Frogs O’ War Staff Picks: College Football Week 1 (2024)

Week One is finally here, with big games nationally and in the Big 12 beginning TONIGHT! The Frogs O’ War staff has picks for all the Big 12 contests (minus the FCS games) and the top national games.

Reminder: there’s still time to join our Pick ‘Em contest!

Big 12

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions - Sat. Aug. 31, 11:00 AM, FOX

• Anthony: I wish I had the guts to pick WVU, it would be a major result for the Big 12 and a credit to giving a hot seat coach a chance to make it work. If this were at night in Milan Puskar instead of a Big Noon Kickoff, I might’ve made that call. But Drew Allar and the Lions escape Morgantown with the W.
• Austin: It has to be Penn State. Although West Virginia is better than they’re given credit for, the Nittany Lions are on a different level.
• Drew: I’ll take Penn State in a very close, low scoring game.
• Russ: Penn State takes this one.
• Wyatt: Penn State.
• CFB 25: PSU wins 40-21. Garrett Greene was terrific, but the WVU defense can’t stop the rushing attack as both Singleton & Allen rush over 100 yards

Houston Cougars vs. UNLV Rebels - Sat. Aug. 31, 6:00 PM, FS1

• Anthony: UNLV has the best offensive & defensive players in this game with First Team All-MWC WR Ricky White III and Preseason MWC Defensive Player of the Year LB Jackson Woodard. Houston RB Parker Jenkins is a talented dude and new head coach Willie Fritz will build a beast in H-Town in time, but I’ll take the Runnin’ Rebels in this one.
• Austin: This game has the ingredients to be one of the better showdowns of week one. Although the Cougars are slightly favored, I’m going with UNLV.
• Drew: I am a big believer in Willie Fritz and I think he starts his Houston career with a win.
• Russ: Houston squeaks out a win.
• Wyatt: Houston.
• CFB 25: UH wins 31-24. A goal line stand in the final seconds as the Rebels cannot score from 2 yards out as time expires. Donovan Smith throws for 226 yards and 4 TDs

Arizona Wildcats vs. New Mexico Lobos - Sat. Aug. 31, 9:30 PM, ESPN

• Anthony: Even if Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan sits to rest his injury, the Wildcats still win this by four scores and QB Noah Fifita’s Heisman campaign gets rolling.
• Austin: Easily Arizona. The Big 12 newcomer will begin 2024 with a bang.
• Drew: Arizona wins very comfortably.
• Russ: Arizona in a blowout.
• Wyatt: Arizona by 3 scores.
• CFB 25: Arizona wins 34-7. Quali Conley rushes for 101 yards and a TD. McMillan has 2 catches, both for TDs.

Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Wyoming Cowboys - Sat. Aug. 31, 9:30 PM, FS1

• Anthony: I’d like this game way more if Wyoming star RB Harrison Waylee hadn’t suffered a knee injury in practice requiring surgery. Although expectations are very low for the Devils this season, think they are the much more talented team here and get the win comfortably.
• Austin: Arizona State wins this one, but it will be close.
• Drew: I’ll take the Sun Devils at home.
• Russ: Arizona State in a closer-than-expected game.
• Wyatt: Wyoming pulls off the upset.
• CFB 25: Wyoming wins 24-21. Cam Skattebo goes for 182 yards and a score, but it’s not enough as the Devils settled for FGs too often.

Top National Games

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels - Thurs. Aug. 29, 7:00 PM, FOX

• Anthony: The post-Drake Maye era at UNC is going to go like the post-Colt McCoy era at Texas did for Mack Brown; the Gophers help Brown begin packing for retirement.
• Austin: The Tar Heels hold off the Golden Gophers.
• Drew: Give me the Golden Gophers in this one.
• Russ: North Carolina outlasts the Golden Gophers.
• Wyatt: UNC wins in a close game.
• CFB 25: UNC wins 37-34 in overtime. What a game! Minnesota scored the go-ahead TD with 10 seconds left. With one final heave Max Johnson hits Kobe Paysour for a 75 yard score to force OT. Gophers threw a pick and UNC hits the FG for the win.

Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs - Sat. Aug. 31, 11:00 AM, ABC

• Anthony: I think Clemson has a great season and makes the Playoff, but it is not getting past the Bulldogs here. UGA has a brutal schedule and is going to still scorch the earth.
• Austin: The Bulldogs defeat the Tigers in this one.
• Drew: Georgia wins by double digits, I just do not have a lot of faith in the Clemson offense.
• Russ: Georgia remains at the top.
• Wyatt: Georgia wins by 2 touchdowns.
• CFB 25: Clemson pulls the upset 24-17. Tigers dominated, but UGA scored 14 in the 4th quarter and was driving to tie the game and got inside the 5 before Carson Beck tossed a game-sealing INT.

Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Virginia Tech Hokies - Sat. Aug. 31, 11:00 AM, ESPN

• Anthony: The Hokie hype train has gotten out of control, with many national outlets projecting VT as the ACC Champion and Kyron Drones as a darkhorse Heisman threat. Enough. Chief Consultant to the Head Coach Jerry Kill and his New Mexico State QB Diego Pavia pull the stunning upset to open the campaign (and in typical Vandy fashion will lose to Alcorn State the next week).
• Austin: Virginia Tech knocks off the Commodores.
• Drew: Virginia Tech wins pretty easily.
• Russ: Hokies with the win here.
• Wyatt: Virginia Tech.
• CFB 25: VA Tech wins a thriller 31-30, overcoming a pair of Drones interceptions with a pair of 100+ yard rushers.

Florida Gators vs. Miami Hurricanes - Sat. Aug. 31, 2:30 PM, ABC

• Anthony: Is Miami’s Mario Cristobal the worst good coach or the best terrible coach? Everyone has buried the Gators and pre-emptively fired Billy Napier, but Florida gets its gauntlet schedule started with a win.
• Austin: Miami wins behind a marquee performance from Cam Ward.
• Drew: I’ll take the Gators in the Swamp. I like Cam Ward but I’m not a big believer in Mario Cristobal.
• Russ: Canes take down the Gators.
• Wyatt: Miami gets it done in an extremely close game.
• CFB 25: Miami wins 31-30 behind 154 yards from Damien Martinez and a 53-yard FG in the final minute.

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks - Sat. Aug 31, 2:30, Big Ten Network

• Anthony: The Ohio version of Miami might be the best team in the MAC and is a darkhorse Playoff candidate, if it goes 2-1 or better in its non-con slate with Cinci and Notre Dame in addition to this one, the RedHawks will be in the discussion. They pick up the first one with the road win at the lakeside soccer facility in Evanston.
• Austin: Prior to looking up the spread, I’d assume Northwestern would be a touchdown favorite. However, it’s less than a field goal, and I’d still take Northwestern.
• Drew: I’ll take Northwestern at home here.
• Russ: Wildcats win this Big Ten-MAC contest.
• Wyatt: Northwestern.
• CFB 25: Miami takes it 33-27 on a buzzer beating walk off 17-yard TD to stun the BIG foe

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Sat. Aug. 31, 6:30 PM, ABC

• Anthony: Did Elko make Leonard or was the QB the reason for Duke’s success? I see the Aggie defense and the Kyle Field crowd making life miserable for the former Blue Devil signal caller. TAMU wins.
• Austin: It’s been quite some time since I went with the Aggies. Go Irish!
• Drew: I think Notre Dame will be a very good team with Riley Leonard at the helm this year and they start off with a win over the Aggies.
• Russ: Irish win a battle at home.
• Wyatt: The Aggies take down Notre Dame.
• CFB 25: Aggies win 23-17 as Riley Leonard plays terribly, forcing multiple turnovers

LSU Tigers vs. USC Trojans - Sun. Sept. 1, 6:30 PM, ABC

• Anthony: A pair of program trying to replace Heisman-winning QBs. LSU has more defensive horses to slow Miller Moss & Lincoln Riley’s offense enough to take this one.
• Austin: This has the makings to be a fantastic matchup. The revamped Tigers win a close one.
• Drew: I think Lincoln Riley reminds everyone how good his offensive system is even without Caleb Williams with a week one win over the Tigers.
• Russ: Tigers win over Lincoln Riley’s crew.
• Wyatt: LSU beats USC by 2 scores.
• CFB 25: LSU’s Nussmeier throws for 5 TDs and the Tigers take it 42-35 in Vegas

Florida State Seminoles vs. Boston College Eagles - Mon. Sept. 2, 6:30 PM, ESPN

• Anthony: Everyone thought it’d be Washington to “pull a TCU,” turned out it was the Seminoles to fall off a cliff after a standout season. After all the complaining about being left out of the CFP, FSU got nuked by Georgia in the bowl and opened the 2024 season losing as a double-digit favorite to Georgia Tech. Surely they’ll bounce back in another standalone game with the whole world watching.
• Austin: The Seminoles win handily coming off the loss to Georgia Tech.
• Drew: FSU takes care of business at home.
• Russ: Seminoles win this ACC matchup.
• Wyatt: Florida State bounces back after their loss to Georgia Tech and takes care of business week 1. DJ Uiagalelei has a good game.
• CFB 25: Seminoles blow the doors off the Eagles, 39-16.