After a dramatic opening night of college football that included upsets, overtimes and last second finishes we now get ready for the best opening weekend slate of games in recent memory.
So let's get right down to some picks for the biggest games of week one:
KANSAS STATE AT 8 STANFORD (-14.5) Friday 8 p.m. CT
Pick: Stanford
Christian McCaffrey didn't win the Heisman Trophy last year, but may well have been the best overall player in college football. He racked up more than 2600 yards from scrimmage and added another 1000 yards in returns to go along with 15 total touchdowns. The Cardinal are breaking in a new quarterback, but should have plenty to get past K-State tonight.
2 CLEMSON (-7.5) AT AUBURN Saturday 8 p.m. CT
Pick: Clemson
Jordan-Hare will be fired up for the battle of the Tigers, but I don't think Auburn's offense behind whichever the three quarterbacks Gus Malzahn settles on has enough to exploit the rebuilt Clemson defense. Deshaun Watson still has plenty of weapons and will have a big night.
16 UCLA AT TEXAS A&M (-3) Saturday 2:30 p.m. CT on NewsChannel 5
Pick: Texas A&M
It has been a tumultuous offseason in College Station with quarterbacks leaving, assistant coaches tweeting and offensive slides at women's football clinics. The Aggies hope to put that all behind them this season and I think the great home crowd at Kyle Field and a second-year defense under John Chavis led by Myles Garrett will be enough to take some of the heat off Kevin Sumlin, at least for now.
5 LSU (-10) VS WISCONSIN (Lambeau Field) Saturday 2:30 p.m. CT
Pick: LSU
It's Bourbon Street meets State Street Brats. This is one of the game's I'm most interested to watch because Lambeau Field is incredible and these are two of the best tailgating schools. Oh, and there's some pretty decent beer in Wisconsin, too. As for the game, I think Leonard Fournette and the Bayou Bengals are just too good for the Badgers.
18 GEORGIA (-3) VS 22 NORTH CAROLINA (Georgia Dome) 4:30 p.m. CT
Pick: North Carolina
Kirby Smart tackles a tough challenge in his first game as a head coach, facing las year's ACC runner-up in Atlanta. Both teams will have new quarterbacks and I like UNC because I like Mitch Trubisky better than UVA transfer Greyson Lambert who was named Georgia's starter this week.
3 OKLAHOMA (-11) VS 13 HOUSTON (NRG Stadium Saturday 11a.m. CT
Pick: Oklahoma
Oklahoma scares me because they have so often underachieved when so much is expected of them like it is this season. But Baker Mayfield is one of the best players in the country and a terrific leader, and the backfield duo of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon is one of the best in the nation. If you were interested in action on this game, I might think Houston and the points, but I do like OU to win the game even in Houston.
20 USC VS 1 ALABAMA (-10) (AT&T Stadium) Saturday 7p.m. CT
Pick: Alabama
Once USC named Max Wittek it's starting quarterback I was even more sure Alabama's the right side. Wittek is going to be good, but a freshman in his first game against a Nick Saban defense sounds like a nightmare. The Crimson Tide defense dominates allowing their own QB's to settle in.
10 NOTRE DAME (-3.5) AT TEXAS Sunday 6:30 p.m. CT
Pick: Notre Dame
I'm going to be fascinated how Brian Kelly sorts out his quarterback rotation of Deshone Kizer and Malik Zaire, but I like the Irish duo at QB much better than what the Longhorns have. Notre Dame's running game behind a really good offensive line and a healthy Tarean Folston should be really good as well.
11 OLE MISS VS 4 FLORIDA STATE (-4.5) (Camping World Stadium) Monday 7p.m. CT
Pick: Florida State
We have to wait until Monday for the matchup of the weekend as Ole Miss travels to Orlando looking to replace offensive stars like Laquon Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil. Make no mistake, Chad Kelly still has weapons, but I think Florida State may be the most talented team in the country. Led by explosive tailback Dalvin Cook and a strong defense, I like the Seminoles in what should be a really good football game.
