Game of the Week
USC (0-1) vs.
Alabama (1-0)
8 p.m. EST
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
ABC
Alabama -11 — O/U 54
USC and Alabama have faced each other seven times, the first one dating all the way back to 1938, when Alabama upset the Trojans 19-7 in the L.A. Coliseum. The pair faced off again in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day 1946, with the Tide again victorious. But the real heart of this seldom-played rivalry is found in a pair of games played in 1970-1971, one in Birmingham, and the other in Los Angeles. When USC entered Legion Field in Birmingham on Sept. 12, 1970, Crimson Tide fans saw something they had never seen on their own team – black scholarship athletes. Led by a backfield – a black quarterback and two black running backs – USC proceeded to educate Alabama about the game of college football. After 60 minutes, the stunned crowd had seen their proud, white Tide obliterated by a stronger, faster team filled with stellar athletes – regardless of color. The final score was 42-21, but the impact was felt far beyond the win-loss column. Alabama and other southern schools began to bridge the racial divide, and to look at the roster of the typical college team today, you’d never guess that was ever an issue. You can thank Bear Bryant and John McKay for scheduling a game that has had a lasting – and wonderful – impact on college football. (The Tide paid a return visit to USC the following year and, with a newly installed wishbone offense, stunned the Trojans, 17-10.) This year’s contest won’t bear a lot of resemblance to those first games, but it will renew a proud tradition that encompasses two of the most epic college programs. Both teams are rebuilding, and neither are our favorite to even win their conference divisions. But Alabama is definitely the stronger of the two, even though the Tide will be breaking in a new quarterback. RB Bo Scarborough will be the focus of Alabama’s offense, and could get some serious national attention with a big day. He should get it, especially with USC’s defense in rebuilding mode. Offensively, USC will likely try to air it out to WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is far and away the best receiver in the Pac-12. CB Minkah Fitzpatrick and SS Eddie Jackson will have their hands full covering him. In a neutral location, we expect USC to stick with Alabama for the first quarter and maybe even the first half. But ‘Bama’s superior front-line talent and depth will begin to wear down the Trojans the longer the game goes on. By the time the fourth quarter arrives, a gassed USC team will be glad just to keep it close. The Bear will be smiling down from above after the final whistle blows.
Prediction: Alabama 38, USC 17
