College football Week 1 preview

The Knights might not run the table like they did in 2017 (13-0), but they remain the class of the American Athletic Conference and enter their opener as massive favorites over UConn. UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 4,037 yards and 37 touchdowns last season and could be in for a big evening. Randy Edsall is trying to revive the Huskies during his second stint with the program, but they've dropped seven of their last nine at home.
Prediction: UCF 45, Connecticut 14

Brian Lewerke isn't usually mentioned when discussing the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten, but he threw for almost 2,800 yards last season with 20 touchdowns. Utah State allowed 26.9 points per game in 2017, so it must find a way to improve in that area. The Spartans' defense is hoping to pick up where it left off after yielding 31 points in their final three games.
Prediction: Michigan State 30, Utah State 10  

This is all about payback for the Cardinal, who lost 20-17 at San Diego State last season. Last year's Heisman runner-up, Bryce Love, rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the 2017 meeting, but Stanford will likely need quarterback K.J. Costello to be sharp. The Cardinal will be minus several key players due to injuries, and must find a way to contain Aztecs running back Juwan Washington.
Prediction: Stanford 20, San Diego State 13

Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor is back after ranking third in the nation with 1,977 rushing yards last season, but this one should be about the Badgers defense. The unit does not return a lot from a group that yielded 13.9 points per game last season, but Wisconsin doesn't rebuild; it reloads on that side of the ball. Western Kentucky has lost 11 of its last 12 games against ranked opponents.
Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Western Kentucky 7 

Will Round 2 live up to last season's entertaining opener between these two? The Terps took that one 51-41, but a troubling offseason that included the heat-related death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and the subsequent suspension of coach D.J. Durkin leaves the level of their competitiveness uncertain. Sam Ehlinger, meanwhile, will open under center for a Texas team that hopes to challenge for a Big 12 title.
Prediction: Texas 31, Maryland 20   

Urban Meyer won't be on the Ohio State sideline while serving the first of his three-game suspension, but it shouldn't matter. Led by new starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins and star defensive end Nick Bosa, Ohio State has too much talent for the Beavers — who went 1-11 in 2017 — to handle. Oregon State has lost 11 straight and 18 of 19 against ranked foes.
Prediction: Ohio State 41, Oregon State 6

This could be fun. Oklahoma must move on from Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and trust the talent of junior quarterback Kyler Murray, a two-sport standout  who was a first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics. A test comes right off the bat against Lane Kiffin's Owls, who went 11-3 last season and hope to be a contender among the Group of Five. This matchup also features two of the nation's top running backs in the Sooners' Rodney Anderson and FIU's Devin Singletary.
Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Florida Atlantic 21

This should be a prime opportunity to usher new TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson into the starting role. However, the focus will be on the Horned Frogs defense, led by standout defensive end Ben Banogu, who had 8 1/2 sacks last season after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe. Southern last played a Top 25 team in 2015, losing 48-6 to then-No. 7 Georgia.
Prediction: TCU 48, Southern 0

About the only intrigue that should come from this contest is when and for how long highly touted Clemson freshman Trevor Lawrence will see time at quarterback. Kelly Bryant will start, but Lawrence is the future and many believe he will be the starter by season's end. The Tigers outscored Furman — of the FCS — 79-17 the last two times they met.
Prediction: Clemson 38, Furman 3

Perhaps this could be the best game on this full opening weekend of the season and the only one featuring two schools inside the top 10. Washington quarterback Jake Browning didn't put up as gaudy the numbers last season as he did in 2016, but he's still among the nation's best. Meanwhile, Auburn's Jarrett Stidham is trying to reach Browning's level. Both teams have plenty of talent on defense to make this as tight as expected.
Prediction: Washington 27, Auburn 20

Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs can officially move on from last season's collapse in the College Football Playoff championship game, but their opener could be tougher than expected. Austin Peay won eight games in 2017 after posting just one win over the previous four seasons, and Governors have lofty expectations within the FCS this year. Jake Fromm will likely start under center for Georgia, but freshman Justin Fields is waiting in the wings.
Prediction: Georgia 24, Austin Peay 10

Penn State lost nine starters on defense, but quarterback Trace McSorley returns, and he could be the difference maker in the opener. The Mountaineers have talent, especially at running back with Jalin Moore, so there's a chance they can make things interesting. However, a Nittany Lions team with big expectations should handle this challenge in Happy Valley.
Prediction: Penn State 38, Appalachian State 14

