Week 5: Gameday Goes to Durham

Standings:

1.) Draper 17-3 (1-3 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 17-3 (0-4 upset)
3.) Seeberg 16-4 (1-3 upset)
4.) Hoying 15-5 (1-3 upset)

Nothing beats the feeling of being undefeated and knowing you'll wake up next week feeling the same way. Other teams around the nation aren't so lucky, as every power conference (except the one nearest and dearest to you) features teams putting their spotless records to the test.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Utah Utes @ Oregon State Beavers

Draper: Utah has been the kings of the Pac12 for the last few years (despite what USC and Oregon say), and while they're undefeated, they've more or less limped to the record.  Will Cam Rising ever return? The idea is that the offense could get things going when and if, but the if is still a real question.  DJ Ukuklele is having a nice year unleashed from the Dabo shackles, but is it sustainable? He has been solid this year, but came up short in the Pac2 Championship last week.  I don't know if the turnover chainsaw is still a thing, but top programs go to Corvallis to die.  That being said, I'm sticking with slow and steady Utah to win another close one.  Utah: 24--OrSt: 20 
Hoying: Both of these teams come off of ranked matchups last week decided within the error margin of home field advantage. But that's where the similarities end. The Utes got half their points off of a pick-six while the Beavers couldn't do anything to slow down WSU QB Cam Ward and the high-flying Cougar passing game. It looks like Cam Rising isn't going to be taking any meaningful snaps for Utah anytime soon, however, and his backup Nate Johnson was horribly lackluster against a decent UCLA defense. I don't feel good about their ability to move the ball against Oregon State. The Beaver passing attack isn't any great shakes either, but they're balanced enough to put another Pac-12 pretender to bed. Viva Pac-2! Utah: 13--OrSt: 21

Schweinfurth: Between work, hockey, and scouts, I am slammed this week so I will keep these brief. Utah just finds a way to win. I like Oregon State's story, but I'll take Utah until I'm wrong. Utah: 21--OrSt: 17
Seeberg: Tough to figure out what to make of this game.  Utah is still legit up front and stymied a potent UCLA offense last week, but their own offense is still middling without Cam Rising, who reportedly is still not ready to go (then again, he was supposed to be a go last week and we saw how that turned out, but I digress).  The Beavers, meanwhile, made it interesting late against WaZoo but were largely outplayed for the first three quarters.  When in doubt, picking either the home team or the more desperate team tends to be a good play.  The western OSU fits both of those descriptors, so I'm taking the Beavers in a game that may look very similar to the one in South Bend last week.  Utah: 13--OrSt: 17

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Florida Gators @ Kentucky Wildcats

Draper: This is near the top of the list for 'who cares' on my list.  The Gators showed some life in a nice win over the Vols in Gainsville, but the Wildcats enter with a 0 in the loss column (against the little sisters of the poor).  UK got the UF monkey off their back but there is still a disparity of talent.  The Gators aren't back, but they'll take a close one in Lexington that is a better win than most will think.  UF:27--UK: 24
Hoying: Speaking of not being able to move the ball against Utah, the Gator offense has been a disaster this year, from putting up all of 11 points against the Utes in the opener to settling for 5 field goals and a TD against Charlotte last week. You know it's desperation time when you're importing quarterbacks from Wisconsin. What's next, starting a transfer quarterback from Notre Dame? Or imagine a quarterback transferring from Wisconsin to Notre Dame...what was I talking about...oh yes, Florida is going to have trouble putting up points against the better defenses they face. And Kentucky just gone done taking two interceptions back for TDs and holding Vanderbilt QB AJ Swann to 16-40 for 189 yards. Yes, it's Vanderbilt, and yes, AJ Swann has a QBR of 43 on the season, but again, Graham Mertz. From Wisconsin. Florida does have Baby Etienne at running back, but Kentucky has been stuffing the scrub offenses they've faced on the ground as well. Fla: 17--UK 20

Schweinfurth: Florida isn't great, but they are better than the Wildcats. UF: 24--UK: 17
Seeberg: First off, a legitimate kudos to Mark Stoops for taking the Wildcat FOOTBALL team to perennial respectability.  With that said, now a sarcastic kudos for their current undefeated record by following the UM blueprint of scheduling a hilarious lot of nobodies in the nonconference slate.  Yes, they have a conference win over Vanderbilt, but that barely counts- and they gave up 28 points in the process (they did have 3 picks to their credit, but UK threw two themselves).  I don't expect this one to be an aesthetically pleasing tout, but the Gators should have enough to outlast a pesky UK squad.  UF: 31--UK: 23

Kansas Jayhawks @ Texas Longhorns

Draper: Rivalry renewed! The undefeated matchup in the Big12 brings a surprising undefeated Jayhawk teams into Austin to play spoiler.  The Longhorns are playing well, but I'm not booking my tickets to the CFP yet.  There is more to prove, and (can't believe I'm saying this) they're lucky to get Kansas at home.  Were this game on the road, we are talking trap game of the year. but in Austin (despite the recent success of the Jayhawks), this more talented team will feed off the crowd and emerge victorious. KU: 20--UT: 34
Hoying: Yes, Ohio State-Notre Dame was billed as the game of the year, and yes, it totally lived up to the hype, but don't be surprised if an all-time classic pops up down in Austin, TX. The last time the Jayhawks visited Darrell K. Royal, they pulled out a heartstopping overtime victory clinched by a a backup TE's first career reception. Now I have no idea what happened in this series after that but I can only assume that this year will be more of the same. Kansas is ranked going into this game, which is just adorable considering the level of competition they've faced so far. Texas, meanwhile, is a top 3 team any way you slice them, having finally seemingly put all the pieces together to rocket through the Big 12 14 and into a Playoff spot. Yeah, the Longhorns sleepwalked through the first half of the Wyoming game a couple of weeks ago, and yes, the biggest Red River Shootout in 15 years is looming next week, but it shouldn't take an A effort to put Kansas away. Closer than Texas would like, but the showdown next week will be set. KU: 24--UT: 31

Schweinfurth: Again, Kansas is a great story, but they just don't have the depth yet. Texas isn't quite back, but they have been tested. KU: 31--UT: 45
Seeberg: Wait, is this a basketball blog now??   Nope, you're reading this right, this is a ranked vs. ranked matchup in 2023.  Remarkable.  Maryland smokes Virginia by 28 and Michigan State on the road by 3 scores and yet Kansas's 1-score win over Nevada gets them ranked?  Sheesh.  In all honesty, it's probably a negative for the Jayhawks as now the burnt orange squad isn't likely to overlook them with Oklahoma on the horizon.  Well, that and the fact that they hung half a hundred on their defense the last time they visited Austin.  The Longhorns also didn't have future Ohio State starting QB Quinn Ewers that day, and that should be enough to keep the Red River Shootout an undefeated clash.  KU: 24--UT: 41

Louisiana State Tigers @ Mississippi Rebels

Draper: Is LSU who we thought they were (top 5 contender) or are they just tiktok stars of cringe?  Last week was a near miss vs. the Razorbacks, but no one is clearly separating themselves in the SEC West (or in the whole of CFB).  Kiffin's crew is the champion of faceplanting in big games, but there is a lot of 'failboat' on both sides.  Recent history has shown not to trust Ole Miss in the big games and that LSU can take care of business on the road. I'll stick with the Tigers pulling out the road upset.  LSU: 34--Miss: 23
Hoying: Sooooo, perhaps the news of the Tide's demise was a bit premature. Which means that the rest of the teams in the SEC West will be chasing them once again until someone can land the knockout blow. Ole Miss is effectively 2 games back of the Tide after last week's lackluster performance while LSU has a golden opportunity to keep pace atop of the division with Bama for the time being. LSU's crossover games with the SEC East are against Florida (as always) and Missouri, so a win here would put them on a collision course with the Tide at the start of November for the West Crown. As for who wins this game, LSU has basically looked like a better version of Ole Miss, but that might be because LSU hasn't had to play Bama yet. So I'll decide this one based on a fun fact: Lane Kiffin has beaten a total of one Power 5 team that went on to win 9 games that season. In other words, never pick Ole Miss to win the big game (lesson learned from last week). LSU: 31--Miss: 24

