It is almost the most wonderful time of the year! For me week 1 is like Christmas. I wait all year for it to come. We got an appetizer in week zero, but it is time to gear up for the rest of the season. While we prep for the start of the rest of the season, here are my thoughts on week zero and on some other season long trends.
The Rocky Road to Dublin
Pour one out for the Horned Frogs. Week one is not even here yet and it already feels like Sonny Dykes and company’s season is over. It is hard to believe a few short years ago they were getting their butts handed to them by Georgia in the National Championship game. One thing we have been shown is that these Ireland games are a season killer. Iowa State and Kansas State both had disappointing seasons last year after opening in Ireland and Florida State began (restarted?) their downward spiral two years ago. Maybe it is time to stop going international and just play home and homes?
Props to North Carolina. Nobody believed in you, and yet you
overcame! The Tarheels entered as a 9.5 point underdog with numerous off the field
shenanigans, including missing their defensive coordinator to an extended sick
leave. Somehow Bill Belichick’s squad pulled off the upset outright. Everyone
loves winning the first game especially against a Power 4 team.
Enough flowers, the outlook is still bad. As mentioned earlier,
the Dublin game is usually a bad sign for both teams. The time change is hard
and the preparation that goes into it is extremely atypical of your normal game
day and game week routine. I don’t know UNC’s win total, but I would guess it
is low. I am not sure it fairs much better even with a win over TCU. On the
flip side, if you have a ticket for the TCU under win total I would hang on to
that.
Fear the Tree!
I would be remiss if I did not talk about what Andrew Luck
is doing at Stanford. The former number one overall pick is the General Manager
for the Cardinals and although it was not pretty, they secured a win (and
cover!) against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. I find this to be a feel good
story. Luck hired his former teammate, turned coach, to be the head coach at
Stanford. There will be growing pains but they won the first game. It would be
nice to see a formidable Stanford again, even if they are not knocking off USC
and dashing Oregon’s playoff hopes on Pac 12 After Dark. If you missed it, don’t
let the score board full you. Stanford scored to take the lead in the closing minutes
and then forced a fumble returned for a touchdown with under 2 minutes left to
seal the win.
Virginia Oh Yes! And NC State Oh No!
Virginia looked like a Bonafide top 25 team after shellacking
NC State in the season opener. Credit to Tony Elliott and what he has built at
UVA. Last year they had the big win over Florida State and this year they look
like they could compete for the ACC title game. On the flip side, how much
longer are we going to give Dave Doreen? The offense was nonexistent and the
defense got pushed around on the ground all day. At some point, in a league as
winnable as the ACC, you have to wonder if it is time to make a move?
USC… what is going on with your attendance?
Not a lot more to say. A previously historic program can’t
fill a season opener in a weekend when no LA teams were playing at home? Put
your feelings towards Lincoln Riley aside. USC and UCLA have been notably
absent from the College Football scene since I began watching the sport in 5th
grade. That was right on the heels of the Vince Young Rose Bowl and the
eventual Pete Carrol Firing a few years later. There have been flashes but
overall USC just hasn’t been in championship contention. Or even Pac 12 (now
Big 10 contention). Based on the attendance I am not sure anyone in Southern
California cares?
Memphis and UNLV: an Excellent Start:
This is what I circled as the game of the week. From before
the coin flip when UNLV had Elvis run out onto the field you knew it was going
to be a good one. For those who may not know, Elvis’ estate is located in
Memphis, TN and it is the most visited private estate in the United States. I
am sure an Elvis impersonator escorting the Running Rebels onto the field was
just a coincidence though. UNLV jumped out to a quick start. Jackson Arnold
began the reinvention of his career with a first quarter score and a chance to
go up by two scores heading into the half. Credit to Memphis for stopping the
bleeding. First year coach Charles Huff and his team did not waiver. They
forced pressure on Arnold throughout the second half and came away with a win.
The winner of this game would be the early front runner for the G6 playoff spot.
Something to feel good about Tiger fans! However, last year that favorite was
USF with wins over Florida and Boise State. They ended 9-3 with a loss to
*checks notes* the Memphis Tigers, and their Head Coach and QB were whisked
away to Auburn at the end of the season.
Pick em Results:
Every year I participate in a pick em where we pick 10 games
each week with the spread. Week 0 being a light slate only gave us 4 games.
How did I do on my picks for week zero?
3-1 with the lone loss being TCU -9.5
Season Record (3-1)