College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for top Week 1 games on Thursday

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Week 1 of the college football season has finally arrived as Thursday night brings a hefty appetizer for the weekend ahead. Several Power Four teams are getting their campaigns underway, including four who are ranked in the preseason AP Top 25.

A couple of matchups stand out above the rest as potential thrillers that will give us an early read on some teams with significant questions to answer. Minnesota hosts North Carolina at 8 p.m. ET in a Big Ten vs. ACC battle between a pair of squads that will be relying on elite running backs while breaking in new starting quarterbacks.

Kicking off at the same time is Colorado vs. North Dakota State as the Buffaloes begin Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders with a serious test against an FCS power. If the Buffaloes are going to build on last year’s 4-8 mark, defeating the Bison in their season opener is imperative as even tougher challenges await at Colorado State and Nebraska in the weeks ahead.

Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the evening for college football coverage from the opening kickoff onward. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games on Thursday of Week 1. 

Odds via SportsLine consensus | All times Eastern

North Dakota State at Colorado

8 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — Expectations outside Colorado have cooled, but the hype is still hot in Boulder. Deion Sanders wants a more balanced offense after the bulk of the pressure to produce was on his son, Shedeur, to throw the ball in 2023. North Dakota State provides a great first test for the revamped offense, particularly on the…

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Author : David Cobb

Publish date : 2024-08-29 00:38:37

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