Schweinfurth: Lane got put back in his place last week. I don't see that changing this week either. LSU: 35--Miss: 24
Seeberg: The stat about Lane Kiffin my similarly-named colleague shared above came across my feed last week and it was startling to say the least.  2023 is the year where just about everyone can "get got" as all across the landscape teams have obvious flaws.  LSU was exposed by a lights-out Seminole offense that nearly dropped the ball against Clemson weeks later.  Ole Miss was shut down by a solid Bama D despite playing admirably on defense themselves.  The Tigers' scare against Arkansas (my upset pick) should serve as a wake-up call that gets them on track until the inevitable Bama collision.  Tigers late. LSU: 34--Miss: 27

Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Duke Blue Devils

Draper: Fun trivia note, this is the first trip of College Gameday to Durham.  This was the perfect spot for Gameday....right up until the clock hit 0:00 in South Bend last week.  Now, the question is: can the Irish rebound after a crushing loss to their betters from Columbus? Another challenge for the Irish (other than getting up off the mat) is to take this Duke team seriously.  Riley Leonard is a legit QB and the defense has been shutting everyone down.  The Blue Devils put their name on the board with the win over Clemson, so snake-biting the Irish is unlikely--they'll be ready (if they can emerge from the depths of sadness).  My analysis of Notre Dame is that they're a really good team with a major advantage on the offensive line.  I expect Estime to have a nice game with Hartman hitting the tight ends over the top on play action.  While the Duke D has held opponents to 14 or fewer points, the Irish should be able to take advantage.  If the Irish D can slow Leonard (which I think they will), this will be a much-needed bounce back win for ND.  ND: 31--Duke: 17
Hoying: I'm sick of hearing about it, but we need to bring it up again: toughness. No, not for our beloved Scarlet and Gray, but for the Gold and Blue (Green?). How do you pick yourself up off the turf after losing in such an agonizing fashion? Buckeye Nation is used to having the whole offseason to stew over a loss like that, but the Irish have to immediately hit the road to visit what may be the hottest team in the ACC. Nobody but Justin Fields (OK, and Notre Dame) blows out Clemson in the Late Dabo era, and while the Blue Devils didn't play the cleanest game against the Tigers, Clemson looked completely lost in the second half. Does Notre Dame have the mental toughness to bring their A-game under the lights in Durham? Last year the Irish followed up their season opening loss to Ohio State by faceplanting against a much worse Marshall team. Forget Lou Holtz's trolling of Ryan Day; what can we say about Notre Dame's performance in big games in the Marcus Freeman era? Can a team that put up 14 at home last week do anything against a Blue Devil defense giving up 8.8 points per game? Don't forget, Sam Hartman made an appearance at Wallace Wade last year, too, and Duke managed to match him score for score and 3 points more. On the flip side, however, can Duke handle success? The Blue Devils haven't hosted a ranked team as a ranked team since 1994, and that set off a streak of 45 straight losses against ranked opponents. I'm betting on the Irish to come out with an edge and try to prove to the world that they still belong in the Playoff conversation. Sorry, Duke. You suck. ND: 24--Duke: 20

Schweinfurth:  Teams that play Ohio State usually struggle the next week. We see it every year. That was a physical game last week in South Bend and I'm sure the Irish are a little beat up. This should be low scoring and I do like the Irish's stable of running backs. ND: 21--Duke: 10
Seeberg: Yet another "wait, this is a ranked matchup?" matchup. Sam Hartman knows a thing or two about lighting up ACC opponents, having done so for years- with the skill talent at Wake Forest, no less.  Amazingly, his WRs at Notre Dame may not be much better, but his TEs and RBs certainly are.  The Dookies, meanwhile, shutdown a not-revamped Clemson offense but it's hard to picture them getting enough stops to keep this one competitive late.  The Irish fight on (see what I did there?) with an intriguing date with the Trojans looming in mid-October.  ND: 38--Duke: 17

Upset Special
Draper: Mississippi State over Bama (CLANGA)
Hoying: Colorado over USC
Schweinfurth: Arizona over Washington
Seeberg: Vanderbilt over Missouri

Week 4: September is for Contenders?

Standings:

1.) Draper 10-2 (1-2 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 10-2 (0-3 upset)
3.) Seeberg 9-3 (1-2 upset)
3.) Hoying 9-3 (1-2 upset)

With apologies to Jim the Wolverine Slayer, this September Saturday should do as much to separate the contenders from the pretenders as any outside of Championship Week. Three (and a half) weeks into the season have set up six undefeated Power 5 matchups of note (sorry, BYU-Kansas), and two perennial Playoff participants face possible knockout blows on their home turf before the first month is through. 

Florida State Seminoles @ Clemson Tigers

Draper: I'm the one FSU fan who is being very cautious about the hopes for the Noles (and last week almost proved me right).  The can absolutely contend for the title, but I'm not ready to crown them just yet.  Regardless, Clemson is a shell of their past selves.  Death Valley is a really tough place to play, but I'm guessing that BC was a lookahead game on steroids.  FSU will be focused and locked in to reclaim their rightful spot at the top of the ACC. Jordan Travis, the second best WR room in the country, and a stout defense will lead the Noles to the promised land.  FSU: 34--Clem: 17
Hoying: What do these two teams have in common other than a stranglehold over the Atlantic Coast Conference (coming next year: 100% more coast) since Florida State first joined? Each laid a rotten egg in a game they had no business losing. Florida State was fortunate to escape by dint of Boston College's unconscionable pileup of penalties, while Clemson wasn't so lucky as everything that could go wrong did go wrong in a blowout loss to Duke. Were the Noles just looking ahead to their best chance to reascend the ACC throne since the days of Famous Jameis? That seems more likely than the win over LSU being a fluke, and LSU just got finished torpedoing the rudderless pirate ship that is Mississippi State. But Clemson might just be bad. The sun no longer shines on the Tiger offense since the departure of Trevor Lawrence. And Florida State has been waiting too long for this. A furious rally last year fell just short, but this is the year the worm turns. FSU: 30--Clem: 20

Schweinfurth: This Florida State team looks like an absolute wagon this year. The defense looks legit and the offense actually has a pulse. Without a Trevor Lawrence or Deshawn Watson, these Clemson teams look the the Tigers of old. I'll take the 'Noles on the road. FSU: 38--Clem: 17
Seeberg: Let’s be honest. Watching the downfall of Clemson since we pasted them in the Sugar Bowl has been fun, like Miami after 2002. Dabo refuses to even acknowledge- let alone change with- the rapidly evolving college football landscape. Also similar to his outdated offense and there’s just no way this year’s FSU squad loses to the Tigers again. Enjoy, Chief. FSU: 31–Clem: 16

