Finally.. It has arrived. The college football season kicks off tonight and marks the first day of another incredible season! The last season of the BCS Championship Game before the installment of the highly anticipated four team play-off. Newly added teams Old Dominion and Georgia State get a taste of the FBS world. A lot of new things accompany old traditions!
Thank you for joining The Sporting Booth for another college football season! Last year was our first year to provide college football insight, predictions, and discussions, and we look forward to another fun season!
Last season, I spent a large majority of July and August reading about each team, going over schedules, recruits, departures, coaching changes, and tendencies, to predict the entire season before the first kick-off. I recorded a percentage of 69% correct in a season of nearly 1500 games. I felt that for my first attempt at it, I did pretty well.
This season will be different though.
I spent May to August working at the incredible Camp War Eagle. I met a lot of great people (who I hope are reading this) and wouldn’t have traded that experience for the world. However, I didn’t have the time to devote to research for the entire season. So, to make due with what I was handed, I decided to take my predictions on a week-to-week basis. I know this would create an askew prediction percentage, but better than nothing, aye?
Alright so we will start with the weekday games, going through each game in order of kick-off time.
Thursday, August 29th
North Carolina vs #7 South Carolina
Presbyterian vs Wake Forest
Indiana State vs Indiana
UNLV vs Minnesota
Tulsa vs Bowling Green
Illinois State vs Ball State
Akron vs Central Florida
Western Carolina vs Middle Tennessee
Southern Utah vs South Alabama
Towson vs Connecticut
Utah State vs Utah
Jackson State vs Tulane
Ole Miss vs Vanderbilt
Sacramento State vs San Jose State
Rutgers vs Fresno State
#24 USC vs Hawaii
South Carolina
Wake Forest
Indiana
Minnesota
Tulsa
Ball State
Central Florida
Middle Tennessee
South Alabama
Connecticut
Utah State
Tulane
Ole Miss
San Jose State
Fresno State
USC
Friday, August 30th
Samford vs Georgia State
Western Michigan vs Michigan State
Florida Atlantic vs Miami (FL)
Texas Tech vs SMU
North Dakota State vs Kansas State
Southern vs Houston
Northern Arizona vs Arizona
Samford
Michigan State
Miami
SMU
Kansas State
Houston
Arizona
If I Were A Gambling Man
- North Carolina vs South Carolina — I pick the Gamecocks to win, but I’ll take the +12.5 for North Carolina.
- Tulsa vs Bowling Green — I’ll take +4 for the Golden Hurricanes on the road at Bowling Green.
- Utah State vs Utah — Another road underdog, I’ll take Utah State +2.5 in “The Battle of the Brothers”
- Ole Miss vs Vanderbilt — Commadores are the home underdog, but I like Hugh Freeze and the Rebels at -3.5
- Rutgers vs Fresno State — It’ll be close. I think Fresno gets the W at home against a strong Rutgers team, but covers the spread at +10.
- Texas Tech vs SMU — My upset pick of the week goes to the red, white, and blue Mustangs at +5.
Tomorrow I take to the road up to Springfield to watch my brother and the Missouri State Marching Band when Northwestern State comes to visit. With that said, I will post my Saturday predictions either Friday night or early Saturday morning!
Thank you all, and God bless!
Moose
The Sporting Booth 