MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As the MetroNews Sports staff lobbed a few semi-educated guesses at key Week 1 college football games, two trends became obvious.
First, none expects West Virginia to cover the spread against Georgia Southern (though, to be precise, no one anticipates a tight game either). Second, given the chance to scour the entire country for potential upsets, three out of five pickers landed in Lincoln and chose BYU to spoil Mike Riley’s opener.
Apparently mediocre minds think alike.
GARRETT CULLEN
West Virginia (-19.5) beats Georgia Southern 35-17
Marshall (-7.5) beats Purdue 27-17
Big 12’s best: Notre Dame (-9.5) beats Texas 34-20
National headliner: Ohio State (-11) beats Virginia Tech 40-21
Worth watching: Alabama (10.5) beats Wisconsin 34-21
Underdog to cover: Akron (+31.5) falls to Oklahoma 40-10
Underdog to win: Washington (+13) upsets Boise State 30-24
RANDY GYORKO
West Virginia (-19.5) beats Georgia Southern 38-22
Marshall (-7.5) beats Purdue 31-24
Big 12’s Best: Notre Dame (-9.5) beats Texas 30-16
National Headliner: Ohio State (-11) beats Virginia Tech 35-17
Worth Watching: Alabama (-10.5) beats Wisconsin 33-21
Underdog to cover: Northwestern (+12) covers in 23-24 loss to Stanford
Underdog to win: BYU (+7) beats Nebraska 30-28
BRAD HOWE
West Virginia (-19.5) beats Georgia Southern 35-17
Marshall (-7.5) beats Purdue 31-23
Big 12’s best: Notre Dame (-9.5) beats Texas 27-20
National headliner: Ohio State (-11) beats Virginia Tech 33-20
Worth watching: Alabama (-10.5) beats Wisconsin 34-21
Underdog to cover: Minnesota (+24.5) hangs with TCU 34-20
Underdog to win: BYU (+7) upsets Nebraska 27-24
GREG HUNTER
West Virginia (-19.5) beats Georgia Southern 38-24
Marshall (-7.5) loses to Purdue, 32-28
Big 12’s best: Notre Dame (-9.5) beats Texas 24-21
National headliner: Ohio State (-11) beats Virginia Tech 48-14
Worth watching: Alabama (-10.5) beats Wisconsin 32-26
Underdog to cover: Kent State (+14.5) hangs with Illinois 23-19
Underdog to win: BYU (+7) upsets Nebraska 23-21
TRAVIS JONES
West Virginia (-19.5) beats Georgia Southern 35-17
Marshall (-7.5) beats Purdue 30-24
Big 12’s best: Notre Dame (-9.5) beats Texas 28-10
National headliner: Ohio State (-11) beats Virginia Tech 31-17
Worth watching: Alabama (-10.5) beats Wisconsin 24-21
Underdog to cover: SMU (+36) covers in 42-20 loss to Baylor
Underdog to win: BYU (+7) upsets Nebraska 24-23
ALLAN TAYLOR
West Virginia (-19.5) beats Georgia Southern 33-17
Marshall (-7.5) beats Purdue 27-21
Big 12’s best: Notre Dame (-9.5) beats Texas 24-17
National headliner: Ohio State (-11) beats Virginia Tech 30-21
Worth watching: Alabama (10.5) beats Wisconsin 27-14
Underdog to cover: Minnesota (+24.5) hangs with TCU 33-17
Underdog to win: Arizona State (+3) upsets Texas A&M 38-37