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NFL Football Week 1 Games

All times Eastern

NCAA College Football Week 1 Picks

NCAA College Football Week 2 Picks

Results: NCAA Week 1 Picks: Coin: 4-11; Rick: 11-4

Friday, September 7

8:00 pm #16 TCU (-21 1/2, 58) at SMU - In week 1, the Horned Frogs roughed up Southern in a 55-7 romp. TCU is loaded on defense in a conference (Big 12) that flourishes with offense.

SMU was beaten down by North Texas, losing 46-23 and didn't score until the fourth quarter, allowing 539 yards to the Mean Green. f the prior week's outcomes are any indication, this looks like a rough home opener for the Mustangs.

Coin Flip: SMU

PREDICTION: Horned Frogs 42 Mustangs 17


Saturday, September 8

12:00 pm New Mexico at #5 Wisconsin (-35, 62) - The Lobos have some offense, as they rolled up 680 yards on Incarnate Word in their season opener. The trouble is that they allowed 566 yards to a nothing team.

Wisconsin got their season going with a 34-3 win over Western Kentucky and should have a field day against an even weaker defense. The Lobos will generate a few scores, but the Badgers may put up 60.

Coin Flip: New Mexico

PREDICTION: Badgers 58 Lobos 14


12:00 pm #18 Mississippi State (-9 1/2, 53 1/2) at Kansas State - After going 9-4 in 2017 with a 31-27 win over Louisville in the Taxslayer Bowl, the Bulldogs started off their 2018 campaign with a 63-6 blowout of Stephen F Austin.

Kansas State slipped by South Dakota, 27-24, last week and had a solid 2017, going 8-5, culminating in a 35-17 smacking of UCLA in the Cactus Bowl. The Wildcats are not in the top echelon of Big 12, but they're close. The Bulldogs aren't nearly the equals of Alabama and Georgia in the SEC, but a 31-24 home loss to the Crimson Tide last season gives them credibility. Since this game is in Kansas, Toto, expect a close call and possible upset by the Wildcats.

Coin Flip: Mississippi State

PREDICTION: Wildcats 31 Bulldogs 24


12:00 pm Duke at Northwestern (-3, 48 1/2) - Both teams won their season openers, Duke shelling Army, 34-14, Northwestern getting a 31-27 win at Purdue. Northwestern capitalized on three Purdue turnovers, while Duke had two takeaways from Army's Knights.

Duke lost six straight games last season, but won their first four and final three, the last one a 36-14 stunner over Northern Illinois in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Wildcats fared much better, finishing up 10-3 after squeaking by Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. They were 7-2 in the rugged Big Ten. This is a very even matchup which could see overtime. Duke may surprise on the road.

Coin Flip: Northwestern

PREDICTION: Blue Devils 31 Wildcats 24


12:00 pm Georgia Tech (-3 1/2, 61 1/2) at South Florida - Despite turning the ball over three times in its debut game against Alcorn State last week, the Yellow Jackets scored a 41-0 victory and appears well-intended for its road trip to South Florida.

The Bulls dropped Elon, 34-14, but allowed 192 rushing yards in their opener. South Florida is coming off a 10-2 campaign from last year, the only losses coming in conference play, losing to Houston 28-24, and UCF, 49-42. Georgia Tech lost four of their last five, finishing the season at 5-6.

Coin Flip: Georgia Tech

PREDICTION: Bulls 28 Yellow Jackets 24


1:00 pm UCLA at #6 Oklahoma (-30, 63 1/2) - Looks like UCLA may be heading into a tough year after dropping their home opener to Cincinnati, 26-17, last week. The Bruins struggled last season, finishing 6-7, and having to play the Sooners in week two isn't going to alleviate their suffering.

Oklahoma routed Florida Atlanta as expected, 63-14, and doesn't seem to be missing graduated QB Baker Mayfield. The Sooners rolled up 650 yards and the defense was stifling at times. This game could get ugly in the second half.

Coin Flip: UCLA

PREDICTION: Sooners 52 Bruins 17



3:30 pm #3 Georgia (-10, 55) at #24 South Carolina - The Bulldogs just missed defeating Alabama for the national championship last season, losing in overtime, 26-23, and they certainly aren't going to allow the Gamecocks to derail their title hopes this season. Georgia took a 24-10 decision over South Carolina last year in a game which saw their offense score their second lowest point total.

South Carolina kicked off 2018 with a 49-15 explosion over Central Carolina, but the Bulldogs are another matter altogether. The gamecocks are surprisingly good and possess a very stout defense. Getting 10 points at home is just too juicy to ignore. SC could pull off the upset of the week.

