Football expert Phil Steele is the owner and publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, regarded as the college football bible. Get in-depth coverage of college and pro football 24/7/365 at PhilSteele.com.
Saturday
Byu (+1) over Arizona (at Glendale, Ariz.): The last meeting between these two schools was in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl. This game is being played at University of Phoenix Stadium.
While Arizona has a slight offensive edge, BYU has a significant edge on defense. The Cougars also have a veteran offensive line that matches up well with the Wildcats’ undersized defensive line. BYU has a killer early schedule and this game figures to be the most winnable of its first four.
Lsu (-10) over Wisconsin (at Green Bay): These two schools met in the 2014 opener in Houston when Wisconsin dominated the first three quarters before LSU rallied for the win. This game is being played at Lambeau Field. While the Badgers have the “home” edge, despite playing on a neutral field, LSU has a huge advantage because the Tigers’ defensive coordinator, Dave Aranda, has come over from Wisconsin and knows the team’s personnel inside and out.
2015 season (NCAA): 19-13.