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College Football Odds, Picks & Predictions for Week 0: Hawai’i vs. Vanderbilt (8/27)

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In this article, I project the spread for every game of Week 0 using my ATL system (Adjusted Thor Spread). Using the ATL system, I provide my top picks of the week. Here’s my pick for Hawai’i vs. Vanderbilt.

Thor Nystrom's College Football Power Rankings for Every Team >>

College Football Odds, Picks & Predictions for Week 0: Hawai’i vs. Vanderbilt

Hawai’i (+8.5) vs. Vanderbilt
ATL: UH -2.0

This is Timmy Chang's triumphant first game as HC at his alma mater. And the boys in the desert are giving his troops no respect.

Consider that Vanderbilt is coming off a 2-10 season with wins over Colorado State (3-9) and UConn (1-11). Vandy also lost to an FCS team. The Commodores were bottom-10 offensively, bottom-15 defensively, and bottom-25 special teams last season.

Now, the Commodores must travel 4,331 miles to play an opener in August against a team it has no tape on. Chang is new, as is most of his roster - Hawaii returns only six starters.

Vanderbilt, on the other hand, very much looks the same. The Commodores get RB Re'Mahn Davis back from injury, and he's a legit talent. But Davis has also had durability concerns throughout his career. You have to think Vandy HC Clark Lea spent a few summer nights considering the idea of pitch counts for Davis to increase the odds he'll be active for 12 games.

Hawaii will have issues stopping Davis when he's on the field, just as Vandy's paper-mache secondary will have issues stopping Chang's Run 'n Shoot offense. Vanderbilt does not have the secondary depth to match up neatly with Hawaii's myriad receivers in space.

My numbers suggest the wrong team is favored here. Give me Hawaii to spring the outright upset.

Bet: Hawai’i (+8.5)

And here are all of my total win projections, odds, and picks.


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