Well, while the NFLers are stuck playing friendlies today (my Patriots are in Jersey), the FBS season is well underway. Last week Hawaii pulled off the upset @Colorado State, putting Sabo's Aztecs a half game back in the Mountain West west division. Unlike the last few seasons where SDSU was the consensus picks, last season's west winner (Fresno State), and conference champ (Boise State), are consensus picks to repeat. SDSU is playing 10 of the same 13 teams they faced last season, including both P5 teams, at the opposite venues. The difference is (a) an extra home game, (b) a different MAC team (E.Michigan in 2018/@N. Illinois in 2017), and (c) a new KGB Skyshow FCS sacrificial guest (Sacramento St./UC Davis), and if they play in a school record 9th bowl, they're highly unlikely to play Army again. Rocky Long returns as coach, and Christian Chapman returns for his fourth season as starting QB.
I'm just pulling Sabo's tail here a little... he's not actually going to the game, it's on tv. However, his Aztecs are going, and this Friday road non-conference game is SDSU's only against a team in the AP preseason poll, and looks to be their toughest game of the season. But... they swept the Pac-12 2-0 least season, and can do it again this season. That's the way Sabo sees it. Sabo sez...
Go Aztecs !!!1!
Stanford 22 @SDSU 41 last season. Series: Stanford 3-2.
SDSU first game @new Stanford Stadium. Stanford is -550, -14pts.
2018 Sat | Sabo's Aztecs | 10-3 | my Golden Bears | 5-7 | my Patriots | 15-4 |
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#1 9-2 | Stanford#13 9-5 | Fri | N.Carolina 3-9 | | @(Giants 3-13) | Thu |
My Golden Bears host Carolina
Also kicking off the season is my Golden Bears. Justin Wilcox returns for a second season as head coach. Ross Bowers returns for a second season as his starting QB. Even though last season ended with the same 5-7 record as under the previous S.Dykes regime... and ended with the exact same lack of bowling... there was an air of optimism about this new Wilcox era, which has carried over to this season. Are we looking at Cal going bowling, regaining that pesky axe, or even (gulp) going to the Rose Bowl? We'll see. Cal plays 10 of the 12 teams they faced last season, in opposite venues. The difference is (a) an extra home game, as 6 of those 10 are at home in 2018 (b) in theory at least, a schedule down as they play an independent other than Notre Dame instead of a P5 team (@BYU/Ole Miss), (c) a different FCS guest (Idaho St/Weber St).
It is clear that Cal will need to have continued success out of conference, they were 3-0 last season, to except to be trying on those bowling shoes come December. North Carolina is coming off an off-season, and has several key players suspended for selling gear. The time to beat a traditional power team is when they are in a down stretch, and especially when you got them at home. That (hopefully) starts Saturday with the Tar Heels first ever visit to Memorial Stadium.
Go Golden Bears !!!1!
Cal 35 @N.Carolina 30 last season, only meeting. Cal is -275, -7pts.
A gratuitous sports post. 2017 records. AP opening rank in green.
NFL exhibition in (parens). Odds from vegasinsider.com.