CLE's CFB Totals, Week 0: What to expect in Caleb Williams' 2023 Debut

By: CLE Picks

@CLEPicks

We have finally made it, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, Week 0 is here on Saturday! CLE's College Football Totals are back for a second season, and we aren't about to skip Week 0. In this edition, we are heading to the west coast for a prime time matchup that most of America unfortunately won't be able to watch as San Jose St. takes on the Trojans of USC on Pac-12 Network.

USC comes into this season with all the hype in the world after coming within a game of the College Football Playoff in year 1 under Lincoln Riley. The Trojans return defending Heisman winner Caleb Williams, who should be a top-2 pick in next years draft. USC lost Biletnikoff award winner Jordan Addison in round 1 of the draft, so Riley went into the transfer portal and brought in All-Pac-12 1st Team wide receiver Dorian Singer from Arizona. USC's defense, like most Lincoln Riley teams, will still be its Achilles heel. While they did bring in highly touted defensive lineman Bear Alexander from Georgia and Mason Cobb at LB from Oklahoma State, as long as Alex Grinch is calling the defense, I anticipate more struggles. Will they be as bad as last year when they were in the top 10 worse in yards allowed per play? Probably not, but like usual Riley's offense will have to carry the Trojans to any success this season.

San Jose St. is no slouch offensively as they will bring in the preseason Mountain West Player of the Year in quarterback Chevan Cordeiro. The Spartans have a lot of optimism coming off a 7-5 season under 7th year head coach Brent Brennan. They return 14 starters from that team including 9 on the offensive side of the ball.

I see a lot of points being scored on Saturday night. In 6 previous season openers, Lincoln Riley Teams have averaged 53.6 points per game in their opener and combined 70.5 points per game in those 6 including last season 66-14 win over Rice. I feel like Williams picks up where he left off and Cordeiro will be able to get the Spartans on the scoreboard a few times to help reach this over.