokies win, but Vandy will keep it close into the 2nd half.
UConn @ Maryland- The Terrapins lead the series 2-1, winning in 1942 at home, and in 2013 in East Hartford, but the Huskies won in 2012 in College Park. Regardless, the Terps should win this one at home. UM wins.
Austin Peay @ Louisville- The Cardinals and Governors have never met before, and I'm willing to bet the 9-3 Govs will wish they didn't meet this year, either. UL wins big.
Indiana State @ Purdue- The Boilermakers are 6-0 against the Sycamores, who were a woeful 1-10 last year. PU wins to make it 7-0 in the series.
Kent State @ Pittsburgh- The Panthers lead the series 6-0, with all games played in Pittsburgh, and only one game closer than 21 points (30-23 in 1999). All of the games happened between 1970 and 2003. Pitt has won 4 straight openers, while the Golden Flashes have lost 3 in a row. Expect those trends to continue. Pitt wins.
Bucknell @ Navy- The Midshipmen will get their season off to a great start with a win over the Bison, who were 4-7 last year. Navy will obtain their 10th win in the series that they currently lead 9-4-1. Interestingly, they have not played since 1925, with the 1st game in 1898, and all of the games have been played in Annapolis.
Chattanooga @ Tennessee- The Volunteers lead this series 40-2-2, with all but the 2 most recent games occurring between 1892 and 1969, as they played every year from 1945 to 1963. The Mocs have only 2 wins: 14-6 in 1958, and 5-0 in 1905, and the ties were in 1909 and 1910, 0-0 and 6-6 respectively. 33 of the 44 games have been played in Knoxville, as is this meeting, their 1st since 2019. I don't expect the 8-5 Mocs to be able to hang with the Vols. UT wins by 30+ points.
South Dakota State @ Oklahoma State- The Cowboys have never played the Jackrabbits, but they better be careful, as SDSU has won the last 2 FCS Championships, and were 15-0 last year. OSU hasn't lost an opening game since 2014, when they lost 37-31 to an FSU team coming off their BCS Championship. This could be a decent game, as SDSU won't be intimidated, but the Cowboys should pull this one out, even if it is a little scary for the home fans for a half or so. OSU wins.
Towson @ Cincinnati- The Bearcats and Tigers have never played before, but UC should get by the 5-6 Tigers without too much trouble. Bearcats win big.
Portland State @ Washington State- The Cougars are 3-1 in the series against the 4-6 Vikings, and a win here will get Wazzu off to a great start. WSU wins.
Akron @ Ohio State- The Buckeyes lead the series 8-1, but there are 2 distinct eras in this "rivalry". OSU has won all 4 games played between 2001 and 2021 (closest MOV was 14 points), but the other 5 games were played between 1891 and 1895, with the Zips getting their lone win in 1894 by the score of 12-6. Only the 1st meeting in 1891 was played in Akron. Poor Zips; OSU wins big.
Colorado State @ Texas- The Longhorns obliterated the Rams 46-0 in their only other matchup in 1975, and I anticipate they'll do it again. Horns win.
Miami, Fl @ Florida- The Hurricanes lead the series 29-27, including wins in the 2001 Sugar Bowl and 2004 Peach Bowl (so it's 27-27 in regular season games), but the Gators have won 2 of the last 3, with the most recent win in 2019 in Orlando. The teams began playing in 1938, and played every year through 1987. They've played 7 times since, including the aforementioned bowl games, with the Canes winning 5 of those 7. Interestingly, they never played in the 90s, when both teams were in their heyday. Anyway, both teams are coming off disappointing seasons, though Miami did make it to a bowl for the 1st time since 2021 (they lost that bowl to Rutgers). I think UF will be looking to get the taste of the 2023 season out, and will end their 5-game losing streak. Gators win in an upset.
FIU @ Indiana- The Hoosiers are 3-0 against the Panthers, and 1-0 in Bloomington, but their most recent contest, in 2018, was a relatively close 38-28 victory. Neither team was very good last year, but FIU HC MacIntyre is starting his 3rd year, so the Panthers should be improved. IU, on the other hand, is starting over with a new HC, and Cignetti is a good one. Expect a close game, but the Hoosiers will pull it out at home, maybe on a late FG.
UTEP @ Nebraska- The Cornhuskers and Miners have never met, which is probably a good thing for UTEP, because even in the Miners' best years, NU would have destroyed them. This isn't even close to the Huskers' good years, and UTEP has had just 2 winning seasons in the last 18 years. NU in a rout.
