It’s here. Gone is training camp, preseason hype, and prognostications about who is and isn’t good, and in its place are the games we’ve been waiting for since Florida State was crowned the long awaited final BCS Champion.
That’s right, the BCS is no longer, and in its place lies the playoff most have clamored for seemingly since Albert Ingalls was thrown headfirst over the goal line in that epic contest versus Sleepy Eye. Okay, most of you won’t get that reference and if you do, you’re likely saddled with a trivia-trap of a brain like yours truly. But while few may have the terrible TV retention capable of referencing Little House on the Prairie, most will agree that less of the BCS is good, while more of anything else is an upgrade.
For most Pac-12 teams, Week 1 is little more than an opportunity to embarrass an overmatched FCS opponent en route to cutting the check which that same FCS opponent is sacrificing themselves for. Utah is playing Idaho State, ASU is playing Weber State, and Stanford is playing UC Davis. Meanwhile, Oregon State is hosting Portland State, and Oregon welcomes South Dakota State, pitting the home of Mt. Rushmore versus a team boasting a highly touted freshman, Royce Freeman, seemingly already on football’s version of it.
Golf has their “best player never to win a major” moniker, and if football had a similar one entitled, “best player never to take the field,” the greenhorn running back from Southern California would likely wear the crown.
That’s not a knock on “Rolls Royce,” for by all accounts he’d run from such grandiose anointment. But one would have to have had their head in the sand not to have heard the loud echoes coming from those in and around the Oregon football program, regarding the ability and potential of the 5-star recruit from Imperial, California.
Since his commitment to Oregon last summer, his arrival on campus had been talked about and highly anticipated by Duck fans familiar with the elite combination of size and speed that young Mr. Freeman brings to the table. But it wasn’t until they started butting heads in August, that the temperature of hype began creeping towards critical mass.
By all accounts, Royce is the real deal. His coaches are saying it. His peers are saying it. And the lucky handful of outsiders who’ve been allowed to see him in practice, they’re saying it too. But while having the size, the speed, and the wherewithal to fit the bill, no one will truly know the level of his genius until he displays such for the masses who’ll ultimately decide the verdict.
Royce isn’t the first victim of such a tsunami of hype. Every team and fan base have, will or do possess a “Royce Freeman” of their own. In today’s world of year-round coverage of existing and incoming personnel (aka recruiting), diehard fanatics cherry pick from their list of commits, practice and scrimmage reports, and eyewitness accounts for the future superstar turning heads. Everyone has their “great white hope,” and it’s that hope that fuels much of the anticipation for even the most unevenly matched games … of which we have many.
I will be picking the games this year, allowing you to judge my likely ineptitude doing so. This week’s slate is a bit inadequate due to the lack of betting lines involving FCS opponents, regardless I’m in, and the following are my best guesses:
Rutgers +8 versus Washington State – This game’s being played on a “neutral field” in Seattle, meaning Husky fans rooting against their cross-state rival, will outnumber both fans of the Scarlet Knights, as well as students and alums from the Eastern Washington Palouse. Regardless, I’ll take the team playing in their state, in their time zone, and in a stadium they’ve played reasonably well in in the past. My pick: Cougs -8
Colorado State -13.5 versus Colorado – Another neutral site game (Denver), I’m left with less to go on in a game I have little of a clue. Colorado is allegedly improved, Colorado State allegedly isn’t, and while I think the Buff’s will win the game outright, I’ll take the more of 2 evils given the nearly 2 touchdown head start Vegas is affording them. My Pick: Colorado State +13.5
UNLV +24 at Arizona – Arizona is breaking-in a new signal caller versus the Runnin’ Rebels, but I venture to guess even a young Randall Cunningham would be in over his head against Rich Rod opening night. Greenhorn or not, the Cats will have too much firepower at home for the boys from Vegas to handle. My Pick: Arizona -24
UCLA -21.5 at Virginia – Forget it; the Bruins (while in my opinion overhyped) have too much – even in Week 1 – for an overmatched Cavalier squad regardless of time and place. My Pick: UCLA -21.5
Cal +13 at Northwestern – Cal wasn’t good last year, isn’t expected to be much better this year, and I’m not a believer in their coach. Meanwhile, Northwestern is better than average and has a proven top-tier coach in Pat Fitzgerald. Northwestern definitely wins the game, and likely covers the spread. My Pick: Northwestern -13
Fresno State -23 at USC – The Trojans’ starting 22 is as good as nearly anyone in the country, and new coach Steve Sarkisian will be looking to start with a bang. However, due to Fresno State’s respectability coupled with Sarkisian’s unwillingness to risk the health of his starters, I think this one will be over early, but will allow the Bulldogs to get points late. My Pick: Fresno State +23
Washington -21.5 at Hawaii – Seriously? Hawaii? This game pits a first-year coach looking to make an impression, versus a team whose school has openly admitted discussions of ending football. Puleez! My Pick: Washington –however many points you want to give up
Enjoy the games and keep an eye on Royce Freeman … I know I will.
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