 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ Michigan Wolverines

Draper: Rivalry renewed! While Rutgers has been a nice little story this year and TTUN has been quite pedestrian thus far, the talent disparity is simply too great. Schiano was fine to go into the Big House with OSU talent and take down the Wolverines, but, even with the improvement in Piscataway, they're not there yet.  JJ McCarthy and Co. have put together 3...meh...wins thus far.  Without the preseason hype (and lack of national and internal vitriol the Buckeyes face), I haven't seen the maize and blue separating from the pack.  RU: 13--UM: 27
Hoying: You laugh, but which of these teams has put in the more impressive September so far? The Scarlet Knights dispatched Northwestern and Virginia Tech by multiple scores in games that were never close (OK, VT was close for a hot second) while Michigan was foundering around eating paste in the first half against Bowling Green last week. Looking ahead to a rivalry renewed, perhaps? Unfortunately, Rutgers is about to run into the brick wall otherwise known as the Wolverine defense, one of the few nationwide to allow even fewer points than the resurgent Silver Bullets through three games. That should give JJ or Blake the time they need to shake off the dust in this one. RSUNJ: 9--UM: 31
Schweinfurth: This game is going to be a slog fest. Rutgers has looked better this year, but they are still not a top team. Michigan has looked okay, I guess? The new clock rules will definitely keep the scoring down in this one. The Wolverines win, but closer than everyone thinks. RSUNJ: 13--UM: 17
Seeberg: Alright first things first can we PLEASE stop the JJ Heisman talk? He threw THREE picks at home against a MAC team last week. Sheesh. Anyways, UM is up to their old tricks: boring, unspectacular, but ultimately mostly dominant wins. Sounds familiar, eh Schiano? Rutgers rolls in undefeated with two power 5 wins already. Their styles are similar but sadly the Wolverines do it all better. Close first half to give UM fans pause but the Knights fade late. RUSNJ: 10—UM: 27

Colorado Buffaloes @ Oregon Ducks

Draper: He can't keep getting away with this... Colorado is immensely more talented than they were last year, but we're nowhere near the hype.  Going into Autzen is simply not what Deion wants at this point, especially without his best player.  On the other side, BoNix and the Ducks have been on fire but we haven't seen a team with a pulse on the other side.  This could be a fun match for a few minutes, but I'd be surprised if this is competitive.  Sanders will make a few plays, but not enough to keep up.  CU: 17--Ore: 37 
Hoying: Goodness, what a hype train is building out in Boulder. Cincinnati Reds legend Deion Sanders has managed to infuse Rutgers-level competency into the Pac-12's erstwhile punching bag, gutting out that gritty double overtime home win against the rare team in college football that's usually worse than the Buffaloes are. Still, 3-0 is 3-0 and now comes the chance to do some real damage against a team with something to lose. Yeah, Oregon hasn't looked great either, needing some last-minute magic to sneak by Texas Tech, but geriatric QB Bo Nix is only looking better every year, and the Ducks didn't lose any dynamic two-way players to injury last week like the Buffs did. Oregon is vulnerable to a ground attack that the Buffs just don't have the wagons to exploit. The dream season continues but gets a cold dose of reality. CU: 27--Ore: 38
Schweinfurth: The opening season ride has to end at some point for the Buffs. Travis Henry makes that team go on both sides of the ball. With him out, I'm not sure the Buffs have the fire power to hang with the Ducks. Oregon has looked every part of a Pac-12 contender so far. This one feels like a blowout.  CU: 17--Ore: 45
Seeberg: Is…is Colorado really legit? TCU didn’t answer that question but a trip to Phil Knight world might. Bo Nix is playing in his 349th college game (approximately) and despite an odd squeaker against an overrated Texas Tech squad, he’s looked darn good since midway through last season. The Buffs do have talent and seem remarkably galvanized for a roster made up almost exclusively of transfers, but duck isn’t on the menu this week. Oregon pulls away late in a fun one. CU: 26—Ore: 41

Mississippi Rebels @ Alabama Crimson Tide

Draper: Is this the end for the Tide? Can Ole Miss and Kiffikins actually become the master? Well, maybe.  Bama has some real issues at the quarterback position, but they are still LOADED at others.  Ole Miss has playmakers, but they'll need to make it a track meet.  Winning a close game @Tulane isn't good enough to prepare them for Saban and the monsters on the other side. Milroe is back in the driver's seat, but it's more of a 'well, you're the only option' option.  Milroe can be a competent QB and it would be just like a Saban led team to rise from the ashes just when they were expected to be down and out. This feels like one of those games when the rumors of the Tide's demise are greatly exaggerated. Miss: 27--Bama: 37
Hoying: Folks, the Tide are in t r o u b l e. After getting embarrassed on their home field against Texas, Alabama hit the panic button in their next game and started former ineffective Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner in an effort to jump start their offense. The result? 3 points at half on 2.4 yards per attempt from the leprechaun carpetbagger. The silver lining was the play of the steel-trap Tide defense, which kept the Bulls out of the end zone and allowed Bama to end up outgaining South Florida on the day. But that's not going to be good enough for their next opponent. If you want to beat Ole Miss, you had better score, and the Rebels had Saban's boys on the ropes last year even with Bryce Young at quarterback and Jahmyr Gibbs scurrying all over the field. The SEC West this year doesn't look to be the murderer's row that we've been used to these past couple decades, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I don't see Alabama losing to Georgia at any point this year, and this week will be a big reason why. The list of former assistants getting one over on Old Nick grows a little longer as Lane finally scores one against his old boss. Miss: 27--Bama: 20
Schweinfurth: Bama just doesn't look right. This whole QB fiasco is causing so many issues. Lane started running his mouth early and that may not have been the best choice. Bama isn't quite what we're used to, but they're gonna play pissed off. Miss: 21--Bama: 24
Seeberg: Another intriguing matchup. I love these types of games: strength against strength, weakness against weakness. Bama D against Lane’s O is the fun part. Bama O against Ole Miss D? Ugly, but still it’s tough to tell which unit will find enough footing to help their team. The Tide are ripe for the picking and the SEC wants to take their shots. Saban is at home, and desperate, and even though the Rebs have the horses to win it, I expect a focused Crimson Tide for at least this week before crashing back to earth once or twice more this year. Tide survive. Miss: 23—Bama: 24

California, Los Angeles Bruins @ Utah Utes

Draper: Not really sure what to do with this game.  Utah is pretty lucky to be 3-0 right now after squeaking out a road win at a bad Baylor team, but UCLA has played a cake schedule thus far.  Utah gets the benefit of the doubt in most games after their success of late, but it does seem to be nearing the end.  They've survived without Rising thus far, but there is a chance he'll return this week.  Rice Eccles is a tough place to play (especially with the preseason cupcakes the Bruins have faced) so, even with the struggles of the Utes, I'll lean on Whittingham to make it happen.  UCLA: 23--Utah: 30
Hoying: For all the press that USC and Oregon have received of late in the Pac-12, neither of those teams has been the conference's standard-bearer of late. That would be the Big 12-bound Utah Utes, who have appeared in the last 5 non-COVID Pac-12 title games and won the last two. The Utes got off to a hot start this season with a big win over Florida in SLC, and the future looks even brighter with two-time Rose Bowl runner-up QB Cam Rising set to make his first 2023 appearance this Saturday. He wasn't good enough to topple the Bruins last season, but DTR has finally moved on to greener pastures, as has star RB Zach Charbonnet. The Bruins have been still able put some points up in their first three wins over cupcake city & friends, but the Utes at home are a mountain not so easily moved. UCLA: 27--Utah: 34
Schweinfurth: I don't really know much about UCLA this year, so I guess they're okay. Here's the rub, if Cam Rising plays, Utah should win decently easy. If not, UCLA will win close one. I'm gonna go on the assumption Rising plays. UCLA: 24--Utah: 38
Seeberg: Is UCLA for real? Is Cam Rising near 100% less than 10 months after tearing his ACL New Years’ Day? More questions that may be answered after this crazy Saturday slate. The Bruins replaced two huge contributors on offense and have still been fairly prolific on that side of the ball, though admittedly against lousy opponents so far. The Utes bullied Florida and escaped Baylor with backups to the backups playing. I have to believe even an 85% Cam is better than Bryson or Nate Johnson, and the Utah defense should harass a freshman QB enough to stay undefeated at home. Utes late. UCLA: 20—Utah: 31

