College Football Betting News and Notes Saturday 9/3

Ohio State Buckeyes Open Against Akron Zips
By: Ryan Mercier

The first Saturday of the 2011 college football season is finally approaching. ESPN will start their day with coverage of the Akron Zips heading to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes who are ranked No. 22 on the Don Best Oddsmaker Poll, courtesy of Kenny White.

Kickoff from The Horseshoe is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. (ET).

Ohio State will be seeing its first action on the field since experiencing an offseason of turmoil that sent both quarterback Terrelle Pryor and elite head coach Jim Tressel packing. Their absence is just part of the effects OSU will feel for Saturday’s game as four other players are also suspended for the first five weeks of the year.

That includes the Buckeyes' top running back Dan Herron and wide receiver DeVier Posey.

With that, all of the bad news for Ohio State has been covered as the Buckeyes are a whopping 34-point betting favorite over Akron. The total is set at 47½.

Joe Bauserman has seemingly come out on top of the QB competition in Columbus and will likely start this weekend. However, new head coach Luke Fickell appears to be heading in the direction of a two-quarterback system, adding freshman Braxton Miller to the mix.

Miller should be the signal caller of the future for the Buckeyes and, depending on how this 2011 season plays out, may also become the QB of the present.

Last season ended with a Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas to give the Buckeyes a 12-1 mark for the season. Their defense ranked No. 5 in the nation in points allowed (14.3 per game) and that ‘D’ will look to keep up their consistent dominance again in 2011.

As for the Akron Zips from the Mid-American Conference, it should not take much to improve upon their campaign last year. They did not win a game until their last opportunity on the 2010 schedule when they beat Buffalo, 22-14.

The team finished with rankings in the hundreds in many categories, including passing yards, rushing yards, points for and points allowed. When a team does not score and cannot stop the other team from scoring, it is the oldest trick in the book for losing.

Junior College transfer Clayton Moore joins the Zips as the new starting QB. He replaces Patrick Nicely who threw 13 picks and just 10 touchdowns a year ago.

Head coach Rob Ianello is working hard to turn around this program, putting together a good staff and doing his part for recruiting. However, recruiting will not help Akron this week at Ohio State.

Ohio State is 7-0 against the spread in their last seven September games, and the ‘over’ is 4-0 in their last four in the same month. Akron is 1-5 ATS in their last six September games.

Alabama Crimson Tide Clash With Kent State
By: Matty Simo

The Alabama Crimson Tide kick off the 2011 college football season tied for first in the inaugural edition of the Don Best Oddsmaker Poll, and will host the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Game time is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. (ET).

The Crimson Tide have eight players ranked No. 1 at their positions according to Kenny White, and 17 in the top 10, and the Don Best odds screen has them as huge 38-point favorites with the total set at 46.

Alabama earned 119.5 points to split the top spot in the Oddsmaker Poll with Oklahoma, and sits at No. 2 in the country according to the Associated Press and the USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll behind the top-ranked Sooners. The Tide have won nine straight season openers and are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 home games.

Junior running back Trent Richardson finally gets to take the reins from former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram as the focal point of the offense after rushing for 700 yards and six touchdowns a year ago when Alabama finished 10-3. Many college football experts consider Richardson to be a Heisman candidate this season, and he will be carrying the load with the team breaking in a new starting quarterback between AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims.

Both McCarron and Sims are expected to see playing time against Kent State, and each will have a difficult time replacing former starter Greg McElroy.

But they will be able to lean on Richardson offensively early on along with arguably the best defense in the nation with 10 returning starters.

Tide head coach Nick Saban will be welcoming his alma mater out of the Mid-American Conference to town, although his team will be without senior wide receiver Darius Hanks (456 yards and three touchdowns in 2010) for the first two games due to an NCAA violation. Hanks is expected to help fill the void left by Julio Jones when he returns.

The Golden Flashes are coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign and have gone 0-21 all-time against ranked opponents. They are led by junior quarterback Spencer Keith, who threw for 2,212 yards with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season.

Kent State dropped four of its last five games both straight up and ATS to close out last year with the ‘under’ going 3-1 in the past four. The team went 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS on the road in 2010 with the lone victory coming at Bowling Green last October 23, 30-6.

Primetime Tilts
By Brian Edwards

The marquee games in Week 1 will take place in Saturday’s prime-time slot and feature a pair of SEC teams in crucial non-conference contests. LSU will venture to Cowboys Stadium to square off against Oregon, while Georgia will meet Boise State at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

As of Friday morning, most betting shops were listing Oregon as a four-point favorite with the total in the 54-55 range. Sports books had LSU available on the money line for a plus-155 return (risk $100 to win $155).

The Ducks were originally favored by one before an unfortunate incident occurred in Baton Rouge. That would be a bar fight that resulted in criminal charges for four players, including starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and DT Josh Downs, both of whom have been suspended indefinitely.

But the biggest absence for LSU will be stud WR Russell Shepard, who will not play due to a compliance issue. The loss of Shepard might be a wash, however, because Oregon All-American CB Cliff Harris is also suspended for Week 1.

Shepard had 33 receptions for 254 yards and one touchdown in 2010. Meanwhile, Harris had six interceptions and broke up 17 passes.

Should bettors be overly concerned about backing LSU with Jefferson unavailable? That’s debatable. Jefferson has won many big games and gives the Tigers a scrambling dynamic, as evidenced by 450 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season. But his passing accuracy has always been an issue and his 7/10 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year isn’t impressive.

The job falls to senior Jarrett Lee, who has a chance to script an entertaining redemption story. Let’s go back to 2008 when LSU was the defending national champion. As a redshirt freshman, Lee was forced into action far too early when incumbent QB Ryan Perrilloux was suspended (sound familiar?).

In home games against Georgia and Alabama, LSU played well enough to win in every facet except one – quarterback play. In both games, Lee threw critical interceptions that were returned for TDs at the most inopportune times. In fact, he threw seven – seven! – pick-6’s before the season was finished.

Lee could’ve cut and run. He easily could’ve bolted Baton Rouge for another school, avoiding the criticism to start anew. That would’ve been the easy thing to do.

But Lee chose another course. He stuck it out. For the most part as a sophomore and junior, he was Jefferson’s back-up although Les Miles did give him some quality playing time. For instance, it was Lee that orchestrated the Tigers’ comeback win at Florida last year.

With six seconds remaining, Lee threw a perfectly-lofted ball to the corner of the end zone that Terrance Toliver hauled in for the game-winning TD. Lee completed 9-of-11 passes for 124 yards and two TDs in the win over the Gators.

If Lee can play well and lead LSU to win over Oregon, last year’s national runner-up, the job could be his for good. If he can’t come through, there is another option. That’s right, LSU is three-deep at QB. After sitting out last year, Georgia transfer Zach Mettenberger is waiting for his chance. Mettenberger was one of the nation’s top prep QBs in the 2009 class.

Oregon ripped through the 2010 regular season unbeaten, only to see its national-title hopes dashed when Auburn kicked a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of a 22-19 win in the BCS Championship Game.

The Ducks return six starters on offense, including QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James. Thomas threw for 2,881 yards with a 30/9 TD-INT ratio last year. He also rushed for 486 yards and five TDs.

James is a leading Heisman candidate following a banner 2010 campaign. He rushed for 1,731 yards and 21 TDs while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.

The jobs of Thomas and James will be made more difficult by the loss of four of five starting offensive linemen. This has to concern Chip Kelly, who saw his o-line get smacked around by Auburn’s physical defensive front back in January.

LSU doesn’t have a Nick Fairley on its d-line, but its front is big and physical with several NFL prospects like DE Sam Montgomery and DT Anthony Johnson. The Tigers are also strong at linebacker and in the secondary. Watch out for senior LB Ryan Baker, who had 87 tackles, seven sacks and four tackles for losses last season.

When Auburn’s d-line started to wreak havoc on Oregon’s offense, Kelly got more creative with his play-calling. He got Thomas out of the pocket (and away from Fairley) where he could operate more efficiently. The coaching matchup between Kelly and LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis will be interesting to watch.

With Jefferson out, LSU is left with seven returning starters on offense. Meanwhile, Harris’s absence gives Oregon just four returning starters on defense. The biggest loss for LSU is reliable RB Stevan Ridley, who had 1,147 yards and 15 rushing TDs as a senior. The player the Ducks will be missing most is LB Casey Matthews, who led the team in tackles last year.

During Miles’ six previous seasons at LSU, the team has gone 6-8 against the spread as an underdog. Oregon is 4-4 ATS as a single-digit ‘chalk’ on Kelly’s watch, but we should point out a 2-0 spread mark in a pair of such spots last year.

ABC will provide television coverage from Arlington at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Mark Richt enters his 11th year at Georgia on the hot seat. The Dawgs are coming off the worst season of his tenure, going 6-7 and losing to UCF in the Liberty Bowl. UGA’s lowest previous win total on Richt’s watch was eight in 2001 and 2009.

Despite last year’s disappointment, expectations are high in Athens thanks to the presence of an outstanding young QB and a recruiting haul that was considered one of the best in the country. Aaron Murray, a third-year sophomore, threw for more than 3,000 yards with a 24/8 TD-INT ratio.

