College Football Predictions & Picks Week 1: Best Bets for Marquee Games
In what's considered one of the greatest Week 1 slates in college football history, my top college football predictions and picks for Week 1 focus on the marquee matchups taking place Saturday through Monday.
We're talking Arch Manning against the champs, the battle for Death Valley, and Bill Belichick's debut at North Carolina all in Week 1. Who wouldn't want to make college football picks this week?
I'm highlighting 10 of the biggest games on the schedule with my pick against the spread and favorite player prop for each game as part of my college football predictions for Week 1.
🏈 College football predictions and picks for Week 1
College football expert picks made Friday; college football odds subject to change.
| Matchup | ATS pick | Best player prop |
|---|---|---|
| Texas vs. Ohio State | Ohio State +1.5 (-112 via DraftKings) ✅ | Arch Manning Under 239.5 passing yards (-115 via bet365) |
| Syracuse vs. Tennessee | Tennessee -13.5 (-105 via bet365) | Steve Angeli Over 0.5 interception (-145 via bet365) |
| Alabama vs. Florida State | Alabama -13.5 (-120 via FanDuel) | Tommy Castellanos Under 166.5 passing yards (-114 via FanDuel) |
| UTSA vs. Texas A&M | Texas A&M -22.5 (-115 via FanDuel) | Marcel Reed Over 9.5 rush attempts (+100 via bet365) |
| LSU vs. Clemson | Clemson -3.5 (-118 via BetMGM) | Cade Klubnik Over 34.5 pass attempts (-115 via bet365) |
| New Mexico vs. Michigan | Michigan -34.5 (-110 via Caesars) | Bryce Underwood Under 204.5 passing yards (-114 via FanDuel) |
| Utah vs. UCLA | Utah -5.5 (-105 via DraftKings) | Devon Dampier anytime TD scorer (-114 via Caesars) |
| Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina | South Carolina -7 (-115 via Caesars) | LaNorris Sellers Over 1.5 passing touchdowns (-102 via FanDuel) |
| Notre Dame vs. Miami | Notre Dame -2.5 (-115 via bet365) | Jeremiyah Love Over 79.5 rushing yards (-114 via FanDuel) |
| TCU vs. North Carolina | TCU -3.5 (-108 via DraftKings) | Josh Hoover Over 284.5 passing yards (-115 via bet365) |
✅ My favorite Week 1 ATS picks
Track the latest college football scores for line movement and matchup info.
🐘 Alabama (-13.5) vs. Florida State ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Florida State should be a lot better this season, but Mike Norvell is relying on a plethora of transfers, and it might take time for this team to gel. It's also taking on an Alabama team that's No. 2 in SP+ and littered with future NFL players on both sides of the ball as Kalen DeBoer heads into his second season in charge.
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🍀 Notre Dame (-2.5) vs. Miami ⭐⭐⭐
These two teams have plenty of history with each other, and this could be another classic matchup with Notre Dame's defense No. 9 in SP+ and Miami's offense No. 1. But the difference should be the Fighting Irish's offense. Notre Dame All-American running back Jeremiyah Love is in for a huge day against a Miami team that's No. 49 in SP+ on defense.
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🌰 Texas vs. Ohio State (+1.5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Both Texas and Ohio State rank outside of the top 80 in returning production, but the Buckeyes have a higher blue-chip ratio (89%) than the Longhorns (78%) on top of returning arguably the two best players in the country (Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs). Ohio State is No. 1 in SP+ entering the season, and Texas has to replace four starters on the O-line. With Ohio State at home, the Buckeyes are the play.
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💰 My favorites Week 1 player prop bets
Our college football player prop odds tool shows the best odds for every market across legal sportsbooks in your area.
⬆️ Cade Klubnik Over 34.5 pass attempts (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier could give us a shootout on Saturday night, which means plenty of throwing for the Heisman hopefuls. Klubnik returns his top three receivers from last year after he finished fifth in the country in big-time throws (28). OC Garrett Riley doesn't shy away from going to the air, after Klubnik threw 35-plus passes in seven of his last nine games last season.
🔥 Devon Dampier anytime TD scorer (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Utah brings both Devon Dampier and offensive coordinator Jason Beck over from New Mexico, where Dampier's mobility became the focal point of the offense. Last season for the Lobos, he led the country in missed tackles forced among QBs (54) and finished third in rushing TDs among QBs (19). Playing behind two potential first-round offensive tackles should only help him find the end zone.
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⬆️ LaNorris Sellers Over 1.5 passing touchdowns (-102) ⭐⭐⭐
Down the stretch last season, LaNorris Sellers looked like a future top-five pick. He threw 16 of his 18 touchdown passes over South Carolina's final eight games - including two-plus in four of his last six - and finished top 30 in the country in big-time throw rate (4.9%). Virginia Tech won't be able to slow him down with an entirely new starting secondary.
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