Free College Football Picks Week 1 Part 1-8/26/2024
Kent vs. Pittsburgh College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
Kent at Pittsburgh—Kent comes off a 1-11 season with head coach Kenni Burns returning for his third season. Returning is nine starts on offense and four to the defense. They were the 133rd scoring offense in college football last year by averaging 133 points per game. Junior Devin Kargman has been named starting quarterback in his third year with the program. In nine career games he has completed 45.5% of his passes for only 5.9 yards per attempt. Pittsburgh was a disappointing 3-9 last year for head coach Pat Narduzzi who enters his tenth year with the program. The team returns nine starts on offense with four to the defense. The offense stalled in 2023 as the Panthers sat 122nd in scoring by putting gup 17.9 points per game. That sat near the bottom of college football on third down and had inaccurate quarterback play. Senior Nate Yarnell is batting with red shirt freshman Eli Holstein for the starting QB position. He saw action in four games last season, hitting 66.1% of his passes for 9.6 yards per pass attempt.
The Pick:
Kent struggled to run the football with 2.6 yards per attempt ranking 132d in the nation. The Golden Flashes are being rebuilt. Pittsburgh may just lean off their defense here with the physical advantage up front. Play Kent and Pittsburgh under 54.5.
Clemson vs. Georgia College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
Clemson vs. Georgia—Game played on neutral site in Atlanta. Dabo Sweeny enters his 17th season with the Tigers. The team went 9-4 last year and returned nine starters on offense with five to the defense. Sweeney is reluctant to use the transfer portal to restock players. This was a mid-pack scoring offense last year with 26.8 points per game. The same can be said about the passing and running game. They were the 24th ranked scoring defense in college football giving up 21.4 points per game. Junior Cade Klubnik is under center and completed 63.9% of his passes last season with a modest 6.3 yards per pass attempt. Georgia went 13-1 in 2023 for head coach Kirby Smart who enters his ninth season. This was an elite program last year that sat fifth in scoring offense and seventh on the defensive side. Seven starters are back on offense and defense. The team rushed for 5.3 yards per carry. Carson Beck returns for his senior season at quarterback. Beck hit 72.4% of his passes for 9.5 yards per pass attempt. He also rushed for four touchdowns.
The Pick: The Front seven of defense is strong for the Bulldogs. Quarterback and running back play gives an edge to Georgia as well here. Play Georgia -13.5.
Virginia Tech vs. Vanderbilt College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt—Virginia Tech finished at 7-6 last year for head coach Brent Fry who is in his third season. An experienced team that returns 11 on offense with 10 to the defense. The Hokies put up 29.5 points per game but struggled to convert third down. They had a good running attack but suffered from inaccurate quarterback play. Still the offensive performance was a huge improvement over the previous season. The defense held opponents to 24 points per game with their strength in defending the pass. The pass rush returned last year with massive improvement. Kyron Drones is in his senior season. He completed 58.2% of his throws last year and rushed for 818 yards and five touchdown. Vanderbilt went 2-10 in 2023. Clark Lea is in his fourth season with the program that has six starters back on offense with eight on defense. Playing the rigors of an SEC schedule saw below average performance in offensive and defensive performance. Quarterback Diego Pavia transfers from New Mexico St after elevating that program last season. He completed 60.4% of his passes for 1973 yards with 8.1 yards per rush. He ran for 925 yards averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
The Pick:
Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea is running the defense as he turns over the other side of the football his offensive coordinator. Pavia’s ability to make plays with his legs is a massive plus here. This is a healthy Commodores team that hasn’t been beaten up by their SEC schedule yet. The Hokies are on the uptick but not ready to lay almost two touchdowns here. Play Vanderbilt +13.5.
UCONN vs. Maryland College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
UCONN at Maryland—Connecticut comes off a 3-9 season in 2023. Head coach Jim Mora is in his third season with the program that returns five on offense and eight to the defense. The offensive performance was poor in 2023 as the Huskies produced 18 points per game and were 101st on third down. Inaccurate quarterback play coupled with a mediocre rushing attack. Defensively they held opponents to 32.3 points per game with struggles defending the pass. Senior quarterback Joseph Fagnano will start. A transfer from Maine who put up respectable numbers in his final two seasons there. Mike Locksley is back for his sixth season as head coach after his 8-5 mark last year. They return only four on offense with eight to the defense. The team struggled to generate a round game and produced 29 points per game sitting 51st. Defensively they held opponents to 23.8 points per game doing a great job stopping the run and holding opposing quarterbacks to 57.4% completions. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa must be replaced. NC State transfer MJ Morris is expected to start. He played in four games with the Wolfpack last season completing 55.8% of his passes with only 6.4 yards per pass attempt with no running ability.
