Game
Nebraska @ Illinois
Time (ET)
1:00 (ET)
Nebraska @ Illinois is a foreign concept to me. My knee jerk reaction for both teams is to view them as middle-of-the-road programs that manage to enter the top 25 every so often. Closing last season 3-5, Nebraska is entering a season where they have to right for a positive reputation. No doubt they’re riled up, but Martinez remains a large question mark for Nebraska’s 2021 season. Illinois, however, enters the season winning 9 out of 10 pervious season openers. This tendency, paired with a breakout running core and corn-fed orange athletes makes me look to Jacksonville.
Pick: I’m taking Illinois +7.
UConn @ Fresno State
2:00 (ET)
This one doesn’t look pretty. The independent team (UConn) had zero game reps during the pandemic, which means the team is itching to make some contact. 2-10 in 2019 is a hard pill to swallow, especially when most losses were by 20+. Jack Zergiotis enters the season fighting to keep his spot, so we may see some hot throws from the wolf offense… though I don’t think that fire will be enough for a win. Fresno State comes into this season 3-3 following 2020, challenging higher talent than UCONN last year on a fairly consistent basis. All that to say, my question isn’t who, but by how much.
Pick: I’m taking Fresno State -28.
Hawaii @ UCLA
3:30 (ET)
Living in Atlanta, you never know what you’ll find. Yesterday, I rode my bike to Georgia State’s stadium and found College GameDay being set up. Heck of an experience. UCLA is all the talk, especially regarding the culture Chip Kelly is creating at UCLA–the problem is that culture isn’t quite there yet. Hawaii is established, coming in 5-4 from 2020 with two losses being under 14 points. Though this sounds promising, UCLA’s 2020 schedule was consistently difficult compared to Hawaii’s. I think that UCLA stumbles out the gate but finds their bearings late in the first.
Pick: I’m taking UCLA -18, 42-24 final.
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