The Mountaineers have misplaced their previous three openers, however with star operating again Jahiem White (7.7 per carry final season) wholesome, WVU has a great likelihood to tug an upset.
New Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki should repair QB Drew Allar (59.9% completion share in 2023), who struggled in losses final season to Michigan and Ohio State.
Anticipate the Nittany Lions to wrestle on offense early, giving West Virginia a gap.
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt (+13.5)
Within the preseason, media picked Virginia Tech to finish sixth in the 17-team ACC. In the meantime, Vanderbilt, the punching bag of the SEC, quietly had a strong offseason, luring the Thirty ninth-best recruiting class, per On3.com.
The Commodores will in all probability have a brand new QB in New Mexico State switch Diego Pavia, a dual-threat weapon who threw for two,963 yards and rushed for 923 extra final season. He’s anticipated to be the starter, per The Tennessean.
“While you take a look at the younger man (Pavia) and the quarterbacks they’ve on their roster, I’ve an amazing quantity of respect for them,” Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Chris Marve stated, per On3.com.
Vanderbilt performed Georgia pretty shut final season earlier than falling at dwelling to the powerhouse Bulldogs 37-20. Tech is not in Georgia’s league. Anticipate the Commodores to on the very least cowl the unfold.
Hawaii (+14) at UCLA
Hawaii, which opened its season with a 35-14 win over Delaware State, takes on a UCLA workforce with a brand new, first-time head coach in DeShaun Foster and lots of new gamers. Foster expects to have jitters.
“I’m positive I’ll have them Friday night time, the night time earlier than, or it would even occur as I’m operating out earlier than kickoff,” he told Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. If he does, what about his workforce?
A protection that returns solely two starters seems just like the Achilles’ heel for the Bruins, who completed 8-5 final season below Chip Kelly, now Ohio State offensive coordinator.
UCLA drew more than 10,000 fans for its spring game, maybe a sign of stronger curiosity from its fan base. However the Rose Bowl in all probability will not be over half-full for a recreation in opposition to an unheralded opponent. This has upset written throughout it.
Wyoming (+7) at Arizona State
In its first recreation within the Large 12, Arizona State welcomes Wyoming to Tempe, the place the Wildcats completed 2-6 final season. In 2023, the 3-9 Solar Devils failed to attain greater than 23 factors in 5 of their final six video games.
In going 9-4 in 2023, the Cowboys performed pretty effectively in opposition to Large 12 foes Texas (a 31-10 loss) and Texas Tech (35-33 win).
The important thing to an upset might be Wyoming’s operating recreation, which must be higher behind a a lot improved offensive line.
