FS Kyle Theret will miss the MTSU game

College football will kickoff Thursday night when a handful of teams step on to the gridiron. I will be making one selection for tonight and one pick for Saturday. Let's start with the Thursday night game.

Minnesota @ Middle Tennessee State University
Big Ten vs Sun Belt. Power running game  vs finesse running quarterback /  wildcat. Starting QB benched vs 10 new starters on defense. All of this wrapped into the first game of the 2010 season.

Minnesota graduated 9 starters form it's defense and of the two returning starters, FS Kyle Theret will not be playing due to violating team rules. Starting left OT Dom Alford is also suspended. The Gophers are returning to a power running game this season. The offensive line is big and experienced.  Minnesota's O-line averages 6-foot-4, 321 pounds they out weigh the MTSU D-line by 70 pounds.

QB Dwight Dasher

Middle Tennessee State University(MTSU) is without their all everything superstar QB Dwight Dasher, in his place will be sophomore junior college transfer Logan Kilgore from Bakersfield College. Dasher was their leading passer as well as the leading rusher, so his loss can't be taken lightly by the MTSU coaching staff.

I believe Big Ten football will prevail here as the line is very small here with the Gophers being a slight favorite at -1.5. Take Minnesota(-1.5) to win as MTSU will have trouble with Minnesota's running game. I would buy it as soon as possible as this line may go up.

PICK  Minnesota(-1.5)