Eastern Michigan @ UMass- The Eagles lead the series 3-2, having lost the 1st 2 in 2014 & '15, but winning the last 3 in 2021-23. The series is tied at 1 win each in Foxboro. EMU absolutely has to have this win if they want to ensure any chance at a bowl. But the same goes for the Minutemen, who have actually won 2 of their last 4 games (over Army and an FCS team). This is the 1st of 3 straight games against MAC teams for UMass (they play 5 overall), and they want to make a good showing against teams from the conference they will be joining next year. I'm not sure they can. E Mich wins.
East Tennessee State @ Appalachian State- The Mountaineers lead the series with the Buccaneers at 18 victories to 2, with the losses coming in 1996 and 1997. They played every year from 1985-2003, but have only played once, in 2019, since then. ASU wins over the Bucs, who were 3-8 last year.
North Dakota @ Iowa State- The Cyclones have never played the Fighting Hawks before, but should be able to handle the 7-5 team. ISU wins.
Ohio @ Syracuse- The Orange lead the series 3-0 over the Bobcats, with the games being played in 1916, 1921, and in 2021, with only the latter being played in Athens. Ohio is coming off a fantastic 10-3 season, and are on a 4-game winning streak, but once again fell short of winning the MAC. Syracuse has hired Fran Brown to be their HC, and he will do a good job after years of the Orange underachieving, but it's going to take a while to get there. I'm tempted to pick the Bobcats, who defeated Iowa State a year ago, but I think SU pulls out a close win.
Kennesaw State @ UTSA- The Owls make their FBS debut against a Roadrunner team expected to challenge for a spot in the AAC Championship Game, and thus a slot in the new, expanded CFP. The teams have never met, but this is a tough opening game for KSU. There won't be a lot of "Hooty-Hoo's" in this one. UTSA wins big.
Merrimack @ Air Force- The Falcons will bomb the 5-6 Warriors in this 1st time meeting.
Miami, Oh @ Northwestern- The Redhawks lead the series 7-3, winning in '55, '64, '82, '95, '99, 2003, and 2022. The Wildcats won games in 1963, 2006, and 2009, with all games except in 2006 being played in Evanston. Miami has beaten a P4 team each of the last 2 seasons- Cincinnati last year, and NW 2 years ago- and they get 3 chances this year. The Redhawks have won 11 of their last 13 games after losing last year's opener at the other Miami. Northwestern has also been on a roll, winning their last 4, and 8 of their last 12, including a bowl win over Utah. This should be a really good game, but I think Miami pulls off the upset on the road.
Western Illinois @ Northern Illinois- The Huskies lead the hotly-contested series with the Leathernecks by a slim 21-19-1 margin, but most of the games were played long ago. The series started in 1903 and 1904, but they didn't play again until 1940, whereupon they played every year through 1966, and then twice in the 70s, 5 times in the 80s, and twice in the 90s, before playing most recently in 2002, 2009, and 2016. Interestingly, WIU has won 4 of the last 5, including the most recent matchup, with NIU's lone win coming in 2009. After alternating home games through 1966, the last 12 have been in DeKalb. Huskies win to perhaps start their way to a 2nd straight winning season for the 1st time since 2017-2018.
Boise State @ Georgia Southern- This will be the 1st meeting between the Broncos and the Eagles. With both expected to be challenging for a conference title, the stakes are high, especially for BSU, which will be pushing for a CFP slot. With the expanded CFP, these G5 non-conference games become extra important. Boise State wins a close one on the road.
ODU @ South Carolina- The Monarchs and Gamecocks have never met on the gridiron before, but ODU is no stranger to defeating P4 teams, so SC better be ready. Gamecocks win.
Stony Brook @ Marshall- The Thundering Herd has never played the Seawolves in football, but Stony Brook was a miserable 0-10 last year. Marshall wins easily.
UC Davis @ California- The Golden Bears lead the series with the Aggies by a score of 3-0, with all 3 games being played since 2010. Make it 4-0 as Cal routs UC Davis, who was 7-4 a year ago.
North Texas @ South Alabama- The Mean Green won the only previous meeting with the Jaguars, which occurred in 2012, USA's 1st season in the FBS. But this game will be in Mobile, and HC Applewhite is getting a 2nd chance to build a program. UNT has a chance to improve in year 2 under HC Morris, so games like this become very important for teams expected to approach bowl eligibility- every win is important. Jaguars win a close one at home.
