Week 1 includes a top-10 showdown between No. 5 LSU and No. 8 Florida State – the primary massive piece within the School Soccer Playoff puzzle for 2023.
The primary week of the season has 19 matchups involving FBS groups ranked within the prime 25. 5 ranked groups – together with No. 1 Georgia – are enjoying FCS groups. There are greater than sufficient thrilling matchups on the schedule.
No. 14 Utah – the two-time Pac-12 champions – welcomes Florida on Thursday evening. Saturday options Deion Sanders’ debut at Colorado towards No. 17 TCU at midday and prime-time matchups between West Virginia and No. 7 Penn State and No. 21 North Carolina and South Carolina. All of it builds towards a Sunday showdown between the Tigers and Seminoles – a rematch from final 12 months’s 24-23 thriller. Each groups have come a good distance in a single season.
In Week 0, we went 5-2 S/U and 4-3 ATS. That included a 2-0 ATS and 2-0 S/U document in High 25 video games. A have a look at this week’s picks:
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Thursday, Sept. 1
Florida at No. 14 Utah (-7) (8 p.m., ESPN)
Utah’s quarterback state of affairs is in flux, however the Utes are 21-1 S/U and 14-8 ATS at dwelling the final 4 seasons. It may be a hostile ambiance for a Florida staff with lots of query marks. How will Wisconsin switch Graham Mertz deal with his first begin with the Gators? Bear in mind, Florida received a 29-26 thriller final season. Utah returns the favor in a Thursday evening thriller.
Choose: Utah wins 28-25 however FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
MORE: SN’s 2023 Preseason All-America Workforce
Saturday, Sept. 3
East Carolina at No. 2 Michigan (-36.5) (12 p.m., Peacock)
This can be a robust name. Michigan is 3-3 ATS in non-conference common season video games the final two seasons, however they’ve received these six video games by a median of 44 factors per recreation. The Pirates had been tied with USC for the fewest turnovers within the FBS final season with seven. Can they keep that with new quarterback Mason Garcia within the Large Home towards a staff that will not have Jim Harbaugh on the sideline?
Choose: Michigan wins 45-14 however FAILS TO COVER the unfold
Virginia vs. No. 12 Tennessee at Nashville (-28) (12 p.m., ABC)
Let the Joe Milton period start. Tennessee is a heavy favourite towards the Cavaliers – who completed 3-7 final season and are relying on Monmouth switch quarterback Tony Muskett to get the offense going. Virginia averaged simply 17 factors per recreation final season. That will not minimize it as soon as the Vols are clicking.
Choose: Tennessee wins 43-16 and FAILS TO COVER the unfold
Colorado at No. 17 TCU (-21) (12 p.m., Fox)
Bettors may lean on Deion Sanders given the high-profile debut. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter will make a couple of massive performs, and TCU does have to interrupt in a brand new quarterback in Chandler Morris and misplaced eight key gamers to the NFL. We simply do not assume the Buffaloes will be capable to sustain for 4 quarters.
Choose: TCU wins 42-24 and FAILS TO COVER the unfold
Arkansas State at No. 20 Oklahoma (-35.5) (12 p.m., ESPN)
Oklahoma is in search of a bounce-back season beneath Brent Venables, and veteran quarterback Dillon Gabriel is wholesome. Arkansas State is 6-2 ATS in non-conference video games beneath third-year coach Butch Jones, and that is their high-profile recreation. Search for the Sooners to pile it on within the second half.
Choose: Oklahoma wins 56-17 and COVERS the unfold
Utah State at No. 25 Iowa (-25.5) (12 p.m., FS1)
Cade McNamara suffered a leg harm throughout fall camp, and his standing will likely be monitored all through the week. The Hawkeyes are 7–7 ATS as a house favourite the final three seasons. Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas misplaced his prime rusher and receiver. Iowa will clamp down on the Aggies, however that also appears like too many factors. Iowa scored greater than 30 factors one time final season.
Choose: Iowa wins 32-10 however FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
No. 3 Ohio State (-29.5) at Indiana (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Indiana hasn’t beat Ohio State since 1988 – a 27-game dropping streak that’s longest between Large Ten convention opponents. The Hoosiers have misplaced the final seven conferences by a median of 29.8 factors per recreation – which implies the road is correct on level. How lengthy will it take for Ohio State quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown – sure, each will play – to settle in at Bloomington? Search for the Buckeyes to tug away within the second half.
Choose: Ohio State wins 52-20 and COVERS the unfold.
Rice at No. 11 Texas (-35) (3:30 p.m., Fox)
Is that him? Yep, that is JT Daniels – who has performed for USC, Georgia and West Virginia. He is now the quarterback for Rice, and the Owls had been 5-4 ATS as an underdog final season. How a lot does Texas pour it on towards an in-state opponent forward of the Week 2 showdown towards Alabama? Texas coated in 5 of their first six video games final 12 months, and Rice had 4 losses by 30 or extra factors. Nonetheless, Daniels could lead on a couple of TD drives towards the Longhorns’ protection.
Choose: Texas wins 54-17 and COVERS the unfold.
