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No. 14 Utah at BYU
Time: Thursday, 10:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Utah -6
HIGHLIGHTS
Edward Aschoff: Tyler Huntley added 25 good pounds over the offseason, which will make him and RB Zack Moss just too much for BYU to stop. Utah 31-17
Bill Connelly: Two things we know about this series: it's always close, and Utah always wins. Utah 27-26
David M. Hale: BYU found something in QB Zach Wilson, who completed 67% of his passes with eight touchdowns and one interception in his final four games last season. BYU 28-27
Sam Khan Jr.: The Utes haven't lost a season opener in a dozen years; Huntley will ensure they extend that. Utah 34-28
Chris Low: Some see the Utes as a surprise College Football Playoff team, but the Cougars will be the ones doing the surprising in a shocker. BYU 27, Utah 24
Ivan Maisel: A Holy War shouldn't be played in August, but I'm just glad they're playing at all. Utah 31-20
Mark Schlabach: The Utes are going to win the Holy War -- and a Pac-12 title. Utah 28-17
OTHER PICKS
Andrea Adelson: Utah 27-17
David Bearman: Utah 24-17
Kyle Bonagura: Utah 35-10
Heather Dinich: Utah 35-28
Doug Kezirian: Utah 27-17
Preston Johnson: Utah 27-24
Adam Rittenberg: Utah 27-19
Alex Scarborough: Utah 27-17
Mark Schlabach: Utah 28-17
South Carolina vs. North Carolina (in Charlotte)
Time: Saturday, 3:30 ET
TV: ESPN
Line: South Carolina -10.5
HIGHLIGHTS
Andrea Adelson: Jake Bentley will have a big say in spoiling Mack Brown's return to the Tar Heels. South Carolina 30-17
David Bearman: Give me the team going against the new (sort of) head coach and true freshman QB, Sam Howell. South Carolina 20-10
David M. Hale: Mack Brown proves that working in the media makes you smarter. North Carolina 27-24
Preston Johnson: The Gamecocks are the superior team across the board; UNC could surprise this season but not on Saturday. South Carolina 34-27
Sam Khan Jr.: The Gamecocks' brutal schedule makes this one a must-win. South Carolina 31-23
Adam Rittenberg: South Carolina needs this one, given the upcoming schedule; A strong first half spoils Brown's return. South Carolina 34-24
Mark Schlabach: Remember when Muschamp was Mack's coach-in-waiting at Texas? South Carolina 21-17
OTHER PICKS
Edward Aschoff: South Carolina 27-20
Kyle Bonagura: South Carolina 28-24
Bill Connelly: South Carolina 34-17
Heather Dinich: South Carolina 31-20
Doug Kezirian: South Carolina 38-20
Chris Low: South Carolina 30-23
Ivan Maisel: South Carolina 27-10
Alex Scarborough: South Carolina 34-24
Boise State at Florida State
Time: Saturday, 7 ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Florida State -5
HIGHLIGHTS
Edward Aschoff: Freshman QB Hank Bachmeier will take plenty of lumps, but Boise's tremendous defense will force James Blackman into mistakes. Boise State 23-17
David Bearman: If FSU's offensive line can give Blackman some time to get the ball to his weapons, I'll be wrong here. Boise State 30-29
Kyle Bonagura: Boise State might be the best Group of 5 team in the country, but FSU's talent is too much to overcome. Florida State 34-31
Preston Johnson: With the storm, we might not even see 49 points scored (or the real Kendal Briles offense). But the Seminoles bounce back in 2019. Florida State 28-21
Ivan Maisel: Tallahassee in August is tougher than the blue turf ever was. Florida State 28-24
Alex Scarborough: I saw too much of the FSU defense last season -- or too little -- to believe the Noles can hold off the Broncos. Boise State 35-24
Mark Schlabach: I know one thing: Willie Taggart better not lose this one. Florida State 31-27
OTHER PICKS
Andrea Adelson: Florida State 31-28
Bill Connelly: Florida State 28-20
Heather Dinich: Florida State 24-21
David M. Hale: Florida State 35-24
Doug Kezirian: Florida State 28-20
Sam Khan Jr.: Florida State 38-28
Chris Low: Florida State 27-21
Adam Rittenberg: Boise State 23-21
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 16 Auburn (in Arlington, Texas)
Time: Saturday, 7:30 ET
TV: ABC
Line: Auburn -3.5
HIGHLIGHTS
Edward Aschoff: WR injuries are worrisome for the Ducks, but that defense will take advantage of the inexperience of Auburn QB Bo Nix. Oregon 24-21
David Bearman: Oregon went 1-3 vs top-25 defenses last year and Auburn was 16th last year. Give me the SEC team. Auburn 31-28
Kyle Bonagura: The Ducks (and the Pac-12) avoid what would be a significantly deflating way to start the year. Oregon 31-28
Doug Kezirian: I trust Auburn in this high-profile spot much more than I do Mario Cristobal. Auburn 30-20
Chris Low: In a classic OL-DL showdown, Derrick Brown and Auburn's defensive front will pluck the Ducks. Auburn 30-21
Adam Rittenberg: Justin Herbert makes the difference and Oregon's playmaking secondary picks off Nix late. Oregon 28-24
Mark Schlabach: Yeah, I'm going with a freshman (Nix) over a potential NFL No. 1 pick (Herbert). Auburn 27-21
OTHER PICKS
Andrea Adelson: Oregon 24-21
Bill Connelly: Auburn 24-20
Heather Dinich: Oregon 28-17
David M. Hale: Oregon 31-17
Sam Khan Jr.: Auburn 27-20
Preston Johnson: Auburn 30-24
Ivan Maisel: Oregon 24-17
Alex Scarborough: Oregon 24-16
Houston at No. 4 Oklahoma
Time: Sunday, 7:30 ET
TV: ABC
Line: Oklahoma -23
HIGHLIGHTS
Andrea Adelson: Jalen Hurts will pick up where Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield left off. OU 44-35
Bill Connelly: A Lincoln Riley-Dana Holgorsen game shouldn't legally be allowed to finish with under 75 points. OU 45-31
Heather Dinich: No, this is the Sooners' improved defense. OU will get pushed to the brink by Houston QB D'Eriq King, but its running game will be the difference. OU 42-38
Preston Johnson: I like the under 83 in this Week 1 matchup. My projection is 77.8, and there is upside to an under with Hurts in his first start. OU 48-27
Doug Kezirian: Respect to Lincoln Riley, but I just cannot fathom Hurts running this pass-heavy offense smoothly and covering such a huge number. OU 38-30
Ivan Maisel: The important debut belongs to DC Alex Grinch, not Hurts. OU 47-24
Alex Scarborough: A starter again with something to prove, Hurts will reassert his star power. OU 42-20
OTHER PICKS
Edward Aschoff: OU 38-24
David Bearman: OU 41-10
Kyle Bonagura: OU 42-31
David M. Hale: OU 48-42
Sam Khan Jr.: OU 48-27
Chris Low: OU 41-17
Adam Rittenberg: OU 49-31
Mark Schlabach: OU 52-34
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