Sports Presumably it’s my put up NFL Draft football brain spinning forward, or maybe I’ve been watching too remarkable UFL.
Both intention, I’m getting comely antsy taking a scrutinize forward to the initiate of the 2024 college football season, and I’m able to make some wagers.
Thankfully, sportsbooks are on the an analogous page and contain launched some early lines for Week 1 of the upcoming season.
Listed below are three video games I’m taking a scrutinize at at some point of that first corpulent weekend of faculty football.
Let’s dive in.
Fresno Affirm @ Michigan
Sure, I’m fading the Wolverines in this one, so let’s jump into the why.
First, let’s scrutinize on the starters on the discipline.
Fresno Affirm ranks 52nd in overall returning-starter production heading into 2024, which contains returning quarterback Mikey Keene . He’s a stable athlete who runs the Jeff Tedford offense nicely. Also, the Bulldogs return lots of starting offensive linemen, their high two rushers and their 2d-most productive vast receiver.
On the flip side, the defense isn’t returning many starters, but that unit used to be uncomfortable closing season, so that’s doubtless for one of the productive.
Now, let’s seize a scrutinize on the Michigan side.
Michigan ranks 128th out of 134 FBS groups in returning production. Here isn’t any shock, because the national title team used to be aid-loaded with a full lot NFL players, collectively with lots of athletes who got chosen within the first three rounds.
The Wolverines want to interchange their quarterback and 6 offensive linemen. Their high two returning receiving targets had a total of 35 catches closing season.
Thankfully, Michigan does return some strength on defense, with its inner line of defense and with out a doubt one of its high corners coming aid. On the different hand, I mediate the shortcoming of returning production is a field, which is why I assemble not mediate UM will quilt the spread in this vital sport.
I’m skittish — and I mediate Michigan shall be — about quarterback play after JJ McCarthy’s departure for the NFL. It might perhaps maybe perhaps seize some weeks for a starter to entrench himself in that set up, so as a bettor, I’d make one of the of that in Week 1.
We might perhaps maybe look an emotional let-down in this sport as Michigan comes off its national championship. The vast majority of the team left, and the head coach is long previous.
No, I assemble not declare Michigan loses this sport; Vast Blue is extra proficient and can out-physical Fresno. But give me the functions.
PICK: Fresno Affirm (+22) to lose by fewer than 22 functions (or fetch outright)
Expectations for Ohio Affirm, Colorado this upcoming season LSU Tigers vs. USC Trojans
USC goes by intention of a roster rebuild, and the Trojans are taking a scrutinize at having one other sophisticated season.
They want to interchange star QB Caleb Williams, and while SC does not contain a Williams-kind stud on the roster, I assemble inquire of Lincoln Riley to gain production from both Miller Moss or transfer Jayden Maiava.
My field remains to be its offensive line, which is candy average. USC doesn’t contain the ability set up skills that Riley had at Oklahoma and that limits the explosiveness of the offense now that Williams isn’t there. The Trojans are facing an LSU defense that used to be uncomfortable closing season but returns hundreds production, with some extra depth that the Tigers got by intention of the portal. LSU’s defense will make things sophisticated for USC’s offense in this sport.
So how does LSU quilt the touchdown in this sport? It does this with its offensive line. That unit is elite.
It has two tackles that shall be drafted within the tip 50 in 2025. Sure, they want to interchange Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., but when your offensive line is that factual, it makes the transition remarkable less complicated.
Be conscious, USC’s defense used to be embarrassingly depraved closing season. I assemble not mediate this might perhaps occasionally perhaps be comparatively as depraved in 2024, because the Trojans contain beefed up their workers and added players on the linebacker and defensive aid positions by intention of the portal.
But SC’s line of defense remains to be tiny with out a tear flee. That won’t bode nicely against a team admire LSU.
I admire the Tigers to fetch by as a minimal a touchdown.
PICK: LSU (-6) to fetch by bigger than 6 functions
Ohio Affirm, Michigan, Utah highlight Joel Klatt’s put up spring high 25 North Dakota Affirm Bison @ Colorado Buffaloes
Various participants are going to make this their upset special of Week 1, and I’m here to throw water on that flaming seize.
A basic model is that FCS groups admire North Dakota Affirm beat FBS Vitality 5 groups when the FBS team is terrible on offense.
Stanford misplaced to Sac Affirm closing season, Northwestern to Southern Illinois in 2022, Washington used to be embarrassed 13-7 at dwelling by Montana in 2021 etc. The recipe might perhaps maybe additionally be a lower-scoring sport managed by the FCS team, while the FBS team excellent can’t gain on the board.
But Colorado can safe against North Dakota Affirm.
The Buffaloes are too proficient at quarterback and at their ability positions to contain the Bison defense slack them down. There’s not a single individual on that defense who can song Travis Hunter around the discipline. Affirm returns nine starters on defense, collectively with lots of defensive linemen who led them in sacks closing season. But that obtained’t be ample because Shedeur Sanders is that factual, and he alone will make it laborious for the Bison.
On the flip side, I the truth is don’t contain any idea what Colorado’s defense will likely be, but we know that whatever that unit appears to be like to be admire, this might perhaps occasionally perhaps be extra athletic than the Bison offense.
Give me the Buffs to quilt.
PICK: Colorado (-7) to fetch by bigger than 7 functions
Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons within the NFL for five varied groups. He began at excellent tackle for the College of Oregon for three seasons and used to be a 2d-team All-Pac-12 different his senior year. Note him on Twitter @ GeoffSchwartz .
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