Let’s start the season off right
Hello again everyone, its time again to see who knows college football the best by picking winners and losers each week.
It’s the start of the season so let’s lay out the rules. For these picks we use the point spread provided by ESPN at the time the article is generated. The winner is decided by which team beats the spread, so if FSU is expected to win by -13.5 that means that they need to have to score 14 points more than Tech by the end of the game in order to beat the spread otherwise Tech is considered to have beat the spread and is marked as the winner. In the odd cases where the team exactly matches the spread (for example if the spread is -14 for VT and they win the game 28-14 they match the spread) the winning team will be considered the victor.
Each user can fill out the form at the end of the article to pick who will cover the spread one way or the other. The picks will close once the first chronological game on the list kicks off. I’ll keep track each week until and should be posting articles each Wednesday, naming a weekly champion each week, tracking the overall score for the regular season, and setting up the picks for the upcoming week. There is also a separate tournament for bowl season, so look out for that in a few months. Until then, fill out your picks and best of luck to everyone.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oh boy! It’s college football season and I can’t be happier. It’s been a while since Georgia Tech got to kick off the season, and we get a heck of a matchup to start things off. Like most of you I have been living off the high that last season’s success brought me. I have been doing my best to temper expectations given our schedule this year, but it’s so hard not to be excited and have the “We’re gonna prove people wrong about GT” mentality right now.
FSU is a tough opponent, and I fully expect them to come out gunning. FSU also wants to prove people wrong about last year. This is going to be a tough matchup and I can’t wait to see it. Regardless of what happens on the field, college football is back and hope springs eternal. Let’s get to some picks.
Note: This week I’ll also be squeezing in some of the weekday week 1 games so there is more time to pick between the games and when the article comes out next week. Due to those pick results being delayed our first set of results from the week 0 and week 1 picks will post in the week 2 article.
picks:
Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium in Dublin Ireland: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets v #10 Florida State Seminoles (-12)
Logan: For those new to these articles I always pick Tech, so spoiler alert on how this discussion will go. Most people’s pick here should come down to how much faith you have in FSU’s offense versus how much faith you have in Tech’s defense. FSU has a new QB and quite a few new faces on offense. FSU was really proficient last year on offense under Jordan Travis, and the exact opposite once he got injured. Tech’s defense has just been terrible the past few years, but we have a new D-coordinator and some talented transfers to fill gaps. We know the Tech offense is great and we know the FSU defense is equally great, so this game may just come down to who can get the best field position and take advantage of their scoring opportunities. I expect some hiccups early on, especially from FSU with all their new faces, and more turnovers than both teams would like. Even if you don’t expect Tech to win this one, all they need to do is keep the game within 2 touchdowns which I think they are fully capable of. Give me GT.
Logan’s pick: Georgia Tech
SMU Mustangs (-26.5) @ Nevada Wolfpack
Logan: These picks are always tough for me. Do I think SMU is going to win this game? Absolutely! Do I think they will win by 27 points or more? Tough call, even though Nevada only went 2-10 last year it’s always hard to predict a blow out. Nevada did have 3 losses last year of 26 points or more against USC, Idaho, and Wyoming. SMU certainly has the talent to compare with Idaho and Wyoming and I think SMU has got something to prove in their first game representing the ACC, I’ll take SMU but I don’t feel great about it.
Logan’s pick: SMU
UNC Tarheels @ Minnesota Golden Gophers (-2.5)
Logan: I’m far from an expert on Minnesota football but based on what I saw from them last year they relied heavily on their defense to win games. UNC has lost a lot on offense and this will be their first test with a new QB at the helm. I’m obviously biased, but if Coach 404 does to UNC’s defense what he did to ours the Minnesota’s offense should be able to take advantage. I’ll take Minnesota.
Logan’s pick: Minnesota
North Dakota State Bison @ Colorado Buffaloes (-8.5)
Logan: This is Colorado’s chance to prove itself after an embarrassing end to the 2023 season. Honestly, the Buffaloes could not have picked a worse opponent to start their season against. Despite being in the FCS, North Dakota State is a formidable opponent who has made a habit of ruining the seasons of their opponents. Don’t think this will be an easy ride for Colorado. I do expect Colorado to have a good season, but that season will start in week 2, I fully expect the Bison to outright win this game.
Logan’s pick: North Dakota State
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks (-3)
Logan: Jacksonville State had a heck of a year last year ending up 9-4 and losing a close championship game for Conference USA. The Chanticleers by comparison went 8-4 and didn’t quite make it to their championship game. This is an even matchup, I do feel Jacksonville State has the slight edge getting this game at home and due to a number of Coastal Carolina’s best players transferring. I could go either way on this one, but I’ll take Jacksonville State.
Logan’s pick: Gamecocks
Temple Owls @ Oklahoma Sooners (-43.5)
Logan: Again… how exactly are you supposed to pick a spread like this? Temple had one shut out loss last year to SMU where they lost by 55 points, otherwise the Owls kept their losses to within 40 points of the opponent. Still Oklahoma has the type of talent the Owls can only picture in their wildest dreams. As much as I expect OU to dominate, I think they stop trying once they get up by 35 points and Temple is able to cover.
Logan’s pick: Temple
Florida Atlantic Owls @ Michigan State Spartans (-11.5)
Logan: Michigan State has had a habit of letting me down when I pick them. They are a P5 team but they don’t seem to live up to their expectations. That doesn’t mean I’m picking FAU though. The Spartans should have enough talent to win by 14, and this is a long way to travel for the Owls. Lucky its so early in the season otherwise it would be a could one for the Owls as well. I’m going to go with the Spartans and hope they don’t let me down.
Logan’s pick: Michigan State
Western Michigan Mustangs @ Wisconsin Badgers (-24.5)
Logan: Western Michigan got blown out by Iowa last year 41-10 last year. This was the Iowa team that averaged 15.43 points a game, and Western Michigan gave up 41 points to them. This is another tough one for me because of the spread, but at this point of the year I simply have to go on history and who the better team is. If you pick the Mustangs to cover I wouldn’t blame you, but I’ll take Wisconsin in this matchup.
Logan’s pick: Wisconsin
TCU Horned Frogs (-8.0) @ Stanford Cardinals
Logan: TCU went 5-7 last year after being in the NCAA championship game the year before, so that was a bit of a let down for Horned Frog fans. Stanford went 3-8 last year, although that was expected from Stanford fans. unfortunately Stanford just hasn’t had much going for it in the football department the past few years. TCU is returning enough talent where I think the Horned Frogs will be back to a bowl game this year, and if they are going to achieve the bowl game dream they have to win this game. Sorry Stanford fans, I think this is going to be a rough first game as an ACC member.
Logan’s pick: TCU