Hoying: Don't let the W-L record fool you. Penn State didn't really suck last year. True, their 4 wins all came against awful teams (hi, Michigan), but they Franklined away the season opener to Indiana and actually played Ohio State tough...once the game was over. Wisconsin was another strange case. Remember when QB Graham Mertz was going to replace Justin Fields as the B1G's premier passer after last year's season opener? Playing Illinois: good for what ails ya. Then more global and severe problems started ailing the Badgers and they played all of 5 more conference games down the stretch (*clears throat* *looks down*). You could flash any two numbers before my eyes and I wouldn't be surprised to see them as the score of this game, with either team coming out on top. Wisconsin seems to be a bit stronger at all the key positions (except WR, Jahan Dotson is the real deal) and I think they'll slightly have the edge in this one. PSU: 20--UW: 27
Schweinfurth: To be honest, I'm not sure what each team really has. Both return starting QBs and both teams had fairly disappointing seasons last year. The Lions do have home run threat Dotson back and that should be enough to keep it close. Camp Randall and the Badger fans will most likely be the difference this year. This should be a fun one to watch. PSU: 21--UW: 24
Seeberg: The B1G is pulling out ALL the stops this season! If Bucky and Herky stumble early, the power dynamic will be even more laughably tilted towards the east in the conference. Fortunately for the west, both west teams get to host these surprisingly entertaining week one matchups. If enough Badger fans can stay upright *hiccup* to make it to Jump Around, they should outlast a very run-of-the-mill PSU team this year. PSU: 16--UW: 27
Hoying: 2017 Florida State. 2016 USC. 2015 Wisconsin. 2012 Michigan. 2009 Virginia Tech. For the last decade-plus, Alabama has been playing big time opponents in season openers at stupid neutral sites, and the Tide have been blasting them all. Nobody prepares his team for a season's start like Nick Saban, and I don't expect anything to change this year. I guess if you're going to challenge Alabama this season, the first game might be your best option as the Tide are breaking in new starters across their offense (and a new offensive coordinator). But you need to be at least a Florida / Texas A&M level to make the Tide sweat. Miami is still nowhere near that point. Bama: 34--Miami: 17
Schweinfurth: This is not 80s/90s/early 2000s Miami. They are an okay ACC program, but they don't stack up to the Alabama Death Machine. I don't think there is much to break down here. Bama by a million. Bama: 45 --Miami: 13
Seeberg: Football is back in its truest form! Fans and mayhem will ensue! Not here, however. The Tide were an absolute juggernaut last season, even by their standards. COVID or not they were winning it all in 2020. Will they take a step back? Sure. However, it would have to be a Herculean stride backwards to pull them even with the once-powerful Hurricanes. To steal the other Steven's line, Bama by a million. Bama: 42 -- Miami: 17
Hoying: How much of last year was Indiana being good, and how much was the Big Ten East being awful? Sure, they were able to put a late scare into the Buckeyes, but that was basically their Super Bowl last year (and Indiana plays the Buckeyes weirdly close a lot). The Penix-to-Fryfogle connection that exposed the Buckeye back 7 in a big way will be back to tear up defenses again, but there's still no rushing attack. And that's a problem against a stout defensive team like the Hawkeyes. The Hoosiers were able to win one knock-down ugly no-offense game last year (in Camp Randall, no less), but I'm not sure if lightning can strike again. My general strategy in 2021 will be to fade teams that were weirdly good in 2020 (ESPECIALLY Group of 5 teams, see below), and there's no better place to start than in Bloomington. IU: 20--Iowa: 21
Schweinfurth: Indiana may be the second best team in the B1G East. Let that set in. Tom Allen's attacking defense gave the Buckeyes (and other teams) fits. The Hoosiers can score in a hurry, but the issue may be the time the defense is on the field. Iowa is going to grind this game down (think Wisconsin light). I'm not sold on Iowa, but their style lends to a close game. Indiana wins a close one (I can't believe I picked the Hoosiers).
