By Alec Nederveld
The College Football Season is finally back on Saturday and the season-opening slate includes a modest four FBS games. Of that, two matchups are FBS/FCS clashes and only three total Power Four teams play. Either way, I’m just excited we have more College Football to watch and there are some notable storylines in Week 0 to look out for.
Does Florida State have an improved DJ Uiagalelei?
In two previous meetings, DJ Uiagalelei put up subpar numbers against Georgia Tech teams. And these were back under the disastrous Geoff Collins era. In 2021, Clemson only scored 14 points and Uiagalelei threw for 126 yards and no touchdowns. He slightly improved in 2022, scoring two touchdowns himself, throwing for 210 yards, fumbling once, and received national skepticism afterward. This was a game that was close in the second half but really shouldn’t have been.
Statistically, Uiagalelei was better in 2022 with Clemson than at Oregon State a season ago. He’s flashed elite potential many times, however, can he put it together for a full season? We’ll get our first look soon.
Is an FCS Over FBS Upset In Store?
Most FBS/FCS Matchups look like that of Hawaii and Delaware State. The Rainbow Warriors are favorites by about 39 points over the HBCU from Dover. On the other hand, there’s the New Mexico/Montana State game. Oddsmakers think Montana State will go into Albuquerque by over 10 points – as many as 11.5 at the time of publication.
According to Sam Herder of HERO Sports, this is the largest an FCS school has been favored over an FBS school since Old Dominion was favored by 14 over Idaho in 2013. And that was an Old Dominion team transitioning to the FBS, while this is an established FCS program expected to beat an established FBS program comfortably.
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A year ago, we only saw four FCS wins in 118 games against FBS opponents. One of the wins was Idaho (who dropped to the FCS in 2018) blowing out Nevada 33-6. Before the game, Idaho was a three-point favorite.
This is obviously rare, but the circumstances check out. Montana State has made the FCS Playoffs in the last five non-covid years, including finishing as the FCS runner-up season in 2021. New Mexico meanwhile is breaking in a new coach, Bronco Mendenhall, and hasn’t won more than four games since 2016. Mendenhall (more on him later) is a program builder, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will the New Mexico Lobo football team. Give me the Bobcats and the FCS upset.
New Head Coaches Jumping into the Flames
We just talked about Bronco Mendenhall and the uphill battle he has at New Mexico and in Week 0. He’s not the only first-year Head Coach who’s expected to lose at home by multiple scores. Moving on from Ken Wilson (4-20), Nevada and Jeff Choate get to start the season with ACC newcomer SMU. Choate’s hire has received praise and should be an improvement over Wilson, but like Mendenhall, results may take time. In Week 0, SMU is favored by 24.5 points.
It’s a rough start for both head coaches and I find it hard to believe that either team gets a victory. Although, coming away with a win is a great sign for things to come.
How can Georgia Tech pull off the upset?
Well, it would be a huge help if Uiagalelei still hadn’t figured out the Yellow Jacket defense. But there are other ways Georgia Tech can win. And it starts with QB Haynes King. The former five-star is electric, finishing with 2,842 passing yards, 737 yards rushing, and 37 touchdowns a season ago.
Last Season, Florida State had one of the best pass defenses in the country. Nobody had a better completion percentage than 48.3% from the Seminoles. But they were somewhat susceptible to running quarterbacks. Thomas Castellanos of Boston College shredded the defense with 305 yards passing and 95 yards rushing, getting two total touchdowns and nearly pulling off the upset.
Additionally, this will be a whole new defense. Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Renardo Green, Jarrian Jones, and Tatum Bethune are in the NFL now. And while key pieces like CB Fentrell Cypress II and EDGE Patrick Payton are still back, Georgia Tech by far has the more experienced team. They return 16 starters and are seventh nationally in returning production.
On the other side, Georgia Tech should also have a new defense. Which is much needed. After finishing 120th in total defense and 97th in scoring defense, the Jackets hired Tyler Santucci, who led the ACC in scoring defense at Duke a year ago. I don’t think Georgia Tech will have a great defense in 2024, but in a case like this, mediocrity is a big improvement.
All things considered, there’s a real good chance Georgia Tech can overcome the talent gap and come back from Ireland with a win.
