Let's close out Week 1 with a bang.
Here are our five favorite College Football Predictions for the evening slate on Saturday, September 5, including picks for Clemson vs LSU and UCLA vs Cal.
College Football Predictions
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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  | 7 PM | |
  | 7:30 PM | |
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  | 10:30 PM | |
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Arkansas State vs. Memphis Best Bet
By Stuckey
The Red Wolves will open their season on Saturday in the Liberty Bowl in a regional rivalry known as the Paint Bucket Bowl. Meanwhile, Memphis will look to avoid a letdown after upsetting UNLV on the road last weekend.
It's also worth noting that the Tigers have a date with Boise State next week in a game with massive G6 playoff implications, so this is a bit of a tricky scheduling spot.
And I do think this is the one matchup where that film advantage really matters this week. For starters, Arkansas State got to see the brand-new Memphis offense with DII transfer quarterback Marcus Stokes.
Conversely, the Tigers don't have any tape on what this brand-new Arkansas State offensive scheme will look like under Garrett Altman, who head coach Butch Jones brought in from Vanderbilt in the offseason to run that side of the ball.
Expect a much slower pace and many of the same looks that we saw in the Diego Pavia offense. It's a tricky one-week prep regardless, but especially since Memphis has no idea who will line up under center for the Red Wolves.
It could be Texas transfer Trey Owens (who gives them the most upside), veteran Ethan Crawford or one of two Vanderbilt transfers (led by Drew Dickey) who have familiarity with the scheme.
Whoever wins the job will benefit from having an experienced backfield, two returning starters at wide receiver and four along the offensive line.
This is a very experienced offense outside of quarterback, although the situation at left tackle does worry me against this ferocious Memphis defensive line. Oddly enough, the Red Wolves' starting left tackle from last season now starts for Memphis.
That experience along the offensive line should come in handy against a Memphis defensive front that dominated the second half in Vegas last week.
However, it was pretty well known the Tigers would have a very good D-line, and they certainly benefited from facing a weak UNLV offensive line that didn't come into the season with much continuity and then lost its top player, which then completely cratered the offense.
Keep in mind this Red Wolves offense put up 450 yards against Southern Miss last season in a 27-21 loss in large part due to six turnovers. Jones is very familiar with this Memphis defense that's filled with Golden Eagle transfers who followed Huff to the Bluff City.
I actually didn't upgrade Memphis that much following last week's victory since I wasn't as high on UNLV as others. I really like offensive coordinator Kevin Decker but wasn't overly impressed with the personnel.
Now, look, the Tigers could just end up absolutely shredding this Arkansas State stop unit, which comes into the year with questions all over the two-deep. The Red Wolves essentially lost everyone of note outside of their safeties and a nickelback who flashed late in the season as a true freshman.
As a result, they'll need a number of transfers and unproven youth to step up, which definitely creates an abundance of uncertainty.
Lastly, Arkansas State should have one of the better special teams units at the G6 level once again this season, which can only help keep this margin close.
Bottom line, this spot is too good to pass up even if there's a chance I look completely foolish if the defense is a sieve and the quarterback play is inept. That's just life in Week 1.
Check out more of Stuckey's favorite sides for Week 1 here:
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Verdict: Arkansas State +10.5 or Better
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Clemson vs. LSU Best Bet
The Clemson offense could sputter out of the gate. Chad Morris hasn't called a college football offense since the 2020 season with Auburn.
Christopher Vizzina is not a finished product under center for the Tigers, as the third-year quarterback has 71 career passing attempts with two big-time throws and seven turnover-worthy plays.
The Clemson offensive line entered camp with Collin Sadler and Harris Sewell as multi-year starters. That will not bode well against an LSU defense that pulled several blue-chip names from the transfer portal in the offseason.
The LSU offense is expected to have a bit more success, as Sam Leavitt will be protected by Colorado transfer tackle Jordan Seaton.
A number of pass-catching options flashed at previous stops, including Jackson Harris at Hawaii with 73 targets and 2.8 yards per route run.
The Action Network projections list LSU as more than a two-touchdown favorite, indicating the Tigers as the play on the side.
