It’s back, baby. After a long wait, college football is back in its entirety. We were gifted with a taste of action last weekend, highlighted by a Georgia Tech upset win over Florida State, but week one is where things really get rolling. If you’re anything like me, you’re just excited about a full slate of college football games, regardless of who’s playing in them. If you’re a bit more picky, don’t worry, there are some marquee matchups to kick off the 2024 season. I’ve ranked the top five games of week one along with score predictions for each matchup.
5. Miami @ Florida
Both Miami and Florida enter this season after disappointing finishes in 2023. Both Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier may need to show significant improvement to keep their head coaching roles. After bringing in a top-10 transfer class that includes quarterback Cam Ward, Miami finds themselves in the top 25 of the AP Poll to start the season. The Hurricanes are favored against Florida, but only by 2.5 points. I expect Florida’s depleted defense to struggle in this one, causing the Gators to fall to their in-state rivals.
MIA 38-28 UF
4. Clemson @ Georgia
Saturday kicks off with a huge matchup between two of the most dominant college football programs in recent history. Georgia is favored heavily at home, and rightfully so. They’re the top-ranked team in the country, while Clemson finished 2023 with a 9-4 record. Due partially to Dabo Swinney’s refusal to utilize the transfer portal, Georgia has a significant talent advantage in this one. I expect the task to be too large for the Tigers, as they fail to pull off the upset in week one.
GA 38-24 CLEM
3. Penn State @ West Virginia
This may be the most underrated matchup of week one. Penn State is currently the 8.5-point favorite, but West Virginia has a real chance to pull off the upset at home. Morgantown is a tough place to play at any time, let alone the opening week of the season. The Mountaineers bring a solid running game into this game, but will without a doubt face a Penn State team with superior talent. We may find out very quickly whether Drew Allar and Penn State have what it takes to make a run at the College Football Playoff this season. I’ve got West Virginia shocking the nation and beating Penn State in a close one.
WVU 31-28 PSU
2. USC vs LSU
We’ll have to wait until Sunday night to watch two of college football’s most storied programs face off in a battle between the Trojans and the Tigers. Both teams are ranked in the top 25, but I have significant concerns about both defenses. This should be a shootout featuring two new full-time starters in Miller Moss and Garrett Nussmeier, with the over/under currently at 63.5 points. LSU is favored by 4.5, and I’ll stick with Vegas on this one. The Tigers send the Trojans packing with a 14-point victory.
LSU 42-28 USC
1. Notre Dame @ Texas A&M
Expectations are sky-high for both programs in this must-see matchup. Texas A&M is ready to claw its way back into college football’s elite with a healthy Conner Weigman. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is expected to compete for a national championship with transfer quarterback Riley Leonard under center. The Saturday night battle against the Aggies may be Notre Dame’s toughest test of the season until a November showdown with Florida State. Texas A&M is currently favored by three points, but I expect the Fighting Irish to walk out of College Station with a win to start their 2024 campaign.
NDU 24-21 TAMU
Notre Dame always seems to come into the season with more hype than they deserve. I think even a rebuilding Aggie team takes them down.