Eastern Kentucky @ Mississippi State-This is yet another 1st time meeting, and the Bulldogs should stomp the 5-6 Colonels and hand HC Lebby his 1st career win.
Campbell @ Liberty- The Flames will extend their 12-game regular season winning streak by defeating the Fighting Camels, who were 5-6 last season. This will make the series 2-0 in Liberty's favor, as they beat Campbell 48-7 in 1921. Expect a similar score.
Richmond @ Virginia- The Cavaliers lead the series 10 wins to 1, with the Spiders winning in 2016. They 1st played in 1979, but 7 of the 11 meetings have been since 2008, and all 11 have been played in Charlottesville. Wahoos win.
Norfolk State @ East Carolina- This will be the 1st time the Pirates and Spartans have played in football. ECU should be able to smash NS, who was 3-8 a season ago.
Idaho State @ Oregon State- The Beavers are 2-0 against the Bengals, and a win here will make them 3-0. OSU wins big against a team that was 3-8 last year.
WKU @ Alabama- The Crimson Tide leads the series 3-0, with no game closer than 28 points, and all 3 played since 2008, and in Tuscaloosa. This game will see a similar result. Bama wins easily.
Furman @ Ole Miss- The Paladins actually lead this series with a 7-2 win in 1924, the only time they've met on the gridiron. Though Furman was 10-3 a year ago, I suspect the Rebels will score more than 2 this time around. Ole Miss wins, probably by 30+.
UT Martin @ Kansas State- The Wildcats will crush the Skyhawks, despite UTM's 8-3 record from last season.
Central Arkansas @ Arkansas State- This is another 1st time matchup, and the Red Wolves will win, but the 7-4 Bears may give them a scare.
Bethune-Cookman @ USF- The Bulls made a huge leap in wins last year, from 1 to 7 wins, and enjoyed their 1st winning season since they were 7-6 in 2018. They'll get this season off to a good start, as the 3-8 Wildcats won't offer much resistance. USF wins.
Tarleton State @ Baylor- The Texans are one of a dozen teams or so looking to move up to the FBS level, and they've been fairly successful the last few years, including 8-3 last year. But the Bears have been there a long time, and are a team that needs to make a bowl this year. Baylor wins this 1st-ever meeting between these 2 teams from Texas.
UNLV @ Houston- The Cougars have won all 3 meetings by an average score of 51-7.7, with 2 of the games played in Houston, and in 1989, 1990, and 2014. The question for UH is whether they are better than their 4-8 record from a year ago, and can new HC Willie Fritz get them back to their winning ways. The question for the Rebels is if last year was a fluke, or was it the start of something good. UNLV hasn't had 2 straight winning seasons since they were 7-4 and 11-2 in 1983 and 1984, but even those records are tainted as the NCAA adjusted their records to 0-11 and 0-13 for using ineligible players. This is a tough one to pick, but I think the Cougars pull out a close one.
Tennessee Tech @ Middle Tennessee- The Blue Raiders are 36-31-7 against the Golden Eagles, but they haven't played since 2006. The series began in 1917, and they played almost every year from 1924-1998. MTSU will get the Derek Mason regime off to a good start with a win over the 4-7 Eagles.
Sam Houston @ Rice- The Owls lead the series 16-1, with SHS's lone win in 1939 by a score of 9-8. They 1st met in 1912, which is the only game to date played in Huntsville. They played every year from 1922-1931, and 4 times between 1936 and 1948 before meeting the final 2 times in 1992 and 1993. The Bearkats will be better this year, but this is a pivotal year for Rice and HC Bloomgren. Owls win a close, low scoring contest.
Nevada @ Troy- The Wolf Pack and Trojans have never played before. NU may have an advantage, having already played a game, but that is negated by traveling all the way to Alabama. This will be Troy HC Gerard Parker's 1st ever game as an FBS HC, so he will be looking to get off to a good start, This should be a close game, with Troy pulling it out at the end.
North Alabama @ Memphis- The Tigers are 1-0 against the Lions, who were 3-8 last year. Memphis wins easily.
