Real Kato Blog: CFB 2023: Week 1 and Season Preview

Geez, I nearly forgot it was time for football again. It doesn't help that Charter/Spectrum has lost access to ABC and ESPN due to a carriage dispute with Disney. That was a fun surprise Thursday for everyone trying to tune in to the Florida-Utah game. Wankers.

Anyway, let's get to it, with a quick preview of our favorite teams.

#2 Michigan vs. East Carolina, 12:00 PM Peacock
I mean, really? Peacock? I reluctantly paid $2.50 (with a discount code) for a month of Peacock just to watch this game, which I suppose means their ploy worked. Though, you can be assured I'll be cancelling the service right after. TV providers are really making me mad these days.

Anyway, Michigan is looking forward to another big season, sitting ranked #2 and with what should be one of the top offenses in the country. Stars J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards are all back; TE Colston Loveland should have a breakout year; and, there's experience and depth in the offensive line and the receiving corps.

If there are any questions, they're on defense. Michigan is stout at defensive tackle and has returners at linebacker and safety, but are leaning on some transfer portal newcomers to find answers at DE and the #2 cornerback spot. They should be... fine? Perhaps not elite, not at first anyway.

This game against ECU will probably not be competitive. Don't get me wrong, ECU will probably have a respectable season in their league, but Michigan's talent superiority should be overwhelming.

Prediction: Michigan 56, ECU 6.

#7 Penn State vs. West Virginia, 7:30 PM NBC
Penn State is also looking forward to a potentially stellar season. Though losing a few key pieces in DT P.J. Mustipher, WR Parker Washington, CB Joey Porter, and particularly QB Sean Clifford, they return two stellar running backs in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. At QB, there's a lot of hope for the highly-recruited Drew Allar, who finally gets his chance to take the reins. And there should be little to no drop-off at cornerback with Kalen King and Johnny Dixon returning.

With a ton of physical talent available, the wildcard factor for this team will be (as usual) the coaching of James Franklin. This team has all the tools to be a physical, defensively-oriented, ball-control offense. if Franklin tries to coach them like they're Vanderbilt, that's when things will go wrong.

Penn State is a three touchdown favorite over WVU in the opener. WVU has some potential on offense, but the defense last year was horrendous and this year might not be any better.

Prediction: Penn State 45, WVU 16.

N.C. State 24, UConn 14
Well sorry, this game already happened. State weirdly played an away opener against a mediocre UConn team. It wasn't always pretty... the game featured a play where UConn fumbled due to the RB and WR running into each other in the backfield. But there were some promising signs from transfer QB Brennan Armstrong, who had 96 yards and two touchdowns rushing on top of 155 yards passing. So... okay?

Don't get me wrong: I'm not expecting big things from NCSU this year. There are some pieces, and maybe we'll see some upsets here and there, but I think a .500 season is what's in store.

Big Ten

Minnesota 13, Nebraska 10 (played Thursday).
Central Michigan @ MSU, Friday 8:00 PM FS1
ECU @ #2 Michigan, 12:00 PM Peacock
Utah State @ #25 Iowa, 12:00 PM FS1
Fresno State @ Purdue, 12:00 PM BTN
#3 Ohio State @ Indiana, 3:30 PM CBS
Buffalo @ #19 Wisconsin, 3:30 PM FS1
Towson @ Maryland, 3:30 PM BTN
West Virginia @ #7 Penn State, 7:30 PM NBC
Toledo @ Illinois, 7:30 PM BTN
Northwestern @ Rutgers, Sunday 12:00 PM CBS

Game of the Week

#5 LSU @ #8 Florida State, Sunday 7:30 PM ABC (if you can get it).

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Posted by Ken in: sports

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