Seeberg: Multiple REALLY good matchups for week one in the B1G. My how times have changed. Gone are the days when middling Big Ten teams (read: usually Indiana, until recently) scheduled a random MAC team and hoped it wasn't that once-a-decade MAC team that goes 11-1 with a crazy talented team (I see you Ben Roethlisberger at Miami) or a decent roster with an excellent up-and-coming coach (think Urban at BGSU). In any event, there's a new word surrounding the Hoosier
Hoying: Ah, a nice rematch of the game that kicked LSU's magical 2019 run into gear...wait a minute, which Louisiana has a ranked matchup this week? Why is a team like Louisiana ranked? It's because they snakebit Iowa State to open last season and then managed to dodge another Power 5 team for the rest of their season, including the bowl game. No more impressive wins, but a nice 3-point loss against Coastal Carolina. I think a lot of Group of 5 teams who missed out on a lot of nonconference action last year against Power 5 opponents and ended up with inflated records as a result (not their fault, but call a spade a spade) are going to be supremely overvalued this season. And this game is a great chance to find some value. Texas is breaking in a new QB, but 7-Win Sark is back in the head coach's chair after a successful stint in the Nick Saban Rehabilitation Clinic. Did you see what his offense did to Ohio State in last year's national championship? Do you really think he can't do the same to Louisiana? Look for the Big 12 not to repeat last year's atrocious 0-3 campaign against the Sun Belt. UL: 20--UT: 34
Schweinfurth: Texas isn't back, but they should win this by two scores. UL: 20--UT: 42
Seeberg: I must confess, I'm not entire certain why either of these teams is ranked. I do know the Longhorns are starting a redshirt freshman at QB but the dreaded "rotation" word is being used as they plan to give the backup QB some time as well (see: Germaine and Jackson...*facepalm*). If an admittedly excellent offensive mind like Sark can't settle on a QB either they're both equally good (unlikely) or equally...meh? Still, the talent disparity has to be enough for the Longhorns to wear UL down in the second half. Wouldn't surprise me a ton to see this the opposite way, but Texas survives and proves they are at least not not back. UL: 24--UT: 35
Hoying: The last time you saw Clemson they were getting ripped to shreds (to shreds, you say) by Justin Fields and Trey Sermon. What have we learned from this? (1) don't go out of your way to tick off an Ohio State team that already has you at #1 on the hit list, and (2) maybe Clemson's defense isn't quite as good as they once were. This is the same Clemson team that gave up 47 to Notre Dame (OK, only 33 in regulation, but still). Or maybe they just had an off year and are ready to go back to shutdown quality. It's not like Georgia was all that special last year, either. They played Alabama close for a half before getting smacked, and then took it on the other cheek against Florida. And they needed a lot of help from the Bearcats to sneak a Peach Bowl win and save the season from being a total disappointment. Everyone seems to be salivating over Georgia's JT Daniels, and I just don't see it yet. Two good games against Mississippi State and Missouri do not a superstar make, and we've all seen Georgia's history at developing quarterbacks under Kirby Smart. Clemson has a much better signal caller in DJ Uiagalelei. The good news for Georgia is they'll have numerous additional opportunities to rack up quality wins this year. The bad news is their error margin just went to zero (stupid 2018 final Playoff rankings be damned). UGA: 30--Clem: 34
Schweinfurth: Wow this is such a great week 1 match up. Two of the few schools that have QBs who took meaningful snaps last year. I will say this, the Buckeyes exposed the Clemson defense last year. Can Georgia do the same? I'm not so sure. The Dawgs just down have the same fire power on the outside that the Buckeyes had/have. However, no Travis Etiene or Trevor Lawrence will be a big factor here. I think Georgia wins.
