Gridiron Debrief: CFB Week 0

Prime Picks Review

ISU +3.0 First off, I’m absolutely IN LOVE with the Aer Lingus Classic. It always rains, which turns the field into a mess and makes the yard lines vanish. Combine that with two teams playing their first live game in months, and you get pure chaos.

This year’s game started exactly how any sicko would want: four turnovers, fourth-down stops, muffed punts, and horrendous officiating. Neither team wanted to win in the first half. Then in the second, once both sides settled in, the refs decided to make it about themselves—awful spots, questionable flags. But hey, it’s Week 0 for the refs too.

As the college football mastermind I am, I picked ISU to cover +3.0 and win. They did just that, 24–21. A solid Big 12 matchup to kick off the season. Rocco Becht and Carson Hansen are going to be dominant. I’m still confident in KSU and Avery Johnson—KSU fans shouldn’t panic. First Prime Pick of the season = Dub.

Hawaii -2.5 Hawaii looked rough. They were physically dominated, their O-line refused to block, and the defense couldn’t tackle. But thanks to the heart and leadership of young QB Micah Alejado and kicker Kansei Matsuzawa, they pulled off the win and the cover.

Alejado is the real deal. And Matsuzawa? What a story. He learned to kick by watching YouTube videos. He’s from Japan, went to a Juco in the Midwest to learn English, and ended up at Hawaii. He went 3/3 on field goals, with the third being the walk-off winner. LEGEND.

Week 0 Prime Picks Record: 2-0. That’s how you make great picks. That’s how you fucking do it. You better recognize that I am the goat. (Goat status subject to change.)

Thoughts on the Weekend

• Why do offensive coordinators run toss plays on the 1-yard line? It’s a guaranteed disaster. ISU did it in the first quarter—muffed it, KSU recovered.

• Incarnate Word looked awful. I watched to scout Nicholls State (who plays my alma mater, Texas State, in Week 4). Either IW is overhyped, or Nicholls is legit. We’ll see.

• Portland State’s turf hit 148 degrees. If you’re bored, go find a global warming conspiracy theorist and share that nugget.

• Dan Mullen is back—coaching UNLV. They beat Idaho State, barely. Over 1,000 yards between both teams. UNLV’s defense might be the worst we see all season… or Idaho State might just torch the FCS. Congrats on the win Coach Mullen, welcome back. 

• I really hope Jalon Daniels (Kansas) stays healthy. His O-line can’t block a phone number, let alone a defensive front. He played lights out— with a healthy season, he WILL win the Big 12 Player of the Year.

• WKU vs. SHSU was… a game.

• The halftime show at the Cricket Bowl was amazing as always. NC Central’s band showed out, and the football team backed them up with a win.

  
  

One Bold Take

Kansas State will win out, take the Big 12, and make the playoff. Is this bold? Maybe not. But after their Week 0 showing, plenty would disagree. They’ve got the talent. Once they find their rhythm, they’ll be dangerous. Don’t sleep on Avery Johnson—the kid’s a stud.

What a great Week 0. A perfect intro to the college football season. Time to prep for Week 1 and the chaos of Labor Day weekend. Thank you to those who read, and do not forget to become a squad member. 

GET HYPE. WE ARE SO BACK.