Result: Alabama 52, USC 6. America – meet Jalen Hurts. The true freshman didn’t start, but made the most of his playing time by throwing for two TDs and running for two more. The Tide defense gave up just two field goals and 194 total yards – including only 64 on the ground. Meanwhile, ‘Bama chewed up the turf with 242 rushing yards on 45 carries.
Record:
This week: SU – 69-17; ATS – 18-22; O/U – 20-18-2
Overall: SU – 70-17; ATS – 19-22; O/U – 20-19-2
Upsets are bold underlined
(Results in parentheses; wins are underlined; losses in italics)
| Thursday, Sept. 1 | |||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Coverage | Prediction |
| Charlotte (+39.5) at Louisville (O/U 59.5) | 7 p.m. |  |
Louisville, 51-10 (Louisville, 70-14) |
| Maine (NL) at Connecticut | 7 p.m. |  |
Connecticut, 27-3 (Connecticut, 24-21) |
| Presbyterian (NL) at Central Michigan | 7 p.m. | |
Central Michigan, 41-14 (Central Michigan, 49-3) |
| Tulane (+17) at Wake Forest (O/U 43.5) | 7 p.m. | |
Wake Forest, 31-21 (Wake Forest, 7-3) |
| UT Martin (NL) at Cincinnati | 7 p.m. | |
Cincinnati, 38-14 (Cincinnati, 28-7) |
| Appalachian State (+20) at Tennessee (O/U 59) | 7:30 p.m. |  |
Tennessee, 37-21 (Tennessee, 20-13 OT) |
| Indiana (-9.5) at FIU (O/U 61) | 7:30 p.m. |  |
Indiana, 41-14 (Indiana, 34-13) |
| William & Mary (NL) at N.C. State | 7:30 p.m. | |
N.C. State, 38-17 (N.C. State, 48-14) |
| Jackson State (NL) at UNLV | 8 p.m. |  |
UNLV, 31-20 (UNLV, 63-13) |
| Rice (+16.5) at Western Kentucky (O/U 63) | 8 p.m. |  |
Western Kentucky, 48-17 (Western Kentucky, 46-14) |
| South Carolina (+3.5) at Vanderbilt (O/U 42.5) | 8 p.m. |  |
Vanderbilt, 23-17 (South Carolina, 13-10) |
| Southern Utah (NL) at Utah | 8 p.m. |  |
Utah, 45-20 (Utah, 24-0) |
| Montana State (NL) at Idaho | 9 p.m. | |
Idaho, 41-38 (Idaho, 20-17) |
| Oregon State (+13) at Minnesota (O/U 56) | 9 p.m. |  |
Minnesota, 31-14 (Minnesota, 30-23) |
| South Dakota (NL) at New Mexico | 9 p.m. |  |
New Mexico, 24-10 (New Mexico, 48-21) |
| Weber State (NL) at Utah State | 10 p.m. | |
Utah State, 31-10 (Utah State, 45-6) |
| Friday, Sept. 2 | |||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Coverage | Prediction |
| Mississippi Valley State (NL) at Eastern Michigan | 6 p.m. | |
Eastern Michigan, 45-10 (Eastern Michigan, 61-14) |
| Albany (NL) at Buffalo | 7 p.m. | |
Buffalo, 48-14 (Albany, 22-16) |
| Army (+16) at Temple (O/U 46.5) | 7 p.m. | |
Temple, 35-17 (Army, 28-13) |
| Ball State (+3.5) at Georgia State (O/U 52.5) | 7 p.m. | |
Georgia State, 31-17 (Ball State, 31-21) |
| Colgate (NL) at Syracuse | 7 p.m. | |
Syracuse, 35-17 (Syracuse, 33-7) |
| Furman (NL) at Michigan State | 7 p.m. | |
Michigan State, 55-3 (Michigan State, 28-13) |
| Northwestern State (NL) at Baylor | 7:30 p.m. |  |
Baylor, 63-14 (Baylor, 55-7) |
| Colorado (-8) vs. Colorado State (at Denver) (O/U 57) | 8 p.m. | |
Colorado State, 31-28 (Colorado, 44-7) |
| Kansas State (+15.5) at Stanford (O/U 48.5) | 9 p.m. |  |
Stanford, 38-14 (Stanford, 26-13) |
| Toledo (+3.5) at Arkansas State (O/U 64.5) | 9 p.m. | |
