The start of the football season has already kicked off this morning in the FCS with Texas Southern at Florida A&M. Who are they? You ask. Teams. That's all you need to know if you do not bother to leave from the comfort of the Power 5 Conferences. Bandwagons get people places even if they don't look out from under their own canvas. Currently A&M is plowing through it, but the game has only reached the half way point.
But the game of the day. Yes the game of the day. That's what I say. Game of the day. It's in Alabama.
If you like to watch two high talent teams go at it then this one is for you! It is in the FCS league of play: Chatanooga Mocs @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Both teams are known for winning seasons and have held up to FBS teams in the past years. Sure, what? Uhhh....its not Alabama. So what, the game is still in Alabama. The Cramton bowl in the heart of Montgomery, so the Mocs have to travel even further south from Jacksonville to play in this one, almost twice the distance. It is the Alabama game of the week as far as I care. I might even watch it if the internet delivers, but probably not....not live anyways. But expect good footage and highlights if you seek them tonight.
Then there is Colgate @ CalPoly. Mediocre at best to watch, but the home team should cover this one. Even in the FCS, teams can still travel coast to coast.
Richmond at Sam Houston State. The first delay of the year has taken hold over Texas due to heavy moisture; sure, most Texas would shrug it off and play through it anyways. Or manage to fit it in during the eye of the storm. Still though, best wishes for the region and hope that there is not too much damage done to Corpus Christi & Huntsville.
As a side not I predict that this year will be wetter than normal. How many hurricanes will develop this year, compared to the past decade. And the West Coast is going to see it in November and December. Will there be a few blizzard games in the B1G, Mountain West & PAC12 this year. And the Big Sky if you are a determined football viewer and manage to get there from no matter how far. Whatever is happening up at HAARP, or to it, I do predict that there will me more wet weekends this season. Wet upsets!
The first FCS at FBS game will occur in Provo with a high expectation of -35.5 spread against Portland State. A clear and present romp is in order, but will it cover? I would say it is too close to call, but the over under stands at 60.5 and I would say that it will go under. My prediction goes to the Y with a 30-40 point victory. Say 42-14, or 35-0. Something like that. But I do not expect BYU to play 100% in the second half and even let PSU have one or two in the 4th quarter. I do like the under as I predict Coach Sitake to be conservative to prevent early injuries, which is almost a tradition in Provo. Do keep in mind that the Vikings get to take home a half million dollar check for showing up. Any one up for some water pong?
Now we get to the bigger games:
Oregon State @ Colorado State (CSU favored -3.5, OVER/UNDER 61.5)
South Florida @ San Jose State (South Florida -22, O/V 70.5)
Hawai'i @ Massachusetts (UMass -1, O/U 61.5)
AND
Rice Owls against the Stanford Cardinal @ Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia (Stanford -30.5, O/U 51)
Shout out to all the Auzzies down there! Any one going to the game.
Oregon State @ Colorado State:
This should be a decently matched game. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and new students looking to take up the starting role for the season. It looks to be popular to bet on the Rams with the -3.5, but I disagree on the pick. Teams more often than not need a few games up to an entire season to adapt to a new stadium feel. I argue that the stadium is going to distract the game play and the fan base has not guide as to how to cheer in the new seating arrangements. As for OSU, they have a calm coach and a young team that built great connections last year given the situation of playing in a brutal PAC12 North. With a great rivalry booster win over the ducks, Oregon State is on the up and up and I have more concern for the Beavers when they play at home compared to the road. Colorado State also has to look ahead to next week for the big Rocky Mountain Showdown, another distraction, while the Beavers go home to play the battered-by-BYU Vikings of Portland State. Not to say that Bobo is going to booboo this one, but I will be taking the Oregon State Moneyline. The better choice IMO would to bet the OVER, as both teams rely on the offence to make up for the defense.
This could a game where the last team in possession wins.
BOL
2U on Oregon State University Moneyline +165
4U on OVER 61 -110
South Florida @ San Jose State
Take the First Half on South Florida as QB Flowers will bloom nicely in this one; however, I do advise only the first half in that the team will have no need to punch things higher in the second half and play the young kids versus the always developing silicon valley state.
5U First Half South Florida -13.5
I do like coach Rolovich at Hawaii and where he is going with the team, and even with a cross country and sea trek to the far east this year will be fruitful for the islanders. They have already been down under from last years opener loss in Sydney. Hawaii can score, say no more, the question lies on the independent patriotic minutemen. Being conference-less, I do wonder if they feel the same pride that ND & BYU can build. UMass will have a tough year and need to win this one if they want to go anywhere that involves a post season bid, but this would be the first of many steps needed to be made. I will side with the Road Warriors.
2U Hawaii Moneyline
Now for the Money Game.
By money game, I mean the NCAA's attempt to move the sport over seas. Like the NFL in London or Mexico City. There is always room for growth. I cannot say that I am a fan of this. It does not look like it will go away either.
Rice has been struggling with development, but did show signs of growth at the end of last season. Meanwhile the Cardinal had high expectations as usual last season only to have weekend after weekend of disappointment. They say there is talent this season. Last year was a fluke, a small bit, like Oregon which is also magically favored again in the top 25 with Stanford. I think this is a bias issue and think both Stanford and Oregon will have a tougher time than predicted by traditional media. Still though, Stanford should have an easy walk in the park and likely to cover the first half handily. Then the second half, if Shaw is doing his norm, will be left to experimentation which may or may not go as planned. Not that it will hurt anything, it just might be a boring third quarter. And a snoozer of a fourth quarter, almost to the point that I would look to Twitter to try to find the best Auzzie one liner as to how dry this game is.
Stanford by -35? Last year was a 41-17 woop, with a boring 4th quarter. Likely, but I would not count on the Cardinal to cover the play. Stanford looks to be focused on Defense, and not immediately disclosing their new weapon to take over the role of McCaffrey. Bet at your own risk on this one.
To sum it up, I look forward to watching Colorado State kick of in a half hour. For those who see this please post your predictions below, or what you like to watch today. I personally enjoy college football and seek out games that work for me on the gambling edge. I am a pirate and do not choose favorites, but I am still human and give more teams more hype than I should. I still do my bets old school in person at the old sports book, but I plan to merge over to Wagerr in the next coming months and start traveling full time again out side of my not so humble home that is Nevada. But I live for college football and this year looks to be a record breaker.
You've gotta bet some to win some.
BOL
parlaypirate