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Presto’s Picks: Week 1

By David Preston

WASHINGTON — College football doesn’t technically have a preseason, although one might beg to differ after looking at a few of the games on the Labor Day weekend schedule. Oregon-South Dakota? North Carolina-Liberty? Those are glorified scrimmages that pale in comparison to real games like Auburn-Arkansas and Georgia- Clemson. For schools that don’t wade into the shallow end there’s always the danger of losing 52-28 like South Carolina (as you can see, there’s still no D in South Carolina, Gamecocks or Spurrier).

Maryland entertains James Madison

The Terps barely beat JMU five years ago, 38-35 in overtime. CJ Brown was redshirting that year — and now the sixth year senior kicks off his final (we believe) season in school by facing his brother Jordan (a free safety for the Dukes). Coach Randy Edsall is 3-0 in season openers in College Park. And although they’ve won both games against the Dukes by single digits (23-15 in 1998 the other game), the Terrapins are just too talented to slip up here.

Terps triumph, 41-16.

Virginia Tech hosts William & Mary

Beware the ampersand. The Tribe’s made life miserable for I-A/FBS opponents recently, losing by just one to Maryland in 2012 and falling by seven to West Virginia last year. Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer takes over for the departing Logan Thomas — will he have an effective running game to ease his transition? Last year’s ground attack ranked 106th in the nation and sophomore Trey Edmunds is banged up heading into Saturday’s opener. Will a special teams unit that had more than a few breakdowns last year live up to its “Beamer Ball” name?

Hokies handle the Tribe, 36-17.

Virginia faces #7 UCLA

Did Mike London not get the “Cupcakes will be served Labor Day Weekend” memo? Many are picking the Bruins to not only win the PAC-12, but make it to the upcoming College Football Playoff. After winning just 2 games last year, this is how you get off the mat? Much will be expected of running back Kevin Parks as Greyson Lambert still sounds more like a shirt brand at Vineyard Vines than a quarterback in the ACC. But Bruins beware — UVA is 4-0 in season openers under London. Sadly this means that the team is 14-31 the rest of the way under their current coach.

Cavaliers come up short, 34-13.

Navy entertains #5 Ohio State

Braxton Miller’s absence no doubt will give the Midshipmen reason for optimism, but the Buckeyes boast 11 other returning starters. Keenan Robinson pilots the Mids option attack, fresh off a 2013 season where he ran and passed for over 1000 yards. But against major conference competition last year (Duke, Pitt, Notre Dame) the senior completed only 50% of his passes and gained less than 3 yards a carry. The game will not be played in Annapolis, but rather at nearby at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium. Under Urban Meyer, Ohio State is 10-1 away from Columbus.

Midshipmen fall 32-21.

Other games

Georgetown over Wagner, Richmond beats Morehead State, Towson torches Central Connecticut State, Morgan State slips to Eastern Michigan, Old Dominion hammers Hampton.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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