Toledo, 38-34 (Toledo, 31-10) |
| Cal Poly (NL) at Nevada | 9:30 p.m. | |
Nevada, 35-23 (Nevada, 30-27) |
| Saturday, Sept. 3 | |||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Coverage | Prediction |
| Georgia Tech (-3.5) vs. Boston College (at Ireland) (O/U 44) | 7:30 a.m. |  |
Georgia Tech, 17-14 (Georgia Tech, 17-14) |
| Boise State (-20) at Louisiana (O/U 64) | Noon | |
Boise State, 45-20 (Boise State, 45-10) |
| Bowling Green (+27.5) at Ohio State (O/U 63.5) | Noon | |
Ohio State, 48-31 (Ohio State, 77-10) |
| Eastern Kentucky (NL) at Purdue | Noon |  |
Purdue, 31-21 (Purdue, 45-24) |
| Fordham (NL) at Navy | Noon | |
Navy, 51-21 (Navy, 52-16) |
| Hawaii (+40) at Michigan (O/U 54.5) | Noon | |
Michigan, 48-3 (Michigan, 63-3) |
| Howard (NL) at Maryland | Noon | |
Maryland, 51-0 (Maryland, 52-13) |
| Missouri (+9.5) at West Virginia (O/U 50.5) | Noon | |
West Virginia, 31-17 (West Virginia, 26-11) |
| Oklahoma (-10.5) vs. Houston (at NRG Stadium) (O/U 68) | Noon |  |
Oklahoma, 42-28 (Houston, 33-23) |
| South Alabama (+29) at Mississippi State (O/U 54) | Noon | |
Mississippi State, 45-14 (South Alabama, 21-20) |
| Western Michigan (+5.5) at Northwestern (O/U 52) | Noon | |
Northwestern, 27-24 (Western Michigan, 22-21) |
| Liberty (NL) at Virginia Tech | 12:30 p.m. |  |
Virginia Tech, 38-17 (Virginia Tech, 36-13) |
| Villanova (NL) at Pittsburgh | 1:30 p.m. | |
Pittsburgh, 27-14 (Pittsburgh, 28-7) |
| Abilene Christian (NL) at Air Force | 2 p.m. | |
Air Force, 41-10 (Air Force, 37-21, 4th) |
| Rutgers (+26) at Washington (O/U 54.5) | 2 p.m. | |
Washington, 45-17 (Washington, 48-13) |
| Kent State (+21) at Penn State (O/U 45) | 3:30 p.m. | |
Penn State, 30-10 (Penn State, 33-13) |
| LSU (-10) vs. Wisconsin (at Green Bay) (O/U 44.5) | 3:30 p.m. | |
LSU, 34-17 (Wisconsin, 16-14) |
| Miami (Ohio) (+27.5) at Iowa (O/U 51.5) | 3:30 p.m. | |
Iowa, 42-10 (Iowa, 45-21) |
| Murray State (NL) at Illinois | 3:30 p.m. | |
Illinois, 41-21 (Illinois, 41-21) |
| Richmond (NL) at Virginia | 3:30 p.m. | |
Virginia, 27-24 (Richmond, 37-20) |
| SE Louisiana (NL) at Oklahoma State | 3:30 p.m. | |
Oklahoma State, 63-10 (Oklahoma State, 61-7) |
| Texas State (+21) at Ohio (O/U 60) | 3:30 p.m. | |
Ohio, 41-14 (Texas State, 56-54 OT) |
| UCLA (+3) at Texas A&M (O/U 53) | 3:30 p.m. |  |
UCLA, 35-31 (Texas A&M, 31-24 OT) |
| Louisiana Tech (+26) at Arkansas (O/U 52) | 4 p.m. | |
Arkansas, 41-21 (Arkansas, 21-20) |
| UC Davis (NL) at Oregon | 5 p.m. | |
Oregon, 45-14 (Oregon, 53-28) |
| Georgia (-3) vs. North Carolina (at Atlanta) (O/U 57) | 5:30 p.m. | |
North Carolina, 31-28 (Georgia, 33-24) |
| Austin Peay (NL) at Troy | 6 p.m. | |
Troy, 34-7 (Troy, 57-17) |
| Florida A&M (NL) at Miami (Fla.) | 6 p.m. | |
Miami, 54-7 (Miami, 70-3) |
| N.C. Central (NL) at Duke | 6 p.m. | |
Duke, 41-10 (Duke, 49-6) |
| Savannah State (NL) at Georgia Southern | 6 p.m. | |
