College Football Picks for Saturday 8/25!

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Ah it is that time of the year once again! At long last, it is football season! NFL preseason is in full-swing and most of us are all about our fantasy football drafts and getting our notes ready to dominate our buddies when putting together our prefect teams. The NCAA football season gets-going in earnest next weekend with a full slate of action that starts on Thursday night and goes right through Labor Day weekend. However, the college football season actually kicks off today! There are only 4 games on the docket today, but all 4 have some potential.

We start with the game that officially kicks off the season later today when UMass hosts FCS-opponent Duquesne. The Dukes aren't expected to give much of a fight, but UMass wasn't exactly a power last year. The Minutemen started last season with a couple of disappointments and then seemed to get better as the season wore-on. However, a disappointing 4-8 finish was the total and this season should be about the same. While UMass should have no problem winning this one, I'm not convinced that they can cover a spread that went from +18 to +21 this morning. Capitalize on Duquesne getting those extra points - PICK: Duquesne +21

Our second game again features an FBS-opponent in Rice, hosting an FCS-opponent in Prairie View A&M. Prairie View has not been very good the past couple of years and these teams last met two years ago in October of the 2016 season - when Rice routed A&M 65-44 for their first win of the season. Both teams struggled last year, and there's nothing to suggest that both won't do the same this year. They managed 109 total points in that 2016 encounter, and its hard to imagine this one being a whole lot different as both teams have less-than-stellar defenses, but actually return a few people on offense. The over/under currently sits at 57.0 - take advantage as both teams will probably start slow, but once the scoring starts, I don't foresee it stopping - PICK: OVER 57

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The other two games tonight to officially kick-off the college football season actually features all FBS schools. Colorado State will host Hawaii, and Wyoming travels to New Mexico State. Colorado State got off to a big start last season when they piled up points in a route of Oregon State. Their matchup with Hawaii last season, was a 51-21 triumph in the islands, and Colorado State was keenly successful last season on piling points against teams with bad defenses and not-so-good at scoring against teams with relatively good defenses. Hawaii's D doesn't expect to be all that much better this season, and the Rams get this one at-home this year. Look for a similar situation as last season's opener - I expect Colorado State to win in a route, and they should be able to cover the 17-point spread. This game presents two good opportunities - PICK: Colorado State -17.0 & OVER 58.0

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The final game of the evening should be the day's best. While Wyoming and New Mexico State aren't going to jump off the page as must-watch football to anyone, both of these programs are coming off high-notes in their programs' long histories. Wyoming went 8-5 last year and won a bowl game, and had QB Josh Allen taken in the top 10 of this year's NFL draft. New Mexico State made a bowl game last year for the first time since 1960 (only their 4th-ever bowl appearance) and finished 7-6. Wyoming will be breaking in a new QB, but they have a very talented defense and are fully-capable of having another good season. The lack of QB experience could be the difference in what is expected to be a close, close game. Take NMST - who was better at home than on the road last year to cover the 4 1/2 points. I would even entertain taking them money-line - PICK: New Mexico State - +4.5

Enjoy the games today, none of them are must-watch matchups by any means and don't feature any of the "power"conference teams, but that Wyoming-New Mexico State game should be a great one. Let me know your thoughts as always and happy football season! Best of luck!!