College Football *Week 1* Picks & Predictions | 2024

ladies and gentlemen we are back with college football predictions for week one of 20124 what a different year it's going to be with the 12 team playoff we've got games happening this week Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday and I will be predicting all of the games involving a ranked team and of course A lot of these games are going to be theow outs because they will be involving FCS vers FBS a lot of these games will not have spreads until the day of the game including this first one this is a 7:00 Thursday start it is NC State the wolf pack sitting at number 24 overall in their initial 2024 ranking they will be taking on Western Carolina and of course there is no spread for this game with an FCS team a bad FCS team involved I will be going with NC State I think they are a little bit underrated at number 24 I guess we'll see I have them winning this game 52 to10 we do have an 8:00 little Prime Time match up how about Missouri returning their quarterback returning their star receiver they're at number 11 so just outside of the top 10 they had a great year last year they've got a relatively easy SEC schedule this year could they make the playoff they're taking on Murray State I remember Murray State they're a decent college basketball team but obviously an FCS team and this will be a very easy win for Missouri I do think Murray State kind of a random score 52 to8 Murray State gets a touchdown and a two-point conversion late but Missouri wins this game very easy easily another 8:00 game it is going to be lynen wood traveling to take on Kansas I am very high on Kansas even though they are playing at an MLs stadium for this game and their next I think three games the nonconference games and then they'll move to Arrowhead because their current stadium is under Renovations lyndenwood very random FCS team Kansas I think they've got the best offense in the Big 12 I have them winning the Big 12 and being the number four overall seed in the college football football playoff how about that I do think they win this game and they drop a 60 Burger 62 to7 a very easy victory for KU on a Thursday night there and then another Thursday night game it's another FCS team how about this Southern Utah taking on Utah this is a huge instate rivalry Utah they've got a ton of hype ranked number 12 overall to start off the year a lot of people think Utah with Cam Rising returning after his injury last year they could make the playoff they've always got a good defense in the Big 12 now this is a 9:00 Eastern start time and I do think Utah wins this game 41 to3 they could easily shut out Southern Utah though so maybe they win that game 41 to nothing moving on to the Friday game it is Temple traveling to Oklahoma Oklahoma a lot of hype according to the analytical models they are ranked number 16 in their initial ranking you can see minus 43 Temple is one of the worst teams in all of FBS U with as a massive favorite and a 99% chance to win according to ESPN FBI and I do think they win this game 50 to7 Jackson Arnold the former five-star QB got his feet wet last year Brett venables maybe an improved defense and a lot tougher of a schedule Oklahoma is a top 10 team according to the analytics can they play like it I guess we will see let's move on to the Saturday games and the noon window this is a very surprising start time to me I thought this game would be on at 3:30 this is the neutral site Georgia the number one overall team with Carson Beck taken on Clemson with Cade Club Nick Clemson I do think they are under underrated they have a top five overall roster in terms of talent they've got I think a top three defense in terms of talent they are sitting 13 and a half Point underdogs this line was initially I think 14 and a half so it's been bet down this game will be at Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta Georgia so it's basically a de facto Georgia home game these neutral sight games in week one we always hate Georgia though minus 13 a half I do think they cover I could see Georgia winning this game 34-13 34 to 10 something along those lines just because Clemson's offense and how much they've struggled over the past four or five years or excuse me like three or four years I think George's defense they're so talented with Carson back at QB this could be a lower scoring first half maybe a boring first half where it's 10 to three but I think Georgia pulls away in this game and relatively easily covers a spread even though I do like Clemson this year this is just a really really bad matchup for them in week one there another noon game another fun one here this is Penn State traveling to West Virginia Penn State sitting minus8 and a half so some interesting notes about this game this game reminds me a lot of Penn State's week one game like three years ago when they went on the road in West Lafayette and almost lost to purdo it's a rockus environment they end up winning that game but not covering the spread they were originally minus 10 in that game in this game it gets bet down to minus 8 and a half 78% chance to win they've got an initial ranking at number eight West Virginia does have more hype this year than they've had in years past Morgantown is going to be crazy this is the big noon game and I do think it is very close and I do think West Virginia covers the eight and a half point spread even after it's already gotten bet down Penn State wins this game 27 to 24 I will however caution people I've seen a lot of models that love Penn State to win this game by like 15 points this is kind of the deviation where this is week one we have to understand you're a team like Penn State going on the road in a hostile environment you're going to be overwhelmed in the first half let's be honest I think this is not a great matchup for them West Virginia will play well they'll keep it close maybe they'll go ahead Penn State ends up winning I do believe in Penn State this year I think they make the playoff because they always have a really good defense and this year they've got like a top five defense in terms of the analytics I think they win this game but it is very close should be a fun matchup really you know kind of not a normal thing we're used to with Penn State traveling to West Virginia there another