All times Eastern
Click here for early games.
Saturday, September 1
12:00 pm Oregon State at #5 Ohio State (-38 1/2, 64) - The Buckeyes were 12-2 last season, winning their last five straight, including a 24-7 rout of USC in the Cotton Bowl. Even with coach Urban Meyer sidelined due to suspension, the Buckeyes are a huge favorite and a national championship contender.
The Beavers were 1-11 last season. That's all the information one needs about what is likely the worst team in the PAC-12.
Coin Flip: Ohio State
PREDICTION: Buckeyes 51 Beavers 6
12:00 pm Florida Atlantic at #7 Oklahoma (-21, 68 1/2) - The Owls of Florida Atlantic are not going to be a pushover for the Sooners. They went 11-3 last season and are considered the class of Conference USA. The Sooners have a nasty habit of losing season openers or early non-conference games, so, despite their 12-2 mark from last season, their 54-48, 2OT loss in the Rose Bowl (CFB Semifinal) this is not going to be a walk in the park.
The Sooners also lost QB Baker Mayfield to graduation and the NFL, and that could be significant. Florida Atlantic may not win this game but they should keep it within three TDs.
Coin Flip: Florida Atlantic
PREDICTION: Sooners 42 Owls 28
3:30 pm #6 Washignton vs. #9 Auburn (-1 1/2, 48) - Nice match-up of serious programs to get the weekend underway in style. In 2018 Washington was 10-3. Auburn went 10-4, but beat both of the contestants in the national championship game, Alabama and Georgia. The Tigers may be on their way to win the SEC and get into the championship mix, but they'll need to shut down a patent Washington offense that includes running back touchdown machine, Myles Gaskin.
The Tigers get the advantage of being at home, where they were 7-1 last season.
Coin Flip: Washington
PREDICTION: Tigers 30 Huskies 26
3:30 pm Tennessee at #17 West Virginia (-9 1/2, 61 1/2) - The Volunteers were the talk of the SEC after a 3-1 start, but they went 0-8 in the SEC and flopped to a 4-8 record. Injuries and general lack of concentration were killers for Tennessee in 2017 and the team is looking for better this go-round. Unfortunately, this SEC-Big 12 meeting features the Mountaineers, maybe the third-best squad in their conference.
Butch Jones exited as the Tennessee coach, but left little for Jeremy Pruitt except rebuilding a shattered program. WVU wasn't a world-beater last year with their 7-6 mark, but they have plenty of offense which should carry the day.
Coin Flip: Tennessee
PREDICTION: Mountaineers 38 Volunteers 17
7:00 pm Cincinnati at UCLA (-16 1/2, 62 1/2) - Two underperforming teams open their season with high hopes. Chip Kelly comes in as head coach at UCLA after a disastrous stint in the NFL, but the offensive genius doesn't have much to work win in the Bruins. On the other hand, UCLA's defense is solid. The Bruins were 6-7 last season.
Luke Fickell is in his second year as Cincinnati's head coach after going 4-8 in 2017. Defensively, the Bearcats are not sound, having allowed 31.8 ppg last year. The offense will keep them in games, and they may actually be better than the Bruins at this juncture.
Coin Flip: UCLA
PREDICTION: Bearcats 34 Bruins 31
7:30 pm #14 Michigan at #12 Notre Dame (-1, 47) - Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines were not impressive in 2017, settling for an 8-5 mark, losing their final three games to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and South Carolina, 26-19, in the Peach Bowl.
Notre Dame was 10-3, finishing up their season with a 21-17 win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. Look for Brandon Wimbush behind center, but the real deal is the Irish defense, which may be one of the best in the nation.
Coin Flip: Michigan
PREDICTION: Fighting Irish 24 Wolverines 21
8:00 pm Louisville at Alabama (24 1/2, 59) - With Lamar Jackson gone to the pros, Louisville will look to Jawon Pass to guide the offense, but the defense has major holes and national champion Alabama will be well-prepared in their season opener.
The Tide returns only 11 starters total, but that includes either Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa at QB. Alabama, at home, will probably load up and outscore the Cardinals by four or five touchdowns, maybe more.
Coin Flip: Alabama
PREDICTION: Crimson Tide 47 Cardinals 13
Sunday, September 2
7:30 pm #8 Miami (-3, 38) vs. #25 LSU - Miami rolled to a 10-0 record in 2017 before losing their last three games, to Pitt, Clemson, and a 34-24 loss to Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl. They have plenty of talent on both sides and enough capable players to make a serious run at Clemson in the ACC.
LSU was 9-4, and they finished out 2017 with a 21-17 loss to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl. They're a good team getting better. As usual the Tigers are a mystery at QB and solid as ever on defense. LSU may surprise the Hurricanes.
Coin Flip: Miami
PREDICTION: Tigers 19 Hurricanes 16
Monday, September 3
8:00 pm #20 Virginia Tech at #19 Florida State (-7 1/2, 57) - Finish off Labor Day with a college football meeting between ACC foes intent on improvement. Florida State starts the season with Willie Taggart as head coach after a troubling 7-6 season.
The Hokies went 9-4 overall but only 5-3 in conference games, but they did not play the Seminoles in 2017. With lots of new faces on both teams, this could get a little wild, as neither defense is top-notch. Points will be generous.
Coin Flip: Florida State
PREDICTION: Hokies 41 Seminoles 38
Click here for early games.
