It’s the best time of the year, college football is back and I’m ready to make all of you lovely readers some money! Now I know last year didn’t go the way we all hoped it would, I ended the year with a 23-26-1 record. I’m going to be the ultimate optimist and say that the only way we can go is up from this point forward. In the wise words of Tim Tebow “ I promise you one thing, a lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any gambler in the entire country prepare as hard as I will prepare the rest of the season, and you will never see someone push the rest of the blog as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season, and you will never see a gambler gamble harder that I will the rest of the season”. 2025 will be our year, ad with that said let’s get to work.

Baylor +2.5 vs Auburn

We’re starting the year off with a Friday night matchup between two teams looking to rebound from mediocre seasons. I’m high on the Baylor Bears this year, Dave Arranda added a ton of talent in the transfer portal and returns one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 in Sawyer Robertson under center. Opening the season against an SEC opponent is never an easy task, but playing at home with a team full of returning veterans should put the Bears in a position to pull off an outright upset. Jackson Arnold is the new man leading the Auburn offense, and while he has shown glimpses of being the electric recruit he once was, I have a tough time trusting him for a full game. If the Baylor defense can take another step forward after an uneven past season and hold star Auburn receiver Cam Coleman in check, I believe Baylor has what it takes to at the very least keep this a one score game, if not win the game outright.

Alabama -13.5 vs Florida State

A 9-4 record in 2024 is simply unacceptable for the Crimson Tide. Kalen DeBoer had about as rough of a start as the new head coach as you could possibly have, and I do believe he starts to turn the tide (no pun intended) in year 2. Ty Simpson takes over at quarterback for the Crimson Tide, and while he doesn’t exactly induce fear into opponents, in limited time he has proven to be at the very least a steady option as the signal caller. This pick isn’t based on any analytics or big time stats, simply vibes. Mike Norvill is already on the hot seat as Head Coach of the Seminoles, and transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos has a big task ahead in turning things around after a terrible prior season for his new team and also himself personally. It’s hard to believe that Alabama could possibly be coming into this game with a chip on their shoulder, but with all of the preseason talk surrounding the team having another average year, I think they come out with their hair on fire and put up a big number in their opener.

Utah -5.5 vs UCLA

The world better be prepared for the Devon Dampier show, because the Utes will look to exploit all of that talent in front of a national audience in Week 1. After all of the questions surrounding quarterback last season, Utah brings in one of, if not the most electric player at the position in the country in the New Mexico transfer Dampier as well as his former Offensive Coordinator Jason Beck. The Utah offense will look to mix in a steady bit of quarterback runs that they missed last year, and with an improved offensive line that should allow Dampier to run all over defenses. UCLA’s defense is nothing to turn your nose up at, last years group was stellar at defending the run and with a few additions to the linebacker group they should once again be a formidable group. Add in Nico Iamaleava at quarterback and the Bruins should take another step forward after a miserable first year under head coach DeShaun Foster. Personally, I just don’t think this is the type of team you want to be facing if you’re looking to turn things around in Los Angeles. Kyle Whittingham will have his team ready to play, and if the score is tight in the fourth quarter I trust that the Utes will have the edge on the sidelines.

On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.