Week one of the 2016 college football season is being labeled as the greatest kickoff week in history. There are four games between ranked teams, all of which could have major implications for the College Football Playoff.
- #3 Oklahoma vs #15 Houston - Saturday Sept 3 12:00 pm - NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
- Both Oklahoma and Houston will enter this season with playoff aspirations. For Oklahoma, these dreams are very achievable after reaching the final four last year. Houston's dreams of a national championship may be more of a stretch but reachable. This game will take place at a neutral field in Houston, so home field advantage is really nullified. Oklahoma is favored by 11.5 but I think Houston will not spot the Sooners that many points. So against the spread, I pick Houston but in the straight up game, I feel Oklahoma will win the game.
- #16 UCLA at Texas A&M - Saturday Sept 3, 3:30 pm - Kyle Field, College Station, TX
- UCLA has true sophomore QB Josh Rosen returning to lead the Bruins' offense and Jim Mora should have another quality defense. They head into Texas A&M, who is led by transfer QB Trevor Knight and will have another high-scoring offense but the team needs to get their defense in order to stay in games. Although UCLA is the only ranked team in this game, playing at Kyle Field in Texas has A&M being favored by 3 points. I think A&M will cover the 3 point spread and win the game.
- #5 LSU vs Wisconsin - Saturday Sept 3, 3:30 pm - Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
- LSU fields a team in 2016 that has national championship aspirations. Led by Heisman candidate RB Leonard Fournette, LSU will be favored in nearly every game they play. In their opening game against Wisconsin, played at Lambeau Field, LSU is favored by 11 points. I think Wisconsin will be the spread but LSU will still win the game.
- #18 Georgia vs #22 North Carolina - Saturday Sept 3, 5:30 pm - Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
- This game has the potential to be the closest game played this weekend. Georgia enters the game with a new head coach in Kirby Smart and an offense that should be high-flying with Nick Chubb in the backfield. UNC is coming off of one of their best seasons in their program's history and should be good again this year. Georgia is favored by 2.5 points in this one and I think they will cover it and win the game.
- #20 USC vs #1 Alabama - Saturday Sept 3, 8:00 pm - AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- The biggest story in this one will be can USC do enough on offense to penetrate Alabama's defense. On offense, Alabama doesn't have a returning quarterback once again, but that hasn't been an issue for the Tide in recent seasons. Bama is favored by 11.5 in this one. I think that USC will beat the spread but Alabama will ultimately win the game.
- #2 Clemson at Auburn - Saturday Sept 3, 9:00 pm - Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
- Clemson came up just short of their goal last season by narrowly losing to Alabama in the National Championship game. They enter this season as one of the favorites to get back to the game and win. They will be led by Heisman favorite QB DeShaun Watson who has talented wide receiver Mike Williams returning this season. In this game, the only thing Auburn has going for it is their home field advantage. Clemson is favored by 7.5 in this one and I think they will cover it and win the game.
- #10 Notre Dame at Texas - Sunday Sept 4 7:30 pm - Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
- Prior to the season, Notre Dame was considered a fringe contender for the playoffs. But after a number of their players were suspended, they're expectations may have to be calmed a bit. For Texas' part, things have been rough during Charlie Strong's tenure but there is reason for optimism now. This game has upset written all over it and could easily be a stumbling block for a Notre Dame that can't afford to lose a game this year. Notre Dame is favored by 3.5 points and I have gone back and forth with who to pick against the spread. My gut says that this could be a big year for Texas and that Notre Dame could struggle. I will go with my gut and pick Texas against the spread and to win the game straight up.
- #11 Ole Miss vs #4 Florida State - Monday Sept 5, 8:00 pm - Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
- Florida State could be one of two ACC teams in the playoffs this season and has a real shot at winning the national championship again this season. They are led by RB Dalvin Cook but have questions at quarterback. Ole Miss will have another good defense and their offense will be guided by QB Chad Kelly. This game will be played at a neutral site in Orlando which will help Ole Miss a bit. Florida State is favored by 4.5 and I am picking FSU both to cover the spread and to win outright.
- Kent State at Penn State - Saturday Sept 3, 3:30 pm - Beaver Stadium, State College, PA
- No idea what to say about Kent State in this one but Penn State certainly has plenty of questions this season. Their quarterback group is a question mark and sophomore Trace McSorley will be their starter in this one. Luckily for the Nittany Lions, they have true sophomore, Doak Walker Award watchlist member, Saquon Barkley in their backfield who will take some of the pressure off their quarterbacks at the beginning of the season. Kent State is a nice opponent for Penn State to work some kinks out on before Big Ten play starts in a few weeks. Penn State is favored by 19 in this one, which I don't think they will be able to cover, but I believe PSU will win the game.
- Both Oklahoma and Houston will enter this season with playoff aspirations. For Oklahoma, these dreams are very achievable after reaching the final four last year. Houston's dreams of a national championship may be more of a stretch but reachable. This game will take place at a neutral field in Houston, so home field advantage is really nullified. Oklahoma is favored by 11.5 but I think Houston will not spot the Sooners that many points. So against the spread, I pick Houston but in the straight up game, I feel Oklahoma will win the game.