Oregon State Beavers @ Washington State Cougars

Draper: The Pac-2 championship in week 4? I'm assuming this will be on FS32! While they're both undefeated, I have no idea about either of these teams other than DJ Ukulele is on the side of the Beavs,  and he has looked like the removal of the Dabo stench may have reinvigorated his career.  Will this be a close enjoyable game? That's for the fan to decide.  OrSt: 27--WSU: 17
Hoying: I don't know why everyone is getting so weepy over this game. You should get a chance to see it again 8 or 9 times next year in the Pac-2 while these teams patiently wait for a G5 conference to scoop them up. This iteration is a classic offense-vs-defense struggle. The Beavers have bottled up all three of their (admittedly crappy) opponents so far while Wazzu continues to honor Mike Leach's legacy by throwing all over their foes. Interestingly it was the Cougar defense that made the difference against Wisconsin, in the biggest win by either team so far this year, forcing three turnovers and scoring on a fumble recovery. That luck isn't likely to replicate, and the Cougar offense from that game won't make a dent in this year's Beaver dam. Oregon State continues the fight to keep the Pac-12 ruled by a Pac-12 faithful. OrSt: 23--WSU: 10
Schweinfurth: So it's cool this is the Pac -2 championship game in September. Yes, both teams are undefeated, but if they play after 10, will anyone see it? I know nothing about either of these teams. As a shot in the dark, I'll take Oregon State.  OrSt: 33--WSU: 13
Seeberg: With the inevitable collapse of the PAC-howevermany, this game is suddenly a much bigger deal than usual.  The last two holdouts square off and both are undefeated AND ranked?  Yes you read that right.  The Beavers looked solid coming into the season and the Cougars' reputation this year is built largely on a 9-point win against whatever offense Wisconsin is trying to field.  It really is remarkable to have such a separation Saturday so early in the season!  Cougars fight at home, but come back to earth at the hands of an excellent OSU defense (hint hint, wink wink).  OrSt: 27:--WSU: 16

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Pennsylvania State Nittany Lions

Draper: The Drive to 325 was boosted last week but walking into a White Out in Happy Valley is not the solution.  The first real test for Penn State's offense will give us some information for the National Title hopes, but I don't see a super competitive game.  Can Cade McNamara keep the Hawkeyes close? I don't think so.  Iowa: 10--PSU: 23   
Hoying: Speaking of Beavers, the Hawkeyes visit Beaver Stadium with a mind to continue their two-game winning streak over the Lions. Penn State was everyone's darling dark horse to take the Big Ten East (and thus the Big Ten itself by default) this season after failures to launch against the Big Two over the last half-decade or so. And they've mostly looked the part although Illinois had to spill the ball all over the field last week in order for PSU to pull away. Meanwhile, Iowa is same old Iowa, as humble and Midwestern an institution as Culver's or 15-minute goodbyes. Don't expect them to score more than 20 points (if they're lucky), but unlike against Iowa State, it won't be enough to overcome a raucous white-out crowd. Drew Allar officially hits the big time and picks up his first ranked win. Iowa: 13--PSU: 31
Schweinfurth: I don’t think either of these two teams are elite. Iowa still has issues moving the ball. Penn State looks like they are still learning how to use Drew Aller. I honestly think this is going to be a relatively low scoring game. Both teams have questions on offense and decent defenses. Penn State wins because they actually have competency on the coaching staff. Iowa: 10—PSU: 17
Seeberg: Occasionally, PFF will put up a stat that makes me pause for a moment or two.  Like this one.  Best QBR in the country under pressure so far this year?  Drew Allar.  The freshman(ish) may well be legit, and he gets to experience his first white-out as a starter for the home team.  Iowa, meanwhile, boasts their most prolific offense in years averaging a whopping (checks notes) 28.3 ppg!  Those points weren't scored on the road, in a white out, against a PSU team with an elite secondary and solid pass rush, however.  The Hawkeyes get a moral victory by making it to double digits, but that's about it.  Iowa: 10--PSU: 27

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Draper: The game of the year pits the 2 largest fanbases in the country against each other.  The Buckeyes (McCord in particular) finally got out of their own way an had a smooth offensive game plan against the Hilltoppers, but the Irish are another issue.  Everyone is hyping the Freeman > Day narrative, but I don't see it.  Marcus certainly has the juice of a young up and comer, but Day has lost 6 games in 5 years...and we're told he's a bum.  The worries for the Buckeyes center around a) the offensive line (which played much better last week), b) the defensive line (which needs to live up to the billing), and c) the fact that the QB on the other side is pretty good (and has been in the league since the Reagan administration).  The worries for ND are....everything.  They are outmatched at literally every position except QB (and it's not a blow out there).  I'm hoping for a Peach Bowl Coach Day in which he lays it all out there and goes for broke.  We know God smiles down on South Bend, but he'll be wearing Scarlet and Gray.  OSU: 30--ND: 17 
Hoying: Welcome to year 5 of the Ryan Day era, and his first road game against an elite nonconference opponent. This isn't a cause for concern in and of itself -- Ohio State went into a much tougher environment in State College last year and walked out with a W -- but this isn't the best time to be facing a team with Notre Dame's experience. Last year I wrote that opening the season with this game favored the Buckeyes as we were the known entity going into last season, but this year I'm not sure what to make of this team. We've seen some shades of problems that have plagued this team in the post-plague era, like the inability for the O-line to impose their will in short-yardage situations and the struggle to pressure the QB. Add this to what may be the slowest start for a QB in the Day era (not a fair comparison at all) and the cracks in the fortress may be starting to show. Fortunately, all of these problems seemed to disappear in last week's dismantling of Western Kentucky, but the Green Domers aren't even close to being in the same league as the Hilltoppers (or any league). The Irish have fixed their most glaring issue from last season, namely, having no quarterback (how'd he work out for you last week, Tide?), and feature formidable lines on both sides of the ball and an experienced rushing attack. The pieces in play, considered one by one, still favor the Buckeyes, but this one will come down to which team can be greater than the sum of its parts. The Irish have experience at QB and a better offensive line, but the Buckeyes have the better coaching staff and the healthy reserves to wear down Notre Dame on both sides of the ball. If McCord has time to make his reads and let it rip when he can (no strip sacks s'il vous plait), Ohio State should hit enough big plays, and contain the fearsome Irish just enough, to claim their 6th straight win in the series. OSU: 27--ND: 24
Schweinfurth: Let me first say that I am so happy this game wasn’t the first game of the year. I truly believe the Irish would have wrecked this Ohio State team a few weeks ago. The WKU game was the best thing that could have happened for Kyle McCord. He threw a couple of bombs and looked much more comfortable throwing the intermediate passes. The defense isn’t giving up the big plays…yet. This will be the first real test to see if they give up the back breaking big plays we have seen the last few years. I do not see a scenario where Notre Dame blows the Bucks out. If the Irish win, it will be close. I expect a great game and am excited to watch these two powerhouses go at it. Go Bucks. OSU: 27—ND: 24
Seeberg: It is finally here! The scheduling gods were kind to the Buckeyes this season as it seems we needed all three weeks to get right before our marquee non-conference matchup. Notre Dame, meanwhile, hit the ground running this season with an experienced transfer QB in Sam Hartman who traded one golden helmet for a slightly more iconic one last offseason. His opponent? The highest graded defense this season according to PFF (I told you they have some eyebrow-raising stats!) I believe if Hartman had anything approximating the skill talent of the scarlet and gray this game would not go well. And I STILL believe the DEs need to get home more frequently. But the offense appears sorted out with a permanent helmsman, and year two of the Jim Knowles defense has paid dividends so far. Buckeyes continue their recent run against the Irish. OSU: 28—ND: 20

Upset Special
Draper: Cincinnati over Oklahoma
Hoying: California over Washington
Schweinfurth: Baylor over Texas
Seeberg: Arkansas over LSU

Week 3: Big Life. Big Stage. Big Ten.

