College Football Opening Weekend Guide

 
College Football Opening Weekend Guide
 
College football kickoff is just one week away at August 25th and here are all the schedules, dates and highlights of key games. Big moves after the NFL draft, Doc’s Sports will keep you updated on which team has a higher probability of winning.
 
Thursday, August 30
 
UConn vs. No. 23 UCF (Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut)
Time: 7 p.m. ETC
Watch on: ESPNU
UCF will begin this season after being undefeated during the 2017 – 2018 season. In their last meet, UFC won 49-24 against UConn, and star quarterback and Heisman candidate McKenzie Milton will be back on the main team.
Will Josh Heupel continue the legacy of departing coach Scott Frost? This will be an exciting game to watch.
 
Purdue vs. Northwestern (Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana)
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Watch on: ESPN 
While Northwestern finished in the Top 25 teams last year, Purdue comes into the season on fire after a Bowl game victory and a winning streak by the end of the term. During their last meet The Wildcats defeated Purdue 23-13.
 
A key element to the game will be if Clayton Thorson will be capable of playing the match for Northwestern.
 
Friday, August 31
 
Duke vs. Army (Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, North Carolina)
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Watch on: ESPNU 
The Black Knights defeated the Blue Devils 21-16 in their last game back in November. Darnell Woolfolk is the Army’s key player, after being added to the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Maxwell Award watch list. Darnell has 1,412 yards and 23 touchdowns to his name in the last two seasons, and would’ve scored more if a knee injury hadn’t stopped him.
 
On the other side, Duke has been improving under Coach David Cutcliffe with 15 games won in 4 seasons, huge improvement from the 17 games won in 10 years before Cutcliffe took control. Key player Daniel Jones is also one of two active quarterbacks in the US with over 5,500 passing yards and over 500 rushing yards.
 
Wisconsin vs. Western Kentucky (Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin)
Time: 9 p.m. E.T.
Watch on: ESPN 
Wisconsin has big guns with quarterback Alex Hornibrook, MVP at the Manning Passing Academy this summer, and Jonathan Taylor who is candidate for first team All-American honors, the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award and a long list of previous awards. Taylor broke the FBS record for rushing yards with 1,977 yards on 299 carries. Add to that one of the biggest offensive lines in the US. This should come as no surprise after receiving second-team All-America honors, first-team All-Big Ten honors, being named the Thompson-Randle EI Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2-time Big Ten Offensive.
Western Kentucky is pretty outgunned for this game with a young team.  
 
Saturday, September 1
 
FAU vs. No. 5 Oklahoma (The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma)
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Watch on: Fox
Florida Atlantic will have a big challenge, but if they win it will recorded in the history books. This time they have Devin Singletary, recently named AP All-American.
 
Oklahoma comes in ranked #3 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll with magnificent team overall. But a lot of great players left the team during the off-season. Kyler Murray comes as a replacement to the 2018 NFL #1 Draft Pick, Baker Mayfield.
 
No. 10 Auburn vs. No. 6 Washington (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Watch on: ABC 
The Tigers have one of the top defensive lines in the SEC, allowing only 18.5 points and 319.4 yards per game last season.
 
Washington comes in as the underdog but with an experienced offense. Last season the Huskies averaged 6.4 yards per play and 36.2 points per game.
 
Tennessee vs. No. 20 West Virginia (Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC)
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Watch on: CBS
West Virginia is counting on their quarterback Will Grier who is making a return after a finger injury. They also boast a veteran squad at the defense line.
 
Tennessee will feature new coach Jeremy Pruitt and a new roster of players.
 
No. 11 Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Michigan (Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana)
Time:7:30 p.m. ET
Watch on: NBC
A classic rivalry with both teams losing key offensive players. Notre Dame lost tackler Mike McGlinchey and guard Quenton Nelson to the NFL Draft. Add to that running back Josh Adams, wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown and Durham Smythe. And they still have not named a starting quarterback.
 
Michigan recently lost three additional players although not three of their best, Eddie McDoom, Kekoa Crawford and Kareem Walker.
 
No. 1 Alabama vs. Louisville (Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida)
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Watch on: ABC
Alabama ranked #1 last year and they are facing a weak defense from the Cardinals. Alabama boast’s a firm offense and a powerful defense with Raekwon Davis, nominated for the Bednarik Award as the top defense player of the year.
 
Sunday, September 2
 
No. 24 LSU vs. No. 8 Miami (FL) (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Watch on: ABC, WatchESPN 
Miami enters this season after losing the Orange Bowl to Wisconsin while boasting #13 in the rankings. Both teams come in the season with an unknown lineup, with Hurricane’s Michael Irving injured during the week and is out for months.
 
Miami is better equipped with Brevin Jordan and Will Mallory. It will be exciting to watch these top 20 teams face each other.
 
Monday, September 3
 
No. 19 Florida State vs. No. 17 Virginia Tech (Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida)
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Watch on: ESPN 
Florida State will have Coach Willie Taggart’s first game on Labor Day. Brian Burns will be a player to keep an eye on, as he is the only FSU player on the Bednarik Award list, ranked first last season in the ACC and third nationally for blocked punts.
 
The Hokies lost 10 starters from last season and will charge with a roaster of new players plus a mix of veterans like Josh Jackson.