Murray has lost his favorite target, first-round draft choice A.J. Green, but he might have the SEC’s best tight end at his disposal in Orson Charles. Taverres King and Marlon Brown are experienced WRs that could be poised for breakout seasons.

Boise State also has one of the nation’s best signal callers in Kellen Moore, who could break Colt McCoy’s all-time NCAA record for wins before the year is over. Moore completed 71.3 percent of his passes in 2010 for 3,845 yards with an incredible 35/6 TD-INT ratio.

However, Moore no longer has stud WRs Austin Pettis and Titus Young, who combined for 142 receptions for more than 2,100 yards and 19 TDs last year. Tyler Shoemaker (32 catches, 582 yards and 5 TDs) will become the go-to guy along with veteran TE Kyle Efaw, who had five TD grabs last season.

BSU does return its workhorse RB in Doug Martin, who rushed for 1,260 yards and 12 TDs while averaging 6.3 YPC in 2010. On the other hand, UGA lost its two leading rushers from last year in Washaun Ealey (transferred) and Caleb King (ineligible). This means that true freshman Isaiah Crowell will get immediate playing time.

Crowell is a highly-hyped prospect that’s expected to become UGA’s next great RB. He’ll split time with Richard Samuel, who has been limited at practice the last two weeks due to a quad injury.

Most books are listing Boise St. as a 3 ½-point favorite vs. Georgia. The total is 51 at most spots and UGA is plus-140 to win outright (risk $100 to win $140).

Chris Petersen announced Friday that BSU will hold out three key players due to potential eligibility issues. All three players are from The Netherlands. Geraldo Boldewijn was expected to start at WR, while CB Cedric Febis and DT Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe are key contributors on defense.

These schools met in Athens six years ago when Dan Hawkins was still running the show for the Broncos. On that Week 1 afternoon, the Dawgs blasted BSU by a 48-13 count as seven-point home favorites.

ESPN will have the telecast at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

vegasinsider.com.

College Football Opening Line Report: Week 1
By Bill McBride

Every week during the college football season, we analyze how the pros set the lines, and what the experts think of them. With the release of Week 1’s action a few days ago, there’s no better time than the present to kick it off.

While there are clearly some as-expected Opening Week duds out there, there are also plenty of marquee matchups that we can spend three weeks debating. So, without further ado:

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Syracuse Orange (-6)

The Orange enter new territory here. After a bowl win over Kansas State, a lot more is expected of them, especially at home versus a rebuilding ACC team.

“Our range was from Syracuse -5 to -10,” Las Vegas lines consultant Pete Korner told Covers.com. “We went with the lower number, -6, not confident that Syracuse could manufacture a blowout.”

“This line is based on results from last year. Syracuse was a pleasant surprise while Wake Forest was a big disappointment,” Covers Expert Matt Fargo said. “Syracuse lost 13 seniors while Wake Forest brings back the second most starters in the ACC. This could be too much for the Orange to cover.”

TCU Horned Frogs (-7.5) at Baylor Bears

There’s no doubting the Horned Frogs anymore, as they fear no one and will clearly go anywhere and do anything to further their reputation. An in-state road trip here is proof.

“Our range was from -7 to -12 and we settled on -7.5,” Korner said. “I was the high man at -12, but conceded that the big number may be a major grab by bettors at this early stage.”

“TCU has lost once in the last two years, so naturally it will be a decent-sized road favorite,” Fargo said. “The Horned Frogs will be going through some major rebuilding, losing 14 starters. Baylor will be good again, but is 4-15 ATS in the last 19 as home dogs, including 2-6 under (coach Art) Briles.”

Akron Zips at Ohio State Buckeyes (-37)

The new-look Buckeyes try to forget the offseason by drilling an in-state foe. But is this line asking a bit much?

“Our range was from -33 to -40 and we sent out -37. We'll have to see where this closes,” Korner said. “It's hard to imagine not being heavy with Ohio State money at that low level when it’s time for kickoff. If I were a book, I'd start a lot higher and get some Akron money in the bank before the real betting starts.”

“Stay away,” Fargo said. “Who knows what the Buckeyes will bring to the table. But even so, talent-wise they are way above Akron which is looking at another last place finish in the MAC East.”

Northwestern Wildcats at Boston College Eagles (-3.5)

Two blah teams from major conferences, but a nice debatable line to throw around.

“Our range was from -3 to -7.5, but I yielded again to the lower numbers as we released -3.5,” Korner said. “Not much opinion here, but hopefully either team will establish themselves which will give us a better gauge going into Week 2."

“Both of these teams are pretty equal on paper and the unit matchups will be strength against strength and weakness against weakness,” Fargo said. “Three points is given for home field and this line is right on. Looks like a tossup.”

South Florida Bulls at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-11)

Year 2 of Brian Kelly doesn’t open with a cupcake. Too many points to give a speedy team?

“Our range was from -11 to -13.5 and we released -11,” Korner said. “I thought that was more than enough. We think this will be a take for dog bettors, but the money may not match the favorite money come gameday.”

“You can argue this is a typical Notre Dame line as it is higher than it should be simply because it is Notre Dame. I think a double-digit number is justified though as the Irish are loaded with talent,” Fargo said. “USF is a favorite in the Big East, but that isn't saying much.”

UCLA Bruins at Houston Cougars (-3)

Houston quarterback Case Keenum will always give the Cougars some value. Is this a chance to make a statement?

“Our range was from -1 to -3, and we sent out -3. We're all close here so there weren’t too many opinions otherwise,” Korner said. “We don't care who wins, but if this line is good, we're just rooting for the final score not to land on three.”

“This is definitely a statement game for Houston after last year's disappointment. Win this and they could be 10-0 going into its huge game against SMU,” Fargo said. “The Bruins will have a tough time in the Pac-10, but match up well talent-wise here. This is a revenge game for the Cougars.”

Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Wolverines (-17)

A new era at Michigan begins with a team that has bitten some big boys before.

“Our range was from -13 to -20.5, and we sent out -17. I don't care where Michigan is at, they should handle two touchdowns,” Korner said. “Anyone booking this low number will be rooting for the dog to come Saturday. Really, you want to be rooting for Western Michigan?”

“Michigan should be improved under a new staff and new schemes. Changing the offense to a pro set is risky, but will pay off in the long run simply because the defense will play against it in practice every day, thus preparing for the entire Big Ten,” Fargo said. “Western Michigan is talented and can hang around here, since Michigan may still be showing signs of the new learning curve.”

BYU Cougars at Mississippi Rebels (-1.5)

This seems like back to the old days, when BYU would go anywhere against anyone to get some national TV coverage.

“Our range was from Mississippi -1 to -2.5. BYU is the current favorite, not Mississippi. Offshore opinion came out with this number and everyone is copying it. We didn't care,” Korner said. “We sent out Mississippi -1.5 and believe they'll handle BYU here.”

“On paper, the Cougars are clearly the better team, but can they compete against a BCS team,” Fargo asked. “The Rebels will be one of the worst teams in the SEC, but even the bad teams from that conference can beat the best from other conferences. Tossup again.”

Oregon Ducks (-3) vs. LSU Tigers (Arlington, Texas)

For the second time in as many games, spread out over nine months, the speedy Ducks run into the power of the SEC.

“Our range was from pick to Oregon -4.5 and we settled for a sendout of Oregon -3. They may not be Oregon of last year, but they should be close,” Korner said. “Good thing for sportsbooks is that if they need either team big, they should get a good effort from whoever they need.”

“If LSU was at home, this would be a joke of a line. We will have to look deeper into the matchups to find some edges,” Fargo said. “But right now, it is a huge pass.”

Boise State Broncos (-4) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (Atlanta, Georgia)

Another SEC underdog against a team from the West Coast.

“Our range was from Boise State -3 to -6. Minus-4 seemed like the perfect fit and that's what we sent out. There's a reason Boise State is favored,” Korner said. “Because they can beat anyone at any time. We like the higher side and hope we're rooting for them to grab the cash for the sportsbooks.”

“The Bulldogs will have the crowd advantage,” Fargo said. “Georgia had its first losing season in 14 years in 2010, but that could mean a big bounce-back year. Boise State is loaded again, but the points look very tempting.”

College Football Kicks Off 2011 Campaign
By: Michael Robinson

The fourth-ranked LSU Tigers will have a substitute under center when they play the third-ranked Oregon Ducks in a monster showdown on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on ABC.

This is part of a great opening week of college football betting that begins Thursday and goes all the way through Labor Day night.

This is a pick 'em game on the Don Best odds screen with a total of 55-points. The contest is being played at Cowboys Stadium in Texas, certainly a major geographical advantage for the SEC Tigers.

Senior quarterback Jarrett Lee has been tabbed the starter after the indefinite suspension of Jordan Jefferson who was involved in a brawl along with backup linebacker Josh Johns. Starting wide receiver Russell Shepard is also ineligible for this game due to an NCAA violation.

Lee is a fifth-year senior who was pressed into duty as a redshirt freshman in 2008, starting eight games and throwing 16 picks. He saw limited action the last two years, but did help in late wins over Florida and Tennessee in 2010. He has also lost almost 30 pounds to just over 200, and should be a little quicker in the pocket.