Idaho @ Oregon- The Ducks have dominated the Vandals to the tune of 52-3-4 in this series that started in 1901 with a 0-0 tie. They played almost every year from 1906-1970, skipping at least 1 year per decade (except for the 50s). Idaho's best stretch came from 1921-1927, when they were 2-1-3 against Oregon (4 straight meetings allowing 0 points!), and their only other win came in 1950. Interestingly, all but 1 of the ties were 0-0, with the one in 1921 being 7-7. After 1970, they've played 4 times- in 1990, 2000, 2002, and 2004, and the last time Idaho played within 21 points of the Ducks was 17-14 loss in 1965. The Vandals moved to the FCS from the FBS after the 2017 season, and they are starting to see some success, as they finished 9-4 last year, their 2nd winning season in a row, and their 2nd season in a row to make the FCS Playoffs. But they aren't ready to compete with the likes of the Ducks. Oregon wins big.
Notre Dame @ Texas A&M- These teams have played 5 times, with the Fighting Irish winning 3. Their 1st 3 meetings were in the 1988, 1993, and 1994 Cotton Bowls, with the Aggies winning the 1st matchup and the Irish the other 2. The other 2 meetings came in 2000 (a ND win in South Bend) and in 2001 (a TAMU win in College Station). Only the 1994 Cotton Bowl, a 24-21 victory for Notre Dame, was decided by less than 14 points. I expect this game to be decided by less than 14 points. One of the fascinating side stories is that this game pits former Duke coach Mike Elko (now at TAMU) against his former QB Riley Leonard (now at ND). This could be a key game in deciding who has a chance to make the CFP. Aggies win a close one at home.
Fresno State @ Michigan- The Wolverines and the Bulldogs have never faced off before. These teams were a combined 24-4 last year, the best combined record of any 2 teams playing this weekend (Clemson-UGA, 2nd place, combined for a 22-5 record). Although they were National Champions last year, no one is expecting much from Michigan because they lost their coach and a boatload of draft picks, so, in my opinion, they can play loose and free. FS, on the other hand, lost HC Jeff Tedford over the summer due to health reasons (he resigned- didn't want you thinking anything else happened...), and interim coach Tim Skipper has been in charge since Tedford stepped down on July 15. The Bulldogs will put up a fight, but the Wolverines will emerge victorious.
Alabama A&M @ Auburn- The Tigers are 2-0 against the Bulldogs, winning in 2012 and 2016 by a combined score of 106-7. It'll be another 50-3 kinda day for the Plainsmen against the 5-6 AAMU Dogs. War Eagles win.
UCLA @ Hawaii- The Bruins have won all 4 previous meetings, all by at least 13 points. This will be only the 2nd time UCLA will visit the Islands to play the Rainbow Warriors, with the 1st time being in the 1939 Poi Bowl. They played in LA in 1935, and in Pasadena in 2017 and 2021. The Bruins will dominate the Warriors to drop UH to 1-1.
Abilene Christian @ Texas Tech- The Red Raiders are 6-3 versus the Wildcats, but all the contests occurred between 1925 and 1949, with TTU winning the last 4 (1930, '31, '41 and '49). AC was only 5-6, so the Raiders should win this going away.
Southern Miss @ Kentucky- The Wildcats hold a 3-1 edge over the Golden Eagles, with wins in 1949, 1986, and 2017 (the latter in Hattiesburg), and the loss in 2016 in Lexington. The 1st 2 games, UK won by a combined 103-7; the last 2 were much closer, with USM owning a 61-59 scoring margin. The Eagles have been up and down the last few years, either winning 3 games or 7 games, but Kentucky has been fairly steady, mostly hanging around 7 or 8 wins. UK hasn't lost a non-conference regular season game since losing to Louisville to end the 2017 season. Wildcats take care of USM and start the season 1-0.
Southern Illinois @ BYU- The Cougars will devour the 8-5 Salukis in this 1st ever matchup.
Georgia State @ Georgia Tech- Though the campuses are less than 2 miles apart (but at least 7 minutes if you drive), the Yellow Jackets and Panthers have never played before. The Jackets should win this game, but they can't afford a letdown, because GSU will be looking to launch the Dell McGee era with a win, and they may be better than expected. Remember, the Panthers lost to UNC by only 7 in 2022, lost to Auburn by only 10 in 2021, and upset Tennessee in Neyland Stadium in their 2019 opener. GT wins, but they may not pull away until the 2nd half, or perhaps even later, like into the 4th quarter.
