2019 Week 1 College Football Picks and Predictions – Top Week 1 Matchups: While the 2019 College Football season is already off and running, there’s something special about the first full Saturday slate of games. Looking at the upcoming Week 1 schedule, the showdown between Oregon and Auburn is the lone matchup between a pair of Top 25 teams, but there are several intriguing matchups between some of the best Group of 5 teams and Power 5 teams that could quickly change the trajectory of the season for any of the teams involved.
2019 Week 1 College Football Picks and Predictions: Top Week 1 Matchups
Northwestern Wildcats at No. 25 Stanford Cardinal
The Wildcats have a punishing runner in Isaiah Bowser and a potential X-factor under center in Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson, but a questionable offensive line and lackluster pass rush are going to be tough to overcome. Stanford is always stout in the trenches, and the Cardinal have one of the most proven quarterbacks in the country in K.J. Costello. He should have more than enough time to pick apart the Northwestern defense, and I don’t see the Wildcats being able to keep pace.
Prediction: Stanford Cardinal (-6.5) Cover the Spread
Boise State Broncos vs. Florida State Seminoles in Jacksonville
After failing to make a bowl game last year, the Florida State program is as vulnerable as it has been in quite some time. Enter a Boise State program that has been the poster child for upsetting Power 5 programs. Both teams have plenty of question marks on the offensive side of the ball, especially at the quarterback spot, but both sides boast stout defenses. Granted, the Seminoles defense has the superior speed and athleticism, but I still think this a low-scoring slugfest. Florida State should win, but I expect it to go down to the wire with the Broncos covering the spread.
Prediction: Boise State Broncos (+5.5) Cover the Spread
No. 11 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 16 Auburn Tigers in Arlington
The premier Week 1 matchup will feature an Oregon squad that is one of the frontrunners in the Pac-12 and an Auburn team that always seems to make some noise in the SEC. The battle in the trenches will be fun to watch as star defensive tackle Derrick Brown will lead a loaded Auburn front four against Oregon’s talented offensive, and on the flip side, the Tigers unheralded line will have to try to stop the attacking defense of the Ducks. In the end, Oregon should have the trump card in quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert is an elite talent and could very well be the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Auburn is breaking in a new starter. The Tigers defense will keep this one close, but Hebert will make enough plays to lead the Ducks to a statement win.
Prediction: Oregon Ducks (+3) Cover the Spread
Fresno State Bulldogs at USC Trojans
The Bulldogs bring back some key starters from a defense that helped them win 12 games last year, including wins over a pair of Pac-12 opponents in UCLA and Arizona State. The Trojans will be breaking in a pass-happy system under new offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, which should take full advantage of the arm of talented quarterback JT Daniels. In the end, I think USC’s arsenal of playmakers at the receiver position will carry the day, but make no mistake about it. The Bulldogs are absolutely a threat to win this game and eventually earn a bid to a New Year’s Six bowl as the top-ranked Group of 5 team. At the very least, I think they cover the spread in this one.
Prediction: Fresno State Bulldogs (+13.5) Cover the Spread
Houston Cougars at No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners
A rare Sunday showdown in the college football world will feature a pair of exciting quarterbacks in Houston’s D’Eriq King and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. King is a one-man wrecking crew and a sleeper Heisman candidate, and Hurts has already shown he can lead a team to a national title during his time at Alabama. King is electrifying, but the Sooners are an offensive juggernaut, and they have eight starters back on defense. Oklahoma just has too many weapons for the Cougars.
Prediction: Oklahoma Sooners (-24.5) Cover the Spread
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