It’s time, folks. Finally. Week 1 of the 2016 College Football season is finally here, and our long national nightmare has ended. We are blessed with an unusually rich slate of marquee matchups for the opening weekend. The Football Gods are smiling down upon us once again, and all is right with the world.
All game times in Eastern Daylight Time.
2015 Season: 87-45 (.659)
DK’s 2016 Week 1 CFB Game Picks
Kansas State @ Stanford (Friday, September 2nd, 9:00 p.m., FS1)
Christian McCaffrey returns to wreak havoc on opposing defenses once again, as quarterback Ryan Burns takes over the offense for the departed-for-the-NFL Kevin Hogan. The Cardinal has more talent at just about every position, but the Wildcats have the legendary Bill Snyder on their sideline. In this case, the more talented team rolls at home.
Pick: Stanford 42, Kansas State 17
Oklahoma vs. Houston (Saturday, September 3rd, 12:00 p.m., ABC)
The Cougars hope to be the first Group of 5 team to crash the College Football Playoff at the conclusion of this season, but to have any chance to do so, they must win this putative home game at NRG Stadium. Houston returns star quarterback Greg Ward Jr., but can he and his mates get it done? This figures to be a shoot out, as Baker Mayfield kicks off his Heisman campaign. Expect Big Game Bob’s squad to squeak out a win in a high-scoring affair.
Pick: Oklahoma 45, Houston 42
Georgia vs. North Carolina (Saturday, September 3rd, 5:30 p.m., ESPN)
North Carolina shocked a lot of folks last season, but won’t sneak up on anyone in 2016. Especially not Georgia, in a high-profile debut for new head coach Kirby Smart in front of tens of thousands of Bulldog faithful in the Georgia Dome. Expect Nick Chubb and company to grind out a win.
Pick: Georgia 31, North Carolina 21
Mississippi vs. Florida State (Monday, September 5th, 8:00 p.m., ESPN)
As much as Dalvin Cook and the Noles are looking forward to kicking off their 2016 campaign, Hugh Freeze must be thrilled to have actual football to focus on. Mississippi brings back an experienced signal-caller in Chad Kelly, but Florida State is better at every other position group. The Noles will roll.
Pick: Florida State 35, Mississippi 14
UCLA @ Texas A&M (Saturday, September 3rd, 3:30 p.m., CBS)
These two traditional powers have head coaches who started their respective tenures at the same time, and who have remarkably similar records. So why does UCLA feel so much more stable than the Aggies? Kevin Sumlin has dealt with high-profile defections, and hasn’t quite recaptured the magic from that first SEC campaign with Heisman winner Johnny Manziel at the helm. Still, Kyle Field is as great a home field advantage as there is in the NCAA, and the 12th Man will rattle Josh Rosen just enough for the home team to pull out a win.
Pick: Texas A&M 28, UCLA 24
LSU vs. Wisconsin (Saturday, September 3rd, 3:30 p.m., ABC)
In any other opening weekend, this would be the marquee game. It does get the ESPN GameDay treatment, and a historic setting at the venerable Lambeau Field. Wisconsin figures to be better this season, but so does Leonard Fournette. The latter is a horrifying thought. The Bengal Tigers get it done on the not-so-frozen tundra.
Pick: LSU 31, Wisconsin 20
USC vs. Alabama (Saturday, September 3rd, 8:00 p.m., ABC)
The national game of the week revives one of the most storied rivalries in the history of college football. Alabama offensive co-ordinator Lane Kiffin has had this date circled on his calendar for about a year and a half. Alabama has co-starting quarterbacks; USC has named Max Browne its starter. Those decisions figure to be the least significant in this game. Bama is bigger and badder in the trenches, and faster on the perimeter. As if that weren’t enough, the matchup on the sidelines is one of the biggest mismatches in the history of the sport, from a resume standpoint. The Tide rolls.
Pick: Alabama 48, USC 13
Clemson @ Auburn (Saturday, September 3rd, 9:00 p.m., ESPN)
Quarterback Deshaun Watson kicks off his bid for the Heisman on the plains of Eastern Alabama against another group of Tigers. Gus Malzahn’s seat is getting a bit warm, as shocking as that fact is. The home team will be no match for last season’s national runners-up.
Pick: Clemson 38, Auburn 14
Brigham Young vs. Arizona (Saturday, September 3rd, 10:30 p.m., FS1)
Arizona has a lot of questions coming into the season, including at quarterback. Anu Solomon seemed to be a lock, but he has struggled to retain his spot atop Rich Rodriguez’s depth chart. BYU has a new coach, but should bring their typical feistiness to this game. The locale in Phoenix makes it a near home game for Arizona, and Bear Down has just enough of a talent advantage to prevail.
Pick: Arizona 41, BYU 35
Notre Dame @ Texas (Sunday, September 4th, 7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN3)
Texas got thumped last year, which had to sting a lot. Charlie Strong won’t say who his starting quarterback will be on Sunday, but expect it to be true freshman Shane Buechele. The Horns can be a dramatically different team in Austin versus anywhere else, and that should be the case this weekend. They will knock off the Irish, and get some revenge for last season’s thrashing.
Pick: Texas 24, Notre Dame 22
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