Houston Christian @ SMU- The Mustangs are 1-0 against the 5-5 Huskies, who used to be known as Houston Baptist. They'll be 2-0 after this win.
Grambling @ Louisiana- The Ragin' Cajuns won the only previous meeting 49-17 in 2018. This meeting will see a similar score against the 6-5 Tigers. UL wins big.
Nicholls @ La Tech- The Bulldogs have won all 4 matchups, played between 1988 and 2009, with the 6-5 Colonels, and all 4 wins were by at least 10 points. This one will be too. LT wins.
Texas A&M Commerce @ San Diego State- The Aztecs have played a few teams from Texas, but have never taken on the Lions, who were 1-9 last season. SDSU wins.
Robert Morris @ Utah State- The Aggies will win big against the 4-7 Colonials.
James Madison @ Charlotte- The Dukes have won both previous meetings, in 2013 and 2014, but the 2nd victory over the 49ers was by only 8 points in Charlotte. This game will also take place in Charlotte, and JMU is starting over with a new HC (Bob Chesney), while Charlotte will be in their 2nd year under HC Biff Poggi. The Dukes have gone 19-5 in their 1st 2 years in FBS, a fantastic debut. In 9 years at the FBS level, the 49ers have won only 32 games, with 7 coming in their 1 bowl year (2019). This should be a good game that could go either way, but I'm picking JMU.
Lamar @ Texas State- The Bobcats lead the series 15-6-1 over the Cardinals as they played every year from 1951-1963, 8 times in the 80s, and then again in 2011. TSU has won 3 of the last 4, and should win this one as well over a team that was 6-5 last year.
Southeast Missouri State @ New Mexico State- The Aggies will pound the Redhawks, who were 4-7 last season.
New Mexico @ Arizona- The Wildcats are in firm control of this series, but it's a lot closer than I would have imagined as UA leads 44-20-3, and the Lobos have won 2 of the last 3. The series began in 1908, and they played every year through 1913, then again from 1920-1977 (minus the WWII years of 1943-45), and they've played 6 times from 1987 through 2015, with 2 of those in bowl games (1997 and 2015, both Arizona wins). From 1957-1965, UNM won 7 out of 9 contests, and they've won the last 2 regular season meetings, in 2007 and 2008, including the last time they played in Tucson. The Wildcats should win easily, but these Lobos will be better this year than they have been in a while. UA wins.
Wyoming @ Arizona State- The Sun Devils lead the series 9-6 over the Cowboys, and have won 7 of the last 9 matchups, but the last one occurred in 1977. The teams 1st met in 1951 in Tempe, played again there in 1963, and then every year from 1965-77, with Wyoming holding an early 4-2 lead through 1968. ASU is 7-2 in games played in Tempe. Both teams have 1st year HC's, but I like the Cowboys in this one as HC Sawvel has a winning foundation to build on (6 bowls in the last 8 years). Wyoming wins a close one.
Weber State @ Washington- There are certainly more difficult ways for HC Jedd Fisch to start his tenure for the Huskies than by taking on the 6-5 Wildcats, and this should be an easy win for UW.
Sunday, September 1
USC vs LSU (Las Vegas)- The Trojans defeated the Tigers 17-12 in Baton Rouge in 1979, but the Bayou Bengals bested the Men of Troy 23-3 in 1984 in Los Angeles. This neutral site game will decide who gets to lead the series until they meet again. USC is moving into the Big Ten and has a chance to make a big statement, but LSU can also stake their claim to being worthy of a CFP berth at the end of the season. Neither team had much of a defense last year, so a big key in this game will be which defense is more improved. Oh, and each team sent a Heisman winning QB into the NFL after last season, so both will be breaking in a new QB. Both are talented, but have limited experience. This should be a fun game! Tigers win in a shootout.
Monday, September 2
Boston College @ FSU- The Seminoles lead the series 15-5, with only 3 meetings coming before the Eagles joined the ACC in 2005 (1957, '76, & '80). BC won 3 of the 1st 5 after joining the conference, but the Noles have won 12 of the last 13, including the last 5. Not much is expected of the Eagles in HC Bill O'Brien's 1st year in Chestnut Hill, but FSU now has a huge weight on their shoulders following their loss to GT last Saturday, as they can't afford many losses, especially to the likes of GT and BC. I think they'll bounce back, but don't be surprised if BC keeps it close. FSU wins.
Until next time, may you and your loved ones be blessed!
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