The Tigers weren’t going to rely too much on their passing game anyhow, ranked 107th nationally (155.6 YPG) last year, with the defense and running game expected to shoulder the load.

Oregon is feeling fortunate that LSU is the team making headlines. Few people are talking about its national title loss (22-19) to Auburn and its own off the field problems. Cornerback Cliff Harris is suspended, while quarterback Darron Thomas avoided the same fate after being a passenger in Harris’ car that was pulled over by police.

Thomas led the nation’s top offense last year (47 PPG), with 2,881 yards passing and 486 rushing. Running back LaMichael James is a top Heisman candidate after averaging 1,639 yards rushing the last two years. The defense lost more than half its starters and is hurt with the Harris loss. However look for the Ducks to stack the line of scrimmage and force Lee to beat them.

Here’s a breakdown of other top Week 1 games, many of which will be previewed in detail here at Don Best Sports. All rankings listed are from the AP Poll.

UNLV Rebels at Wisconsin Badgers (-35, 56), Thursday 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Quarterback Russell Wilson will make his Wisconsin debut as a heavy favorite after transferring from NC State. This is the No. 11 Badgers' first Thursday night home game since 2000. The Rebels are rebuilding after going 2-11 straight up last year (5-8 against the spread). However, they covered the 2010 matchup with Wisconsin, losing 41-21 as 20 ½-point home ‘dogs and are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between the teams.

TCU Horned Frogs at Baylor Bears (5, 56), Friday 8:00 p.m. (ET)

TCU is ranked No. 14 despite returning just two offensive starters and four on the defensive side from last year’s undefeated team. Sophomore quarterback Casey Pachall takes over for the legendary Andy Dalton, and has been upgraded as probable (shoulder injury). Look for backup Matt Brown to also get snaps. Big 12 Baylor went 7-6 SU last year, but 0-4 SU and ATS in its final four games, getting outscored 188-96.

Boise State Broncos at Georgia Bulldogs (3 ½, 51), Saturday 8:00 p.m. (ET)

This is the other top-25 contest with Boise State ranked fifth and Georgia 19th. This Chick-fil-A College Kickoff Game is annually held at the Georgia Dome, making it a home tilt for the SEC Bulldogs. The Southeastern Conference went 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in the first three years of this game. Boise State is loaded after going 12-1 SU and returning Heisman candidate quarterback Kellen Moore. Georgia coach Mark Richt is under the gun after a 6-7 SU (5-8 ATS) campaign.

SMU Mustangs at Texas A&M Aggies (-16, 55½), Sunday 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Texas A&M is ranked No. 8 nationally, but must stay focused with its rumored departure from the Big 12 in a matter of days. Senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 5-1 SU and ATS as a starter last year. SMU made the Conference USA title game, but struggled out of conference (1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS). The Mustangs are also just 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven against the Big 12, while Texas A&M is 6-0 ATS in its last six against Conference USA.

Miami Hurricanes at Maryland Terrapins (+5½, 48), Monday 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Both ACC teams have new coaches, Al Golden for Miami and Randy Edsall for Maryland. Miami has outpaced even LSU in off-the-field problems. The NCAA is deciding the eligibility of up to 13 players for this game, including quarterback Jacory Harris. Sophomore Stephen Morris is the other quarterback candidate and he played in five games last year. Maryland returns a good chunk of last year’s squad that finished 9-4 SU and ATS.

College football Week 1's top can't-miss games
By Jeff Rake

The college football season kicks off Thursday and there are a handful of marquee games on the opening-week schedule.

We’re still not entirely sure why the two games with national championship implications are being played at the same time on the same day. Who are the ad wizards who came up with that one?

Here is a look at the six biggest games on the Week 1 slate:

No. 3 Oregon (-1) vs. No. 4 LSU, Sept. 3, ABC

The most highly anticipated game of the nonconference season can’t possibly live up to the excitement generated in the offseason. Oregon was the focus of a Yahoo! Sports investigation in July that alleged recruiting violations, and recently, the Ducks suspended standout cornerback Cliff Harris for an off-the-field incident.

Not to be outdone, LSU will likely be without starting QB Jordan Jefferson, who was suspended indefinitely following an arrest on felony charges stemming from a recent altercation outside of a bar.

The uncertainty forced bookmakers to take the game off the board at least twice during the offseason. Regardless, this game figures to have BCS championship game repercussions, with the winner positioning itself for a title run.

No. 7 Boise State (-3.5) vs. No. 22 Georgia, Sept. 3, ESPN

If Boise State wins, the path is paved for an unbeaten season. The Broncos will be at least 7-point favorites in all their remaining games, but must get past Georgia if they hope to contend for a BCS national championship.

For Georgia, this game represents an opportunity to relieve pressure off head coach Mark Richt, who could be fired if the Bulldogs underperform in 2011. The Bulldogs went 6-7 last year and lost 10-6 to UCF in the Liberty Bowl.

Sharp bettors have liked Georgia all offseason. This opening-week test will serve as a strong barometer for the Bulldogs’ chances going forward.

South Florida at No. 16 Notre Dame (-10), Sept. 3, NBC

South Florida coach Skip Holtz is a Notre Dame alum and his father, Lou Holtz, led the Fighting Irish to the 1988 national championship.

Needless to say, this game will carry extra meaning for Holtz, who has a history of pulling off shocking early-season upsets. In 2008, while coach at East Carolina, Holtz’s Pirates knocked off 17th-ranked Virginia Tech and 8th-ranked West Virginia in consecutive weeks.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly doesn’t want to become the latest victim. His Irish are expected to contend for a BCS bowl game and are hoping for a 10-win season. A win over USF would be an encouraging start.

BYU (-3) at Ole Miss, Sept. 3, ESPN

The doubters are ready to fire criticism at BYU after the school decided to leave the Mountain West in favor of independence last season. With that in mind, this opening-week game against Ole Miss is a big one.

The Cougars can’t afford a loss in this spot, not with a September schedule that includes games against Texas, Utah and Central Florida.

Ole Miss will try to avoid a similar start to last year. The Rebels lost their season opener in 2010 to Jacksonville State before stumbling to a disappointing 4-8 record.

No. 14 TCU (-6) at Baylor, Sept. 2, ESPN

This is a battle between two Texas programs on the rise. TCU won last year’s Rose Bowl and finished with a perfect 13-0 record. Baylor, meanwhile, went 7-6 and posted its first winning season since joining the Big 12 in 1996.

TCU has dominated this series but returns only eight starters, and quarterback Andy Dalton isn’t among them. With TCU in transition, the door could be open for Baylor to make a statement in a nationally televised Friday night game.

UCLA at Houston (-3.5), Sept. 3

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel faces a make-or-break season in 2011 and can’t afford a slow start. When Neuheisel was hired in 2008, he promised to return the Bruins to prominence. Three years later, Neuheisel is 15-22 overall and just 8-19 in Pac-12 play.

Houston is eager to get QB Case Keenum, a Heisman trophy candidate, back on the field. Keenum missed the final nine games of the 2010 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. If Keenum gets rolling, a win over UCLA could be the start of something special for a Cougars team that is capable of running the table in the Conference USA.

Bettors key in on big Week 1 favorites

The chalk just got a little chalkier with the betting markets showing significant love for a handful of big Week 1 favorites. Let’s take a look at some of the matchups and line moves.

Mississippi State at Memphis - Did you know Mississippi State has been a road favorite just nine times since 2001? You’ll also be curious to know that of those nine games not once were they asked to lay double-digits. Their biggest line was -8 at Louisiana Tech back in 2008 – a game they lost outright 22-14. The line and the movement for this matchup not only suggest bettors like Dan Mullen’s squad but also that Memphis is going to be REALLY bad.

CRIS Opener: Mississippi State -27
CRIS Current: Mississippi State -29

Kent State- at Alabama – One of the biggest line moves on the board, Alabama got steamed up even higher earlier today. The Crimson Tide saw similar action last season (though not as dramatic) as they opened Week 1 -38 vs. San Jose State and closed -40. They won 48-3.

CRIS Opener: Alabama -33.5
CRIS Current: Alabama -38

Akron at Ohio State – The loss of Terrelle Pryor, Jim Tressel and a host of suspended starters hasn’t keep bettors from keying in on the Buckeyes. Last season, OSU won its first two non-conference home games by margins of 38 and 36 and those were against halfway competent foes, Marshall and Ohio. Akron may be the worst team in the country after a 1-11 effort in 2010.

CRIS Opener: Ohio State -31.5
CRIS Current: Ohio State -34

San Jose State at Stanford – Bettors hit the Cardinal hard once again this afternoon as few expect this regional rivalry to be much of a contest. The two teams didn’t play last season and Stanford (-18) beat San Jose 42-17 in 2009. The Spartans were outscored 214-33 in five games against ranked foes last season. They should however be improved with 18 starters back after an injury-ravaged 1-12 campaign.

CRIS Opener: Stanford -26
CRIS Current: Stanford -30

Minnesota at USC – This one is a little more intriguing in that on paper Minnesota has a shot to compete. We know USC will be able to move the football but the Golden Gophers are a bit of an unknown with first-year head coach Jerry Kill and quarterback MarQueis Gray. Last year, USC (-11.5) won 32-21 in Minneapolis.

