The long wait is over as Week 1 of the 2024 college football season is finally here. Thursday night’s schedule provides a big appetite for the weekend, and several Power Four teams continue their campaigns, including 4 ranked in the preseason AP Top 25.
Some match-ups stand out above others as potential thrillers that can be a quick read to answer questions about certain teams. Minnesota hosts North Carolina at 8 p.m. The Big Ten vs. ACC is a battle between a pair of teams that will rely on elite running backs to break new starting quarterbacks.
Meanwhile Colorado vs. North Dakota State, the Buffaloes begin Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders with a serious test against an FCS power. If the Buffaloes are going to match last year’s 4-8 mark, beating the Bison in their season opener is imperative, as even tougher challenges await in Colorado State and Nebraska in the coming weeks.
Be sure to tune in to CBS Sports throughout the evening for college football coverage from the opening kickoff. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games on Thursday in Week 1.
Odds by SportsLine Consensus | East at all times
North Dakota State at Colorado
8 pm | ESPN, fuboTV (try it for free) — Expectations have cooled outside of Colorado, but the hype is still hot in Boulder. Deion Sanders wants a more balanced offense in 2023 after putting more pressure on his son Shedier to throw the ball. While NDSU has experience and plenty of elite FCS talent, the Buffaloes have proven Power 4 starters at every position on the field, unlike last season. This is an improved Colorado team and the Buffaloes will prove it in prime time. Prediction: Colorado -9.5 –– Brandon Marcello
North Carolina at Minnesota
8 pm | fox, fuboTV (try it for free) — When these teams combined for just 44 points last season, North Carolina had a future first-round draft pick in quarterback Drake May and both teams already had two games under their belt. Now, both are breaking in new quarterbacks — the Tar Heels have yet to name a single starter — and can rely on their run games as they find their feet in a new season. Points must be at a premium. Prediction: Under 50.5 — David Cobb
Which college football picks can you confidently make in Week 1? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a proven computer model that has made $2,000 in profits since its inception — and find out.
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