Navy Midshipmen

2026 College Football Pre-Season Top 25

Do y’all remember an episode of Seinfeld when George gets fired from the Yankees?? Since there is a severance package involved he enthusiastically looks at it as an opportunity for a three month vacation, but after a tumble down some stairs leaves him incapacitated the neurotic Costanza laments “This was supposed to be the Summer of George!”. I’ve been feeling that way after encountering some health issues and having two medical procedures in the past few months, which is why I’ve been looking forward to football season. Sitting in front of my 55 inch smart TV and watching wall to wall college football on Saturday & seven hours of NFL Redzone on Sunday is my happy place. I’m not very exciting and don’t lead an…impactful…life, but when one spends enough time dealing with certain circumstances simplicity & small comforts become significant. I have friends & family who, in recent months, have gone to the beach, jetted off to Europe, and taken road trips to some cool places. Conversely, I’ll be happy to spend weekends this fall comfortably ensconced in my humble abode watching countless hours of gridiron action.

25 Tennessee

Last Season: 8-5 (lost Music City Bowl)

Key Games: 9/26 vs. Texas, 10/17 vs. Alabama, 11/21 vs. LSU

The Volunteers QB situation concerns me just a bit, with two freshmen vying to replace former signal caller Joey Aguilar, who is trying to secure a spot on the Jacksonville Jaguars roster. Tennessee also has a new defensive coordinator who has an entirely rebuilt defense via the portal. Perhaps my expectations are too high for a team in the (alleged) toughest conference in the country, but Josh Heupel is a former SEC Coach of the Year, and with all three key games noted above happening in Knoxville I believe atleast one upset and a nine win season are reasonable expectations.

24 Arizona State

Last Season: 8-5 (lost Sun Bowl)

Key Games: 9/12 @ Texas A&M, 10/17 @ Texas Tech, 10/31 @ BYU

I am much higher on the Sun Devils than most. The Big 12 is looking like a dog fight, so one upset could make a huge difference. State will need to make their case on the road, and they’ll probably be another team using multiple quarterbacks after Sam Leavitt bolted for LSU. The offense has undergone a significant rebuild, so State will be leaning on its defense to win games. 

23 Nebraska

Last Season: 7-6 (lost Las Vegas Bowl)

Key Games: 10/17 @ Oregon, 10/31 vs. Washington, 11/27 @ Iowa

It seems like we’ve been waiting a very long time for the Cornhuskers to reclaim the glory they had back in the day when I was a boy. Unfortunately former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is a combined 19-19 in his three years at the helm in Lincoln, and this feels like a make or break year for his tenure. Nebraska brings back 69% of their production on both sides of the ball. The question becomes is that a good thing from a team that was 7-6?? How much does stability matter in college football nowadays, and is the number deceiving anyway since Dylan Raiola bolted to be the backup quarterback at Oregon?? I suppose we’ll find out the answers, and I think it is possible that Rhule, with his back against the wall, can pull a couple rabbits out of the hat.

22 Texas A&M

Last Season: 11-2 (lost in first round of playoffs)

Key Games: 9/26 @ LSU, 10/24 @ Alabama, 11/14 vs. Tennessee

A year ago, in his second season in College Station, head coach Mike Elko led the Aggies to double digit wins for the first time since 2012. They return 65% of their production from last season, including QB Marcel Reed. Of course, they also had a program record ten players drafted into the NFL. I think we’ll see a slight regression, and securing a playoff berth will be challenging, but don’t be surprised if A&M sneaks into the tail end of the final rankings.

21 Alabama

Last Season: 11-4 (lost playoff quarterfinal)

Key Games: 10/10 vs. Georgia, 10/17 @ Tennessee, 11/7 @ LSU

Head coach Kalen DeBoer enters his third year in Tuscaloosa, and if he can replicate last season’s success it would calm the waters, although we all know the ‘Bama faithful are getting restless since they’ve been without a national title since 2020. I have a feeling they’ll yo-yo between junior QB Austin Mack & freshman Keelon Russell until one of them seizes control of the job. The Tide returns less than 50% of their production from a season ago and lost ten players in the NFL Draft. Having said that, ‘Bama is the horror movie psycho of college football…just when we think they’re dead in the water they rise up. They host Georgia in October, which is huge. Trips to Rocky Top & Death Valley hold the keys for the entire season.

