I will be back later with a write-up as it's late but wanted to get this up right away.
If you haven't tailed me in college football before let me say most of my plays involve FCS teams so you need an account at 5dimes because they are one of the very few books that put up a line on these games. I think this line will go up quite a bit before kickoff and wanted to grab it now where SEMO just has to win the game. A 7* play is my highest rated play.
SIU AT SEMO
This is a big regional rivalry game that has been going on for years but was just made official last year by being tagged "The War for the Wheel". For those of you that don't know the two schools are about 45 minutes apart with the Mississippi river in between. SEMO won the first meeting of the War for the Wheel last yeat at SIU 48-44.
SIU is coming off of a 2-9 season and last place finish in the MVC. Offense was not their problem as they averaged 30.1 ppg ranking #38 nationally. But they only return 5 starters and lost their starting quarterback. SIU's problem was their defense which gave up 40.7ppg ranking #114 in the nation. They do return 10 starters on defense so they should be better on that side of the ball but they almost have to be better than last years showing. SIU should be an improved team but plays a brutal schedule. They play in the top FCS conference and were the preseason #9 pick. They have 2 FBS teams on their schedule, UMASS and Arkansas ST. and 4 of their first 5 games are on the road.
SEMO is coming off of their best year, 9-4, since moving up to the FCS level. They won a first round playoff game before losing in the second round to Weber St. Their strength is a rock solid defense that returns 10 starters led by the FCS defensive player of the year at LB Zach Hall. They also return their top 4 tacklers. They led the FCS in turnover margin, turnovers gained, fumbles lost, and passes intercepted. They ranked #4 in fumbles recovered. This off season they added 2 FBS transfers to an already very strong line backing core. On offense at qb they have incumbent starter Daniel Santacaterina returning with nearly 3,000 yards of passing from last year. They did lose All Conference rb Marquis Terry and his 1400 yds of offense to graduation. But running back is a strength for this team and it's more a case of next man up instead of reload for the offense. The big question mark for SEMO is their offensive line where they only return one starter from last year. On the offensive line SEMO has 7 returning players, 7 freshmen, and 7 transfers. They have been very happy with their offensive line thru spring drills and summer workouts. I look for the line to get better with each passing week but think they'll be good enough to handle SIU in the opener.
I have never seen a more upbeat and positive off season for SEMO football since they moved up to the FCS level. Take the home team in front of what I'm sure will be a sold out stadium to get the year off on a positive note.
7* #618 SEMO -1 -120