Standings:

1.) Draper 6-2 (1-1 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 6-2 (0-2 upset)
3.) Seeberg 5-3 (1-1 upset
3.) Hoying 5-3 (1-1 upset)

So what if there are no ranked matchups this week? There are still plenty of undefeated matchups in this young season, and three of them involve teams from our very own Big Ten Conference, including one right here in the heart of the Buckeye State.

Louisiana State Tigers @ Mississippi State Bulldogs

Draper: LSU was the media darling coming into the year and laid a monstrous egg in Week 1 to the juggernaut in Tally.  Even with that, I still think the Tigahs have some talent....they just can't matchup with the Noles.  Brian Kelly has always been good for punching below his weight, and this should be no different.  I'm all about CLANGA, but they's Tigah Bait heeyah.  LSU: 34--MSU: 24
Hoying: Welp, the Tigers got blasted in their season opening trendy team battle with the Noles. If they want to be in a position to make any noise at the end of the season, as they did last year, they can't afford any missteps against middling competition. And this opponent screams "middling". Sadly, the pirate era of Mississippi State ended with Mike Leach's abrupt death last December, leaving his defensive coordinator to take over. Time will tell whether the new look Bulldogs will make any noise in the always packed SEC West but needing overtime to dispatch perennial basement dweller and future Big 12 team Arizona isn't particularly encouraging. Brian's Bayou Bengals are too good to lose games like this. LSU: 31--MSU: 20
Schweinfurth: LSU isn't great. Good news for them, I guess is Mississippi State isn't very good. I'll take the Tigers, but only because it seems like the right thing to do. LSU: 35--MSU: 21
Seeberg: The Tigers offense looked surprisingly pedestrian in their big week one tilt. Sounds familiar. And the SEC has looked *gasp* flat out lousy thus far. But conference play begins where it supposedly just means more. The SEC west is still home to some excellent programs, of which MSU is not one. I expect the Tigers to get right offensively in this one. LSU: 41—MSU: 24

 

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ North Carolina Tar Heels

Draper: Oh boy! Another matchup between two teams that think they're contenders but really aren't.  People are falling over themselves for Drake Maye but I don't see the generational talent. Good? yes.  Tank worthy? no. Minnesota? Well, you beat <checks notes> Nebraska by letting the Huskers pee down their leg? Greeeeeeat.  UNC held on vs. a feisty App State (and were lucky, but I don't think PJ Fleck's squad has the mettle to take one in Chapel Hill.  The hype around Drake Maye will build, but whoopdee doo Basil.  Heels win.  Minn: 20--UNC: 30
Hoying: Both these teams are still undefeated but I wouldn't say they've been playing comparable football so far. Minnesota played atrocious football for 58 minutes in their opener before standing back and letting Nebraska husk their corn all over the field as per recent tradition. A week later North Carolina shot themselves in the foot over and over before finally putting Appalachian State away in double overtime. Unless one of these teams picks up a sudden curse (impossible as those are all firmly parked above Lincoln) I would think the law of averages would set in and snap these teams back to reality. Don't look for any heroes in the Big Ten West this year, folks. At best maybe one of them will snakebite of the B1G 3east but none of them will be making any noise elsewhere. Minn: 17--UNC: 30
Schweinfurth: The Gophers may be undefeated, but one win is an improbable "we're playing Nebraska" come back. By no means do I think Minnesota is good. UNC is better and it's at home. Heels win. Meh. Minn: 13--UNC: 28
Seeberg: The Gophers make a rare non-OSU appearance here after taking down a hapless Cornhusker program to start the season. Offense isn’t exactly their forte, however, and it will take some points to top Drake Maye and Co. Despite foiling my upset pick last week, I expect the Tar Heels to use that as a wake-up call and come ready to play this weekend. Heels big. Minn: 17—UNC: 38

Washington Huskies @ Michigan State Spartans

Draper: The Huskies are riding the Penix Train as far as it will take them.  Sparty is imploding.  First, they sign Mel Tucker to a ridiculous deal, then....this.  Gross (not to mention the litany of other issues).  I fear we are seeing the demise of a 'maybe every 10 years we can make a little noise before dying' program.  Huskies stroll into East Lansing to grab their first of many B1G win as a (soon to be) new member.  UW: 42--MSU: 17
Hoying: Michael Penix threw for 397 yards and 4 TDs against Michigan State last year. And that was when the Spartans had a coach. This season he's averaged 430 yards and 4 TDs a game already and has started to sneak into the Heisman conversation. Michigan State couldn't even stop this guy when he was at Indiana. As for the Spartans, I'll just say I would not expect to see another writeup for them until their November 11 nocturnal visit to the Shoe. UW: 45--MSU: 10
Schweinfurth: Michigan State is a mess. Washington is a favorite to win the PAC-12. Really not much else to say here. Huskies roll Sparty. UW: 42--MSU: 7
Seeberg: Not wasting any time breaking this one down. Washington is good and not in complete disarray. Michigan State is the opposite of those descriptors. Huskies roll. UW: 41–MSU:17

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes

Draper: I learned very little from last week.  I appreciate that Ryan Day tapped McCord as the starter (that much was apparent after the 1st quarter), but the offensive line did not inspire hope.  On the plus side, McCord makes really good reads/decisions.  On the minus side, the throws are just not great.  The talent at WR will hide some issues and McCord will grow, but if the line doesn't shore itself up and the accuracy doesn't improve soon, this isn't going to be a traditional OSU playoff or bust team.  I have faith in Day to get the most out of his QB, but we need to see that growth yesterday. The skill positions are still stacked, but the achieving the preseason goals comes down to the big uglies and the signal caller.  The defense had another good showing, but the d-line was shockingly ineffective, which could be an issue this weekend.  WKU plays fast and if we're not solid on the backend, they'll steal some plays.  Jack Sawyer hasn't lived up to the hype and JTT tends to disappear at times.  We need those guys to get right immediately.  Eichenberg has been a solid captain on defense and it's refreshing to see Burke flash back to his freshman form.  I tend to expect the Bucks to play this one a little close to the vest with Notre Dame on the horizon, and I wouldn't be surprised with a little early game scare, but the talent disparity will eventually work itself out.  Stay healthy, get the dub, and it's on to South Bend.  WKU: 17--OSU: 38 (Note: again, Seeberg picked the score before me but I didn't look at the other scores beforehand)