- UCLA has true sophomore QB Josh Rosen returning to lead the Bruins' offense and Jim Mora should have another quality defense. They head into Texas A&M, who is led by transfer QB Trevor Knight and will have another high-scoring offense but the team needs to get their defense in order to stay in games. Although UCLA is the only ranked team in this game, playing at Kyle Field in Texas has A&M being favored by 3 points. I think A&M will cover the 3 point spread and win the game.
- LSU fields a team in 2016 that has national championship aspirations. Led by Heisman candidate RB Leonard Fournette, LSU will be favored in nearly every game they play. In their opening game against Wisconsin, played at Lambeau Field, LSU is favored by 11 points. I think Wisconsin will be the spread but LSU will still win the game.
- This game has the potential to be the closest game played this weekend. Georgia enters the game with a new head coach in Kirby Smart and an offense that should be high-flying with Nick Chubb in the backfield. UNC is coming off of one of their best seasons in their program's history and should be good again this year. Georgia is favored by 2.5 points in this one and I think they will cover it and win the game.
- The biggest story in this one will be can USC do enough on offense to penetrate Alabama's defense. On offense, Alabama doesn't have a returning quarterback once again, but that hasn't been an issue for the Tide in recent seasons. Bama is favored by 11.5 in this one. I think that USC will beat the spread but Alabama will ultimately win the game.
- Clemson came up just short of their goal last season by narrowly losing to Alabama in the National Championship game. They enter this season as one of the favorites to get back to the game and win. They will be led by Heisman favorite QB DeShaun Watson who has talented wide receiver Mike Williams returning this season. In this game, the only thing Auburn has going for it is their home field advantage. Clemson is favored by 7.5 in this one and I think they will cover it and win the game.
- Prior to the season, Notre Dame was considered a fringe contender for the playoffs. But after a number of their players were suspended, they're expectations may have to be calmed a bit. For Texas' part, things have been rough during Charlie Strong's tenure but there is reason for optimism now. This game has upset written all over it and could easily be a stumbling block for a Notre Dame that can't afford to lose a game this year. Notre Dame is favored by 3.5 points and I have gone back and forth with who to pick against the spread. My gut says that this could be a big year for Texas and that Notre Dame could struggle. I will go with my gut and pick Texas against the spread and to win the game straight up.
- Florida State could be one of two ACC teams in the playoffs this season and has a real shot at winning the national championship again this season. They are led by RB Dalvin Cook but have questions at quarterback. Ole Miss will have another good defense and their offense will be guided by QB Chad Kelly. This game will be played at a neutral site in Orlando which will help Ole Miss a bit. Florida State is favored by 4.5 and I am picking FSU both to cover the spread and to win outright.
- No idea what to say about Kent State in this one but Penn State certainly has plenty of questions this season. Their quarterback group is a question mark and sophomore Trace McSorley will be their starter in this one. Luckily for the Nittany Lions, they have true sophomore, Doak Walker Award watchlist member, Saquon Barkley in their backfield who will take some of the pressure off their quarterbacks at the beginning of the season. Kent State is a nice opponent for Penn State to work some kinks out on before Big Ten play starts in a few weeks. Penn State is favored by 19 in this one, which I don't think they will be able to cover, but I believe PSU will win the game.
Week 1 College Football
Teams
|
Date
and Time
|
Location
|
Spread
|
Spread pick ‘em
|
Straight up
|
# 3
Oklahoma vs #15 Houston
|
9/3 12:00 pm
|
NRG Stadium – Houston, TX
|
OK -11.5
|
Houston
|
Oklahoma
|
#16 UCLA @ Texas A&M
|
9/3 3:30 pm
|
Kyle Field – College Station, TX
|
A&M -3
|
Texas A&M
|
Texas A&M
|
#5 LSU vs Wisconsin
|
9/3 3:30 pm
|
Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI
|
LSU -11
|
Wisconsin
|
LSU
|
#18 Georgia vs #22 North Carolina
|
9/3 5:30 pm
|
Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA
|
GA -2.5
|
Georgia
|
Georgia
|
#20 USC vs #1 Alabama
|
9/3 8:00 pm
|
AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX
|
Bama
-11.5
|
USC
|
Alabama
|
#2 Clemson @ Auburn
|
9/3 9:00 pm
|
Jordan-Hare Stadium – Auburn, AL
|
Clem -7.5
|
Clemson
|
Clemson
|
#10 Notre Dame @ Texas
|
9/4 7:30 pm
|
Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
|
ND -3.5
|
Texas
|
Texas
|
#11 Ole Miss vs #4 Florida State
|
9/5 8:00 pm
|
Orlando, FL
|
FSU -4.5
|
Florida State
|
Florida State
|
Kent State @ Penn State
|
9/3 3:30 pm
|
Beaver Stadium – State College, PA
|
PSU -19
|
Kent State
|
Penn State
|
On the Sunday after most college football weeks, I will post the results of my picks. This week, however, I will post the results of my picks on Tuesday since Ole Miss and Florida State don't play until Monday.
*All spreads come from ESPN
*All spreads come from ESPN
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