After a long offseason, the first college football Saturday is almost here. The slate is loaded with multiple ranked versus ranked matchups, intriguing neutral site games, and, of course, the Virginia Cavaliers opening the year at home against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on Saturday.
We dive into the biggest games, including the Wahoos’, on Saturday’s slate with betting odds courtesy of FanDuel Odds
.#1 Texas @ #3 Ohio State
Spread: OSU -1.5
Moneyline: Texas +100, OSU -120
Over/Under: 61.5
It
feels wrong to have the biggest game of the very first weekend of the season at noon, but here we are (kick rocks, Big Noon).
Regardless, the Longhorns and Buckeyes collide in the Horseshoe, both eyeing a signature win to start their campaigns. Arch Manning is the headliner going into his first full season as a starter, while Ryan Day hopes sophomore Julian Sayin can manage the game well enough (aka get the ball to Jeremiah Smith as often as possible) to find a way to score enough points against what is always a potent Texas attack under Steve Sarkisian.
This game is loaded with star power on both sides of the ball for both teams, but the ultimate deciding factor may well be in the hands of the longtime staple of College Gameday, Lee Corso. Coach Corso is set to make his 431st and final headgear pick from inside the ’Shoe just before kickoff, and it’s only right that whichever team he chooses gets a boost from the football gods.
The Buckeyes score enough points to keep pace, and win it with defense in the fourth quarter to start 1-0.
Prediction: OSU 28, Texas 24
#8 Alabama @ Florida State
Spread: Alabama -13.5
Moneyline: FSU +450, Alabama -630
Over/Under: 50.5
After all the offseason trash talk, we finally get to see these two get on the field and prove it. Florida State has nowhere to go but up, and the Tide look to get back to their usual title-contender self. Thomas Castellanos takes over at quarterback for an FSU team that should be better than last season, but unlikely to push for anything in the ACC.
The injury bug has already hit Alabama, with starting running back Jam Miller out for Saturday’s game, as well as defensive tackle and captain Tim Keenan II. As much as the Tide may struggle to establish the ground game early on, the tandem of Ryan Williams and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton should do enough to make this offense go.
Prediction: Alabama 27, FSU 10
Coastal Carolina @ Virginia
Spread: UVA -11.5
Moneyline: CCU +330, UVA -430
Over/Under: 57.5
There are numerous “OR’s” on UVA’s recently released depth chart this week, and for the first time in Tony Elliott’s soon-to-be four seasons in Charlottesville, that is actually a good thing. The depth is real up front with an offensive line, whose second unit may be better than last year’s starters, and a defensive front that is riddled with size on the inside, and pass-rushing athleticism on the edge, with the additions of Mitchell Melton and Fisher Camac.
There is no other way around it, UVA has to win this game and win it handily. Both teams are drastically different from a year ago when UVA rolled 43-24, but given how rangy and athletic the Cavalier secondary looks to be, paired with a retooled offense with more receiver talent than positions to play them all, I don’t see this one being close in the end. Chandler Morris will be the mayor of Conway, South Carolina, come Saturday night and the ‘Hoos will head to Raleigh in Week Two oozing confidence.
Prediction: UVA, 31-10
#9 LSU @ #4 Clemson
Spread: Clemson -3.5
Moneyline: LSU +146, Clemson -178
Over/Under: 57.5
Points should not be hard to find in Death Valley in primetime. Cade Klubnik versus Garrett Nussmeier is one of the better quarterback matchups out there in 2025, but defense is likely to be where this game is won or lost. LSU ranked in the bottom half of the SEC in passing defense, allowing just over 225 yards per game, while Clemson was nearly in the cellar of the ACC with the second most rushing yards allowed in the conference a year ago.
Peter Woods is back along the defensive line for Clemson, with LSU relying on Whit Weeks to continue his ascent as one of the best linebackers in the SEC.
Winner gets to unofficially officially claim the “real” Death Valley, and it looks to be the team in Orange on Saturday night.
Prediction: Clemson 34, LSU, 28
Virginia Tech vs. #13 South Carolina
Spread: SC -7.5
Moneyline: VT +230, South Carolina -285
Over/Under: 51.5
This matchup in Atlanta is the prime candidate for the ‘how the heck was this close’ game of the weekend.
The Gamecocks have received as much hype as any team in the SEC throughout the summer, and understandably so with the return of one of the best quarterbacks in the country in LaNorris Sellers to go along with speedster Nyck Harbor on the outside, as well as the best pass-rusher in the country in Dylan Stewart. The Gamecock roster has its share of stars and could finally help bring Shane Beamer the season he’s been striving for since he took the job in 2020.
Change has been the word of the offseason for the Hokies. Between players that figured to be crucial contributors heading into this season leaving through the transfer portal and a complete coordinator overhaul on both sides of the ball, there are more questions than answers ahead of this season.
South Carolina should win this game by multiple scores, but in the spirit of college football craziness and having watched enough Virginia Tech football in my life — and it being Week One, I don’t think this game ends up making any sense whatsoever. The Gamecocks find a way to handle business in the end, but just barely.
Prediction: South Carolina 31, Virginia Tech, 27
#6 Notre Dame @ #10 Miami
Spread: Notre Dame -2.5
Moneyline: Miami +112, ND -134
Over/Under: 49.5
This game feels to be all about who do you trust more? Whether it be at the quarterback position with first-time Irish starter, CJ Carr, or Georgia-transfer, Carson Beck, or the coaching staffs led by Marcus Freeman and Mario Cristobal.
There is enough evidence to know you can trust Jerimiyah Love’s ability to show up for the Irish. Love is back after a 1,125-yard, 17-touchdown season a year ago to pair with the addition of former-Hoo, Malachi Fields, for an offense that has the dudes to eclipse its effectiveness from 2024 if Carr can play consistently under center.
The war within the trenches will be electric throughout, with Miami needing to sell out on the defensive front to stop the Irish O-line from clearing the way for Love and Jadarian Price to run wild all game long. The Hurricanes may be able to mitigate it, but the consistency of the Irish under Freeman the past 12 months will continue to show itself and be the difference in an early-season game like this one.
Prediction: Notre Dame 24, Miami 17