The Mountaineers are ready to roll behind quarterback Will Grier and receiver David Sills V, so the Volunteers defense should have its hands full. Tennessee is looking to bounce back from a 4-8 season, and Jeremy Pruitt is the man in charge of doing so. However, this task seems too great for the Vols to handle at this stage.
Prediction: West Virginia 30, Tennessee 17 

Sam Darnold is gone, so the spotlight now falls on true freshman quarterback JT Daniels , who will start the opener. He should have plenty of offensive support, and the Trojans defense led by linebacker Cameron Smith can take care of things on the other side of the ball for Clay Helton's group. UNLV's defense yielded an average of 31.8 points last year, but it's uncertain how much improvement there will be in that area.
Prediction: USC 31, UNLV 6 

Troy hit the blue turf of Boise last season and made a game out of it before losing 24-13. The Trojans hope to return the favor on their home field this year. This contest could again come down to which defense can make more big plays. Meanwhile the Broncos will rely on quarterback Brett Rypien to pull one out on the road.
Prediction: Troy 22, Boise State 21

Dan Mullen is now in Florida, but Joe Moorhead should have no problem in his debut as Bulldogs coach— even after announcing the  suspension of quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. The mobile Keytaon Thompson, who led Mississippi State to a bowl win over Louisville last season, will get the nod against the FCS Lumberjacks, who have been outscored 173-23 in their last three games against a ranked opponent.
Prediction: Mississippi State 41, Stephen F. Austin 7

The rivalry is back on as these two storied programs meet for the first time since 2014. The Irish have won two straight and six of the last eight meetings in the presence of Touchdown Jesus. Shea Patterson makes his much-anticipated debut at quarterback for the Wolverines, but he could have his hands full against a Notre Dame defense that returns some hefty talent on a unit that held eight opponents to fewer than 20 points last season.
Prediction: Michigan 23, Notre Dame 19

Though it still remains to be seen who will start at quarterback for Alabama, it's likely both Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa will see time against the Cardinals. Lost in the shadows of the Crimson Tide quarterback battle is Louisville moving on from former Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. Redshirt sophomore Jawon Pass has the torch, and the Cardinals are hoping he can successfully run with it — though, doing so against the Alabama defense will be extremely difficult.
Prediction: Alabama 25, Louisville 9

Mario Cristobal takes over for Willie Taggart, and this should end up being a positive debut for the new coach. Tony Brooks-James is set to take over at running back for Royce Freeman, who is now with the Denver Broncos. Bowling Green could have success in the passing game, but its defense remains suspect.
Prediction: Oregon 40, Bowling Green 16

Miami's progression under coach Mark Richt continues, but it's uncertain what to expect from LSU this season. The Tigers have question marks at quarterback and running back, but they boast two of the nation's top defenders in linebacker Devin White and cornerback Greedy Williams. However, the Hurricanes are the more balanced of the two squads, and that should be the difference.
Prediction: Miami 20, LSU 13

The last time Deondre Francois took a meaningful snap for Florida State, the quarterback suffered a season-ending leg injury in the 2017 opener against Alabama. Francois is back and will start against the Hokies, who are facing the Seminoles for the first time since 2012. It will be interesting to see how Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster game plans for Francois and new FSU boss Willie Taggert as the Seminoles begin life after Jimbo Fisher.
Prediction: Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 23

While the Rebels are in the process of rebuilding their troubled program, Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury appears to be on the hot seat after one winning season in the last four. Both teams can score, so it could come down to which defense doesn't completely break and can make some big plays.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Texas Tech 35

Iowa hopes to challenge Wisconsin for the Big Ten West Division title, but it doesn't face an easy task to open up the season. Northern Illinois is a perennial Group of Five power that won at Iowa in 2013, at Northwestern in 2014 and at Nebraska last season. The Hawkeyes will be minus both of their starting offensive tackles, not ideal against All-American NIU defensive end Sutton Smith.
Prediction: Iowa 24, Northern Illinois 21 

Aside from Jimbo Fisher bolting Florida State for Texas A&M, the next biggest coaching hire to dominate the headlines was Chip Kelly's return to the Pac-12 as the new man in charge at UCLA. Kelly had his moments as an NFL head coach, but college might be his true comfort zone. The Bruins finished with losing records each of the last two years, so Kelly needs to change that. A visit from Cincinnati should provide an early challenge and one UCLA must win.
Prediction: UCLA 23, Cincinnati 14

Kevin Sumlin makes his debut as Arizona coach, and the former Texas A&M leader has already shown who's the boss. Versatile Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate is already in the Heisman conversation and has a good opportunity for a strong start. BYU was a mess during its 4-9 effort last season and needs to improve an offense that averaged a very un-Cougar-like 17.1 points.
Prediction: Arizona 20, BYU 10