Home School Fans Episode 2: Week 0 in 2022 - Indicators

    College football in August. There were a few good games, headlined by the once great Nebraska Cornhuskers versus the Northwestern Wildcats. Played in Dublin, Ireland. It looked like a good crowd. Perhaps there are a few U.S. college football fanatics in Ireland. I have met a few from Germany. T.V. is ubiquitous, and many of us find the game fun or thrilling, so it is possible Europe has its share of admirers. Or, maybe just the novelty brought the watchers. We'll take the good crowd, no matter what. And, it did look as though some Americans made their way across the ocean. College football in Europe. Week 0, before the real season gets in full swing. It was fun.

    Not so fun for the beleaguered Nebraska coach Scott Frost. In his 5th, and now seemingly final season, he lost an ill-advised squib kick after going up in the 3rd quarter. The Huskers lost momentum, and eventually lost the game. Nebraska was picked by Lindy's to be 48th in the nation to Northwestern's 66th, preseason ranked pick, so this was not the right team to lose to. The coach owned the poor choice of onside kicks, and now he owns another close loss, as he did all season last year, which is not looking good for him, or his program. Tom Allen at IU is looking for wins, too.

    IU will play the Cornhuskers in another month in Lincoln. Could the Hoosiers be so lucky? The Wildcats provided some good defensive turnovers. Maybe IU can find enough offense and keep the Huskers down, with the victory in the TO column as well. Nebraska will be their 5th challenge.

    Speaking of IU opponents in 2022, Illinois whipped the Wyoming Cowboys. The Hoosiers host the Illini this Friday night in B-town. This might be the true indicator if Indiana has a chance this year. Maybe the Cowboys of the Equality State are not that good? The score was a gaping 38-6. Perhaps Illinois is really good? Maybe it was just a disparate day on the field for both teams. Illinois is picked 78th, while IU is pegged as 71st. So, you are saying we got a chance. The Cowboys are only ranked 100th, by Lindy's Sports. 95th by Athlon.

    Other future opponents of my seven 2022 teams include Western Kentucky, which struggled to overcome FCS Austin Peay. The Governors. The Hilltoppers prevailed, but there looks to be some concern. WKU also play IU, so there were three Week 0 teams to scout on for Indiana. Two of three winners, Nebraska being the least impressive. But probably the toughest competition of the three.

    Utah State struggled to beat lowly UConn. The Huskies have a new, but very experienced coach, Jim Mora. The Aggies are picked to be 68. BYU should handle them, week 5. After Wyoming, week 4. Brigham Young opens it up this Saturday afternoon against the low ranked U South Florida Bulls. That should be a Y victory, despite the humidity and never having won in the Sunshine State after nine or so tries.

    We expect BYU to be good. Maybe great. What do I or anyone know? 

    In other Week 0 games, Vanderbilt killed Hawai'i, UNLV crushed their Idaho St. FCS foes, Florida Atlantic crushed UNC-Charlotte, Florida State and UNC scored a lot against weaker competition... And, Nevada held on against New Mexico State, and North Texas edged UTEP by twenty or so. 31-13. That was it.

    Not a big week, but I counted at least five future teams that my boys will play. And the Nebraska result will be the costliest of all, long term. No major injuries that I am tracking; the new Washington Commander shot twice in DC in a carjacking should be okay. We wish him a speedy recovery and we know he will get a hero's welcome in the pros. You are not in Alabama anymore.

    The season awaits! More week 1 previews soon.

Utah, Texas A&M, BYU, UVA, Fresno State, Indiana, and the JMU Dukes.