20 Navy

Last Season: 11-2 (won Liberty Bowl)

Key Games: 10/24 vs. North Texas, 10/31 vs. Notre Dame, 12/12 vs. Army

I always have a soft spot for our service academies, not only for what their players become off the field, but also because their games are unique and fun to watch. The Midshipmen have had two consecutive double digit victory seasons under 4th year head coach Brian Newberry, and I’m predicting another one. I don’t think they’ll upset Notre Dame, but keep your eye on the October visit from North Texas that could be significant in determining an AAC champion.

19 Ole Miss

Last Season: 13-2 (lost playoff semifinal)

Key Games: 10/24 @ Texas, 11/7 vs. Georgia, 11/14 @ Oklahoma

Former head coach Lane Kiffin famously ditched the Rebels before the playoff began a season ago, so this will be Pete Golding’s first full year in charge. I’m sure he is happy to have QB Trinidad Chambliss back under center after a tumultuous offseason of legal battles to secure another year of eligibility for the young man. Junior RB Kewan Lacy also returns, so the offense should be solid. I believe it will be an uphill climb to equal last season, but don’t be surprised if Ole Miss upsets an opponent or two and Chambliss is a serious Heisman contender.

18 North Carolina State

Last Season: 8-5 (won Gasparilla Bowl)

Key Games: 10/23 @ Stanford, 11/21 @ Florida St., 11/28 @ UNC

I find ACC football rather prosaic. I don’t know why. However, with Clemson’s era of dominance seemingly over, the conference is atleast more competitive. The Wolfpack have been average at best for quite awhile, with head coach Dave Doeren in that position since 2013 and winning 8 or 9 games eight times. Can they win just one more game?? Can they go on the road and defeat two or three teams that they should theoretically handle easily?? We’ll see. 

17 BYU

Last Season: 12-2 (won Pop Tarts Bowl)

Key Games: 10/17 vs. Notre Dame, 10/31 vs. Arizona St., 11/7 @ Utah

QB Bear Bachmeier, in addition to having a cool name, is only a sophomore. The Cougars also added tight end Walker Lyons from USC and 6ft.6 receiver Kyle Kasper from Oregon. An October upset of Notre Dame in Provo would certainly improve their playoff resume, but even without that, being in the thick of the Big 12 title chase and double digit victories seem like attainable goals.

16 Texas Tech

Last Season: 12-2 (lost playoff quarterfinal)

Key Games: 9/18 vs. Houston, 10/17 vs. Arizona St., 11/26 vs. TCU

Contrary to the legal victories that secured the services of Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss for another season, the Red Raiders found themselves on the short end of the stick when it came to the brouhaha surrounding QB Brendan Sorsby, who was supposed to transfer from Cincinnati to Lubbock, but apparently enjoyed gambling on football even more than playing football. At any rate, in addition to the quarterback situation, Tech has to replace almost half their defense that was drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. I don’t believe they’ll win as many games or be in the Big 12 title hunt, but neither do I think Tech will fall off the map.

15 Southern Methodist

Last Season: 9-4 (won Holiday Bowl)

Key Games: 9/7 @ Florida St., 10/17 vs. Virginia, 11/21 @ Notre Dame

After securing a playoff berth in 2024 the Mustangs fell off just a bit last season, but still had a nice year that could’ve been even better. They lost two overtime games, including one to eventual playoff runner-up Miami. I don’t think they’ll go into South Bend and take down the Fighting Irish in November, but an early season battle in Tallahassee against the Seminoles feels like a winnable contest that could set a positive tone for the year.

14 Georgia

Last Season: 12-2 (lost playoff quarterfinal)

Key Games: 9/26 vs. Oklahoma, 10/10 @ Alabama, 11/7 @ Ole Miss

A year ago, while ranking the Bulldogs 11th, I said that I had a vibe that they wouldn’t be in the SEC title race. To their credit they proved me wrong, winning the conference championship before losing to Ole Miss in the playoff quarterfinals. However, I’m stubborn, so I’m ranking them even lower this preseason. They return a plethora of starters, including QB Gunner Stockton, center Drew Bobo, and defensive backs KJ Bolden & Ellis Robinson IV, but a closer examination of last season reveals that they won a couple of games that could’ve easily been losses. The ball could bounce the other way in 2026, but even if it does, a ten win season is nothing to be ashamed about.

13 Southern California

Last Season: 9-4 (lost Alamo Bowl)

Key Games: 9/26 vs. Oregon, 10/3 vs. Washington, 10/10 @ Penn St.