However, the better bet may come on the total, where Clemson's offense will look for answers on the offensive line, while LSU is hoping Leavitt can connect with new targets out of the gate.
Check out all of Wilson's best bets for Week 1 here:
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Pick: Under 51 or Better
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ULM vs. Mississippi State Best Bet
By Kyle Hunter
Kamario Taylor and the Mississippi State Bulldogs have an extremely difficult schedule this season. It’s entirely possible that the Bulldogs could be a much better team than last year, but still not win more games than last season.
ULM is a bottom-feeder in the Sun Belt, and it has made some big changes in the offseason. I think this creates a real possibility for a blowout in this one.
ULM brings in Jesse Montalto as the new offensive coordinator after he spent eight years as the head coach at Iowa Central Community College. The identity of his offense is to play at a very quick pace and use the spread option.
They hope to take some shots down the field. While this change might work in the long run, I’m not convinced they have the players needed to succeed right away.
Mississippi State wants to play quickly under Jeff Lebby. The Bulldogs won’t have many chances to pile up the points this season, but this is the perfect opportunity.
ULM is very weak on the defensive line and in the secondary. The Warhawks' plan to play quickly while likely being inefficient creates plenty of opportunities for the Bulldogs' offense.
Check out Hunter's other favorite team totals for Week 1 here:
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Pick: Mississippi State Team Total Over 41.5 (-111 · FanDuel)
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Western Kentucky vs. Nevada Best Bet
I'm taking Nevada +120 against Western Kentucky. This is more of an anti–Hilltoppers play — a team I’ve liked for years — but I’m not buying what WKU is bringing this week.
Bodie Reeder is now calling plays after a rough two years at Middle Tennessee. That alone raises a red flag.
There’s also been a real talent drain at the skill spots. Jerreth Sterns and Malachi Corley aren't walking into that receiving room. K.D. Hutchinson is the alpha, but he’s small at 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, and weirdly, he wasn’t even on the depth chart they released.
Is he inactive? If he plays, he’s not a proven game-breaker. In fact, he’s never had a 90-yard receiving game against an FBS opponent despite four years of opportunities.
Rodney Tisdale Jr. will serve as the starting quarterback for the Tops, but he has had turnover issues. He might develop, but the offensive line won’t help him. WKU essentially gutted its starting five up front, so I don’t see this offense clicking immediately.
On the other side, Nevada has the ingredients to be a quality offense. It’s a new system, but quarterback Carter Jones finished strong as a true freshman.
Wide receiver Damien Morgan is coming up from the FCS and should be a nice shiftier slot option.
New offensive coordinator Brett Bartolone is a Mike Leach protege who was a freshman All‑American under Leach at Washington State back in 2012, so there’s upside as the season progresses. How much of that shows up in Week 1 is the question.
Where WKU is most vulnerable is through the air. Its pass rush trended toward nonexistence last year and has fallen off over the past three seasons.
The cornerbacks are also inexperienced. If Nevada throws 35-40 times and lets the chips fall, that feels like the right game plan.
I’ll take the Wolf Pack at +120 and expect them to attack the Hilltoppers through the air.
Check out some of Breese's favorite plays for Week 1 here:
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Pick: Nevada ML (+100 or Better)
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UCLA vs. Cal Best Bet
This is an old-fashioned Pac-12 After Dark battle on Saturday night in Berkeley, and I couldn't be more excited about it.
In my opinion, these two teams should still be in the same conference, but this is a non-conference affair that will draw plenty of interested eyeballs in California.
Give me the team that is at home, has the best player on the field, and is catching a point-and-a-half to get it done and cover this spread.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele should be able to make plenty of plays in the passing game against a UCLA defense that I am frankly not sold on.
Cal improved its skill pieces in the transfer portal, and I think you will see those additions pay off early and often in this one.
California should also be able to have plenty of success on the ground, which will force the Bruins to throw more guys in the box and be vulnerable in the back end.
UCLA will score plenty to keep this contest close, but I like the Golden Bears to do just enough to win outright.
Pick: Cal PK or Better
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