College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds, top 25 games in Week 1

The final season of college football as we currently know it kicks off with the first full day of games Saturday as Week 1 of the 2023 campaign gets into high gear with a loaded schedule. For nearly every FBS team, College Football Playoff hopes are still alive, conference championships are up for grabs and the season ahead can be anything and everything the players and coaches will make of it.

While Week 1 may not be as loaded as usual, there are still plenty of signature games on the slate — particularly from a gambling perspective. No. 12 Tennessee looks to continue the strides it made last season under Josh Heupel as it hosts Virginia with Joe Milton taking reigns under center. A few hours later, No. 3 Ohio State opens with renewed optimism as it begins its trek back to the top of its conference in the debut of the Big Ten on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET. The nightcaps of Week 1 features No. 7 Penn State in a white out at Beaver Stadium along with a border battle between No. 21 North Carolina and South Carolina.

But that’s not all. Week 1 lasts five days (!) with action continuing into Sunday and Monday. The highlight of the week’s final two days — and the only game between top-10 opponents in Week 1 — comes Sunday night as No. 5 LSU takes on No. 8 Florida State in the Camping World Kickoff for the second straight year. The Tigers, in Year 2 under Brian Kelly, are looking for revenge against the Seminoles, who have renewed optimism of competing for a conference and perhaps national title in Year 4 under Mike Norvell.

Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games in Week 1.

Odds via SportsLine consensus | All…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-picks-schedule-predictions-against-the-spread-odds-top-25-games-in-week-1/

Author : Chip Patterson

Publish date : 2023-09-02 23:30:47

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