All times Eastern
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Thursday, August 30
7:00 pm UCF (-23, 73) at UConn - Much is expected from the Knights this season after they finished 13-0 with a #6 ranking, including closing out the season with a 34-27 win over #7 Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
For UConn, it's a matter of building on the few positives from the 2017 campaign in which the Huskies went 3-9, losing their last five straight. If the Huskies aren't prepared properly, this will be a mugging. Otherwise, it will just be a romp for the Knights.
Coin Flip: UCF
PREDICTION: Knights 45 Huskies 7
8:00 pm Northwestern at Purdue (-2 1/2, 51 1/2) - This is an important game for both teams as it is not only a conference game, but it is within the West division of the Big Ten, so the winner will have an edge down the stretch in the standings and as record relate to bowl invitations.
Purdue was 7-6 last season while the Wildcats of Northwestern had a 10-3 record including a 23-13 victory over the Boilermakers and a 24-23 win over Kentucky to close out the campaign in the Music City Bowl. Northwestern won its last eight straight after a 2-3 start and they look like a serious contender in the conference.
Coin Flip: Purdue
PREDICTION: Wildcats 34 Boilermakers 21
8:00 pm Wake Forest (-7, 56) at Tulane - It seems like every year, the folks down Tobacco Road are found saying "this is the year" for the Demon Deacons to compete in the ACC. And maybe this year it is, but they'll have to do it without QB Kendall Hinton, who is serving a three-game suspension.
Tulane was just 5-7 last season, but they return 10 starters on offense which should keep this game close and competitive. Wake was 8-5 last year but game up 34 points per game on the road. Upset looms
Coin Flip: Wake Forest
PREDICTION: Green Wave 38 Demon Deacons 34
Friday, August 31
7:00 pm Utah State at #11 Michigan State (23 1/2, 51 1/2) - Finishing the 2017 season with a 10-3 mark, the Spartans return nine starters to an offense that produced 24.5 points per game in the rugged Big Ten. Michigan State closed out last season with a convincing, 42-17 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.
Utah State (6-7 last season) will be happy to leave the field in one piece.
Coin Flip: Michigan State
PREDICTION: Spartans 41 Utah State 14
9:00 pm Western Kentucky at #4 Wisconsin (-35 1/2, 51) - The Badgers come into the season with a sizable chip on their collective shoulders, finishing off Miami last season, 34-24, in the Orange Bowl, but kept out of the national title games even though they were 12-1, but lost to Ohio State, 27-21, missing the Rose Bowl as well.
Will they be prepped and psyched to start the 2018 season? You bet they will and they're at home against a very suspect group from Western Kentucky, which finished 6-7 last year. Don't look for any surprises here.
Coin Flip: Western Kentucky
PREDICTION: Badgers 63 Hilltoppers 10
9:00 pm San Diego State at #13 Stanford (-14 1/2, 48 1/2) - The Cardinal didn't finish last season with any respect or aplomb, losing 31-28 to USC in the PAC-12 Championship, then falling, 39-37, to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. Their 9-5 record was less than what most expected.
Adding to the downside is a defense which lost a number of key players to the NFL. Good news: Bryce Love is back and is the leading Heisman candidate.
San Diego State went 10-3 last year, losing the Armed Forces Bowl to Army, 42-35, but they were 6-2 in the Mountain West and are poised to make a run at the conference title. If Stanford cannot stop their three-headed rushing game, they'll be lucky to win. They might, but probably won't cover.
Coin Flip: San Diego State
PREDICTION: Aztecs 24 Cardinal 20
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