College Football Schedule Week 1: Odds, Predictions for Top 25 Games
College Football is back! While temps may be in the 80s and 90s across the US this weekend, a bit of fall is in the air as a full slate of NCAA football games is on the schedule.
Week 1 marquee matchups
In the past, Week 1 games used to be a tuneup for most Top 25 NCAA teams. That is no longer the case. Right away, NCAA schedule makers have thrown several must-see matchups at college pigskin fans.
The biggest game to take place this weekend is Notre Dame traveling to Columbus to face Ohio State. Talk about a slugfest right off the bat! While the loser of the game between the No. 5 Irish and No. 2 Buckeyes probably won’t fall too far in the standings, the winner will be off and running. They also will instantly have an inside track in terms of making the College Football Playoffs.
Yes, it is only Week 1, however, when two teams ranked in the top five square-off this early, the winner will not only score some serious brownie points with the pollsters, they will be riding high with confidence heading into Week 2.
Other big games on the Week 1 Top 25 schedule include No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia, No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas, and No. 7 Utah taking on the Gators in Florida. The Utes are stacked this season, but we think they may be on upset alert!
College Football schedule, odds, and picks
Okay, no more chatter, just the facts! Here is the Week 1 schedule, current odds and our selections. Let’s start this season out on a winning note!
Thursday, September 1
- Central Michigan at No. 12 Oklahoma State (-20.5) (Over/Under: 59) (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
- West Virginia at No. 17 Pittsburgh (-7.5) (O/U: 51) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- VMI at No. 22 Wake Forest (Odds N/A) (7:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
Friday, September 2
- Western Michigan at No. 15 Michigan State (-22) (O/U: 54.5) — 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Saturday, September 3
- Sam Houston at No. 6 Texas A&M (OFF) — Noon ET, SEC Network)
- Colorado State at No. 8 Michigan (-28, O/U: 58.5) — Noon ET, ABC)
- No. 13 NC State (-11) at East Carolina (O/U: 55) — Noon ET, ESPN)
- No. 11 Oregon at No. 3 Georgia (-17, O/U: 52) — 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
- UTEP at No. 9 Oklahoma (-32, O/U: 56.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
- Bethune-Cookman at No. 16 Miami (OFF) (3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
- No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas (-6, O/U: 52) (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- No. 24 Houston (-4) at UTSA (O/U: 61.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network)
- Troy at No. 21 Ole Miss (-22) (O/U: 58) (4 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
- No. 25 BYU (-12) at South Florida (O/U: 58) (4 p.m. ET, ESPNU)
- Rice at No. 12 USC (-34.5, O/U: 63.5) (6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network)
- No. 7 Utah (-2.5) at Florida (O/U: 51) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Albany at No. 10 Baylor (Odds N/A) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
- Illinois State at No. 18 Wisconsin (OFF) (7 p.m. ET, FS1)
- Miami (OH) at No. 20 Kentucky (-17.5, O/U: 52) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
- Utah State at No. 1 Alabama (-40, O/U: 62.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
- No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State (-17.5, O/U: 58.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Monday, September 5
- No. 4 Clemson (-21.5) vs. Georgia Tech (O/U: 48.5) (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Picks — Oklahoma State -20.5, Notre Dame +17.5, Alabama -40, Arkansas -6, Florida +2.5