CRIS Opener: USC -20
CRIS Current: Stanford -22.5

Buffalo at Pittsburgh – With Wanny gone and Todd Graham in control, perhaps bettors are a little more comfortable laying the big price with the amount of offensive plays/possessions expected to increase for the Panthers.

CRIS Opener: Pittsburgh -29.5
CRIS Current: Pittsburgh -31

Rice at Texas – A big pointspread adjustment from last season’s matchup that saw the Longhorns a 31-point favorite in Houston (34-17 win). UT should improve off of last year’s 5-7 debacle but don’t count out Rice who welcomes back 17 starters.

CRIS Opener: Texas -20
CRIS Current: Texas -24

Florida Atlantic at Florida – Even with all of the unknowns for the Gators, fading the Owls has become a ritual (1-6-1 ATS last three years vs. BCS conference foes) for some bettors.

CRIS Opener: Florida -31
CRIS Current: Florida -35

College Football Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet
By Adam Thompson

Memphis Tigers at No. 20 Mississippi State Bulldogs (-29, 50)

Why Memphis will cover: Despite going just 1-11 in 2010, the Tigers were a respectable 5-7 ATS. Coach Larry Porter gets a second year to install his gameplan.

Why Mississippi State will cover: The Bulldogs return 15 starters, including all their skill-position starters. They will put up points. Meanwhile, Memphis is expected to be the worst team in Conference USA.

Points: MSU trounced Memphis 49-7 in last season’s opener, and there’s little to suggest the Bulldogs won’t score a pile again.

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels at No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (-35, 56)

Why UNLV will cover: The Rebels are 0-4 against the Badgers in recent years, but 4-0 ATS.

Why Wisconsin will cover: UNLV was 0-7 straight up and ATS on the road in 2010. Wisconsin’s punishing ground game will eventually overwhelm its smaller opponent.

Points: How UNLV will slow UW is a mystery, but the Badgers have questions of their own on defense, especially against the pass.

FRIDAY

No. 15 TCU Horned Frogs at Baylor Bears (+6.5, 56)

Why TCU will cover: The Horned Frogs will be confident after hammering the Bears 45-10 last season. Though TCU’s offense is starting over with nine new starters, Baylor’s new-look defense may take a week to get going.

Why Baylor will cover: TCU went 13-0 last season, but was only 6-6 ATS. The Bears will have one of the top offensive units in the Big 12.

Points: Both teams have the potential to put up big points; it will depend on how quickly both defenses respond.

SATURDAY

Tulsa Golden Hurricane at No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (-24.5, 64)

Why Tulsa will cover: Tulsa is no pushover, with 15 starters back from a squad that finished ranked No. 24. The Hurricane was 8-4 ATS last season.

Why Oklahoma will cover: The nation’s top-ranked team, at home, on national television to begin the season: not a good recipe for the Hurricane.

Points: Tulsa’s offense has ranked in the top 5 nationally in three of the last five seasons. Oklahoma can score on anyone.

Kent State Golden Flashes at No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (-38, 45.5)

Why Kent State will cover: The Flashes’ aggressive defense could give the Tide troubles early on, which could make the huge spread tough to reach.

Why Alabama will cover: 'Bama is loaded on both sides, with returning starters aplenty and a focus to win a national title. If the Tide hit the field in form, they could win by 50.

Points: Kent State will have problems reaching the end zone, but Alabama likely won’t.

No. 3 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 4 LSU Tigers (+1, 55) at Arlington, Tex.

Why Oregon will cover: The Ducks are poised to win a national title with another explosive offense and a bend-don’t-break defense. Plus, the absence LSU’s QB Jordan Jefferson (suspended) can only help Oregon’s cause.

Why LSU will cover: The Tigers have shut down some of the top offenses out there. Oregon may be susceptible against the run, which works into LSU’s strategy.

Points: The Ducks had the nation’s top scoring offense in 2010, scoring 37 or more points in 11 of 13 games. A Jefferson-less LSU is the x-factor.

No. 7 Boise State Broncos vs. No. 22 Georgia Bulldogs (+3.5, 50.5) at Atlanta

Why Boise State will cover: The Broncos beat Virginia Tech and Oregon in their last two season openers, so they know how to start a season right against a quality opponent. Fourteen starters return. Georgia was underdog in two games last year, and lost both.

Why Georgia will cover: The defense is expected to be tough this year. And playing close to its own backyard can’t hurt.

Points: Boise’s offense ranked No. 2 nationally in 2010. Georgia QB Aaron Murray is back after a stellar freshman year last season.

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at No. 5 Florida State Seminoles (-28.5, 54.5)

Why Louisiana-Monroe will cover: ULM knows how to cover; the team was 5-7 last year, but 6-5 ATS. Its defense can has given Sun Belt teams problems.

Why Florida State will cover: FSU is not a Sun Belt team. And this year’s Seminoles offense is expected to be as explosive as any that Tallahassee’s seen in a decade.

Points: ULM returns eight offensive starters, including its top four wideouts and its QB. FSU should also be loaded, setting up a potential shootout.

San Jose State Spartans at No. 6 Stanford Cardinal (-30, 53)

Why San Jose State will cover: With 11 returning starters on defense, the Spartans are expected to fare much better than last year’s one-win team. And despite the bad record, they were 5-6 ATS.

Why Stanford will cover: QB Andrew Luck is back, leading one of the nation’s top offenses. A defense that had three Pac-10 shutouts last year returns six starters.

Points: Stanford scored more than 35 points 11 times last year, but the new cast around Luck may take a quarter or two to adjust against an experienced Spartans D.

La-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys (-37, 63.5)

Why Louisiana-Lafayette will cover: That’s a lot of points, and the Ragin’ Cajuns have scrapped the wide-open style that’s failed the last couple seasons for more of a possession offense. That’ll drain some clock. Last year’s 3-9 team was 7-5 ATS.

Why Oklahoma State will cover: OSU went 11-2 overall, 10-3 ATS, and played very close to the line in two of those misses. The Cowboys averaged 44.2 ppg last season and return seven starters.

Points: ULL will be hard-pressed to keep up its end of the scoring bargain, so it’ll be up to OSU to pile on the points. Which it can.

East Carolina Pirates vs. No. 12 South Carolina Gamecocks (-20.5, 62) at Charlotte, N.C.

Why East Carolina will cover: ECU can score; the Pirates averaged 36.8 ppg last season and bring back their QB and three starting wideouts.

Why South Carolina will cover: ECU couldn’t stop anyone last year, allowing 44.0 ppg, second-worst in the nation. The Gamecocks bring back seven offensive starters and their entire defensive backfield, which should keep ECU at bay.

Points: Combined, these teams start seven wide receivers and last season averaged 557 yards through the air per game. Expect fireworks.

South Florida Bulls at No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-10, 47)

Why South Florida will cover: Athletic QB B.J. Daniels can give unsuspecting teams fits. The defense is expected to be strong, especially against the pass. Plus, teams that go to Notre Dame just get fired up.

Why Notre Dame will cover: With eight returning starters from a defense that ranked No. 23 nationally, points for Notre Dame foes will be tough to come by. Meanwhile, the offense also returns eight, and much bigger things are expected from the Irish.

Points: The over hit on USF games just four times in 2010; same with Notre Dame. The Irish aren’t likely to allow many scores on this day.

Akron Zips at No. 16 Ohio State Buckeyes (-34, 48)

Why Akron will cover: Maybe Ohio State will come out slow, after a messy off-season left a plethora of question marks.

Why Ohio State will cover: Talent-wise, it’s not even close. Ohio State, if its mind is on the game and the players know the playbook, should steamroll. The only thing that’s likely to stop the Buckeyes is the clock.

Points: Akron, out of the MAC, averaged just 15.6 ppg last year, but allowed 35.1 and won just once. OSU may have to score 48 to hit the over, which is possible.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at No. 21 Missouri Tigers (-20, 47.5)

Why Miami (Ohio) will cover: The RedHawks return eight of their top nine tacklers from last year. With seven returning starters on offense, the unit should be better than last year’s poor 21.6 ppg effort. Missouri (10-3 in ’10) was only 6-6 ATS.

Why Missouri will cover: The offense should be stellar; every player who caught a pass last year returns. Last year, Mizzou was a 19.5-point favorite over Miami, and won 51-13.

Points: A clash of experienced units (Missouri offense vs. Miami defense) will decide the pace of the game.

Florida Atlantic Owls at No. 23 Florida Gators (-35, 46)

Why Florida Atlantic will cover: Thirty-four points is a big spread for a Gators team that had several key holes to fill in the off-season. If the Owls control the pace, they could lose by less than that.

Why Florida will cover: For a team on the rebound, the hapless Owls provide the perfect opening foe. FAU returns just three starters on defense, which should water the mouths of Gators offensive skill players.

Points: Florida should run downhill most of the game, but can it score enough to cover the entire total?

Utah State Aggies at No. 19 Auburn Tigers (-21, 56.5)

Why Utah State will cover: The Aggies will try to chew up the clock on the ground, which could make it difficult for the rebuilding Tigers offense to cover a three-TD-plus spread.