Hoying: The good news: the Buckeyes have avoided suffering an unconscionable loss in this young season. The bad news: after having elite-level QB's seemingly fall into our laps the last 5 seasons (and a deceptively good season from JT back in 2017) the offense may be taking a step back. We haven't seen this limited level of play both on the ground and through the air since 2016. Hopefully we'll get their top notch defense along for the ride. Perhaps losing Kevin Wilson was a bigger blow that we thought. Perhaps we've just been unlucky (2 TDs wiped off the board in 2 weeks for recognized bad calls, not to mention 2 more egregious missed calls on would-be TD plays against YSU). Or perhaps it's just growing pains, like another Buckeye team in the last decade that didn't really get going until its third game. At any rate, playing Western Kentucky should hopefully at least get the ground game going; the Hilltoppers gave up 374 yards on the ground to USF in the season opener. Then again, maybe the Bulls are a juggernaut, in which case look out Crimson Tide this Saturday. I'm going to put my money on continued improvement, a more confident Kyle McCord, and a defense that forces WKU to grind out what few points they can snag under the running clock. WKU: 17--OSU: 45
Schweinfurth: This is going to be a great test for the Buckeye secondary. A test I think they need. Let's see if they can prevent the short throws from going for long gains. Offensively, give McCord the keys to the Ferrari and let him drive. You need him feeling bulletproof going into next week. WKU: 13--OSU: 45
Seeberg: Good news everyone, I’ve got bad news! The Hilltoppers and their Sesame Street mascot come to town for the first time ever and they bring their pass-happy offense in tow. The good news is that should result in more plays for the lethargic Buckeye offense to hopefully find some rhythm. The bad news is that WKU actually slings it pretty well and if the front 4 can’t get home it could be a frustrating late afternoon in the ‘Shoe. The lack of production from the DEs- especially with as well as the DTs are playing- is more concerning than the offense to me. Let’s get some pressure, get some stops and start to get the offense rolling just in time for South Bend. WKU: 17—OSU: 38

Upset Special
Draper: Colorado State over Colorado
Hoying: Tulsa over Oklahoma
Schweinfurth: Illinois over Penn State
Seeberg: Northwestern over Duke 

Week 2: It's Quiet. Too Quiet.

 Standings:

1.) Draper 3-1 (1-0 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 3-1 (0-1 upset)
3.) Seeberg 2-2 (1-0 upset
3.) Hoying 2-2 (0-1 upset)

You say: look at this early season ranked matchup wasteland (Ole Miss - Tulane? Really?). We say: the landscape is ripe for season-defining upsets. Just keep them away from the home opener in Columbus.

Iowa Hawkeyes @ Iowa State Cyclones

Draper: Ah...the Classico...or perhaps....  This is all about the Climb to 325.  Will Brian Ferentz do juuuuust enough to keep setting football back 50 years? Probably? I honestly have no data on which to base this, but let's go with Iowa on the road under one of the top QBs in Iowa City in 10 years in Cade McNamara (is this a typo?).  Iowa: 17--ISU:10
Hoying: Cade...start the reactor. Yes, our old nemesis Cade McNamara has decided to follow up his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride Hassan Haskins to a streak-breaking victory by taking his middling QB talents to Iowa. Yes, that Iowa, the home of the worst offense in college football, masterminded by the incomparable Brian Ferentz, a nepotism hire so shameless it would make our current and former Presidents blush. Yet, despite this mess, the Hawkeyes did manage to go 8-5 and came one win of a second straight Big Ten West division title. On a side note, I am in favor of getting rid of divisions in the Big Ten, as long as we get rid of the Big Ten West first. But at least you know what to expect from Iowa. Iowa State was the next breakthrough team for a couple of years in recent memory before they crashed back to Earth before coach Matt Campbell could jump ship to a blue chip program. But you can't rely on them to be bad either; they were awful last year and still managed to upend Iowa in a 10-7 sickofest that drove home the fact that the Hawkeyes' horror show O was here to stay. The Hawkeye D should stand strong (you can't go 8-5 scoring 17 points per game otherwise) and Cade's steady-ish hand should be enough to guide Iowa past the Cyclones for the 14th time in Kirk Ferentz's tenure. Iowa: 20--ISU: 13
Schweinfurth: El ASSICO!!!! The Sickos Committee put out a great .gif of the "Climb to 325." I think Hawkeye fans are watching this to see if Brian Ferentz can meet that contractual offensive output this year. Good luck with that. Iowa's defense is still pretty good at least. Good enough to beat Iowa State this year? Yes. Another week, another underperforming offensive output. Iowa: 20--ISU: 7
Seeberg:  The Cyclones made this annual bleh bowl competitive for the better part of a decade.  Matt Campbell was linked to literally every high profile job it seemed.  My how the turn tables.  ISU is bordering on full irrelevance again.  Meanwhile the Hawkeyes keep doing what they do:  stout on defense and nepotism on offense.  First to 20 wins!   Iowa: 20--ISU: 10

 

Texas Longhorns @ Alabama Crimson Tide

Draper: No...no, no, no, no.... Last year was monumentally close in Austin and could have swung on a questionable call in the endzone, but I don't expect a nailbiter here.  Sure, Texas has 2nd year traitor in Quinn Ewers and some talent under Sark, but Nick Saban is inevitable.  Bama may not be the absolute juggernaut of the last decade...but they're still Bama, and the talent is off the charts.  Unless Ewers has the game of his life, this is going to be rough in Tuscaloosa.  UT: 17--Bama: 34 (Note: Credit to Hoying for picking the score first but I didn't look at his pick).
Hoying: Once upon a time, people wondered if the Buckeyes should pull out all the stops to keep Quinn Ewers, up to and including benching CJ Stroud. These people were dumb. The end. Quinn has been OK for the Longhorns but came up short in 2022's biggest moments, putting up abysmal numbers in losses to TCU and Oklahoma State. He may have been on course to guide the Horns to a shocking upset of Alabama last year, but now there's no Bijan Robinson. And they're in Tuscaloosa. True, Alabama doesn't have Bryce Young anymore either but there's no team in America that can reload as fast as the Tide. This should be another standard issue early nonconference Nick Saban pasting. If not, maybe there's some truth to Old Nick finally starting to lose a step. UT: 17--Bama: 34
Schweinfurth: The Longhorns were a Quinn Ewers injury away from pulling this one out last year. The thing is, you don't get a second chance against Saban. The Tide looked improved last week and it should roll over to this one. UT: 14--Bama: 28
Seeberg:  We all know how last year went- Ewers stays healthy and the Longhorns looked likely to spring the monumental upset and declare themselves "back" for the millionth time.  Two massive stars have exited for the NFL, however, in Bryce Young and Bijan Robinson.  Texas actually has the edge at QB in this year's tilt, but Bama is superior just about everywhere else, and Saban won't be caught September snoozin' twice in a row.  Tide pull away late.  UT: 20--Bama: 34

