Spartans will bring heat to Arizona St.
Another college football season dawns. … Actually, they’ve already played two weeks of games, but football doesn’t seem real until the NFL begins.
I’ll be the first to admit if you followed these picks last season, you took a bath (6078-3), including the championship game when Alabama failed to cover by a half-point. I’m confident I can beat 43 percent this time around. That was an expensive year.
Late-night weekend TV can be sketchy unless you’re watching a “Cops” marathon, but tomorrow night offers a gem when No. 15 Michigan State visits Tempe to face Herm Edwards and Arizona State. The Spartans were given a typical early Big Ten scare last week against Utah State, while the Sun Devils coasted past cupcake Texas San Antonio.
The Spartans pass defense did not look good last week, even though it came up with two interceptions. It was a serious wake-up call for a team chock full of returning starters. With daytime temps set to reach 107 degrees tomorrow, the trick will be to keep that defense fresh and off the field as much as possible.
Fortunately, Michigan State boasts a strong offensive line, a quarterback who can control the pace of the game in junior Brian Lewerke and talented tailbacks LJ Scott and Connor Heyward. The Spartans will dominate time of possession as they did last week (37:44) and wear down the Devils.
Arizona State’s defense registered nine sacks last week, but consider the competition. This is a different story. Michigan State, favored by 6, wins by at least 10. In other games:
TOMORROW Georgia Tech (-3) at South Florida — This is far from the same South Florida team that was 10-2 last year with a win against Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl. Quarterback Quinton Flowers is gone, and an inexperienced defense will have fits trying to stop the option attack of the Yellow Jackets, which was run beautifully last week by TaQuon Marshall.
Wisconsin (-341⁄2) vs. New Mexico — The Lobos allowed 566 total yards last week in a 62-30 win against Incarnate Word. Yuck. Coach Bob Davie, suspended 30 days during the summer for his role in an investigation into physical abuse of players, is on the outs, and the program is a mess. The Badgers will pile up yards and points while the defense suffocates New Mexico in a blowout.
South Carolina (+10) vs. Georgia — Quarterback Jake Fromm’s Bulldogs still are one of the best teams in the country, but this is an early road SEC test against the much-improved Gamecocks. South Carolina QB Jake Bentley was not good against Georgia last season, but his weapons are better, and there’s a belief in Columbia that good things are on the horizon. This stays close.
Air Force (+91⁄2) at Florida Atlantic — A little too much respect here for the Owls, who earned a big payday last week by getting blasted at Oklahoma while the Falcons were toying with Stony Brook. FAU running back Devin Singletary is a Heisman darkhorse, but Air Force quarterback Arion Worthman has great command of the offense, which is talented enough to make this game competitive.
Utah (-10) at Northern Illinois — The Utes will feast on a squishy Huskies defense. Quarterback Tyler Huntley can throw, and he has help from a running game led by tailback Zack Moss and an improved offensive line. Utah’s attack is more potent than Iowa, which crushed NIU 33-7 last week.
Cincinnati (+1) at Miami (Ohio) — The Bearcats opened eyes by beating UCLA as significant underdogs, and they haven’t lost in this Victory Bell rivalry since 2005. Cincy’s defense, which smothered UCLA, will control the line of scrimmage and tailback Michael Warren II will help the offense control the clock and win the game at Paul Brown Stadium.
Minnesota (-21⁄2) vs. Fresno State — Fresno State scored 79 points last week against Idaho, to which I say so what. Minnesota’s offense, led by QB Zack Annexstad, is improved after an anemic end to 2017, and the defense will not lay down like the Vandals did. Coach Jeff Tedford has his Bulldogs on the rise, but they aren’t quite ready to beat a decent Big Ten opponent on the road.
Last season: 60-78-3