The Trojans return 15 starters, including senior QB & possible Heisman candidate Jayden Maiava, who has drawn comparisons to Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger. Head coach Lincoln Riley enters his fifth year at the helm, with the past three seasons being solid yet unremarkable. They’ll need to approach double digit wins and upset a contender or two if Riley doesn’t want his seat to start getting a bit warm.

12 Indiana

Last Season: 16-0 (won CFP Championship)

Key Games: 10/17 vs. Ohio St., 11/14 vs. USC, 11/21 @ Washington

I understand that the Hoosiers are ranked in the Top 5 of most other polls. I know they are the defending National Champions. To be honest, I’m not even that sold on quarterback Fernando Mendoza as an NFL level talent, and believe it’s not a stretch to think incoming transfer Josh Hoover, a former starter at TCU, could replicate Mendoza’s success in Bloomington. The Hoosiers added additional talent thru the portal and of course retained head coach Curt Cignetti. Having said all of that, when one looks back and realizes that Indiana defeated Oregon (twice), Ohio St., Alabama, and Miami (FL) en route to perfection, it is simply difficult to fathom duplication of that achievement.

11 Boise State

Last Season: 9-5 (lost L.A. Bowl)

Key Games: 9/5 @ Oregon, 10/10 @ Fresno St., 11/14 vs. Oregon St.

The Broncos headline the revived & revamped Pac 12, which lacks the prestige of its former incarnation. However, if Boise wins the conference and gets to ten wins they will be a serious playoff contender, especially if they put up a fight in Eugene against the Ducks to open the season. I don’t expect Boise to win that game, but if they can keep the score within 15-20 points the powers-that-be will take notice.

10 Oregon

Last Season: 13-2 (lost playoff semifinal)

Key Games: 9/26 @ USC, 11/7 @ Ohio St., 11/28 vs. Washington

I’ll never get use to Oregon in the Big Ten. College football is stupid off the field. Anyway, QB Dante Moore decided to return to the Ducks rather than enter the NFL Draft, where he certainly would have been a first round pick. I suppose being throttled by Indiana in the playoff semis left a bad taste in his mouth. But can they even get that far again?? I think Oregon will need to score atleast one big upset on the road to be in the conversation. If they lose all three key games Moore may regret delaying his professional dreams.

9 Houston

Last Season: 10-3 (won Texas Bowl)

Key Games: 9/18 @ Texas Tech, 10/24 @ Utah, 11/21 @ WVU

The Big 12 is wide open, and I have no idea who may emerge on top. The Cougars return 65% of their production from a squad that won ten games. A key piece of the puzzle is senior QB Conner Weigman, who threw for over 2700 yards with an impressive 147.74 passer rating, added 700 yards on the ground, and had 36 total touchdowns. Houston also added a Top Ten transfer class from the portal. A year ago they were in the thick of the conference title scrum, but a couple of losses doomed their chances. They’ll need to be road warriors this season to flip the script.

8 Texas

Last Season: 10-3 (won Citrus Bowl)

Key Games: 9/12 vs. Ohio St., 9/26 @ Tennessee, 11/14 @ LSU

This will be QB Arch Manning’s final season in Austin, and it seems like the shine has worn off just a bit. Once upon a time Manning was a presumptive Heisman winner who most assumed would be the #1 overall draft pick, but now some are questioning if the hype was just that. The Longhorns weren’t terrible last year, but a season opening loss at Ohio St. set the wrong tone, and losing at Georgia in November doomed their playoff hopes. They have the Buckeyes at home this time, but will still need to win on the road for things to be better than a season ago.

7 Notre Dame

Last Season: 10-2 (declined bowl invitation)

Key Games: 9/6 vs. Wisconsin, 10/17 @ BYU, 11/7 vs. Miami (FL)

Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice, shame on me. After ranking The Irish #1 a year ago, they thanked me with back-to-back season opening losses to Miami and Texas A&M. The schedule looks a little different this year because realignment has destroyed traditional rivalries, so I would be shocked if Notre Dame doesn’t sail thru the first half of the schedule, and anything less than ten wins and a playoff berth would be a huge disappointment. Sophomore quarterback CJ Carr is back, while running backs Jeremiyah Love & Jadarian Price are now plying their trade in the NFL. That being said, Notre Dame leads the nation in total returning production at 72%, bringing back 14 starters. 