Georgia Southern, 63-10 (Georgia Southern, 54-0) |
| Southern Illinois (NL) at Florida Atlantic | 6 p.m. |  |
Florida Atlantic, 31-28 (Florida Atlantic, 38-30) |
| Western Carolina (NL) at East Carolina | 6 p.m. | |
East Carolina, 28-20 (East Carolina, 52-7) |
| VMI (NL) at Akron | 6:30 p.m. | |
Akron, 35-28 (Akron, 37-24) |
| Alabama A&M (NL) at Middle Tennessee | 7 p.m. | |
Middle Tennessee, 49-14 (Middle Tennessee, 55-0) |
| Alabama State (NL) at UTSA | 7 p.m. | KMYS-CW 35 | UTSA, 27-14 (UTSA, 26-13) |
| Rhode Island (NL) at Kansas | 7 p.m. | |
Kansas, 35-7 (Kansas, 55-6) |
| San Jose State (+4) at Tulsa (O/U 70) | 7 p.m. | |
Tulsa, 38-35 (Tulsa, 45-10) |
| S.E. Missouri State (NL) at Memphis | 7 p.m. | |
Memphis, 31-10 (Memphis, 35-17) |
| SMU (-9.5) at North Texas (O/U 69) | 7 p.m. |  |
SMU, 27-14 (SMU, 35-21) |
| South Carolina State (NL) at UCF | 7 p.m. | |
UCF, 41-14 (UCF, 38-0) |
| Southern (NL) at ULM | 7 p.m. | |
ULM, 45-21 (ULM, 38-21) |
| Towson (NL) at USF | 7 p.m. | |
USF, 45-10 (USF, 56-20) |
| Southern Miss (+6.5) at Kentucky (O/U 63.5) | 7:30 p.m. | |
Southern Miss, 34-30 (Southern Miss, 44-35) |
| Massachusetts (+35) at Florida (O/U 50) | 7:30 p.m. | |
Florida, 55-10 (Florida, 24-7) |
| Eastern Washington (NL) at Washington State | 8 p.m. | |
Washington State, 45-24 (Eastern Washington, 45-42) |
| Fresno State (+28) at Nebraska (O/U 62) | 8 p.m. | |
Nebraska, 38-14 (Nebraska, 43-10) |
| New Mexico State (+7.5) at UTEP (O/U 60) | 8 p.m. |  |
UTEP, 31-28 (UTEP, 38-22) |
| Northern Iowa (NL) at Iowa State | 8 p.m. | Cyclones.TV | Iowa State, 27-23 (Northern Iowa, 25-20) |
| South Dakota State (NL) at TCU | 8 p.m. | |
TCU, 48-14 (TCU, 59-41) |
| Stephen F. Austin (NL) at Texas Tech | 8 p.m. | |
Texas Tech, 56-14 (Texas Tech, 69-17) |
| USC (+11) vs. Alabama (at Arlington) (O/U 54) | 8 p.m. | |
Alabama, 38-17 (Alabama, 52-6) |
| New Hampshire (NL) at San Diego State | 8:30 p.m. | n/a | San Diego State, 48-17 (San Diego State, 31-0) |
| Clemson (-7.5) at Auburn (O/U 63) | 9 p.m. | |
Clemson, 41-17 (Clemson, 19-13) |
| Arizona (-1) vs. BYU (at Glendale) (O/U 60) | 10:30 p.m. | |
BYU, 34-27 (BYU, 18-16) |
| Northern Illinois (-10) at Wyoming (O/U 55.5) | 10:30 p.m. | |
Northern Illinois, 38-17 (Wyoming, 40-34 OT) |
| Northern Arizona (NL) at Arizona State | 10:45 p.m. | |
Arizona State, 63-14 (Arizona State, 44-13) |
| Sunday, Sept. 4 | ||||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Coverage | Prediction | |
| Hampton (NL) at Old Dominion | 3:30 p.m. | |
Old Dominion, 24-17 (Old Dominion, 54-21) |
|
| Notre Dame (-3.5) at Texas (O/U 60) | 7:30 p.m. | |
Notre Dame, 31-28 (Texas, 50-47 2OT) |
| Monday, Sept. 5 | |||
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Coverage | Prediction |
| Ole Miss (+4.5) vs. Florida State (at Orlando) (O/U 57) | 8 p.m. | |
Florida State, 34-31 (Florida State, 45-34) |
Copyright © 2016 Doug DeBolt
