The opening Saturday of college football will be flooded with a number of games to watch and wager on, featuring some of the top teams in the country on display. Make the time to learn not only about your favorite team or top selection, but create information about other squads across the country and see what value they might have in the not to distant future. Questions to be answered are how will Wisconsin play with new quarterback, is Illinois really making improvements and what kind of year might Notre Dame have rebuilding, in spite of what coach Charley Weis says? Plus what emotions will run through Virginia Tech players and coaches? Get everything together for a convivial event with friends and let the games begin.


East Carolina (+27.5, 55) at Virginia Tech 12:00E ESPN

It didn’t take Skip Holtz long to prove he picked up a thing or two from his father, the former coach Lou Holtz, as East Carolina went bowling in just his second year. This was accomplished with primarily the previous coach’s players and now Holtz first class of upperclassmen will have to prove there worth with a total of just 12 starters back in the fold. The Pirates are 10-2 ATS on the road under Holtz.

Virginia Tech will play this season against the backdrop of tragedy from last April’s shooting on campus. Coach Frank Beamer will no doubt use this to further rally and tighten a squad that is among the best in college football this season. The Hokies offense should be improved with more stability and experience with QB Sean Glannon in second season and RB Brandon Ore playing power football. The defense should be nearly as stingy as last season, leading D-1A in fewest points and yards allowed.

Virginia Tech is 7-3 ATS in first lined home game at Blacksburg, however might have one eye peeking ahead to titanic match-up with LSU the following week. The Hokies are 30-13 ATS in the first month of the season.

StatFox Forecaster – East Carolina covers
StatFox Power Line – Virginia Tech by 24
StatFox Outplay Factor – Virginia Tech by 16


Colorado State (+2.5, 44.5) vs. Colorado 12:00E FSN

If Colorado State is going to put last year’s seven game season ending losing streak behind them (1-6 ATS), this will be the year. A grand total of 19 starters’ return, along with 1,000 yards rusher Kyle Bell who missed 2006 with a torn ACL. Head Coach Sonny Lubick for the first time in years in Fort Collins went full contact for spring practice to set the tone of physical play for the Rams. Colorado State 5-12 straight up with the exact opposite record of 12-5 ATS against in-state rival the last 20 years.

The smoke and mirrors job Gary Barnett did in the last couple of seasons all came tumbling down on Buffalos coach Dan Hawkins with 2-10 season. His reputation took a huge hit in Boulder and other locales and now he has to prove he can win at a big time program. Offensively points will still be hard to come by on consistent basis, meaning the defense will have to cover. CB Terrance Wheatley is possible Thorpe Award candidate, heads a secondary that will be even stronger than a season ago.

This Colorado conflict drew national attention for a few seasons and is now just a regional event. This contest is back to neutral Denver setting, and this series has seen the favorite post a 2-9 ATS record the last 11 seasons in heated rivalry.

StatFox Forecaster – Colorado State covers
StatFox Power Line – Colorado by 12
StatFox Outplay Factor – Colorado by 2.8

Wake Forest (+6, 42.5) at Boston College 3:30E ABC/GP

Boston College loss at Wake Forest 21-14 as 4-point favorites ended up opening and closing the door for each team’s conference title game aspirations. The departure of Tom O’Brien to another ACC school caught most by surprise; however incoming Jeff Jagodinski will have 16 difference making starters back. Senior Matt Ryan just makes plays, is elusive enough and should be on a NFL sideline next year. B.C. linebackers are as good as any group in the country.

Wake Forest magical season places additional pressure on much larger schools in the ACC, after conference title and BCS bowl berth. Four hulking linemen return in front of sophomore Riley Skinner to help him work his magic. The bend but don’t break defensive philosophy fits the Demon Deacons who frustrate opponents in the red zone. Wake Forest is 9-1 against the spread against ACC Atlantic Division teams.

Wake Forest will be the road underdog, yet are 4-0 ATS against the Eagles and are 7-4 and 8-3 ATS on the road the last two regular seasons.