6 LSU

Last Season: 7-6 (lost Texas Bowl)

Key Games: 9/19 @ Ole Miss, 11/7 vs. Alabama, 11/14 vs. Texas

There’s a new sheriff in the bayou, and his name is Lane Kiffin. Former head coach Brian Kelly was 34-14 in just less than four seasons, so Kiffin wasn’t hired to win 9 or 10 games and lead his team to the Citrus Bowl…they are expecting SEC titles & deep playoff runs in Baton Rouge. Kiffin brought in junior QB Sam Leavitt from Arizona St., while LSU is projected to have a Top 5 defense. A mid-September clash at Ole Miss will be hyped by the talking heads for obvious reasons (I’ll be stunned if ESPN’s Gameday isn’t on the scene), but November home games against ‘Bama & Texas will probably decide the conference championship.

5 Ohio State

Last Season: 12-2 (lost playoff quarterfinal)

Key Games: 9/12 @ Texas, 10/17 @ Indiana, 11/7 vs. Oregon

The Buckeyes are at the top of most other polls, but I can’t go there after back-to-back losses (in the Big Ten title game & playoff quarterfinals) to end last season. Talent is never a problem in Columbus. Sophomore QB Julian Sayin returns after passing for 3600 yards & 33 touchdowns with a completion rate of 77% (which led the nation). He finished 4th in Heisman Trophy voting. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith fell off a bit last year after a phenomenal freshman season, but that was due to a quad injury that negatively impacted two games in November. There were some huge departures from the defense. Four of the first eleven picks in the NFL Draft were from Ohio St., with three of those being defensive players. Rebuilding that unit is the biggest key to the team’s success.

4 Washington

Last Season: 9-4 (won L.A. Bowl)

Key Games: 10/3 @ USC, 11/21 vs. Indiana, 11/28 @ Oregon

The Huskies have flown under the radar the last couple of seasons since former head coach Kalen DeBoer left for Alabama after leading Washington to the CFP championship game in 2024. However, coming off a 9-4 finish there is a ton of optimism in Seattle. Washington is another west coast team inexplicably competing in the Big Ten, but I’ll refrain from beating that dead horse. Skill positions took a hit after RB Jonah Coleman & receiver Denzel Boston were drafted into the NFL, but returning QB Demond Williams Jr., who threw for over 3000 yards and scored 31 touchdowns last season, has been compared to Kyler Murray with flashes of Russell Wilson. Defense will be the difference maker, and I think we’ll see the Huskies pull off a couple of big upsets.

3 Utah

Last Season: 11-2 (won Las Vegas Bowl)

Key Games: 10/24 vs. Houston, 11/7 vs. BYU, 11/21 @ TCU

A year ago I overlooked the Utes in the Big 12, but they were in the hunt right to the very end of the season. I expect the conference to be just as competitive this season, if not more so. Head coach Morgan Scalley takes over for Kyle Whittingham, who left for Michigan. However, since Scalley had been the defensive coordinator in Salt Lake City for a decade, I don’t think continuity will be an issue. Senior QB Devon Dampier threw for almost 2500 yards last season, rushed for over 800 yards, and scored 34 touchdowns. Their defense will have to kick it up a notch or two, and Utah needs to defend their home field against some formidable opponents.

2 Penn State

Last Season: 7-6 (won Pinstripe Bowl) 

Key Games: 10/10 vs. USC, 10/17 @ Michigan, 11/7 @ Washington

I’m a big fan of my boy Rocco Becht, who will become the Nittany Lions new quarterback after following head coach Matt Campbell from Iowa St. to Happy Valley. There’s no way around it…last season was a disaster for Penn St., so they needed a total reset. Winning the Big Ten is a tall mountain to climb, but I think it’s doable. There are advantages to being disregarded & undervalued, and this is a team that may just take a few opponents by surprise.

1 Miami (FL)

Last Season: 13-3 (CFP Championship runner-up)

Key Games: 10/3 @ Clemson, 10/17 vs. Florida St., 11/7 @ Notre Dame

We’d been waiting for the once dominant ‘Canes to be a force once again, and last season they made it all the way to the CFP championship game. The ACC might be the most winnable conference in the country, and it’s odd to recall that Miami didn’t even play in the title game last year thanks to close losses to Louisville & SMU. They snuck into the playoff and went on an incredible run, defeating three Top Ten teams before falling to Indiana. Can they do it again?? Miami lost nine players in the NFL Draft, including three first round choices. QB Darian Mensah has transferred to Coral Gables from Duke, and he might be even better than former signal caller Carson Beck. However, the bigger issue is defense, which was Top 5 in the country a season ago. Can they reload?? Will a new look defense be as good as they were last year?? Winning the conference is a priority, in part because it would make the playoff path somewhat less difficult.

