On the surface, we did not learn a lot. There were no active Power 5 programs for the first time in 3 years, and so we were left with an even split between Group of 5 games and FCS opponents. Here were my brief observations from the weekend that opened (officially, anyway) the college football season:
Duquesne has no good reason to take on FBS opponents.
The Dukes played just their second all-time game against FBS competition, and looked completely lost against U Mass in Amherst. The Minutemen broke loose for a 21-3 lead before the game was even clicking minutes off the clock in the 2nd quarter, and Andy Isabella, the best receiver you have never heard of, had already scored twice.
Duquesne plays in the Northeast Conference, and it is not the cream of the crop of the FCS ranks. This kind of game did nothing but to demolish the confidence of the Dukes.
For U Mass, on the other hand, it propped up a fast start for a team that is coming off a strong ending to 2017. U Mass rarely gets the ability to start fast, so this game was massively important for them to get off to a great start. Mission accomplished.
Mike Bloomgren won't fix Rice overnight.
Bloomgren ran a pro offense at Stanford, but he has an empty cupboard at Rice after the administration there held onto former coach David Bailiff 2 years too long. Rice barely escaped with their lives in a last second win over Prairie View A&M of the worst conference in FCS football, the SWAC.
Rice trailed this game by 9 in the 3rd quarter before rallying for the win, but it never should have gotten to that point. Rice is still bad...for now.
Maybe Hawaii is better than all of us thought, or maybe Colorado State is just that bad.
I understand that Mike Bobo was in the hospital all week, and was coaching from the press box, but Colorado State, who I already had seriously low expectations for, looked abysmal for 3 quarters against a Hawaii team that came out of nowhere with their new Run and Shoot offense, and torched the Rams.
Cole McDonald, out of La Mirada, California, wrecked the Rams secondary for 418 yards passing and 3 scores, and ran for another 92 yards and 2 more scores.
I still think that Hawaii is going to hit some bumps along the way this season, but the Rams looked worse than my minimal expectations had them at. That's a terrible look for a constant underachieving program.
Wyoming is a more focused football team without Josh Allen.
The Cowboys looked as focused as I have seen them on both sides of the football in some time. Last season, Allen always had one foot out the door for the NFL, and he mailed it in all year. They don't have to worry about that anymore.
The defense for the Cowboys is one of the best in the nation, and they did not allow a point until less than 2 minutes remained on the road last night.
Wyoming was not respected walking into their game against New Mexico State last night, and that chip on the shoulder showed. Wyoming at -3.5 against NMSU was probably the easiest bet I will make all season. Also Wyoming on the ML, and the under. All gifts.
New Mexico State got too much respect heading into their date with Wyoming.
The Aggies win one bowl game in 65 years and everyone gets delusions of grandeur. The stadium was full, for about 2.5 quarters anyway, and the Cowboys were completely dissed by the spread, as NMSU entered the game at +3.5.
The Aggies had to replace their star at QB, their star at RB, and their star at WR. Talent does not grow on trees in Las Cruces, and it was too much to expect more than what we saw last night. If you all had read my preview on the Aggies, you would have known that.
Jacksonville State has some issues on offense to resolve. Carolina A&T will win the MEAC.
The Gamecocks will be fine in Ohio Valley Conference play. This was just one game, but the run offense was putrid against a top flight defense in North Carolina A&T.
JSU needs to iron out their blocking, and play more disciplined football. There were defensive personal fouls aplenty, missed blocking assignments, and bad special teams play. Of course, those issues plagued North Carolina A&T as well, but the worst part was the turnovers. You cannot turn it over 5 times and expect to win.
The Aggies played defense with abandon, although their pass D got lit up in the second half, but overall, when they needed to make a play, they did. That defense alone should help North Carolina A&T cruise to a MEAC title.
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