Mississippi Rebels @ Tulane Green Wave

Draper: It's late and it's been a long week.  No insight into this other than..the Rebels are going to Tulane?? Weird.  Tulane lost Tajae Spears and while they had a magical year last year, small program rarely last more than a year.  Lane does weird stuff so anything is possible, but I have to believe that the SEC talent is going to outmatch what the Green Wave puts on the field.  Since it's <checks calendar> still early, the SEC teams will still 'care' so I'll roll with the Sip.  Miss: 38--Tulane: 24
Hoying:  This one just screams "fake ranked matchup" to the untrained eye. And by untrained, I mean mine, because I completely wrote off the Green Wave before their Cotton Bowl against USC last year, and Tulane then went on to stun the Trojans. Now, you might not think that putting up 46 points against a Lincoln Riley defense would be anything to write home about, just wait until they play a real defense like...oh, no. Ole Miss couldn't stop anybody from running the ball last year, and Tulane ripped USC apart for 305 yards on 9, yes, NINE yards per carry. The Rebs will get their points in return, of course, but I don't feel confident knowing who's going to be holding up the fiftyburger when the music stops and who'll be stuck on 49. Most of the bigtime shootouts under Lane have gone Ole Miss's way, so let's go with them to just outshoot the Wave. If your inner Chris Spielman is getting too sick watching these two sprint up and down the field, remember that you can always switch over to Iowa-Iowa State for a palate cleanser. Miss: 42--Tulane: 38
Schweinfurth: I can't really say I know anything about either team. I guess I'll take Ole' Miss, but I will laugh if they lose. Miss: 21--Tulane: 17
Seeberg:  Remember when our beloved Buckeye coach said the punt was the most important play in football?  He may not want to watch much of this one (a certain inter-state midwestern contest is much more to his liking).  This one features Lane Kiffin scoring at will and a Tulane team that outscored supposedly all-universe- and Heisman winner- Caleb Williams last year.  Even with the average of 2 lost possessions per team per game due to the new clock rules for player safety more commercials, this one should hit the over, the Kiffin special, if you will.  Kudos to Ole Miss for being willing to play this one on the road too, as they should escape with an entertaining W.  Miss: 42--Tulane: 31

Youngstown State Penguins @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes

Draper: I went back and watched parts of last week's game and it honestly wasn't as bad as I remembered.  Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of room for improvement, but the defense was phenomenal (albeit against IU) and the offense showed sparks (START CHIP).  This is a 'get right' game for the offense.  It needs to be a confidence booster for McCord and what better way to accomplish that than THROWING MORE THE TO BEST WRS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.  I get that we want to 'establish it' and all that nonsense, but the training wheels need to come off.  The offensive line is the current weak spot (which is an issue), but IU seemed to be selling out on most plays to exploit that.  One solution: go over the top.  I was ok with the whole 'we'll figure out the starter eventually' thing, but it's time to plant the flag on a guy and go.  I'd give this game to McCord and let it ride.  If he can't take care of the game vs. the Penguins, it's time to cut bait, but I have faith that we'll see some strides.  I'm calling for the shutout. Don't play FCS teams....  YSU: 0--OSU: 55

Hoying: So, obviously, going out and scoring fewer points than Iowa on your opening weekend isn't a banner start. But we know that Ryan Day loves to tinker with his offense, so who can say what the game plan was for last week and what it otherwise could have been if the outcome seemed in doubt at any point. Probably not any more open: we've seen in every Ohio State loss that Ryan likes to turtle if the game isn't going the way he expected. But we probably would have found out who this year's security blanket is. Chip Trayanum? Forcing the ball to Marv to break his arm and hip? The QB draw, with McCord missing the hole? Somewhere on this offense is a gem just waiting to be polished, other than the usual suspects at WR. But, once again, don't expect them to be identified this week. When last year's Alumni Band Game featured long scores from Jayden Ballard and TC Caffey, and this year's opponent is even worse, it won't be long before Rudy Ruettiger, Shane Falco, and the Cheez-It who woke up feeling the cheesiest are making hero plays to whip the noon crowd into a frenzy. At least we'll probably get a chance to see if Devin Brown can really sling the rock. YSU: 0--OSU: 44

Schweinfurth: There isn't much to say about this week's game other than it needs to be a confidence builder for the offense. Yes, last week was a bit clunky, but Indiana blitzed at least 6 guys on every down it seemed. The defense didn't give up the back breaking long plays and only gave up 3 points. Give Chip more carries and get McCord comfortable. Those are the only things I ask. YSU: 7--OSU: 42

Seeberg:  Week one was...*shrugs*?  Defense looked remarkably stout against a Power 4 team (weird typing that).  Some offensive growing pains were to be expected, but watching the two best WRs in college football all but disappear was rather disconcerting.  Seems to be McCord's job to lose, and some rhythm needs to be found before the trip to South Bend in a couple weeks.  Get going on offense, get nasty on defense, get everyone in (this week) and get to 2-0.  Bonus pick:  Pick six alert this week I'm calling it!  YSU: 3--OSU: 48

Upset Special
Draper: NC State over Notre Dame
Hoying: Washington State over Wisconsin 
Schweinfurth: Baylor over Utah
Seeberg:  Appalachian State over North Carolina

Week 1: McCording to Kyle

The 2023 Ohio State football season kicks off with stage one of a potentially four-part Rampage: Indiana Tour, with stops scheduled in Bloomington, South Bend, West Lafayette, and, with Woody's intercession, Indianapolis once more. Not quite last season's opening headliner but the slate is rather ho-hum across the nation. The casual fan will be waiting with bated breath for Sunday night's rematch of one of the silliest games of 2022, one which left fans wondering if the ghost of Les Miles still walked the sidelines of the bayou.

Colorado Buffaloes @ Texas Christian Horned Frogs

Draper: This is the greatest experiment in college football in a long time.  I have no idea how this Deion business is going to play out, but it should be interesting at least.  With regard to play on the field, the Prime Time vibes have people forgetting what a mess this program was in last year.  I don't think the amazing transfer success will right the ship.  In addition, the 'if one fights, we all fight' philosophy is just lighting a powder keg.  TCU isn't flashy and lost a ton of talent, but they did play for the National Title last year.  Even with that, I think they win this one easily and remind people that the glitz and glamor can't turn around a program in a heartbeat.  CU: 14--TCU: 34
Hoying:  You can tell that Coach Prime must have played a lot of EA Sports' NCAA Football because he's using the same strategy I use when taking over a garbage program: methodically cut all the scrubs that got the last guy fired and bring in your shiny new recruits to take their place. It's just that I didn't expect him to go all "Football Team of Theseus" on day one, with over 70 players hitting the portal since last season alone. Of course, the team on the other sideline isn't completely intact from 2022 either, with the national runner-up (?!?) TCU Horned Frogs looking to move past Heisman runner-up (?!?!?) Max Duggan and quite a few other key contributors. Fortunately for TCU, Duggan is being replaced by last year's season starter, Chandler Morris, so I wouldn't expect a huge dropoff at this position alone. Then again, even Duggan and maximum roster TCU only pulled within 58 points of a national championship, so don't expect the Frogs to become the next Alabama anytime soon. But they aren't playing Alabama this week. They're playing the bottom feeder of a dying conference, trying to break in an entire new roster at once. Growing pains can be brutal when there's nowhere to go but up. CU: 9--TCU: 34

Schweinfurth: Man, it’s good to be back. However, we start the year off with Colorado? I guess Coach Prime brings some juice to this game? It will be interesting to see how a full roster makeover goes. This was weaponizing the transfer portal to the max. As for the game, TCU has quite a lot to replace of their team from last year, but I’ve learned not to doubt the Horned Frogs. ALL HAIL HYPNOTOAD!! CU: 17—TCU: 35
Seeberg:  Hey kids, college football is BACK...and not like Texas is back, it's back for real!  How do I know?  I've already been roundly chastised by multiple members of the Penn State fan base on Twitter for insinuating that having a new QB may cost them a game or two this season...literally right after one of their fans showed McSorely (3 losses) and Clifford's (2 losses) first years as inexperienced starters.  Regardless, Neon Deion is back and coaching the Buffaloes for...reasons?  We know next-to-nothing about how either squad will really look.  Deion brings in a massive load of transfers and TCU lost exactly half of their starters, including Max Duggan.  The Frogs should be able to run it, however, with Emani Bailey and Bama transfer Trey Sanders in the backfield.  Continuity should matter early in the season, and the Buffs don't have it just yet.  Hypnotoad swirls on.  UC: 17--TCU: 27