2024 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 9

We kept our head above water doing bonus picks a week ago, with point spreads playing a key role in flipping several outcomes one way or the other. I’m glad not to be a gambler because I can imagine having a half point ruin your day could be rather frustrating. At any rate, I extended my season lead by one game, while Zach is one game closer to getting back to the .500 mark. We are each in the same general ballpark as this identical point a year ago.

My Season: 28-24

Zach’s Season: 24-28

Notre Dame (-12.5) vs. Navy

Don’t look now, but two of the service academy football teams are undefeated (sorry about your damn luck Air Force). Party like it’s 1946!! In the grand scheme of things that probably doesn’t mean much since it is doubtful they’d be considered playoff worthy, but it could make the Army-Navy game more consequential than it’s been in quite some time. We’re several weeks away from that though. Meanwhile, the 6-1 Irish are praying that an inexplicable September loss to Northern Illinois doesn’t torpedo their playoff aspirations. This rivalry dates back to 1927, with Notre Dame winning 80 of the 96 meetings. The Midshipmen last won in 2016. For some strange reason the game is being played at the NFL home of the Jets & Giants in New Jersey, meaning it’ll be the most entertaining contest those fans have seen all year. As much as I’d love to predict an upset I cannot imagine Navy overcoming what I assume is a notable disadvantage in size, speed, and athleticism. I’d love to be wrong. Zach believes Notre Dame being overrated is business as usual, and he thinks Navy can hang with them by running the ball and controlling the clock. 

My Pick: Notre Dame

Zach’s Pick: Navy 

Kansas at Kansas State (-9.5)

They call it the Sunflower Showdown, with the victor taking possession of the Governor’s Cup. It is actually the 4th longest active rivalry in college football (thanks realignment 🙄), with the Jayhawks leading the overall series despite the fact that the Wildcats have won the last 15 meetings dating back to 2009. State is 6-1 and has the home field, while 2-5 KU has to be disappointed with how things have gone thus far after winning nine games a season ago. I predicted K-St. would compete for the conference title, and they’re on pace to be in that mix. Zach doesn’t feel like it’ll be particularly close.

My Pick: Kansas St.

Zach’s Pick: Kansas St.

Illinois at Oregon (-21.5)

The 6-1 Illini announced their presence with authority last weekend, beating Michigan by two touchdowns. Not to be outdone, the undefeated Ducks sit atop the rankings with victories over Ohio St. and…well, okay, they beat Ohio St. and share the Big Ten lead with Indiana. I’d be surprised if Oregon lost at home, but the points concern me. Is Illinois for real?? They don’t have to win the game to gain that legitimacy, but they do need to be competitive. I don’t feel strongly either way, but I’ll roll the dice on the visitors keeping things respectable. Zach has been impressed by Illinois and agrees it won’t be as easy for Oregon as some might assume.

My Pick: Illinois 

Zach’s Pick: Illinois 

Chicago (-2.5) at Washington

It’s supposed to be a marquee matchup pitting #1 overall pick Caleb Williams against #2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, but the Commanders’ rookie QB suffered a rib injury last weekend so his status for this game remains a bit murky. Daniels, to the surprise of no one who pays attention, has been the more exciting & impactful signal caller thus far, leading his team to a 5-2 record and the NFC East lead. Williams has the Bears looking much improved at 4-2, though they have the misfortune of playing in the NFL’s most competitive division. I’m not a Vegas insider, but it isn’t difficult to figure out that the points are all about Daniels’ questionable status. If he plays and is unencumbered by the injury Washington is a clear favorite at home, but if backup QB Marcus Mariota is under center then things obviously tilt toward Chicago. Can Jayden Daniels channel 1997 NBA Finals Michael Jordan?? Holy schneikes that’d be freakin’ cool. Zach has always been more complimentary to Williams than I’ve been, but he likes the Commanders to score the slight upset.

My Pick: Washington

Zach’s Pick: Washington 

Dallas at San Francisco (-4.5)

The cool thing about this rivalry is that it isn’t completely about nostalgia. Oh sure, those of us old enough to remember legendary names like Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, Emmitt Smith, Brent Jones, and Deion Sanders in their heyday become a bit sentimental about the classic skirmishes of the past, but the matchup always feels just as relevant as it did decades ago. The 3-4, injury plagued Niners have struggled more than anyone could’ve ever anticipated a few months ago but sit just one game out of the division lead. It’s a similar story for the 3-3 Cowboys, who are currently in third place in the NFC East. They are coming out of their bye week though, which probably offsets Frisco’s home field. It’s the Sunday night game on NBC and will likely get good ratings. I am somewhat surprised that Dallas isn’t favored even though they’re on the road, but watching Jerry Jones get ridiculed by the sports media is delightfully hilarious. Zach  doesn’t have a positive impression of either team, but he thinks San Francisco sucks less than the Cowboys right now.

