Week 1 of the College Football season rolls into Saturday, packed with some of the best matchups of the weekend. The action kicks off with the Fox Big Noon game featuring #1 Texas against #3 Ohio State. At 3:30 PM, the slate shifts to Tallahassee, where #13 Alabama faces Florida State in a battle for redemption. The primetime spotlight shines on two Tigers, as #9 LSU takes on #4 Clemson, with both teams eyeing a playoff spot.
I went 1-1 on Friday, as Georgia Tech overcame turnovers to come away with a late cover and win. However, Charlotte looked like a bottom team in the AAC, and maybe America, as they allowed 586 yards of total offense to App State.
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Texas Longhorns -1.5 at Ohio State Buckeyes
Earlier this month, my family and I traveled to Indianapolis for my son’s Drum Corps team as they competed in the World Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Along the way, we stopped in Columbus, OH. I’ve been to many places, but never to the heartland of Ohio. We toured Ohio Stadium, also known as “The Shoe,” on Ohio State’s campus. Expecting a suburban campus, I was surprised to find the university right in the middle of the city. The stadium, over 100 years old, was steeped in history and tradition. Unlike Penn State, with its sprawling tailgating areas, Ohio Stadium had its own unique allure. I can’t wait to experience a game there someday—it would be pure insanity.
Which is what I expect to see today when tuning into College GameDay. Two of the nation’s top teams face off in a rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinals where Ohio State was triumphant enroute to winning the championship a week later. But things look a lot different in Columbus, as the Buckeyes turnover a roster and coaching staff. Gone is QB Will Howard, and RB’s Treyveon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. OSU also lost star WR Emeka Egbuka to the NFL. That production alone is massive. But then you add in Ohio State losing both coordinators, and you have a formula for a slow start.
Texas is introducing a new quarterback, Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning and the latest in the family of professional QBs. After two consecutive semifinal appearances, the stakes and pressure couldn’t be higher for Texas. This team thrives in the trenches, with last year’s defense leading the nation by allowing just 3.99 yards per play and ranking second with 11.7 points per game. With 62.1% of that unit’s starters returning, there’s every reason to expect similar dominance this season.
This is such a treat for college fans, getting a potential preview of the National Championship game in August. I expect some rust and cautious play early on from both teams. However, I believe the Arch Manning hype is real, and he’ll deliver a game-winning drive late in the match, using either his arm or legs, to secure a Texas victory.
Tulane Green Wave -4.5 vs Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern kicks off its season on the road in New Orleans against the Tulane Green Wave, aiming for an opening victory. The Wildcats have a new asset in quarterback Preston Stone, a transfer from SMU with a powerful arm, poised to breathe new life into their struggling offense. Meanwhile, Tulane replaced its starting quarterback by bringing in Jake Retzlaff from BYU through the portal. They also bolstered their lineup with four new wide receivers from Power 4 programs. Similar to Northwestern, Tulane was a run-heavy team last season but plans to open up their offense after significant offseason changes.
Although I’m a bit uneasy about the talent gap and the way the line is shifting, I’m standing firm and backing Tulane. I’ve chosen The Green Wave to make the College Football Playoffs, and that starts with a strong opening. They need to make a statement against the Big 10 today and secure a quality win to impress voters. Tulane’s offense will be much improved this year, but their strength lies in their lines. Head Coach John Sumrall leads the best offensive line in the conference, allowing just 18 sacks last season, along with the top defensive unit in the AAC. Building from the line out is a winning formula, and it’s one that should serve the Wave well this season, beginning today with an impressive win over Northwestern.
Florida Atlantic Owls +14.5 at Maryland Terrapins
To round out the early slate, I’m going with the Air Raid Owls to cover against Maryland. FAU brought in Zack Kittley as head coach, who has famously designed and led offenses at Texas Tech and WKU. And he has the tools in place, in QB Caden Veltkamp and WR Easton Messer, to replicate his prior successes.
Maryland is starting true freshman Malik Washington at QB. While there is a lot to like about Washington, first game jitters can be real. And HC Mike Locksley hasn’t fared well in the big favorite role, failing to cover in eight straight games as a double digit favorite.
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES +13.5 vs ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (330pm)
This game is all about how the Seminoles start. After enduring a tough 2-10 season, head coach Mike Norvell rebuilt the roster through the portal. Instead of just adding talent, he focused on bringing in heart and toughness, starting with QB Thomas Castellanos. The Noles also picked up RB Roydell Williams from Alabama, their opponent today. The shift in mentality has to go beyond words; it needs to be physical too. While the team talks about culture change and earning respect, they need to back it up on the field. That’s why the first quarter is crucial. If Alabama dominates early and takes the lead, it could look a lot like what the Seminoles experienced in 2024.
But I’m backing the Noles for a few reasons. First is Alabama has their own demons to slay. Missing out on a 12-team playoff was brutal for the blue bloods in Tuscaloosa. So there’s much more pressure on Alabama coming into this game than there is on a 2-10 team. The Tide is also changing guard at QB and giving the ball to Ty Simpson who is talented but unproven. Going on the road in your first start is a tough task. Next, the revenge factor is real as FSU still feels scorned with Alabama making the playoffs over them in 2023. Lastly, Lee Corso’s final “super dog” pick this morning was Florida State. So you gotta back the old ball coach on his way out!