Boise State Broncos @ Washington Huskies

Draper: This was a fun game when it happened....10 years ago. Now, it's just the future Big Ten legends vs. the 'oh yeah, this team was a fun Cinderella for awhile'...10 years ago.  This needs to be a statement game for the Huskies if they plan on showing off their Big Penix Energy.  The hopes and dreams of the Pacific Northwest ride in purple and gold.  I expect UW to come out with a very strong start to the season.  I don't see the slip-up here.  BSU: 17--UW: 41
Hoying: Every Cinderella either dies a hero or lives long enough to become Gonzaga. After a decade-plus tear that almost saw the Broncos climb to the top of the all-time winning percentage ranking across all of FBS, the mojo has cooled a bit. Boise State hasn't beaten a big name out of conference since Florida State in 2019, and they haven't beaten a great nonconference opponent since their Fiesta Bowl win over Arizona nearly 10 years ago. That's bad news when you're staring down a team that was a couple of bad bounces away from running the regular season slate last year. BSU: 20--UW: 34

Schweinfurth: Boise State just isn’t the same as it was about 6-7 years ago. This game in past years would be Boise’s season. This year, they shouldn’t offer Washington much resistance. This should be a stat game for Michael Penix. BSU: 14—UW: 38
Seeberg:  Well, the Buckeyes giving Michael Penix a dose of reality may have been the best medicine for him.  Penix seems to have started a new trend of B1G QBs heading elsewhere for greener pastures when they can't beat the Bucks (not sure all the pastures are that green however as Graham Mertz has currently put up a whopping 3 points in Utah halfway through the 3rd quarter as I type this).  Regardless, the Huskies have some weapons around Penix and he lit up the PAC-12 10 whatever is left last season.  The Broncos, meanwhile, are still a very good group of 5 squad, but they just haven't been able to compete with the big boys consistently since Chris Petersen's departure- ironically to help the Huskies back to prominence.  Does the headline "former Hoosier quarterback's Heisman campaign off to a good start" confuse anybody else?  Stranger things have happened I suppose.  BSU: 20--Wash: 38

Louisiana State Tigers vs. Florida State Seminoles

Draper: Week 1 heavyweight matchups can be quite deceiving in 2 ways.  They could be an exciting barnburner in which you can tell the teams are still raw and need to grow, or one team, who everyone thought was good, might actually suck. I think these teams are both going to be very good, but I doubt they'll be in crisp midseason form.   Quite frankly, I'm not sure the Noles are quite up to the hype this year. They'll be very good, but I'm not convinced the natty is in the future.  However, that is the definition of LSU most years (and is this year as well).  I anticipate a bunch of silly mistakes defining the game (see last year LSU vs. FSU), but you know I'm talkin' bout the Noles.  Brian Kelly turns purple as Jordan Travis jumps to the number 2 QB in the Heisman race.  LSU: 31--FSU: 34
Hoying: Go ahead and toss Florida State into the same are they /aren't they back bag that's been occupied by Texas and Tennessee over the Playoff era. Knowing what we know now, last year's improbable win over LSU would have been considered a big step in the correct direction, but the Noles followed it up with an October to forget, and were quickly forgotten. The FSU offense may nearly be in championship form (ACC championship at least), but for the time being, BK has it his way. LSU: 27--FSU: 21

Schweinfurth: Hopefully this is the game we all need this week. These first week top 10 games can be a bit of an enigma in some years. In all honesty, I just don’t thing Brian Kelly is all he’s made out to be. I’ll take the Noles here at home. LSU: 21—FSU: 28
Seeberg:  Kudos to these two for playing this game and attempting to salvage a mostly mundane week one slate.  The talent on these two squads is undeniable...and unpredictable.  Both teams will have multiple transfers playing critical roles on both sides of the ball.  However, both teams also return 8 offensive starters from relatively explosive units last season.  Continuity matters early.  This game truly feels like a coin flip, and the mystery of week one only adds to the indecisiveness.  Let's just hope for a game as good as last year, and the Tigers get their revenge late.  LSU: 37--FSU: 31

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Indiana Hoosiers

Draper: Remember when Dwayne Haskins started? Justin Fields? CJ Stroud? Every time, Buckeye Nation held their collective breath to say 'we should be good, but what about the QB?'  Since Ryan Day has been here, the new QB has stepped into a Heisman finalist role almost from day 1.  The pieces of this team are just too good to ignore.  It's a huge boon to anyone taking a snap.  There are 2 enormous questions that may be more important than who's under center: 1) will this offensive line be serviceable? and 2) will the defense ever gel against the big boys?  I'm a little worried about the big uglies as we lost some major talent last year.  The skill position guys are the best in the nation, but while the best friend to a new QB may be his receiver, his mental state needs the protection.  With the defense, it's put up or shut up time.  Superstar athletes pepper the roster.  It's time to make it count.  Honestly, the defense only struggled in giving up explosives last year....which is kind of a big deal.  Limit that in all games (especially the big ones) and Jim Knowles will have earned his pay.  Repeat the sins of the last 2 years and it's a one was ticket to cutsville.  Some are asking where the 'tuneup' game is before a Big Ten opponent.  The good news? Indiana sucks.  There is no reason for this game to be in question at half.  Take your stadium picture, Hoosiers, and have a nice weekend.  Marv is ready to return to glory.  OSU: 48--IU: 13
Hoying: Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback. It's all we heard about in the offseason, even though the Bucks return so much production at other positions on both sides of the ball. The only real question marks I see across the roster are offensive line, QB (we're going to be fine), and, well, whether this defense will ever really work. A new starting QB and a prior season bowl loss is traditionally a great recipe for a Buckeye national championship. At any rate, we probably won't learn many answers to our questions this weekend; Indiana has snapped back to reality after the attempted usurpation in 2020 and is always for what ails ya. Probably the most interesting thing we'll learn is what the intended snap mix at running back will be, and whether Tre has his quick step back. OSU: 45--IU: 17

Schweinfurth: It’s great to have the Buckeyes back. After what seems like a ton of twists and turns this offseason, Ryan Day finally landed on…Kyle McCord. Really, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. McCord’s been the back up under Stroud and looked pretty good in his one start. I am a bit curious to see what Devin Brown brings and if the team responds better to him or McCord. On defense, I truly hope the big plays are shored up. Those plays single handedly killed this team last year. The good news is that Indiana shouldn’t be very good and is a good B1G school to get started with. Bucks win and hopefully we get some questions answered. OSU: 42—IU: 10
Seeberg: Here we go again, starting the season with a fresh QB on the road against a conference opponent.  Thankfully the Hoosiers have dropped off considerably from their COVID-era stretch (a certain QB transferring may have contributed).  All the talk coming out of camp is how vastly improved the back 7 on D are...and don't we all hope??  The QBs have received the bulk of the attention, but the OL is a bit untested and will play a crucial role as the season progresses.  Saturday, however, it's about our first glimpses into what McCord/Brown can do leading an almost-comical amount of skilled talent on offense.  I find it slightly disconcerting that neither wowed the coaches enough to take hold of the position- but I find it relieving that Day and Co. didn't think it was necessary to shop for another quarterback in the transfer portal, which they've done quite successfully when needed (Justin Fields vs. Tate Martell ring a bell?).  I hope the offense hums and the defense stymies.  3:30 can't get here soon enough!  OSU: 45--IU: 10 

Upset Special
Draper: Duke over Clemson
Hoying: West Virginia over Penn State
Schweinfurth: Rice over Texas
Seeberg:  Fresno State over Purdue