Boise State at No. 10 Washington (-14.5) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Washington is a School Soccer Playoff sleeper, however Boise State is rarely a simple opener. Taylen Inexperienced is an environment friendly quarterback, and George Holani returns after dashing for 1,157 yards and 10 TDs final season. The Broncos have received 5 of their final eight towards Pac-12 opponents. Michael Penix will discover sufficient success within the air to interrupt that tendencies. Is that this a lure to see this a lot worth in Boise State?
Choose: Washington wins 37-27 and FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
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Buffalo at No. 19 Wisconsin (-27.5) (3:30 p.m., FS1)
Wisconsin begins a brand new chapter with Luke Fickell, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see what the kinks are with SMU switch quarterback Tanner Mordecai in new offensive coordinator Phil Longo’s offense. Wisconsin hasn’t misplaced to a MAC faculty since 1988 they usually have received their final six regular-season video games towards MAC opponents by an unbelievable 48.2 factors per recreation. How a lot will Wisconsin pour it on?
Choose: Wisconsin wins 43-10 and COVERS the unfold.
Nevada at No. 6 USC (-38.5) (6:30 p.m., Pac-12 Community)
It is one other enormous unfold or the Trojans, who had been 30.5-point favorites within the opener towards San Jose State. This might be the same recreation. Nevada can have an all-transfer backfield with Colorado switch quarterback Brendon Lewis and former Oregon operating again Sean {Dollars}. The Wolfpack will run into too many issues too quick.
Choose: USC wins 56-13 and COVERS the unfold.
New Mexico at No. 23 Texas A&M (-38.5) (7 p.m., ESPN)
So, what is going to the Aggies offense appear like beneath new coordinator Bobby Petrino? Conner Weigman takes over at quarterback, and Jimbo Fisher goes to be out to show that this offense is totally different. Texas A&M did not rating 40 factors in a recreation final season. Watch that change towards a New Mexico staff getting into 12 months 4 with Billy Gonzales.
Choose: Texas A&M wins 45-7 however FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
Center Tennessee State at No. 4 Alabama (-39.5) (7:30 p.m., SEC Community)
Alabama is famend for blasting groups within the opener no matter program status, and the Blue Raiders are in the way in which this time. The Crimson Tide will doubtless play a number of quarterbacks. Center Tennessee received eight video games final season, however veteran coach Rick Stockstill is breaking in a brand new quarterback in Nicholas Vattiato.
Choose: Alabama wins 55-10 and COVERS the unfold.
West Virginia at No. 7 Penn State (-20.5) (7:30 p.m., NBC)
There are excessive hopes round Penn State, which returns a proficient roster and can exhibit new quarterback Drew Allar in prime time. The Mountaineers are in a gotta-have-it-season beneath Neal Brown. West Virginia had only one loss by greater than 20 factors final season. Penn State will management the sport, and they’re going to play up like they did towards Pitt in final 12 months’s opener. The Nittany Lions had been 3-2-1 ATS as a house favourite final season, which signifies this might be proper on the road if West Virginia can survive the primary punch.
Choose: Penn State wins 37-19 and FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
No. 21 North Carolina (-2.5) vs. South Carolina (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Finest matchup of the day? It is Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler in a quarterback matchup that NFL scouts can have their eyes on. The Gamecocks had been one of many hottest groups within the FBS final season. The Tar Heels had a November slide. South Carolina has received 4 of the final 5 on this sequence, too. This might be a digital decide ‘em by kickoff. We’ll take the Gamecocks and possibly remorse it later if Maye pulls off some late-game heroics.
Choose: South Carolina wins 41-38 in an UPSET.
South Alabama at No. 24 Tulane (-6.5) (8 p.m., ESPNU)
We want this recreation had a hook as a result of it might make it that a lot simpler to go together with South Alabama. Kane Wommack has flipped this roster right into a 10-win staff in a rush, and Carter Bradley returns at quarterback. Michael Pratt is again for the Inexperienced Wave, too, and this might grow to be the most effective video games of the evening.
Choose: Tulane wins 32-27 however FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
Sunday, Sept. 4
No. 18 Oregon State (-17) at San Jose State (3 p.m., CBS)
The Spartans will likely be at dwelling and have a recreation beneath their belt. The Beavers have excessive expectations round quarterback Clemson switch quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. The Beavers are a program on the rise, however additionally they beat Fresno State and Boise State by a median of 10 factors per recreation. This is not going to be a blowout.
Choose: Oregon State wins 35-24 however FAILS TO COVER the unfold.
No. 5 LSU (-2.5) vs. No. 8 Florida State (7:30 p.m., ABC)
What a recreation this must be. Florida State received final 12 months, and this one is nearer to dwelling in Orlando. Jayden Daniels and Jordan Travis are Heisman Trophy sleepers. The over/beneath has dropped a degree to 57.5. Final 12 months’s recreation was largely even statistically – however the Tigers dedicated another turnover. That might be the distinction once more. LSU’s entrance seven makes the distinction late.
Choose: LSU wins 32-29 and COVERS the unfold
Monday, Sept. 5
No. 9 Clemson (-13) at Duke (8 p.m., ESPN)
Duke had a tremendous first season beneath first-year coach Mike Elko. The Blue Devils had 4 losses by eight factors or much less. Duke additionally did not play a ranked staff. Search for Clemson to make a Labor Day assertion that they’re nonetheless the staff to beat within the ACC. The Tigers maintain off a back-door cowl late, too.
Choose: Clemson wins 38-20 and COVERS the unfold