Why Auburn will cover: Despite a practically new lineup on both sides of the ball, the talent is there. If the newcomers can pick up where last year’s team left off, the spread is low.

Points: The over hit only three times in Utah State game in 2010. Auburn is replacing a stunning 17 starters. Expect growing pains.

Rice Owls at Texas Longhorns (-24, 55)

Why Rice will cover: Last year, Rice faced Texas in the opener at 31.5-point dogs, and lost just 34-17. The Longhorns should be better, but the Owls, with 15 returning starters, should be too.

Why Texas will cover: After a shocking 5-7 record last year, five assistant coaches were canned and the senior class that led last year's downfall is gone. It was replaced with typical Texas-sized talent aimed at keeping the Longhorns relevant.

Points: The over hit on eight of Rice's games last season, and Texas has something to prove, especially on offense.

SUNDAY

SMU Mustangs at No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies (-16.5, 57)

Why SMU will cover: Third-year starting QB Kyle Padron leads a squad that has 18 starters back and has aspirations of SMU winning its first Conference USA title since the pre-Death Penalty days.

Why Texas A&M will cover: It will be tough to throw against the Aggies this year, which returns its top two players at each defensive backfield position. The offense returns nine starters. That’s a lot for SMU to handle.

Points: June Jones still coaches SMU. SMU games hit the over in four of its first five games in 2010. A&M will also come out firing.

Big 10 Report - Week 1
By ASA

Thursday, Sept. 1

Wisconsin (-35) vs. UNLV

The Badgers are the popular favorite to win the new Leaders division in the Big Ten and they get a Thursday night showcase to kick off the season. All eyes will be on new quarterback Russell Wilson as he makes his first start as a Badger after transferring from NC State. UW ranked 21st nationally in total offense last year and 5th in scoring offense and they could be just as powerful this season with Wilson and the RB tandem of Ball and White (combined 2,048 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns in ‘10). UNLV lost its starting QB and four top tacklers from last year’s 2-11 squad. The Rebels are just 2-24 in road openers and don’t expect to be a big threat to Wisconsin here. Wisconsin won at UNLV last season, 41-21, and has won 15 straight Camp Randall openers by an average of 18 points per game. Notes: UW redshirt freshman Kyle French will be pressed into field-goal duties on Thursday as regular kicker Philip Welch hasn't healed from a quadriceps injury.

Friday, Sept. 2

Michigan State (-35.5) vs. Youngstown State

The 2010 co-Big Ten Champion Spartans return to action on Friday night against Youngstown State. QB Kirk Cousins is surrounded by a strong receiving corps and good depth at RB, but there are uncertainties on the offensive line (three of five starters need to be replaced) and on defense (four of the top five defenders departed) and that could present a bit of a learning curve early in the season. Youngstown State finished a disappointing 3-8 last year, including a 30-point loss to fellow Big Ten foe Penn State. Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio is no stranger to the Penguins, spending five years on the coaching staff (1986-90). MSU should have no problem dispatching of the FCS foe. Notes: Michigan State still has a handful of questions along the offensive line, most notable left tackle and center, and will rotate a number of guys in on Friday night.

Saturday, Sept. 3

Northwestern (+3) vs. Boston College

Northwestern travels to Boston College as a small underdog in one of the more appealing week one matchups, QB Dan Persa’s status remains in question as he is still recovering from a achilles injury suffered last season. Before his injury, Persa led the Wildcats to a 7-3 mark including a last second win over Iowa in 2010 (NU lost its final three games without him). Sophomore Kain Colter will get the start if Persa can’t go. Boston College has a similar problem with its star player. Senior running back and preseason ACC Player of the Year Montel Harris will miss 3-4 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. BC's offense looks a lot less scary with Harris on the sidelines, considering how suspect its passing game was last season. Defensively, the Eagles ranked 10th in total defense and 1st against the run last season. With arguably the best offensive weapons for both teams sidelined, you can expect a low-scoring game with few offensive fireworks. Boston College covered five of its last 6 games last season but is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 as a home favorite. Northwestern is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games as a road ‘dog but just 4-13 ATS in September.

Ohio State (-34) vs. Akron

Luke Fickell will make his coaching debut with the Buckeyes after a tumultuous offseason. OSU had to say goodbye to longtime head coach Jim Tressel and accomplished QB Terrelle Pryor and will now start the 2011 season with a brand new slate. Senior Joe Bauserman and true freshman Braxton Miller will split time at QB on Saturday and they’ll do it without three offensive starters (RB Herron, WR Posey, and OT Adams are all suspended). The new coach and quarterback situation bears monitoring in what would otherwise be a routine opener for the Buckeyes. Six of OSU’s top eight defenders are gone from a year ago yet this unit still figures to be strong. Akron’s offense provided few fireworks last season (15.6 points per game) on its way to a 1-11 record. The Zips have lost 17 straight true road openers by an average of 29 points per game. Thirty-four points is a lot to lay in week one, especially with an OSU squad that has so many questions. However it’s worth noting that the Buckeyes were a perfect 6-0 ATS last season as a favorite of 20 points or more.

Penn State (-38) vs. Indiana State

Joe Paterno is not openly saying who his starting quarterback will be. Our best guess is that sophomore Rob Bolden and junior Matt McGloin will split time against Indiana State before Paterno officially decides. PSU hosts Alabama on September 10th so Paterno would like to figure out his QB situation before then. Defensively there aren’t any major questions, particularly in the back seven, which boasts a ton of talent and strong depth. The Nittany Lions need this unit to step up after allowing 23.7 points per game in 2010 (up from 12.2 PPG in 2009). FCS Indiana State has just eight wins dating back to 2004. The Sycamores have lost four straight road games against BCS conference foes dating back to 2006, losing by an average of 31.5 points per game. Penn State has won nine straight home openers by an average of 29 points per game.

Iowa (-39) vs. Tennessee Tech

Iowa shouldn’t be overlooked this season despite some key personnel losses from 2010. Sophomore running back Marcus Coker, who will run behind a seasoned offensive line, should have a breakout year. Junior quarterback James Vandenberg has some starting experience, but must prove himself again. Tennessee Tech is a good opponent for the Hawkeyes to “warm-up” against before next week’s annual Cy-Hawk game against Iowa State. The Hawkeyes barely escaped with a 17-16 win at Kinnick Stadium against FCS Northern Iowa two seasons ago and you can bet that head coach Kirk Ferentz has reminded his team of that many times this week. Tennessee Tech returns 19 starters from last year’s 5-6 squad. The Golden Eagles lost at Arkansas and at TCU in 2010 by a combined score of 106-10.

Purdue (-18) vs. Middle Tennessee State

Purdue recently received news that starting QB Rob Henry tore his ACL and will miss the entire 2011 season. With 2010 starting QB Robert Marve still recovering from last year’s knee injury so junior QB Caleb TerBush will make his starting debut against Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. TerBush has played in only one career game but head coach Danny Hope is confident in the 6-foot-6 QB’s athleticism. Some good news for the Boilers: RB Ralph Bolden has returned strong from two knee surgeries and should provide an offensive spark for Purdue. This is no “gimme” game for the Boilers. Middle Tennessee State has been to two straight Bowl games and has defeated Maryland (2x), and has had Mississippi State, Kentucky, Louisville, and Minnesota on the brink of defeat over the past three seasons.

Minnesota (+22.5) at USC

The Jerry Kill Era begins in Minnesota. His week one depth chart is filled with true freshmen and redshirt freshmen, so the playbook won’t be too extensive on Saturday. Former wide receiver MarQueis Gray makes his first start at quarterback for the Gophers, and a trip to the coliseum to play USC is a tough first assignment. Minnesota led 14-13 at home against the Trojans last season before surrendering 19 unanswered points. USC returns a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, including Heisman hopeful QB Matt Barkley. The Trojans have won 13 straight home openers by an average of 24 points per game.

Michigan (-14) vs. Western Michigan

There could be a lot of offensive fireworks in this one. Michigan returns all-everything QB Denard Robinson (2,570 passing yards, 1,702 rushing yards, 32 total touchdowns), albeit in a new offensive system. Western Michigan returns QB Alex Carder (3,334 passing yards, 30 touchdowns) and a bevy of talented receivers. Michigan struggled mightily on defense a year ago and Western Michigan could light up this secondary. Western Michigan has lost 16 straight road openers by an average of 24 points per game (all against BCS schools) and are 0-5 against Michigan (lost 7-31 in most recent meeting in 2009).

Nebraska (-35) vs. Chattanooga

The Huskers should get a blowout against Chattanooga in their first official game as a member of the Big Ten. Nebraska’s biggest strength is its defense, where it boasts three potential All-Americans on all three levels. DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David, and CB Alfonzo Dennard lead this unit that might be the nation's best. Offensively, QB Taylor Martinez and RB Rex Burkhead (1,696 rushing yards combined with 19 touchdowns in 2010) should be able to run all over Chattanooga. Nebraska has won five straight season openers (all at home) by an average of 38 points per game (49-11). FCS Chattanooga has lost four straight road games against BCS schools dating back to 2008 by an average margin of 44.2 points per game (last at Auburn by 38 last season).

