Week Zero Breakdown for College Fantasy Football

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 2: UMass quarterback Andrew Ford (7) passes in the fourth quarter as the FIU Golden Panthers defeated the University of Massachusetts Minutemen, 63-45, on December 2, 2017, at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire)

Over the past several seasons, the NCAA has graced college football fans everywhere with an extra weekend of the greatest sport in America. Over the past several seasons, week one games led the way for guys like Chad Hansen, Bryce Love, John Ursua, and Bailey Gaither to gain fantasy attention before the season started. With the week zero matchups kicking off Saturday at 5:30, who will rise to prominence in 2018?

Week Zero Breakdown

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Duquesne vs UMASS

Duquesne Player Radar:

Why Duquesne Will Win:

Duquesne’s offense is undeniably good as they boasted over 420 yards per game a season ago. UMASS doesn’t have the toughest of defenses so this game is sure to entertain until the end in a high scoring bout. The Dukes lost quarterback Tommy Stuart to graduation but replace him with former-Florida Atlantic Quarterback Daniel Parr who was beaten out by Jason Driskel for the starting job mid-2017. Duquesne also returns AJ Hines who will likely have a field day against the poor UMass defense who finished 100th nationally in stopping the run in 2017. If Duquesne wants to take down the Minutemen, they need to outscore them and have the pieces to do just that.

UMASS Player Radar:

Why UMASS Will Win:

The two main reasons UMASS will take down the dukes are Andrew Ford and Andy Isabella. This game is all about establishing a balance for the Minutemen offense by getting 980-yard rusher Marquis Young going early on. This isn’t close to being Massachusetts’ hardest game of the season and should only serve as a warm-up game going into the 2018 season. Their defense isn’t going to get too many stops but it’s going to be difficult for the Dukes to outscore the Minutemen in the end and that’s why they stand as a 93% favorite to take home the win.

Prediction: UMASS 48, Duquesne 35

Praire View A&M vs Rice

Praire View A&M Player Radar:

Why Praire View A&M Will Win:

Praire View may not be off to the greatest of starts to the season with returning quarterback Neiko Hollins’ unexpected transfer. The silver lining, however, is the Panthers return quarterback Lavell McCullers who saw some playing time at moments last season. The Panther passing game should look good with Tulane-transfer Chris Johnson and Oregon State-transfer Tristan Wallace complementing each other. Rice doesn’t have the most explosive of offenses, but the gameplan leading into the game is undoubtedly up in the air with the sudden loss of a starting quarterback.

Rice Player Radar:

Why Rice Will Win:

Rice is going to run the ball. Everyone involved in the Rice offense is going to run the ball and there’s nothing getting around that. The Praire View defensive front is fairly strong, but they are in a rebuilding year which gives an advantage to Rice’s strengths. Jackson Tyner should provide a boost to a Rice offense that took a step back last season while the running game is bolstered with experience in Austin Walter and Emmanuel Esukpa who made large impacts for the 2017 offense. If Rice plans to start things off right, they need to pound the rock early on and often.

Prediction: Rice 31, Praire View A&M 24

Hawai’i vs Colorado State

Hawai’i Player Radar:

Why Hawai’i Will Win:

In what is going to be the most watchable game of the whole weekend, Hawai’i will re-debut the Run-and-Shoot offense that we’ve all known and loved from Hawai’i. The Warriors return stud wideout John Ursua who is a combined 17-342-1 in his two week zero games, and he’s sure to make an immediate impact as the key piece in this particular offensive system. Cole McDonald takes his first start as the guy for Hawai’i against a Colorado State defense that wasn’t too keen on stopping the pass last season as they allowed over 3,000 passing yards last season.

Colorado State Player Radar:

Why Colorado State Will Win:

After the loss of quarterback Nick Stevens and sudden injury of Collin Hill, many wrote of the Colorado State Rams as a relevant Mountain West Contender. But, the sudden change of heart for Washington-transfer KJ Carta-Samuels will make a huge difference in the Rams passing game, especially against a high powered Hawai’i team that they will have to outscore to beat. The dynamic duo of Izzy Matthews and Rashaad Bodie should keep things balanced on the offense to keep a Hawai’i defense that loses six starters at bay. The real story for the Rams is finally discovering who will be the next stud receiver out of Colorado State between the seasoned Warren Jackson or the Tennessee-transfer Preston Williams.

Prediction: Colorado State 48, Hawai’i 42

Wyoming vs New Mexico State

Wyoming Player Radar:

Why Wyoming Will Win:

The key reason Wyoming will win this Saturday is their defense. Wyoming was one of the best in scoring defense last season and they return eight of their eleven starters on that side of the ball. New Mexico State was fond of turning the ball over last season (sixth-most in FBS) and that was with quarterback Tyler Rogers taking the snaps. Wyoming will be a presence on defense once again in 2018, and as long as the Cowboys can get something out of Tyler VanderWaal, they should take this one home.

New Mexico State Player Radar:

Why New Mexico State Will Win:

New Mexico State’s offense is about as plug and play as they come, and if they are going to have a chance of winning, they need to score points. Scoring points is something I’m not so sure that Wyoming can do especially with them having the 104th ranked scoring offense last season with first-round draft pick Josh Allen taking the snaps. Nick Jeanty is going to have to find a way to score on the stout Cowboy’s defense and Jason Huntley is going to have to live up to his expectations that his predecessor Larry Rose left for him.

Prediction: Wyoming 28, New Mexico State 21