noon game it is Iowa sitting at number 25 you know Iowa has learned from their FCS mistakes I remember a few years ago Iowa facing South Dakota state that was a tough game in week one few years before that they faced North Dakota State now they're facing Illinois State the Red Birds that's a lot easier of a matchup Iowa maybe a revamped offense there's some hype around them they've got an easy schedule in the Big 10 some people are saying there a dark horse Poss playoff team if they go 10 and two they're at number 25 so they're barely ranked and I do think they they win this game they could pitch a shut out against Illinois state but I've got it at 37 to7 that's a noon start there how about this game 12:45 so this is something the SEC is doing where they're having one game each week start at 12:45 and it is going to be Tennessee taking on chatt NOOA the FCS team Tennessee I'm very high on them I think they are underrated relative to some of the other SEC teams they've kind of forgotten about they've got a young Superstar QB who played well in the Bull game last year niik laliva they're at number 15 right now I think this team could make the playoff they've got a very explosive offense every year and I think they win this game dropping a 50 Burger 55 to 14 over Chattanooga moving on to a random two o'clock game this is just not a fun matchup for Oklahoma State so Oklahoma State at number 17 returning Ali Gordon they've got a lot of talent back on that roster N9 and a half Point favorites at home against South Dakota State and again South Dakota State You could argue they are the best FCS team right now you can see Oklahoma state with an 89% chance to win but the fpi has been off on the FCS vers FBS matchups because they had New Mexico with like was a 69% chance to win but Montana state was 11o favorites I think this game's going to be very close these week one games where a really good FCS team goes on the road they always play well I've got it at 31-28 this is not a fun matchup for Oklahoma State there is some hype surrounding them people think they could win the Big 12 but then again there's like seven teams that could win the Big 12 I will take them to win this game but I think South Dakota state does cover this spread and is a very close game moving on to the 330 games Believe It or Not Ohio State and akan this is the CBS 330 window game I don't know how but it is Ohio State sitting minus 50 and a half with a 99% chance to win they got 15 first place votes in the first AP poll they are ranked second overall You could argue they have the most talented roster in football certainly the most talented defense we will see how well they do will Howard the quarterback from Kansas State people seem to be lukewarm on him but we know akan is one of the worst teams in all of FBS basically every year and I do think Ohio State wins this game and drops a 60 Burger you know a lot of people always ask me with games like this where the spread's 50 and a half I just would stay away from them because you've got an over under a 58 I mean Ohio State could win this game 56 to nothing and the under hits so it's just hard and you're basically just betting on second and third stringers because we know Ohio State's going to be up like 42 to nothing at halftime so when it comes to like 50 and a half I do have Ohio State covering the spread though winning this game by 59 points 66-7 overall another 330 game it is Colorado State traveling to Texas so Texas coming off their playoff appearance last year losing in the semi-final they returned Quinn ERS they did get a lot of talent via the portal they filled up some some roster holes they're at number four they do have Quinn yers back 32 and a half Point favorites against Colorado State I think Colorado State's underrated Colorado State's going to be a decent team this year in the mount West and I do think Colorado State covers this spread normally Texas when you've got like a 32 and a half point spread it's just not something Texas will cover very M very often and also let's remember this game happening at 2:30 Central Time in late August in the Dead Heat you're going to be dealing with some some pretty brutal you know maybe 110 degrees on the turf 98 Degrees heat index overall really really bad I think Texas just wants to get out of here with a win they don't really care about covering the spread they win this game 38- 17 in that one we've got a huge game here how about this Miami traveling to Florida an instate rivalry Miami initially ranked number 19 overall they've got a lot of hype surrounding them travel in to Gainesville Florida the toughest schedule by far in college football this year Miami sitting minus 2 and a half in this game but Florida according to ESPN FBI with a 58% chance to win so the FBI likes Florida plus the two and a half as value but I do think Miami wins this game as a higher scoring fun matchup 34 to 27 cam Ward maybe a little bit of a Heisman moment early we know Miami's got all this hype people are predicting them to win the ACC be the number three overall seed in the playoff and get that first round by because of their roster talent and because of the transfer portal QB they got I think they win this game against Florida it's a huge game for both of these teams it's going to be hot it's going to be sweaty but give me Miami to win this game 34 to 27 moving on to the 7 o'clock window how about this the first game in the post Nick sain era Alabama with their initial ranking of number five overall the returning QB Jaylen milroe taking on Western Kentucky bam sitting minus 31 you know it always feels like Bama covers in these week one games where they're massive favorites Western Kentucky got blown out last year by Ohio State and I think something similar happens in this game considering it feels like Alabama has something to prove post Nick Sabin they win this game 55 to 17 they easily cover the 31 point spread there we also do have Ferman I remember Ferman the college basketball team they were ranked at one point like four or five years ago they will be traveling to ol Miss Miss of course with a lot of talent Lane kein jackton Dart getting some Heisman hype they did lose quinon junkins but they do have a lot of talent now on defense they got two key pass rushers and this is an FCS versus FBS there is