Illinois (-21) vs. Arkansas State

Illinois has lost four straight season openers – all against Missouri in St. Louis – but should be able to notch a win here against Arkansas State (The Illini have won 13 straight home openers by an average of 27 points per game). Nathan Scheelhaase is back under center after a very successful freshman campaign in which he threw for 17 touchdowns and ran for 5 more. Illinois’ offense shouldn’t have any problems putting points on the board; it’s the defense that has to replace its top four playmakers from a year ago. Despite the 4-8 overall record in 2010, Arkansas State played well against Auburn, Louisville, and Indiana (2-1 ATS) last year and shouldn’t be overlooked by Illinois.

Indiana (-6.5) vs. Ball State

Here’s another new face as Kevin Wilson makes his head coaching debut for the Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Wilson has yet to name a starting quarterback between sophomores Dusty Kiel and Edward Wright-Baker. It’s expected that both will see playing time on Saturday night. Ball State is no slouch. Seventeen starters return from last year’s 4-8 squad that got a lot of big-game experience with two road games at Iowa and at Purdue. The top passer, rusher, receiver, and three tacklers return to form a much improved Cardinals squad.

What Bettors Need to Know: Oregon vs. LSU

Oregon Ducks vs. LSU Tigers (+4, 54.5)

THE STORY: Two key players will be missing when No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 LSU square off in the marquee Saturday game of college football’s opening weekend. LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was one of two Tigers suspended indefinitely after being arrested on second-degree felony battery charges following a recent altercation outside a bar. Oregon will be without star cornerback Cliff Harris, who was suspended indefinitely because of an off-season speeding incident. The Ducks lost to Auburn in last season’s BCS National Championship Game and are candidates to return this season. LSU is also forecasted to be in the title mix and figures to battle Alabama for the Southeastern Conference's West Division crown.

ABOUT LSU (11-2 in 2010): The Tigers have been dealing with distractions because of the incident in which Jefferson and sophomore linebacker Joshua Johns were arrested and suspended. Also, junior receiver Russell Shepard was suspended by the NCAA for a rules violation. The loss of Jefferson puts senior quarterback Jarrett Lee back in the spotlight. Lee started eight games in 2008 but had an up-and-down campaign in which he passed for 14 touchdowns and was intercepted 16 times. He started only once in the past two seasons. Senior cornerback Morris Claiborne (five interceptions) is an All-American candidate after playing in the shadow of shutdown corner Patrick Peterson, the fifth overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. Senior linebacker Ryan Baker had seven sacks in 2010.

ABOUT OREGON (12-1 in 2010): The Ducks are explosive on offense and the two biggest factors for that are back for their junior seasons. Running back LaMichael James is one of the nation’s top players after rushing for 1,731 yards and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Quarterback Darron Thomas passed for 30 touchdowns and was intercepted only nine times. Senior middle linebacker Dewitt Stuckey will be counted on to lead the defense after the offseason arrest of Kiko Alonso. The situation with Harris (six interceptions in 2010) isn’t Oregon’s only recent controversial issue. Running back Lache Seastrunk was given his release from the program in August and announced a transfer to Baylor. The NCAA is investigating whether Seastrunk was influenced to choose Oregon by a recruiting service that Oregon paid $25,000.

LINE MOVES: This spread has pulled from the board numerous times heading into Week 1. Louisiana State was originally posted as a 3-point neutral-site favorite on August 5, but with Johns and Jefferson’s suspensions the spread has dropped to LSU +4. The total opened at 55.5 points and has been bet down to 54.5 as of Friday afternoon.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. This is the fourth meeting between the Tigers and Ducks. LSU won the most recent contest 56-17 in 1977.

2. Thomas’ 30 passing scores last season were two shy of the school record set by Akili Smith in 1998.

3. LSU assistant Steve Kragthorpe stepped down as offensive coordinator in early August after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and Greg Studrawa was promoted to coordinator.

TRENDS:

- Ducks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games in September.
- Ducks are 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games as favorites.
- Tigers are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight neutral site games.
- Tigers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games in September.
- Over is 22-8-2 in Ducks last 32 games as favorites.
- Under is 29-14-1 in Tigers last 44 games as underdogs.

PREDICTION: Oregon 38, LSU 23 - The powerful Ducks use their offensive firepower to overwhelm LSU’s defense and Oregon's defense limits the inconsistent Lee to win the showdown of top five teams.

Game of the Day: Boise State vs. Georgia

Boise State Broncos vs. Georgia Bulldogs (+3, 50.5)

THE STORY: Georgia qualifies as Boise State’s toughest non-conference opponent despite the fact the Bulldogs finished below .500 last season. The No. 7 Broncos won high-profile openers the past two seasons against Oregon (2009) and Virginia Tech (2010) and need to beat No. 22 Georgia to have any chance of garnering national championship talk. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt is on the hot seat. He is 96-34 in 10 seasons at Georgia, but 14-12 over the past two seasons. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore was fourth in last season’s Heisman Trophy balloting. The Broncos are 0-4 against SEC foes.

On Friday, Boise State announced it will be without three Dutch-born players -- receiver Geraldo Boldewijn, safety Cedric Febis and defensive tackle Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe -- pending a review of their eligibility. All three players are not traveling. The review is not related to academics or rules violations, the school said. Boldewijn, a sophomore, was expected to have a significant role this season following the departures of Austin Pettis and Titus Young to the NFL. Febis is a starting senior safety and will be replaced by redshirt freshman Jeremy Ioane. Tjong-A-Tjoe, a sophomore backup to Billy Winn, played in 12 games last season and made 6.5 tackles for loss.

ABOUT GEORGIA (6-7 in 2010): The Bulldogs are coming off their first losing season since 1996. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray passed for 3,049 yards, 24 touchdowns and was intercepted eight times last season, but receivers A.J. Green and Kris Durham have moved on to the NFL, leaving junior tight end Orson Charles (422 yards) as his most feared target. Junior Richard Samuel and freshman Isaiah Crowell are slated to share the rushing workload after the off-season departures of Washaun Ealey (transfer) and Caleb King (academics). Samuel (quadriceps) and Crowell (groin) both had injury setbacks during August. Senior DeAngelo Tyson has moved over to defensive end after playing in the interior last season. Senior cornerback Brandon Boykin is a dangerous returner with four career kickoff return touchdowns. Boykin and junior safety Bacarri Rambo each had three interceptions in 2010.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (12-1 in 2010): The Broncos are 61-5 in Chris Petersen’s five seasons as coach. Moore is 38-2 as a starter and coming off a season in which he passed for 3,845 yards and 35 touchdowns against only six interceptions. However, he lost school-icon receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis to the NFL and is adjusting to a lot of new targets. Senior Tyler Shoemaker (32 receptions) is the top holdover. Senior running back Doug Martin is coming off a 1,260-yard season. Seven starters are back from a stingy defense, including senior defensive tackle Billy Winn (9.5 tackles for loss), senior defensive end Shea McClellin (9.5 sacks) and safety George Iloka (two interceptions).

LINE MOVES: This line has remained steady, with a short move to 3.5 before being bet back to a field goal. The total opened as high as 52 points and has been bet down to 50.5 as of Friday afternoon.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Georgia mauled Boise State 48-13 in 2005 in the only other meeting.

2. Boykin is the only player in SEC history with three 100-yard kickoff returns.

3. Moore has thrown a school-record 99 career touchdown passes.

TRENDS:

- Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last four neutral-site games.
- Broncos are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as favorites.
- Broncos are 22-10-1 ATS in their last 33 non-conference games.
- Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last five games in September.
- Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in their last four games as underdogs.

PREDICTION: Boise State 30, Georgia 24 - Petersen has proven tough to beat when he has a long time to prepare for a BCS-caliber opponent, so look for the Broncos to prevail despite a pro-Georgia atmosphere in Atlanta.

College Football Week 1 Weather Report

You’ve memorized the preview mags, kept an eye on all the early line moves, and have your DVR set to record as much Week 1 college football as possible. But have you looked to the skies yet? Here’s the weather report for the opening slate of NCAAF action Saturday:

MTSU Blue Raiders at Purdue Boilermakers (-17.5, 49.5)

Partially cloudy skies will give way to possible thundershowers in Layette, Ind., Saturday afternoon. Winds will also pick up, reaching around 10 mph and blowing WSW at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Kent State Golden Flashes at Alabama Crimson Tide (-38, 47)

Game time temperatures are expected to climb into the mid 90's when the Tide host the Golden Flashes at Bryant-Denny Stadium. There is also a threat of thundershowers in the forecast for Saturday's game.

UL Monroe Warhawks at Florida State Seminoles (-29.5, 55.5)

Tallahassee is expected to get hit with thundershowers and winds reaching into the high teens. The steady breeze will be blowing SE at Bobby Bowden Field. Saturday’s total has climbed from as low as 52 points.

South Florida Bulls at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-11, 47)

South Bend, Ind., could get hit by thundershowers in the Irish’s season opener. The forecast is calling for storms and wind earlier in the game, then calmer conditions in the second half. Keep an eye on those weathervanes, halftime bettors.

Arkansas State Red Wolves at Illinois Fighting Illini (-21, 57.5)

Thunderstorms are in the forecast for Champaign, Ill., Saturday. A 31 percent chance of showers is on the board along with winds blowing SW from corner to corner. The total has been bet down a touch, from 58.5 points.

