INDIAN COWBOY
Florida -34.5 (POD) (5*)
Florida might just kill this team, and I mean just kill them. Remember, Hawaii has a new coach, their starting quarterback is not playing as he is with injury back in Hawaii, Hawaii returns just 11 players back which has 5 on offense and 5 on already a questionable defense and 1 in special teams. Florida underperformed miserably last year compared to their standards including losing their bowl game which they will be furious to offset, it is the first game of the season and Florida will look to score plenty and often and they have some bad blood with some trash talking with this Hawaii team from last year - granted that was when June Jones was there - still it doesn't leave them. The Gators are returning a total of 16 players out of 22 players which itself tells you a lot about their potential, Florida should do very well today.
Utah +3 (Comp) (3*)
Gallsy, I know. But, I believe in my research and it says that Utah will win this game Outright. Note, I called Chicago Outright yesterday on the road at Washington and nothing is different here. I believe in teams that win outright and taking the points with teams that can win outright and given the research, the massive amount of starters returning, the most from the Mountain West and how young this Michigan team is, Rich Rodriguez's first game or not, it is not a good situation for these baby Wolverines imo. Utah for the Outright win.
Research that went with this play:
All I'm saying is watch out, this is a game that Utah could very well win outright similar to the Chicago Sky yesterday. Remember, this Utah team is returning the most amount of players from the Mountain West and should compete for the Mountain West title. This team returns 17 players, 8 on offense, 7 on defense and 2 on special teams. The spread in this ballgame opened up at 7 and has been brought down steadily down to -3. I know it is Rich Rodriguez's first game and all but I still believe Utah with as many seniors as they bring down for this game and with the experience they have, could very well win this game outright. Michigan is very, very young. This is a game that is likely to go Utah and the Over.
Tulsa/UAB Over 67 (3*)
Normally, I don't cover Conference USA, but this is an exception as I know UAB via knowing Alabama football well, know that this team returns the most number of players back in Conference USA Football as last year Neil Callaway and his staff that rolled in were in their first year. This team went 2-10 and now has 20 players, 8 on offense and 10 on defense returning. They should be considerably better this year. However, Tulsa returns 16 starters and this team went a stellar 10-4 last year and winning in the GMAC Bowl by blowing out Bowling Green by more than 50 points. I know 66 points here seems like a high total, but heck, one of these teams alone could very well accomplish it. Tulsa beat this team 38-30 last year and remember, that was given the fact that this UAB team was improving and Tulsa returns all of its fire power on offense essentially, should make for some fireworks on both sides of the ball today.