The Pick:
UCONN was a bowl team in 2022. Their top rushers are back. They were able to attract receivers from the portal. On defense they are experienced in the secondary. Quarterback and only one starter back to the offensive line a concern for Maryland. There are questions about where their running game can improve with only one starter back on the offensive line. Play UCONN +20.5.
Penn St vs. West Virginia College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
Penn St at West Virginia—Penn St finished at 10-3 last season in James Franklins 10th season. The team returns six starters on offense with seven to the defense. The Nittany Lions were a stout defensive team sitting third in scoring defense by allowing 14 points per game. Offensively they put up 34 a game. They averaged 4.6 yards per rush with below average accuracy at the quarterback position. Drew Allar returns to under center for his junior season. As a starter last year, he completed 59.9% of his passes for only 6.8 yards per attempt. West Virginia went 9-4 last year for head coach Neal Brown now in his sixth season. They return eight players on offense with five to the defense. The Mountaineers produced 29.4 points per game last season with high volume running and 5.2 yards per carry. Quarterback play was inaccurate, sitting 117th in the nation at 53.4% completion rate. Garrett Greene returns for his senior season. A running style quarterback completed only 53.1% of his throws.
The Pick:
Despite the defensive coordinator change there is talent on this Penn St defense. This is a tough place to play for opposing offenses. Expect a lot of running and ball possessions from the Mountaineers here to try and keep their defense off the field. Play Penn St and West Virginia under 51.5.
Ohio vs. Syracuse College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
Ohio at Syracuse—Ohio finished 10-3 last year for head coach Tim Albin who enters his third season. The team returns only two starters on offense with four to the defense. The Bobcats finished eighth in scoring defense by allowing 16.3 points per game by defending the run well. Offensively they put up 24.1 points per game with struggles running the football with 3.8 yards a carry. They must replace quarterback Kurtis Rourke who transferred to Indiana. Parker Navarro will start at quarterback in his senior season. He started their bowl game last year but has seen very little action in his college career. Syracuse finished 6-7 last year. Fran Brown enters his first season as head coach with the program that returns nine on offense and eight to the defense. They fell off massively on offense in 2023 by averaging 20.1 points per game and struggles in both the run and pass. On defense the Orange gave up 27.5 points per game with poor pass defense and third down conversions. Kyle McCord will start at quarterback as he transfers from Ohio St. He completed 65.8% of his passes last year with 9.1 yards per rush and not a threat to run.
The Pick:
A massive rebound for the Bobcats and they will miss Rourke. Syracuse did a decent job stopping the run. Offense will be a major issue for Ohio here. Play Ohio and Syracuse under 47.5.
Miami Ohio vs. Northwestern College Football Pick Prediction 8/31/2024
Miami Ohio at Northwestern—Miami Ohio went 11-3 last year for head coach Chuck Martin who is now in his 11th year. The Redhawks brought back six starters of offense and defense. This was the fifth ranked scoring defense in college football by allowing 15.6 points per game. Offensively they produced only 299 yards per game sitting 123rd. A running game that averaged 3.8 yards per carry with inaccurate passing. Brett Gabbert returns for his season after an injury plagued 2023. Gabbert in eight games last season hit 59.4% of his passes with 8.7 yards per pass attempt.
The Pick:
Miami Ohio had the best punter in the nation and a placekicker that made 27 of 28 last season. They both are gone getting scoop up in the portal. Also gone are their top back and receiver and lost a key defensive end in the portal. Northwestern went 8-5 last year for head coach David Braun who is in his third season. They went 1-11 in 2022. The Wildcats return seven on offense with eight to the defense. They defended well in 2023 holding opponents to 22.8 points per game with solid run defense and limiting big plays in the passing game. Senior quarterback Mike Wright is competing for the starting QB job. Wright saw time at Vanderbilt and Mississippi St showing an ability to run. A career 55.4% completion rate with 6.1 yards per pass attempt and 5.2 yards per rush. He top three receivers are back.
The Pick:
Miami Ohio looks like a portal victim based on success. Wright has 14 starts at his SEC schools. Fifteen returning starters for the Wildcats is encouraging here. Too many impact losses for the Red Hawks that had to rely on their special teams heavily. Play Northwestern -2.5.