My Pick: San Francisco 

Zach’s Pick: San Francisco 

2023 PIGSKIN PICKS OF PROFUNDITY…WEEK 1

A year ago I got off to an atrocious start with these picks of what the talking heads call Week Zero. I was behind the eight ball from the jump, but recovered enough to finish the season in a dead heat with Zach, both of us ending up a lowly 57-64. I went on to win an admittedly convoluted tiebreaker for the season victory, but I sincerely hope we don’t need to resort to that again. I just want us to be better at this, even though there is no money or anything else at stake. At any rate, it’s great to have football to enjoy every weekend again. I don’t know how much game action I’ll be able to actually watch these first couple of weeks, but I’m going to appreciate the hell out of whatever I’m able to see.

Navy at Notre Dame (-20.5)

It’s a rivalry that goes all the way back to 1927, with the Irish leading the series 81-13-1. The last time the Midshipmen were victorious was 2016. Having said that, it’s not always a blowout. Notre Dame won by only three points last November after Navy put up 16 points in the 4th quarter and the winners didn’t score at all in the second half. No one expects Navy to win this game, but will they lose by three TDs?? I’m willing to roll the dice and say they’ll keep things just a bit closer…maybe 15-18 points. Zach believes the underdogs will keep things close in the first half, but Notre Dame will roll to a huge win.

My Pick: Navy

Zach’s Pick: Notre Dame

Hawaii at Vanderbilt (-16.5)

If you need any more proof that collegiate athletics is all about money, just witness Vanderbilt in the SEC. They bring nothing to the table competitively, but it’s a university for wealthy folks, so it really doesn’t matter what happens on the field. The Commodores had back-to-back nine win seasons in 2012-13, their first (and last) since 1982. The Rainbow Warriors have been slightly more successful thru the years, but have suffered thru three straight losing seasons. Something about the points doesn’t make sense here. Logic dictates that there’s a reason other than simple home field advantage, but I don’t know what it could be. I believe it’ll be more competitive than the oddsmakers think. Conversely, Zach thinks Hawaii is a terrible team and Vandy will win easily.

My Pick: Hawaii

Zach’s Pick: Vanderbilt

Ohio at San Diego State (-3.5)

Hey, we finally have a (presumably) close contest!! Far be it from me to fall prey to preconceived notions, but MAC games are usually slow paced, old fashioned, smashmouth football, whereas the Mountain West is generally known to be high scoring & more exciting. Will this game stay true to form?? The Bobcats are coming off a 10-4 season topped off by an overtime bowl victory, while the Aztecs were a more pedestrian 7-6. SD St. has the home field and should be better defensively, so I think they win by a touchdown. Zach foresees the home team going against the grain and winning easily with a solid rushing attack.

My Pick: San Diego St.

Zach’s Pick: San Diego St.

Florida International at Louisiana Tech (-10.5)

When my Thundering Herd played in Conference USA I paid much more attention to these teams and always looked forward to watching them play. However, I lost track of them a year ago when Marshall moved to the Sun Belt. FIU was 4-8 last season under a new head coach, while Tech went 3-9 in the same circumstance. There’s nowhere to go but up for both programs, and I’m sure they’d love to get things started the right way. In a head-to-head matchup last year the Panthers won at home in two OTs, so I expect the Bulldogs to get their revenge…by less than ten points. Zach, on the other hand, likes Tech to throw the ball & achieve a big victory thru the air.

My Pick: FIU

Zach’s Pick: Louisiana Tech

San Jose State at Southern California (-30.5)

The Trojans are a Top 10 team in most preseason polls. The Spartans haven’t won more than seven games in a season since 2012. I’m a big fan of monumental upsets, but that isn’t happening. Can USC cover the points though?? They’re 5-0 all time against SJSt., but the margin of victory exceeded 30 points only twice. With bigger fish to fry in the future and a possible playoff run on the horizon I think the home team will play alot of young backups and not even approach full throttle. They’ll win, but by 20-25 points. Zach is a little hesitant about the points but thinks USC will cover.

My Pick: San Jose St.

Zach’s Pick: USC