Week 0 is a great time to be ready for a full slate of games next weekend. Make sure you know the channels, get the rhythm of the new clock down for betting overs, and successfully calling out “BALL” and pointing on a fumble. It also (unfortunately) was a time for me to get my first losing bets out of the way. 1-4 was NOT the way to start the year, but we did learn some important lessons along the way. Here are some takeaways I had after watching the first slate of games yesterday.
Notre Dame MIGHT be Legit
Navy is a team that I still think will surprise some people this season. But it’s going to take a little time under first year head coach Brian Newberry. I thought Notre Dame would come out a little flat under Sam Hartman and take some time to gel. Boy was I wrong. Hartman threw for 251 yards and 4 TDs and we all know what Audric Estime is capable of on the ground. My biggest worry for Notre Dame was their receivers who looked shaky at times but Hartman ended up having four guys total 35+ yards receiving. Defensively, the Irish impressed as well, holding the Navy run game to 2.7 yards per carry. The reason I say MIGHT is because Notre Dame does tend to lose dumb games and let bad teams hang around (a loss to Marshall last year, a close win against Navy). But this team will certainly be tested with games against Ohio State, USC, and Clemson. Navy +20.5 was NOT the play in Week 0.
Ohio was a Rourke injury away from destroying SDSU
I might be biased because Ohio QB Kurtis Rourke is a friend of the show. But, Ohio looked completely lost after he went down with an injury. Rourke’s season ended last year because of a torn ACL. This year, it looks to be less serious as the lower body injury was described by head coach Tim Albin as “not a concern.” Backup QB CJ Harris looked lost, throwing three picks. On the other side, SDSU QB Jalen Mayden was not terribly impressive but did enough to come away with a 20-13 win. Ohio controlled the clock and moved the ball better than the Aztecs, but not having Rourke prevented them from coming away with an upset win.
Jacksonville State enters FBS with conference win
UTEP was not only my favorite bet yesterday, but also my pick to win Conference USA. Genius. Their defense did look as good as advertised, with monster DE Praise Amaewhule leading the way. They also kept Gamecocks QB Zion Webb contained as he starts his 7th year. Perhaps more impressive was holding Jacksonville State’s high-flying, no-huddle offense to just 17 points in 120 degree heat. However, some bizarre play-calling and poor play by QB Gavin Hardison would be the demise of the Miners. Two fourth and short attempts resulted in incomplete deep passes on strange play designs. I’ll tip my cap to Gamecocks HC Rich Rodriguez and congratulate them on their first win in the FBS. My Conference USA future is not off to a hot start.
UMass Isn’t Terrible, but New Mexico State might be
The two usual punching bags of college football UMass and New Mexico State kicked off the season on primetime on ESPN and UMass put on an offensive clinic. What a weird sentence to type. With a 41-30 win, the Minutemen matched their win total from last season already. QB Taisun Phommachanh (say that 10 times fast) was dazzling with 96 yards rushing and another 192 passing. After being a joke since the 2018 season, New Mexico State turned it around under Jerry Kill last season, culminating in a bowl win. They’ll have to turn it around quickly to avoid once again becoming the doormat of college football. Confirmed hoss QB Diego Pavia made some uncharacteristic mistakes and the Aggies should be embarrassed they let a team from the northeast come to the desert and take a win in 100 degree heat. The pregame fits went hard before the game, but now are a bit of a laugher.
Caleb Williams was NOT the most exciting player on USC last night
That title would belong to freshman WR Zachariah Branch. Branch electrified the Southern Cal crowd with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown where he absolutely turned on the BURNERS. He also added 58 yards receiving and 12 yards rushing in his debut. Williams was, of course, great throwing for 278 yards and 4 TDs, but it’s fun to talk about guys not named Caleb Williams when it comes to USC. Shoutout the Trojans for getting me my first win of the year (with some help from San Jose State). CASH THE OVER BABY! Also, the Pac 12 and its network are such a joke.
