Welcome back to college football season and Nado’s Notions! I hit on 55% of my picks last season and I am looking to build on that. Will I? Only time will tell!
Let’s geaux!
North Carolina Tar Heels @ Virginia Tech Hokies | September 3 | 5:00 PM CT | Lane Stadium
Line: North Carolina -5.5 | Total: 64
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell gets the headlines as a Heisman frontrunner, but Virginia Tech likes who they have at quarterback as well. After going through a three-quarterback rotation in 2020, the Hokies will turn to junior Braxton Burmeister to run the offense. Burmeister started the final game of the season against Virginia. He threw for 212 yards and a touchdown while adding 36 yards on the ground in a 33-15 win.
While Howell returns for the Tar Heels, they will be replacing a great deal of production. Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, both 1,000 yard rushers last season, are now in the NFL. So, too, are Howell’s top two receivers from last season, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome. It was also announced that wide receiver Beau Corrales will miss this game as well.
Virginia Tech has been a tough out at home. The Hokies went 6-1 at home in 2019. Last season, Virginia Tech suffered three home losses, but two were by a total of four points. The other was Clemson, who we know to be head and shoulders above the rest of the ACC.
Fans are back and Lane Stadium should be rocking on Friday night.
I am taking Virginia Tech +5.5.
Kent State Golden Flashes @ Texas A&M Aggies | September 4 | 7:00 PM CT | Kyle Field
Line: Texas A&M -29.5 | Total: 66.5
I threw this one out a few weeks ago.
Those were my thoughts from early August and I am still backing Kent State. As I stated, the Golden Flashes averaged 607 yards per game in 2020.
Super-senior quarterback Dustin Crum is back. He completed 73.5% of his passes for 1,181 yards with 12 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions last season.
Kent State returns nine starters on offense and eight starters on defense.
Texas A&M comes into the year with high expectations after an Orange Bowl victory to cap off a 9-1 season. However, I cannot help but think of the stinker the Aggies put together to open last season. Texas A&M won 17-12 over lowly Vanderbilt as 31.5-point favorites.
Kent State +29.5 is my pick.
Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs | September 4 | 6:30 PM CT | Bank of America Stadium
Line: Clemson -3 | Total: 51.5
Georgia quarterback JT Daniels started the Bulldogs’ final four games of the 2020 season. In those games, Georgia averaged 37.3 points per game. Daniels’ arm has allowed the Bulldogs to take advantage of explosive players like Kearis Jackson and Jermaine Burton. Expect their roles to increase with the absence of George Pickens.
The Georgia defense loses many key contributors from a season ago. Both starting corners Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell, linebackers Azeez Ojulari and Monty Rice, and safety Richard LeCounte are all gone. I expect that to be an issue against Clemson.
While Trevor Lawrence is off to the NFL, Clemson is not in a bad spot with DJ Uiagalelei at the helm. Lawrence missed time due to COVID-19 protocols, and Uiagalelei proved he was capable of leading the offense. He threw for 342 yards and 2 touchdowns in a win over Boston College and 439 yards and 2 touchdowns in an overtime loss at Notre Dame.
Uiagalelei will also have a talented receiver back in the fold. Justyn Ross is back after missing 2020 due to a spine issue. Ross amassed 1,865 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in his first two seasons at Clemson.
With two talented passing attacks and unproven defenses, I am going over 51.5.
UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns @ Texas Longhorns | September 4 | 3:30 PM CT | Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium
Line: Texas -8 | Total: 58
Quarterback Hudson Card was announced as the starter for Texas in the past week. While I have not seen him in action, I must say I am buying the hype, at least for now.
Card’s backfield mate in Bijan Robinson is not too shabby as well. Robinson averaged a whopping 8.2 yards per carry in 2020. His last time out he ran 10 times for 183 yards and a touchdown and caught 2 passes for 37 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Steve Sarkisian takes over in Austin after leading an explosive Alabama offense for the past two seasons. With players like Card and Robinson at his disposal, I expect the Texas offense to come out strong.
UL-Lafayette had a great 2020 season that saw them finish 10-1. They did so by relying on a strong rushing attack that averaged 213 yards per game. However, their top two running backs, Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas, are now gone. That adds more responsibility on quarterback Levi Lewis. Lewis’ accuracy (59.6% completion percentage in 2020) has been an issue at times so that is still a question mark.
UL-Lafayette had a big win over Iowa State to start the 2020 season. However, I do not see a repeat of that this season.
Give me Texas -8. Whether they are back or not is another question.
OUTTA HERE!
Clarknado Sports 
One response to “Nado’s Notions: Week 1”
[…] Last week: 2-2 (Virginia Tech +5.5, Texas -8, Georgia-Clemson over 51.5, Kent State +29.5) […]
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