College Football 2019: Week 0

Really nice of them to dedicate an entire week to this kid

Football season has sort of crept up on me this year. Don't get me wrong, I have still been anticipating the start of football for months (especially with it being The Year of the Browns™). But, between graduating and job hunting, I've been busy focusing on things besides football. I haven't even set a date for my fantasy football leagues' draft yet. But after attending a high school football game last night (the first meaningful football I've seen since February), I am in full football mode. And just in time, too, as we get our first taste of meaningful college football today. 

Since there are only two high Division I college football games today, it isn't technically categorized as the first week of the college football season. Instead, it is Week 0. I, for one, think it's kind of mean to label a week "Week 0", because that carries a negative connotation. But weeks don't have feelings, so I guess it doesn't matter. Regardless, we finally get to witness some real, meaningful football tonight. I'm excited. Let's get started.

Note: All Times Eastern

Game of the Week

Miami vs. #8 Florida (Orlando, FL, 7:00 PM, ESPN)

The college football season kicks off with a neutral site game between two in-state rivals. The Gators are riding high after a 10-3 2018 season that culminated in a Peach Bowl thwacking of Michigan. They return several talented skill players, including quarterback Feleipe Franks, who, aside from being a productive quarterback, has a wonderfully alliterate name. On the other sideline is "The U", which was back and then wasn't back. The Hurricanes stumbled to a 7-6 record in 2018, and they now have a new head coach in former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz (who never lost a game as head coach at Temple). The man behind center will be new, too, but it won't be Ohio State transfer Tate Martell or returning starter N'Kosi Perry. Instead, it will be redshirt freshman Jarren Williams. 

Despite all the talent on offense, though, this could be a defensive battle, as both teams have experienced defenses and inexperienced offensive lines. Miami has a ferocious defensive line, led by junior end Jonathan Garvin, who tallied 5.5 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss last season. That line, plus a veteran-laden linebacking corps, leads a unit that finished 11th in the nation in sacks in 2018. Florida also has plenty of experienced defensive talent, including defensive end Jabari Zuniga, who had 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss last season, and cornerback C.J. Henderson, who might be the best defensive back in the country.

Although Miami is unranked and Florida is a top-ten team, I think this game will be a tight battle until the end. Both of these teams want to claim Floridian dominance and start the 2019 season off on the right foot. I'm predicting the first primetime game of the season to feature multiple turnovers and key special teams plays, and I'm taking Franks and the Gators to pull out the victory.

Line: FLA -7

Over/Under: 45.5

Prediction: Florida 27, Miami 23

Other Game of the Week

Arizona @ Hawai'i (10:30 PM, CBSSN)

Since there are only two Division I-A games this week, they can both be "Game of the Week". Although the Florida-Miami game is the main event, don't sleep on this juicy undercard. The Wildcats entered last season with high expectations after the breakout of quarterback Khalil Tate and the hiring of former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, but Tate played banged up all year and Sumlin's defense struggled, leading to a 5-7 record. Tate is back for 2019 and completely healthy, and Arizona hopes he shows what put him on preseason Heisman lists in 2018. He'll be helped by the return of running back J.J. Taylor, who ranked seventh in the country last season in rushing yards and eighth in all-purpose yards. On defense, Arizona should be better this season, but that isn't saying much. The Wildcats had one of the worst defenses in the Pac-12 last year, giving up 432 yards per game.

Much like Arizona, Hawai'i is the type of team that is much more enjoyable to watch on offense than defense. The Rainbow Warriors will air it out with quarterback Cole McDonald, who finished 2018 with 3,875 yards passing, 36 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Hawai'i ranked ninth in the nation last season in passing yards per game, and figure to rank high in that category again despite losing a guy who had 16 receiving touchdowns last season. Defensively, the Warriors are somehow worse than the Wildcats, surrendering 439.7 yards per game last year. Hawai'i went 8-6 last season, a major improvement from the year before, and hope to improve again in 2019.

This late-night game in Honolulu will likely be a wild one filled with plenty of offense, and it could come down to the wire. I feel a bounce-back season coming for Khalil Tate, and I think he and the talented Arizona offense will outpace the high-flyin' Hawaiians.

Line: ARI -10.5

Over/Under: 71.5

Prediction: Arizona 48, Hawai'i 40

2018 Record: 188-61   vs. Spread: 95-123-3   Over/Under: 101-118-2

Stats and Info via ESPN, CBS Sports, Athlon Sports, SBNation, and Sports-Reference

Lines and Over/Unders via Odds Shark