by AAA Sports
Sunday, Aug 18, 2024Taking a look at five teams that have more than a puncher’s chance to eclipse their Over/Under win total this season:
1. UTAH – Last season did not go according to plan for the Utes, who closed at 8-5 after figuring to make a lot of noise in the Pac-12 but wound up without a quarterback and without a lot of wins. They should have both this year as QB Chris Rising, who was last seen throwing for 26 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards for the 2022 Utes, returns under center. The schedule doesn’t look al that challenging, either. The first three games are against Southern Utah, rebuilding Baylor and Utah State, so the Utes could be 3-0 before the heavy hitting even starts. Fans were also delighted that the Big 12 schedule has them avoiding powerhouses West Virginia, Kansas State and Kansas. Not hard to see Utah end up with 10 or 11 wins and a juicy bowl game.
2. COASTAL CAROLINA – Very quietly, the Chanticleers are building a decent program in the shadow of South Carolina’s Gamecocks. Last season they opened with a respectable two-TD loss at UCLA, then mid-season ran off five wins in a row (Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Marshall, Old Dominion and Texas State. CCU finished up with a bowl win over San Jose State – not bad for a school less than a decade into high-level college football. Books see a slight regression this year, setting the O/U at 6.5. Part of that is due to 2023 starting QB Grayson McCall transferring to North Carolina State, but the cupboard isn’t bare because returning backup Ethan Vasko and Michigan State transfer Noah Kim are both more than decent. If the wide receivers can come around, they should score. And the defense isn’t all that bad.
3. BOSTON COLLEGE – The number is set at 4.5, and the Eagles appear to have the talent to at minimum get to five. To start with, they have Bill O’Brien at head coach, and he has oodles of coaching experience. He breathed life into the Penn State program post-Sandusky, he was on the sidelines at Alabama and he coached with Bill Belichick. O’Brien has some playmakers, starting with returning QB Thomas Castellanos (13 TDs, 1,113 yards RUSHING). He’ll need to cut down on the INTs. The ball-carriers are experienced, so expect ground-and-pound until the Eagles see if Castellanos still has the yips. All four starters return on the defensive front, so the pass rush (non-existent last season) should be a lot better.
4. COLORADO – So easy to relish Deion Sanders taking it on the chin after a 3-0 start, but even in their 1-8 finish, the Buffaloes showed that they can compete against the country’s best. Can Colorado beat the 5.5 number? They have a good shot at it. It all starts with the coach’s kid, QB Shadeur Sanders, who is a legit Heisman candidate and a potential high NFL draft pick next April. Sanders finished last year with a school-record 3,230 yards passing and 27 TDs, and the only thing that might stop him from replicating those numbers is a sketchy offensive line. If the blocking holds up as a refurbished O-L settles in, Colorado could score a lot.
5. HAWAII – The Rainbow Warriors haven’t had a winning season since 2020 and two years ago won only three games. But last season they moved the needle to 5-8 under coach Timmy Chang, and things finally appear to be headed in the right direction. Start with a good passing game which can be very good if things click. QB Brayden Schager has a slew of talented wide receivers to throw to, but if the air game stalls, well so will the Rainbow Warriors. They don’t run the ball enough to establish any kid of consistency. The defense has some decent pieces returning, but Hawaii will still give up a lot of yards as it not-so-patiently waits to get its quality O back on the field.
1. UTAH – Last season did not go according to plan for the Utes, who closed at 8-5 after figuring to make a lot of noise in the Pac-12 but wound up without a quarterback and without a lot of wins. They should have both this year as QB Chris Rising, who was last seen throwing for 26 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards for the 2022 Utes, returns under center. The schedule doesn’t look al that challenging, either. The first three games are against Southern Utah, rebuilding Baylor and Utah State, so the Utes could be 3-0 before the heavy hitting even starts. Fans were also delighted that the Big 12 schedule has them avoiding powerhouses West Virginia, Kansas State and Kansas. Not hard to see Utah end up with 10 or 11 wins and a juicy bowl game.
2. COASTAL CAROLINA – Very quietly, the Chanticleers are building a decent program in the shadow of South Carolina’s Gamecocks. Last season they opened with a respectable two-TD loss at UCLA, then mid-season ran off five wins in a row (Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Marshall, Old Dominion and Texas State. CCU finished up with a bowl win over San Jose State – not bad for a school less than a decade into high-level college football. Books see a slight regression this year, setting the O/U at 6.5. Part of that is due to 2023 starting QB Grayson McCall transferring to North Carolina State, but the cupboard isn’t bare because returning backup Ethan Vasko and Michigan State transfer Noah Kim are both more than decent. If the wide receivers can come around, they should score. And the defense isn’t all that bad.
3. BOSTON COLLEGE – The number is set at 4.5, and the Eagles appear to have the talent to at minimum get to five. To start with, they have Bill O’Brien at head coach, and he has oodles of coaching experience. He breathed life into the Penn State program post-Sandusky, he was on the sidelines at Alabama and he coached with Bill Belichick. O’Brien has some playmakers, starting with returning QB Thomas Castellanos (13 TDs, 1,113 yards RUSHING). He’ll need to cut down on the INTs. The ball-carriers are experienced, so expect ground-and-pound until the Eagles see if Castellanos still has the yips. All four starters return on the defensive front, so the pass rush (non-existent last season) should be a lot better.
4. COLORADO – So easy to relish Deion Sanders taking it on the chin after a 3-0 start, but even in their 1-8 finish, the Buffaloes showed that they can compete against the country’s best. Can Colorado beat the 5.5 number? They have a good shot at it. It all starts with the coach’s kid, QB Shadeur Sanders, who is a legit Heisman candidate and a potential high NFL draft pick next April. Sanders finished last year with a school-record 3,230 yards passing and 27 TDs, and the only thing that might stop him from replicating those numbers is a sketchy offensive line. If the blocking holds up as a refurbished O-L settles in, Colorado could score a lot.
5. HAWAII – The Rainbow Warriors haven’t had a winning season since 2020 and two years ago won only three games. But last season they moved the needle to 5-8 under coach Timmy Chang, and things finally appear to be headed in the right direction. Start with a good passing game which can be very good if things click. QB Brayden Schager has a slew of talented wide receivers to throw to, but if the air game stalls, well so will the Rainbow Warriors. They don’t run the ball enough to establish any kid of consistency. The defense has some decent pieces returning, but Hawaii will still give up a lot of yards as it not-so-patiently waits to get its quality O back on the field.