UCLA Bruins at Houston Cougars (-2.5, 61)

One of the biggest totals on the Week 1 board could be impacted by the possibility of thundershowers and winds reaching speeds of up to 20 mph - not to mention heat in the mid 90s. The forecast for O'Quinn Field could make passing tough for Houston QB Case Keenum. Regardless of the forecast, the total climbed as high as 61.5 at some books.

Western Michigan Broncos at Michigan Wolverines (-14, 61.5)

The Big House could also be the Wet House if thundershowers roll into Ann Arbor Saturday. There is a chance of the wet stuff and winds reaching speeds of up to 10 mph, gusting west across the field.

BYU Cougars at Mississippi Rebels (+2.5, 57)

Ole Miss and BYU will remain relatively dry for most of their season opener Saturday. However, there is a chance of rain late into the game which could impact the second-half scoring. The rain should help break up the heat, which will be in the high 90s to start the game.

Colorado State Rams at New Mexico Lobos (+6, 49.5)

Thundershowers could dampen Albuquerque Saturday night. Storms are in the forecast, but the winds in University Stadium will remain calm. The total for this matchup has dropped significantly from its opening post of 52.5 points.

Army Black Knights at Northern Illinois Huskies (-10.5, 55.5)

There’s a 53 percent chance of rain for Brigham Field Saturday. The number for this game has climbed over two points from its opening post.

UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at Oklahoma State Cowboys (-38, 64.5)

Hopefully T. Boone Pickens can shell out a couple bucks for umbrellas during the Cowboys’ opener. Clear skies around kickoff will give way to thundershowers with gametime temperatures flirting with the mid 90s in Stillwater, Okla.

Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Oklahoma Sooners (-24.5, 65)

Clear skies will get pushed out by possible thundershowers in Norman, Okla. The Sooners and Golden Hurricane will likely get hit by the bad weather later in the game, making the second-half total a tempting wager.

Rice Owls at Texas Longhorns (-24, 55)

A steady breeze will cool off the Owls and Longhorns for the first part of this Texas rivalry. Gametime temperatures could climb into the triple digits by kickoff.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (-13, 57.5)

The forecast in Hattiesburg, Miss., is calling for a chance of thundershowers and winds reaching 20 mph when the Bulldogs and Golden Eagles open the season Saturday. The gusts, which are expected to blow east from sideline to sideline, will die down later in the game.

Breaking College Football News
By Doug Upstone

Dan Persa doubtful for Northwestern

Doug's View: The Wildcats QB is still experiencing pain in his Achilles when trying to run straight ahead. Coach Pat Fitzgerald has said as many as four Northwestern QB’s could see action. If this is true it’s hard to imagine the Wildcats can put together any offense continuity against Boston College defense.

More quarterback flip-flopping

Doug's View: Despite having named a starter, Ohio State, Penn State and South Carolina head coaches have all stated they will play at least two quarterbacks in their opener by choice. Given the competition each team will face, this should very little impact on the outcomes of their contests, but it does keep the pressure on the starter to perform and gives the coach a potential option down the road if needed.

Nebraska’s new offense

Doug's View: Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck wants quarterback Taylor Martinez and the rest of the Huskers offensive players to have more freedom this season in the offense. Though Nebraska was explosive, too often last year they would bog down and they committed a load of penalties. We won’t learn anything as the Children of the Corn (Rece Davis reference) take on Tenn-Chattanooga this week; however watch them against Fresno State and Washington in the following weeks.

L.A. under attack

Doug's View: Southern California is a fertile ground for football recruiting and it’s about to become even harder for state schools to keep home grown products. With Utah and Colorado joining the Pac-12, their street cred is going to rise in the eyes of high schoolers. Oregon has been working the area for years and Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has a vast number of contacts from his USC days. It is no accident Boise State has gone from a nice story to a football powerhouse since coach Chris Peterson has been combing the area and has national championship dreams to sell.

Today, this places UCLA and Cal to a lesser degree in hot water, since they haven’t been successful lately and like politics, negative recruiting is off the charts. The Bruins are Bears are in need of an opening game victory or the drum beats of negativity will keep pounding for this year high school seniors in SoCal.

Didn’t see this coming

Doug's View: When Georgia Tech hired Paul Johnson, immediately the word around the ACC was could his triple option offense work against faster athletes like those in the conference. In 2008-09, the Yellow Jackets were on the rise, even being ACC champions two years ago. However, last season brought a .500 record and prospects for this campaign are the same or worse with no 1,000 yard running backs seen on the roster.

What has become the bigger problem is Johnson being able to recruit the type of talented players for his offense. He certainly will have a hard time bringing in better pass catchers with the lack of passing and fellow schools in the league will talk about how it harder for NFL scouts to evaluate a players skills in this offense.

It’s starting to appear Paul Johnson’s offense isn’t the issue; it’s getting the higher end athletes to run it.

The times, they are a changin’

Doug's View: Boston College, Maryland and Clemson all have new offensive schemes, check the box scores closely since they are all playing representative teams; it might tell more about the future.

This can be one tough Nutt

Doug's View: I’m surprised Houston Nutt doesn’t have the nickname “cat” since this coach has been counted out any number of times and yet he finds a way to keep winning and hanging around. This year’s Nutt squad has very low expectations in the SEC and that seems to be when he is at his best. Ole Miss has failed to win or cover their last three games as an underdog near the “The Grove”, but with low expectations, beating BYU sounds just about right for this coach with nine lives.

Hold that Line

Doug's View: Last season, Kentucky permitted 177 yards per game at 4.6 yards per carry on the ground and coach Joke Phillips has made in known to his defense, that won’t work in 2011. In fact, last year, tonight’s opponent Western Kentucky ran for 184 yards. We will find out how much progress the Wildcats have made since the Hilltoppers are home and most of their key offensive people are back.

Quarterback watching in the SEC

Jarrett Lee’s best games for LSU have typically come off the aluminum bench. Though the quarterback position for the Tigers in not the most important compared to other schools, against a team like Oregon, Lee has to play better than average.

Supposedly, Florida’s John Brantley has an offensive more tailored to his talents. We start finding this week.

Reports out of Tuscaloosa have QB’s AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims in a virtual tie. Nick Saban and the Alabama team need one to emerge or their national championship hopes could be derailed.

College Football Picks
By Joe Gavazzi

Akron vs.Ohio State

Jim Tressell closed out his Buckeye career on a run of 55-24 ATS. Don't expect the same from Luke Fickell. For starters the Buckeyes have just 8 RS and feature a tandem of virgin QBs in Bauserman and Miller. The good news is they are hosting an Akron team who was just 1-11 SU LY. Though returning 14 RS they do not figure to show much improvement under the guidance of second year HC Ianello. An inexperienced offensive line will be overwhelmed by the Ohio State defensive front. Their inept offense may be the worst in the country. This is clearly a bottom 10 team. They are 8-18 ATS L2Y and were just 1-3 ATS +20+ LY. This number is 10 points less than last years close but amply inflated for the public perception that the Buckeyes have plenty to prove following their off season debacle.

BYU vs. Mississippi

BYU starts their maiden voyage as an independent. Wrong place. Wrong time. These mountain boys will not enjoy the heat and humidity of a southern afternoon in early September. The Cougar season began as a disaster in 2010. Virgin QB Heaps led the team to a 1-4 SU ATS start when they lost 31-16 at Utah State. It meant they had averaged just 15 PPG in their first 5 games. Considering they had averaged 35 PPG in the previous 2 years this was clearly unacceptable. It was at that point that HC Mendenhall assumed the DC duties and the QB Heaps began his ascent. Before you get too excited about this momentum consider that their last 6 opponents (5-1 SU ATS) were Wyoming, UNLV, Colorado St., New Mexico, Utah (their loss) and UTEP. In my opinion that does not qualify them to be a road favorite at an SEC school opening week. Particularly one whose coach and team have plenty to prove. The Rebels come off a 4-8 SU ATS season in which -6 net TOs helped contribute to a -104 AFP. HC Nutt now enters on negative runs of 4-10 ATS, 2-6 ATS home and 2-5 ATS dog. The bottom line is this: This is an SEC home dog with much to prove at a site that should be of great advantage. The rebels have made an upgrade in experience, quality and depth. This upset is absolutely no surprise to this bureau.

Utah State vs.Auburn

Defending champs open the season laying 3 TDs less than they would have at the end of last year. Mostly because they have a nation low 6 RS. But that 14-0 SU, 10-4 ATS season is history for the Tigers. Their inexperience is furthered by the fact that more than half their roster is underclassman. Despite that fact this has fostered an "Us against the world" mentality. This has not been the Tigers role of late. They are just 2-6 ATS against NC and 1-5 ATS -10+. Should they be covering at one point in time it is highly probably Chicik will do enough experimenting to leave the back door open. Utah State will certainly not be awed by the environment. This is a team who in recent years has traveled to Oklahoma, Nevada, Boise, Utah, A&M, BYU, Fresno and Hawaii. Those are all arguably tougher venues than the Plains of Auburn. Third year HC Anderson has logged an 8-2 ATS RD record including 7-0 ATS as +10+. The Utags have 15 RS with some solid skilled position players and what should be a vastly improved defensive front. A notable reduction in value along with the fact that State will field a virgin QB is the only thing keeping this from a high rating.

