Six college football teams that could bank a big payday
inexperienced quarterback in Hudson Card. Seems like an almost perfect situation.
Buffalo at Nebraska
Date: Sept. 11 Payout: $1,320,000
This isn’t just a reaction to the Cornhuskers falling to Illinois in their opener. The Bulls were always going to be a dangerous opponent given their recent success – two MAC championship games and three bowl appearances in three years. Nebraska still seems mired in mediocrity and losing to a Group of Five opponent at home wouldn’t be unprecedented. Troy and Northern Illinois have won in Lincoln in the past four seasons.
Fresno State at UCLA
Date: Sept. 18 Payout: $1,100,000
Both the Bulldogs and Bruins had impressive wins in Week 0 and each will face difficult games Saturday against Oregon and LSU, respectively. Their matchup against each other the following week is tricky for UCLA. Should they beat the Tigers, the Bruins face the possibility of a letdown. A loss could also result in them being down. Fresno State is the kind of team that is easy to overlook. But the Bulldogs have the capability of pulling off a surprise with quarterback Jake Haener, a Washington transfer, leading the offense.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: Searchable, sortable list of 2021 guarantee games
Nevada at Kansas State
Date: Sept. 18 Payout: $1,000,000
This might not qualify as an upset with the Wolf Pack looking like one of the best teams in the Mountain West. The optimism around the team starts with Carson Strong at quarterback. Regarded as a top prospect for next year’s NFL draft, Strong is going to put up big numbers this season. The Wildcats have their own talented quarterback in Skylar Thompson, portending a possible shootout that could go either way.
Army at Wisconsin
Date: Oct. 16 Payout: $1,200,000
There aren’t many challenges more difficult than preparing for the Black Knights’ option offense. Add the wrinkle of playing the game in the middle of the Big Ten season and you can see why this matchup would concern the Badgers. Army, which has averaged almost nine wins during the past five seasons, has given Oklahoma and Michigan scares recently. Don’t be shocked if this one is another nail-biter.
Liberty at Mississippi
Date: Nov. 6 Payout: $1,500,000
The story line for this game is surely to focus on the return of former Rebels coach Hugh Freeze, though it is worth noting that the schools agreed to the game years before Freeze was hired by the Flames. This clash might be one of the more entertaining games of the season with quarterbacks Matt Corral and Malik Willis among the leaders in total offense in 2020. Liberty won at Virginia Tech last year and narrowly fell at North Carolina State, so a win in Oxford isn’t far-fetched.
Follow colleges reporter Erick Smith on Twitter @ericksmith
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