no line in this game of course and I will have Old Miss dropping a 60 Burger in prime time 62 to3 in that one another 7 o'cl game it's another FCS vers FBS it is Kansas state breaking in their young QB Avery Johnson placing will Howard although people will say will Howard was a backup but yeah Kansas State at number 18 they're getting some hype they'll be taking on UT Martin wow yes UT Martin sitting obviously as massive underdogs in this game there is no spread I've got it at 49-6 with K State getting a win in week one there how about this one this game's on the Big 10 Network it is Oregon the number three overall team in college football initially taking on Idaho the FCS School Oregon with a 99% chance to win ton of hype for Oregon a lot of people think they're going to win the national title they've got Dylan Gabriel this is like his fifth sixth year in college football a ton of experience there they paid a lot for him in the transfer portal it was coming down to Oregon Ohio State he goes to Oregon and they should win this game very easily I've got them dropping a 70 Burger this game will be a 4:30 local time start so a nice late afternoon game and a very very easy win we would expect expect for Oregon in that one this is a huge 7:30 Prime Time game a seismic Notre Dame traveling on the road to College Station that's a tough environment Texas A&M ranked 20th Notre Dame initially ranked number seven overall Notre Dame if they go 10 and two they very likely will make the college football playoff they have a relatively easy schedule but they need to win this game they're sitting three-point underdogs this line has moved pretty significantly Notre Dame was originally the favorites now A&M minus three because of that home field advantage Notre Dame is given a 59% chance to win via ESPN fpi so possibly some good value in Notre Dame plus the three and I do like Notre Dame to win a hard-nose defensive type week one game 26 to 17 although there is a lot of unknown surrounding Riley Leonard with the transfer QB from duke we know he's this decent dual threat QB but he barely played last year he was injured throughout much of it I do think Notre Dame this is the type of game they win I remember five or six years ago Notre Dame going on the road at FSU winning a good game there they'll beat a team like Texas A&M but then they'll choke to a team like Ohio State so I think they go on the road this is a big week one game for both of these teams A&M they're still a really talented roster even with all the transfer portal happenings and they did move on from Jimbo Fisher they bought him out I think Notre Dame though wins this game in week one it might be 26 to 24 it might be 20 to 17 I think a lower scoring win where they eek it out and they get it done maybe a late touchdown to win 26- 17 something like that another 730 game how about this Michigan the defending national champions sitting at number nine overall in the initial rankings they've got a quarterback problem everyone thought they would get a trans for QB it didn't happen they are sitting minus 21 a half in this one 89% chance to win Fresno State they are a solid team out of the Mountain West I believe right now they're the number three ranked team in terms of analytics out of the Mountain West and I do think Fresno State covers this spread Michigan dealing with those early season quarterback problems breaking in new QBs maybe playing multiple QBs in the first half they win this game 30 to13 but Fresno State is going to cover that 21 and a half point spread in that one and then we've got the late late game the 10:30 game it is New Mexico shout out to New Mexico they played really well in week zero they were 11-point underdogs against Montana State they did choke the game and lose it they still played well they'll be traveling on the road to take on Arizona Arizona kind of a weird situation their initial ranking is number 21 overall they lost their head coach but they still have basically all of their young Talent so I feel like people really don't know what to make of Arizona they're sitting minus 30 and a half in this one basically nobody's going to be watching this game it's happening at 10:30 on the East Coast I do have Arizona winning this very easily dropping a 50 Burger throttling New Mexico 56 to4 moving on to a Sunday game so we do have one Sunday game and one Monday game just because there's no NFL this week they're in between the preseason and the NFL season so college football can do this and this is a big matchup between two similar teams it is USC and LSU both of these teams normally have really good offenses USC initially ranked number 23 they are trying to improve their defense and then LSU at number 12 they they are losing a bunch on offense and they are also trying to improve a defense that does have a lot of talent in terms of recruiting LSU was sitting minus four in this game they were originally minus 6 and a half so the line's been bet down and I do think LSU ends up winning this game 42 to 35 higher scoring games similar teams normally good on offense bad on defense huge game for both of these teams though really and I think LSU minus four they get the job done and they do cover the spread although I'm not extremely confident of it I do think LSU is just they're a better program at this point I do think USC they're at risk of possibly losing Lincoln Riley after this year we will see in terms of that and then the Monday night game yes there is a Monday night game why does the Monday night game always suck it seems like it is FSU taking on Boston College now I am filming this right before the updated rankings so I gave a projection I said maybe FSU is ranked number 18 they were ranked number 10 but then of course they lost to Georgia Tech this is a 7:30 game FSU was sitting minus 17 I believe they were originally minus 21 so losing to Georgia Tech they lose four points but let's not overreact I know dju was really bad in Ireland but he's back in Tallahassee and I think they win this game they cover the spread against a bad Boston College team 38-4 81% chance to win there they get back on track and they improve to one and one but either way guys that is going to do it for this video make sure you follow me on X link to that's always in 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