UCLA vs.Houston

Behind QB Keenum Houston will be an improved team from their 5-7 SU 3-9 ATS team of LY. They will be plenty focused for this 31-13 season opening revenge game on their home turf. In that meeting LY both QB Kennum and his back up QB Turner were lost in the first half. The Houston offense will be complemented by solid ground threat. But this figures to be even a bigger turn around season for the Bruins, who were 4-8 SU ATS in 2010. Much of that came courtesy of a -11 net turnover margin leading to a -59 AAFP for the season. But 17 RS , including 8+ on each side of the ball make the Bruins one of my top 5 experienced teams. Neither of these coaches has performed particularly well in the role, as Neuheisel is just 7-16 ATS as dog, while Sumlin is just 7-13 ATS as fav. It must be noted, however, that most of these records are amassed against conference foes. Of greater note is UCLAs recent record of 8-2 ATS vs. NC. UCLA has a far superior defense and should be much more consistent on offense in the second year of their switch to the Pistol offense. Live dog, wrong team favored.

Western Michigan vs.Michigan

The Rich Rod years were a disaster for Michigan. He was 10-27 ATS, 0-9 ATS to end 2010. He was an equally poor 5-15 ATS his favorite. Only a part of that ATS log can be attributed to the fact they were -10 turnovers LY. The bottom line is this was a disastrous defensive team that allowed 36 PPG in 2010. The sad part is this is a once proud defense that allowed 28 + points in each of the two previous years. In short it will take new HC Brady Hoke a couple of years to rebuild the talent on the defensive side of the ball. In the long-term he will accomplish this goal, making money for us along the way. His 21-14 ATS log L3Y at Ball State and S.D State attest to that. For now, however, he is faced with a home opener against a rival underdog with a look ahead to Notre Dame next week. Though Western Mich. is just 10-16 ATS away of late this is a rivalry road dog who will be playing with super emotion against Big Brother. The Broncos have a potentially explosive offense behind QB Carder and a greatly improved defense. WMU coach Cubit is familiar with Hoke from his years at Ball St. No doubt, there will be a bit of contempt. Rivalry dog is the way to play here if you are tuning into ABC for this.

Minnesota vs. USC

Each of these teams in on my play against list. The Gophers take to the highway for game 1 with a new HC, Jerry Kill, and virgin QB who is a converted wide receiver. Hard to believe there will be immediate success. But for the Trojans it is "Air in haste, repent at leisure." Their 8-5 record of 2010 may be the best they do with the probation years still ahead of them. Find it highly doubtful that HC Kiffin is the man to guide them through these troubled waters. And his dad, a renowned defensive guru, did little to support that reputation last season. He authored a stop unit that allowed 27 PPG and 400 YPG. Yet the mental seems to be all on their side as there are few expectations for the Gopher while there is plenty to prove for the home team.

South Florida vs.Notre Dame

As always the line maker is showing Notre Dame plenty of love. This year he can back it up as the Irish feature 17 RS for second year HC Brian Kelly. He guided Dame to an 8-5 SU mark in his maiden voyage. That included 4 consecutive wins to close the season. Key intangible in their return to national significance is a loosening of the reins by an administration that seems to once again have made football a priority( note: hand slaps for indiscretions that would have previously resulted in much harsher punishments). On the opposing bench is second year HC Skip Holtz who will be celebrating his home coming on a field where he both played and coached some 20 years ago. Look for vast improvement in the USF offense now that QB Thomas is maturing into the Bulls leader. Holtz has a long term history of success in this role, logging a 27-10 ATS mark as underdog at ECU and USF, including 4-2 ATS LY. As many of the Big East teams have learned S. Florida has one dominant advantage against many northern teams. Expect this speed advantage to be on display this afternoon making USF the odds on play to do no worse than come through the back door.

Boise State vs. Georgia

Never easy to play against Boise in these marquee match-ups, Sixth year HC Petersen is a mind boggling 61-5 SU, including 26-12 ATS L3Y and 21-8 ATS, A or N. They return QB Moore, number 1 in pass efficiency last season. He authored a last minute drive to beat Virginia Tech in a similar spot last season. But this is a Georgia team with so much more to prove. They come off an underachieving 6-7 SU season. But they are notably better than the team from last year with major edge in crowd support and the intangibles from the embarrassing season last year. Most of all they carry the SEC pedigree with the pride of representing the premier conference in the nation

Fresno State vs. California

Most opinions of Fresno HC Hill are that he is an outstanding head coach. I must question that. In the last 6 years his teams are -51 net turnovers with a negative return every season (and getting worse). In fact, in the last 3 seasons his Bulldogs are -11, -10, and -11 net turnovers resulting in a -186 AFP with an ATS record of 13-24 ATS. That hardly instills confidence among the faithful. But if there's 1 aspect of his coaching ability that has proven to be true it's that he has succeed in playing anyone, anywhere, anytime. When faced with those challenges he has logged a recent mark of 11-4 ATS A or N vs. NC foes. Included in that mark is 5-1 ATS vs. BCS opponents. And he is 7-0 SU in game 1 including 3 games against BCS foes. There is no doubt he will have his Bulldog contingent prepared for this game despite virgin QB Carr operating behind an inexperienced OL as part of a group of only 10 RS. Cal HC Tedford must also break in a new signal caller and features a team with just 12 RS. For as much ink as he has gotten his team's fortunes have been plummeting of late. L4Y his Bears are just 29-22 SU, and just 24-26 ATS. As former QB and OC at Fresno he will want his Bears to put their best foot forward in this match up. But he brings a recent record of 4-13 ATS as RF or NF, completely dichotomous to that of Hill and the Bulldogs. Candlestick venue, a probably edge for the Red Wave who will at the least be more vocal. Furthermore we get great value in the line that is a full touchdown more than where it would have closed last season.

Tulsa vs. Oklahoma

A little experience can go along way in this particular analysis. The line maker opened this game at 20 ½ points, a clear indication they were asking for favorite money. The public has obliged by pushing this line all the way to 24 1/2. My experience tells me that following a 4 point move in college football at any week in the season would give you a less than 50 % probability for success. But the Sooners are getting a lot of love based on their number 1 ranking, a potentially explosive offense that averaged 40 PPG on this field last year, and their mark of 20-8 ATS HF. Few seem to remember that the Sooners gave up nearly 22 PPG LY. This veteran Tulsa team has the capability to oblige that. With 18 RS returning from a 10-3 SU 9-4 ATS they feature QB Kinne and a veteran OL. Behind last years HC Graham they would have been on pace to average 40 + points. Under new HC Blankenship they will need to prove it to me first.

Oregon vs. LSU

The Ducks will again contend for national superiority with returning QB Thomas and RB James looking to duplicate the 47 PPG of LY. You need to go no further than last years 19 offensive points against another SEC defense that resulted in a 3 point loss in a title game to Auburn. Though they may be highly motivated to get a measure of revenge vs. the SEC the situation greatly favors the Tigers in this one. 5th year senior QB Lee will start in the place of QB Jefferson. Along with other suspensions this gives a major motivational and emotional edge to LSU. A further advantage is a field where LSU walloped Texas A&M 21-34 in their Bowl game last year. I'm well aware that HC Miles is just 16-30 ATS of late. But you must know this: He is also 17-0 SU in September. LSU parlays their emotional edge at this site for a narrow victory by the SEC against the PAC-12 rep.

Colorado at Hawaii

Hawaii was caught in a travel snafu last season when they got dumped 31-13 at the altitude of Boulder. Now the home road dichotomy is reversed with the Rainbows, 7-0 ATS home LY, hosting a Buff team that is 7-17 ATS road dog and 0-5 ATS away LY. This is also a Colorado team that has lost 17 consecutive games away from their home field. Though 16 RS is a plus, having new HC Embree, who is installing new offensive and defensive schemes, in his first game on the Islands is clearly not. Hawaii has just 9 RS but among them is QB Moniz who is capable of putting on an aerial show in this opener. Underrated Rainbow defense takes care of the rest.

Arkansas State vs. Illinois

Ark State recorded consecutive seasons 4-8 SU. That was bad enough to fire HC Roberts and bring on board his OC, Hugh Freeze. In his first year at that position for the Red Wolves he upped the offense to 30 PPG on 403 YPG. With QB returning to the fold and a more experienced defense expect an upward progression from the Red Wolves this season. The Illini have a history of failing in this role under HC Zook who is 0-7 ATS vs. non AQ foes, losing 4 of those games outright. Should the Wolves history of success in these big game encounters continue (they covered at Auburn and Indiana last year, at Iowa and A&M the two previous years) the Wolves could howl at the price.

Florida Atlantic vs. Florida

FAU is further along at this point on offense this year than last. Remember they had to totally revamp OL in 2010. This year it is a much more veteran unit. Unfortunately, the Owls rely on 5 returning defenders from a unit that once again allowed 400+ yards and 29 points. Florida counters with just 10 RS a new coach and a new OC. But following an 8-5 SU season make no mistake that Muschamp and Weis will want to make a huge splash in their home opener in the Swamp