Thursday Games:
UCLA @ Cincinnati
7:00 ET on ESPN
UCLA: 3-9 last season, 3-6 vs. Pac-12
Cincy: 11-2 last season, 6-2 vs. AAC, won Military Bowl over Virginia Tech
Here, we get an early look at Ohio State’s most dangerous non-conference opponent. Luke Fickell’s Cincinnati Bearcats have consistently been one of the top group of 5 teams since the arrival of the former buckeye defensive coordinator and head coach. After an impressive season last year, the Bearcats look to improve on their prior success and make their first appearance in a New Year’s 5 bowl game. But the historic UCLA program will not settle for the lack of success that they saw last year. After dropping last season’s opener to Cincy by a score of 26-17, the Bruins never recovered and had one of their most devastating seasons in program history. Was UCLA’s recruiting enough to propel them back to success this season, or are the Bearcats again poised for greatness?
Prediction: 34-19 Cincy
Georgia Tech @ #1 Clemson
8:00 ET ON ACCN
Clemson: 15-0 last season, won national championship over Alabama
GT: 7-6 last season, 5-3 in ACC, lost in Quick Lane Bowl to Minnesota
The returning national champions are back in action Thursday night, as Dabo Swinney’s tigers welcome their rivaled Yellow Jackets just across state borders from Atlanta to Memorial Stadium. This is one of the most hostile environments in college football and is a terrifying place for any FBS team to open their season. But can the Yellow Jackets triple option run attack stifle one of the best defenses in the game? Or will Clemson assert its dominance over an assumingly inferior ACC opponent?
Prediction: 41-14 Clemson
#14 Utah @ BYU
10:15 ET on ESPN
Utah: 9-5 last season, 6-2 in Pac-12, lost Pac-12 Championship to Washington, lost Holiday Bowl to Northwestern
BYU: 7-6 last season, won Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Western Michigan
Provo is gonna be rocking Thursday! After ending the regular season last year with the Utes in Salt Lake City, FBS Independent BYU opens the season this year with their in-state rival at home. The Utes took that game 35-27. But this is a Cougar team that is consistently feisty year in and year out, often taking out ranked opponents with an aggressive defense and a whole lotta heart. Utah has been an elite Pac-12 team of recent years. But I have a feeling that there’s a team in Provo that isn’t going to take kindly to the returning Pac-12 runners up coming into their house and handing the cougars an 0-1 start.
Prediction: 27-13 BYU
Friday Games:
#19 Wisconsin @ South Florida
7:00 on ESPN
Wisconsin: 8-5 last season, 5-3 in Big Ten, won Pinstripe Bowl over Miami
South Florida: 7-6 last season, 3-5 in AAC, lost Gasparilla Bowl to Marshall
I suspect that Wisconsin schedules South Florida to open the season not to return to Raymond James Stadium again at the end of the season. Although the Badgers likely have playoff dreams, the Outback Bowl is about where they are projected to fit in at the end of the season. But South Florida is known for starting seasons hot. This is a team that has been recruiting well in the past 5-10 years in the impressive high school football state that is the sunshine state. I think that they have the talent to hang with a Big Ten opponent like Wisconsin. But in the end, Johnathan Taylor will run away with this one, and his Heisman candidacy will be supported.
Prediction: 42-31 Wisconsin
Saturday Games:
Florida Atlantic @ #5 Ohio State
Noon on FOX
Ohio State: 13-1 last season, won Big Ten Title over Northwestern, won Rose Bowl over Washington
Florida Atlantic: 5-7 last season, 3-5 in C-USA
After starting his tenure at FAU impressively, Lane Kiffin and the Owls saw major adversity last season, struggling in and out of the conference. This year, they open with an ultimate hammer. The Buckeyes are back, but without coaching legend Urban Meyer. Here, we get our first look at Ryan Day’s new look Buckeye team which is expected to feature more of a run heavy offense behind the Georgia transfer at QB in Justin Fields and returning starter J.K. Dobbins at RB. Will Lane Kiffin’s team show some fight against the young Buckeyes? Or will THE Ohio State be able to get the rout that their fans would expect?
