Chuckie's back and no one either of the Vols lines are. No matter how many guys you oversign, linemen take time
Utah State +6.5 2 units
Utah State +6.5 2 units
NCAA Week One
- Thread starter BobbyBlueChip
- Start date
LOGAN ? There is one thing several Utah State projected starters said about the Aggies? Aug. 31 season opener at Tennessee ? it's big.
As in, big-time atmosphere, big-time stadium and big-time game, and that suits Utah State just fine.
?The first thing that everyone says when people find out you're playing Tennessee is that they have 109,000 people in their stadium,? senior safety Brian Suite said. ?But every college stadium has their thing that makes them special. Theirs is just sheer size.
"For anyone who has ever played on a football field in a big game, when you?re on the field running plays and competing, all the fans start to fade away. There?s a noise factor, but we?ve played in loud stadiums and big games. We know how to handle ourselves there. The best players perform best in big games.?
The Aggies have played opponents from the Power 5 conferences in early games before, including losses at Wisconsin in 2012 and at Auburn in 2011.
In order for Utah State ? one of a handful of dark horse contenders for the inaugural College Football Playoff from outside the big five conferences ? to be taken seriously, the Aggies know they have to open with a statement.
?We feel like we can go in there and be confident,? said senior left tackle Kevin Whimpey, the lone returning starter on the offensive line. ?We?re going to accomplish the work we need to in camp to help us be successful at Neyland Stadium.?
The Vols are facing plenty of transition under second-year head coach Butch Jones. Tennessee recently named Justin Worley as starting quarterback, and the Vols were projected to finish fifth in the SEC East in the league?s preseason media poll.
It?s not that the Aggies are feeling overly confident, but the veteran team, led by senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton and senior linebacker Zach Vigil, among others, has put a lot of trust in its coaching staff.
?If we prepare ourselves the way we need to be prepared, which I know (offensive line coach Mark) Weber and (head coach Matt) Wells will have us ready, then we?ll be able to go into Knoxville with confidence and ready to roll.?
The Aggies know facing Tennessee in the opening football weekend of the SEC Network brings an opportunity too.
?Any time you start a new season, you?re always thinking about that first game. We?re lucky to have the opportunity to play Tennessee, a great opponent from the SEC,? senior center Joe Summers said. ?We?re hoping to take advantage of that opportunity."
Utah State has plenty of returning talent. Aside from Keeton, a darkhorse Heisman candidate and Davey O?Brien watch list nominee, the Aggie defense also brings back 6-foot-5, 245-pound All-American candidate Kyler Fackrell, a Bednarik, Nagurski and Butkus Award watch list honoree. Utah State will also rely on Vigil, a team captain, and defensive lineman B.J. Larsen in its front seven.
?It?s a big environment, but we?ve been in similar environments before,? Fackrell said. ?So we?re just excited for the opportunity.?
As in, big-time atmosphere, big-time stadium and big-time game, and that suits Utah State just fine.
?The first thing that everyone says when people find out you're playing Tennessee is that they have 109,000 people in their stadium,? senior safety Brian Suite said. ?But every college stadium has their thing that makes them special. Theirs is just sheer size.
"For anyone who has ever played on a football field in a big game, when you?re on the field running plays and competing, all the fans start to fade away. There?s a noise factor, but we?ve played in loud stadiums and big games. We know how to handle ourselves there. The best players perform best in big games.?
The Aggies have played opponents from the Power 5 conferences in early games before, including losses at Wisconsin in 2012 and at Auburn in 2011.
In order for Utah State ? one of a handful of dark horse contenders for the inaugural College Football Playoff from outside the big five conferences ? to be taken seriously, the Aggies know they have to open with a statement.
?We feel like we can go in there and be confident,? said senior left tackle Kevin Whimpey, the lone returning starter on the offensive line. ?We?re going to accomplish the work we need to in camp to help us be successful at Neyland Stadium.?
The Vols are facing plenty of transition under second-year head coach Butch Jones. Tennessee recently named Justin Worley as starting quarterback, and the Vols were projected to finish fifth in the SEC East in the league?s preseason media poll.
It?s not that the Aggies are feeling overly confident, but the veteran team, led by senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton and senior linebacker Zach Vigil, among others, has put a lot of trust in its coaching staff.
?If we prepare ourselves the way we need to be prepared, which I know (offensive line coach Mark) Weber and (head coach Matt) Wells will have us ready, then we?ll be able to go into Knoxville with confidence and ready to roll.?
The Aggies know facing Tennessee in the opening football weekend of the SEC Network brings an opportunity too.
?Any time you start a new season, you?re always thinking about that first game. We?re lucky to have the opportunity to play Tennessee, a great opponent from the SEC,? senior center Joe Summers said. ?We?re hoping to take advantage of that opportunity."
Utah State has plenty of returning talent. Aside from Keeton, a darkhorse Heisman candidate and Davey O?Brien watch list nominee, the Aggie defense also brings back 6-foot-5, 245-pound All-American candidate Kyler Fackrell, a Bednarik, Nagurski and Butkus Award watch list honoree. Utah State will also rely on Vigil, a team captain, and defensive lineman B.J. Larsen in its front seven.
?It?s a big environment, but we?ve been in similar environments before,? Fackrell said. ?So we?re just excited for the opportunity.?
Take the over as well BBC - Vols will not stop Chuckie but I have been to two open practices and they do have three future NFL receivers that will make plays. Pearson and Malone added to Marquez North, will be explosive. I could throw TD's to these three. This one will soar over the 51- me thinks.
That's the exact reason I got off my Utah St lean; plus the fact Utah St graduated 4 starters in secondary, although they do return senior safety Brian Suite who led the team with 5 interceptions last year. You've got me to thinking about the over, the side scares me either way!
Interesting tidbit: According to Lindy's Utah St has a 'top newcomer', CB Daniel Gray, who sat out last season after transferring from Tennessee where he played in 8 games as a true freshman; has run a 4.32 40.
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Don't usually play non-ND totals, but that is surprising. Expecting a 31-30 type game. Thanks for the info. Have a Gruden!
Tough to prepare for navy's offense and blocking scheme and their ability to hold the ball puts a ton of pressure on an opposing offense to not make mistakes which is a tough ask for a team with so many new faces on the offense
navy +16
Another total that surprised me. Notre Dames games lean under by a ridiculous amount over the last 3 years, but it's due to a conservative and feeble red zone offense, a bend but don't break defensive philosophy and a stellar defensive line. Those are all gone and both teams will have problems stopping the run and the running quarterback.
rice/notre dame over 51
So will Notre Dame. . . I think Kelly's been limited by his quarterbacks. At least, that's what I'm hoping.
Long way to travel on a Thursday for a game that starts at 10:00 Rutgers time
Washington State -8 -102
@ESPNStatsInfo: A&M-South Carolina, 6 ET on SEC Network. SC is 1 of 4 Power Five teams to return 4 OL starters & a 1,000-yd rusher (ORE, WISC, MINN).
ML Parlay
Notre dame/Bama/auburn/Oklahoma/Mississippi state/Washington/Florida state
1.92 to win 1
Notre dame/Bama/auburn/Oklahoma/Mississippi state/Washington/Florida state
1.92 to win 1
