NCAA Kickoff Saturday

Illinois -6 1/2 Missouri - Illinois returns 8 starters on an offense that ended last season 19th in total offense. The Illini also, eventually, have to have a chip on their shoulder about how lopsided this series has been. This is the 5th time they've played each other to open the season in the last 8 season, and the Tigers have taken all 4 prior. Missouri doesn't overachieve much, having dropped 7 of their last 8 as an underdog.

Nevada +14 1/5 Notre Dame - Nevada returns 7 starters on each side of the ball from a team that lost a close game to Maryland last year in the Humanitarian Bowl. The Wolf Pack will hit Notre Dame with a balanced attack that was quietly 5th in the country in total offense. Notre Dame counters with more starters back (9 on O, 6 on D)...but off a team that wasn't as good. Neither unit was particularly impressive against a pretty easy schedule. In 2 games against teams that ended ranked, the Domers were outscored 61-10. Hard to see them settling in as a good football team in week 1. Notre Dame is 5-8 ATS at home over the last 2 seasons, and Nevada has covered 3 of their last 4 as a road dog.

Minnesota -7 Syracuse - The Golden Gophers return 17 starters from a team that won 7 games and qualified for the Insight Bowl, including most of the important pieces and the best player you've never heard of in wide receiver Eric Decker, who caught 84 balls last year for 1074 yards. Syracuse is best know for naming Duke's former point guard their starting QB. The Cuse has dropped 4 straight to the Big Ten against the number, and they've lost 6 of their last 7 home openers. On the flip side, Minnesota has covered 6 of their last 7 on the road.

Northern Illinois +16 1/2 Wisconsin - The thing that jumps out at you when you look at Northern Illinois is that they don't get blown out often. Last year it only happened once, against a good Ball State team. They put up a substantial fight in road games against Minnesota and Tennessee, which are teams that are in line with how good I expect Wisconsin to be this year. The Badgers entered last season ranked #13 and climbed into the top 10 before losing to Michigan and having their season spiral away into a 7-6 finish. This year's version might not even be as good as that one, as they are forced to replace PJ Hill and find some soltion to their QB problem. Wisconsin is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 as a double digit favorite. The Huskies are 6-2-1 against the number in their last 9 against the Big Ten.

Leans:

Central Michigan +13 1/2
Wake Forest -2 1/2
Virginia Tech +6 1/2
Florida State -6

If you could bet on high school football:

Hutchison (KS) -up to a couple touchdowns Rockhurst (KC, MO)