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Results: NCAA Week 1 Picks: Coin: 4-11; Rick: 11-4
Friday, September 7
8:00 pm #16 TCU (-21 1/2, 58) at SMU - In week 1, the Horned Frogs roughed up Southern in a 55-7 romp. TCU is loaded on defense in a conference (Big 12) that flourishes with offense.
SMU was beaten down by North Texas, losing 46-23 and didn't score until the fourth quarter, allowing 539 yards to the Mean Green. f the prior week's outcomes are any indication, this looks like a rough home opener for the Mustangs.
Coin Flip: SMU
PREDICTION: Horned Frogs 42 Mustangs 17
Saturday, September 8
12:00 pm New Mexico at #5 Wisconsin (-35, 62) - The Lobos have some offense, as they rolled up 680 yards on Incarnate Word in their season opener. The trouble is that they allowed 566 yards to a nothing team.
Wisconsin got their season going with a 34-3 win over Western Kentucky and should have a field day against an even weaker defense. The Lobos will generate a few scores, but the Badgers may put up 60.
Coin Flip: New Mexico
PREDICTION: Badgers 58 Lobos 14
12:00 pm #18 Mississippi State (-9 1/2, 53 1/2) at Kansas State - After going 9-4 in 2017 with a 31-27 win over Louisville in the Taxslayer Bowl, the Bulldogs started off their 2018 campaign with a 63-6 blowout of Stephen F Austin.
Kansas State slipped by South Dakota, 27-24, last week and had a solid 2017, going 8-5, culminating in a 35-17 smacking of UCLA in the Cactus Bowl. The Wildcats are not in the top echelon of Big 12, but they're close. The Bulldogs aren't nearly the equals of Alabama and Georgia in the SEC, but a 31-24 home loss to the Crimson Tide last season gives them credibility. Since this game is in Kansas, Toto, expect a close call and possible upset by the Wildcats.
Coin Flip: Mississippi State
PREDICTION: Wildcats 31 Bulldogs 24
12:00 pm Duke at Northwestern (-3, 48 1/2) - Both teams won their season openers, Duke shelling Army, 34-14, Northwestern getting a 31-27 win at Purdue. Northwestern capitalized on three Purdue turnovers, while Duke had two takeaways from Army's Knights.
Duke lost six straight games last season, but won their first four and final three, the last one a 36-14 stunner over Northern Illinois in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Wildcats fared much better, finishing up 10-3 after squeaking by Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. They were 7-2 in the rugged Big Ten. This is a very even matchup which could see overtime. Duke may surprise on the road.
Coin Flip: Northwestern
PREDICTION: Blue Devils 31 Wildcats 24
12:00 pm Georgia Tech (-3 1/2, 61 1/2) at South Florida - Despite turning the ball over three times in its debut game against Alcorn State last week, the Yellow Jackets scored a 41-0 victory and appears well-intended for its road trip to South Florida.
The Bulls dropped Elon, 34-14, but allowed 192 rushing yards in their opener. South Florida is coming off a 10-2 campaign from last year, the only losses coming in conference play, losing to Houston 28-24, and UCF, 49-42. Georgia Tech lost four of their last five, finishing the season at 5-6.
Coin Flip: Georgia Tech
PREDICTION: Bulls 28 Yellow Jackets 24
1:00 pm UCLA at #6 Oklahoma (-30, 63 1/2) - Looks like UCLA may be heading into a tough year after dropping their home opener to Cincinnati, 26-17, last week. The Bruins struggled last season, finishing 6-7, and having to play the Sooners in week two isn't going to alleviate their suffering.
Oklahoma routed Florida Atlanta as expected, 63-14, and doesn't seem to be missing graduated QB Baker Mayfield. The Sooners rolled up 650 yards and the defense was stifling at times. This game could get ugly in the second half.
Coin Flip: UCLA
PREDICTION: Sooners 52 Bruins 17
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IdleGuy.com April/May 2024, Vol. 1 #4