Prediction: 66-10 OSU
Ole Miss @ Memphis
Noon on ABC
Ole Miss: 5-7 last season, 1-7 in SEC
Memphis: 8-6 last season, 5-3 in AAC, lost AAC title game to UCF, lost Birmingham Bowl to Wake Forest
After disappointing seasons for both teams last year, the Rebels return to Memphis to re-ignite this non-conference rivalry game. This game promises to be an exciting shootout. It always is!
Prediction: 52-49 Memphis
Duke vs. #2 Alabama
3:30 on ABC in Mercedes-Benz Stadium- Atlanta, GA
Bama: 14-1 last season, 9-0 in SEC, won SEC championship over Georgia, won Orange Bowl over Oklahoma, lost in national championship to Clemson
Duke: 8-5 last season, 3-5 in ACC, Won Independence Bowl over Temple
Duke returns from a 2018 season in which their talent seemed to implode mid-season following numerous injuries. After a hot start in which the Blue Devils found themselves in the top 25 for some time, they could not gain traction in conference play as the bodies continued to drop. An extremely depleted Duke team still managed to pick up wins over North Carolina and Miami, showing impressive grit. This season, they open up with the ultimate test in the Crimson Tide. The biggest problem I have with the Blue Devils is that they graduated much of their offensive line, and I don’t think they’ll be able to put up the points on the offensive end to hang in with bama. Expect the first year starting quarterback in senior Quentin Harris to be sacked often by the reckless Tide pass rush. And there is very little hope that their undersized offensive line will be able to get any kind of push in the run game. But I do expect the Blue Devils defense to stand their ground often, and provide a nice opening test for Tua and the Tide.
Prediction: 27-7 Bama
South Carolina vs. North Carolina
3:30 on ESPN from Bank of America Stadium- Charlotte, NC
South Carolina: 7-6 last season, 4-4 in SEC, lost Belk Bowl to Virginia
North Carolina: 2-9 last season, 1-7 in ACC
UNC looks to bounce back from an abysmal season in 2018 in which the Tar Heels took a lone win in the FBS over Pittsburgh. Talent did not seem to be the issue with this team. They just could not seem to find a way to win. With much of the squad returning last year, they hope to set the tone in week 1 with a big win in a neutral site rivalry game. But South Carolina seems to be one of the most “on the up” teams in college football right now. Will Will Muschamp be able to take the Gamecocks to the next level in his 4th season, and will the Tar Heels return to ACC contention? A good early measuring stick for both teams.
Prediction: 35-24 SC
Northwestern @ #25 Stanford
4:00 on FOX
Northwestern: 9-5 last season, 8-1 in Big Ten, won Big Ten West, won Holiday Bowl over Utah
Stanford: 9-4 last season, 6-3 in Pac-12, won Sun Bowl over Pittsburgh
In the past 5 years, both Stanford and Northwestern have shown they have the brawn to back their brains. Pat Fitzgerald, now in his 14th season with the Wildcats, has taken the program to a new level, and looks to repeat as champions in the incredibly deep Big Ten West. Stanford, on the other hand, seems to be trending back down in the Pac-12. But there is plenty of talent to go around on both sides in this game, and this is week 1. Both teams will be motivated. I expect a dawg fight and a lot of defense.
Prediction: 16-13 Northwestern
Virginia Tech @ Boston College
4:00 on ACCN
Virginia Tech: 6-7 last season, 4-4 in ACC, lost Military Bowl to Cincy
Boston College: 7-5 last season, 4-4 in ACC, had Dallas Bowl cancelled due to weather
The midseason ACC losing streak last season forced Virginia Tech to step up and finish the regular season with gritty wins over Virginia and Marshall last season to maintain their bowl game appearance. Although the effort was again valiant in their 13th game, the Bearcats of Cincinnati came out on top. Boston College was putting together in impressive season, sitting at 7-2 following their 31-21 road victory in Blacksburg last year. Unfortunately, Clemson was next. After dropping that game, they finished the season with losses to Florida State and Syracuse. These are two teams that at some point in the season last year had high expectations. Heading into 2019, we have nothing but questions about who the Hokies and the Eagles are. Which team will get a head start in the ACC?
