The best five Week 1 college football games, with predictions

College football is back. Week 0 is in the books, much to Florida State’s chagrin. Now we can dive head first into the meat of the matter, starting Thursday night right on through Sunday night of Labor Day weekend.

Here are this weekend’s top five games:

No. 14 Clemson at No. 1 Georgia

The top-ranked ranked Georgia Bulldogs take on the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Georgia is led by quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for 3,941 yards to put himself high on the Heisman Trophy watch lists for this season. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was last seen directing the winning drive in the Tigers’ 38-35 victory over Kentucky in last season’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. As a side note, both teams refused to release a depth chart this week.

• Television: Saturday, noon on ABC
• Spread: Georgia is a 13.5-point favorite.
• Prediction: Georgia 31, Clemson 10

No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia

After a bounce-back season in 2023, Neal Brown and West Virginia play host to No. 8-ranked Penn State in Morgantown. The host Mountaineers are led by quarterback Garrett Greene, who threw for 2,406 yards last season, but completed just 52.7 percent of his passes. Penn State returns Drew Allar at quarterback, but has a new offensive coordinator in former Kansas play-caller Andy Kotelnicki. Penn State won last year’s matchup 38-15 at University Park.

• Television: Saturday, noon on Fox
• Spread: Penn State is an 8-point favorite.
• Prediction: West Virginia 23, Penn State 17

What Neal Brown said about Penn State ahead of season opener

No. 19 Miami at Florida

It’s a big opener in a big year for Florida coach Billy Napier, who is just 11-14 through two seasons in Gainesville. Gators quarterback Graham Mertz returns after throwing for 20 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions last season. Florida may also play top quarterback recruit DJ Lagway. Miami’s new quarterback is Cameron Ward, who threw for 3,735 yards and 25 touchdowns last season at Washington State. Mario Cristobal hasn’t set the world on fire at Miami either. The former Oregon coach is just 12-13 in two seasons at the U.

• Television: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
• Spread: Miami is a 2.5-point favorite
• Prediction: Florida 21, Miami 20

How Miami is fixing late-game management

No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas A&M

The No. 7-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel to College Station to face No. 20 Texas A&M in Mike Elko’s debut as head coach of the Aggies. It’s also the debut of Riley Leonard, who was Elko’s quarterback at Duke, as Notre Dame’s quarterback. Leonard was injured most of last season, but threw for 2,967 yards and rushed for 636 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022. Texas A&M is hoping for a healthy quarterback Conner Weigman, who was impressive through four games last season before being lost to injury.

• Television: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
• Spread: Texas A&M is a 3-point favorite
• Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Notre Dame 21

No. 23 USC vs. No. 13 LSU

The Trojans travel to Las Vegas to face the Tigers in a Sunday night special. In his third season after arriving from Oklahoma, USC coach Lincoln Riley hasn’t quite met expectations. He’s 19-8 as the Trojans’ coach. Riley’s quarterback is Miller Moss, who takes over the starting spot after backing up 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. LSU will start quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who backed up 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Coach Brian Kelly is hoping for an improved defense.

• Television: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. on ABC
• Spread: LSU is a 4-point favorite
• Prediction: LSU 42, USC 24

AP college football preseason top 25

College football television schedule

SEC football Week 1 schedule

Thursday

• 7:30 p.m. - Arkansas Pine-Bluff at Arkansas (ESPNU)
• 8 p.m. - Murray State at Missouri (SEC)

Friday

• 7 p.m. - Temple at Oklahoma (ESPN)

Saturday

• Noon - Clemson at Georgia (ABC)
• Noon - Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt (ESPN)
• 12:45 p.m. - Chattanooga at Tennessee (SEC)
• 3:30 p.m. - Colorado State at Texas (ESPN)
• 3:30 p.m. - Miami at Florida (ABC)
• 4:15 p.m. - Old Dominion at South Carolina (SEC)
• 6 p.m. - Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State (ESPN+)
• 7 p.m. - Western Kentucky at Alabama (ESPN)
• 7 p.m. - Furman at Ole Miss (ESPN+)
• 7:30 p.m. - Notre Dame at Texas A&M (ABC)
• 7:30 p.m. - Alabama A&M at Auburn (ESPN+)
• 7:45 p.m. - Southern Miss at Kentucky (SEC)

Sunday

• 7:30 p.m. - USC at LSU (ABC)

This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 6:00 AM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-472-4218

John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription