It’s here. It’s finnnnnaally here. Week 1 has arrived. My picks and predictions are in. What happens in Saturday’s Boise State vs. Oregon game? How about Oregon State’s season opener at Houston? And the Apple Cup… on a Sunday?
Who wins?
And by how much?
I was so excited about the start of the college football regular season that I picked 13 different college football games. I’d love for readers to give me their picks in the comment section below.
My Week 1 picks (against the spread and straight up)…
2026 record picking college football games, straight up: 3-1 (.750)
My 2026 record vs. the spread: 1-3 (.250)
San Jose State at Eastern Michigan (Friday • 3:30p • ESPN+)
The Spartans (0-1) moved the ball and put some points on the scoreboard against USC in Week 0. I’m not just leaning a little into that encouraging performance; I’m going all the way. I’m picking San Jose State to travel on a short week and win this game outright. Eastern Michigan (1-0) beat Sacramento State at home last week and looked good, but I like the Spartans.
The spread: Eastern Michigan is favored by 4.5 points
The pick: San Jose State 31, Eastern Michigan 28
(👍 Final: San Jose State 27, Eastern Michigan 21)
Fresno State at USC (Friday • 6p • Fox)
The first “Pac-12 After Dark” game of the season comes on a week when USC (1-0) was incessantly ridiculed. Will SoCal show up for this one? There will be a lot of curious onlookers nationally.
The Bulldogs (0-0) love to play in games like this. They’re capable of giving the Trojans a scare if they don’t show up to play. Fresno State will arrive with a chip on the shoulder and play closer than the spread.
The spread: USC is favored by 23.5 points.
The pick: USC 38, Fresno State 23
(👎Final: USC 39, Fresno State 0)
Miami at Stanford (Friday • 6p • ESPN)
Mario Cristobal and his team will be locked in, but man, he’s had some trouble as the visiting coach at Stanford Stadium. I like what Tavita Pritchard is doing in his first season, and the Cardinal have the advantage of having played a game in Week 0, but this is Miami’s year. The Hurricanes are too good to stumble.
The spread: Miami is favored by 23.5 points.
The pick: Miami 45, Stanford 10
(👍 Final: Miami 45, Stanford 6)
Oregon State at Houston (Saturday • 9a • ESPN)
JaMarcus Shephard’s first game as the Beavers’ head coach comes on the road against a Big 12 opponent with an early kickoff time. Keep an eye on the body-clock factor for the visiting team. Lots of unknowns in this one. I’m eager to see QB Braden Atkinson play. Weird things happen in Week 1, but barring three turnovers… Houston wins this game.
The spread: Houston is favored by 21 points.
The pick: Houston 30, Oregon State 20
(👍 Final: Houston 33, Oregon State 20)
Texas State at Texas (Saturday • 12:30p • ESPN)
The Longhorns have more talent, a bigger budget, and the home field. It’s too much for the first-year Pac-12 visitor to overcome. I’ll watch, though. I’m curious about the trajectory of the Bobcats over the next two seasons.
The spread: Texas is favored by 29.5 points.
The pick: Texas 48, Texas State 13
(👍 Final: Texas 59, Texas State 7)
Boise State at Oregon (Saturday • 12:30p • CBS )
Two years ago, Boise State used a narrow defeat at Autzen Stadium as a key data point for its College Football Playoff resume. The Broncos (0-0) don’t have Ashton Jeanty this time, and they’re running into an Oregon (0-0) team that is highly evolved as a playoff contender. The Ducks will win comfortably, but the point spread is a little fat.
The spread: Oregon is favored by 24.5 points.
The pick: Oregon 38, Boise State 17
(👍 Final: Oregon 34, Boise State 27)
Wyoming at Colorado State (Saturday • 3p • USA Sports)
The first game of the Jim Mora era is a Border War against a school rival. Mora is preaching process and growth. It’s a slow-and-steady message, but this game is going to have some electricity around it. Colorado State is unveiling new uniforms. The Rams are at home. They’ll win and cover in their first Pac-12 game.
The spread: Colorado State is favored by 3 points.
The pick: Colorado State 28, Wyoming 17
(👍Final: Colorado State 35, Wyoming 13)
Idaho State at Utah State (Saturday • 4p • CBS Sports Network)
The Aggies are at Maverik Stadium, where they piledrove Idaho State three years ago in a 78-28 victory. It won’t be quite that lopsided this time, but Utah State’s Pac-12 roster is more than good enough to cover the spread.
The spread: Utah State is favored by 13.5 points.
The pick: Utah State 35, Idaho State 17
(👎 Final: Idaho State 29, Utah State 17)
Clemson at LSU (Saturday • 4:30p • ABC)
Lane Kiffin has spent the last year playing the role of Joker in the Batman series. He’s easy to root against, but he walks off a winner in this one. Dabo Swinney would love a season-opening win, and a lot of America will be rooting for him, but I don’t see it. The Tigers win and cover the spread.
The spread: LSU is favored by 10 points.
The pick: LSU 24, Clemson 13
(👍 Final: LSU 51, Clemson 10)
Portland State at San Diego State (Saturday • 6:30p • USA Sports)
Aztecs’ coach Sean Lewis will be mic’d up on the sideline for this one on USA Sports. Lewis’ team is at home, playing against the Vikings (0-1). PSU suffered a heartbreaking defeat in Week 1. Portland State led UC Davis 21-0 at halftime, and then lost. The Vikings have no shot to win this game, but they showed me enough last week that the point spread looks inviting.
The spread: San Diego State is favored by 40.5 points.
The pick: San Diego State 42, Portland State 7
( 👍 Final: San Diego State 53, Portland State 20)
UNLV at Hawaii (Saturday • 7p • The CW)
I’m curious how UNLV will respond after the season-opening loss against Memphis. The Rebels (0-1) could have won that game, and now they have to go on the road to play Hawaii (0-1). That’s a big mental lift and a lot of ocean. For that reason, I won’t blame anyone who picks UH to win this game, but I’m taking the Rebels.
The spread: UNLV is favored by 3 points.
The pick: UNLV 28, Hawaii 21
(👍 Final: UNLV 21, Hawaii 6)
UCLA at Cal (Saturday • 7:30p • ESPN)
The “Calimony” bowl is going to be a well-attended and interesting game. There are some lingering bad feelings between the old Pac-12 “friends,” new energy, and two new head coaches. This game comes with high intrigue and could be a wild watch. I like Cal’s QB. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is the difference in this one
The spread: UCLA is favored by 1.5 points.
The pick: Cal 31, UCLA 30
(👎 Final: UCLA 45, Cal 24)
Washington State at Washington (Sunday • 1p • NBC)
The Apple Cup lands in Week 1 on a national TV stage. It’s a great exposure opportunity for both programs. I don’t really know what to expect from Kirby Moore, as a first-time, first-year head coach. The Cougars have a brutal schedule in the first month. But when I asked Moore about the schedule, he called it “an opportunity.”
Defensive coordinator Trent Bray was such a terrific hire by Moore. But I wonder if Bray makes a difference right away or has to wait until the roster gets deeper and better. Rivalry game with a lot of big feelings? UW wins the game comfortably, but doesn’t cover the spread.
The spread: Washington is favored by 22.5 points.
The pick: Washington 35, Washington State 17
(👍 Final: Washington 24, Washington State 14)
**Record, straight-up: 11-2
**Record, against the spread: 10-3
Please consider a gift subscription for a friend or family member, or the donation of a paid subscription for a senior on a fixed budget:
Go Cougs! Beat the Dawgs.
I’m picking which Washington score I’ll add the ‘State’ to! 😂