College Football Picks & Predictions: Week 0 (Saturday)
It’s time to prep the tailgate food and grab a beverage of choice, because the wait is finally over. College football fans will get their first peek at 2026 competition with an exciting eight-game Week 0 slate on Saturday, August 29th. An overseas clash, an ACC showdown and a playoff contender in action highlight a schedule packed with intriguing storylines. With that said, here’s a look at three of my favorite college football picks for Saturday’s contests.
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Saturday’s Best College Football Picks (Week 0)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. TCU Horned Frogs
The 2026 campaign kicks off with the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, at noon ET. North Carolina and TCU will face off, just as they did to start the 2025 season.
The Horned Frogs came out on top in that game, but a lot has changed since then. For TCU, quarterback Josh Hoover has moved on to Indiana as Harvard transfer Jaden Craig takes over under center. Meanwhile, UNC head coach Bill Belichick has named Billy Edwards Jr. his starting quarterback on a roster full of new faces.
I’m going to avoid picking a side and focus on the total. Each of the past three contests played at Aviva Stadium resulted in exactly 45 points being scored. The venue features a grass field, and there is a chance of precipitation this weekend. Of course, sloppy conditions would point to a lower-scoring, run-heavy matchup.
The Tar Heels were a top-30 FBS program in yards allowed per play (4.9) in 2025 and have Melkart Abou Jaoude anchoring the defensive line. The powerful pass-rusher tallied 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble last year.
TCU surrendered the eighth-lowest third-down conversion rate on the road (32%) in 2025 and now enters its third season in defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ system. Safety Jamel Johnson serves as a veteran leader in the secondary, logging 188 tackles and five interceptions across 36 games.
These offenses will need time to gel, and some underrated talent gives the defenses an early edge. Expect this duel to sneak under the total.
Pick: Under 47.5 Points (-112)
NC State Wolfpack vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Talk about an ACC appetizer. This isn’t a snoozer hidden in a slate with ranked squads playing in every time slot. NC State and Virginia will go to battle in Charlottesville, with the winner gaining momentum in a wide-open conference.
The Cavaliers have their sights set on returning to the ACC title game, though a different quarterback will have to guide them there. Missouri transfer Beau Pribula will command the offense after throwing for 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns (nine interceptions) in 10 contests in 2025.
On the other side, NC State is not dealing with as much roster turnover as other programs have become accustomed to in the NIL era. Quarterback CJ Bailey and running back Duke Scott remain following strong 2025 efforts.
Bailey accounted for 31 total touchdowns, and Scott racked up 595 rushing yards on 106 carries. Keep in mind the Wolfpack also landed former Buffalo wide receiver Victor Snow through the transfer portal. Snow was an All-MAC first-teamer with three 100-yard performances in 2025.
Offensive continuity helps a Wolfpack team that defeated the Cavaliers 35-31 last year. It was NC State’s fourth straight victory in the head-to-head series. Overall, the Wolfpack have not lost in Charlottesville since 2006 and finished on a 4-1 run against the spread (ATS) this past fall.
Virginia’s offense underperformed in 2025 (79th in yards per play) and welcomes the lowest-rated recruiting class in the ACC (according to 247Sports) along with a new starting signal-caller. Take the points with the visiting underdogs.
Pick: NC State Wolfpack +5.5 (-108)
San Jose State Spartans vs. USC Trojans
The lone ranked program playing on Saturday is USC (No. 15 in the nation). The Trojans will host San Jose State at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as a massive 38.5-point favorite.
Head coach Lincoln Riley’s roster is bolstered by stars, with the most notable being quarterback Jayden Maiava. The senior gunslinger posted 3,711 passing yards and 30 total touchdowns (10 interceptions) in 2025. He is currently tied for the 11th-best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to win the Heisman Trophy Award (+2500).
There’s a glaring mismatch here. San Jose State ranked 116th in points allowed per game (32.9) and 103rd in opponent yards per play (5.9) out of 136 FBS teams in 2025. The Spartans lost all six of their away contests, conceding at least 30 points in five of them.
It’ll be difficult to make defensive improvements, especially against a high-caliber offense like USC. The Trojans posted top-12 marks in yards per game (465.9) and points per game (35.8) in 2025. The return of Maiava provides them with an avenue to replicate that success.
It’s worth pointing out that USC kept its foot on the pedal in two huge out-of-conference victories to start last campaign. The Trojans demolished Missouri State 73-13 and smoked Georgia Southern 59-20. They surpassed 48 points with more than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter of each thrashing.
Anticipate more offensive excellence on Saturday, considering a meeting with Oregon looms in September for USC. Riley should be taking advantage of any opportunity he gets to build chemistry on the field.
Pick: USC Team Total Over 48.5 Points (-120)