This is my favorite trend over the years for Week 1. Basically it is favored teams coming off a season where they had a losing record. It always seems to hit a big one during week 1. Couple years ago you all might remember Texas State winning at Baylor as a 26pt dog. Last year it did tighten up a bit as only Sam Houston won at Rice as a 9pt dog. But I'm going to roll it again....guess who is at the top of the list?
Already write up above my feelings about my Cats. I've read through Phil Steele's writeups of the other big favs and I think best guess might be
Purdue who is on upset watch. Purdue's defense really got smashed last year and to be honest, I'm not a big fan of Barry Odom. What did he do at Missouri? Yeah, kudos to him for rebuilding UNLV and he did bring in some transfers from there to help. PS writes folks in W. Lafayette are pointing to what IU did with JMU's transfer class last year. PS also writes however JMU's class of transfers were from one school and thus worked well together when they came to IU. Purdue's transfers are "mostly from all over." Ball State is not a world-beater by any stretch but the new coach thing going on here for the Boilers and the fact they are playing in-state little brother may make this a big game for Ball State. This is the best chance out of the other games on the list below if you ask me. According to PS, Mississippi State, Maryland, and FIU are much improved from last year. Kent State is downright awful and has no shot at Wake and I am not betting against Coach Smith at Sparty. I did not bother with looking at Kansas/Wagner matchup. BOL in what you decide!
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