Greetings sports fans!! We’re back with a 4th season of scintillating football insight and weekly game picks. My nephew Zach joins me for the third time. In 2014 I finished with a pretty decent record of 52-44, while Zach crashed & burned in the final weekend to go 46-50 for the year. As usual the NCAA gets started before the NFL, and also as usual the schedule is filled with unappetizing matchups of powerhouse teams facing Little Sisters of the Poor. That is par for the course in the first couple weeks of college football. However, I was able to find a handful of intriguing games, a couple of which might even play a key role in which teams end up in the four team national title playoff in January. We’ll see. Remember the ground rules. We don’t get paid for this. We’re just football fans having some fun. Point spreads are included only to add a layer of intrigue & strategery. The Manofesto doesn’t encourage gambling for a few reasons, one of which being the fact that we’re really not very good at this. Enjoy!!

 

 

 

 
TCU (-14) at Minnesota
The Horned Frogs finished 12-1 last season and many thought that they deserved a spot in the inaugural championship playoff. Unfortunately they play in the Big 12 (which has ten teams), a conference that seems destined to be left in the dust until they expand and add a title game. Senior QB Trevone Boykin is an early Heisman favorite. The Gophers went 8-5 in 2014 and kept getting incomprehensible respect from the playoff committee (who ranks 25 teams even though only 4 are in the playoff). Pundits seem to think TCU has another solid chance to be a playoff team this go round, while yours truly has them ranked 7th. Minnesota has the home field advantage in this one, which is why I’m going to be a rebel and pick them to cover the points but not actually win the game. Conversely, Zach likes TCU’s powerful offense and thinks they’ll win easily.

My Pick – Minnesota
Z’s Pick – TCU

 

 

 

Louisville vs. Auburn (-10.5)
The national sports media seems to like both of these teams more than I do. The Tigers are predicted to be a Top 10 team in other polls, while mine has them nowhere in sight. The Cardinals are “receiving votes” in other rankings, but not mine. This is a neutral site game in Atlanta, although Auburn should have a strong “home field” advantage. I’m not buying the Louisville hype at all, and while I think Auburn will struggle against SEC foes I don’t believe they’ll have any problems winning their opener. Zach concurs, opining that it’ll be a blowout by halftime allowing Auburn to get their bench some playing time in the second half.

My Pick – Auburn
Z’s Pick – Auburn

 

 

 

Arizona St. vs. Texas A&M (-3)
This might be the best game of the opening weekend. It is another neutral site game, this time in Houston, which gives the Aggies the clear “home field” advantage. The Sun Devils are also getting a lot of love from the talking heads while getting none from me, with most “experts” showing them nestled safely in the Top 20. Conversely, A&M is in the “receiving votes” category in most other polls, while I have them ranked 15th. The point spread isn’t really a factor, as the 3 points are a function of A&M’s likely crowd support. On paper it really does look like a tossup, and I’ve got to lean toward the nominal favorite. Zach is going with the majority and against the spread. He likes Arizona St.’s defense to make the difference.

My Pick – Texas A&M
Z’s Pick – Arizona St.

 

 

 

Texas at Notre Dame (-9.5)
Once upon a time this would have been a big time, overhyped matchup of college football royalty, but the Longhorns have fallen on tough times the past few years and aren’t anywhere near most rankings…except mine, where they sneak in at #25. Meanwhile, the Irish are hovering near the Top 10 in most polls and I have them ranked 3rd…solidly in the playoff conversation. The game is at South Bend and an upset seems highly unlikely. So the question is will Notre Dame cover the points?? I believe so. Zach is employing a “go big or go home” strategery and is picking the huge upset.

My Pick – Notre Dame
Z’s Pick – Texas

 

 

 

Wisconsin vs. Alabama (-11)
This is also a neutral site game at The Palace in Dallas, and a year ago it might have been a really interesting game. However the Badgers not only lost record setting RB Melvin Gordon to the NFL, they are also welcoming their third head coach in four years. I think they’ll be alright in the long run, but there couldn’t possibly be a bigger challenge out of the gate than ‘Bama. I see no reason to believe that the Tide won’t be in the thick of the playoff conversation all season long, and that will start with them steamrolling Wisconsin. Zach has a huge mancrush on Nick Saban and thinks Alabama will win by 17 points. He believes that Wisconsin will hang tight for the first 3 quarters but get blown away late.

My Pick – Alabama
Z’s Pick – Alabama