Seeberg: An absolutely massive week one tilt...made borderline irrelevant with the 4-team playoff. Still a compelling matchup. My gut tells me Clemson should win this game...if it weren't for the Sugar Bowl last year. The Buckeyes absolutely curb-stomped Dabo and Co and exposed some significant flaws in the process, particularly on D. With Lawrence and Etienne gone, the margin for error for Clemson's defense is that much smaller. The Bucks laid the blueprint, The Dawgs just have to follow it. It's week one, so it's unlikely UGA will be as in sync as Fields was last season, and they may not have quite the weapons either, but it should be enough to slip out of Charlotte with a resume-bolstering W. UGA: 31--Clem: 21
Thursday "Special": THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
Draper: Trap game in week 1!! At least that's what I hear. I'm simply not buying it. The Buckeyes are every bit the machine that Bama and Clemson are and the reload moniker works just fine. The WR corps for the Bucks is phenomenal and should make for some explosive plays. There are 3 things to pay close attention to in this game: 1) How does Stroud look? (what's the drop off is from Fields?--there has to be some, but I doubt it's immense), 2) Who takes over at RB? and 3) can the passing defense do better than a wet paperbag? I'm thinking: 1) quite good, 2) RB by committee with Henderson showing the explosion, and 3)...........better than last year I hope? I have a feeling that Minnesota will score more than I'd like to see, but the offense will do their thing and get the job done. OSU: 45 -- Minn: 27
Hoying: Do you remember the last time Ohio State played a stupid season-opening Thursday night conference road game? That's right, it was 2017 Indiana, AKA the J.K. All Day coming out party. The Buckeyes leaned heavily on the true freshman to overcome a rocky first half and cruise to a victory. I feel like we might see a similar script this year, if brand spanking new RB TreVeyon Henderson is able to show some flashes of brilliance (and Master Teague is still his 2020 bowling ball self). With an experienced run-blocking group like the Buckeyes are sporting this year, there's no need to rely on Stroud to do too much early in this one, even with the all-galaxy all-time receiving corps that he has to play around with. As for the Buckeye defense, well, they can't be any worse than last year, right? Yeah, Tanner Morgan and Mohamed Ibrahim are still in Minneapolis to anchor the Gopher backfield, but WR Rashod Bateman isn't streaking down the field any longer. And the Silver Bullet D-Line is only getting nastier as Haskell Garrett, Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith continue to get stronger and Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau add even more star power. Remember what an awful Michigan team did to these clowns in week one last year. I would have preferred a more cupcakey game to start the season off on the easy foot, but the Goofers will do for now. OSU: 34--Minn: 17
Schweinfurth: Row, Row, Row your football team, eh PJ? The Row Boaters had some great momentum until all of the COVID madness last year. Mo Ibrahim is the real deal at running back and Tanner Morgan is a good system QB for what Boat Captain Fleck wants to do. That Gopher defense though...poo. Ohio State is so talented on offense, especially at receiver. Olave is so smooth and Wilson is a beast. I expect Day to draw up a pretty simplistic offense (think lots of crossing routes and power runs) to get Stroud settled in. The Bucks have a lot of question marks, but this is a good match up to get plays on tape. Bucks should cover this one and put a nice sized hole in PJ's row boat. OSU: 45--Minn: 20
Seeberg: I, for one, am both happy and worried that this game is week one. Toss it between, say, PSU and MSU and it might get lost a bit, but everyone should be sharp and focused for the first game, especially a night game on the road. Again, 2020 is an absolute wash. Do we get 2019 Minnesota with double digit wins? The QB is still here and in today's college football a 3-year starter is nothing to sneeze at. Do we get last season's 3-4 Gopher squad? Who knows. I do know they return 20(!!!) starters which is almost unheard of. The Bucks have an almost laughable amount of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and, even with the rough loss of Tyler Friday, a deep and athletic front 4 on D. It's all about the back seven on D and the trigger man on O. I don't trust either much...but I trust the remaining units enough to get the scarlet and gray to right around the spread number. Bucks pull away late then get an extra couple days to prep for the Ducks. OSU: 38--Minn: 24
Upset Special
Draper: Florida State over Notre Dame
Hoying: Virginia Tech over North Carolina
Schweinfurth: Northern Iowa over Iowa State
Seeberg: UCLA over LSU
