Week 1 College Football Picks: Pick Six
By Joe Micik
Our Week 1 college football picks for the 2014 season are against the spread, real, and spectacular.
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This is perhaps overstating it just a hair, but everyone loves some picks, and we’ve got plenty of them.
(However, the editor of this site has a job and reportedly also has a life, so we are going to limit our weekly college football picks to six, hence “pick six.” There will be separate ACC picks coming next.)
No sense in waiting:
Week 1 College Football Picks: #1
Texas A&M at South Carolina (-10.5)
Thursday, 6pm ET (SECN)
The Aggies sans Johnny Manziel should still be a fine team — after all, they’re ranked — but probably not on the same plane as South Carolina, even as they lack Jadeveon Clowney and Connor Shaw. It is an interesting meeting of good programs that lost elite players. Look for the Head Ball Coach to take it in Week 1. South Carolina -10.5
Week 1 College Football Picks: #2
Colorado State vs. Colorado (-3)
Friday, 9pm ET (FS1)
This is a gut-feeling pick more than anything else. The Buffs are just starting to recover from a few bad seasons, but this is one of the most winnable games on their schedule. Hopefully, Colorado will beat UMass on September 6 to send them to 0-2 (the Eagles would be happy enough to send them to 0-1), but as Boston College fans will probably find out, the Rams are not a bad team. A winnable game for both teams, but not a bad team. Rams outright. Colorado State +3
Week 1 College Football Picks: #3
West Virginia vs. Alabama (-26)
Saturday, 3:30pm ET (ABC)
This one is being played in Atlanta, but it should not make much of a difference where it is being played. Alabama is most likely going to win — it’s just a question of margin. Went back and forth on this one, and then it occurred to me that Alabama typically cruises in their first game of the season, even if against a major-conference opponent. Taking into account that the Mountaineers are coming off of a lousy season, the Tide just might roll. Alabama -26
Week 1 College Football Picks: #4
Wisconsin vs. LSU (-5)
Saturday, 9pm ET (ESPN)
Here are two teams close in rank in what should make for an entertaining game. The advantage goes to Les Miles, who is a crazy, crazy man, but by God, it works. LSU -5
Week 1 College Football Picks: #5
Boise State vs. Mississippi (-10.5)
Thursday, 8pm ET (ESPN)
Boise State is entering the era they have long dreaded: the post-Chris Petersen era. The Broncos only went 8-5 last season, as opposed to their traditional crushing everyone in their path, and they have a tough task to start 2014 by going to Ole Miss (via Atlanta). Looks like it will be a good opening weekend for the SEC (until you see the ACC picks, that is). Mississippi -10.5
Week 1 College Football Picks: #6
Penn State at Central Florida (-1.5)
Saturday, 8:30am ET (ESPN2)
College football heads to the land of shamrocks and shillelaghs for Penn State and UCF. The Knights had a dream season in 2013, culminating in a Fiesta Bowl win over Baylor. Without Blake Bortles, who knows if that can be repeated, but can they beat Penn State in Week 1? Sure, why not? UCF -1.5