Other B1G Games Of Note:
LSU VS. WISCONSIN3:30 ABC, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
This will be the best atmosphere of the opening weekend with LSU having to make the trip way, way out of its geographical comfort zone. The Tigers should be in just about everyone’s preseason top 10, if not top three, but the Badgers get a chance to make a massive national statement with a defense just good enough to keep Leonard Fournette under wraps. Will Wisconsin have the running game to battle through the veteran LSU defense? It’s Wisconsin in an opener vs. a top SEC team – you know what’s going to happen. Bucky will play well, and it’ll be a tough fight, yet it won’t be quite enough. Considering LSU probably has the best team in college football, coming close will be a badge of honor.
Line: LSU -9.5
June Prediction: LSU 26, Wisconsin 17
RUTGERS AT WASHINGTON2:00 Pac-12, Network Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA
The pressure is all on a Washington team that’s expected to come out roaring. Rutgers has done the Pac-12 thing the last two seasons, hosting Washington State last year and going across the country in a wild shootout in Seattle against the Cougars. This trip to the Pacific Northwest – Chris Ash’s head coaching debut – isn’t going to be much fun.
Line: Washington -22.5
June Prediction: Washington 41, Rutgers 20
OREGON STATE AT MINNESOTA
9:00 PM BTN TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Just how much has Gary Andersen been able to improve the Beavers over the offseason? Will the spread attack start to work? Will the run defense start to slow someone down? There’s more experience in place after an 0-9 Pac-12 season, but the Gophers will fight their way through in the nighttime home opener. The defense will have issues with the OSU ground game, but Mitch Leidner and the Minnesota offense will come through in the fourth quarter to pull it out.
Line: Minnesota -10
June Prediction: Minnesota 27, Oregon State 24
