The 8 College Football Games to Watch in Week 1

THURSDAY
(#25)Boise State at South Florida
5:30 p.m., ESPN

Boise State is the automatic pick as a contender for the ‘Non-4’ playoff spot. However, South Florida has a chance to dampen those hopes right off the bat. Plus, how often do you get to start watching football at 5:30 on a Thursday night?
Prediction: Boise State-28, South Florida-20

Nebraska at Cincinnati
9 p.m., ESPN

Here were are yet again, wondering if this is the year the ‘Huskers become a contender. There is reason for hope this year, considering Matt Rhule’s track record of turning programs around in his third year, and Dylan Raiola possibly making the leap to become an elite quarterback. However, the Bearcats should have an explosive passing game that could test a Nebraska defense that could be on shaky ground this season.
Prediction: Cincinnati-38, Nebraska-34

FRIDAY

Georgia Tech at Colorado
8 p.m., ESPN

Georgia Tech is pound-for-pound one of the most entertaining teams to watch in college football. They’re a scrappy bunch that plays tough defense, uses a creative running attack that keeps defenses on their toes, and quarterback Haynes King is a playmaker who leaves it all out on the field in a McSorley-esque manner every Saturday. We know what to expect out of the Yellow Jackets, but Colorado is more of a mystery. Coach Prime has done wonders to turn things around in Boulder, but will have to find a way to keep winning despite some massive losses to the roster, including the reigning Heisman winner. We’ll learn quite a bit about what to expect from these two wildcards on Friday night.
Prediction: Georgia Tech-30, Colorado-23

SATURDAY

(#1)Texas at (#3)Ohio State
Noon, FOX

Could you possibly ask for anything more from a week one noon kick? It’s a rematch of last year’s semifinals game that went down to the wire…two bluebloods with rich histories and (ahem) passionate fanbases…a top three match-up…the first game for Arch Manning as QB1…and on top of that, it’s also Lee Corso’s last appearance as a College GameDay host. This should not only be a great game with large implications for the rest of the season, but will also help pass the time before waiting for Penn State to kick off at 3:30.
Prediction: Ohio State-31, Texas-28

(#9)LSU at (#4)Clemson
7:30 p.m., ABC

Clemson brings back a loaded defense, a Heisman winner at quarterback, and some several exceptionally talented pass-catchers. They sure seem ready for a championship run, portal be damned. LSU has lost its first three season openers under Brian Kelly. Despite the Tigers having their own Heisman contender at quarterback, expect that streak to grow to four.
Clemson-27, LSU-21

Utah at UCLA
11 p.m., FOX

For those of you who missed PAC-12 after dark, these two programs reunite for some late-night viewing. UCLA exceeded expectations in their first year in the Big Ten, and could build off that to become a bowl team in 2025. Beating a steady program like Utah, who is always strong at the line of scrimmage will be no small task, but the possibility of an upset will be worth staying up for.
Prediction: Utah-20, UCLA-17

SUNDAY

(#6)Notre Dame at (#10)Miami
7:30 p.m., ABC

A throwback rivalry and a classic uniform match-up for a rare Sunday night game. The ‘Canes are loaded with talent after another portal haul, but still can’t seem to put it all together to become a true contender. Notre Dame proved otherwise, making a run all the way to the National Championship Game (sigh) despite a rash of injuries throughout the roster. The Irish are the dependable choice, but maybe this is the season Miami figures things out.
Prediction: Notre Dame-31, Miami-24

MONDAY

TCU at UNC
8 p.m., ESPN

It’s the start of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill. Somehow, TCU will yet again be the first opponent to the buzziest head coaching hire since they opened the Deion Sanders era with an upset loss to Colorado. While Belichick certainly knows how to win games, I’m not sure he will have Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders to help take down the Horned Frogs.
Prediction: TCU-34, UNC-24

Check out odds for each of these games, as well as Saturday’s clash between Penn State and Nevada.