StatFox Forecaster – Boston College covers
StatFox Power Line – Boston College by 7
StatFox Outplay Factor – Boston College by 10.5


Washington State (+14.5, 49.5) at Wisconsin 3:30E ABC/GP

Washington State dropped three final games in 2006, losing by average of 36-15 and will seek fast start to wipe out bad taste. Cougars will still use one back and three wide receiver offense and hope QB Alex Brink has big senior campaign. Head coach Bill Doba is retaking the job of defensive coordinator, which is how he earned Pullman job, returning to preferred 4-3 defense. This affords the possibility to create more pressure on opposing QB, yet places defensive backs on more of an island in pass happy Pac-10.

Wisconsin T Joe Thomas will be missed; nonetheless the departure of John Stocco could be more important for a team with true Rose Bowl thoughts flowing in there heads. Senior signal caller Tyler Donovan is referred to as a “gamer” by coach Bret Bielema. The presumption is he can win and navigate sticky situations when they arise. This will still be a classic Big Ten team with speed being added each year. Experience and playmakers abound on both sides of the ball in Madison.

Good test for both teams with greater importance to Badgers. Wisky is 11-0 in home openers (3-4 ATS in line games) and the Cougars are 8-2 ATS in non-conference road games.

StatFox Forecaster – Wisconsin covers
StatFox Power Line – Wisconsin by 17
StatFox Outplay Factor – Wisconsin by 15.8

Missouri (-4.5, 56.5) vs. Illinois 3:30E ESPN2

Just like the basketball game, Missouri and Illinois will meet on a neutral field in St. Louis for this border war non-conference conflict. Only seven teams averaged better than 425 yards of offense last season and just one besides the Tigers returns leading passer, receiver and rusher. It’s taken a little bit, but coach Gary Pinkel finally has the right type of players to run high octane offense. The focus on defense will be on stopping the run as seven different runners rushed for over 100 yards in last six games. DT Ziggy Hood and NT Lorenzo Williams are part of the solution.

The talent level is climbing in Champaign and results could be forthcoming in year three of the Ron Zook era. Defensively no team in the country may have looked and played better from one year to the next than Illinois. With nine starters back and talented backups pushing them, the Fighting Illini may live up to nickname. On the other side of the ball Juice Williams should settle down and be more accurate passer. Illinois receivers did little to help; leading the Big Ten in drops. O-line needs to work out details and should be improved. The Illini only cover 38 percent of the time in the first half of the season the last 14 years.

Missouri believes they can win Big 12 North and needs springboard game to set tempo. If Illinois is truly making strides, this is prime upset situation to do so. The Tigers have covered 5 of previous 6 meetings and are 32-2-2 ATS when winning away.

StatFox Forecaster – Missouri covers
StatFox Power Line – Missouri by 13
StatFox Outplay Factor – Missouri by 9.8

UCLA (-16.5, 46) at Stanford 3:30E FSN

Things had gotten so bad at Stanford that former coach Walt Harris wasn’t even given as long as renowned (?) Buddy Teevens, being jettisoned after just two seasons. Of course having lost 15 of last 17 times definitely played a large part. Now former NFL QB Jim Harbaugh will attempt to bring enthusiasm and winning like he did at San Diego U. Sixteen starters return and should be excited playing for enthusiastic new coach. Cardinal is 5-1-1 ATS in Palo Alto opener.

UCLA’s Karl Dorrell is in meaningful fifth season on the Bruins campus. A humongous 20 starters are back and talent radiates throughout Westwood. The offense will be faced with adjusting to new offensive system, as OC Jay Norvell taking over the reigns. How quickly they adjust could make the difference between second and fifth place in the Pac-10. Defensively this aggressive sack happy bunch is ready to deliver again. The players are in place for a 10-11 wins, anything less would be considered a disappointment. Dorrell is 0-6 against the number when favored by three or more points on the road against other BCS schools.

The home team in this Pac-10 contest is 6-1-1 ATS and the Cardinal have covered four in a row at Stanford Stadium. The Bruins will have to chance to flex considerable muscles in conference lid-lifter, with focus key issue after whipping similar squad 31-0 last year.

StatFox Forecaster – Stanford covers
StatFox Power Line – UCLA by 15
StatFox Outplay Factor – UCLA by 17.5

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