Week 0 of the 2026 college football season featured some incredible performances. Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula dazzled with 110 yards on the ground in a 34-8 win versus NC State, while four different Trojans scored rushing touchdowns in USC’s 42-26 triumph over San Jose State. The focus now shifts to a Week 1 slate packed with intriguing storylines and ranked teams in action. Here's a look at three of my favorite college football picks for Saturday's contests.
- More NCAAF Betting Advice
- Expert Game Picks for College Football
- Top Bettor Picks for College Football
- NCAAF Betting Strategy
Get instant alerts when a line reaches your target via the BettingPros App >>
Saturday's Best College Football Picks (Week 1)
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Clemson Tigers vs. No. 11 LSU Tigers
There’s no hiding the headline. This will be head coach Lane Kiffin’s first game leading LSU after departing Ole Miss before the College Football Playoff (CFP) last year. Along with Kiffin comes a roster with more than $40 million poured into it through name, image and likeness (NIL) standards. Quarterback Sam Leavitt will command the offense. He tallied 5,462 total yards, 44 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in two campaigns with Arizona State. Other transfer talent includes offensive lineman Jordan Seaton and linebacker Ty Benefield.
Clemson is aiming to bounce back following a disappointing 7-6 season. Question marks remain at the quarterback position, with senior Christopher Vizzina expected to be named the starter. It will not be easy to replace players who left for the NFL, such as defensive end T.J. Parker and cornerback Avieon Terrell. Head coach Dabo Swinney finally pivoted from his anti-portal stance in the offseason, though. Transfers like defensive end London Merritt and cornerback Donovan Starr will help fill in the holes.
Keep an eye on the returning stars in these defenses. Cornerbacks DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland combined for five of LSU’s stellar 17 interceptions in 2025. Meanwhile, defensive end Will Heldt (7.5 sacks) and linebacker Sammy Brown (106 tackles) put together strong 2025 efforts for Clemson. Trust those players to guide their respective defenses to third-down stops against offenses full of new faces. Overall, fewer than 52 points have been scored in four of the five all-time clashes between these programs.
Pick: Under 51.5 Points (-114)
Boise State Broncos vs. No. 2 Oregon Ducks
Early out-of-conference showdowns rarely have true playoff implications. However, that is the case when Boise State and Oregon meet at Autzen Stadium on Saturday. The Broncos are the favorite to win the Pac-12 Conference (+140 on FanDuel), making them a legitimate challenger for the non-power conference playoff spot. Quarterback Maddux Madsen and running back Dylan Riley bolster an offense that recorded top-25 marks in yards per game (455) and third-down conversion rate (45.3%) in 2025.
On the other side, Oregon is praised as a title contender thanks to a balanced roster. Quarterback Dante Moore opted to return to the Ducks over a chance to get drafted in the NFL. The junior signal-caller impressed by completing 71.8% of his passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns (10 interceptions) this past fall. Take note that head coach Dan Lanning’s squad ranked 13th in points per game (35.4) and 11th in opponent points per game (18.2) in a dominant 2025 season (13-2 record).
Facing a Big 10 defense is a different kind of beast. Madsen knows that well, connecting on just 51.6% of his passes for 503 yards and two touchdowns (five interceptions) in three career outings against a Big 10 foe. Boise State has proven it can find an offensive groove, yet it’s also proven it can hit a wall. The Broncos scored 10 or fewer points in all five of their losses last year. They didn’t score a single second-half point in four of those five defeats. Trust Oregon’s depth to prevail in a strong defensive performance.
Pick: Boise State Team Total Under 13.5 Points (-118)
Baylor Bears vs. Auburn Tigers
A college football matchup doesn’t need ranked teams to be compelling. Saturday’s battle between Baylor and Auburn features two transfer quarterbacks and one new head coach. Former Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is now in Waco to learn under head coach Dave Aranda. The Bears posted a 5-7 record in 2025, their third losing effort in the previous four seasons. Defensive failures were the root of Baylor’s problems, with the team ranking 125th in opponent points per game (34.9) and 116th in opponent yards per carry (5.1).
Auburn made an offseason splash by hiring former South Florida head coach Alex Golesh to lead its football program. Golesh brought his quarterback, Byrum Brown, along with him. The exciting dual-threat quarterback threw for over 3,000 yards, rushed for over 1,000 yards and accounted for 42 total touchdowns in 2025. Brown has showcased the size and strength needed to thrive in the SEC. He is complemented by running back Jeremiah Cobb, who tallied 1,052 yards from scrimmage as a junior for the Tigers.
Look for Auburn to pull away late inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Not only are the Tigers dangerous on the offensive side of the ball, but they were a top-30 defense in opponent points per game last campaign and bring back All-SEC linebacker Xavier Atkins. He led the conference with 17 tackles for loss. Baylor has failed to cover the spread in nine of its past 10 contests and will need time to make impactful defensive improvements. Bank on Auburn winning by more than a touchdown in a statement victory.
Pick: Auburn -7.5 (-104)
