College Football

San Jose State vs Southern Utah College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions 8/28/21

Southern Utah Thunderbirds (0-0) vs. San Jose State Spartans (0-0)
August 28, 2021 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: San Jose State Spartans -18 / Southern Utah Thunderbirds +18; Over/Under: 55.5
(Get latest betting odds)

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds and San José State Spartans meet Saturday in week 1 college football action at CEFCU Stadium. Southern Utah is fresh off a 1-5 season that ended with three straight losses. San José State is coming off an impressive 7-1 season that ended with a spot in the AP Poll and a bowl bid.

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds averaged 26.5 points and 379.3 yards per game last season. Southern Utah allowed an average of 27.3 points and 414 yards per game last season. Justin Miller is back at quarterback after throwing for 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns. Dayne Christiansen returns after leading the Thunderbirds with 240 rushing yards, while Landen Measom and Brandon Schenks is a receiving duo that combined for 11 touchdowns. The potential is there for Southern Utah to be much better offensively. Defensively, La’akea Kaho’ohanohano-Davis returns after leading Southern Utah with 57 tackles, Francis Bemiy had four sacks and Akili Gray had one interception. Southern Utah has nowhere to go but up and has enough returning pieces to have a much improved season. 

The San José State Spartans averaged 28.6 points and 430.9 yards per game last season. San José State allowed an average of 19.9 points and 346.1 yards per game last season. Nick Starkel returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns. San Jose State did lose its top two receivers, but tight end Derrick Deese, Jr. had 20 receptions and five of those went for touchdowns. Tyler Nevens also led the Spartans with 515 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Kyle Harmon returns after leading San Jose State with 78 tackles, Cade Hall had 10 sacks and Tre Jenkins had two interceptions. San Jose State has its quarterback and a loaded returning defense. Don’t be surprised if the Spartans are making noise in the top-25 once again this season. 

Will update with trends once they’re released.

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds should be improved with so much returning production, but that’s honestly not saying much after serious struggles a year ago. The San José State Spartans ran the table last season in the MWC and returns majority of last years key players. A combination of Viliami Fehoko and Cade Hall gives San Jose State one of the scarier defensive fronts in the country. A lot of points to lay in the first game of the season, but San Jose State is legit. I expect a comfortable victory for the home team.

Randy Chambers's Free Pick: San Jose State Spartans -18

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Randy Chambers

Randy has covered sports betting since 2014 and writes about everything from NFL to WNBA. Follow Randy Chambers on Twitter.

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