College football week 1 part 2

Welcome back for part 2 of college football week 1 picks.  Last night we jumped out to a fantastic start with all 4 Thursday night games cashing as winners. I’m adding 2 games to my Friday night picks:

UConn +17 vs BYU – BYU is 3-9 in road openers, while UConn are 9-2 in last 11 home openers.  BYU is returning 14 starters by are without stud RB Williams and 2 starting WR’s.  UConn new HC was DC at Notre Dame last 2 years when they played BYU and his defense held them to 14 ppg and 329 ypg, so he is familiar with the BYU scheme.  Even though the UConn defensive talent isn’t necessarily on par with ND, I expect them to be able to hold their own.

Arizona -23.5 vs UNLV – AU has won 13 straight home openers by an average of 26 ppg.  UNLV are 1-13 in road openers including 6 straight losses by 23 ppg.  Arizona has 104 starts returning to the offensive line and are going up against a UNLV rush defense that allowed 216 ypg last year.  Arizona will continue to dominate the line up front and run all over UNLV

Now for Saturday’s games

Ohio State -17 neutral site vs Navy – OSU has the best rated defensive line in the country, and they will use that to their advantage to shut down the Navy rushing game.  OSU has incredible depth, and played will while Miller was out injured last year.  The injury to Miller gives an opportunity for some line value in this game

Northwestern -11 home against California – NW is 16-0 in home games and has won 7 straight home openers by an average of 23 ppg.  14 of Cals past 16 losses to FBS teams have been by 14+ points.  Last year NW lost 5 games in the final minute of regulation or in overtime, and they return 16 starters from that team.  NW wins big at home

Nebraska -21 home against Florida Atlantic – FAU is 1-8 in road openers with the only win being by a single point and the average loss is 33 ppg.  Nebraska has won 28 straight home openers.  FAU has a new HC, and last year they fired Pelini (Nebraska’s HC) brother.  Last time these 2 teams played Nebraska was favored by 23.5 points and won 49-3.  This game might be a little bit closer, but NU runs over FAU

Georgia -7 (buy half point) home against Clemson – Clemson is replacing the schools all time leading passer and receiver and a 1,000 yard rusher.  Last year Clemson upset Georgia in this meeting.  Georgia has a Heisman potential player in Gurley, and the new QB played the last 2 games last year.  First collegiate start for Clemson QB Stoudt, and has to do so in a hostile environment on the road. 

Florida State -19 neutral site vs Oklahoma State – OKSU returns just 8 starters, and the loses include every single one of the All-Big 12 players on the team laster year.  Since 1999 the defending national champ is 15-0 with an average score of 44-13.  FSU is returning 13 starters, and have the deepest team in all of college football. 

Sunday games:

Baylor vs SMU over 73.5 – Baylor is opening it’s new stadium and you know they will want to do so in style.  Baylor has won it’s last 12 home games by 38 ppg.  Last year SMU pass defense ranked 93^rd and allowed a 65% completion percentage.  That doesn’t bode well for them as Baylor has the #1 set of WR’s in the country and return the starting QB from a year ago.  Look for Baylor to come close to the game total on their own.

That’s 13 games in total for week 1, plenty for you to choose a few winners from.  We opened the season going 4-0 on Thursday night, so hopefully that momentum continues throughout the weekend.  Good luck this week.  Remember, follow me on twitter @Dustin_Dominiak