Coin Flip: Georgia

PREDICTION: Gamecocks 26 Bulldogs 24


3:30 pm Rutgers at #4 Ohio State (-34 1/2, 62) - The folks in Northern New Jersey are still scratching their heads, trying to figure out why Rutgers jumped to the Big Ten a few years back. The Scarlet Knights brought home a 3-6 conference record and were just 4-8 overall.

Even though they dropped Texas State, 35-7, last week, they're going to get no mercy at Ohio State. The Buckeyes bullied Oregon State last week, 77-31. Oh, my.

Coin Flip: Rutgers

PREDICTION: Buckeyes 64 Scarlet Knights 20


3:30 pm Colorado at Nebraska (-4 1/2, 66 1/2) - The Buffaloes slipped to 5-7 last season, losing their final three games of the year, to Arizona State, USC, and Utah.

Nebraska wasn't any better, losing six of their last seven for a 4-8 mark, but they hired Scott Frost from UCF to lead their reorganization. Both teams are heading in a positive direction, but, since Nebraska's scheduled game with Akron was cancelled last week, Colorado has the advantage of having played one game (a 45-13 smash over Colorado State). That game experience should be enough to bring home a win.

Coin Flip: Nebraska

PREDICTION: Buffaloes 38 Cornhuskers 24


7:00 pm #2 Clemson (-12 1/2, 54) at Texas A&M - Jimbo Fisher, recruited from Florida State, scored a 59-7 win over Northwestern State in his coaching debut for the Aggies, but he's surely not resting on his laurels with Clemson coming in loaded for bear.

The Tigers stuffed local creampuff, Furman, 48-7, limiting the Paladins to 119 yards of offense and just two passing yards (yes, two).

Clemson should pound the rebuilding Aggies in a pretty big way.

Coin Flip: Texas A&M

PREDICTION: Tigers 38 Aggies 13


7:30 pm Kentucky at #25 Florida (-14, 48 1/2) - Kentucky got off to a solid start with a 35-20 win over Central Michigan last week, but faces a sterner test on the road against the Gators.

The Kentucky program continues to improve, but they were tired and outclassed down the stretch last season, losing badly to Georgia (42-17) and Louisville (44-17) before just missing in a 24-23 defeat by Northwestern in the Music City Bowl.

Florida comes in fresh off a 53-6 rout of Charleston Southern, though not much can be ascertained from that game except that the Gatords are loaded with talent. Florida seeks to recover from a horrible 4-7 mark in 2017, and they may win this, but Kentucky will give them a good game.

Coin Flip: Kentucky

PREDICTION: Florida 31 Kentucky 24



8:00 pm #10 Penn State (-9, 56 1/2) at Pittsburgh - Penn Site had to go to overtime to finally discard Appalachian State, 45-38, though that's not really much of a knock. The Mountaineers have had a solid program for years as evidenced by their 9-4 mark in 2017 and their 34-0 walloping of Toledo in the Dollar General Bowl. The Nittany Lions' 11-2 record was no fluke last season and they're primed to contend in the Big Ten's East division. Pitt rocked Albany, 33-7 in their opener, but was just 2-5 in the ACC last season and 5-7 overall.

Even though the game is in Pittsburgh, Penn State can put up points at will and should cover most of the over/under line themselves.

Coin Flip: Penn State

PREDICTION: Nittany Lions 47 Pittsburgh 24


8:30 pm #17 USC at #10 Stanford (-5 1/2, 56 1/2) - In week one, USC took care of business, dropping UNLV, 43-21, while the Cardinal faced a stiffer test with San Diego State, but the result was a substantial, 31-10, victory.

These two PAC-12 schools met twice in 2017, with USC winning both, The Spartans scored a 42-24 victory at home in week two, and eked out a 31-28 victory in the conference championship.

Stanford is obviously looking for a better result and if the defense plays up to the standard set last week, they'll get the win.

Coin Flip: Stanford

PREDICTION: Cardinal 27 Trojans 16


10:45 pm #15 Michigan State (-5 1/2, 65 1/2) at Arizona State - The Spartans really struggled to beat Utah State, which wasn't supposed to happen. Michigan State entered the contest a 23 1/2-point favorite, but didn't live up to their advance billing, rushing 42 times for just 165 yards and turning the ball over twice.

Arizona State appeared much sharper, slugging UTSA, 49-7, in coach Herm Edwards debut game. Michigan State loves to run the ball, but if the Sun Devils take a lead, that part of the playbook could become a discard. AZST is very tough on incoming opponents, topping Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona on home turf last season. They're likely to be even better than last season's 7-6 squad. Upset looms.

Coin Flip: Michigan State

PREDICTION: Sun Devils 38 Spartans 24