NCAA College Football Week 1 Picks - Early Games

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NCAA College Week 1 - early games

NCAA College Week 1 - late games

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Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NCAA Week 1 Early Games

All times Eastern

Click here for late games.

Thursday, September 3

Colorado at Georgia Tech (-6.5, 60) 8:00 pm (ESPN) - The Yeloow Jackets have serious bowl aspirations after going 6-2 in the ACC and 9-4 overall. They come packed with offensive talent and the Buffs are going to have trouble keeping the Tech offense off the field.

Following a 3-9 season, Colorado may again be the laughing stock of the Big 12 and coach “Prime Time” Sanders may be looking for a job.

Coin Flip: Georgia Tech

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Yellow Jackets 48 Buffaloes 14


Eastern Illinois at Minnesota (-42.5, 51.5) 8:00 pm (Peacock) - There are often upsets in these early season Big 10 versus lesser conference games, but this isn’t likely to be one of them. The Panthers of Eastern Illinois went 3-9 last season and are hardly the kind of team to challenge even a second-rate Big 10 team like the Gophers.

Minnesota should take command early and rip to a big score.

Coin Flip: Minnesota

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Golden Gophers 56 Panthers 10


Friday, September 4

Toledo at Michigan State (-10, 47.5) 8:00 pm (FS1) - Another one of those Big 10 - Mid-America match-ups that may be just a little more interesting. The Rockets went 8-5 overall last season and always field a solid team.

The Spartans have fallen on lean times, going 1-8 in conference and just 4-8 overall, meaning they won their non-conference games, but only one after that. Could be the biggest upset of Week 1. Even if the Rockets don’t win, the Spartans might have a difficult time rolling up a 48-point margin.

Coin Flip: Michigan State

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Rockets 34 Spartans 24



7 Miami (-24.5, 47.5) at Stanford 9:00 pm (ESPN) - The question is how good will the Hurricanes be without Carson Back throwing the ball? Miami played for the National Championship last season and are likely going to pick up right where they left off, with one of the more dominant teams in the ACC, possibly taking the conference title and heading back to the CFP.

Stanford lost to the Hurricanes last season, 42-7, and the Cardinal are still playing catch-up in the ACC. Even though they’re at home, they’re probably not going to win this game. Miami gets off to a fast start.

Coin Flip: Stanford

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Hurricanes 44 Cardinal 14


Fresno State at 14 USC (-22.5, 51.5) 9:00 pm (FOX) - The Trojans are coming off a Week Zero, 42-26, home win over San Jose State, though many who saw that game were not impressed with the USC defense giving up 23 4th quarter points, despite having a huge lead and many defensive starters having been pulled.

None the less, a win is a win for Lincoln Riley and the USC faithful. Fresno State, which finished 9-4 last season out of the Mountain West, and is now in a revamped PAC-10, may be a little bit of a tougher test. Plenty of scoring to be expected here and it could get closer than the Trojans are expecting.

Coin Flip: USC

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Trojans 38 Bulldogs 28


Click here for late games.


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