It’s finally here!

While the long-awaited college football season technically got kicked off last week, we’ve officially now reached Week 1. And, if last week’s Florida State vs. Georgia Tech game in Ireland is any indication to how this season is going to play out, then we’re in store for a great one!

 

 

 

With all of the movement in college football these days, it’s tough to accurately predict just how teams will look year after year. Take the defending champion Michigan Wolverines, for example. Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, as did many of their key contributors on offense, including QB J.J. McCarthy. Now, the very next season after winning a title, they’re only projected to win nine regular season games in 2024.

On the opposite end, you have teams like the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide who return their quarterbacks and plenty of other talent on both sides of the ball.

Oh yeah, and I haven’t even mentioned the transfer portal. All this to reiterate what I stated above: it’s tough to accurately predict just how teams will look year after year anymore. 

CFB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Thursday, 8/29

As chaotic as the college football landscape may be, that’s part of the fun! A team that has high expectations heading into the year could wind up barely even making a bowl game. A team that no one is talking about could come out of nowhere for an outstanding campaign. That’s college football.

Regardless, with Week 1 finally here, it’s time to bust out our CFB best bets! I’ll be bringing you CFB predictions all season long, and hopefully, when it’s all said and done, we’ll all be swimming in the green!

For this first CFB best bets article of the year, I’m strictly targeting the matchups on Thursday, August 29th. While Saturday is really the day things get fun, Thursday still has some solid games scheduled which we’ll try to tap into from a CFB predictions perspective.

Two of the matchups stand out from the rest, though, which means I’ll be laying out a complete North Dakota State vs. Colorado prediction along with a North Carolina vs. Minnesota prediction.

Apologies for the extended introduction, but when it’s the first week of the season, it’s warranted! But enough with the talk: let’s break down my CFB best bets for Thursday.

*All CFB picks to be placed at 1 Unit unless otherwise specified. Don’t forget to follow me on X/Twitter @stevenw_hall!

 

 

 

North Dakota State vs. Colorado Prediction: Thursday, August 29th

Coach Prime heads into year two of his Colorado experiment, with last season being the epitome of a roller coaster ride. Arguably the biggest story in sports for a few months, the Buffaloes got off to a firing 2-0 start against respectable opponents in TCU and Nebraska, just to win two of their final 10 games the rest of the way.

As for NDSU, the second-ranked FCS team has a new head coach in Tim Polasek who looks to keep their long-standing tradition of winning going. The Bison were an 11-4 team last season before falling to Montana in the NCAA Division I FCS semifinals, their 12th appearance in the last 13 seasons.

Colorado will have the best player for either team on the field at all times in Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders. But, much like last season, other than them, much of their roster is unknown or unproven. They once again completely revamped their team via the transfer portal, so it’s hard to envision them having all that much chemistry already.

As for anyone worried about a new head coach leading the Bison, don’t be. The most recent four head coaches at NDSU have all snatched a victory in their inaugural game leading the Bison. This is a team that led the country with eight preseason FCS All-Americans and have proven time and time again in the past that they can not only hang with the big dogs but beat them. And besides, are we really ready to label Colorado as “big dogs” anyways?

I’m just not yet willing to trust this Buffaloes team to beat damn-near anybody by double digits, let alone an FCS powerhouse in North Dakota State. I wouldn’t necessarily advise you to pick NDSU money line, although there is value there, but a 10-point spread? I’ll gladly take the Bison all day, every day in a spot like this for my CFB best bets. I’m not going to say the Buffs are overrated again, but I’m not, not going to say that, either.

 

 

 

North Carolina vs. Minnesota Prediction: Thursday, August 29th

This matchup shapes up to be rather interesting and a potentially fun one. Drake Maye is obviously no longer under center at UNC, but Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson is an experienced veteran who has an exuberant amount of talent around him. Junior RB Omarion Hampton is one of the best in the nation, and the same can be said about TE Bryson Nesbit.

The question for the Tar Heels, as it always is, it seems like, is their defense. They let up 30+ points in seven of their final eight games a year ago while ranking near the bottom of FBS Division I in most major statistical categories. They should be improved this season bringing in former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins, but how fast will they be able to do so? It may be a work-in-progress type of thing.

A big reason why the Tar Heel defense might struggle to start is because of this Minnesota offense. This is a team that’s been plagued by bad quarterback play for nearly all of P.J. Fleck’s tenure, but they may now have something with star FCS QB Max Bosmer transferring in from New Hampshire. The transition can be tough, but this is a guy who’s tossed 46 touchdowns to just 14 interceptions over the past two seasons.

Add in the fact that this Golden Gopher offensive line is nothing to scoff at, and I expect to see a very much improved Minnesota offense this season. Defensively, they’ve never been that bad, and again shouldn’t be, but you can only do so much to stop the talent on UNC’s offense. Look for Hampton to have a big day.

All in all, here’s how I see this: the Tar Heels should be potent again on offense, while being slightly better defensively. The Golden Gophers should be solid on defense but bring in a much-improved offense. Which leads me to the total of 50.5 just being too low. Do I think this will be a shootout? No. But this matchup has a 28-24 vibe attached to it, or somewhere around there, which is why I’ll confidently side with the over to cap off my Thursday CFB best bets.

 

 

 

Best CFB Prop Bets & Other Picks - Thursday, 8/29