A full regular week slate opens up on August 31st to kick the season off in earnest. Here are my previews for the games played the weekend of 8/31-9/4:
8/31
FIU at UCF: Butch Davis debuts for the Panthers, but Scott Frost's Knights will spoil it.
Presbyterian at Wake Forest: Blue Hose have no real shot with Demon Deacons here.
Austin Peay at Cincinnati: Bearcats will blast one of the worst teams in FCS football.
Buffalo at Minnesota: no chance Leipold gets Bulls off to fast start against Fleck and the Gophers.
Tennessee State at Georgia State: FCS Tigers sure would love to ruin GSU Stadium debut.
Elon at Toledo: If the Rockets haven't ended this game by the half, something is wrong.
Rhode Island at Central Michigan: Rams have no real right in playing FBS schools.
Tulsa at Oklahoma State: Cowboys will unleash Randolph and co. against rival Golden Canes.
Holy Cross at U Conn: Huskies will try to get off to fast start against FCS Crusaders.
North Dakota at Utah: Look for UND to keep it close early, but Utes will pull away.
Ohio State at Indiana: It's all about Kevin Wilson vs. Hoosiers in this one.
Florida A&M at Arkansas: Arkansas should have 50 at the half against the Rattlers.
UL-Monroe at Memphis: Tigers looking for big start, and are favored by almost four TDs.
Sacramento State at Idaho: This will be a conference game next season, but Idaho wins big.
New Mexico State at Arizona State: One of the few games that ASU will be favored to win.
9/1
Fordham at Army: Rams may give Black Knights fits early, but Army wins.
Charlotte at Eastern Michigan: Can Chris Creighton give another performance like 2016 at EMU?
Central Connecticut at Syracuse: This is a meaningless game, as Syracuse rolls early.
Navy at FAU: Middies look to spoil the debut of Lane Kiffin.
Colorado State at Colorado: After Rams stadium debut high, Buffs will look to bring them down.
Washington at Rutgers: Huskies should dominate early against one of worst FBS teams.
Utah State at Wisconsin: Badgers defense should make things difficult for Aggies.
Boston College at Northern Illinois: Eagles have become favorites after opening as dog.
9/2
Abilene Christian at New Mexico: Lobos should have this game won by the half.
Kent State at Clemson: Tigers defense will overwhelm Kent State early.
Ball State at Illinois: Illini are not great, but should handle Ball State at home.
Wyoming at Iowa: Hawkeyes getting too much love against Josh Allen led Cowboys.
Bowling Green at Michigan State: We will learn plenty about Sparty if they struggle here.
Akron at Penn State: Nittany Lions begin their title push here.
Maryland at Texas: Herman era begins at UT, but don't underestimate the Terps and DJ Durkin.
Missouri State at Missouri: Mizzou should roll early with explosive offense.
Cal at North Carolina: Bears travel across country, get extra kick with early start.
Bethune-Cookman at Miami: Hurricanes with a cupcake start to the season. Extra frosting, please.
Youngstown State at Pitt: Panthers cannot afford to sleep on dangerous Penguins from FCS.
Portland State at Oregon State: This is a game that Beavers can lose if not careful.
VMI at Air Force: Falcons get a very easy start to 2017 to get young talent up and running.
NC State at South Carolina: Gamecocks offense is solid, but can defense stop Wolfpack?
Michigan at Florida: Gators suspend 7 for this game, making Wolverines the favorite.
Temple at Notre Dame: Irish should be improved a great deal, and Owls are breaking in new coach.
UTEP at Oklahoma: Sooners should cruise early behind Mayfield, stable of young backs.
Nevada at Northwestern: Wildcats need fast start after last season's early snorefest.
William & Mary at Virginia: Tribe would love to steal one from "big brother".
Alabama A&M at UAB: The return of the Blazers should start with an early win over Bulldogs.
Troy at Boise State: Broncos are rightfully worried about this one, as it's a solid early challenge.
Stony Brook at USF: Bulls get second relatively easy game in a row to open season.
Eastern Washington at Texas Tech: EWU can run with Red Raiders and steal a win here.
Kentucky at Southern Miss: Wildcats look for revenge after implosion last season.
Charleston Southern at Mississippi State: Bulldogs should have this one put away early.
Western Michigan at USC: Magic ride is over for Broncos, as Trojans are big favorites here.
North Carolina Central at Duke: Not sure why this has become an annual game.
James Madison at East Carolina: JMU Duke have a real shot at an FCS upset in this one.
Albany at Old Dominion: Great Danes are no slouch this fall, but Monarchs should handle them.
Appalachian State at Georgia: Bulldogs' run game should more than handle the job.
Miami (Ohio) at Marshall: Herd should be favored at home, and can't be as bad as they were in '16.
Lamar at North Texas: UNT gets and old Southland rival at home, and should win with ease.
Houston at UTSA: Applewhite era begins on the road against pesky Roadrunners.
Eastern Kentucky at Western Kentucky: WKU has enough in the tank to easily win in Sanford debut.
Northwestern State at Louisiana Tech: Bulldogs breeze in this one.
Stephen F. Austin at SMU: Mustangs should have no trouble pulling away early.
U Mass at Coastal Carolina: Chants should be more than ready to handle uptempo UMass attack.
Liberty at Baylor: Flames are going FBS next year, will get a taste of that hell in this one.
SE Missouri State at Kansas: Jayhawks will win this one, at least.
Hampton at Ohio: Bobcats should have no trouble taking down the Pirates at home.
SE Louisiana at UL-Lafayette: Ragin' Cajuns need every win they can get, and this should be one.
Houston Baptist at Texas State: Bobcats national worst run attack should be able to run here.
Central Arkansas at Kansas State: Snyder should have his guys on watch against pesky FCS Bears.
Georgia Southern at Auburn: Eagles have not nearly enough weaponry to beat the Tigers.
South Alabama at Ole Miss: Jaguars beat Miss. State last season, are the Rebels next?
Louisville at Purdue: Cardinals are looking to run it up in opener vs. Big 10 opponent.
Cal Poly at San Jose State: Mustangs have a legit shot to pull an FCS upset over Spartans.
Arkansas State at Nebraska: I'm not high on the Huskers here, but not low enough to see a loss here.
Jackson State at TCU: Frogs look for a quick start against severely outgunned FCS opponent.
Florida State at Alabama: Could be an early playoff preview, so just enjoy the ride.
Northern Iowa at Iowa State: UNI has had success in recent years against big brother Cyclones.
Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee: Blue Raiders have the better offensive firepower in this one.
Grambling at Tulane: Green Wave get an early winnable game, and it is much needed.
Southern Utah at Oregon: Ducks kick start the Taggart era with a cream puff.
UC Davis at San Diego State: Only thing worth mentioning is that Dan Hawkins debuts with Aggies.
Howard at UNLV: It'll be a quiet night for the Bison in Vegas.
BYU vs. LSU: Game is in Houston, and BYU has a real shot here.
Incarnate Word at Fresno State: Only game the Bulldogs will be favored to win all season.
Montana State at Washington State: Cougars should have an easy go against the FCS Bobcats.
Northern Arizona at Arizona: Wildcats should win, but it may be one of very few wins this season.
Western Carolina at Hawaii: No doubt that the Rainbows should win this one with ease.
9/3
Texas A&M at UCLA: Call it the Hot Seat Bowl, Mora vs. Sumlin.
West Virginia at Virginia Tech: Mountaineers offense may be too much for Hokies to handle at home.
9/4
Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech: Virtual home game for Tech, who should be able to control this game.
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