Week One of the college football season is upon us, and it is finally time to answer some of your questions in our college football mailbag.
We’ve waited for months to have college football take over our lives once again. Well, we’ll only have to wait a little longer. With games on from Thursday to Monday, the real start of the college football season is now. While we wait for kickoff, we thought we’d take some questions for the Week One mailbag. Let’s get started with the SEC.
Pretend: Tua goes down week 1, play one. Mac goes down play 2. How do you change the offense to offset the injuries?
— henri sauvage (@_Savage_Henry) August 27, 2019
Losing both Tua and Mac for any length of time is easily the worst-case scenario for Alabama. For the Duke game, I would’ve simply suggested to run the ball heavily, let Taulia get used to the pace of a college game, then really open the playbook against New Mexico State.
However, with both Najee and B-Rob suspended for the start of their opener, I would probably call plenty of screens and sweeps to give the ball to the wide receivers behind the line of scrimmage. It’s the easiest play to make, and it gives players like Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle a chance to make a play on their own. The playbook should be simplified this year in the first place, but I would take it one step further.
How many upsets can South Carolina pull this year?
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) August 28, 2019
South Carolina has five games in front of them that simply seem impossible to win. They have to play Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Clemson. In those five games, the most likely for them to win in my eyes would be against Florida at home. We’ve already seen how that offense can struggle, and I’d expect Jake Bentley to handle the pressure better than Miami’s QB did. If the Aggies are stumbling, maybe they could find a way to win there. However, these are unlikely wins for them. I would set the betting line at 0.5 for wins in these five games, and I would be tempted to take the under.
On a scale of 1-10, rate the accuracy of this take; If AUB/ORE finishes under the total, Auburn will win. If the game finishes over the total, Oregon will win.
— CFB 365 (@CFB_community) August 28, 2019
I’d say about an 8. Auburn’s best chance to win is for their defensive line to wreak havoc with Justin Herbert. Their offense isn’t ready to win shootouts just yet. If Oregon scores a ton, I don’t see Auburn keeping up with a freshman quarterback. The only ways I don’t see this being the case is if Oregon’s defense shuts down Bo Nix and wins with the under, or if Bo Nix somehow has an All-American performance and beats Oregon in a shootout.
What is the line for Adrian Martinez this weekend?
— Bryan Mauro (@threecolorbeard) August 27, 2019
I’m really high on Adrian Martinez. I think he combines for close to 350 yards in the air and on the ground. I’m expecting at least three total touchdowns as well. If he makes a couple of big plays happen, he can really surprise some people. The only thing keeping him from getting these numbers is if the Cornhuskers pull him in a blowout win. I like Nebraska to cover the spread easily as well.
Which under the radar game could steal the show in week one?
— Tristan Freeman (@hoopsnut351) August 27, 2019
If you’re looking for a game before Saturday, watch out for Utah and BYU. Utah has the potential to win the Pac-12, but rivalry games always get interesting. I also like the Ole Miss vs. Memphis game and the Florida State vs. Boise State games to get interesting.
All these questions and more will finally be answered once the games are finally played. We are certainly in for an entertaining season.