30 Days of Football - Day 2 Each day these articles will prepare readers for the start of both the NFL and college football seasons. It is important to learn from mistakes in previous years and develop a game plan for success heading into this year. Let’s go over some strategies and/or information that will lead to a profitable football season.

Yesterday’s article talked about what positions are the most important in terms of returning experience, as well as how taking a look at overall athleticism is key in early season non-conference games. Today’s article is going to discuss motivation and teams on the rise/decline in regards to opening week games. Remember, it is critical to handicap these opening week games differently than you would games in the middle and end of the season.

First, how a team ended last season is critical to their focus heading into this season. Typically teams that are coming off of a poor season and/or didn’t play well in their bowl game will come out very focused and determined in their first game. Look to back teams that will play with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. A perfect example of this theory is last season’s opening week game between Connecticut and Michigan. The Wolverines heard all off-season how UCONN was an up-and-coming team and they were going to lose against them. Consequently, Michigan came out very focused and pounded Connecticut for a 20 point home win. Texas is a team that I will be looking to back early in the season because of how poorly they played last year.

Overall, teams on the rise use these opening week games to pound weaker opponents and have a very high motivation level. Last year, Mississippi State and Oklahoma State both destroyed weaker teams in opening week games because they were out to make a statement as teams on the rise. This season, Texas A&M and Notre Dame are teams on the rise who will be looking to make opening week statement wins.

Conversely, great opportunities can be found in fading teams coming off of great seasons that also might have lost talent and experience from last season. These teams sometimes are still living off of last year’s successes, especially the younger players who now are expected to fill in for players who have moved on. Great opportunities can be found at the start of the season by backing teams who are motivated heading into this season because of last season’s struggles, as well as fading teams coming off of strong seasons last year. Doing this strategy gives maximum value and is similar to buying low and selling high in regards to a stock.

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