Prediction: 24-17 VT
Boise State @ Florida State
7:00 on ESPN
Boise: 10-3 last season, 7-2 in MW, lost MW championship to Fresno State, had bowl game cancelled
FSU: 5-7 last season, 3-5 in ACC
What an opener we have here! Florida State looks to return to ACC title contention after another rough season, while Boise State looks to re-claim the Mountain West. I’m thinking that these are two very hungry teams squaring off in Tallahassee Saturday night. Get your popcorn ready for this one!
Prediction: 31-27 Boise State
#3 Georgia @ Vanderbilt
7:30 on SECN
Georgia: 11-3 last season, 7-2 in SEC, SEC East Champions, lost Sugar Bowl to Texas
Vanderbilt: 6-7 last season, 2-6 in SEC, lost Texas Bowl to Baylor
Let’s see how good this Georgia offense really is, shall we? The Vanderbilt defense is amongst the best in the SEC year in and year out. Fromm and company get a conference test right off the bat. I can almost guarantee the Commodores will force at least one turnover. How will Fromm and the Bulldogs respond to adversity?
Prediction: 45-17 UGA
#11 Oregon vs. #16 Auburn **CFP Game of the Week**
7:30 on ESPN from AT&T Stadium- Arlington, TX
Oregon: 9-4 last season, 5-4 in Pac-12, won RedBox Bowl over Michigan State
Auburn: 8-5 last season, 3-5 in SEC, won Music City Bowl over Purdue
A repeat of the 2011 BCS National Championship Game! That one went to Cam Newton’s Tigers, taking down a very fast Ducks team led by Marcus Mariota. Both teams return from disappointing 2018 seasons by their own standards. But expectations remain high going into 2019. 2018 first-round draft prospect QB Justin Herbert returns for his senior season, and will look to elevate the Ducks to FBS title contention this season. Many see Oregon as a legitimate sleeper pick to win the Pac-12. But are they ready for the spotlight at AT&T?
Prediction: 45-28 Auburn
Fresno State @ USC
10:30 on ESPN
Fresno: 12-2 last season, 8-1 in MW, won MW title over Boise State, won Las Vegas Bowl over Arizona State
USC: 5-7 last season, 4-5 in Pac-12
The returning Mountain West Champions open the season by entering the ultimate college football atmosphere in Cali at the Coliseum. Can Fresno carry its hot streak against one of college football’s historic programs?
Prediction: 38-21 USC
Sunday Game:
Houston @ #4 Oklahoma
8:00 on ABC
Houston: 8-5 last season, 5-3 in AAC, lost Armed Forces Bowl to Army
Oklahoma: 12-2 last season, 9-1 in Big 12, made CFP, lost Orange Bowl to Alabama
Houston comes off a largely disappointing 2018 season in which early on they were expected again to compete for a spot in a New Year’s 5 Bowl as the nation’s top Group of 5 team. Oklahoma finds themselves with expectations similar to where they left off last season. Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts takes over at QB for Oklahoma’s second consecutive top overall draft pick from the QB position in Kyler Murray, who followed Baker Mayfield the previous year. Hurts is expected to play near the level of the Heisman trophy winners for the Sooners this season. The coaching matchup is also one to keep an eye on in this one. Both Tom Herman and Lincoln Riley are two of the top young coaches in the country. Does Herman have the strategy to keep up with Riley’s high power offense in this one?
Prediction: 52-21 Oklahoma
Monday Game:
#9 Notre Dame @ Louisville
8:00 ON ESPN
Notre Dame: 12-1 last season, made CFP, lost Cotton Bowl to Clemson
Louisville: 2-10 last season, 0-8 in ACC
After a train wreck of a 2018 season, the Louisville Cardinals open action in 2019 by welcoming a returning CFP participant in Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish to Papa John’s Stadium. Expectations are again high for Notre Dame. What kind of threat will first year head coach Scott Satterfield’s team provide for the Irish in week 1?
Prediction: 38-10 Notre Dame
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